I'd like to introduce to you the rowing schooner: The Missouri River Mermaid.

I think the pictures should do most of the talking.

 

This week is the final push.  Basically I had my last day in the Air Force, had to finish building the boat, and get my place ready to sell.  The boat took priority for me. Luckily, Amateur-Sophist came into town for a relaxing week/vacation.  Obviously, he ended up taking the completely full gas tank out of the Buick to find a shitty bit of wiring on my part... So, his easy vacation became a working one.  

Long into the night.  

Things eventually got finished enough that it was time for sea trials under sail.  So after a short ceremony, she was rolled back down the road and across the street into the Gulf of Mexico.  

Right into the water... with a little set up.  The plan was to slowly test and add sails as we figured how it worked.  Increasing the amount of sail in a controlled and reasonable way.  At first that worked fine.  The Mermaid was sailing along just fine under only the foresail. Just as we were getting things under control, a gust of wind came and unfurled the Main.  Boom!  And just like that she was a full on schooner!