Last Season; looking back.

[Bad Obsession]

Looking back over this now almost past season, for most of us, how did you do? Did you get out of your slip as much as you wanted to? Did you get to learn anything new? Did you get to see new waters or a new place?

This past season was a frustrating one for me. I had a great trip at the beginning of the year and saw some new water, anchored in a new anchorage, learned a few things new, but I didn't get out much after that. The season was complicated with work and ordinary life stuff along with really hot temperatures and possibly a few excuses.

The nice thing about it all is that there is always next year. Though nothing is guaranteed, the idea of next season will keep me going through the winter. It is the promise of new cruises, new places, meeting new people, and visiting with old places and friends that keep me coming back. Sometimes it seems like the dream of it all is more of a motivation than the actual cruising. Either way, it is still there.

Here is a poem that kind of describes it:

Sailors Prayer
by Charles D. Williams

Sailors pray,
For fair winds and a following sea

The smell of salt in the air,
The feel of their skin as it's touched by the spray

An albatross soaring above,
Dolphins in the ship's wake at play

To witness a work of art that only God can create,
The sunset at the end of day

At night a million stars in the sky,
Safe anchorage in an islands lee

When the time comes to die as for all it must,
To awake in Sailors Heaven where nothing ever rusts

And always there would be,
Fair winds and a following sea

 

[kappykaplan]

I had a pretty good season. I spent quite a bit of time polishing my solo sailing skills to the tune of about 500NM. I took the Scout troop on another DELMARVA. Only had one major problem during the season - a clogged mixing elbow - that caused loss of a solo day sail. We survived Hurricane Sandy in southern MD. And I met All-U-Get and his wife aboard Dalmation. Now to get ready for about 4 months without the boat . . .

 

[fireman416]

I had a great year. I spent as much time on the water as time as work and familiy obligations would permitt. And I never hit anything that I was not aiming for which is a step up from last year.....have a safe winter

 

[Gary_H]

Had a crappy season, started out good but only got out about five times before my cutless bearing went out. Would cost about 1200.00 to fix at yard, had to save up money and just when I had it arrainged my Refrigerator went out and cost me 2000.00 to replace then a week later my water well pump went out and cost me 1200.00 so there went my boat money. decided to replace it myself in the water. took two weekends to break loose shaft from coupler because no room to use proper flange puller. finally got it out and went under boat to pull prop and pull shaft, buddy standing by inside to plug hole as shaft clears. OOPS shaft starts out but won't clear rudder..dang..buddy can't find the plug I had precut... got packing nut and lock nut off and finally saw the plug sitting on the engine mount so got plugged real good. as a backup also capped with heavy rubber pipe cap held with two hose clamps. weekend over had to go home. I came back the next weekend ...had to drop the whole rudder fortunately have a solid rudder shaft log that goes all the way up so tied lines on rudder to control it and removed tiller and rudder cap. happy because rudder doesn't sink but sort of floats ..shaft is kinda heavy though. Get back under the boat and wrestle it out and up on the dock. Also pull shaft rest of the way out. starting to rain hurricane coming so spend rest of weekend securing boat. take rudder and shaft home to clean and repair couple of bad spots on rudder. Two weekends later return and back under boat takes three hours in water to get old cutless bearing out. About 15 minutes to get new one in (made me a tool) water getting cold even with wetsuit after a few hours.
Soooo theres where I am and it's now November and I didn't get any sailing done this summer, Hoping for a mild winter so I can get out on the water.

Yes I'm through whining now. Thinking about it though my problem was nothing compared to you guys up north getting hit by the hurricane so I think I'll shut up now.

 

[arf145]

The first half of our sailing season was a bit frustrating. I don't remember the spring and early summer weather as being particularly great overall, and when it was, I was not in a position to take advantage of it. Had a raft up cancelled due to family emergency. But September and October went much better (except for that bang up finish to October), got in a few short trips and some very nice day sails.

What job-world sailors need is fair winds, following seas, and sympathetic schedules!

