
(photo above) A map showing where on Lake Muskegon and Lake Michigan most of our sailing experiences in the sailing class took place. The smaller box insert shows were Torreson Marine is located, and most of our 'motoring & docking' maneuvers took place.
We received our 'Sailing Instruction' packages a month or so before the class, which included a textbook that we were encouraged to read ahead of time, plus additional information regarding 'rules of the road', safety, and our 'sailing passports' which were small booklets for entering our 'sailing experience' into. We had the option of driving to the boat every day for class (it would span three days), or we could sleep aboard (which they recommended, probably because it helped sell the whole 'experience', and encouraged future customers). Our class would incorporate both Sailing 101 and 103. We arrived the night before class with our sleeping bags and gear and moved aboard 'Pandora', the Torreson classroom boat.
(from the diary - Tim writing unless otherwise noted)
July 8 2003, 6:30 am
We spent our first night aboard a sailboat last night. From what I gather, none of us slept particularly well. I awoke every hour on the hour to check my watch, chalk it up to nerves. We are actually doing this - taking our first tentative steps in a seaward direction. Terri says I yelled "THIRD!" in my sleep last night -- I must still have baseball on the brain (the end of little league season having just finished up). "Pandora" is a C&C 30 ft from what we can gather from materials onboard. A little cramped down below, Terri and I taking the V berth and Keenan on one of the side berths. Sunrise was beautiful this morning, and the rigging on all the boats in the marina sound to me like wind chimes. Swallows flying around the neighboring boats.

Our first day of sailing class went very well. We all three passed the '101' exam, Keenan with a score of 89%, Terri with a score of 83%, and Tim with a score of 95%. A lot of fun, especially the tiny taste of 'sailing' we got near the end of the day with the headsail. Terri managed to keep her cool, even when the boat went into 8 degrees of heel. Keenan is practicing his knots as I write this, he was a bit apprehensive this morning when our teacher was grilling us on parts of the boat, but once he got behind the wheel, he had a big grin on his face the rest of the day.
(Terri July 8) Well, day one down. Very fun. Last night was something. Found the boat on our own, no power (we later found out how to hook up to shore power), Showers not so good. But we are on a boat. We now know that Pandora is a 32' C&C. 83% on the test was a bit disappointing - but Keenan did great. Tomorrow we sail most of the day. After just today, Keenan wants a sailboat. How to do it cost effectively . . . Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.
July 10 2003, 7:00 am


July 12, 2003 8:00 am
It is now a couple days past our final day on board 'Pandora'. We all passed the 2nd exam, Keenan with an 82%, Terri a 91% and Tim a 90%. The weather that day was wet & the winds were gusty from the south. Steering was difficult at first, we recapped sailing the circle. Keenan is by now an old hat at this, barking out commands in rapid succession. Terri is still a little hesitant about it all and still likes a bit of reassurance about the points of sail & command sequence. It doesn't yet come completely natural to Tim either, but he puts on a confident demanor and hopes nobody will notice the steel grip he maintains on the wheel and the false bravado of his smile.

(additional notes from margins in the diary - edited for clarity) Our instructor was Captain Jim Thompson, a Hemmingway-esque old salt with a fine sense of humor and thankfully a large dose of patience. A retired college professor, who winters in Florida, he had many a funny off-color story or anctedote, usually preceded by a disclaimer "How old is Keenan again?". Torreson Marina is more of a 'working boatyard' than a 'recreational marina', with nasty primitive shower & bathroom facilities, and it kind of reminds you of a 'auto mechanic's garage', but there is usually lots of activity to watch, boats being serviced, launched, etc.
Our fellow classmate, Nancy, had a boat on the other side of Muskegon Lake, that she got from a boyfriend, and she wanted to learn more about handling it. She was a speed demon, and really liked to see the boat heel over.
(photos, above) (1) Keenan at the wheel while we 'sail the circle', appropriately wearing an 'Old Navy' tee shirt (2) Terri at the helm with a look of "what the hell am I doing on a boat?" while Captain Jim appears to be biting his fingernails.
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