First Solo on Ceol Beag
A day after volunteering for sailability, I still wanted to go sailing, so I did. We arrived at club lake at around 11pm, Andrew was supposed to come, but was drunk again 
so it was just me, the Wife and son Cholo. When I invited Cholo to go sailing this weekend he said he was game but changed his mind last minute (what do you expect from a 6 year-old ).
So he just went swimming instead. I really wanted to take both of them out, but Cholo didn’t want to and I couldn’t take just Cheryl out since no one would be left with him.
So it was just me single handed.
When we arrived, there was a good breeze going, but by the time I got out to the water the wind had died, and coudn’t go out, so I waited. a slight breeze came about 30 minutes later and died again as soon as it got there. So I decided to go for a swim in the pool instead. 30 minutes later the wind started picking up, so I decided to give it another go. the breeze was pretty steady and I was on my way. weremermaid said she might be at TLYC on Sunday so I went that direction. A few hobies also went out, taking advantage of the good breeze, I was looking for a one legged lady with a yellow pfd on one of the hobies on the water but didn’t see any. 
Then I noticed the wind was starting to pick up, more and more and more! It came to the point that the weather was like the last time Andrew and I were there, and I was out on the water, alone, in raging conditions, and it was my first time single handed! and worse, my phone had no load
If it were a little calmer I would’ve gotten closer to tlyc to see if mermaid were there, but had to scratch that idea in favor of turning back, as it looked like rain over in the distance. (that’s me chickening out. )
the wind was blowing shoreward, so I made 180 degree turn to windward (keeping safe) and stayed on beam reach on the way back (and yes, wider gunwales and hiking straps would’ve been great at this point). then I turned down wind and was on a run on the way back to club lake. it was a good thing I was able to fix the sticking daggerboard problem last week, as I don’t know what would’ve happened if I had to let go of everything and had to pull out the db with both hands.
the whole time, the boat never felt unmanageable, even in the strongest winds that day. yes, I was mostly in control
woohoo! thinking back, I think I should’ve stayed out a lot longer. but my newbieness got the better of me I guess. all in all, I had loads of fun. It was kind of a mix of the second outing and the thrid.
I found my most comfortable seating position in the boat was on the floor, between the center thwart and the rear compartment. comfortable, maybe, but i actually like the vew from there. 
