Survey for long time sailors
 

Good thread Frank.

1. Did you sail more in the first five years or in the last five
years?

Started sailing in the late 60's. I was rated able by my boat club
in 1968. It was a treat to find that document.

As a kid I sailed often in a summer program, nearly every day. I've
sailed more the last five years but I'd guess it is fairly equal. My peak
year was 1995 with over 160 days or more.

2. If the answer to number 1. is the last five years, were you retired
during that time?

Yes, semi-retired in a profession that allows me to chose what days
I want to work.

3. Have you owned multiple boats and has each one been larger and more
expensive than the one before it?

No. 16' (sold) to 46' & 14' & 30' & 14'. The last four I still have.

I've tended to go smaller, I just bought another Sunfish so that I can bring
a friend--in a different boat. It would not be surprising if I never sailed
that one, as I like the other one better.

I tend to look for bargains in boats that are particularly fun to sail, and
fix
them up. If I were to buy another boat I can see myself going for a big
Cat as a carrier for smaller dinghy's. I could see myself building or buying
a Mini-transat boat, although I'm too old to race one of those, I think it
would be a blast to sail! Given unlimited funds, I'd buy a Gunboat 80 and
hang a Melges 24 on the davits.

My impression is the hard core sailors tend to get bored with whatever
they have for a boat and are constantly looking for something even more
thrilling and exciting. So while going bigger may impress the ladies,
chosing
a very cool small boat is more likely to impresses real sailors, since a
fast
small boat is more likely to give a quantum performance leaps and white
knuckle thrills.

4. As you moved up in boat size did that also correspond with moving
up professionally with more stress, responsibility and time
constraints?

No. Was prevented from owning a boat due to military committments.
Bought lots of boats after I retired.

5. If the answer to 4. is yes did you sail less with each new boat
after the intial purchase year?

I tend to buy boats and fix them up. So boat use is dependent on
what sort of projects I'm working on. I tend to sail a lot on OPB's
to see what they are like, and some years, I put in a fair amount of
time teaching sailing which limits time on my own boats. Often my
boat use is limited due to lack of crew as dry sailing required 1 or
2 crew to launch.

6. Did you raise kids and during the time that they had conflicting
interests and activities, did that contribute to less sailing.

No.

7. Did a high percentage of your closest sailing friends and
acquaintences at the start of your sailing carreer at some point move
from sail to power or off the water altogether?

No. Only three people I know went to power. Of these two
still sail regularly on OBP's. Only one out of many hundreds I've
known truly went over to the dark side, buying a "cigarette boat".
Two people I know have switched from power to sail. I'd say the
trend even or perhaps the other way. For bigger boats, age is not
an issue if you can find crew. I have known a few sailors who
have downsized to reduce maintenance work.

8. Even when you owned boats did you do bareboat charters on a regular
basis.

I often get invitations to sail in the Caribbean which don't cost me
anything--often from people I've invited on charter's I've paid for as
a thank you. I usually charter/visit in the Caribbean once each winter
and, I'm getting ready to head down there again in the next few weeks.

9. Did you race (either your own boat or crewed on others) when you
were young and do you still race.

Yes as a kid, lots about 15 years ago, and yes, today, but not as much
due to other commitments.

Survey for long time sailors
 

In article , Bart Senior .@. wrote:
a very cool small boat is more likely to impresses real sailors, since a
fast
small boat is more likely to give a quantum performance leaps and white
knuckle thrills.

You should go for the Hobie Tri-foiler....

http://www.hobiecat.com/sailing/models_trifoiler.html

Cool video..

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

Survey for long time sailors
 

1. Did you sail more in the first five years or in the last five
years?

First 5 by far



2. If the answer to number 1. is the last five years, were you retired
during that time?

I was born retired


3. Have you owned multiple boats and has each one been larger and more
expensive than the one before it?

Yes of course, always bigger and better.


4. As you moved up in boat size did that also correspond with moving
up professionally with more stress, responsibility and time
constraints?

