Launch day arrives

Ariel splashed at 2 pm on Wednesday after the usual pre-launch flurry of activity. Launch was uneventful, just the way I like it. I moved Ariel off the fuel dock and to a transient slip for a couple of hours while I stowed some gear and got her anchor on board.

I needed to rig up the docklines at our marina before taking Ariel over, so I ran home and picked up the lines - and Jakob, who was excited Ariel was finally in the water. Jake and I inflated the dinghy and prepared the slip (our marina has ridiculously high cement docks with abrasive edges that chew through docklines. The height also equates to leads of 45 degrees or more down to the boat, making the geometry to chocks and cleats all wrong. We solved the problem by wrapping a length of chain around the cement pillar that supports the dock. The docklines are then attached to the chain, providing a relatively chafe-free attachment point and much better geometry).

By the time we were done rigging the docklines, it was 4:30 - time to pick up Josh from the babysitter. We did that, returned to our marina where we left the car, then the three of us walked the mile or so to West Basin Marina and Ariel. What a trip! Jake was "tired", so I ended up carry both boys almost the entire time in 90 degree weather. All three of us were drenched in my sweat by the time we got to Ariel.

We tied up at The Waterfront around 5:30 and got home about 6:00 in time for supper. The boys were great, and Jake even helped pick up a spring line. He's getting more and more useful every day; perhaps we'll keep him.