Launch and Maiden Voyage of our Mirage 24

She floats! The rudder was fixed and put back on August 2nd and we launched on August 3rd. At that point we did not even know if the motor would start. It's a 1979 Evinrude 9.9 that came with the boat and is as old as the boat. So Dave connects everything and it started! So now we are off to the crane to raise the mast. As we don't know what we are doing, my skipper Kirk (I race on his Tanzer 26 every week) has come to help us. He runs the crane while Dave and I are on the boat doing the work. It's a good way to learn! Once the mast is up and secured, it's time to go find our mooring and put our tie on ropes. It's a pretty tight fit between the 2 boats but we manage. After that, we are hot and exhausted so the three of us head to the club for a cold beer.

On her way to the water.

She floats!

Suzanne and Kirk after raising the mast.

August 4th is the maiden voyage event! Dave has invited his sister Wendy and her husband Mike to be part of the voyage. But first we have to finish rigging the boat. I have to figure out where the halyards go and what all the lines are. Once I think I have the main figured out, and perhaps even the genoa, we head out. It is blowing about 10 knots with gusts of about 15. We raise the main and sail with just that for a while. Then Dave wants to try the genoa. So I do my foredeck job and hoist that but at the back end, it does not look right. Still have to figure some things out I guess. And the gust are too strong so I take the sail down and we continue with main only for a few hours. Back in the harbour sometime after 5 p.m. We put everything away then go to the bar again. I look like a lobster! It was so hot out there, about 40 degrees with the humidex. All in all, a pretty good first day on the water!

Mike, Dave and Wendy.

Me with my body armor and still managed to get a huge bruise on the knee.