Not professionally, my career peaked several years ago when I lost
100's of thousands of other peoples money with a cinamatic failure. I
do have more stress since I'm a real old father, Good lord my when my
boy's 17 I will be in my 60's talk about stress.


5. If the answer to 4. is yes did you sail less with each new boat
after the intial purchase year?

Yes it is harder and harder to get my wifes permission to use her
boats.


6. Did you raise kids and during the time that they had conflicting
interests and activities, did that contribute to less sailing.

Man o man, you hit the nail on the head there, my boy take all my
energy. I should have had kids in my 20's but I wasen't able to produce
sperm then.


7. Did a high percentage of your closest sailing friends and
acquaintences at the start of your sailing carreer at some point move
from sail to power or off the water altogether?

Yes all my friends have power boats. Few sail, I have to go to the bus
station to find crew.


8. Even when you owned boats did you do bareboat charters on a regular
basis.

Yes I love naked sailing.

9. Did you race (either your own boat or crewed on others) when you
were young and do you still race.

Race all the time, even have a G suit.

RB
35s5 Racer X's boat

Survey for long time sailors
 

A friend was about to buy one with her husband. They
changed their mind when the rig blew up, sailing in 35
knots of wind.

I saw one of these for $4k. It was a demo for sale.
Since they have a habit of blowing apart, you have to
consider a chase boat too.

"Jonathan Ganz" wrote
Bart Senior .@. wrote:
a very cool small boat is more likely to impresses real sailors, since a
fast
small boat is more likely to give a quantum performance leaps and white
knuckle thrills.

You should go for the Hobie Tri-foiler....

http://www.hobiecat.com/sailing/models_trifoiler.html

Cool video..

Survey for long time sailors
 

Yeah, that's not too uncommon. The first time I saw one on the bay,
the connection between the tandem sails broke. He could still sail it,
but slower.

In article , Bart Senior .@. wrote:
A friend was about to buy one with her husband. They
changed their mind when the rig blew up, sailing in 35
knots of wind.

I saw one of these for $4k. It was a demo for sale.
Since they have a habit of blowing apart, you have to
consider a chase boat too.

"Jonathan Ganz" wrote
Bart Senior .@. wrote:
a very cool small boat is more likely to impresses real sailors, since a
fast
small boat is more likely to give a quantum performance leaps and white
knuckle thrills.

You should go for the Hobie Tri-foiler....

http://www.hobiecat.com/sailing/models_trifoiler.html

Cool video..




--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

Survey for long time sailors
 

On 18 Jan 2006 08:34:09 -0800, "Capt. Neal®"
wrote:


9. Did you race (either your own boat or crewed on others) when you
were young and do you still race.

I raced boards when younger but found out most people who race are
losers and decided to no longer associate with that crowd of egomaniacs
who have more money than sense.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~


You have failed to draw an important distinction between racing as
crew and racing as an owner.

As a crew member, you don't have to worry about rounding up a crew, as
an owner you do.

As a crew member you can get drunk and not show up for the Sunday race
after the Saturday party, as an owner you have to hunt up the drunk
crew member who doesn't show up or find a warm body on the pier.

As a crew member, you don't have to pour money into your boat in order
to figure out how to beat the rating, as an owner your ego often
causes you to feel obligated to.

As a crew member you can convince the power hungry owner to press hard
at the start or at marks, as an owner you have to pay to repair the
contact damage created by this tactic.

As a crew member you can beg off of the return trip after a long race,
claiming you have to fly home to go to work, as an owner you have to
figure out how to get the boat home without a crew.

Yes many racing owners are egomaniacs as you state, however, you miss
a great opportunity for great sport with minimal input.

All of the above is related to handicap racing. One design is a more
pure form and the above doesn't necessarily apply.

Survey for long time sailors
 

"Frank Boettcher" wrote in message
...
On 18 Jan 2006 08:34:09 -0800, "Capt. Neal®"
wrote:


9. Did you race (either your own boat or crewed on others) when you
were young and do you still race.

I raced boards when younger but found out most people who race are
losers and decided to no longer associate with that crowd of egomaniacs
who have more money than sense.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~


You have failed to draw an important distinction between racing as
crew and racing as an owner.