 

[GorillaToast]

This season was much better than the last 2. I was able to live on the boat from June - Sept., and sailed almost every morning. The only bad parts were that the hull was leaking, and it got worse in Sept. so I had to pull her out. The other thing is something I will have to deal with until I retire. I have to be at work by 1:30 pm 6 days, and the winds would always come up just as I was coming off the lake.

How frustrating!

But, I'm a much better light air sailor than I was.

 

[Stu Jackson]

A great year. Did a lot of sailing, mainly at least one overnight anchored out on the average of once every two weeks (daysails have gone the way of the do-do bird for me), and three cruises with our local C34 fleet.

But the best part of the year was tackling the major refits required for a 26 year old boat: new exhaust riser, rebuild of raw water pump, new HX, and new engine hoses. I threw in new jib sheets just to make the top of the boat feel as good as the insides!

 

[kenkindy1]

Indiana was hotter than Texas this year with 53 days over 90 degrees and with the heat and humidity came no wind. I didn't get out enough. I did some significant upgrades to the old girl though. I upgraded the 5hp 2 stroke to a 10 year newer 4 stroke 8hp with charging and electric start for a net $800. I added a Bimini from Ameriseam and a Boomkicker to be able to sail the 240 with the sails up (topping lift interfered otherwhise). Next year will be better.

 

[Deadline]

Had a great season and am still sailing through November. Big scare wasn't Superstorm Sandy so much as a near nor-easter we sailed through in August, with 6- and 7-foot swells nearly rolling our H320 from the aft quarter during a six-hour run from Deltaville into the York River. Otherwise entertained many clients and friends on beautiful days, "beautiful" defined as any day on the water.

 

[whatfiero]

last season looking back

Joined a sailing association signed up for racing ; raced in two races then my primary winch exploded bought a new one and got hit by a truck literally walking out of the store after spending $800 for a used winch . Two surgeries later and 3 months I can walk again went out on the boat and ran into another sailboat on a round up (so what if it's blowing a gale 20-30 mph I can walk so going sailing) bad idea . Finished the year up on some great sails and have one last one planned for the 17th christmas parade lights all ready to go up can't wait for next year it's gonna be a lot better

 

[MrBill_FLL]

I'm not using my boat enough to justify owning it...

clearly my priorities are messed up.

 

[sinnettc]

Had a great season this year. Got out at least once a week from May through September, except for a week when we were on a cruise to Alaska and a couple weeks in Florida dealing with a family issue.

 

[justsomeguy]

Joined a sailing association signed up for racing ; raced in two races then my primary winch exploded bought a new one and got hit by a truck literally walking out of the store after spending $800 for a used winch . Two surgeries later and 3 months I can walk again went out on the boat and ran into another sailboat on a round up (so what if it's blowing a gale 20-30 mph I can walk so going sailing) bad idea . Finished the year up on some great sails and have one last one planned for the 17th christmas parade lights all ready to go up can't wait for next year it's gonna be a lot better

Yow! I trust that next year can't get any worse. Good luck!

 

[Ray Bowles]

I had 1 day with my grandson and his prospective wife. A first sail for both and it was the most perfect conditions I have ever had. Wind was 15 to 18 knots, waves to 18 inches. We used my 135 genny and a full main. They both had the tiller and kept the rail right at the waters edge. All day, all fun. We met my wife when we were done for a few beers and burgers.
A perfect sail that made a fantastic summer. That is why I keep my boat in as perfect shape as possible. She returned the pleasures I have given her.
Ray

 

[Sail123]

It was a busy year with three different sailboats in our first year slip. Kept trading up. Each new acquisition needed cleaned, serviced, masts raised, sails figured out and all taken back down again.

Next year should be better and less work.

