The first day we decided to take the Jocelyn Shaw out on Long Pond couldnt have been worse weather but, that wasn't going to stop us....until it did. After paddling out far enough from the shore we started to put up the sail and then we realized 20 knot winds with 2 foot waves may have been too much for us. Of coures my sister and mother came to see the maiden voyage and was watching with about 10 other people of our Three Stooges act. We paddled out far enough to strat raising th sail and by the time we had it anywhere close we had to paddle away from rocks. After about 20 minutes and paddling, swearing, and trying to raising the sails we gave up and came back in. We loaded up and headed home promising to be back tomorrow. After getting home we were informed that some of the pond regulars asked to the group if anyone knew those morons. Of course they were proud enough of us to pretend they didn't know us.
One summer we decided to try and sail the whole pond which is about 2 miles one way. The first 2 miles were a breeze and we started heading back thinking we were in the free and clear. That was until the wind shifted and finally died out. Of couse we were only about 1/3 of the way back and only had the emergency paddles. That was the day we swam/walked Long Pond and stopped on the way home for real paddles.
This happened after we got into a routine of sailing. I would work the smaller jib up front while my dad worked the rudder and main sail. Of course he tried to teach me actually sailing but, I was content with dealing with my small sail and taking in the sights. This all changed when one of my dad's favorite hats got caught in a gust and took off the back of the boat. Of course he throws me the line to the main sail and rudder, yelled here hold this and jumped off the back. After a few feet of pure fear I realized letting go of both the sail would just flap in the wind and the boat would not move. That was the one day I wish I knew how to sail so I could have let him swim back.