Wahoo! (R21EC)

[SteveB]

Hi Everyone!

I took delivery of my R21EC last Saturday and today I finally had a free day for our first outing. We put in at the public launch at Newport Yacht Basin in Bellevue and went north on Lake Washington, though Lake Union and Elliot Bay to Gasworks Park and back.

We had very rough waves on the way out. Two and three feet and a few bigger rogues, and several places where waves were intersecting from different directions. Terrifying for me but thankfully I had an experienced boater with me to help me through. On the way back we had some bad headwinds and more big waves but by then I'd learned how to handle them pretty well and was feeling the rhythm of the boat pretty well. We got back in without incident.

I'm looking forward to some smoother seas the next time out (my wife would probably never go out with me again if she was out there today). At least I know this little tug can take some serious coastal cruising conditions!

-Steve

 

[Gregg]

Steve,
Congratulations on the launch of your new R21. You have us a little jealous here waiting for the snow and ice to disappear. We're pretty anxious to get our 21 out for the first time; hopefully by mid April.
Here on Georgian Bay we can get some pretty stiff weather and waves, too. It's good to hear that your first time out ended safely.
All the best with your new boat!

Gregg

 

[Texas Steve]

Congratulations!

As you learned, the R21-EC is a very capable little boat... it just takes a bit to get the "hang of it." I predict you will learn to love the boat as you get more acquainted.

On the wife issue... mine was a bit scared first time out as well, but I took a lesson from the skywalkers that erect the steel for skyscapers. No one goes on the project unless they start on the ground floor. That way, the 10' increments don't "get" to them. Same with the wife... never take her out in a mess right off the bat, but gently work her up to a comfort level by increasing the challenge as conditions allow. Mine still doesn't like to take a "beam sea" on board, so that is the next step... very slight and then increasing on subsequent trips. Just don't rush her and never let her know if you're uneasy. Just my tcw...

Steve Frisch

 

[Kamalani]

Being R-21 Tug boaters based in Ventura, CA, we can totally relate to Steve's elation, (and concerns), over heading out of the harbor for our next adventure. The Santa Barbara Channel is notorious for winds and seas, and we've had to learn to pick our battles. Prior to last Sunday, we had attempted several times to head out to one of the local islands, only to be humbled into remembering..."Oh God thy sea is so great & my ship is so small"! But even though we have chosen to accept our own comfort over a pounding lasting 3 hours, we never felt the least concern for the ability of this little boat. We're certain that "Kamalani" wonders why she couldn't stay out and play longer!

Sunday, despite less than perfect conditions, we logged our first crossing to Anacapa Is. My wife, Sherry, was captaining her little red tug the entire way out, and got a lot of valuable experience dodging the container ships and various tug/barges while transiting the shipping lanes. The crossing took about 2 1/2 hrs. and the most exhausting part for her was probably the constant manning of the WIPER switches! I'll confess, she did delegate me to get her back home as she slept the entire way back on the V berth.

The reason I am relating this little tale is that Sherry is fairly new to boating, and yet with this particular boat she is as involved or more so than I am. I guess it's the pride she takes in our little "Kamalani", but I have never had this much fun in all of my nearly 50 years on the water. I can assure you that I have never referred to her as "THE WIFE" but more and more I call her "CAPTAIN"!

Alex.

 

[Texas Steve]

I can assure you that I have never referred to her as "THE WIFE" but more and more I call her "CAPTAIN"![/quote

I stand fully humbled before the group. My bride is fully capable of handling our boat and I refer to her as my "perfect first mate."

Texas Steve