David's Diary: Tuesday, February 25, 2003

Dragonsinger Goes Sailing

Our friend Bobbie is still here in Tunisia. Yesterday, Karalee and I were out with her. When we returned we found Jocelyn, Kevin, and Allen busy preparing the boat. They want us to go sailing today. We haven't moved the boat since last October, so there are quite a few things to put away. We work through the afternoon and have the boat ready to go.

Nabiha and Jocelyn

Jocelyn's friend Nabiha is also with us and if the weather is calm we might stay out overnight. Because we had two new crewmembers, we had to check in with the police at the marina. With Nabiha being Tunisian, there was a lot of concern on the part of the police about allowing her onboard. Tunisia is a police state, although they try not to look like one for the tourists. It takes a phone call to Nabiha's Mom to get permission for her to come with us. Nabiha is nineteen, but you are not legally an adult until you are twenty.

Karalee Nervous at the Helm

The wind was blowing fifteen knots in the marina, but we discover it is blowing over twenty when we get outside. We reef the sails, but Karalee is still nervous about how Dragonsinger is handling, so we reef some more. It is surprising how rusty you get over the winter. We traveled more than 3,800 nautical miles last year (about 7,500 km), yet it takes us some time to adjust to the boat's rhythm and get used to sailing again. Our friend Bobbie has been sailing with us several times, so she takes everything in her stride. Nabiha has only been on a boat a few times, but Jocelyn and she speak in French and she seems unconcerned as the boat heels over twenty degrees.

Staying for Dinner

We sail out to a small group of islands about ten miles off Monastir. The wind is still blowing consistently over twenty, so we heave to so that we can have lunch. When we finish we trim the sails and head back into Monastir. We have some trouble getting Dragonsinger back into her slip (more skills that are rusty), but we make it back safely. That night we all join together to have a dinner to celebrate our first sail of 2003.