Sept 1999
That First Weekend
We purchased a Hunter 26.5 in late August of 1999 and spent our first weekend aboard during the tail end of Hurricane Dennis. The rains and winds of 30+ mph were part of the experience. Diann is wearing a combination of NorthFace Gortex and vinyl rain pants. Sable, our only Pomeranian at the time, has on her rain gear too!
We actually set double anchors that weekend, even though we were on Lake Norman and in a protected cove. I took the port side salon "bunk" and faced the open companionway at 9pm and Diann kept watch to see what the wind would do (it was our first night ever on the boat). With 100 feet of line out on each of the anchors, we swung back and forth like a reed vibrating in a wind instrument. The swing angle was about 90 degrees & it took only 90 seconds to complete a full A-B-A swing cycle.
The first time I awoke (never did get really deep asleep), with the glow of lakeside home yard lights, I could see shore side trees moving by at an alarming rate. The effect was like looking out a side car window on the open road. Bolting up to see if the anchors had failed, I found Diann watching the scenery and quite contented to spend private time on watch- her first night on any boat.
There's been a bunch of nights since then. With plans for long term cruising, there should be many more to come.