It's Great to be Grateful

[Jim Rushing]

A Good Friend

and his wife invited my wife and myself to spend the weekend with them on their Catalina 30. This was back in the early 90's. From this grew the lust for sailing. They are now in Marathon Fla on their Caliber 40, enjoying the cruising lifestyle. Thanks Don and Diane.

 

[Tim Donley]

Win Durbeck

By chance, when I was a newlywed my bride (for 31 years now) had enough of the frozen tundra of Xenia Ohio and convinced me that we needed to move to Florida. That's where I met Win Durbeck and worked with him for 14 years until he retired from boatbuilding. Somedays our clients would need someone onboard for an afternoon sail on their new delivery or Win would just pull me out of the shop to go do "docking drills" for the afternoon to give me experience. I would also go on seatrails of a new build or delivery trips to boat shows.Without his interest and coaching I could still be lost in the tall corn of the midwest instead of living aboard with awesome sunsets and still involved in boatbuilding. Thanks Win

 

[Andrea]

Senior trip 1977

My dear friend and classmate Scott (now Owner of Bottomsiders!)took a handful of graduating seniors out on his family's boat for a memorable sail...it was a beautiful day for this bunch of beautiful young people. I now have two family boats--one on each coast--and thank Scott for that day in June, twenty-something years ago.

 

[Todd Alt]

Golden Book

When I was just old enough to read my Mother gave me a little kid's book called "Scuppers the Sailor Dog". It became my favorite book and I would pretend to be Scuppers and my bedroom his cabin. Years later at the age of eleven, I learned to sail at summer camp. I always wanted a sailboat of my own, but it was many years later (and several powerboats later) that I realized that I had to have a sailboat with a cabin. My desire to have my cabin organized with "a hook for everything, and everything on it's hook" came from reading about the little sailor dog in the book. Several years ago the 50th anniversary edition of the book was published, and my wife picked up several copies. I give them to any small children in the family in hopes that it will have a similar effect on them. I thank my Mother for the book and teaching me to read at an early age. I have owned two coastal cruisers, and I thank the USA for providing me with the opportunity to make a living such that I can afford the boat and the time to sail it. I also am greatful for the Great Lake Erie for being a wonderful playground. I am thankful everyday for my wife with whom I share the love of the water.

 

[Walt Grifel]

Never would of thought...

I suppose I always liked the idea of sailing...getting away from it all and being in control of your own destiny. As an engineer, the technology of sailing and marine electronics also intrigued me.But growing up in New York City opportunities were limited. It was something "those other guys did". I never thought I would really be sailing.Then my employer transferred me to south Florida. Now I had the opportunity and no excuses! I didn't have any friends who owned a sailboat, so I took a course with the local community college. The course cost all of $90 for sailing instruction ten Saturday mornings in a 15' centerboard sailboat on a local lake. Completing the course also allowed you to take out these boats on the weekend. It was the best "bang for the buck" I ever spent my money on! Looking back, it was a great way to learn sailing techniques hands-on.About a year after that I took the first three of the ASA courses to learn aboat navigation and handling a larger boat. Since then I purchased a 1980 Sabre and have been sailing along the Florida coast, Bahamas and Keys.

 

[John Spooner]

It Goes Way Back

It goes way back---all the way to the '40s. I am grateful to Culver Summer Naval School for teaching me sailing. I'm grateful to my father for buying the family boats, a Nipper, a light- ning, then an old Crosby sloop. I'm grateful to my wife with whom I bought our first boat, a Beetle Cat, then a Venture 21 which we had for 24 years and taught sailing at a camp in New York State on Lake Owasco, the smallest of the Finger Lakes. Now the camp has that boat and we have a Catalina 22. It has been almost 60 years in total, and I wouldn't have missed it if I could.

 

[jcherubini]

Who else?

