I finally finished rigging my Spindrift 11N. I've used it for a couple of years as a dinghy with the Princess 36 and a few times as a lake boat with an electric trolling motor.

We had a cold front move through and the air was a little cool which here in Florida is Cold! But I was anxious to get her out anyway. The wife wisely backed out and took pictures from the shore.

The wind was a little gusty so I started out with a reef. The boat handle fine, well balanced and quick. The wind was calm near the shore where Victoria was taking pictures. After I gained confidence I shook out the reef and had some great sailing. She reached a plane a few times and once on a broad reach with a gust she took off on a plane like a shot with a slight hum from the centrboard. Wow!

I responded to the gust in different ways, pointing higher to ease the pressure or easing the sheet and falling off to gain speed. She was well mannered at all times. If I let her get over-powered and off her feet, she would try to round up just like she should.

The wind began to pick up and, after I ran down the lake, I had a little trouble on a tack and shipped about 10 gallons of water. It took a little time to steer with my knee, tend the mainsheet with one hand and scoop the water out with the other.

Now I was wet and getting a little chilled. The beat up the lake was a little rough but we made it fine. The wind was onshore to the beach at the ramp. To keep the centerboard from getting banged up I pulled it out early and ended up drifting into the marshgrass and shipping some more water. After a little struggle I managed to get into the beach. With the onshore wind, I had to wade in to get the boat to line up on the trailer. That hot shower when I got home sure felt good.