This holiday weekend Park graduated from half-hand boat mate to a three quarters mate. The intensive training started when we were down in Vero for a week - just us two girls on LaLeLu. Her first skill mastered was starting and running the dingy outboard. Next trick she learned was to push off anything that got too close when I was backing the boat out of the slip in Vero. In short order, the fending off trick was followed by grabbing and cleating a mooring line. 
Stage two of Park's training was completed this past weekend. Park and I brought LaLeLu down to Cocoa on our own for the Fourth of July. We were meeting up with a bunch of other ECSA boats. The City shoots off fireworks in the park adjacent to the anchorage, so I knew it would be tight in there. I was nervous about anchoring on my own - well me and my half-hand. To make matters worse, LaLeLu's windlass is currently on the fritz. No worries though as it turned out to be a piece of cake. I fed out the rode by hand. Park took the helm and listened intently as I yelled "reverse" "neutral" and she complied accordingly. Great job, Park!
