How Important is Sailing to You
 

I just had my first sail this season after a dibilitating atrophy of
my left leg due to severe nerve compression and subsequent back
surgery. After all the depression and thoughts of selling the boat,
paying a yard to do all the work I used to do, having friends launch
the boat for me, I single handed it in reefing conditions. I've got
my life back. I'm so happy I could cry.

macks
Freedom 36

How Important is Sailing to You
 

In article ,
Marc wrote:
I just had my first sail this season after a dibilitating atrophy of
my left leg due to severe nerve compression and subsequent back
surgery. After all the depression and thoughts of selling the boat,
paying a yard to do all the work I used to do, having friends launch
the boat for me, I single handed it in reefing conditions. I've got
my life back. I'm so happy I could cry.

macks
Freedom 36

Please don't cry. You'll short out your keyboard.
--
Capt. JG @@
www.sailnow.com

How Important is Sailing to You
 

"Marc" wrote in message
...
I just had my first sail this season after a dibilitating atrophy of
my left leg due to severe nerve compression and subsequent back
surgery. After all the depression and thoughts of selling the boat,
paying a yard to do all the work I used to do, having friends launch
the boat for me, I single handed it in reefing conditions. I've got
my life back. I'm so happy I could cry.

macks
Freedom 36

I take it that the back surgery must have been at least moderately
successful, then. Hopefully you will continue to heal and gain strength.
Keep the boat if you can. As you can see, it will be good therapy for you.

--Alan Gomes

How Important is Sailing to You
 

Congratulations!

It's nice that you have a boat which is so easy to singlehand, eh?

Frank

How Important is Sailing to You
 

Marc,

Glad to hear about your recovery. Was the nerve compression a gradual or
sudden thing?

Did it start with numbness of the skin?

Hope your recovery is swift and complete.

Bob

How Important is Sailing to You
 

Yes it was gradual. Found my self having difficulty climbing from the
deck th the cabin top. progressed to nunbness around the knee and
sciatica. Diagnosed with Spinal Stenosis.Had injections which cured
the sciatica but caused extreme pain and total collapse of the leg.
Rejected that surgeon's suggestion of a total lamenectomy and fusion
of the L1-L5 vertebrea and consulted a surgeon at Columbia
Presbyterian. Had a partial laminectomy, left side , L3-L4, L4-L5.
This guy saved my life. Now, heavy rehab, physical therapy and nerve
drugs. Moral: don't wait to see the doctor.


On Mon, 29 May 2006 17:50:10 -0600, "Bob Crantz"
wrote:

Marc,

Glad to hear about your recovery. Was the nerve compression a gradual or
sudden thing?

Did it start with numbness of the skin?

Hope your recovery is swift and complete.

Bob

How Important is Sailing to You
 

Marc,
Good move avoiding the fusion. I had the laminectomy of the same discs 15
years ago. At the time, I was unable to walk for 6 months and spent a month
in traction (that didn't help). After the surgery, it took a while to get
back to normal activity, but I've never felt better. I hurt my back playing
football in college, and from the time I was 19 until I reached 35, I had
regular "down" times where I would be unable to work or even walk for a week
or two. That hasn't happened since the surgery (knocking on wood!). My right
leg had visibly atrophied and some of the nerve damage is permanent (I also
waited too long), but life goes on and as the ancient Greeks would say, it's
impossible to suffer without learning, and impossible to learn without
suffering (well, something like that). The sciatica was damned painful, so
that should've been a great lesson (I treat my back with a lot more respect
these days).
Good luck with the rehab, swimming and walking was a great start for me.
About 5 years after the surgery, I was able to get back into weight lifting
and the leg muscle came back with a lot of work.
Scout


"Marc" wrote in message
...
Yes it was gradual. Found my self having difficulty climbing from the
deck th the cabin top. progressed to nunbness around the knee and
sciatica. Diagnosed with Spinal Stenosis.Had injections which cured
the sciatica but caused extreme pain and total collapse of the leg.
Rejected that surgeon's suggestion of a total lamenectomy and fusion
of the L1-L5 vertebrea and consulted a surgeon at Columbia
Presbyterian. Had a partial laminectomy, left side , L3-L4, L4-L5.
This guy saved my life. Now, heavy rehab, physical therapy and nerve
drugs. Moral: don't wait to see the doctor.


