I've had RedCloud for almost 10 years now and have sail her more than
3000 miles, but I feel I still have things to learn about sailing her.
Thats been the best thing about having a sailboat is learning how to
get 110% out of her. Ol thom has given many tips that helped me learn
how to get more out of the sails. When I bought Redcloud I had no
ideal what half the rigging was for.

Makes me wonder why someone would jump boat to boat every year, and
never really fully understand what he has. Its like starting to read a
book and putting it down half way thru.

How long did it take you to really understand everything your boat
can do?

I still get a new suprise every now and then.

Joe

"Joe" wrote ...

Thats been the best thing about having a sailboat is learning how to
get 110% out of her.


Joe, you'll NEVER get 110% out of her. It's impossible.


Makes me wonder why someone would jump boat to boat every year, and
never really fully understand what he has. Its like starting to read a
book and putting it down half way thru.

A.D.D.



How long did it take you to really understand everything your boat
can do?

Just started.

Scotty

3000 miles in 10 years? That doesn't sound like much at all. I've done about 8000 in the 4 years
I've had my cat. Even without long passages, I must do 600 miles a year just putzing around.

I'd say my knowledge of boats peaked when I was about 28. At that age I knew everything there was
to know about anything. Now I find there's more and more that I don't understand.

I'm often reminded of a minor revelation I had about 8 years ago. I took out a friend on my old
Nonsuch. He was a near-Olympic level Star sailor (I think he was first or second alternate for
Barcelona), and had raced for many years in Boston Harbor where we were cruising around. He started
playing with my rig and in about 15 minutes had us pointing 30 degrees higher and going twice as
fast (so it seemed).

Then I mentioned to him that we were heading right for the only rock in the middle of the harbor
(Lower Middle) and since it was low tide we should honor the buoy. He said "no, its on the other
side of the buoy" and I had to show him on the chart where the channel ran. He said "Damn, you
mean all theses years I thought it was over there?" He may have been the best racer in the city,
but he didn't know how to read a chart and didn't know about a channel that was a few hundred yards
from his race course.

The moral is that as much as you know about one aspect of the sport, its impossible to know
everything.


--
-jeff

"Joe" wrote in message
om...
I've had RedCloud for almost 10 years now and have sail her more than
3000 miles, but I feel I still have things to learn about sailing her.
Thats been the best thing about having a sailboat is learning how to
get 110% out of her. Ol thom has given many tips that helped me learn
how to get more out of the sails. When I bought Redcloud I had no
ideal what half the rigging was for.

Makes me wonder why someone would jump boat to boat every year, and
never really fully understand what he has. Its like starting to read a
book and putting it down half way thru.

How long did it take you to really understand everything your boat
can do?

I still get a new suprise every now and then.

Joe

When I bought Redcloud I had no
ideal what half the rigging was for.

Wow. That must have been an imformed purchase! Do you know at least 3/4 now?

Bwahahahahaha!

RB

The day you stop learning what your boat can do or will do, will be the day it
sinks, you die, or sell it.

Shen

Makes me wonder why someone would jump boat to boat every year, and
never really fully understand what he has. Its like starting to read a
book and putting it down half way thru.

Nothing wrong with either way. I had the Catalina 27 for 5 seasons. The Pearson
30 for 3. Perhaps we'll sail the C&C 32 for 2 or 3. I enjoy owning and trying a
variety of boats. I'm also unlikely to keep a car for more than a few years.
Some of the best sailors never own a boat. I make a point of trying as many
different designs as possible. Only in that way can I make anything close to an
informed decision about a long term boat down the road. Just like the 20's and
30's are time for sex with a variety of women, the same sorta goes for boats.
I'm 41 (next month) and not ready to "settle" down with any one boat yet.
There's still too much to learn and no single boat can teach it. I plan to sail
the 34XL for 3-4 years and then I want a Ketch, schooner or Yawl for a while.

Capt RB

The day you stop learning what your boat can do or will do, will be the day it
sinks, you die, or sell it.

Golly! Really? Drop the fortune cookie and back away.
The same can be said for nearly anything...cars, bikes, women....it's a dumb
point.
Move along.

RB

"Jeff Morris" wrote in message ...
3000 miles in 10 years? That doesn't sound like much at all. I've done about 8000 in the 4 years
I've had my cat.


Big Deal! What's that but three or four trips up and down the
ICW. Bwahahahahhaahahhhaahah!

S.Simon - has some serious ocean time aboard my yacht

Bull****! If one lives aboard and sails for ten years one
learns all there is to know about his boat.

It is only people like you who suffer from senile dementia
who constantly forget things so when you have to learn them
again you think you're learning something new.

S.Simon - has complete understanding and mastery of
his fine, blue water sailing yacht


"Shen44" wrote in message ...
The day you stop learning what your boat can do or will do, will be the day it
sinks, you die, or sell it.

Shen

You're no sailor.

Any real sailor develops a relationship with his vessel
as strong or stronger than any family ties.

That you buy, dabble and sell shows you're incapable
of loving a sailboat as you love even yourself.

S.Simon



"Bobsprit" wrote in message ...
Makes me wonder why someone would jump boat to boat every year, and
never really fully understand what he has. Its like starting to read a
book and putting it down half way thru.

Nothing wrong with either way. I had the Catalina 27 for 5 seasons. The Pearson
30 for 3. Perhaps we'll sail the C&C 32 for 2 or 3. I enjoy owning and trying a
variety of boats. I'm also unlikely to keep a car for more than a few years.
Some of the best sailors never own a boat. I make a point of trying as many
different designs as possible. Only in that way can I make anything close to an
informed decision about a long term boat down the road. Just like the 20's and
30's are time for sex with a variety of women, the same sorta goes for boats.
I'm 41 (next month) and not ready to "settle" down with any one boat yet.
There's still too much to learn and no single boat can teach it. I plan to sail
the 34XL for 3-4 years and then I want a Ketch, schooner or Yawl for a while.

Capt RB