new jersey, the best sailing on earth :)

[Joe]

The current American, whom is the best ski racer in the world right now, has 50 wins and is only 23 years old. I think that skier will surpass, possibly obliterate Stenmarks mark!

Kind of a stretch Scott, nice try though ... Mikaela Shiffrin's father grew up in New Jersey, correct, but it's unlikely the state can take any credit for her ski racing prowess.... Her mom and coach, Eileen, is from Mass, Vermont or New Hampshire have a stronger case..... after Colorado of course.

Anyway, Stenmark was a monster... I bought a pair of Elan RC SL (203cm slalom skis, metallic blue with red bases) because of him back in the mid 80's.... Too much ski for this 72 year old now.

 

[Will Gilmore]

Criteria should be based, in large part, on the actual sailing experience. Wind and sea state, view, channels, bays, coves, islands, etc. that make for interesting places to sail, depth and obstructions and most of all traffic should all be factored in. Where can you go from there? Then add in amenities like anchorages and marinas, dockside bars, access to supplies, fuel, and companions. Can you find help, a crew, fellow sailors?

An interesting proposal. Can't wait for the games to begin.

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[Terry Cox]

Where can you go from there?

Let's see. For starters north through the inside passage to Alaska. South to Mexico. West to Hawaii, Japan, south Pacific, et al.

 

[TomY]

Never sailed on Barnegat Bay, but have driven NJ many years ago. Perhaps time to throw down the gauntlet and compare PNW sailing to Barnegat Bay sailing. Any ideas on criteria? Number of remote anchorages (not marinas), islands to visit or circumnavigate, climate year around especially in the winter, etc. I would say that PNW sailing wins hands down...what say you?

You've got me because the last time I sailed Barnegat Bay, I was,...maybe 8-9 years old. My parents joined the 60's exodus, 'back to the land', and moved us to Vermont.

I think Jon's point, which I think he made tongue in cheek with his 'quotation marks', is that there is a vibrant sailing community on the coast of NJ. I remember racing on Lightnings in Barnegat Bay with some YC(we were never members). Racing sailboats of all sizes, was and is popular there.

Many from NJ and the metro areas moved to Vermont, mostly lured by the burgeoning ski industry of the 60's. NJ actually has some very pretty places (I grew up in Westfield that was quite rural then). But it has pretty poor skiing in comparison to NE(I'm sure Scott would agree).

On sailing grounds, NJ has some pretty parts but having sailed the East coast a couple of times, I've only gone into the NJ at Manasquan. Sandy Hook is a great place to wait for weather and Cape May is a fine stop for several days. The rest of the NJ coast isn't very easy to access.

I've never sailed the PNW but it sounds like one of the world class sailing grounds. Almost as good as the Coast of Maine (I imagine,...).

 

[sailnoproblem]

Okay I think what Jon showed in the video was that NJ is a great breeding ground for sailing. With all the clubs especially in Toms River, I know because I have to try and navigate through the courses on my way out of the river every Wednesday night.
No one is saying that the skiing in Jersey is world class or as good as NE or NW. However Jersey has produced world class athletes, In all sports. I would also mention Jersey has produced more then it's share of actors, entertainers, authors, and musicians. Springsteen and Sinatra come to mind.
For a state of this size "land wise" it has contributed considerably, and can compare in this aspect with any other state regardless of size. Especially with California and New York.
That said I am done defending the state which I live in. I also have a place and live part time in Florida on the west coast which I love, but I guess Jersey will always be home. Family lives here and that is my priority.

 

[Will Gilmore]

Well spoken.

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[jssailem]

This a fools game.
My Mom is pretty than yours, well my mom drives a faster car, ya but we eat more candy then you..... etc.

We live and sail in the areas we choose. I have enjoyed East coast sailing, and west coast sailing. Having enjoyed both. They are different.

I am hoping to get a chance to explore the NE sailing off the Maine coast.

With Hundreds of Miles of sailing waters in the Pacific NW I will have adventures that could take a lifetime of exploration.

2019 is looking to be a wonderful year. Happy New Year all.

 

[Will Gilmore]

This a fools game.
My Mom is pretty than yours, well my mom drives a faster car, ya but we eat more candy then you..... etc.

