Anyone Like Raftups
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I've actually had my boat in one of those...
A mix of large power and sailboats. I forget what it's called. When you have enough boats to complete a full circle, everyone can go from boat to boat via swim platforms (really helps to have one!) If the circle is big enough, it provides a protected area for swimming that lets parents keep an eye on their kids...even a relatively small circle makes for fun potlucks and "everyone bring a heavy h'ordoevre" cocktail parties.
It can be a be challenging to tie up, 'cuz sterns have to be lined up perfectly and bows apart, held off by tension in the lines all the way around the circle. So fenders on the stern quarters are usually all that are needed.
A mix of large power and sailboats. I forget what it's called. When you have enough boats to complete a full circle, everyone can go from boat to boat via swim platforms (really helps to have one!) If the circle is big enough, it provides a protected area for swimming that lets parents keep an eye on their kids...even a relatively small circle makes for fun potlucks and "everyone bring a heavy h'ordoevre" cocktail parties.
It can be a be challenging to tie up, 'cuz sterns have to be lined up perfectly and bows apart, held off by tension in the lines all the way around the circle. So fenders on the stern quarters are usually all that are needed.
My sailing club, Singles on Sailboats, has 700-plus members and about 125 boats. We do circle rafts almost every weekend. It takes 13 or more boats for a circle. Our web site shows 62 boats in a raft off the Wye Island a few years ago. Another is slated for this June. Every third boat puts an anchor out. From anchor-to-anchor, it can be 300 feet of water we use. It can be a challenge to work your way around the raft to visit every boat, but you can always find your way home- as long as you remember which boat you came on!
We did one with about 30 boats a few years back. We anchored off the four points. Lots of fun visiting other's boats. When it broke up, we all met at a local anchorage to continue the party.
Only down side was the crappy fenders the boat next to me brought. They left all kinds of UV degraded plastic goo on my topsides. Damn stinkpotter!
Only down side was the crappy fenders the boat next to me brought. They left all kinds of UV degraded plastic goo on my topsides. Damn stinkpotter!
That was the Hillsboro Inlet Sailing Club's annual change of command raft, we had 73 boats this year. We also had boats from Gulfstream Sailing Club, and Single Sailors. It was a great time. Anyone know if there is some sort of record keeping for the largest circle raft?
Here kitty, kitty ,kitty
Over the past 40 years we have done lots of raftups. I allways found it interesting that the children enjoyed it as much as we did.
However, for a few years we also sailed with our cat, named Hinckley (hey I allways wanted one!) Hinckley also seemed to enjoy the raftups. However, their was one problem. Durring the evening she would wonder. Now remember, it's summer, all boats are open, not everyone is expecting a cat to crawl over them while they are sleeping....
Then in the mouring you have to find her. Anyone ever have a cat that came when you called? None of mine.
Over the past 40 years we have done lots of raftups. I allways found it interesting that the children enjoyed it as much as we did.
However, for a few years we also sailed with our cat, named Hinckley (hey I allways wanted one!) Hinckley also seemed to enjoy the raftups. However, their was one problem. Durring the evening she would wonder. Now remember, it's summer, all boats are open, not everyone is expecting a cat to crawl over them while they are sleeping....
Then in the mouring you have to find her. Anyone ever have a cat that came when you called? None of mine.
We do raft-ups in the anchorage in Newport Beach all the time, but they're usually only two to four boats. Even if we have more boats, we limit the size of the raft to no more than five. It's easier when someone has to leave at an odd time.
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