It's Great to be Grateful

[Jim Lingerfelt]

My Sailing instructor fanned a spark into a flame

I have always been interested in sailing and decided to give it a try to see if it was what I hoped it would be. John Philips, the owner of the Branched Oak Marina was my sailing instructor. As an instructor he was a great fit for my somewhat reckless personality. He gave me a textbook, required that I read the chapters on basic sailing and safety in advance (and he quizzed me to insure I had read). We spent the first hour in the protection of the marina. He saw that I was not intimidated by sudden heeling or water coming over the rail, so we ventured out into the lake. During the whole series of eight lessons, I had the tiller. He was calm, kept his sense of humor, and let me learn. We progressed through the various skills and he showed me practice drills for each. On the seventh lesson I soloed. Then John made his mistake - he said I could use the lesson boat anytime I wanted - I really used (abused?) that little Precision 18. John has become a good friend and remains my sailing mentor (as in, willing to answer endless questions). A rigid instructor that would have made me "do it by the numbers", instead of letting me learn by the process of doing might have dampened my enthusiasm and terminated my interest. Instead, John shared his love and passion for sailing and its endless learning curve. He also sold me my first boat - a beautiful F235; just one more reason to thank him.

 

[Bill Rinckel]

Brother-in-Law

Thanks to my Brother-in-Law for teaching me to sail and my wife for enjoying the adventures with me. I am looking forward to the New Year and a new boat, H260.

 

[Pat Hayes]

The Learning Luff

I first learned to sail 40 years ago, when I was six. I remember my best friend enrolling in a 6 week sumer day camp here on Lake Champlain. I begged and pleaded until my parents finally gave in. Cost of the experience:$5.00 per week.The classes took place at a place still known as Fischer's landing in Charlotte, with Mr. Fischer picking us up every morning in his VW microbus. We, a class of 12 or so, learned everything from knot tying to reading the weather. And that summer, at the age of 7, I sailed across Lake Champlain to New York State, and back with an older (12 years old) classmate. It was an experience I will always remember.

 

[Michael Froelich]

My Wife?...Yes, It's true!

After learning how to sail from my Dad's cousin thirty years ago, and not having sailed in almost as long, I explained to my wife, of nine years, how I longed to sail again. Her first reaction was typically..."You'll get over it". After my persistance, she gave the nod to a great and very clean 1986 Catalina 30. She had never sailed before but was game to learn. Seven months later my wife and I sold our first boat together for a brand new 2000 Catalina 36 MK II. What a great life I have with my wife, family and boat. I truly have it all and am grateful.

 

[Steve]

Its all Jimmy's fault.

In 1979 I became a big fan of Jimmy Buffett. His music was and is still a big part of my life. I figured if Jimmy could sail, so could I. I went out and bought my first boat, a new sunfish. The first time out I thougt "this is eazy, till I had to get back up wind! I had to be towed back to the beach by the rangers boat. that week I did alot of reading. The next weekend was better. 5 boats and over 20 years later, I still love it. thanks Jimmy

 

[Steve G.]

Thanks Dad

I Certainly have much to be grateful for, but one thing stands out above all else; My father taught me how to use tools and gave me the confidence to take care of things myself. In order to have the size boat we wanted, we had to buy a fifteen year old. When "Shenandoah" needed to be electrically refit, the estimate came in at $9500. I had the gumtion to do most of it myself, and save three-quarters of that. Next year it's the rigging.

 

[Ernest F. Brodie, Sr.]

In the Beginning

As a child, my brother and I were always intrest in sailing vessels. We would read books about sailing and even make small hand carved sail boats and take them down to the creek flowing through our parents' farm. While in 4-H, at the age of sixteen, I saw an old wooden sail boat hanging from the rafters of my 4-H leaders barn. I asked him about it and he stated that it was an old family treasure from Norway. I asked if he ever sailed it and he stated that it had never been sailed since it came into his possession many years ago. He told me that if I wanted to try sailing it he would help me get it down after the hay was piled high enough to reach it during haying season. The big day arrived. My friend Bob and I carried the boat down to the small lake (North Pond - up State New York) and put it in the water. It sank to the bottom immediately. Filled with disappointment we ran back to the farm house to tell Charlie, our 4-H leader. He chuckled and told us that we would have to leave the boat in the water until the wood swelled then bail it out before we could sail.A few days passed and we returned to the boat. We bailed it out, set the mast, set the sail, and away we went. The win was very strong but we didn't care; this was fun. As we approached a large group of canoes from a camp on the other side of the lake, Bob yelled, "Ern, look!!" In his hand was the tiller and rudder. The screws had pulled out and we were coming up upon the canoes rappedly. Before we could take any corrective action, we plowed through the whole mass of canoes, leaving behind upset canoes and canoers a like. Before we could get things back together, we found ourselves in a narrow section of the lake and could not sail back. We ended up towing the boat by hand along the shore back to the farm . I never set sail again until I was in my 50s and had a man in his 70s instruct me on his 26' Cape Dory. I now have an O'day 25, my second O'day and have been sailing my own boats since 1995.

 

[Dunvegan]

thanks Warren!!!!

