On the way out, we passed several fine schooners, and I wondered why there'd be so many. Schooners are pretty, but they are reputed to be a pain in the butt to sail (lots of lines to pull.) The rumor must be true, as the owner of the Black Opal, a 45 or 50ft schooner (not pictured) called out to us as we sailed past. She offered to trade us straight across, her boat for ours. She really liked the look of my boat and she sounded very tired of hers. I declined her offer, even though it would have been cool to sail into Fossil Bay in that gigantic boat.