Front Trampoline Fun

This past Saturday, south of Quonset Point in the West Passage of Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island, I had (2) 12 year old boys and a 7 year old girl (200lbs altogether?), all in swim masks or goggles laying prone on the front tramp in 2-3 foot seas with a 10-15kt breeze.

The kids had a blast. Every wave got them wet, and every few waves was a total deluge to the point where they and the trampoline were floating. The boat was as slow as molasses in January, but the water was warm, the grins were wide, and the kids didn't want to get off.

Later, we ditched the boys and had just the 7 year old out there: boat was faster, rode higher, and Callie still had a blast.

Coming downwind back to the beach was almost a disaster: on a set of swells, the kids were so heavy that the bows dug in and almost didn't pop back up. I have to remember to trim the mainsail in under these conditions to lessen the downwind push. I got the kids off the front at that point, so there was no slow pitchpoling...

My only regret is that I didn't have a waterproof camera, because no matter how hard I try, I cannot adequately describe the scene of waves breaking over these 3 kids and the squeals of delight each and every time...