Don, only wimps need auto-pilots to help do anything single handed. Looks to me like you have the process well under control... t
Hey, I resemble that remark..... Actually, there's a difference between NEEDing an auto-pilot, and enjoying the freedom one gives you to do other things on the boat during a long cruise. Tom was with me the first time I tested my Simrad TP10, and as I recall he thought it was pretty cool, so, as usual, you can take his remarks as tongue-in-cheek. <grin> I sailed Priest Lake yesterday for the first time this year. You may recall the incident last year where I found the grounded sailboat. His body still has not been found. The lake yesterday little resembled the quiet, pristine, sometimes stormy and moody body of water that I sailed last year. Fourth of July weekend is the busiest time of year, and the jet skis, wake boarders, thundering jet boats, and party boats turned it into a choppy crowded mess without enough wind to keep the sails from flogging around. Randy Graves came up to join us, but couldn't even launch due to the jammed boat ramps and parking lots. Randy commented that even though he was towing a Montgomery, they didn't seemed inclined to let him go first at the ramp. <g> It wasn't much better out on the water. I was cut off numerous times by power boats that obviously didn't know the rules of the road. Later that afternoon, the wind came up strong and steady and we had some decent sailing, especially out in the middle of the lake where the traffic was thinner. Larry