First Sail of the Year

I would just like to point out that I have already been out on my boat and it was only the 7th March.  Met up with fellow Rescue Duty mate, Chris and his friend Jo for a blast in my Laser Stratos.  It took us a fair while to rig the boat, not the normal 40 minutes, mainly because I forgot to bring two length of rope fairly major to sailing the boat (Jib and Main sheet).  Was able to borrow one off Chris and Jo's boat and had to go and purchase the main sheet from the shop at an incredible £11...had to borrow a pound and have offered to pay back but had request for a lemon drizzle cake instead (see this link for how to make it!).  I was slightly worried as the instruction booklet I had printed off some three years ago about how to rig my boat (I don't really need it, its more like a comfort thing knowing it was there), had been eaten by mice and no longer existed...however, between the three of us we mastered it and finally got out on the water about an hour and ten minutes later!

It was freezing cold but the sun was shining.  I helmed the boat down to the bottom of Rutland and back past the sunken church at Normanton into what I refer to as the "Dark Side" of Rutland I haven't ventured into on account of:

a) large water tower coming out of the water that Jo managed to get her boat hooked onto - we are convinced they are magically magnetic

b) swirly bits of water where there are fans in the reservoir and they aerate it.  I think someone told me about 6 years ago that they are really difficult to sail over and it sort of stuck in my head.

c) Club racing usually takes place in this area, and have irrational fear that I will end up in the middle of 200 boats...capsized

Anyway, I ventured into the "Dark Side" and discussed the possibility of sailing to Whitwell in the Summer for an ice cream and have been advised to take a paddle...and then handed the helm to Chris so that I could have a go at getting the spinnaker up - which I have never done before.  Managed to take this picture, it was beautiful having all three sails up:

My sweet boat, which I have yet to capsize in...so sturdy and trust worthy.  I am convinced it had an inner monologue going on..."crikey it's only March and I am already out on the water?  What is going on? Ahhhh it's lovely to have these sleepy wasps and nests of spiders brushed off and the wind in my sails and people having a laugh on board...mind you, I wish she would stop singing the theme tune to Howards Way".