I intend to utilize the following posts to share some of my highlights, lowlights, and lessons learned about and aboard my 1978 Yamaha 25 sailboat.
Having launched her over the long weekend I promptly got straight to the good stuff. My girlfreind, dog, and I cruised downwind up-river for two days. It was my first opportunity to sail the boat since making many repairs and modifications. The entire foredeck layout was re-done to facilitate the use of a Asymmet spinnaker on a bow sprit, and a great big 22lb plow anchor on a roller with 60' of chain and 240' of nylon rode. Both of these modifications were put to the test and proved invaluable assets to the cruisibility of the vessel.
On this trip we saw wind speeds from 25-30 kts for much of the first day and utilized numerous different sail sets(ranging from a scrap of jib to reefed main only, to full jib and reefed main) to make good upriver progress despite frequently narrow channels, commercial traffic, and very strong river current to buck (3-5kts depending on location). We locked through The Dalles damn and got a 100' vertical lift from the Army Corps and spent a beautiful peaceful night at anchor on the edges of the eastern OR/WA high desert with the cascade volcanoes clearly visible to the West.
Day two we sailed off the hook with just a corner of the jib out and popped the chute for the first time as we drifted into the channel. Given the light West winds we were unsure of our plans but, upon realizing it was possible to make a steady 4 kts by flying the chute and full main, we decided to continue upriver. The wind filled in and we continued to make good boat speed sometimes over 5kts(boatspeed provided by gps not thru the water) despite winds of less than 10 kts and a stiff current to buck. At first outside gybing the kite seemed hectic and took both of us to pull off, 3 hours later I was running the boat mostly solo. Frequently flying wing on wing and letting the tiller pilot steer so I could hand trim the kite and enjoy the view.
Here are a few photos we took and a quote from the great Ferris B. which about sums up my thoughts on the Y25
"If you have the chance to check one out, I highly recommend it. It is, so sweet."
Having launched her over the long weekend I promptly got straight to the good stuff. My girlfreind, dog, and I cruised downwind up-river for two days. It was my first opportunity to sail the boat since making many repairs and modifications. The entire foredeck layout was re-done to facilitate the use of a Asymmet spinnaker on a bow sprit, and a great big 22lb plow anchor on a roller with 60' of chain and 240' of nylon rode. Both of these modifications were put to the test and proved invaluable assets to the cruisibility of the vessel.
On this trip we saw wind speeds from 25-30 kts for much of the first day and utilized numerous different sail sets(ranging from a scrap of jib to reefed main only, to full jib and reefed main) to make good upriver progress despite frequently narrow channels, commercial traffic, and very strong river current to buck (3-5kts depending on location). We locked through The Dalles damn and got a 100' vertical lift from the Army Corps and spent a beautiful peaceful night at anchor on the edges of the eastern OR/WA high desert with the cascade volcanoes clearly visible to the West.
Day two we sailed off the hook with just a corner of the jib out and popped the chute for the first time as we drifted into the channel. Given the light West winds we were unsure of our plans but, upon realizing it was possible to make a steady 4 kts by flying the chute and full main, we decided to continue upriver. The wind filled in and we continued to make good boat speed sometimes over 5kts(boatspeed provided by gps not thru the water) despite winds of less than 10 kts and a stiff current to buck. At first outside gybing the kite seemed hectic and took both of us to pull off, 3 hours later I was running the boat mostly solo. Frequently flying wing on wing and letting the tiller pilot steer so I could hand trim the kite and enjoy the view.
Here are a few photos we took and a quote from the great Ferris B. which about sums up my thoughts on the Y25
"If you have the chance to check one out, I highly recommend it. It is, so sweet."
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