A couple of weeks ago I bought a M-12 from our yacht club, it had been neglected and I thought that it would make a great little knockabout. Cleaned it all up, whipped all the lines, ran new running rigging where needed, rigged it in my driveway, tried to connect with the sailmaker that made the crisp new headsail, to no avail, and covered it back up. Yesterday, the wind was kind, 12-15 mph, and the sun was out. What a perfect day for a maiden sail, I thinks to myself. SO out to the lake, with the M-12 in tow. Rigged her in the parking lot, no sails bent on, and put her in the lake next to the courtesy dock. Parked, went back to the dock, and stepped aboard. Capsized immediately, and into the lake. Took my phone from my pocket, grabbed my Tilley hat before it could float away, righted the boat, and pulled myself from the water. Prudently, I took my phone back to the truck, and realized that the lake had taken another pair of sunglasses. Oh, well. Back to the dock, cautiously and carefully climbed back aboard, careful to keep my weight centered. Bailed the copious quantity of water that had stayed aboard out, gingerly and carefully raised the sails, and worked my way to the painter. Setting myself free from the dock, I took the tiller and straightened it out, sheeted in, and capsized immediately. While contemplating the life jacket and throwable floating away, and making sure that I had a firm grip on my Tilley, I brought the sails in, swam around to the centerboard, and righted it again. Having had enough for one day, I put her back on the trailer, unrigged and hauled her back to town. Cute, but tender as a baby's behind. Thomas Howe [cid:image002.jpg@01D3F381.D0F14580]
