adventure

waternwaves · Apr 13, 2015

Most anyone's exciting, interesting or entertaining stories about boating on small sailboats over the years involve or are the result of (not necessarily in this order):

Poor Planning,
Insufficient preparation or maintenance
Poor judgment (bad decision making)
Poor material selection
bad practices
poor (non-existent) crew selection
Unrealistic expectations
failure to pay attention
Made assumptions
Continued in unsafe conditions
getting in a hurry
failure to recognize danger
insufficient training
belief in personal infallibility.

and a tiny amount "luck"

Thankfully we have been blessed with a lot of boring wonderful trips.

One thing we observed on OPB's (Other peoples boats) early on, when a trip starts to get exciting, it usually gets progressively worse very quickly.

Ralph Johnstone · Apr 13, 2015

CCrane2299 said:
I have overnighted in my boat...tied to the dock with a portable heater running on shore power.

You've got to anchor out even if it's only for one night. After that, you'll be hooked (literally) ................... there's nothing like it and sometimes, maybe, just a little creepy.

I can remember my first night anchoring out with three other people on board. We were prepared and outfitted to the teeth. I kept tossing and turning waiting for a wind shift, strong winds, dragging anchor, something, ANYTHING to happen. And then it happened ................. a slow rubbing, sliding sound from bow to stern. We were in 30 - 40 feet of water and nowhere near the shore. The water was as black as ink. Maybe a piece of driftwood which decided to slide down the length of the boat. Then again, maybe not

. At 03:00, in the middle of complete blackness, Stephen King would have been impressed by what we imagined.

It's excitement like this that makes sure you've always got invites on the cocktail circuit :dance:. Who wants to hear about a B:neutral:RING trip where N:neutral:THING happened ?

Ken Cross · Apr 14, 2015

CCrane2299 said:
Just finishing up my 51st birthday. Been puny feeling all year. Its been cold all winter. While I enjoy the correct keel foil discussions and proper sail trimming advice... Really, I do. But I'm yearning for some sailing stories. I have overnighted in my boat...tied to the dock with a portable heater running on shore power. I'm ashamed to admit it but I'm scared to sail at night.

No need to worry about a night sail. Just go out in the evening while it's still light. Then come back when you think it's dark enough. Pretty quick you get comfortable.

We love to overnight at different places. We mostly find a marina where we can tie up. It's nice to be able to just walk off the boat and stretch the legs, shore side shower, visit with people. We often dine out as well.

Ken

MSter · Apr 14, 2015

CCrane, check out the travels of Sumner under the Destinations folder, in particular his recent trip to the Bahamas under the heading " back on the water again ". Very inspiring!
Mike

YVRguy · Apr 14, 2015

I agree with Ralph. Find yourself a nice little bay to anchor in and try it overnight. If you're concerned about something, run it by fellow sailors that have local knowledge. If they assure you there is nothing foolhardy about what you're doing, set your fears aside and go for it. To be extra safe you can practice anchoring during the day. The locals can tell you which bays have good bottom for holding.

Once you're comfortable, take your wife. There is something really special about sitting in a secluded anchorage with your significant other. When she's around I take it up a notch. She likes martinis so I bring everything I need to shake us up some beauties, (Tanquray 10 is a must) along with a selection of cheese and something nice to grill for dinner. Trust me, do that and the only night time disturbance you'll have on the boat is the one you're making yourselves!

victorhoisington · Apr 14, 2015

My favorite night sail is a Full Moon sail, nothing beats being out on a warm summer night watching the moon rise and then drifting along during the night.

A couple of summers ago, my wife and I had some business to attend to so, we didn't make it to the lake until very late. All of the usual crew had already crashed since a thunderstorm had blown through. We got to the boat about 11 PM and I said to the admiral, lets go. She asked if the diesel starting up would wake anyone and I assured her it would not.

We were gone in about 5 minutes, motored out and then set sails under a full June moon. We sailed down the lake and back with no one else around and just enough wind to move the boat but not enough to spill the wine glass. As we got back to our bay, the wind completely died, the admiral fell asleep as we made the turn back up the lake. I have to admit, when the wind completely died, I took a snooze for an hour or so. Being a light sleeper and knowing our lake, I wasn't too concerned. When I woke up about 3:30 AM, the boat was still perfectly parked in the middle of the bay.

We quietly put the sails away, motored into our slip and went to sleep. The next morning everyone complained how the storm had ruined their planned evening full moon sail. We just smiled and poured another glass of wine.

Fair winds,

31seahorse · Apr 14, 2015

Hello CCrane2299,

After reading (and agreeing with) the list published by waternwaves I am NOT going to admit to ANY exciting activity on the water!