On Mon, 29 May 2006 17:50:10 -0600, "Bob Crantz"
wrote:

Marc,

Glad to hear about your recovery. Was the nerve compression a gradual or
sudden thing?

Did it start with numbness of the skin?

Hope your recovery is swift and complete.

Bob

How Important is Sailing to You
 

Marc,

Sorry to hear about the back troubles, but I'm happy to hear that
you're able to sail again. The Freedom is certainly the right boat for
someone with back issues. I hope the recovery continues until you're
100%....or at least 95%.
It seems everyone has a back injury story. Mine came about when I
removed someone 300 lbs + from a club I was working years back. He was
dead drunk and I slipped his charge, but mistimed it and got caught.
The funny thing is I didn't really know I was badly hurt until days
later. I walked around for a couple of days then WHAM!!! Agony! I was
in bed for a week....but that led to a very sweet 24 year old waitress
taking care of me and other good things. Sometimes the worst pain leads
to a great insight.
Perhaps an electric winch is in your future? A fellow at my club
installed two because his shoulder is bad. Expensive, but he's sailing.
Wanna come for a sail soon? Suzanne and Thomas will do the sailing!


RB
35s5
NY

How Important is Sailing to You
 

Thanks for your good wishes and the invite. I will take you up on it
soon. As for elec. winches, I have Barient 28's and they do just fine.
I can't manhaul the sails anymore, but the winches are adequate to the
task. Having said that, a low cost and effective alternate is a
Milwaukee 3109-24 RT. Angle 18 Volt Drill with 600 inch/lbs of torque
or its 28 volt cousin with 1000 inch/lbs. Stick a winch bit in one of
those and your good to go.


On 30 May 2006 04:25:35 -0700, "Capt. Rob" wrote:

Marc,

Sorry to hear about the back troubles, but I'm happy to hear that
you're able to sail again. The Freedom is certainly the right boat for
someone with back issues. I hope the recovery continues until you're
100%....or at least 95%.
It seems everyone has a back injury story. Mine came about when I
removed someone 300 lbs + from a club I was working years back. He was
dead drunk and I slipped his charge, but mistimed it and got caught.
The funny thing is I didn't really know I was badly hurt until days
later. I walked around for a couple of days then WHAM!!! Agony! I was
in bed for a week....but that led to a very sweet 24 year old waitress
taking care of me and other good things. Sometimes the worst pain leads
to a great insight.
Perhaps an electric winch is in your future? A fellow at my club
installed two because his shoulder is bad. Expensive, but he's sailing.
Wanna come for a sail soon? Suzanne and Thomas will do the sailing!


RB
35s5
NY

How Important is Sailing to You
 

Not sure how long the handle is on the drill for leverage. The
Winchmaster is long enough though...

http://camdenboatstore.com/images/18577_f.jpg

On the other hand the price of it is rather hilarious...something like
2500.00 or so!

RB
35s5
NY

How Important is Sailing to You
 

Yeah, I know. But for $400.00 all up, the Milwaukee's handle is almost
as long and works like a charm. Also doesn't have to be hard wired
http://www.toolup.com/productinfo.as...&Man=Milwaukee


On 30 May 2006 05:31:00 -0700, "Capt. Rob" wrote:

Not sure how long the handle is on the drill for leverage. The
Winchmaster is long enough though...

http://camdenboatstore.com/images/18577_f.jpg

On the other hand the price of it is rather hilarious...something like
2500.00 or so!

RB
35s5
NY

How Important is Sailing to You
 

Been there....I f was devastated when I ripped my knee and tibia apart and
wasn't weight bearing for 5 months...the boat was the one incentive to get
through all the physical therapy and walk again. It was about the best goal
there could be, to be able to climb aboard again...Glad to hear you made it
to the goal....