Warren, thanks for letting me nag you into taking me sailing, and then taking my husband and I sailing so he caught the bug too!thanks to my husband for being just as interested as I am, and my kids, who also caught the spark and usually beg to go stay "on the boat"thanks!

 

[Phil Correll]

I got the disease from Barry...

Our friend Barry and his wife Kris introduced us to sailing about 27 years ago by inviting us to sail on their Cal 24 on the Chesapeake Bay. To our great surprise they didn't even hesitate when we arrived at the marina with our two children (ages 3 and 4)! They have remained our friends and sailing companions for all those years. They helped us through the learning years as we worked our way through small trailerable boats. As things often happen, we were able to return the invitation about five years ago when they brought their family aboard our first cruising boat - a Catalina 27 that Barry helped me "survey" before we bought her. It is also notable to mention that he helped me avoid a $24,000 mistake by cautioning me to "think it over" before signing on the dotted line for the purchase of a larger boat. Barry and Kris can use our boat any time they choose. That is what friends do for friends.Phil

 

[Mike]

Thanks Luke, Bob, and all !!!

In the late 60's I went to work for a little place called Brady Boatworks in Savannah Ga.It was my first introduction to a marina and many people helped me to get up to speed. There was Luke Stien, Bob, Captain Mike and Shorty. They all helped to put the salt water in my viens. When we had a Boston Whaler Squall on display, they told me to take it out and try it. With the help of a Chapmans Guide and a lot of reading, some gentle advice and free access to the Squall, I not only learned to sail but to love it. When a customer offered me a Rhoades Penguin that needed a few ribs replaced and a great deal of elbowgrease and paint, I finally became a boat owner. That was 35 years ago and the sound of surf and smell of the sea still calms my worries and calls to me to leave the shore. With a bracing breeze my pulse quickens and my thoughts turn away from the land. When I close my eyes I can see a spread of canvas filled with a stout breeze, driving a well founded ship relentlesly through a emerald sea. I can feel the deck lift and fall beneath me and the wind in my hair breaths a new life into my soul. It's not that I love sailing, I love life.Mike

 

[Lamar]

Skipper Ted of St. Augustine

Invited me to go on my first sail. Gave me a Hobie 16, sold me a Hobie 18 cheap. Finally ended up with his Nacra 5.8 Catamaran. Took me racing all over the place, in all kinds of weather. Freezing and storms. Introduced me to his sailing friends. Our last race was the best. The Steeple Chase at Marathon Key. Double trapped, flying a hull and hauling ass. Still invites me to go sailing. Happy Thanksgiving Ted and Theresa

 

[Bobby McCullough]

Thanks to Paco and my wife!

Thanks to Paco, who reluctantly showed me the ropes off the beach of Playa Del Carmen (he thought $20 for the lesson would get rid of me). A pod of dolfin came up to ask about Tennessee football and that sealed it for me. The Sunfish was included at that resort but the dinghy I bought before the year was up wasn't included! And a HUGE thanks to my wife, for putting up with my obsession even though we have an 18 month old! She put up with my flipping the dinghy, losing the rudder and bending the mast in a cold winter lake while she was pregnant. Last but definitely not least, she let us move up to a C22 in just the past few months. God love her!!

 

[Phil Rudd]

Dear Ol' Dad

My Dad had been sailing since he was a youngster in Upstate New York. He never lost his love for sailing even though he ended up serving in the US Army at the end of WWII and the beginning of the Korean conflict. When I was about four years old he bought a used Sailfish dagger board boat and taught my brother and I the basics of sailing on a small lake in Southern Illinois. At the age of nine I went to camp in Upstate New York where I won my first regatta as captain of a crew of three on a wooden Comet. What a great boat!Later in life I too began to pass on my love of sailing to my daughter and son. It started with a used Chrysler Barracuda scow and then moved to an O'Day day sailer. I now have a Balboa 20 (Theopnuestos) that I am rebuilding and will launch this Summer with my son who will be headed off to college next Fall.Fair Winds and Blue Skies,Phil

 

[Joe Lynch]

My wife my Captain

For years I wanted to own a sailboat. I learned the very basics and got the "bug" when I went back into the Navy Reserve after getting off active duty.I crewed with a Master Chief on Narragansit Bay. Twenty years later 2 kids through college and a long suffering wife when it came to sailing, we managed to get our first boat. Now my wife is my Capt and a better boat driver then I could ever be. we are on are 2nd boat and hope to sail her a long way into retirement.

 

[Elle Weiser]

Have a Grateful Day

Love your title, our boat is the American Beauty and it says "Have a Grateful Day" on the stern. My husband Larry grew up racing with his Dad and he and I enjoy 'mountain' sailing. Elle

 

[Mark Wieber]

Thanks to Dad and Wife !!

