Fight Club____for Sailors - Page 4

Surfesq · #31 (**permalink**) 06-12-2006

See there you go. A guy and his wife who get it. You are sailors. (Rule 3: You like to see your rail wet). It's not the size of the ship but the motion of the ocean! lol. You know KM2x, if you hang some Mylar Sails on that Catalina, it will bomb! In my opinion, 27 feet is really the ideal size for club racing. It's so much fun in big winds. My favorite boat of all time was my J Boat (25') which I raced growing up. We also raced Catamarans and had a lot of fun with that.

Surfesq · #32 (**permalink**) 06-12-2006

Hellosailer: A surfing sailor / lawyer no less.

NCountry · #33 (**permalink**) 06-12-2006

Don't post to boards much. Do a lot of sailing. Of course, I'm also an accomplished Vintner (Yaaaa Whooooo)....fisherman, hunter and in many ways very successful. Also a terrible Adrenaline Junkie. Alas, I'm a cruiser not a racer. I love to feel the wind and the spray and yes I've turned on the auto pilot and hung on the rails just to feel the breeze.
I do have one pet peeve and that's people that think they can place everyone in a "group" and that's where he or she should stay........to each his own and leave mine alone......
Now for those that want to tell me I'm not a sailor. At the marina they call me a "storm rider". When other boats are coming in I'm headed out with friends on other boats to catch the wind. We can handle 40 to 60 knots winds aboard "fiasco" with no fear (yes, we do put a reef in the main when called for.) BUT there are those days I put a reef in when the winds get to 20, I set the auto pilot and pour a glass of one of my favorite homemade wines and kick back and enjoy a nice ride. I've caught some of the most beautiful sunsets on those days as well as enjoyed some of the most awesome starry nights you have ever seen. SO......let the other guy do what makes him happy and just shut up and sail!

Cat400 · #34 (**permalink**) 06-12-2006

Prefer to be sober when sailing...and after also. There are responsible sailers who remain sober for the safety of the crew and other boaters and then there are others who do not. Sailing is a great sport and safety including your own should be at the top of the list.

sailingdog · #35 (**permalink**) 06-12-2006

I'd have to agree with Cat400. There are too many idiots out on the waters who don't seem to realize that drinking and boating shouldn't be mixed. Sailing is a great sport, regardless of weather you're a racer, cruiser, or something in between. Drunken sailors have a place—on shore leave in a seaport dive... not on a boat.

Surfesq · #36 (**permalink**) 06-12-2006

Exactly Storm Rider. See Rule 8. (Your slip neighbor says..."I thought you left the marina because I have not seen your boat in a while.") And also Rule 4. You are a sailor my friend.
And by the way, I am very much a cruiser now and proud of it. It happens when you have a family or you want get out and see the world. "Cruise" off the West Coast of Puerto in the Mona Passage sometime. It's not unusual to encounter huge open ocean swells of 15 feet plus with 25 knots of breeze. On a sunny day no less!
I am pleased that you enjoy surfing the rail. When you sit on the high side of the rail and look down and across your boat. You can really see the way the boat moves through the water. It's awesome.
Have you done any trolling from your sailboat?
As for drinking and sailing. I am am not advocating that! But a tall cold Rum and Tonic with Lime in the Bar with my mates after a rowdy sail. Abso-frickin--lutely. You are welcome to join us anytime.

pigslo · #37 (**permalink**) 06-12-2006

While i don't cotton to anyone defining what i am or not., i see the value in stirring up the board. Remember what Popeye said "Iyam what Iyam".

Pigslo

Surfesq · #38 (**permalink**) 06-12-2006

Popeyes boat....I think it looks like an Island Packet 30

Surfesq · #39 (**permalink**) 06-12-2006

So, now we understand the parameters of "Fight Club...For Sailing."
It's about having fun with it. It's also about that desire we all have to get offshore and find a new horizon. Its about testing our limits. Our desire to do what people like Dame McArthur and others like her have done. Can we do it....that is the question. There is a great poem by E.B. White about sailing that I can't put my fingers on tonight. The essence is that the magic of sailing is the ability to sail for the horizon and to go as far as your courage will allow you to go before you turn back. That is why we love this sport/passion/hobby. Whatever you want to call it.

Here is a list of some of the great books I have read over the years. I will list just a few tonight. Who knows, maybe they will inspire you to take your own trip into the blue desert.

Bernard Montessier: Tamata and the Alliance.
Adlard Coles: Heavy Weather Sailing.
The Best of Sail Trim
Peter Nichols: A Voyage for Madmen.
Richard Henderson: The Experiences and Techniques of the Lone Voyagers. Singehanded Sailing.

There are so many more I have not mentioned. But this will give you good list of great reads that will inspire you to leave the confines of your Bay or Harbor. Whether you do it alone or with friends or your wife and family. It matters not. The point is get out there. Live life to the fullest.

pluscard · #40 (**permalink**) 06-12-2006

My buddy was in the J/24 race in Annapolis Saturday and had his boat planeing on the downwind to the finish line. He carefully jibed, but didn't have the twings tight and the spinnaker started pulling up and to the side, and next thing his boat was on its side!
The weird thing was the chute was still flying, and it took them several minutes to get it to release. They moved from 3rd to last after the episode.
Nobody got wet, nobody got hurt.