We went sailing! First time! Our trip took us throughout the Piscataqua estuary system in New Hampshire (local waters). We launched at Jackson's Landing in Durham, where we found that it took us what seemed to be forever to get Eclipse's Nissan 9.9 started. After just having had a professional tune-up, we found ourselves quite dismayed. It was only after we called the marine dealer where we had the motor tuned up that things turned around. We were told that our carburetor might be stuck and that we should check it. After popping the top of the motor, we noticed that the fuel line had become disconnected from the inlet port on the engine.....likely falling culprit to a combination of an overzealous attempt to pump and prime the engine along with a very loose band clamp on the fuel line. A perfect combination to create a comedy of errors. Once the fuel line was properly reconnected, the motor started quickly and with great ease.
Eclipse being launched for our first adventure with her!
We motored down the Oyster River to where it opens up, then hoisted sail. Against a strong tidal current we headed toward Adam's Point. Tacking wasn't getting us anywhere, so we motor-sailed into Great Bay where we found excellent sailing there on the wide open waves and under blue cloud filled skies and a comfortable breeze
Christen is at the helm on Great Bay
.Gary is cranking the jib tighter as Christen sets the course for a close reach
With about two hours until low tide (8 feet, twice a day) we found a quiet cove near a wildlife preserve on the bay where we set up for burgers on the barbie and a quiet and restful night's sleep. It was as we were preparing dinner that we realized we'd forgotten spices, plates, spatula and half the kitchen stuff. No worries, we enjoyed dinner anyway as we listened to the gobbling of a flock of wild turkeys as they straddled the shoreline under an enveloping dusk.
Gary is grilling our dinner as we watch the sun set over Great Bay
Morning came all too quickly. We were due at a party on Little Bay at 11:00 but the tide hadn't come up much by this point so that when we arrived, we found their floating dock to be perched on the mudflats. A Mac 26S draws little water and can beach, which we did. I was able to throw a line to an assistant on the float, and a nearby kayak was hand torpedoed out to us for us to judiciously catch, climb in to and paddle to shore. The tide was rising quickly, as it does in this bay. This meant that our merrymaking at the party was intermittently interrupted every 5 minutes. We found that we were excusing ourselves from conversations so that we could run down to the dock where we'd give the line a tug, nudging her nose a few meters closer each time. It was not very much longer before Eclipse found herself tied up properly at the dock.
After the party we tacked up Little Bay to the General John Sullivan bridge, then ran downwind and into the Oyster River to a borrowed mooring for another night out. Being close to home, we fetched the kitchen box. High tide came at the break of dawn, so I got the trailer while Christen motored back to Jackson's Landing where she was hoisted out of her element and onto the trailer without a hitch.
Gary wings the jib as I keep a close eye on the mainsail as we head downwind and up the Oyster River
This was a shakedown voyage and as a result, we were able to acquire what has now become a two page list of tasks, additions, modifications, and purchases for Eclipse. Sailing a boat is the only way to really get to know her and know her needs. Our relationship with Eclipse is only just beginning, but it is off to a wonderful start. More adventures await us, and her, in the near future.