Yeah!
No, but really. My mom could sail circles around your mom.

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[jssailem]

A playful boast and conjecture...

 

[TomY]

This a fools game.
My Mom is pretty than yours, well my mom drives a faster car, ya but we eat more candy then you..... etc.

We live and sail in the areas we choose. I have enjoyed East coast sailing, and west coast sailing. Having enjoyed both. They are different.

I am hoping to get a chance to explore the NE sailing off the Maine coast.

With Hundreds of Miles of sailing waters in the Pacific NW I will have adventures that could take a lifetime of exploration.

2019 is looking to be a wonderful year. Happy New Year all.

That's a nice peacemaking gesture,...but it's not true. Quality of sailing varies by locale.

I've never sailed the West coast, but I have sailed most of the East coast from the Bahamas to Canada - twice in fact.

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being your boat located in a narrow river or canal - too many hours from open water to even daysail;

and 10;...

where your boat on moored or docked in a protected cove on an island, where you can sail on and off mooring, located in the center of an expansive convoluted coast, on the edge of the open ocean,....where reliable prevailing winds can send you off in 360 degrees, and sail you back.

In between those two points, lies the East coast of the US for sailing quality.

My Maine coast rating varies from 4 to 9. No secret, my area Penobscot Bay is highly rated (not just by me) but no 10 if only for the lobster buoys, and maybe the rocks.

From what I read, the PNW negatives are; lack of wind and rain. And from that reading(and scuttlebutt), the San Juan Islands and surrounding area, sound like the pinnacle of the West coast, and rate the 9.

It's a combination of geography, topography, people, weather. These factors are dynamic and work together in a highly rated sailing ground.

Disclaimer: I've only sailed Lake Champlain for a large lake. Is there a 9 in the Great Lakes? I think so.

 

[jssailem]

@TomY your scale is reasonable.
And I have no disagreement with your ratings. Having recently discovered the many varied natures of the PacificNW and to know that there is 750 NM of coast line from Port Townsend to Ketchikan AK with large and small fiord like river openings, bays and estuaries on the inside passage, for shear size and variety I feel blessed at being able to spend 2019 beginning the exploration of this area.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Kind of a stretch Scott, nice try though ... Mikaela Shiffrin's father grew up in New Jersey, correct, but it's unlikely the state can take any credit for her ski racing prowess.... Her mom and coach, Eileen, is from Mass, Vermont or New Hampshire have a stronger case..... after Colorado of course.

LOL! Well sure it's a stretch! I said the roots of her success are in New Jersey. Jeff Shiffrin didn't just grow up in New Jersey. He ski raced at Great Gorge and cultivated his interest in ski racing there. He obtained his skills in New Jersey that led him to ski race at Dartmouth. He and Mikeala's mom became a couple because of their mutual interest in ski racing at the college level. To state the case shortly, if there was no ski racing in New Jersey at Great Gorge in the late 1960's early 70's, Mikaela Shiffrin would not exist as a ski racer and would not have been born. BTW, Nolan Kasper, a recent World Cup ski racer and Donna Weinbrecht, Olympic Gold Medalist in Moguls started their competitive skiing careers at Hidden Valley, in New Jersey.

All of this discussion of New Jersey as "The Greatest" is obviously tongue-in-cheek. But it is also a little bit of a defensive reflex for all of the abuse that we seem to take simply because of an ugly characterization of the state. I grew up in Illinois, so defense of the state isn't in my blood or ancestry. But I have lived here now for almost half my life and I can tell everyone that for such a small, compact package, New Jersey has a big footprint in the world. We don't enjoy all of the great natural features that are found in many other places in the world, and we don't get to crow about it with more than a little bit of smugness (we'll leave it to New Yorkers to do that ) . But we get enough of the taste of these adventures like sailing, skiing and everything else that you can think of, and it develops our hunger to go everywhere in the world for our adventures, and that's where you will find people from New Jersey. I recall years ago when my younger son was 10 and we were at Sugarloaf for an older son's ski race. It happened to be a deep snow day, so Elliot and I were skiing deep snow on a steep glade in the trees. Some guy was following along with us and eventually was standing next to me as I was watching Elliot ski down in front of us. He said with astonishment, "where did that kid learn to ski?" I just said "New Jersey" and then pushed off to follow.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

after Colorado of course.

