How was your season?

Bob V · Oct 2, 2008

Seasons were a bit off this year

Our usual plan is to spend June cruising since "winter" usually lasts until the end of May around here. We then come back to Whidbey Island for the Salmon season that starts July 15 and back out for some Autumn cruising in September.

This year winter didn't end until about mid-June, the salmon didn't show up (at least not on the end of my line) and summer started Sept 1st and ended about Sept. 28th.

We are now entering the "wet and windy" season and with the heater installation complete and a full cockpit enclosure in place I hope to take advantage of it. Thankfully hurricanes have not made it up this far north. The biggest problem that I face with winter cruising is rowing the dogs to shore when it's pitch dark. They have always been pretty good at holding it but when the hours of darkness start to approach 16 you know you can't expect miracles.

The good news about winter around here is the water temperature is about the same as it is in the summer, a balmy 50 degrees give or take a couple.

Tim R. · Oct 2, 2008

Great season, still going

Aside from a near disaster one night after racing

, it has been a great season. We placed 1st overall in our Wed. night beer can racing with the help of fellow member Mainesail. We did 3 other regattas that we placed 3rd, 2nd and 1st placing us 4th overall in GMORA. We spent many days sailing and two weeks cruising. The only bummer was the weekend weather for most of the summer was lousy.

We finished up our Wed. night fall series on a friend's boat last night and plan on spending the weekend at a beautiful anchorage. I will move the boat in a few weeks to a slip in a well protected huricane hole for the remainder of our season. We usually pull her the week of Thanksgiving.

Capt. Kermie · Oct 2, 2008

PNW Bombs out again!

The 2008 Season was just as bad as 2007. Summer did not arrive until late June, lasted all of six weeks then we got the annual August rain. We got a small reprieve with a few weeks of First Nations (Indian) summer during September but that ended yesterday October 1/08 Today the rains start again and there are five days straight forcast for rain. It is the end of the season until next spring and that depends on when the warm weather arrives. It can be late as July or early as March, I have seen both.

JoeD · Oct 2, 2008

Season not over yet.

As I sit here typing this from Mooring Ball in Annapolis Harbor. Wind is up and have to stay put today.

It has been a good season for us. Wish had made more time than I did. Will make more time next year.

Did several projects this year and will do more next season. Looking at roller furling main. Will buy one at the Annapolis Boat Show.

Will sail till mid November.

bill@tahoe · Oct 2, 2008

How was your season

Season started a month late, due to weather, launched mid-may.
many great days, and nights, with few exceptions.
4th of july, very windy, large chop, compounded by too many power boats.
Last tue, had some friends out, wind came up(to much for me) and we were heeling up to 45%. scared the bejeasus out of me. a couple of times I thought we were going over for sure. Understand, Iam rot a racer, so I seldom get beyond 12 to 15%.
Otherwise it was good to see just how far it would heel, but not again.
all in all it has been a good summer at Lake Tahoe, will pull out about 10/23,
and start clean up, and a long list of upgrades and repairs.

Wayne M · Oct 2, 2008

This was

my wife and my first season sailing. We got our boat in early May the second boat in our mooring field. We were out a couple of times in May when we proably shouldnt have been out in heavy wind by ourselves we had the rail buried on one of our first outings. We were both a little scared

. But it gave us a little experience in heavy wind. We took our first trip in August a 21 mile trip to Racine. I also took up racing on a Mumm 36 which gave me a lot of sailing experience. Call me crazy but the best time I had sailing this summer was a race from Milwaukee to the Windpoint lighthouse in Racine and back in a heavy rain with 20mph winds and heavy seas:dance:. Its too bad my season will be over in a few more weeks.

Stillraining · Oct 2, 2008

We have spent a year getting Eagle Knight back into the water..Our first sail was last Friday so our season is just starting and plan on getting out as often as we can Rain, Sleet or snow...going out tomorrow and or Saturday and its supposed to rain..But who cares Im sailing again..

Heres the happy crew from last Friday...Will be installing some sort of electrical free heat source in a month or two.

Stillraining · Oct 2, 2008

Heres a couple more just to try out the sites new software..

For thoes that dont know...double click on thumbnails to enlarge to origional size/resolution.

Stillraining · Oct 2, 2008

Hmmm? Trying to figure out how Tim got a full sized picture and not just a thumb nail..

Stillraining · Oct 2, 2008

There Got it..

...

Although what you see is what you get in this mode...no clicking alowed.

Bob V · Oct 2, 2008

Nice photos, SR

Was that first one northbound in San Juan Channel looking at Orca's Knob?

