Bayard, Where do you sail?.

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Aldo

Bayard: Where do you sail your boat, on Long Island Sound? We were just in Connecticut a few weekends ago, for a wedding in Madison. It was on the beach, and even though the weather wasn't very good, I still wished I had a little boat along to go sailing in. We also saw some racing going on under a bridge in Groton. Anyway, where have you cruised your boat to? Aldo
 
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Bayard Gross

I really don't go far

As I have a freind with a thirty foot sail boat, most of my distance sailing is done in that vessel, although at this point only across long Island sound, as we do not really like the idea of spending the night together in a boat. So I guess I generally split my sailing time between that boat and my own C-22. And as the C-22 is exceptionally slower and much less comfortable than the thirty footer, I generally only cruise around Greenwich Harbor with jaunts south to nearby New York and north to Stamford. I spend much time practicing racing courses, although I have yet to race my boat, as the club that I would do it in wants a $1,000 initiation fee that is a bit out of my current budget. Nevertheless, I have found that practicing these courses, I really give myself a good workout in the boat's mechanics, sail controls, and trying with different sail reefing arrangements. Remember, Long Island Sound is really at the start of New England. You do not need a bimini here, just a good braod rim chapau. And Long Island Sound is surronded by very heavy population, which means lots of power boats on weekends turning a C-22 into bronking buckeroo. It also means warm water which is wonderful for the aquatic life that gets onto your haul, hence, the almost religious preoccupation here with keeping the bottom clean. As I moor in the western part of town, I must nearly always face a west wind and beat to return home, a process that makes one fairly timid to go too far, only to be faced with strong winds and seas that seem to take forever to plow through.
 
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Aldo

We use our boats opposite each other

Bayard: You and I use our boats opposite each other. I don't know that I've ever sailed my boat alone. I sail with my wife and 2 sons, who are 18 and 16. I guess this just shows how versatile the C-22s are. We cruise ours much of the time, with the highlight of our summer being the week-long Cruise that we take each year with Annapolis C-22 Fleet 10. I attached a photo that a friend took last year. We have cruised as far north as Havre de Grace and as far south as the Patuxent River, on the Chesapeake. We tried racing officially one time, and didn't do well, especially once we started to eat lunch. This was several years ago, when my sons were just little. On this year's cruise we tacked our way up the pack of about 6 C-22s, sailing hard into the wind on our way St. Michaels. This made me feel good, since our boat was really heavily loaded at the time. (I did use my sons as movable ballast). When we cruise, we have almost everything on our boat that we ever would, plus 2 coolers, and 2 tanks of gas, a battery charger, inflatable dinghy, and dinghy motor, .... the list goes on and on. When we were on Long Island Sound a few weekends ago, there were almost no boats out, but the weather was not good. I can imagine that it would be very busy with motor boats on a nice summer day. Once we get out of the river and into the Bay, motor boats usually aren't too much of a problem. The water gets warm and our bottom gets ugly too, and I try to keep it clean, but it's tough, once the boat is in the water. Our boat is now out because of Isabel, so it's already relatively clean, for this time of year. We would normally keep it in for another month, but I couldn't risk loosing it. I'll probably give it to one of my sons someday. I always enjoy reading your replies. Aldo
 

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Bayard Gross

Boy, you sure got long legs Aldo!

Wow, to get a picture like that, you must be pretty tall. I guess it makes changing headsails a snap since you don't have to bother with nuiances like halyards. But in all seriousness, that's a wonderful photograph. Your comments also remind me of what "Papa" Boyington (?) once stated in his book "Baba Blacksheep" which was about his South Pacific World War Two Cosair Squadron. Boyington noted the difficulty of flying in missions where there were many different types of aircraft. In essence, it was difficult to keep formations with so many planes of different speeds and ceilings. I think the same is true for sailing vessels. A squadron of C-22's sailing together is feasible, but one of a C-22, C-25, C-27, C-28, C-30, C-32 , and C-36 would not be much of a squadron. And unfortunately, I am the only C-22 where I am moored, so I tend to be a bit of a lone wolf.
 
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