Our First Bareboat Charter
We decided that it would be best to charter from the same company we earned our Bareboat Certification from (how could they refuse their own students?) and do a similar itinerary to gain confidence. We signed up for a week on a 44 foot Jeanneau sailboat with 3 cabins and a pullout settee (couch). We invited our friends and their son who was the same age as our twin boys, and the whole lot of us went. It was a little different sailing with kids and others who had zero experience. We had a fabulous time, tons of laughs, and memories.
We still have stories we chuckle at. Like the time I asked Bob if he could see why the jib would not furl. I was pulling hard on the rope clearly marked “Jib Halyard”. On our lake boat in Montana the halyard is at the mast, on the Jeanneau all lines ran to the cockpit. For some reason this confused me. Bob went forward to see if the furler was stuck on something. Once he was at the bow, I allowed some slack in the line for him to work out a knot if there was one. Bob started yelling from the bow that something didn’t seem quite right. I peered forward but couldn’t see him or the issue. I went forward and there he was like a bug in a web with sail flapping all about him on the deck. I realized then what had happened. The halyard is the line that pulls the jib up to the top of the mast and the furling line winds the sail to pull it in. Sheets adjust sails left and right. Oops! So many words! Like learning a different language! I went back to the cockpit and explained to Bill. He helped raise the Jib back up THEN I started pulling the furling line, releasing Bob. I shouted, “Thanks Bob! It is all fixed now!” and off we went.
ABOUT THE BOAT:
Jeanneau 44 Deck Saloon: The combination of a Philippe Briand designed hull and an interior and deck design by Franck, Darnet and Flahault. Built in France. Length overall 43’9″, Hull length 42’7″, Hull Beam 13’11”, Light displacement 21495 Lbs, Shoal keel draft 5’2″, Fuel capacity 53 gal, Water capacity 87 gal, Engine Yanmar 57 HP / 41 KW
We liked the Jeanneau, a beautiful boat! It would be perfect for island hopping. We liked the larger windows and the raised saloon and galley so that it was easy to gaze out when down below. We decided it would not be a great boat for us for living on and going out in the open seas. We only need 2 cabins and we would want a heavier displacement hull, also larger fuel and water tanks.