Keep them interested...

atwhite2

atwhite2

.
Dec 14, 2008
92
Tartan 30 Bayfield, WI
Hi All.
Welcome to winter... A brutal slap of cold so early yet in the season.... I read somewhere that Lake Superior region is not supposed to see above freezing weather again until March. ...*sigh*....

I have been sailing with my 2 boys (now 10 and 14) and my lovely wife for 6 years now and they have slowly grown to love sailing ( they didn't truly love it at first). This past summer was a great summer for us, we took a few really great trips toward the end of the summer and the boys really took a liking to sailing and helping out on the boat.
As we are currently in the middle of Wisconsin and the sailing season has ended... I find myself really wanting to keep my boys momentum going for the love of sailing and the love of boating alive over the all too long winter.
So... This question is for all the sailors on the hard:
What do you do to keep up with your and your families passion of sailing over the long winter? Shows, trips, staring out the winter at the cold bleak grey sky slowly sinking into a non-sailing depression, calling out "coming about" every time the car turns a corner?.... Or whatever...
Winter came early this year and even just visiting the lake in 18 degree weather is not fun.
Looking to keep the spark alive until spring.

-Abe
 
shemandr

shemandr

.
Jan 1, 2006
7,994
Slickcraft 26 Sailfish
Ice boating? Maybe not the best answer. But it doesn't do much good to cower from Winter. You could also do the Don thing and hit FL for a vacation. There are racing clinics that go on in FL and other places that are like a week vacation for the kids. Check with Amanda Clarke. But expect to get them back telling you how to sail the boat. Or there are charters. Boat shows soften the pain but are ultimately unsatisfying. A local sail loft runs a winter program series with some interesting presentations about sailing topics. Entertaining but like the boat show... Mystic Seaport runs an "Adventure Series" with some intriguing programs if you are able to go there. Some local Maritime Museums do the same. You can take on a workshop project such as building a dingy (A great family project). But I don't Rx staring out the window, in a depressive state. Go skiing! Ultimately the cure is spring.
 
Meriachee

Meriachee

.
Aug 1, 2011
3,972
Catalina 270 255 Wabamun. Welcome to the marina
I'm not sure that should be taken as an invitation to Don's house, but it kinda sounded like one. :). -23c here again this morning, and a nice round of ice fog. Vancouver boat show in January.
Cheers
Gary
 
D

dynomite

.
Oct 26, 2014
14
C&C 34 Windsor
Meriachee said:
I'm not sure that should be taken as an invitation to Don's house, but it kinda sounded like one. :). -23c here again this morning, and a nice round of ice fog. Vancouver boat show in January.
Cheers
Gary
Click to expand
Toronto Boat show early January and crew get togethers at club every month.

Our club members ,mostly retirees take turns doing a Monday lunch,minimal fee and a good time chatting up the season.

We also have a dart league all winter which of course gets you near the boat and water .

Our club is member owned and strictly sail. We have our own travel lift, hydraulic trailer, large fork lift and 2 gin poles.
During summer months we have two race nights per week, 3 open regattas, Junior Sailing week, Women's Challenge consisting of a 6 week program and a Handicap Sailing weekend with Special Boats and instructors brought in for the 2 days of sailing.
Most work done on boats is by members helping members.
All the planning for this keeps members active over the winter getting ready for next season.
 
Kermit

Kermit

.
Jul 31, 2010
5,722
AquaCat 12.5 17342 Wateree Lake, SC
Is it possible they don't need all the extra effort? Baseball and football season come and go. Christmas comes and goes. Sailing season comes and goes. Maybe, just maybe, there's a season for everything.

