Heading aloft for the first time

   There comes a time in every sailor's life when he or she has to get hoisted to the top of the mast to fix something, this is called going aloft. I haven't been up to the top of Kingsley yet, however, I crew a Thunderbird (type of boat) in Lake Washington weekly in the summer and it needed a few things looked at.
   My friend John, red shirt below, went up a few days earlier in way windier weather. I'll just say this: it is pretty scary. A little movement on the bottom feels like a lot of movement on top. Here's a great article on going aloft from madmariner.com.
   When we eventually do go to the top of Kingsley I vote for sending my wife up since she weighs like 85 less pounds then I do.
   ~Paul, John, Josh    ETC