Dad bought me a Flight 12 (read Mini Fish) when I was in junior high. I am not sure which one of us was more excited by the boats ability to move without oars or motor. I spent many hours at Lafayette, and San Pablo reservoirs with Dad dropping me off early morning and picking me up before diner. My Tom Sawyer days My Dad and I had many adventures sailing together in Lake Berryessa and San Francisco Bay. Later, some mentors with racing boats fanned the flames. Introducing me to the frustrations of rules and committee and the exhilaration of the contest.My Wife, bless her heart, allowed me to purchase a C36 and actually enjoys being on the boat. Plus she gets along great with Dad! Sometimes life is good

 

[Ernie T]

You did this to me Dad...Thanks!

As a young boy growing up, my father worked the second shift which meant I didn't see him much. As I grew older I once asked him about the boat that was seemingly "retired" in the back yard. It turns out it was an Old Town Whitecap, the model made famous by Robert Manry in his solo Atlantic crossing (mid 60s?). Dad taught me to use the belt sander and orbital sander, how to prime and paint, how to caulk the seams, and before you knew it, the boat was looking as good as new.He taught me the basics on this boat and we found a common interest to bond with. As time went on we moved up to racing on an International 14 and Hobie Cat 14 & 16.By now my blood was boiling with the need to sail. My best school freind and I fantasized about buying a boat together after high school and sailing the high seas together.After a string of dead end jobs my father put me through school at the Maine Maritime Academy where I emerged with a degree and a Coast Guard license. This led to a short stint in the sailing instruction and captained charter field, which is how I met my wife.A few years ago my dad was there to lend a helping hand when it came time to realize a life long dream to own my own big boat. I've been the happy and proud owner of a '79 Hunter 33 for about five years now.It really makes me proud to be able to share my dream with the man who got this all started in the first place... my Dad!The ironic thing is he can't fully appeciate it due to his sensitivity to seasickness. Yes, you did this to me dad.... Thanks!!

 

[Kenneth Frehm]

My Two Dads

Growing up I was so fortunate to have my biological parents and a second set of loving parents (aunt and uncle) who considered me their "son they never had". My two dads loved sailing and we all shared summers in a cottage on Lake Oscawanna in Putnam County, N.Y. My uncle (dad #2) owned a canoe and he and my dad(#1)decided to turn it into a "sail-canoe". So they engineered and hand-made a rudder,lee-boards, mast and boom. My Uncle's mom, handmade the sails from canvas! We sailed that baby all over that 3 mile long lake and had wonderful times together. Sometimes the wind would die and we would have to paddle her home ~ singing all the way! My first two years in college were in New London Conn. and Mitchell College had a sailing fleet of Tall Stars. I joined the sailing club and got my "captaincy" which also allowed me to sail their 28' "K" boat (previously owned by the Coast Guard for training their swabbies). We sailed the stars and K boat in the Thames River and even ventured out into the L.I. Sound with the 28 footer.  After college I crewed on E-Scows for awhile and then a few years along in my career I was bound and determined to own my own sailboat. Even though I was around motorboats as well all my life on the lake as we owned a number of them (for waterskiing)~ I always prefered sailing! In '83 I bought my 25' MacGregor and have been enjoying her since. I almost bought a 18' Hobie instead but fortunately for me, one of the Oneida Lake sailors took me out to a bar and over a bunch of scotches talked me out of it. The Hobie really wouldn't have been the best choice for Upstate NY sailing. In Syracuse, we have 4 different seasons: Summer (short), Pre-Winter, Winter and Post Winter... My youngest son just bought his 1st sailboat, a 16' Hobie and is having a ball with it on Lake Champlain. I guess I'll get to have some Hobie fun after all! Taking my father and uncle out in Abracadabra was always such a treat for me. They have both since passed away but so often, when in the cockpit alone, I remember my uncle tapping the speedo (like you'd do to a barometer), and I'll touch the speedo where he tapped it ~ tears will come into my eyes. Thank-you Dad and Thank-you Uncle Chick.

 

[Jim Bruce]

Our best friends,and they still are.

Our best friends convinced us to sell our skiboat and buy in on their Hunter. Since theyretired to the Ga. coast. It is all ours - andour grandchildren.

 

[Capt Sammy]

Thank you ,Linda

Books or movies introduced me to sailing when I was very young in the late 40's . I used to make model boats out of balsa wood. they would tip over instead of sailing because I dident know you had to have ballast. I made a model of every ship in the fleet, described in a book about the war of 1812. The constitution was my favorite. We had a summer camp on the river, where we spent the 3 months of school vacation. I put a mast and square bed sheet on a flat bottom rowboat and tried to sail up and down the river,but I could only go the way the wind was blowing, I dident know about centerboards, even if I would have the river was to shallow. If the wind was blowing downstream (which it usually was) I would row upstream so I could sail down, by the time I got upstream the wind would change direction. It was very frustrating. I took the mast off, put a motor on it and forgot about sailing for the next 40 some years. About 1997 I started thinking about buying a sailboat again, My wife wasen't to keen on the idea,but she said if we could find one with a cabin she'd go along with it. We ended up buying a Macgregor 25. Neither one of us had everbeen on a sail boat, but I had a book on how to sail which I had been reading, suffice to say we had a lot of harrowing experiences that summer,learning to sail, but through it all ,my wife actually came to enjoy it so much that 3 years later we bought a Ericson 25 with a larger cabin which we enjoy to this day.