Moving on.

Two masts means two sessions with the crane operator.

Rigging Phase 1 was done on the hard. They positioned the mast and mostly reset the stays and shrouds that secure the mast.

The inner forestay isn't correctly backed under the deck. The mast isn't yet blocked into position with proper wedges. The furling drums are probably too low. But the main mast is there.

Today was phase 2. This was done in the water. They pushed us into one of the repair docks and moved the crane over us to position the second mast.

So, now, we're a proper double-headsail ketch.

We need some booms. And our whisker pole.

And we need the rig tuned. But we're getting there.

Driving Lessons

Our first real trip was about 100 yards down D dock to our slip, D-28.

Wind was light, current negligible. We fired up the Lehman and chugged out of the repair dock. Chuck -- our project manager from Deltaville Boatyard wandered down D dock to give us advice.

David and Nancy from "Fawkes" jumped into their dinghy to offer a push as well as advice, moral support and general overall cheering.

We tried backing, but backing into the wind is a bit dicey. It requires some considerable push and steering a boat in reverse under power isn't pleasant. The Whitby 42 has a smallish rudder and most owners agree she backs poorly.

Our second plan was to drive across the dock and make use of Ranger's incredible "prop-walk" to pivot 90 degrees and back in. Simply changing gears and goosing the throttle turns her a 2 points counter-clockwise. After four gear switches, we've swung through 8 of the 32 points of the mariner's compass and we're pointing right down the slip.

With Nancy's advice on how to move the spring lines and Chuck's advice on how to make progress against the breeze we backed her in pretty sweetly. A little fumbling, but each fumble was an important object lesson in line handling and judging the effect of wind and water.

Beginner's Luck?

Or the product of bunches of sailboat charters and some lessons with real experts?

Or the product of enthusiastic, positive support from the local sailing community?

I vote for enthusiastic -- "you can do it" -- support.