After sitting neglected for 9 years and a year-log renovation and
repair, my C&C 24 - now named Carib Dreamer is snug inside a storage building after her first year sailing out of Saugatuck/Douglas on Lake Michigan.
While I have a list of projects to do this winter - including removing all topside hardware and toe rails for sealing and new topside
paint - I am pleased with how much I enjoyed the comfort and seaworthiness of this fine craft.
While I didn't get the chance to make any trips and limited my sailing to 3-4 hours at a time after leaving the mouth of the Kalamazoo River, I found her sailing abilities were remarkable.
She pointed well and handled up to 6 foot seas with great stability and neutral helm. I used the main full or with one or two reefs depending on wind and found that she was very well balanced. I used the standard 70/100 reefable
jib full most of the time, never got the 150? hanked on but did (see pictures) use the gennaker on a couple of occasions.
I did a lot of work to get this boat seaworthy including major hull
repair on both sides, but it is solid and, with a tiller pilot addition and a bit more projects completed, is ready for venturing further afield in the spring.
I came to know this boat farily thoroughly during refit and would be glad to help any others who are tackling major project.
Captain Murphy
s/v Carib Dreamer
Saugatuck/Douglas