I sailed a Sunfish!

Kermit

Kermit

.
Jul 31, 2010
5,682
AquaCat 12.5 17342 Wateree Lake, SC
Y’all, I sailed yesterday. We sold our H260 3 years ago. Nary a once since have I set foot on any sailboat... until yesterday! We’re at Edisto Beach, SC for a long weekend. I saw a Sunfish out and just had to go “admire it.” Yep, that was a not-so-very-subtle way of begging to sail it. Turns out the grandfather admonished me to take it out. Y’all, I’m here to tell you, do NOT take sailing for granted. EVER! I was out about 10 minutes or so and had the best time sailing I’ve ever had. I’ll never forget yesterday.
 
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jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
23,335
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Good for you Kermie. It is the combination of water and wind. You are in an environment your body needs. What was the saying by Jerry McGuire “ You complete me”.
 
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sailme88

sailme88

.
Jan 19, 2010
1,298
Catalina 34 Casco Bay
I learned to sail on a SNARK.. styrofoam Kool cigarette promo boat. Graduated to a Sunfish.. Traded my motorcycle for a Bombardier Invitation...no looking back after that.. still own the Invitation.. haven't sailed it in years as I'm saving her fo our grandchildren... ~~(\_~~
 
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M

mconners

.
May 31, 2022
3
j scow 16' j scow Sewey Beach
I sailed one for the first time in 30 years yesterday. average about 0 to 10 miles per hour wind. I could see that I could lock the sheet line. The last sunfish I sailed did not have that and wouldn't you believe it a big gust of wind came and I could not react quick enought with the sunfish capsize on me!
I was reminded that I am 68 when I could not get my big A.. back on the sunfish after I righted it. In fact time trying to get back on I capsized again! The club where I was renting it from sent a boat out to tow my self the and sunfish back in. I hung on to the side of the fish for the trip.
Boy was I embarrassed!
 
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Kermit

Kermit

.
Jul 31, 2010
5,682
AquaCat 12.5 17342 Wateree Lake, SC
mconners said:
I sailed one for the first time in 30 years yesterday. average about 0 to 10 miles per hour wind. I could see that I could lock the sheet line. The last sunfish I sailed did not have that and wouldn't you believe it a big gust of wind came and I could not react quick enought with the sunfish capsize on me!
I was reminded that I am 68 when I could not get my big A.. back on the sunfish after I righted it. In fact time trying to get back on I capsized again! The club where I was renting it from sent a boat out to tow my self the and sunfish back in. I hung on to the side of the fish for the trip.
Boy was I embarrassed!
Click to expand
The one I was on had a cam cleat but I chose not to use it for that very reason. I’m pretty sure I would have capsized if I had used it. One of my few good decisions in life.
 
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Kermit

Kermit

.
Jul 31, 2010
5,682
AquaCat 12.5 17342 Wateree Lake, SC
sailme88 said:
I learned to sail on a SNARK.. styrofoam Kool cigarette promo boat. Graduated to a Sunfish.. Traded my motorcycle for a Bombardier Invitation...no looking back after that.. still own the Invitation.. haven't sailed it in years as I'm saving her fo our grandchildren... ~~(\_~~
Click to expand
I knew a man who had a styrofoam Kool cigarette sailboat. I guess he had to smoke a lot of those things to get it. It was a pretty cool Kool sailboat.
 
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jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
23,335
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Welcome to SBO @mconners. No reason to be embarrassed. You were out there, on the water, having fun. Not sitting on the beach drinking.

Just think what it would be like flipping a
J-scow. That might be some serious climbing back on.

It is all a matter of muscle training. As they say about horses. When you find yourself on your back flat on the ground, something went wrong. Get up climb back into the saddle and try not to do that again.

Happy sailing. Ready to try sail boarding?
 
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Will Gilmore

Will Gilmore

.
Oct 19, 2017
7,990
O'Day Mariner 19 Littleton, NH
jssailem said:
It is all a matter of muscle training. As they say about horses. When you find yourself on your back flat on the ground, something went wrong. Get up climb back into the saddle and try not to do that again.
Click to expand
Ha ha ha. Maybe I'm just a young pup, compared to some of you, but as sixty approaches, along with 2023, I'm not thinking it is ALL about muscle memory. Some muscles just don't work the way they use to.

I've been on my back under a horse a few times. I never once thought about not getting back on.

Good to read you're back in the saddle again, so to speak, Kermit. Is there a Sunfish in your future?

-Will
 
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Banooma

Banooma

.
Nov 30, 2007
276
Hunter 36 Forked River, NJ
I've sold my C28 this spring in hopes to upsize, but the right one hasn't shown up for us. My family still has the Sunfish we learned to sail on when I was a kid, and I tend to sail it a few times each year. This year, I plan to sail it like crazy to fill the need.
 
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Kermit

Kermit

.
Jul 31, 2010
5,682
AquaCat 12.5 17342 Wateree Lake, SC
Will Gilmore said:
Good to read you're back in the saddle again, so to speak, Kermit. Is there a Sunfish in your future?
Click to expand
I have an AquaCat 12.5 that needs either major hull repair or 2 new hulls. I’m gonna either get it shipshape or get rid of it. We’ve talked about getting a small boat that’s in good shape that we can leave at the lake. Whatever we end up with we want to have something small enough to handle easily and launch from our sandy beach but large enough that we can both sail together. Unfortunately there’s no such thing as a perfect boat. But hopefully close enough will be close enough.
 
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rgranger

rgranger

.
Jan 19, 2010
12,610
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
Kermit said:
I have an AquaCat 12.5 that needs either major hull repair or 2 new hulls. I’m gonna either get it shipshape or get rid of it. We’ve talked about getting a small boat that’s in good shape that we can leave at the lake. Whatever we end up with we want to have something small enough to handle easily and launch from our sandy beach but large enough that we can both sail together. Unfortunately there’s no such thing as a perfect boat. But hopefully close enough will be close enough.
Click to expand
I have a hobie 16 that I like to take out every now and again.... but I'm thinking of letting it go and start looking for a small cabin cruiser in the 15'-16' range... maybe a catboat or a compac or a montgomery...
 
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