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Why do we sail?
I been doin a lot o thinking about sailin lately, especially as my
date to go cruisin gets closer, mostly wondering why I do this. I came up with several reasons. 1. Just cuz its fun to sail. 2. Seeing new places that can only be seen by boat is fun. 3. Companionship 4. Thrill seeking 5. An obsession with problem solving (my personal fav) 6. Choose yer own reasons. 1. Now, I have long had a larger boat (28' and before that 23') but only recently built two 12' Minicups. For just plain sailing fun, the Minicups beat the big boat by a mile. Given a choice, I'll sail them over the big boat. In the past 20 yrs of sailing, I have had maybe 20 times of good sailing fun on the big boat, not a good investment if sailing fun is the only reason. 2. Most large boats kept in the water see the same places and cannot easily go far afield without taking a lot of time. However, the dream is to go very far afield and this is seldom done. I am not sure the investment has been justified. I wonder if a trailerable boat would be better. The Minicups have already taken me several places I could never sail in my big boat so although they are small, they have been a great success. They cannot go to the Bahamas but thya go other places. 3. I have always enjoyed the people I have met while cruising and the boat nuts I have met at other times. With the two MiniCups, my kids have enjoyed them immenseley, especially my son who can sail with his friends and girls he meets. 4. I havent had the Minicups out in enough wind to scare me to death so cannot compare to the big boat yet. The big boat has been a thrill sometimes (as distinct from pure fun). 5. Both big and little boats allow for lots of problem solving. However, the big boat allows me to excercise my real favorite, navigation (yes, I am nuts, I like Trig.) All this makes me wonder, are small boats more fun than big boats? Should my next Big boat be a smaller trailerable big boat? Is the old saying about boats being used in an amount inversely proportional to their size true? What do y'all think? |
1. Just cuz its fun to sail.
For me: making a good long run in a steady force 4 or 5, averaging 8 or more knots for a couple of hours. Just whizzing along the waves, even though you can do that easier in a small hobie. 2. Seeing new places that can only be seen by boat is fun. Main reason are islands. You never go there unless by boat. Other shores are easier to reach by plane. 3. Companionship And loneliness! Alone at night with all other crew sleeping, in a gentle breeze with the stars above... 4. Thrill seeking See 1. Unless thrill is sailing in the South China sea, hoping not to be pirated :-) 5. An obsession with problem solving (my personal fav) As little as possible, but can be demanding and rewarding. 6. Choose yer own reasons. Animal life! Only albatross you'll ever encounter will probably be on a boat. Same with dolphins, whale, etc. And one mo I forget the huge cost of running a boat very easily once I'm under sail and I can pretend sailing is for free! ;-) And in opposition to powerboating, it probably is. Victor |
Parallax wrote:
I been doin a lot o thinking about sailin lately, especially as my date to go cruisin gets closer, mostly wondering why I do this. I came up with several reasons. 1. Just cuz its fun to sail. Yes. Big time. 2. Seeing new places that can only be seen by boat is fun. Not sure about this... there are not many places that can "only" be seen by boat, and there are much more cost-effective & comfortable ways to travel. 3. Companionship Most people have to drag along an unwilling spouse. 4. Thrill seeking Many hours of placid enjoyment interspersed with moments of stark terror. 5. An obsession with problem solving (my personal fav) Not for me. 6. Choose yer own reasons. 1. Now, I have long had a larger boat (28' and before that 23') but only recently built two 12' Minicups. For just plain sailing fun, the Minicups beat the big boat by a mile. That's because you chose the wrong big boat. See current thread on "fast cruising boats." If you think the Minicup is fun, what would you do with a Finn or a Johnson 18? 2. Most large boats kept in the water see the same places and cannot easily go far afield without taking a lot of time. Very true. .... I wonder if a trailerable boat would be better. The Minicups have already taken me several places I could never sail in my big boat so although they are small, they have been a great success. They cannot go to the Bahamas but thya go other places. My wife and I cruised most of the East Coast between Cape Cod & Savannah, a few spots on the Gulf Coast, and many of the notable inland lakes, in a 19' trailerable. We had it for ten years and loved it. We went much further afield, more often, than anybody we know with a big in-water boat... including retired friends... 3. I have always enjoyed the people I have met while cruising and the boat nuts I have met at other times. With the two MiniCups, my kids have enjoyed them immenseley, especially my son who can sail with his friends and girls he meets. This is a very big plus. There are a few jerks who sail, but they're in the minority. 4. I havent had the Minicups out in enough wind to scare me to death so cannot compare to the big boat yet. The big boat has been a thrill sometimes (as distinct from pure fun). That's when the real fun starts. 5. Both big and little boats allow for lots of problem solving. However, the big boat allows me to excercise my real favorite, navigation (yes, I am nuts, I like Trig.) Don't know if that's nuts, it's an unusual taste. I like to work things out on paper just because that way I am independent and I *know* it's right. All this makes me wonder, are small boats more fun than big boats? Heck yeah. Small boats are (usually) more responsive and give more feedback. Greater sensation of what the boat is doing. Also the risks are much lower (usually). Should my next Big boat be a smaller trailerable big boat? Is the old saying about boats being used in an amount inversely proportional to their size true? Most often that's true because the owner is busy working to make payments. Sometimes it's not true... when I was a kid, one of the biggest yachts in our club was a Cal 40 owned by a retired codger who sat on it all day... he did not like to singlehand but he & I would take the boat out. We got to be quite good friends. Fresh Breezes- Doug King |
Every few months on rec.climbing there is a thread about "Why do we climb?"