Who else but my dad?I first went sailing-- even on a Sailfish! --when I was an infant. I mean, an infant, rolled up into summer bunting at 6 months and stuffed into the folds of the spinnaker in the forepeak of the turquoise-and-white Thistle that matched my dad's turquoise-and-white '55 BelAir convertible, napping during day races at Red Dragon Canoe Club in Burlington NJ (where I now belong). And I remember being terrified of outboard motors when I was about 7; my dad simply said, assuming I could handle this logic, 'Be glad it's out there behind the boat; it'd be worse noise if it were in here with us.' I remember feeling anxious of heel angle, and he gave me the 'ever so much more so' rule-- the more it heels, the more it wants to stand up straight again. I use that one on my kids now.But it was that little 31-ft yawl in the late '60s that really fired my imagination. As a little kid I was able to sit sideways on the fantail, feet braced against the fiddle rail for the heel angle, trimming that little mizzen like my own domain on the ship. I remember trying to scull it by working the tiller back and forth ('What the hell are you trying to do like that?') I remember us banging the bottom in the Sassafras so hard that the Mad magazine I was reading in the vee berth went shooting away from me-- about two feet forward! I remember the scent of Sterno and the ripping high-RPM wail of the Atomic Four. I remember the intense wave of pride I got looking at the little mahogany eagle on the transom holding the name board that read simply, 'Cherubini' ('Little Angels'). That was such an apt name for that little boat....Sadly I ran into it last in 1972 at Castle Harbor, NJ, rotting away. The polyester fibreglass-over-plywood construction system that was de rigueur in the '60s was not up for longevity. The chines grew soft and the plywood turned to mush and the boat's new owners finally scrapped it. There wasn't much on it worth anything then-- it at all atrophied to the same scale, homemade eagle and spruce boom and gorgeous mahogany hatches and laminated cabinsides and cockpit floor and cast-off/second-hand hardware all together, as though Fate kept everything to the same schedule.But by that time I was sailing the Sunfish on my own, and I had read 'Dove' about nine times, and I had learnt enough about boatbuilding to fantasise about putting together another little yawl just like that one. That dream has gestated 30 years with no fruition. But there is always tomorrow.And this time I'll build it using WEST system....JC 2

 

[Alan Johnson]

A spontaneous decision

When I was 14 years old, I went with my mother to Sears to buy paint for the gutters and trim. A Sears Jetwind was set up in the store, and we took it home. My brother and I sailed all over the lake for several years on that boat. We found every shallow spot, the hard (fun) way too. After college, I met Andy, an older gentleman with a North American 23 who needed a crew. He favored pretty girls, and I was in luck because my girlfriend (now wife) is pretty and was ready to go. We enjoyed many days with Andy and learned a lot. This year the bug hit hard and we now own an Oday 25. Andy passed away a few years ago. I have a picture of him with my infant daughter sitting on his boat prominently displayed in the cabin. His spirit sails with us every time we go out. I still hear him when I get the willies: "This boat has 1,500 pounds of keel and I couldn't dump it in this wind if I tried." P.S. I had to paint the gutters and trim before I could go out on the Jetwind.

 

[Stan Hansen]

MY INTRODUCTION TO SAILING

My thanks goes to my wife Sandy. While we were dating she introduced me to the wonderful world of sailing. (1965!!)Her mother and father had a home on shelter Island, and he was an avid sailor and got his whloe family involved in the sport of sailing.So when I started to date his daughter it was then I became a sail boat lover. Over the years we have progressed from an 14 footer to what we now own, a 36 foot center cookpit beneteau.IT IS MOST IMPORTANT THAT YOUR WIFE OR HUSBAND BOTH LOVE SAILING, BECAUSE WITHOUT THIS LOVE OF THE SEA,AND SUPPORT ,YOU WOULD NOT BEABLE TO ENJOY THIS SPORT. Many thanks goes to my wife for her indrodution to sailing....Stan Hansen

 

[Fred Scott]

Loved Sailing but it came too late in life

My first experience was on my brother's boat, a Columbia 27 out of Vancouver. Then many years later I was invited to crew in a race on a Catalina 30 and the skipper won out of 52 boats. That really got me interested and next, how do get my wife interested? She was not a sailor.That became easier and sooner then expected and we started looking for a sailboat.But we lived in Alberta far from the sea.Then I happened to pick up a well written book. "How to sail big on a small sailboat"This opened a whole new world of sailing and bought a 1996 Macgregor 26X and did I sail.Sailed on the Northern Coast of BC and on many lakes in Alberta & BC.Then this year came along and I turned 75 loosing the spring in my legs, not what they use to be and became unsafe on a sailboat. I decided to hang up my sails and with regret sold my sail boat.But I have the great memories of sailing.Fred Scott sailboat "LADY Vi"

 

[Jeanne Bromberg]

I'll always be grateful!

