So after having my H16 for a month now, and not having any luck finding someone to go out with me for the first time, I decided it was now or never.

I've never sailed before mind you, and I've been a little apprehensive, considering not only do I not know how to sail but, how am I going to step the mast by myself. After reading post after post on the different methods proposed by experienced sailors, I at first thought, maybe this isn't something I should try by myself the first time.

Oh well, I wouldn't have even thought twice about it 20 or so years ago but I'm a bit more cautious nowadays.

So I get to the boat ramp (a rarely used ramp on a small lake so I could take my time) I did plan to ask someone to help me step the mast if there was someone around , but there wasn't, so I said to myself Just do it!

Ok, I get everything ready and slide the mast into place. I push down on the base of the mast and get it pinned very easily. Looking Good!

Next I make sure all shroud lines are clear of the corners, a little clean and jerk and up she goes. All the way up, but not quite seated so I give a little jerk and push and then pop! She seats and settles in.

At this point I lean my shoulder into it and pick up the line that I ran through the forestay, around the winch on the trailer, and pull it snug and cleat it off. Holy Crap! I did it! and it was easy!

Now, ever so gently, I climb down from the tramp to go connect the forestay to the bridle and what do you know, the line is twisted with the jib halyard, I think? As I'm looking everything over, trying to figure out how to fix the problem without lowering the mast, I see that the mast base has ripped out of the mast on one side. Uh Oh!

Ok so now I'm praying that it holds together until I can get it down. I un-cleat the forestay line and just as I start to lower it, POP! the other side breaks loose, and like in slow motion I see the base of the mast hanging in mid air. I try as hard as I can to keep it from crashing down and do pretty good until the weight and momentum nearly twisted my wrist off.

So, like the post title said, Today was my firt time out, sort of! and those masts are really tough! sort of!

I sure would like to go sailing one day!

I will post some pictures of the damage so that hopefully someone can help me figure out what I need to do to get it repaired. Unfortunately, right now, I can't remember my user name and password for the pix site to host the photo's.