From the log of the Krazy Kat: Saturday, 10/18/2008.
Lake Erie, off Cleveland: Inner City Yacht Club
Left house at 1300, in water by 1345 with both batteries (for trolling motor) in parallel; one is not fully charged. Weather forecast is cloudy, wind NE to ENE at 12 and gusts to 18.
Little to no wind behind dike 17 and fairly calm until halfway to green buoy (G1) at eastern entrance to Cleveland. About 81°38' 30''.
Decided to head into the wind (ENE) and come close to the East Entrance Light (lighthouse) on the breakwater. Tacked through to avoid jibing and headed to Red buoy (N4).
Not sure the centerboard is fully down. Tacking is tricky. Now 1445 and heading back to Gordon Park (Inner City Yacht Club). With centerboard acting odd, difficult to head into wind (back to boat ramp).
Coast Guard shows up and asks if we require assistance. We have our hands full but they make it worse. Ohio Department of Watercraft shows up.
Got on the radio (16) and moved to 22. They are offering assistance which we didn't need until they arrived.
Mate relayed messages to them and we decided to divert to East 55th Marina.
Chart most handy is odd so we overshoot it onto harbor by condominiums (Nicholson Cleveland Terminal) and so motor-sail into slip A23 at East 55th street Marina (81°39'5'')
Both would-be rescuers follow in and proceed to scold me. To much wind, wrong quarter, small child, small boat, etc. Took my name and address and left.
Turns out an observer at the condominiums reported a sail boat in distress and when they (Coast Guard) saw the Mate, they got worried (and over-reacted).
Earlier in the afternoon, we had been overtaken by a 30+ foot sailboat—beautiful genoa, etc. When speaking to them later, they wanted to know what all the fuss was about. At the time that they'd passed us, they thought we were doing well and express disappointment that the Coast Guard and Ohio Department of Watercraft scolded us so.
Determined that there are no ramps here. Paid $18.50 for transient fee and stayed in Slip A23. We were short one line and so borrowed the peak halyard for a bowline. Found the middle, put a bowline around the mast and tied off through the mooring cleat to port and starboard and cleats on the dock. From the stern, we came through the tiller hole (again, a bowline) to a far cleat. (The forward lines kept it in the middle of the slip and the aft line kept her hind parts from touching her neighbor.
Took the gaff halyard to the boom's jaws and took up some slack. Cleated the main, removed most of the gear and took the batteries home for a charge.
Sunday, 10/19/2008.
Sunday dawned bright, clear and calm. We were underway by 1430 and motor-sailed from East 55th Street to the Inner City Yacht Club, over a minute in longitude.
Ramps were busy (last nice weekend of the year coupled with just before football kickoff) and so we waited our turn, eventually pulling out by 1700.
Centerboard appears off its pin.
