[jlodolce]

Tell me more about why you think the huge mainsail would keep a sailor at the dock?

 

[jlodolce]

Cameraderie,

We don't anticipate leaving the lake. It is a big enough ocean for me. I've done the intercoastal, and that becomes a pretty tedious trip. Especially when from Lake Ontario, you have to either go out the St. Lawrence, around Nova Scotia and Cape Cod, or down the Oswego canal then the Erie Canal then the Hudson just to get to the intercoastal. Both of these arms of the trip can take several weeks. I think the 40/40 would become a bit small for my wife and I for that long of time. I'd have to hide the flare gun from her in case she got tired of me.

I don't know if you are familiar with Lake Ontario, but it is a formidable body of water. I am much more comfortable on the open Atlantic than Lake Ontario at times. It's a big body of water. We cruised around the lake one year, and was almost 500 miles around. I want a good solid boat under me when I am out there.

 

[jlodolce]

Max-on; Thanks.

 

[jlodolce]

Freedom 40

Sab30. I would be happy to read a long email from you. You can send it to me at jlodolce@dreamscape. The system wouldn't let me send you a personal message thru their system since I do not have enough postings. Feel free to email me directly.

Guess what, the system won't let me post my full email address without 10 postings either.

 

[jlodolce]

True Blue: It does have a good electric winch. Thanks for the heads up regarding the large main.

 

[jlodolce]

Fynbo: thanks for the posting. It is helpful.

 

[jlodolce]

We have finished yacht the survey. The sails and engine are being surveyed separately. We anticipate closing in about a week or so.

I can't answer your question, since I have not sailed her. In fact my wife and I have done little sailing in our lives (we are adventuresome). My research has given me confidence that it is a very high quality boat, very easy to sail, but also very safe. I have a lifetime on the water, and am an experienced navigator, but all with power boats.

 

[jlodolce]

Freedom 40

Dan,

Thanks for the feedback. I will keep that in mind. At this point, we are looking forward to having a very good boat under us out on Lake Ontario.

By the way, I went to prep school in Connecticut with a Dan Goldberg....The same?

Jim Lo Dolce

 

[jlodolce]

Actually, I grew up right around the corner from Trinity. The other Dan Goldberg and I graduated from Suffield Academy in Suffield, CT (class of '65). Where do you keep your Freedom 45?

Jim Lo Dolce

 

[jlodolce]

A summer's experience with a Freedom 40/40

Well, here I am again. Another year older, a few more grey hairs, and our first summer of experience on our Freedom 40/40. It was a perfect boat for us. Solid, great design and workmanship. The big main was not a problem once we learned to release the Vang before putting the main all the way up. The power winch is a must. We put 400 miles on her in Lake Ontario and loved every minute. She gained all our respect when we hit a squall 8 miles outside Oswego in July. Packed 45 knot winds, thunder and lightening, and torrential rain. We had time to get the main down, but not the jib. She heeled right over with just the small jib up. But she was like the rock of Gibraltar. Fabulous boat.

If anyone wants to take a trip vicariously on a Freedom 40/40, go to this website. Incredible trip from Virginia, up the Hudson, thru the Erie Canal, Oswego River, across Lake Ontario, out the St. Lawrence, around Nova Scotia to Newport, RI. A well done website.

BlueJacket Trip Reports for 2008

 

[jlodolce]

Freedom 40/40 experience

We now have three sailing seasons on Lo Dolce Vita VII. We made the right choice. The Freedom 40/40 is everything anyone said it would be. The mast is indeed very tall as warned. We came very close a couple years ago entering the Bay of Quinte from Murray Canal in Ontario. We got right up the the bridge and did a very quick about face. We finally went under, clearing by no more than 3 feet. We've hit our share of squals, one packing 50 kt winds 10 -12 foot seas, raining so hard I could barely see the bow of the boat, thunder and lightening all around us. Didn't phase the ship, but phased me and my wife... Had one problem with a screw that came loose 3/4 of the way up the mainsail track, prevening us from lowering the main. Had to hoist my wife up on a bosun's chair with the main still up to fix it. I sure was proud of her... We do a lot of anchoring and found that neither the 44lb CQR nor the 44 lb claw held well (about 40 feet of chain), but switched to a 55 lb Delta which sets very easily and holds really well.

 

[jlodolce]

Just finished our 5th season. Nothing but praises for this boat. People see her and wonder what she is, but always comment on how good she looks. A real head turner, and a great sail boat.