The Shakedown Cruise
After a tireless whirlwind of preparations, Liahona was finally ready to set sail once more. Armed with checklists, we were determined not to overlook any crucial task of the recommissioning. But what truly eased our transition to life aboard our boat was the invaluable support of Bret and Marne, the previous owners and now trusted new friends. Journeying from Oregon, they generously shared their expertise, guiding us through the intricacies of Liahona’s systems and imparting essential knowledge about her components and equipment.
They accompanied us as we took the boat out for the first time and tested her sailing ability ourselves. However, as with any new endeavor, there were bound to be hiccups. Our in-mast roller main posed a particularly vexing challenge. Amid our excitement to get the sails up, Tyler overlooked a crucial detail, causing the main to be furled at an incorrect angle and resulting in a frustrating jam upon attempting to unfurl.
After a relentless one-hour struggle, a moment of insight struck Tyler and Bret. What if, they speculated, we attempted to unfurl the main at the same angle it was initially furled? By mirroring the angle at which the main was initially furled, they managed to unfurl it successfully, freeing us to continue our journey. It was a valuable lesson learned—one that would stay with us, ensuring that history wouldn’t repeat itself.
With the wind powering our sails and the sun on our faces we sliced through the cerulean (blue-green) water. I took the helm and Bret familiarized Tyler with the workings of the watermaker. The thrill of our first sail on Liahona filled us with boundless excitement, reminding us why we had embarked on this adventure in the first place
Postsail Realization
After our initial sail, Tyler and I realized that adjusting to the size and complexity of this boat would take some time. At 45 feet, she dwarfed our previous 25-foot boat. Before venturing across the Sea of Cortez alone, we recognized the need to become more familiar with her nuances and the importance of knowing her equipment intimately.
Day sailing around the Guaymas area proved invaluable for acquainting ourselves with our new vessel and gaining experience cruising. In a small bay, nestled in the cliffside just 6 nautical miles from our marina, we were able to fine-tune our anchoring techniques and familiarize ourselves with the overall operations of the equipment as well as the dinghy.
Sailing Around Guaymas Mexico
Anchoring Liahona wasn’t vastly different from our previous boat; in fact, it was somewhat simpler with the addition of an electric windlass for lowering and raising the anchor. Other equipment, though more complex compared to our previous experience, proved less daunting after a few uses.
However, managing the dinghy posed a bit more of a challenge. After lowering it from our transom into the water, we had to manage the task of hoisting the hefty 125-pound outboard motor from the stern rail of our boat onto the transom of the dinghy. Even with the use of an outboard motor hoist, this required considerable upper body strength and coordinated effort. Once we had accomplished all this, we still had to figure out the technicalities of beaching or anchoring the dinghy upon reaching shore.
Though seemingly straightforward, our past experiences had taught us the value of trial and error. The first attempt to beach the dinghy ended in a mishap, with Tyler losing a fingernail while maneuvering the dinghy wheels.
Key Takeway
We quickly realized that learning comes with many challenges and can sometimes be painful. We discovered a gap in our understanding of how to use and deploy dinghy wheels properly. After Tyler suffered a minor crushing injury to his finger, we understood that the wheels must be positioned before entering shallow water. To refine our practice, we searched online for instructions on beaching a dinghy with wheels. The key is to lower the wheels while the boat is still floating, far enough offshore to allow for complete deployment and latching without hitting the bottom. Additionally, we learned that the wheels are most effective on very firm sandy bottoms, where they are less likely to sink into the sand.
Moving Forward
Despite the hurdles and the steep learning curve of our new endeavor, our enthusiasm never waned. We spent hours poring over cruising guides for the Sea of Cortez and Pacific Coast Mexico and gleaning knowledge of the area from experienced cruisers. We have now moved beyond merely gathering information and are on the brink of embarking on our cruising journey starting in the Sea of Cortez.
Please let us know what you think about dinghy wheels and uses. I just wanted to let you know that dinghy suggestions are always welcome here.