 

[joes new addiction]

Over all looking back I think I had a great season.
First let me say that on the coupla of forums I'm on, EVERYONE was MORE than friendly, encouraged me, help a newbie with all my "newbie questions". With out this help, I may have become a "sailor wantabe"!
Sailed 2-3 times a week, got the boat in early in the season,(first boat at the slip at my marina by 2 weeks, (I figued LESS people seeing me act like a monket F***ing a football, but it went well surprisingly)),
My first FULL year of sailing, my first year at a marina, so I had my cherry busted on ALOT of things- sailing wise.
Learned a GREAT deal about sailing, how to tune sails, the boat and how to's. (I think it was better getting a boat that was all screwed up by the P.O. and straighting it out. Also learned that a boat can sail fairly well all screwed up)!
Tried racing and found that after 45 years of racing motorcycles, I don't want to turn my sailing into racing practise or race anymore (sign of me getting old? Naaa, just like to relax when the sails are up), but I sure do like to go FAST in a sailboat, gotta beat anyother boat on the water!!
Sailed in NO wind, (troller motro sailing, E-lectric motor is quiet so it looks like I found some wind!!!), sailed in some strong gusts that had me healing WAY more than I'd liked.
Learned that a slight leak in the sink drain (which is below the water line) can REALLY put a lot of water in your boat, ("boy this boat is sure sailing like a slug today??? She seems to be sitting lower in the water too? Wonder why the bilge pump keeps coming on?..... Sheet!!!)
Learned the value of bedding deck fittings properly.
Found out that the boat that I fell in love with last Sept and HAD to have cuz her lines were sleek, isn't really the boat I want forever but was a good fling while it lasted, (I think of it like this...... You pick up a HOT looking chick at 2 AM in a bar and think this is love..... Only to find out in the morning she was replaced by her PMSing mother)!
Sold her (felt that "ping" in me heart when she rolled away??? Guess you never really forget your first love).
Bought a bit smaller boat, but alot more fun to sail.
I discovered that I like working on a boat as much as I like sailing them, would spend HOURS tinkering with her at the slip.(much to my wife's dismay).
Can't wait to try BIGGER water in 2013!!
Joe
'78 O day Mariner
3686

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

Great Season in Mass.

We had a good season. This was our second year with our C310. We splashed on April 17th and will pull after Thanksgiving. In that time we spent about 140 nights on the boat. We were close to being liveaboards with going to the house one to two nights a week for laundry and house work (mowing the lawn, rake leaves, wife painted the kitchen, etc.).

We had a couple of great cruises including a week down to Menemsha and Cuttyhunk, a long weekend in Gloucester and the Annisquam River with 6 other boats, a 20 boat overnight raft-up at World's End in Hingham and some time on my new 35 lb Manson Supreme. I didn't get as many miles under the keel as I was hoping for; around 450nm as of now. I don't think I will break my goal of 800nm in my boat before the end of the season. Last year we got to 597nm. There were a number of weekends with gusts over 30kts at the dock with forecasts to pick-up or thunderstorms predicted so we didn’t go out on those days. I think that is the biggest thing that will change next year. Just put in the second reef and go.

We didn't get to P-Town or the Isle of Shoals. So those stay on the list for next year. We will also try to make it to Block Island next year. I think the big cruise for next year will be up to Maine; at least as far up as two weeks could get us.

We learned a lot more about this boat. We had her in some pretty decent conditions including over 45 kts gusts and 8-12 foot breakers with water flowing into the cockpit (loved the open transom then). Sailed out of the Cape Cod Canal at dawn (see photo) and made our way up to Boston on one tack averaging 6 kts. Learned how to trim this boat better and reef easier. Became good at sterning in no matter what the conditions are or the setup of the marina. Need to spend some more time sailing down wind and figure out a good way to rig a preventer (or install a boom brake).

We made some new friends, including Tom and Nancy from the Washington state. They are fixing up their Freedom 30 and sailing down the coast and to the islands. Talking with them, along with spending so much time on our boat and becoming more comfortable with the its capabilities, has inspired us to begin putting together a two to three year plan. We are going to sell our house and all the “stuff” in it. Move onto the boat and build up the cruising kitty. The plan is to sail off before my 40th birthday in June of 2015 if not sooner.

Oh, and we leave Friday for the BVIs with some friends where we chartered a 42 foot sailboat for 10 days. Can’t wait!

 

[finding41]

Best investment EVER!