"Marc" wrote in message
...
I just had my first sail this season after a dibilitating atrophy of
my left leg due to severe nerve compression and subsequent back
surgery. After all the depression and thoughts of selling the boat,
paying a yard to do all the work I used to do, having friends launch
the boat for me, I single handed it in reefing conditions. I've got
my life back. I'm so happy I could cry.

macks
Freedom 36

How Important is Sailing to You
 

Glad to hear you are getting back out on the water. I can understand a
bit of depression but there is a boat suitable for everyone; if you
sell the Freedom then so be it. What I don't understand is why you
didn't have the friends who launched the boat for you come along too.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

How Important is Sailing to You
 

90% of my sailing is single handed and I needed to test my limits. A
Freedom is just about the best single hander there is.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y3/...erRigged60.jpg

Everything is right the L to R : Main Sheet , 2nd Reef, 1st Reef,,
Cunningham, , Outhaul, Port Traveler, Vang, Jib Halyard, Main Halyard,
Jib Sheet, Starboard Traveler. Not Shown: Jib Down Haul, Lazy Jacks,
Self tacking Jib.




mOn 30 May 2006 07:12:36 -0700, "DSK" wrote:

Glad to hear you are getting back out on the water. I can understand a
bit of depression but there is a boat suitable for everyone; if you
sell the Freedom then so be it. What I don't understand is why you
didn't have the friends who launched the boat for you come along too.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

How Important is Sailing to You
 

90% of my sailing is single handed and I needed to test my limits. A
Freedom is just about the best single hander there is.


Marc is correct. He was kind enough to have Suzanne and I out on his
Freedom 36 with a solid breeze blowing. The boat is very easy to sail,
stiff and ultra forgiving. Maybe a Nonsuch could be easier....But I
liked the Freedom 36.


RB
35s5
NY

How Important is Sailing to You
 

Doug,

The JOY of Singlehanding is something that defies explanation. It is a
State of Mind.

Happy for you Marc! Get well 100%!

Ol Beach Bum Thom

http://community.webtv.net/tassail/ThomPage

How Important is Sailing to You
 

I have to disagree Doug, Solo sailing , having the ocean to yourself is
a very cool thing.

On a scale of 1-10 on how important sailing is I'd give it a 7, on
getting out on the water and mastering any vessel now thats a 10+ a
since of accomplishment thats hard to match.

Capt Suzy
35s5
NY

How Important is Sailing to You
 

SUZY wrote:

I have to disagree Doug, Solo sailing , having the ocean to yourself is
a very cool thing.



I never said it wasn't, although IMHO going across oceans
and/or thru traffic zones while sleep-deprived is
unseamanlike and puts others in danger.

I have sailed alone quite a lot myself, so what is it that
you disagree with, exactly?


On a scale of 1-10 on how important sailing is I'd give it a 7, on
getting out on the water and mastering any vessel now thats a 10+ a
since of accomplishment thats hard to match.


I never said it wasn't.

I only said that you'd have to be psychologically
maladjusted to not want to ever take other people with
you... or be such a foul-tempered cretin that nobody would go.

DSK

How Important is Sailing to You
 

DSK wrote:
SUZY wrote:

I have to disagree Doug, Solo sailing , having the ocean to yourself is
a very cool thing.



I never said it wasn't, although IMHO going across oceans
and/or thru traffic zones while sleep-deprived is
unseamanlike and puts others in danger.

I have sailed alone quite a lot myself, so what is it that
you disagree with, exactly?


On a scale of 1-10 on how important sailing is I'd give it a 7, on
getting out on the water and mastering any vessel now thats a 10+ a
since of accomplishment thats hard to match.


I never said it wasn't.

I only said that you'd have to be psychologically
maladjusted to not want to ever take other people with
you... or be such a foul-tempered cretin that nobody would go.

DSK

Oh!

Capt. Suzy
35s5
NY

How Important is Sailing to You
 

"DSK" wrote in message
...
SUZY wrote:

I have to disagree Doug, Solo sailing , having the ocean to yourself is
a very cool thing.



I never said it wasn't, although IMHO going across oceans and/or thru
traffic zones while sleep-deprived is unseamanlike and puts others in
danger.

I have sailed alone quite a lot myself, so what is it that you disagree
with, exactly?


On a scale of 1-10 on how important sailing is I'd give it a 7, on
getting out on the water and mastering any vessel now thats a 10+ a
since of accomplishment thats hard to match.


