Fight Club____for Sailors

[Surfesq]

Hi Rich: I agree with you that if we were racing optimum sail trim v. heel would dictate speed. I just have advocated having some fun on the water that's all. It sounds like you hate to lose! Ironically, my buddy's Island Packet just refused to heel. As you may know, it has a full keel and tends to bob up and down in heavy conditions if the sails are overpowered. On that boat you pretty much have to reef in anything over 13 knots in order to maintain any kind of speed. But when you are dragging a volkswagen on the bottom of the boat you have to adapt!

On a sad note, as we sailed south on Saturday morning, the search crews appeared to still be looking for the body of Mr. Merrill. (The gentleman who dissappeared from his boat last week). I have not heard if his body was recovered over the weekend but what a tragedy. We broke the tension by joking around that if he floated by we would flip the poor bugger over with the boat hook to see if his fly was down before we called the Coast Guard.

[CharlieCobra]

Originally Posted by Surfesq

Charlie I hope you can find a ride before the wind dies down. Don't worry, it's going to be flat as a lake down here on the Chesapeake Bay.

Oh, I did!

For those of you that remember the first sail where I found a hole, broke the rudder and generally had a blast, this one was much better. I got the boat back Thursday and the new rudder Friday. My daughter and I got her in the water after having to press the keel winch handle into double duty as the trailer winch handle. The winds were 15 gusting steady to 20 and we made sail with both full up. She goes hard to windward now that the keel works and hits hull speed easily. There were four sailboats on the lake, I'd never seen four out there at one time before and two got knocked down with one capsize. Everyone came out ok but the powerboaters had issues too. We spent some hours out there ripping across the lake wherever we cared to go. Some of the gusts were sustained and I had to round up twice when the rails got below the water. It was absolutely AMAZING! This is what I pictured when I bought this boat and decided I was gonna learn to sail. Other than some water in the cockpit from rambunctious sailing, the boat stayed nice and dry. I got to experience the keel cable song and was amazed at how high the pitch would get at speed. I'll be back in the water soon, maybe this afternoon if I can find some crew.

[Surfesq]

Wow! What a great experience. It sounds like you and your daughter had a terrific bonding experience. That reminds me of racing my brothers on Cats when were kids!

[toastchee]

Tears of laughter.....I gots ta meet you sometime you pirate!

Originally Posted by Surfesq

"Someone do something. That wreckless thrillseeker Surfesq is at it again. He is encouraging people to act like men. Doesn't he know that I am scared of big wind. And even worse, he is threatening to drink alcohol and chase women this weekend. I am so glad I have plenty of nice cold Fresca on hand to keep me company while I browze catalogues and wait for the wind to die down."

[CharlieCobra]

It was outstanding. This daughter is the same one that crewed on the maiden voyage and she had a blast, even if she got nervous when those big gusts slammed us. It's cool, both of us learning to sail, she at 28 and me at 50. Eventually, I'll get all eight of my chillin's in the boat for some fun but schedules get tough some times. My wife still isn't ready to get aboard, not that I blame her.

[Surfesq]

Your wife will come around. You are changing the world for the better...one kid at a time!

Toastchee: Definitely. We should have an official/unofficial happy hour in Annapolis for Sailnet members!
One thing that cracks me up about Sailnet is the endless parade of kooks who feel the urge to lecture people. I figure they either old curmugeons or just total geeks. For example, that guy who lectures me about drinking all of the time. He must be an AA Sponsor or something. It's hilarious. Like I am going to suddenly say, "Thanks faceless Dude, for putting the whole drinking thing in perspective. Perhaps you are right. I need to hike my pants up 6 more inches and give up my decadent lifestyle."

[CharlieCobra]

Heh heh, not likely eh?

[Surfesq]

Definitely not. Someone once said "If God didn't want to us to make wine why did he grow grapes?"

[Surfesq]

I think I might have made John from Ontario cry. He left with his Ball and started his own thread. "A Contrary Opinion." What a shame.

I don't apologize for anything I have written in this thread. Nor do I expect anyone who has posted anything on this thread to apologize. This has been great and I have enjoyed reading everyone's notes. Even John from Ontario. Hell, I even love the shots taken at me by the tea-toddlers. It's all in good fun.

See the point of all this is that whether you like to get wet on a windy day or spin on a hook reading Popular Mechanics while eating Crunch & Munch, you are a sailor. 99.999999% of the civilized world that sails enjoys a crisp wind and the feel of the sea misting across the bow. 10% or less have the stones to get on a boat alone and sail out into the ocean. 1% or less need to do it. 70% of this site thinks that if you advocate dipping a rail and have a few laughs along the way you don't know how to sail. 100% of the time that is hilarious.

I say be like Charlie Cobra. Get your daughter out on the lake in 20 knots and have some fun!

[Surfesq]

Sasha V: I just noticed that you said you always have your archery gear onboard. That's awesome and a tad frightening! I was laughing to myself thinking about you in a tight anchorage. You miss the target....meanwhile on the Yacht floating next to you the Captain raises a glass to propose a toast... You can imagine the rest.