As a crew member, you don't have to worry about rounding up a crew, as
an owner you do.

As a crew member you can get drunk and not show up for the Sunday race
after the Saturday party, as an owner you have to hunt up the drunk
crew member who doesn't show up or find a warm body on the pier.

As a crew member, you don't have to pour money into your boat in order
to figure out how to beat the rating, as an owner your ego often
causes you to feel obligated to.

As a crew member you can convince the power hungry owner to press hard
at the start or at marks, as an owner you have to pay to repair the
contact damage created by this tactic.

As a crew member you can beg off of the return trip after a long race,
claiming you have to fly home to go to work, as an owner you have to
figure out how to get the boat home without a crew.

Yes many racing owners are egomaniacs as you state, however, you miss
a great opportunity for great sport with minimal input.

All of the above is related to handicap racing. One design is a more
pure form and the above doesn't necessarily apply.

Agreed, but if you crew and are in the habit of not showing up for races,
the crew chief will find a replacement. On the whole, it is infinitely
better to crew than to own, with the exception that your name rarely appears
next to the results.

John Cairns

Survey for long time sailors
 

That's harsh, after all you are me, and quite parasitic. BTW I love it
when you swallow.

Hooo Ahhhaaaaaaaaa

RB
35s5
NY

Survey for long time sailors
 

Frank Boettcher wrote:

This is to indulge my curiosity more than anything else. For sailors
with at least 30 years experience, or more appropriately for sailors
who started at a relatively young age and continued to sail as they
aged. Feel free to elaborate on your answers with comments that
provide additional explanation or information.


1. Did you sail more in the first five years or in the last five
years?




More since getting the Mac 26M two years ago.


2. If the answer to number 1. is the last five years, were you retired
during that time?



Part of the time.


3. Have you owned multiple boats and has each one been larger and more
expensive than the one before it?




Yes.

4. As you moved up in boat size did that also correspond with moving
up professionally with more stress, responsibility and time
constraints?




More or less. - No "correspondence" between the two AFAIK.

5. If the answer to 4. is yes did you sail less with each new boat
after the intial purchase year?




No. (Can't resist taking the Mac 26M out.)

6. Did you raise kids and during the time that they had conflicting
interests and activities, did that contribute to less sailing.




Yes.

7. Did a high percentage of your closest sailing friends and
acquaintences at the start of your sailing carreer at some point move
from sail to power or off the water altogether?



Yes and No. ("Moderate"percentage.)

8. Even when you owned boats did you do bareboat charters on a regular
basis.




Yes.

9. Did you race (either your own boat or crewed on others) when you
were young and do you still race.


No.


Jim Cate

Survey for long time sailors
 

Frank Boettcher wrote:

This is to indulge my curiosity more than anything else. For sailors
with at least 30 years experience, or more appropriately for sailors
who started at a relatively young age and continued to sail as they
aged. Feel free to elaborate on your answers with comments that
provide additional explanation or information.


1. Did you sail more in the first five years or in the last five
years?



Portion of last five years since getting the Mac 26M.

2. If the answer to number 1. is the last five years, were you retired
during that time?



Part of the time.


3. Have you owned multiple boats and has each one been larger and more
expensive than the one before it?




Yes.

4. As you moved up in boat size did that also correspond with moving
up professionally with more stress, responsibility and time
constraints?




Yes, more time constraints.

5. If the answer to 4. is yes did you sail less with each new boat
after the intial purchase year?



No.


6. Did you raise kids and during the time that they had conflicting
interests and activities, did that contribute to less sailing.



No.

7. Did a high percentage of your closest sailing friends and
acquaintences at the start of your sailing carreer at some point move
from sail to power or off the water altogether?




A few.

8. Even when you owned boats did you do bareboat charters on a regular
basis.




Chartered, but not on a regular basis.

9. Did you race (either your own boat or crewed on others) when you
were young and do you still race.



No. (No equivalent competition.)

Jim Cate