Shakedown Cruise

Yesterday we sailed Wind Raven across the bar at Newport for the first time in over a year. Upon leaving the harbor the wind was around 12 knots, the swell at 6' with small white caps. We motored out to the second buoy, headed into the wind and set the main. Proceeding NW we checked her newly tuned rigging. After confirming all was well so far, we then deployed the jib. To my chagrin we discovered that I had run the jib sheets on the wrong side of the forward shroud....OOPS! After correcting this oversite on my part, we deployed the jib for the second time successfully. By this time the wind had increased to around 18 knots and the wind waves proportionately. Wind Raven performed admirally, sailing close hauled at ten degrees. I let her fall off to starboard at around 40 degrees, turned the helm back to port and waited. To my surprise she responded coming around nicely into the wind.
The swell and wind waves were increasing along with the wind, which was now at 20 knots. We continued NW for about three hours before heading due south on a broad reach, continuing south a few miles past the the harbor. The wind was now at 23 knots with breaking whitecaps. Heading NW taking the waves at around 30 degrees to port it was a bit rolly at times, but again she performed wonderfully. At approximately three miles NE of the jetties I headed her in, as the wind was continuing to build and it was getting a bit bumpy. We sailed her accross the bar into the harbor. Upon coming under the Newport bridge, which is behind a bluff to the NW, the wind suddenly died. Wind Raven was slowing rapidly when we were hit by a strong gust broadside but to no avail, as again she pulled out of it as we sailed her into the bay. Turning into the wind under power we furled the jib and dropped the main. It did take two attempts before successfully docking Wind Raven in the heavy wind, but I must take the blame, as I missed the first shot at it. My only complaint concerning Wind Raven is her steadfast refusal to back to starboard. Even with a Max Prop! Our friend Tom, who has sailed his entire life and has owned several different sailboats, both larger and smaller than Wind Raven, commented on Wind Raven's performance (with a big smile on his face)saying "Life just doesn't get any better than this--if only the temperature were 20 degrees warmer and the water blue!" Now we just need to get our poor cat, Boogie, some seasick meds as he did NOT fare as well inside the v-berth as we did topside.