Paul Akers · Oct 2, 2008

...but I came to the realization that I've become too old (59) for the sport. I was in new cruising ground (in Maine) this summer and finally realized how much work it took to get the boat ready this year (1988, Legend 37). I became very drawn and too tired according to friends on either end of my area Portsmouth, RI and Portland, ME. My wife and I really didn't enjoy my summer cruise up here, so I bit the bullet and have put my boat up for sale - any buyers)? Needless to say I will need a fix soon - maybe a charter might do! :cry:

Jim Seamans · Oct 2, 2008

Glorious Summer

Joan and I have been able to go out just about every weekend on the hook. Due to work and other family outings, we only got one long five day sail. As usual sometimes the wind is with you and sometimes where the hell is the wind.....
Two more months and then I have to start working on the house chores or I'll be in trouble.

Maine Sail · Oct 2, 2008

We had a great season!

As a family we sailed a little less than normal but with a new daughter, who arrived in April, that is to be expected.

I however, did manage to get in a lot of solo sailing to curb the craving. I also quenched my racing thirst competing weekly on Tim R's boat as well as another friends Ericson during the fall series..

I would have to say I sailed roughly 4 days per week, if even for just an hour. I was on the boat just about every day, even if I was not sailing and just attending to maintenance, and being on the boat is half the battle, sailing or not!:dance:

All in all, with a new child, the season was great. One thing that was different was the lack of Maine scenery photos and more daughter pictures...

Dad went to get ice:

OK so they're not Maui Jim's..

Dinghy rides are fun:

She's a little acrobat and did this unassisted!!

oldiesrocker2001 · Oct 2, 2008

had it's ups and downs..

Our season started off well, as I had very little planned for upgrades for this year. While we got the boat to our usual lake and set up in May(early for us) the wind was topping 22mph and the look on the Admirals face was plain enough("over my dead body") about sailing that day. We did get to sail through most of June and packed up for Lake George for a really great week on the water in July.
Came home to find that the water level had already been dropped a couple of feet at our lake. By the 1st week of August they'd pulled half the docks; by the second week both docks were gone. The only people that could launch and recover easily were low freeboard daysailers and sunfish! Every beautiful sailing day in aug and sept was like a slap in the face to us as we started bringing gear home in Sept. I'm not as spry as I used to be, so it takes a couple of hours to rig for ramp or road =packing up to go somewhere else for just a daysail was not feasable....:cussing:

Gabor15908 · Oct 2, 2008

Mixed summer time;

Here in the Pacific Northwest the summer was mixed and the weather was unpredictable. We are sailing out of Point Roberts , Wa. and to get to the closest San Juan Island (Sucia) it is a good 14 mile run across the Strait Of Georgia...not an easy task when the tide and the wind running in a different direction.
August and Sepetember was good, warm, good winds and clear skies.
Anchorages were busy…a lot less motor boats and a lot more sailboats and at $5 for a gal. of fuel it is understandable.
I decided to leave my inflatable on the deck of my Hunter, just in case if we get a nice "winter week-end" we can be quickly away...
From the deck of the NAUTI DREAM.

Jim 23063 · Oct 2, 2008

Our season doesn't really start until November

South Florida summers are hot, humid and contain no wind until the daily thunderstorms arrive, and yesterday was my first sailing day in months. It was 85 deg, 75% humidity and the wind was 10-15 knots with NO t-storms. I've been busy sweating and getting the boat ready all summer and finally got to take advantage of the weather yesterday. At least I was ready for it.

I've experienced some of the same reactions from motorcycle groups that I find in sailing groups. Many people feel that when we southerners talk about bike rides or sailing in the middle of winter, we're doing so to "rub it in" to those sitting in front of the fireplace. Well, we're sitting in front of the A/C unit all summer just like you sit around your heater all winter. So, over the next few months when we're posting about what a beautiful sail we had, just remember that it's "our turn" and there's no jabs intended.

That being said, I'd much rather wipe off sweat than shovel snow (yes, THAT was a jab).

higgs · Oct 2, 2008

Paul Akers

A year ago, at 58, I was finding working on the boat, and sometimes sailing it, was getting a little hard so I decided to drop some weight and get some exercise. I lost about 15 lbs and do bike riding and wood splitting w/axe for exercise. It has made a big difference and at 59 I havn't felt this good physically in a number of years. Over the summer I maintained my weight, but now am working on taking another 10 lbs off. I don't know your physical condition, but maybe something like this could help you.

My season was great. I did 5 short cruises of 3 or 4 days plus a long one to the Bay of Quinte and the Thousand Islands for 2.5 weeks with 3 other boats. I get out a lot - 3 or 4 days a week and find plenty of people to go out with me or on others boats. Did a little racing, crewing on a CX 30 and racing my cutter rig in 3 distance races taking a first and a third.

Scott B · Oct 2, 2008

Stillraining

Priceless pictures.... great looking family and congrats on getting the boat back in the water.

This picture is great, the look on her face looks like " Dad if I don't get to go shopping I'm releasing this rope"

How was your season?

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