Fight Club____for Sailors

[Surfesq]

Yikes! Watch out for the Lady Pirate. Let's see what are good excuses for not sailing a minimum of 3 days a month?
1. Heather Lockleer (Or in P. Booty's case David Hasselhoff) insists you stay in bed for 60 days until you are comfortable with each other sexually.
2. Your arm was gnawed off by a coyote because Heather Lockleer's cousin just doesn't, well, look as good as her....and she is a heavy sleeper.
3. You are in Iraq.

[Surfesq]

Paul your nickname is CardiacPaul for God's sake. How can you not agree with me? Let's hope its because you like to take chances and not because you like Polish Sausages!

But you are right about your other point. It seems to be a maxim in sailing. The most expensive boats are the least used. Status v. Utility?

[CharlieCobra]

Geez, if only... Upon winning the Lotto a couple of things would happen. I'd buy a place I saw in Kauai, buy a 40' Yatchet and a 55' Motoryacht. Then spend a few months getting aquainted with the three, maybe longer. I appreciate fine machinary too much to let it rot at a dock. I'd rather roll it over and sink it while pushing the envelope on it.

[Surfesq]

There is one other exception:
Your boat is on the hard because you are refitting it for a long cruise.

[cardiacpaul]

I was given the moniker buy some good friends that are rebuilding a 45 ft CSY.
It could have something to do with the fact that I've had 4 heart attacks (2 while at the marina) 4 angio's and have 5 stents, and I'm still vertical. too tough to give it up I guess.

As far as "taking chances"... I believe that you can take as many chances with your life and property as you'd like. When you involve someone else by unsafe practices, or, expect the insurance company to payoff because you want to get your adreniline rush, then, I take issue.

I've seen high end fountains/scarabs cross the bow of a 30 ft sail at better than 50 mph with 15 ft to spare AT NIGHT, the sailboat had its spreader lights on, so you can't tell me they couldn't see it. had that happen to me, i'd have flare gun handy, trained on the lead stinkboat....

I've also seen little kids on a good size cruiser without PFD's running willy nilly up from bow to stern. We've all seen unsafe practices. We've all seen enough news footage. I agree that "when its my time", I'll go along, willingly. But I'll be damned if I'm going to do much preventable to speed up the clock, eh?

[Pirate's Booty]

David Hasselhoff doesn't really do it for me - may I suggest Taye Diggs or even the darling and hilarious Owen Wilson?

And, Charlie Cobra, please stop giving me excuses to shoot/drown you - it is just too tempting and now I believe I may have scared poor little Surfsq!

[Surfesq]

Dude, that's messed up! You are like the terminator! I agree with what you are saying entirely. No one here is advocating being reckless with other peoples lives. But have I taken chances in the past? Sure.
As for the Insurance, I don't quite agree with your take. For example, if you go off shore you must purchase a special rider for your policy to reflect the increased risk. I expect that if you make a claim the carrier will investigate the you know what of the cause and it could effect future policy premiums.
And the stinkpotters! There is one good thing about fuel prices!

P Booty: Maybe you are just a little freaky naughty because you are in Cali....

[Surfesq]

Not Campy Enough....

[pluscard]

Pointing up or reefing...

I agree those are 2 choices for heavy weather, but how about letting the traveler to leeward, putting on some backstay, and tightening the vang...

If you don't shape your sail - what shape is it?

Plus

[Surfesq]

That's an excellent suggestion and probably would work better. I could say I was trying to keep it simple but honestly that didn't occur to me until you mentioned it. You could also get some shape in the sail by loosening the outhaul.