We left the house early on Saturday in hopes of a good sail before a weather front came over the lake. When we arrived at the boat, the diesel engine would not start. I tried every trick in the shade tree mechanic handbook to start the thing, but she refused. I used starting fluid, wd40, silicone spray, and even a few choice words, but after what seemed like an eternity, it finally started and even ran, albeit a little rough. Since it was still early and the skies looked clear, we decided to go sailing.
Our slip neighbors also had engine trouble: a broken pull cord for their outboard, so we asked if they wanted to join us for a quick sail. After nods of "yes" and stowing their gear they climbed aboard and we all set out. I decided to leave the engine running while we were sailing just incase it wouldn't restart again. Once we were on the lake I turned into the wind and put the mainsail out. Martina set the jib and we were once again, after almost 7 months, under sail. I'm sure I had a grin from ear to ear as she glided under sail.
The Yacht Club was having a sail race that day, so instead of going south and crossing their paths, we jibed and turned north. The wind was a steady 10-12 mph with puffs around 15 or so, and we were making good way with about 15 degrees of heel. A few gusts rocked us over to over 20 degrees a few times and made more than one person on board a little anxious, so we reefed the jib and loosened the mainsail.
As the skies darkened and the wind picked up, we decided to head back to the Marina. We reefed the front sail again and let out the main even more. We were flying back, probably above hull speed and heeling well over 20 degrees. The gusts were coming so fast, all I could do was point into the wind to keep the boat from heeling too much. I didn't want Martina on the deck at that angle trying to wrestle the mainsail down to reef again. We dipped the side of the boat in the water a couple of times and emptied the shelves of anything not tied down, but Aquilon handled the wind just fine. She was in her element and I just hung on for the ride.
When we got close to the Marina we rolled in the jib and I turned the boat into the wind so that Martina could safely lower the main. After the sail was tied off, we motored the rest of the way to the slip without any fanfare. When we arrived at the slip, however, the wind was so strong that we couldn't turn into our slip with out crashing into it, the wind was blowing the bow back towards the dock. I reversed the engine and we motored past, turned around to come in with the wind at our back. That helped but Aquilon is sporting a new Ouchy along her hull after our landing, but hey, it'll buff out. I'm glad we decided to leave the lake when we did because a few minutes after we arrived the wind really started blowing and the rain too.
After some snacks and a drink or two, I decided to take a look at the engine to see why it wouldn't start. I checked the compression and the fuel system. I found one loose injector and an air leak at the fuel pump line. After repairing both, replacing the fuel filter, and bleeding the air from the system, our little diesel was purring like a kitten, and even restarted after shutting it off.
Even though our sail was short, it was exciting and even fun, at least for some of us on board, and I'm ready to go again, hopefully for a longer trip. I am also glad that I listened to the little voice in my ear, the words of Bill Learn (our sailing instructor)"to reef when you first think about it". We did; and we were safe when the wind picked up. Trust your boat and your ability and she'll bring you home.
