My wife and I have only sailed once, on a calm day in Oriental, and we liked it. We are reaching retirement age and are contemplating whether we should get into sailing. Accounts like the link below are very revealing about the situations good and bad that sailors get into. Any more links like the one below? I suppose most sailors use log books, but how many publish them on the web? After reading Carl's tales, it seems that it takes two actively involved and knowledgeable folks on board to make a real go of it on a sailboat in challenging conditions. Thanks. Opie sample link of Cruise stories - http://carladler.org/waterlogged/
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Education
Opie, After reading your post, my comments: There are a number of posts on this site for novice sailors. Before you decide to buy a sailboat try to understand the sport. Here is a list of things to think about, you can prioritize them: - How much does it cost, slip fees, insurance, registration, tax, things break (rewpair), winter storage, bottom paint - Can you do most things yourself, a simple oil change can cost $200 - Where are you going to sail - I look at sailing as a way of life, it is a real commitment - What kind of toys do you need (want), depth, wind, speed, GPS, RADAR, stereo, TV, and more - Creature comfort and safty, big boat, little boat - inboard or outboard motor - one sail, two sails or more - trailor, slip - if you can rent for a weekend or two or even a week you can get a feel for what it is like, because of your limited experience think about a captain also - or just jump in like I did - how does your partner feel about this If you know someone that owns, go with them a few times Been sailing for over twenty years, it is my pasion but I have no desire to go beyond the Chesapeke bay, maybe down the intercostal some day. Hope this helps, good luck. Paul
Opie, After reading your post, my comments: There are a number of posts on this site for novice sailors. Before you decide to buy a sailboat try to understand the sport. Here is a list of things to think about, you can prioritize them: - How much does it cost, slip fees, insurance, registration, tax, things break (rewpair), winter storage, bottom paint - Can you do most things yourself, a simple oil change can cost $200 - Where are you going to sail - I look at sailing as a way of life, it is a real commitment - What kind of toys do you need (want), depth, wind, speed, GPS, RADAR, stereo, TV, and more - Creature comfort and safty, big boat, little boat - inboard or outboard motor - one sail, two sails or more - trailor, slip - if you can rent for a weekend or two or even a week you can get a feel for what it is like, because of your limited experience think about a captain also - or just jump in like I did - how does your partner feel about this If you know someone that owns, go with them a few times Been sailing for over twenty years, it is my pasion but I have no desire to go beyond the Chesapeke bay, maybe down the intercostal some day. Hope this helps, good luck. Paul
Join Seven Seas Crusing Association
Opie, you might want to join the Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) it is made up of cruisers past present and future. Their website is www.ssca.org. Every November they have an annual meeting down it Melbourn, FL that is very informative and a lot of fun. We went last year and had a great time and got to talk to a lot of people that are out there living the life. Good luck Charlie
Opie, you might want to join the Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) it is made up of cruisers past present and future. Their website is www.ssca.org. Every November they have an annual meeting down it Melbourn, FL that is very informative and a lot of fun. We went last year and had a great time and got to talk to a lot of people that are out there living the life. Good luck Charlie
Another log
Well, if you like reading online logs, I've included a link to my log from last summer (follow the "archive" link to see the full list of entries). As for needing 2 capable sailors onboard well, there ARE a lot of single-handed sailors so its not essential but, if you have more than one person onboard, its a whole lot nicer if more than one of them can handle the boat. This can be a matter of convenience (can go below to use the head and not have to worry about a collision while your pants are around your ankles), a matter of comfort (it IS nice to take an hour nap after standing watch for a while), or a matter of life and death (imagine floating in your PFD while watching your boat sail away with the folks aboard unable to come back for you). I've put a lot of effort into making sure that there is nothing on Symphony that only I can do: The best money I've spent was on a full Bareboat Cruising course for my wife and daughter.
Well, if you like reading online logs, I've included a link to my log from last summer (follow the "archive" link to see the full list of entries). As for needing 2 capable sailors onboard well, there ARE a lot of single-handed sailors so its not essential but, if you have more than one person onboard, its a whole lot nicer if more than one of them can handle the boat. This can be a matter of convenience (can go below to use the head and not have to worry about a collision while your pants are around your ankles), a matter of comfort (it IS nice to take an hour nap after standing watch for a while), or a matter of life and death (imagine floating in your PFD while watching your boat sail away with the folks aboard unable to come back for you). I've put a lot of effort into making sure that there is nothing on Symphony that only I can do: The best money I've spent was on a full Bareboat Cruising course for my wife and daughter.
