I'm vacationing in Cancun this Jan. The resort says they have sunfish sailboats for the guests to use. I've never sailed a sunfish before, but I'll be damned if I'm waiting until May to sail. I'm sure it's fun, but the clearance between the boom and the deck seems REAL tight in the on line photos I've studied. Is that a factor in tacks and gybes? Does one have to pretty much lay down to avoid the boom repositioning?
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In a sitting position, can your nose touch
your knees, John?? I had a sunfish for years, and here at Perrysburg Boat Club we have a fleet of about 20. Many of them sail in the Wednesday night races, and most of the sailors are 30-70 years old! When the boat tacks or jybes you need to duck your head to your knees. If your mid-section prevents this, then wear something to protect the top of your head from the impact! Mike Harms Perrysburg
your knees, John?? I had a sunfish for years, and here at Perrysburg Boat Club we have a fleet of about 20. Many of them sail in the Wednesday night races, and most of the sailors are 30-70 years old! When the boat tacks or jybes you need to duck your head to your knees. If your mid-section prevents this, then wear something to protect the top of your head from the impact! Mike Harms Perrysburg
jybe ho
Thanks for the reply. I'm only 34 and still fairly fit, so that sailcrobatic move is still an option. Guess the coronas havn't caught up with me yet! You've sailed that model for a while? I'd appreciate any other tips or stories you have to share. jtlovas@yahoo.com John
Thanks for the reply. I'm only 34 and still fairly fit, so that sailcrobatic move is still an option. Guess the coronas havn't caught up with me yet! You've sailed that model for a while? I'd appreciate any other tips or stories you have to share. jtlovas@yahoo.com John
Big Fun
John, Don't see from your post what you sail. I mostly sail an oday 25. My first boat was (still have it) an AquaFinn. Its just like the sunfish but the "cockpit" on the Aquafinn is a bit bigger. I bought my first from a guy probably in his 50s about 6'1" and 250 lbs. I'm 5'10" and was about 220 at the time. We talked by phone waiting for a windy day for me to go see the boat. I went to see the boat and he set her up then we BOTH climbed on. He sailed her out of the lake cove he lived in. I had never sailed. When we got out to the middle of the lake he asked if I had the idea. Sure I said. Then you take it he said and I sailed it back in. Gave him $500, and tied the sucker to the roof of my 20 yr old Toyota wagon. His house and driveway were on a ridge. The dock, my car and new boat were WAY below it on his gravel access road. I made it about halfway up the 100 yard road before the tires (slicks) began to spin. All I could see in the rearview was the lake and wondered if the boat would keep the car afloat. I "backed" into the ditch along side and he pulled me out with his jeep. I LOVE that boat. Sailing was the most important thing I learned in law school. I lived on the banks of the Tennessee River and sailed that sucker everyday. IF the wind was light I went upstream so if it died I floated home on the current. If you learned in bigger boats then you ain't seen nothing yet. In a good breeze when you tack the mast seems as though it runs through the bottom to the bottom and the boat zips 180 in the other direction. That boat has a cat rig. The halyard is attached to the upper most of two rods attached fowrard so that as you pull the halyard the sail opens. Just make sure that when you raise the sail, the sheet is loose and you raise it ALL the way giving you more clearance. There are rare times that I get mine out. But after sailing the 25 its like night and day (or O'day if you will). its such a hoot I can't let it go. Enjoy, Mike
John, Don't see from your post what you sail. I mostly sail an oday 25. My first boat was (still have it) an AquaFinn. Its just like the sunfish but the "cockpit" on the Aquafinn is a bit bigger. I bought my first from a guy probably in his 50s about 6'1" and 250 lbs. I'm 5'10" and was about 220 at the time. We talked by phone waiting for a windy day for me to go see the boat. I went to see the boat and he set her up then we BOTH climbed on. He sailed her out of the lake cove he lived in. I had never sailed. When we got out to the middle of the lake he asked if I had the idea. Sure I said. Then you take it he said and I sailed it back in. Gave him $500, and tied the sucker to the roof of my 20 yr old Toyota wagon. His house and driveway were on a ridge. The dock, my car and new boat were WAY below it on his gravel access road. I made it about halfway up the 100 yard road before the tires (slicks) began to spin. All I could see in the rearview was the lake and wondered if the boat would keep the car afloat. I "backed" into the ditch along side and he pulled me out with his jeep. I LOVE that boat. Sailing was the most important thing I learned in law school. I lived on the banks of the Tennessee River and sailed that sucker everyday. IF the wind was light I went upstream so if it died I floated home on the current. If you learned in bigger boats then you ain't seen nothing yet. In a good breeze when you tack the mast seems as though it runs through the bottom to the bottom and the boat zips 180 in the other direction. That boat has a cat rig. The halyard is attached to the upper most of two rods attached fowrard so that as you pull the halyard the sail opens. Just make sure that when you raise the sail, the sheet is loose and you raise it ALL the way giving you more clearance. There are rare times that I get mine out. But after sailing the 25 its like night and day (or O'day if you will). its such a hoot I can't let it go. Enjoy, Mike
depending on air...
John, in light air I sit in the cockpit with my feet facing foward. As the air speed moves up I start to sit up. As long as you tack(or gybe) slowly, you'll have time to move to the other side of the boat. No big deal as tyou only have to work with a mainsheet and tiller. (Just DON'T LET GO OF THE TILLER!!!!) and in Cancun, big deal if you capsize. Cool off, right the boat and keep going.
John, in light air I sit in the cockpit with my feet facing foward. As the air speed moves up I start to sit up. As long as you tack(or gybe) slowly, you'll have time to move to the other side of the boat. No big deal as tyou only have to work with a mainsheet and tiller. (Just DON'T LET GO OF THE TILLER!!!!) and in Cancun, big deal if you capsize. Cool off, right the boat and keep going.
Sunfish
Hey! Have fun with the Sunfish. I had one that I raced in Litchfield County. When they are rigged for racing, the boom is very low. The rig is tilted forward so that apex of the boom and the lateen is nearly touching the deck. For cruising, you can level out the rig and raise it high on the mast. Much less gymnastics involved with that configuration. You can look at some old brochures. Have a great time. Eric
Hey! Have fun with the Sunfish. I had one that I raced in Litchfield County. When they are rigged for racing, the boom is very low. The rig is tilted forward so that apex of the boom and the lateen is nearly touching the deck. For cruising, you can level out the rig and raise it high on the mast. Much less gymnastics involved with that configuration. You can look at some old brochures. Have a great time. Eric
boost of confidence
Thanks for all the replies. Sailing a diferent rig in strange waters is always(or should be) a moment of caution. I've sailed exclusively on sloop rigs, so a cat will be new. The boat I learned on was about 15'. I sailed mostly on the Catalina 22. Currently I sail a O'Day Mariner. It's 19' feet, and a fractional sloop. Things happen faster on smaller boats that's for sure. Hopefully I'll have good enough weather and conditions to get enough sailing in to last me until spring. Thanks again! John
Thanks for all the replies. Sailing a diferent rig in strange waters is always(or should be) a moment of caution. I've sailed exclusively on sloop rigs, so a cat will be new. The boat I learned on was about 15'. I sailed mostly on the Catalina 22. Currently I sail a O'Day Mariner. It's 19' feet, and a fractional sloop. Things happen faster on smaller boats that's for sure. Hopefully I'll have good enough weather and conditions to get enough sailing in to last me until spring. Thanks again! John
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