Please don't have me banished from the forum for this. If they truly enjoy sailing as much as it appears, I bet your kids will be excited about sailing season when it comes around again.
 
atwhite2

atwhite2

.
Dec 14, 2008
92
Tartan 30 Bayfield, WI
Kermit said:
Is it possible they don't need all the extra effort? Baseball and football season come and go. Christmas comes and goes. Sailing season comes and goes. Maybe, just maybe, there's a season for everything.
Click to expand
Right you are... There is a season for everything, I know that they will still enjoy it this coming season, I guess it is just me looking at them and being happy that they finally found passion in what I have been dragging them along for the past few years.
So until then... "Hard to port 2 blocks ahead at Main Street...."
Thanks
 
Kermit

Kermit

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Jul 31, 2010
5,722
AquaCat 12.5 17342 Wateree Lake, SC
The reason I posted... I'm just as guilty as everyone else about being passionate. Sometimes my First Mate gets tired of me talking about sailing, what needs to be done to the boat and when I'm going to do it. My grown kids seem to get tired of my passion at times, too. I guess I'm hoping my experience of being over-passionate might help others avoid some of the mistakes I've made and continue to make. But dang, if your kids share the passion, lead on!
 
P

Pat

.
Jun 7, 2004
1,250
Oday 272LE Ninnescah Yacht Club, Wichita, Ks.
Book a winter charter to the British Virgin Islands....a great get-away in Jan/Feb..Easy sailing for the most part and the entire family will have fun.
 
Jackdaw

Jackdaw

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Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Welcome to the club!

We do sailor parties once a month. Easy because race crew and other boat owners near.

We take TONS of HD video, play it on the big screen. Fun

Go to one boat show. Chicago strictly sail works.

Plan one winter charter if you can swing it

Do boat projects at home
 
E

Eddie7045

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Aug 16, 2006
281
Ericson 32 Oregon coast
Maybe you shouldn't push it too hard.

Much as we here love sailing, there are a lot of other beautiful pursuits out there. And when Spring comes, isn't that going to be exciting ?
 
Meriachee

Meriachee

.
Aug 1, 2011
3,972
Catalina 270 255 Wabamun. Welcome to the marina
Kermit said:
The reason I posted... I'm just as guilty as everyone else about being passionate. Sometimes my First Mate gets tired of me talking about sailing, what needs to be done to the boat and when I'm going to do it. My grown kids seem to get tired of my passion at times, too. I guess I'm hoping my experience of being over-passionate might help others avoid some of the mistakes I've made and continue to make. But dang, if your kids share the passion, lead on!
Click to expand
Talking about sailing is probably similar to the discussion about getting that line out of the living room? What's a house for anyway?
(I'll bake for that one)
 
atwhite2

atwhite2

.
Dec 14, 2008
92
Tartan 30 Bayfield, WI
Scott T-Bird said:
and you don't have Birkie Fever, I don't know why you don't have Birkie Fever! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0UXykrFfDg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIjrUXMRiJo
Click to expand
... The cold air stinging your face and burning your lungs as you run down the street... Not feeling your toes while your upper body sweats... Strange looks from passing cars in the street... "What moron is out running in this weather?... "

Of course I have the fever. Have had it since first Kortelopet in 1993.

?
 
kito

kito

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Sep 13, 2012
2,011
1979 Hunter Cherubini 30 Clemmons
Did you take any videos this Summer while sailing? If so, winter is a good time to watch them. I now I have been living vicariously this last year watching Youtube sailing videos. Haven't had my c22 out at all. What little free time was spent working on my H30 project boat so to have it ready by Spring 2015. When we did plan to sail then the weather never cooperated.
 
D

DAVA390

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Jul 13, 2010
1,100
Precision 23 Perry Hall,Baltimore County
Maybe introduce them to the joys of sanding and varnishing brightwork?:D
 
Scott T-Bird

Scott T-Bird

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Oct 26, 2008
6,432
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
atwhite2 said:
... The cold air stinging your face and burning your lungs as you run down the street... Not feeling your toes while your upper body sweats... Strange looks from passing cars in the street... "What moron is out running in this weather?... "

Of course I have the fever. Have had it since first Kortelopet in 1993.

?
Click to expand
Insanity! :D

I'm afraid I don't have personal knowledge, but my brother has been skiing the Birkebeiner for over 20 years now. His house outside of Hayward is only a few miles from the trail.
 
BobM

BobM

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Jun 10, 2004
3,269
S2 9.2A Winthrop, MA
Sailing simulators? Model sailboats? Discuss a project and execute it at home? Teach them how to use a sewing machine?
 
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