Log Date: Sat 25-Jun-2011
Boat Owner: DOSC
Boat: Laser Pico
Boat type: Dinghy
Arrived at : 13:00
Launch Point: DOSC Beach shore
Sailing Start: 13:50
Round corner: 14:30?
Back on shore: 15:20?
Boat in rack : 15:45
Back in car: 16:20
Cost: 30 AED for 2 hour boat rental
Deposit: 20 AED for the bung (returned when bung is returned)
Entry Fee: 10 AED

The original plan was to set sail with my better half. But the Dubai summer heat was a bit too strong for her, so I ended up going solo.

I showed up around 1 PM, and this time the security gate made me pay the 10 AED entry fee. I guess last time (the ole in n out) I got lucky and didn’t have to pay that fee.

There must have been nobody on the water– it looked like every boat was stowed away. It was pretty damn hot. So I paid the 30 AED rental fee, and dropped the 20 AED deposit to get the bung stopper. After changing into my trunks I went to get the boat and gear.

Last time (the ole in n out) I really mucked up the rigging, so this time I made sure I had all the right equipment before heading off to the launch point. As it Turns out, I actually grabbed the daggerboard for the Laser Bahia last time (the ole in n out). The Laser Pico’s daggerboard is an all-wood affair, so that should be easy to remember for next time.

Rigging went quickly and I was off sailing in no time. I went on my typical voyage: down wind to the small island in front of Jumeirah Beach Park, the round the corner and upwind on the return leg.

Sailing down wind (somewhere between a reach and a run) was a bit hotter than the last time I went out, less of a breeze. Being slightly hung over I’m sure didn’t help the situation. But still a pleasant cruise.

The way back up, though, was not smooth sailing. The wind seemed to drop at random times, mostly when I was preparing to tack 🙁 .

I found myself needing to veer off course just to find wind to get moving. I even did a gentle capsize in a tack gone wrong.

One great thing I did his time was to stop the boat and go for a shirtless dip in the

But all in all a gentle (read: not very exciting) day out sailing. Found out that the easist way to drag the boat up the sandy shore is to use momentum, and don’t stop until the trailer is on the paved sidewalk.

Cleaning and putting away the equpimemt I actually have come to find relaxing. I took my time and then back to the car.

This outing was a good illustration of the dependency of sailing on mother nature– no wind, no boogie. But even though the sailing was stop & go, it was still a good day out on the water.