I never said it wasn't.

I only said that you'd have to be psychologically maladjusted to not want
to ever take other people with you... or be such a foul-tempered cretin
that nobody would go.

DSK


You forgot the case of an incompetent sailor on a death trap boat. It's
recommended that they sail alone.

How Important is Sailing to You
 

I only said that you'd have to be psychologically maladjusted to not want
to ever take other people with you... or be such a foul-tempered cretin
that nobody would go.



Bob Crantz wrote:
You forgot the case of an incompetent sailor on a death trap boat. It's
recommended that they sail alone.


Yes, there is that, too.

DSK

How Important is Sailing to You
 

Bob Crantz wrote:
You forgot the case of an incompetent sailor on a death trap boat. It's
recommended that they sail alone.


Been there, done that. A big part of sailing is learning how
to do it better, and everybody has to start somewhere.

The ones to look out for are the incompetent sailors who
brag about their death trap boats.

DSK

How Important is Sailing to You
 

"Marc" wrote:
90% of my sailing is single handed and I needed to test my limits. A
Freedom is just about the best single hander there is.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y3/...erRigged60.jpg

Everything is right the L to R : Main Sheet , 2nd Reef, 1st Reef,,
Cunningham, , Outhaul, Port Traveler, Vang, Jib Halyard, Main Halyard,
Jib Sheet, Starboard Traveler. Not Shown: Jib Down Haul, Lazy Jacks,
Self tacking Jib.

You forgot to put your pics into PhotoShop or Paint and put the arrows to
the items you are talking about. Remember, some of us are still trying to
learn from the arrogant sailors...

LP

How Important is Sailing to You
 

"Lady Pilot" wrote in message
news:dcufg.18259$8q.2909@dukeread08...

"Marc" wrote:
90% of my sailing is single handed and I needed to test
my limits. A
Freedom is just about the best single hander there is.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y3/...ompletedCabinR
oofwTravelerRigged60.jpg

Everything is right the L to R : Main Sheet , 2nd
Reef, 1st Reef,,
Cunningham, , Outhaul, Port Traveler, Vang, Jib Halyard,
Main Halyard,
Jib Sheet, Starboard Traveler. Not Shown: Jib Down Haul,
Lazy Jacks,
Self tacking Jib.

You forgot to put your pics into PhotoShop or Paint and
put the arrows to
the items you are talking about. Remember, some of us are
still trying to
learn from the arrogant sailors...


stupid girl...

How Important is Sailing to You
 

"Lady Pilot" wrote in message

Remember, some of us are still trying to learn from the arrogant
sailors...

If there's a problem wouldn't it be better to try to learn from sailors that
aren't arrogant?

The first true step to learning is to remove the impediments.

How Important is Sailing to You
 

Doug,

Your building a scenario that isn't necessarily true. Single handing
doesn't mean long distant voyaging. The majority of single handing is
day sailing, coastal sailing from port to port or even a few hours out
on the Bay just getting alone and relaxing. No lack of sleep. no heading
into crowded conditions. Actually, that is the goal of single-handing;
getting away from crowded conditions.

I've single handed many times just in the Bay; a hour up wind and then
setting the boat in hove-to conditions, a pot of coffee on, BBQ ribs in
the Dutch Oven and just drifting. Just me and the dog. Some of the best
evenings of my memory. Sure beat waiting for the "Pizza Guy"

http://community.webtv.net/tassail/ThomPage

How Important is Sailing to You
 

Thom Stewart wrote:

Doug,

Your building a scenario that isn't necessarily true. Single handing
doesn't mean long distant voyaging. The majority of single handing is
day sailing, coastal sailing from port to port or even a few hours out
on the Bay just getting alone and relaxing. No lack of sleep. no heading
into crowded conditions. Actually, that is the goal of single-handing;
getting away from crowded conditions.


Sounds good to me. I don't like crowds myself. I think there
can be as many different reasons to singlehand as there are
singlehanders.

We've always had more people that wanted to go sailing with
us than we've had time to take them. So unless I'm sailing a
Laser, singlehanding makes me feel slightly guilty for
leaving somebody behind.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King