Another try for the link
For some reason the link didn't get included in my post...here's another attempt.
For some reason the link didn't get included in my post...here's another attempt.
Grrr...links aren't getting posted
Here is the URL...Don't know why the previous messages didn't include the link (I DID put it into the form. http://www.hickorytech.net/~cww/
Here is the URL...Don't know why the previous messages didn't include the link (I DID put it into the form. http://www.hickorytech.net/~cww/
Hi Opie
Oh man, I live vicariously through folks like you who are ready to climb out of the salt mines. Congratulations. Reading other people's logs is a great pastime of mine and I encourage you to read everything you can get your hands (browser) on. Probably the grandaddy of cruising log sites is: http://cruisenews.net/index.php Our own modest web page can be found at: http://www.svanthem.com Enjoy and good luck!
Oh man, I live vicariously through folks like you who are ready to climb out of the salt mines. Congratulations. Reading other people's logs is a great pastime of mine and I encourage you to read everything you can get your hands (browser) on. Probably the grandaddy of cruising log sites is: http://cruisenews.net/index.php Our own modest web page can be found at: http://www.svanthem.com Enjoy and good luck!
Intercoastal Flies and Crab traps
Paul, Those are all good ideas. As one example of what I hope to learn from cruise-logs of others is the flies and crab trap lines and stumps and overhanging branches and powerboat wakes and narrow shallow channels and bridges, etc, that are invloved in the intercoastal waterway arounf NC/VA border. Carl's humorous and honest description erased the unrealistic dream I had of a easy-chair type float sipping on martinis. Well, the martinis are there, but the easy-chair isn't. Armed with more realism, I can can adjust my dreams and still include the waterway as a goal, but be better prepared and safer. That is the sorta thing I am looking for. The many posts in this site about novice sailor choices and boats has already helped me narrow my selection to a few sailboats and I have contacted a few sellers. I have learned alot and thank many of you for posting on all sorts of subjects. We will be taking some trial runs this fall and in the spring on rentals or charters and reading the web like crazy in between. Opie
Paul, Those are all good ideas. As one example of what I hope to learn from cruise-logs of others is the flies and crab trap lines and stumps and overhanging branches and powerboat wakes and narrow shallow channels and bridges, etc, that are invloved in the intercoastal waterway arounf NC/VA border. Carl's humorous and honest description erased the unrealistic dream I had of a easy-chair type float sipping on martinis. Well, the martinis are there, but the easy-chair isn't. Armed with more realism, I can can adjust my dreams and still include the waterway as a goal, but be better prepared and safer. That is the sorta thing I am looking for. The many posts in this site about novice sailor choices and boats has already helped me narrow my selection to a few sailboats and I have contacted a few sellers. I have learned alot and thank many of you for posting on all sorts of subjects. We will be taking some trial runs this fall and in the spring on rentals or charters and reading the web like crazy in between. Opie
Don't forget to visit "Changes in Latitudes" pages
on the "Latitude 38" website. There are literally hundreds of cruising updates and stories there. This approaches the type of information available from the venerable SSCA magazine without having to shell out money for any subscription. Have fun! Flying Dutchman "Rivendel II"
on the "Latitude 38" website. There are literally hundreds of cruising updates and stories there. This approaches the type of information available from the venerable SSCA magazine without having to shell out money for any subscription. Have fun! Flying Dutchman "Rivendel II"
Rick's website is great.
Rick and Kristel's website is really nice. I've spent the last few day's reading the log and have decided on a trip to the Tortugas myself. Charles S/V Destiny "A ship is always referred to as "she" because it costs so much to keep her in paint and powder" - ADM. Chester Nimitz
Rick and Kristel's website is really nice. I've spent the last few day's reading the log and have decided on a trip to the Tortugas myself. Charles S/V Destiny "A ship is always referred to as "she" because it costs so much to keep her in paint and powder" - ADM. Chester Nimitz
another link
I did a search some time ago for something like: "retire + sailboat" and found this site. i have found his log both enlightening and entertaining. enlightening from his early attitude of "what am i doing here" through his "learning experiences" to what sounds to be like getting used to being a full time cruiser and current and future plans. http://www.geocities.com/bill_dietrich/RetireSailboat.html
I did a search some time ago for something like: "retire + sailboat" and found this site. i have found his log both enlightening and entertaining. enlightening from his early attitude of "what am i doing here" through his "learning experiences" to what sounds to be like getting used to being a full time cruiser and current and future plans. http://www.geocities.com/bill_dietrich/RetireSailboat.html
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