Here is where it all started, the Strictly Sail boat
show at Chicago's Navy Pier in February of 2006.
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Here I am fantasizing on the deck of Hunter's
44-foot Salon cruiser. This guy is only about
$375,000. A little out of my range.
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This is more like it. Here is the brand new Hobie
Cat I was trying to talk Mason into buying. Notice
the comfortable bench seats! |
Somehow we managed to drift back over to the
Hunter models. Mason is arguing with the
salesman over the price of the steering wheel
which is an upgrade from the stick tiller. The
25 is sitting in the background.
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It is not exactly what you would call roomy
below deck of the 25. I am trying to imagine
myself sleeping in this crawlspace.
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While trying to talk ourselves into springing
for the 25 later that night, these young ladies
offered plenty of helpful advice.
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April
of 2006. The 25 finds a new home in the backyard
of my brother's place. Old Mason is trying to
figure out what the big aluminum pole sitting on
top of the boat is for.
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Hey, it floats! We are at Patrick Marina in Indiana
for the maiden voyage in May of this year. The
forecast called for 10-15 mile-per-hour winds but it
is looking pretty calm out there. |
Steady on course! With the wind gusting up to
three miles per hour old Mason must keep a
white-knuckled death-grip on the steering wheel
in order to keep her into the wind. Please
disregard the beer bottle.
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Let a real sailor take over. Sailing takes
acumen, nerves of steel and no small amount of
natural talent. Notice the picturesque steel
mill in the background.
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June of 2006. This time we took the boat
downtown and finally got a little wind. A little
more than we were counting on. The boat heels
over gently with the Chicago skyline making a
pleasant change from Indiana's backdrop of steel
mills.
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The farther out we get the more violently the
boat pitches. With the skyline shrinking in the
background, Mason steers with his foot as the
boat heels over about 20 degrees. Seasickness is
starting to set in.
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The buildings keep shrinking. We're really
getting out there now.
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Heading back in. Another sailboat on an opposite
tack with the Sears Tower in the background.
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Approaching Navy Pier. You can already make out
the distinctive green roofs.
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We are now inside the Navy Pier breakwater and
the water is a little calmer. I'd hit about a 3
wood to get to the pier from where we are.
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The John Hancock building. Any closer and we
could smell the steaks broiling at Mike Ditka's
restaurant.
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