The advice to "go anchor somewhere" is perfect. Just a short sail to a cove you know and an evening on the hook will be exciting. Look at the stars! Listen to the fish. Swat the mosquitoes. Enjoy the space of the boat. Drop, set, and retrieve the anchor. Cook aboard. Enjoy coffee in the cockpit in the morning. It's All Good!

The full moon sail is also a "must do"! Knowing the waters in which you are sailing is useful and comforting, but it all looks very different at night. Ghosting along in the moonlight is fantastic! Especially when the batteries that powered the instruments will not start the engine and you are forced to anchor or sail back to your slip. OK, there I did tell an exciting story. Whenever we are out on the boat we can more clearly remember the "adventures" than the simple sailing experiences. Best Wishes, Phil

Kermit · Apr 14, 2015

I agree with sailing under a full moon. We've done that once and LOVED it. We went out and watched the sunset. Then hoisted sail while all the power boaters powered up. Be sure and leave lights on at the dock if you're not gonna anchor out. It's definitely different at night. And 31seahorse is right about ghosting. You have to experience it to understand it. That was our first experience with sailing after dark. We've moved to a new lake now so we'll need a very bright night to do it again. But dang we're looking forward to it.

waternwaves · Apr 14, 2015

wonderful non adventures.....

watching the dolphins in the wake, while sailing under the full moon.

sailing the boat onto a dock between two powerboats with no help

swinging on the hook and waking up rested after gentle night of rocking

making sandwiches in the galley while the spouse holds the toe rail almost in the water

not to mention that all food and drink tastes better on the water

and time spent on water is a gift.

BarryL · Apr 14, 2015

Hey,

I totally get it. I haven't sailed since early November and I'm ready READY READDDY to go again. The sails should go on Thursday and I hope to sail this weekend. Anyway, just yesterday I was reading some of my older sailing stories and remembering all the fun times.

Some were simple: sail 15 miles across the Long Island sound, dock in a marina, do a little exploring, eat a nice dinner, sleep on the boat with wife and 3 kids, have breakfast, stretch the legs, then sail home. Others were more involved, like when my then 12 year old daughter and I sailed / motored 55 miles to Montauk. My wife and 2 other kids joined us, and we spent 4 days there, then 3 days in Greenport, then sailed home.

My point is to give it a try. My wife doesn't like spending nights on the boat. I love it. Two of my kids do too. So now if I go for a weekend trip I'll take my two younger kids and maybe my wife drives out to meet us for dinner or maybe not. I like staying on mooring - cheap and easy, usually includes launch service, no worries about dragging anchor.

Like others wrote - do a little research, find a place less than 20nm away, and then do it.

Have fun,
Barry

pateco · Apr 14, 2015

Mid 1990s, 35' Jeanneau, Racing from Fort Lauderdale to Port Lucaya Bahamas with the Gulfstream Sailing Club, 3:00 am, half the crew asleep, middle of the Gulfstream, dead silent, light breeze, full moon, millions of stars, porpoises playing around in our luminescent wake. AMAZING!!!

You don't get to make many memories like that in a lifetime. Make them while you can.

BigEasy · Apr 14, 2015

Just Do it!!
As others have mentioned, talk to some locals about easy sails to anchorages that are a few hours away that might interest you. Wait for a weekend that looks good with the weather & go! If you lack the confidence in doing this, perhaps you should consider taking a bareboat charter course. After losing my first sailboat in hurricane Katrina, I took some ASA courses at Pensacola Yacht Charters. The Bareboat charter course will teach you a lot of what you need to know & you will have fun doing it, sailing in the Bay/Sound, ICW, and Gulf. There will be opportunities for anchoring out and staying at some of the marinas on the coast. You will feel more confident in doing it in your own boat and will be qualified to charter in Pensacola also. I chartered over there many years before buying my present boat. So my advice to you is to go out there and make your own adventures. At age 51 you are still young!!

Coyote · Apr 14, 2015

CC;

I am a BIG believer in getting an EXPERIENCED SAILOR, preferably a friend, on board your boat, and let him (or her) show you how YOUR boat should be sailed,,,,
on a day you would NEVER consider taking your boat away from the dock,
the result is CONFIDENCE, and knowing your boat can take alot more than YOU CAN!!!

You will find that adrenaline RUSH you are looking for when your healing 20*, your graceful boat moving through the waves,,, and you are in CONTROL!
nothing better, get away from the dock, and GO FOR IT!

cheers,
Coyote

knight4 · Apr 14, 2015

CCrane2299,
I did not read all the replies, but as another Guntersville sailor have you tried anchoring out at Short Creek or the Eagles Nest?

knight4 · Apr 14, 2015

It is the first inlet past the bridge going toward the state park. The Eagles Nest is down by the dam. Both are great places to anchor. We go to short creek at least once a month to anchor and eat supper then back to Guntersville Marina. I have a red/white/and blue jib if you see me out, say hi.