Sailing Influences

[knothead]

I'm feeling a little nostalgic today. Got to thinking about my Dad.

There was a whole lot I didn't like about the old man, we butted heads on way too many occasions and he left me with a few memories that I look forward to forgetting.

But, he taught me a lot and without a doubt is responsible for my love of sailing.

I suppose I could tell stories about him for hours. But briefly, he was a man who loved the sea and sailing boats.
He loved women and whiskey.
He knew how to use tools and could build anything.
He could draw and he could write.
And he was a real character.

Here's a picture of him engaging in two of his favorite activities simultaneously, (ooohh, bad sailor, drinking at the helm).

Attachment 2274

I wonder how many of you owe your love of sailing to your parents.
Any good stories?

[lsusailing]

Nice classy post, amazing picture, what an old salt!!!, Good email for us to sit back and think.

Nicely done

John
s/v Daphne

[CharlieCobra]

Nope, my Pops never sailed a day in his life. I'm taking the position of your Dad with my kids and hope the love of sailing sticks with some of them.

[PBzeer]

From my Dad, I got a love of the water. From my Mom, I got a lot of my attitude towards life that let's me enjoy being out here. From reading, and an inherent sense of romanticism I got my love of sailing.

[knothead]

Originally Posted by CharlieCobra

Nope, my Pops never sailed a day in his life. I'm taking the position of your Dad with my kids and hope the love of sailing sticks with some of them.

If I remember correctly, my Dad told me that he ran away from home in rural Illinois. I don't think that he ever got close to a coast until he was pretty well grown.
It always starts somewhere.

BTW, are you sure that you're doing them a favor. Damn expensive and demanding lifestyle.

[knothead]

Originally Posted by lsusailing

Nice classy post, amazing picture, what an old salt!!!, Good email for us to sit back and think.

Nicely done

John
s/v Daphne

"Salty" was a term often used to describe my Father.

Here's another pic from the same, (I think), voyage. Single handing from Seattle to San Francisco.

Attachment 2275

[camaraderie]

Nice post knotty. I got my love of sailing from my wife whose dad was a master of all tonnage and sailor. Didn't take long to set the hook!

[CharlieCobra]

Originally Posted by knothead

BTW, are you sure that you're doing them a favor. Damn expensive and demanding lifestyle.

I figure that's for them to decide. I just give them as many experiences and opportunities as I can.

[craigtoo]

Yeah....my dad built his own boat back when I was about 3 or so... He built a mold from wood and laid up his own fiberglass hull.

Built the deck .... etc... etc. the whole thing. All from plans by Bruce Roberts.

Mom went out to construction sites picked up old lead pipes from around NYC and dad melted it all down for the ballast.

Every single thing on that boat other than the hardware, the spars and the rigging was made from scratch..(ok.. the head was bought too...)

The first mast even lasted a year!

The second has lasted 30+ years.. live and learn.

Anyway... we grew up racing every Wednesday night on the LI sound. We were always competitive and finished near the top of our fleet. Now we race on the Magothy.... Dad had RC duty last year and I skippered his boat with my sister... it was the first time in 33 years that the boat has gone out without him at the helm.

We did the summer cruising thing... Connecticut river, Hudson river, Around the Island.... it's what we did.

Dad wasn't exactly Salty... he just REALLY likes sailing... and his boat.... We grew up learning an extremely practical approach. Evaluate the situtation constantly and "Do What Makes Sense".... There are no easy answers or formulas. Use your brain....(Usually it was "Use Your Brain Dumbass!")

Here's a pic of Dad at the helm of my boat sailing from Norfolk to Cape Charles in about 25 kts.

He and my Uncle, Rudolph were the only sailing 'Influences'. I can't even remember if I've ever sailed on any other boats beside mine, my dad's or my Uncle's... (well 420's in college.. )

By far... Dad was THE influence.
Meet Wolfgang....

[Breznup]

My dad put me on my first sailboat when I was seven in an old navy life jacket. I was laying on the foredeck when they came about and very calmly fell overboard. That was 55 sailing years ago. I started my son at the age of 4 on an old Ghost made by Janus. He is on his third Lightning.