About 7 years ago, my best friend an pastor Lloyd and his wife Doris took me with them to Lake Lizzy in Pelican Rapids, MN. I had been coaking Lloyd into sailing since I found out that he used to sail. We got to Lake Lizzy about 7 p.m. and when we arrived Doris (bless her heart)said, "I'll unload the car, you guys get out on the lake before the wind dies (usually at sunset). Doris' mom had an old Hobbie Cat. Well, we were sailing within the 1/2 hour. We had a great steady breeze out of the SW and a Full moon, so we sailed until almost midnight. I have always loved the water and loved to canoe and swim, but sailig is the top of the world ever since. I spent a 4 day weekend there and Lloyd and I sailed almost every minute of that time except time to eat and sleep. It was my first trip to their lake place and I kept thinking Doris' mom is going to think I am the world's worst guest! However, Betty Jean quickly became the one to say, " Nice wind, get out there and sail"! I have gone back there many times since and it is always the same response and the same warm family reception. I will always be thankful to them all first for the friendship and then for introducing me to the love of sailing!! Thanks Lord for these great friends and thanks to Lloyd & Doris and Betty Jean & Harvey!

 

[Kev]

In Minnesota of all places!

I first sailed in '95 on a 19' something (?) on the Saint Croix River in Minnesota. Who would have thought! I was hooked! Upon my return to the North Carolina Coast, I quickly found and purchased a 22' ODay and began to teach myself to sail. Oh, the mistakes I made! I have just moved up to a 33' Hunter from a 28' Lancer and the wife has given me the green light to go even bigger! I have raced, cruised and just messed around these past eight years. I have received many of good advice over the years from friends on how to sail better or how to do whatever on the boat. I have tried to pass my knowledge, on to my family and others. Anyone wanna sail this weekend! Captains meeting at Marker 50, beer can race, pot luck with left overs on the docks after the race! See you on the water!

 

[Merilyn Winkworth-Deakin]

Novice Wins Prize!!

Last year at 60 years of age I was able to fulfill a lifelong ambition to learn to sail!! After some investigation I was introduced to KBYC where they encourage novices to learn to sail, met a very supportive sailor, bought a Tanzer 22 (Impatience), and this year married the sailor!!! Life is good!!! Check out Bob and Merilyn's wedding under Photo Gallery at the kbyb.com website!!

 

[BILL ROBB]

Reply to Stan Hansen

Stan: Your comment on having a mutual interest in sailing between spouses is so very true - but what if you aren't lucky enough to have that? Do you deny your love of the sport because she (he) doesn't like it for whatever reason? In my case - she hates the money the sport costs us. I'm faced with that dilemna - and divorce is out of the question! Bill on STARGAZER

 

[Rob Morton]

My Wife helped it along

The first time I saw a sail boat I was about 6 or so and a couple had a small trailable with a rudder that they could scull with and I had been watching them and at that time I knew I wanted to sail. Time went by and I got into power boats and water skied through high school went crabbing and all the usual stuff. I still wanted to learn to sail but time went on and we started a business and this took more time. My wifes love is horses and we had gotted her two horses and she said I needed a hobby besides the business. She looked around and found a catilina 14 that was in super shape and bought that for me. I bought a couple of books on sailing and took it out and was hooked. Later that year I took some sailing classes with ASA and started looking for a bigger boat. We got a catalina 22 later that year sailed it for a couple of years and then got a catalina 25 and now we have a h23. My wife has grown to like sailing as well. She still lets me know when there is a little to much heel. I'm glad she supports it and made my dream become reality. We are planning a trip to the San Jaun Islands for our 20th anniversery this summer. Rob Morton"Euphoria"

 

[Larry Halford]

A gentleman along the Mississippi

In the mid 70's i had the pleasure of meeting and working for a very fine man by the name of Joe Weilenman. Joe gave me the opportunity to pursue my 1st love which is architecture and introduced me to sailing. While my mentor as an architect, Joe picqued my interest in sailing that lay unrealized for 20 years. I think of Joe most days i'm sailing on Lake Travis.

 

[Jeff M.]

Ex-girlfriend got me started...

About three years ago I was dating a girl who was friends with a family who lived on a boat in Santa Cruz, Ca. She invited me along for a weekend with her friends to do some sailing. Sounded like fun so I went along. Turned out their 'boat' was a 1920's 70' topsail schooner! We went down on a Friday after work, spent the night, Saturday we did a bunch of work on her, (they seemed to be happy when they found out I'm an electrician as I was soon doing a good bit of wiring repair!) and then Sunday a bunch of their other friends came aboard and we set-out across the bay. To say that I was instantly hooked would be an understatement. That was the most thrilling and fun time I'd ever had with my clothes on! A month or so later we sailed her down the coast for 5 days and I knew then that I had to get a boat of my own and learn to sail. Started taking lessons and this summer bought my first sailboat, an '89 Mac 26D. I figure in 2-3 years to get something in the 32'-38' range and then... So, even though we're not together anymore, I'm still thankful to her for my introduction to sailing. And to Steve, Kim and their son Cullum aboard 'Talofa', a world of thanks for the wonderful world you showed me and for making me want to become a SAILOR!

