After a 15 year absence from sailing we finally got our new (to us) Starwind 223 in the water and had a great first sail! Looking forward to many fun days in the future. Was great to be at the helm again.
Back in the saddle again....
- Thread starter Slade
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Congratulations Slade! I have a soft spot for the the Starwind 223 since that is the boat I learned to sail on. In fact my friend John still owns her and sails her on White Bear Lake. I have been crewing with him on Tuesday nights on that boat for years. Yours sure is pretty. Fair winds!
Thanks all for the very kind congrats and compliments. Respite was in pretty good shape when we got her and all she needed was alittle paint, tape, and elbow grease and she turned out pretty well.
Funny how you get directed sometimes back to things you love. If I hadn't hit a deer on my motorcycle in Canada, been laid up for 4 months and had my house broken into and ransacked, I wouldn't have found this boat and been in a position to start sailing again. Weird.
Funny how you get directed sometimes back to things you love. If I hadn't hit a deer on my motorcycle in Canada, been laid up for 4 months and had my house broken into and ransacked, I wouldn't have found this boat and been in a position to start sailing again. Weird.
Slade, nice perspective. I often find that if I look back on the track of my life I can often find bad moments (at the time) in my life that led to something wonderful.
So it seems you were meant to find this boat...
So true. Seems I really didn't have a choice..was being caromed all the way to Respite. :dance:Slade, nice perspective. I often find that if I look back on the track of my life I can often find bad moments (at the time) in my life that led to something wonderful.
So it seems you were meant to find this boat...
No complaints on being steered in this direction at all....seems we definitely needed each other.
Please confirm or correct me if you can...was Starwind a Rhodes design just before he came out with Precisions?. I think It`s a great looking boat. Congrat`s and good luck, I too left a motorcycle behind, but much longer ago.!8 month`s ago I told my wife: Paraphrasing here: I gotta do sumthin, a bike or a sailboat... 1 look from her determined that decision!!
DAVA390, The early Starwinds were Jim Taylor designs. The 223 was penned by Cortland Streck. Similar lines to Taylor's. I had a Starwind 19 back in the day and loved that boat. Been sailing 3 times on the 223 and I'm developing a real affection for it. Forgiving and steady. Loves to reach, and points pretty well. Haven't had it out in light airs yet..blowing 20-30 mph yesterday with gusts to 40. Reefed main and 110 was alot of fun.
Here's some shots from this past weekend's sailing. Had one tack of over 3 miles (alot for a "lake") Also got to fly the new gennaker. What a hoot.
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I'm still smiling about the ingenuity in post #11 of offering his wife the choice of a motorcycle or a new boat. Pure genius. As a former avid/rabid motorcyclist with the associated aches and pains it's akin to saying "we could start a snake juggling hobby or maybe buy a new sailboat for sunset cruises"......but just a tad more subtle.
After riding for 20 years I sold one of my last bikes to buy my first sailboat almost 25 yrs ago. Glad you made it back to boating and have a great season.
Mike
After riding for 20 years I sold one of my last bikes to buy my first sailboat almost 25 yrs ago. Glad you made it back to boating and have a great season.
Mike
I'm still smiling about the ingenuity in post #11 of offering his wife the choice of a motorcycle or a new boat. Pure genius. As a former avid/rabid motorcyclist with the associated aches and pains it's akin to saying "we could start a snake juggling hobby or maybe buy a new sailboat for sunset cruises"......but just a tad more subtle.
After riding for 20 years I sold one of my last bikes to buy my first sailboat almost 25 yrs ago. Glad you made it back to boating and have a great season.
Mike
I found that post fun as well, Mike. My wife basically kicked me out of the house (first time on my own since the accident..Thanksgiving Day no less) and told me to take the road trip to see the boat. She added that if I wanted to get another bike and something happened again, I was going to the "NURSING HOME" until I was completely healed. Kinda sealed the deal for me there.
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