I even remember something similar on rec.woodworking. Short answer for all is that we enjoy the challenge, and occasionally the thrill of accomplishment. |
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On Wed, 20 Oct 2004 11:50:32 +0200, A-MAze
wrote: 1. Just cuz its fun to sail. For me: making a good long run in a steady force 4 or 5, averaging 8 or more knots for a couple of hours. Just whizzing along the waves, even though you can do that easier in a small hobie. Indeed, that is why we have kept a boat (J36) for the last 15 seasons that lacks most of the cruising amenities one might expect in that length. It somewhat recalls the 5-0-5 we started sailing in 40 years ago, but doesn't capsize and throw us in the water. :-) 2. Seeing new places that can only be seen by boat is fun. Main reason are islands. You never go there unless by boat. Other shores are easier to reach by plane. Many of our favorite anchorages on the Maine coast are only accessible with one's own (or bareboat) boat. But there are other lovely anchorages barred to us by draft. I think sometimes of a drop-keel trailer sailer, but none of them sail like the J. 3. Companionship And loneliness! Alone at night with all other crew sleeping, in a gentle breeze with the stars above... Both. crossing the Gulf under a clear sky, and actually seeing the sky turning around Polaris. 4. Thrill seeking See 1. Unless thrill is sailing in the South China sea, hoping not to be pirated :-) 5. An obsession with problem solving (my personal fav) As little as possible, but can be demanding and rewarding. 6. Choose yer own reasons. Animal life! Only albatross you'll ever encounter will probably be on a boat. Same with dolphins, whale, etc. Quite so. Sailing the Gulf of Maine through 25 years we have seen yellow-footed albatross, many whales and dolphins, an enormous Great White Shark, and, perhaps oddest of all, a Blue-throated Hummingbird. The latter at anchor near Roque Island. Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC J36 Gjo/a "Religious wisdom is to wisdom as military music is to music." |
On Wed, 20 Oct 2004 07:57:59 -0400, DSK wrote:
3. Companionship Most people have to drag along an unwilling spouse. Not me, I am glad to say. Barbara was the one who suggested the J36, and she still loves it, 15 years later. She retires next April, and we will spend the next 5 or 6 months aboard, bumbling east whenever the weather is agreeable; staying put when it isn't. No long voyages, but Gulf of Maine for sure and Cabot Strait if we get that far. Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC J36 Gjo/a "Religious wisdom is to wisdom as military music is to music." |
"Brien Alkire" wrote in message ...
I experience peace when I am tuned into the rhythms of the wind, water, sun, moon and tides. The ocean is a place where I often feel very small and insignificant, and there is something enlightening about that experience. I also love the adventure and romance of the sea. These are the reasons I sail. If I only have an afternoon then I love to sail a dinghy. It puts me in closer contact with the wind and water than I would experience on a big boat. But there is a special feeling I can only get by being at sea for one or more days, and that requires a big boat. I can't really put my finger on it. But there's a frame of mind I get into when time is measured in watch cycles and changes in the wind and sea rather than my work day schedule. My questions about boat size vs amount of fun are not to be considered rhetorical. I am actually asking for advice. After my cruise to the Bahamas on my 28' monohull, I have been planning to build a 32' trailerable trimaran. I will be able to sail my S2 until the tri is finished so there is no delayed gratification. However, the fun of sailing the MiniCups has me wondering if maybe a 32' tri is too big and cumbersome. Would maybe a 27' trailer-tri be better and more fun? What is the break point where hassle exceeds fun? I was formerly considering a Kurt Hughes design but then decided that if I spend all this time, I might as well simply buy the folding parts from Farrier and build one of his; my reasoning being that the folding system will make set-up and breakdown easier. Any advice on boat size vs fun for a tri? |
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Don't know where you'd like to trailer-to, but........have you
considered just gettin' a tractor-trailer rig that'll haul what you've got, forgetting building anything, haul it to wherever....and resume sailing, now. I got one from Ebay for $5K, including trailer and hydraulic hoist. You don't need any other credentials since it'd not be a commercial rig, rather your personal vehicle + you can get one with a sleeper, nay, even double; so, you could 'camp out' on the way. If you don't like it, sell it. Good fortune, Courtney Parallax wrote: "Brien Alkire" wrote in message ... I experience peace when I am tuned into the rhythms of the wind, water, sun, moon and tides. The ocean is a place where I often feel very small and insignificant, and there is something enlightening about that experience. I also love the adventure and romance of the sea. These are the reasons I sail. If I only have an afternoon then I love to sail a dinghy. It puts me in closer contact with the wind and water than I would experience on a big boat. But there is a special feeling I can only get by being at sea for one or more days, and that requires a big boat. I can't really put my finger on it. But there's a frame of mind I get into when time is measured in watch cycles and changes in the wind and sea rather than my work day schedule. My questions about boat size vs amount of fun are not to be considered rhetorical. I am actually asking for advice. After my cruise to the Bahamas on my 28' monohull, I have been planning to build a 32' trailerable trimaran. I will be able to sail my S2 until the tri is finished so there is no delayed gratification. However, the fun of sailing the MiniCups has me wondering if maybe a 32' tri is too big and cumbersome. Would maybe a 27' trailer-tri be better and more fun? What is the break point where hassle exceeds fun? I was formerly considering a Kurt Hughes design but then decided that if I spend all this time, I might as well simply buy the folding parts from Farrier and build one of his; my reasoning being that the folding system will make set-up and breakdown easier. Any advice on boat size vs fun for a tri? -- s/v Mutiny Rhodes Bounty II lying Oriental, NC WDB5619 |
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