 

[Ron]

"That looks like fun"

Four words said by a girlfriend in an offhand comment 18 years ago. We were driving over 3 mile bridge in Pensacola on a perfect spring day and admiring the boats under spinnaker in the bay. Of course I wanted to impress this girl and it actually sounded kind of fun. I bought a used Phantom (similar to a sunfish) for $300, checked out a "how to sail" book from the library and, a cocky and naive 19 years old, simply went sailing. The downwind was easy but I guess I missed the lesson about upwind sailing because I got stuck on the opposite end of the lagoon for quite a while. Despite the initial misadventure I was hooked. Since then sailing has become a wonderful part of life I couldn't have imagined 18 years ago. I have no idea what happened to that girl but I would love to see her and show her what her offhanded comment gave me.

 

[Mike H]

Dad introduced me to sailing

back in the early seventies by buying a little 14' "Rascal" one-design that we sailed on a tiny lake in Ohio. My folks had bought a pice of land on this lake and were planning to build a house, but in the interim they wanted to spend some time there, so this sailboat was the choice.Eventually we sailed and raced both larger and smaller (Sunfish) boats on the local lakes and rivers in NW Ohio - and at one point dad owned 5 boats under 18' - one for each sailing member of the family. Let me tell you, those were thrilling days when we'd all be racing in a regatta, some of us in the same class, others in different ones. Often as not, when the trophies were handed out, at least three or four of us would bring home something.As the kids grew up and went away to school or work dad put many of the boats in storage, and then get them all out when everyone would come back together for holidays such as July 4th. But about that time, without teenagers to help with crewing, dad bought a 6.8m S2 - the first exposure any of us had to keel boats.Our first reaction was surprisingly negative. After sailing all of our lives on boats with decks so close to the water that you usually got your butt wet, or at least could drag your hand or foot in the water, this was an unwieldly behemoth. Dad sailed it anyway and never stoppped encouraging us to sail and race with him. Some of us did - but the change of perspective still took a long time.It wasn't until the mid-1990's when I had children of my own that I began to consider a bigger boat. Sailing a little 16' again was bringing back dreams of my youth, but sailing the way I loved (heeling the deck down to the water and slamming those tacks) was more frightening to the kids than thrilling. I finally thought my dad might be on to something.A boat show was coming up and we decided to go, just to look. After climbing in and around 20'-40'+ boats all day we knew we were hooked and I began to look in earnest. This last autumn I finally found the right one, and here's the best part. The boat was in Long Island - a 10 hour drive away.I called my dad, who has been retired a few years, and asked if he wanted to go on a road trip with me. We left at 3PM one afternoon and arrived at 1 AM. By 8 AM we were up and within the hour we were on a test sail on Long Island Sound. By noon we had the boat up on the hoist. I had previously arranged for a surveyor to inspect the boat, and within minutes he was there and gave it a clean bill of health. By 5 PM we had signed the papers, had the boat buttoned up on the trailer and began driving home.By 5:30 PM that Friday afternoon we were driving through lower Manhatten with with a 9' wide (over the legal limit and unpermitted) boat in tow. I couldn't stop smiling.By 10 PM that night we stopped to look for a hotel room, but where we had stopped they were all full, so dad looked at me and said, "let's go for it." We drove and slept for 3-4 hours at a time, and at 9 AM the next morning we arrived home. It was an experience I'll treasure for the rest of my life with the man who introduced me to this wonderful sport. Thanks Dad.

 

[Adrianne]

My husband...it's all his fault.

My then boyfriend, now husband (who is a very good sailor) is the one who nudged me into sailing. I jumped in feet first, purchasing my 290 before I knew how to sail. It was a good incentive to get through my lessons. I can now say that I can skipper my boat with the knowledge that I can handle her in 20+ knot winds, although I still prefer the kinder, gentler conditions of winter out on SF Bay. I grew up 4 blocks from Ocean Beach in the City. I love the water. And just about any day sailing is better than a good day at work.