My first! lessons?

Sometime around August 2009 I purchased my first sailboat. I felt excited when I saw the ad: Procrastination a Catalina 22' swing keel with trailer located in Key West. This is ideal, due to the fact that I was staying in and had a slip ready to go in Marathon Fl. about 40 min away from Key West.

I had been looking for a sailboat for about 2 months and had walked through many at this point. I arived at the location sitting in the water was a pop-top beauty in moderate condition. I wasn't worried about the condition because I'm an aircraft mechanic, so I'm not scared about alittle work. I struck a deal with the owner loaded her up on the trailer and away I went.

I arrived at my new marina and cleaned Procrastination up for the rest of the day. The next morning, I woke up early set up my slip with ropes and bumpers. I then nerviously backed her down the ramp un-hooked her and found out that slow should have been slower as I plowed her bow in to her new home. Luckly, standing by were a few friends to catch her and save me from my first fiberglass repair. Now she sat in her home, but this slow lesson didn't sink in till much later in my learning.