On Wed, 21 Apr 2010 13:49:15 +0000 (UTC), Brian Welcott
wrote:

And an engine greatly enhances safety in many circumstances.
What I am suggesting is that you should well know your inclinations
before selecting your boat.
You may be a stinkpotter at heart, and find a trawler more suitable.
There are also motor-sailors available if you want to hedge your bet.

There's some good advice there but also some anti engine inuendo that
we could do without. I've done a lot of sailboat distance racing in
the past so I'm well aware that it is possible to sail 100% of the
time regardless of conditions. Waiting for wind however is not half
the fun and some people find it to be pure torture, especially with
the sails slatting around, the sun beating down relentlessly, and a
cloud of black flys moving in for the kill. It is also a big issue
for people with jobs who have to schedule time off in advance and
return promptly when expected.

It is also a fact that the average cruising boat is not set up for
efficient light wind sailing. That requires a lot of attention to
minimizing weight, top notch sails in flawless condition, an
obsession with keeping the bottom/keel/rudder smooth and clean, etc.

Wayne.B wrote in
:


There's some good advice there but also some anti engine inuendo that
we could do without.

Don't know where you saw that. I clearly stated that any flavor of power
is up to the individual.
No sailor is compelled to use or not use an engine.
If you are offended that some choose to use sail almost exclusively, that
is for you to deal with.
Just as those running under sail must deal with any offense you offer them.

Regards, Brian

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 21 Apr 2010 13:49:15 +0000 (UTC), Brian Welcott
wrote:

And an engine greatly enhances safety in many circumstances.
What I am suggesting is that you should well know your inclinations
before selecting your boat.
You may be a stinkpotter at heart, and find a trawler more suitable.
There are also motor-sailors available if you want to hedge your bet.

There's some good advice there but also some anti engine inuendo that
we could do without. I've done a lot of sailboat distance racing in
the past so I'm well aware that it is possible to sail 100% of the
time regardless of conditions. Waiting for wind however is not half
the fun and some people find it to be pure torture, especially with
the sails slatting around, the sun beating down relentlessly, and a
cloud of black flys moving in for the kill. It is also a big issue
for people with jobs who have to schedule time off in advance and
return promptly when expected.

It is also a fact that the average cruising boat is not set up for
efficient light wind sailing. That requires a lot of attention to
minimizing weight, top notch sails in flawless condition, an
obsession with keeping the bottom/keel/rudder smooth and clean, etc.


You mean like a spinnaker? I think there's another... not a gennaker...
can't think of it. Sort of between the two.

--
Nom=de=Plume

On Wed, 21 Apr 2010 13:32:15 -0700, "nom=de=plume"
wrote:

It is also a fact that the average cruising boat is not set up for
efficient light wind sailing. That requires a lot of attention to
minimizing weight, top notch sails in flawless condition, an
obsession with keeping the bottom/keel/rudder smooth and clean, etc.


You mean like a spinnaker? I think there's another... not a gennaker...
can't think of it. Sort of between the two.

Sailboats that are really serious about performance don't carry just
one spinnaker, more like 3, 4 or 5, one for every possible wind
strength and apparent wind angle. Nothing improves a boats light wind
speed like a spinnaker but the wind has to be from the right
direction, and it takes crew with expertise to set, douse and trim
them. An experienced crew on a racing sailboat, as conditions change,
can set a new spinnaker inside the old one, douse the original, and
continue on with no loss in speed during the maneuver.

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 21 Apr 2010 13:32:15 -0700, "nom=de=plume"
wrote:

It is also a fact that the average cruising boat is not set up for
efficient light wind sailing. That requires a lot of attention to
minimizing weight, top notch sails in flawless condition, an
obsession with keeping the bottom/keel/rudder smooth and clean, etc.


You mean like a spinnaker? I think there's another... not a gennaker...
can't think of it. Sort of between the two.

Sailboats that are really serious about performance don't carry just
one spinnaker, more like 3, 4 or 5, one for every possible wind
strength and apparent wind angle. Nothing improves a boats light wind
speed like a spinnaker but the wind has to be from the right
direction, and it takes crew with expertise to set, douse and trim
them. An experienced crew on a racing sailboat, as conditions change,
can set a new spinnaker inside the old one, douse the original, and
continue on with no loss in speed during the maneuver.


I suppose... not interested in racing, but I get your point.

--
Nom=de=Plume