First mate practice session

Figured the first mate needed to know how to both raise and lower the main - just in case - so we took off out of the slip and headed into Langford creek to practice. With the boat on autopilot (and trying to avoid some of the crabbers) I demonstrated both the raise and lower the main - with proper flaking.... and then gave her a chance. She got it up pretty quickly and did well to avoid the lazy jacks, but coming down was an issue, so we turned around and I demonstrated again - with the boat on autopilot. She did fine the second time - flaking it pretty well!. It was a short outing, there was no wind to speak of, but a necessary one...just in case I am ever knocked off the boat and she has to rescue me!