Joe, I almost missed this. No, not after Colorado. She was merely born there and started skiing there. Vermont/New Hampshire was where she really developed her talent. She went from Burke Mtn to the World Cup. Without that step, she doesn't win like she does today.

Anyway, I think she is just getting started. She dominates slalom but has wins in GS, SG and DH. I think she will eventually be even more productive in those events, which will push her way over the top for total wins.

Stenmark was a slalom & GS specialist and did not race in DH. He did win 3 overall world cup titles, but his refusal to enter DH races cost him as the FIS changed the scoring to make it necessary to race DH to be eligible for the overall title. Shiffrin has won the last 2 overall World Cup titles and has a dominating lead already this year. It appears that she will dominate for several years to come.

 

[jon hansen]

in the video about the national championship of the e scow class of sailboats, many said that new jersey IS the greatest sailing on earth, for that venue. i can see why too. not penobscot bay, the san jaun ils, san francisco bay, or sarasota. the protected waters, the probability of wind, the hosting clubs full of kind, helpful, courteous people.

racing sailboats takes cunning and skill. practice and crew. the best racing for me is when the competition is of the highest level. that video showed highly skilled sailors plying their craft. i enjoyed watching it while my vessels are all in the barn. as a scow sailor myself, i found it interesting to see what the 'best' do.

if i'm just messing around boats, i'm having a '10' day. no mater what body of water.

it's a good thing will's mom did not show that week , open a can of woop ass and show everyone up.

you all are great . these chats are a hoot

 

[Scott T-Bird]

if i'm just messing around boats, i'm having a '10' day. no mater what body of water.

That's exactly right! All it takes is a few '10' days - and it can be anywhere. That's when sailing or some other adventure becomes not just sport or liesure, but a "way of life". I think the folks that find that "way of life" are the luckiest.

 

[Terry Cox]

if i'm just messing around boats, i'm having a '10' day. no mater what body of water.

Agree Jon. Spent some time around river and bay water growing up and was always intrigued by it. Then spent two Pacific cruises on a carrier in the Navy. Later built a career and raised a family of four boys for thirty years. When it came time to retire, I cast my woodworking plans aside for a new experience with a sail boat. Boating bit me hard. Different world out on the water and no regrets here. Been cruising our current boat since 2002 and hope to continue for a few more years. Messing around boats is quite the pleasure, hard to explain or justify and very gratifying especially with family and fellow boaters.

 

[Will Gilmore]

it's a good thing will's mom did not show that week , open a can of woop ass and show everyone up.

my mom on the ropes course at Hurricane Island on her Outward Bound course and trying out the helm of our family schooner before launch, circa 1973.

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[dLj]

This talk of the NW vs NE vs NJ all sounds rather limited in scope. If you want to talk world class sailing locations there are many places that have to get put in there, let's just add in the Mediterranean... I could add numerous others...

dj

 

[TomY]

This talk of the NW vs NE vs NJ all sounds rather limited in scope. If you want to talk world class sailing locations there are many places that have to get put in there, let's just add in the Mediterranean... I could add numerous others...

dj

Having sailed for a decade of seasons on Lake Champlain, I haven't seen any sailing grounds that are more beautiful than that lake. Where is Snug Harbor? We sailed out of Charlotte, Vermont.

I've seen a bit of the Scottish coast, and that is a good example of 1 to 10 variety in sailing grounds.

For many UK sailors, harbors are few and far between(many dry!), with miles of treacherous coastline where you are exposed to severe weather.

Still, they are avid and great sailors and take their conditions in stride!

I'd say if a 10 exists on the Scottish coast, it would be the Northwestern coastline area of the Hebrides. I took this shot off Isle of Skye, waiting for the ferry boat.

The sailing vistas in this area, took my breath away.

 

[dLj]

Having sailed for a decade of seasons on Lake Champlain, I haven't seen any sailing grounds that are more beautiful than that lake. Where is Snug Harbor? We sailed out of Charlotte, Vermont.

Snug Harbor is in front of Valcor Island. And yes, Champlain is beautiful sailing grounds. Lots of islands, typically good winds, I am quite happy to be sailing there. But that's only from May through October. Rather short sailing season.

dj