The next level

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Paul Akers

Doing Maine this summer.

I normally sail south of Cape Cod. This year my wife and I are extending this area to Maine. I moved the boat on the July 4th weekend to Portland, Maine (Casco Bay) some 200+ miles. It is there for the summer until Labor Day weekend when I will bring it home. This is all virgin sailing territory for me and have the opportunity to sail with some experienced "downeasters" in a flotilla of 9 boats. We are leaving on Saturday for a 12-day, 230+ mile trip up the Maine coast to a bit beyond Penobscot Bay and return. This is extremely exciting to me and will certainly add to my sailing experience. Maine is dusted with many islands and reefs. Navigation requires a "notch" more care.
 
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David

Maine

You are going to love it Paul! I just left my boat in Belfast after a sail up from MA. Last week we went through Fox Island Thoroughfare on to Deer Island Thoroughfare then to Northeast and Bar Harbors. We returned through Eggemoggin Reach to Buck's Harbor then Castine and left the boat in Belfast for August sailing. Rockland Lobster Fest end of this month.
 
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Paul Akers

David...

Those places you mentioned are on our itinerary (except Bar Harbor). And we are scheduled to be in Rockland on the first day of the Lobster festival. I already have a slip reserved!
 
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Maeve McMenomey

Westward Ho!

Don't know if it's another "level" or not, but we are planning to head for the Great Lakes next May. Done the ICW (6 times), Bahamas (2), would like to try fresh water. Any pointers for a 40' sailboat (drawing 5'1") on the Erie Canal from NYC?????
 
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Chuck

For Robert Polk

What type of vessell do you have and when are you planning on casting off to Bermuda? -Chuck
 
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Carol

next step!!!!

Well to be honest......there isn't enough room for me to say what all of my dreams are. I want a bigger boat, guess I have the bigger boat itch.......I could live on a sailboat.... in the meantime, my 27ft Hunter will do.......after I get a bigger boat, I am looking forward to doing some "blue water sailing". I want to do charting and learn of the currents.......sailing to the caribbean is so intersting.......I don't mind the heeling thing...as I can be the helmsan as well...and flying a spinnaker is so excitting....no skittisk crew here..... Cheers,and good sailing!!!!!! Carol
 
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Ace Roberts

Single Handing

The question is not what but how? An autopilot would be nice but on a limited budget, I'm planning to use a Davis "Tiller Tamer" and a 5 ft. piece of Bungee Cord. I have a Santana 20 and I plan to: 1. Take a couple of wraps around the winch with the "lazy jib sheet"; 2. Set the traveler; 3. Holding the tiller extension ("hiking stick") in my hand, move to the front of the S-20; 4. push tiller away ("hard alee"); 5. release the jib sheet and when the jib luffs, pull the jib across, if I can; 6. when I've tacked thru 90 degrees, let go of tiller - Bungee cord should return tiller to neutral position; i.e., center of S-20; 7. with two hands, now continue pulling "lazy jib sheet" across bow - winch, trim jib/genoa ans cleat jib sheet; and 8. Set up "lazy jib sheet for next single handed tacking (or jibing) maneuver single-handedly. That's my plan - any comments, suggestions, or alternative methods will be greatly appreciated. I was on my way to the lake to try out this plan (thought I'd read my e-mail before I went and found this thread - kind of ironic, don't you think?). So if anyone is interested, I'll report on the results in my next e-mail to this forum. Smooth sailing everyone; Ace
 
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Mark

The Next Level is to Sail Around the Delmarva

I bought my '76 Hunter 25 last year and we have done some great sailing here in the Chesapeake. OF course I am dreaming of buying a bigger boat to make our cruises more comfortable. We have done overnights to Oxford, MD and up Cox Creek in Kent Island. There is a race from Annapolis, around the Delmarva to Solomons nextt year in June. The trip around the Delmarva Peninsula (Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia) takes about a week, and I am steering for it for next summer. Does anyone have a deal on a Catalina 34 to offer?
 
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SailboatOwners.com

Final results

Final results for the Quick Quiz ending 7/28/2002: My next big sailing challenge is... 34% Larger bodies of water or tougher conditions 31% I'm happy where I am 19% Singlehanding or more do-it-yourself maintenance 16% A bigger boat
 
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Jean Gosse

Spinnaker Handling

Easiest way to handle a spinnaker is to set it up in a cardboard box. Cut a V out of one long side, and each of the corners on the opposite side. Find the two lower corners and set each in one of the side V cutouts. Follow the luffs, equally, packing the sail into the box as you go. When you reach the head, set it in the center V, taking care that you don't twist the sail. The easiest to use halyard has a clip at either end and is clipped to the chainplates, port and starboard. The sheets should each be twice the length of the boat. One sheet should be led around the forestay, to meet the other at the same chainplate as the halyard. When ready to set the spinnaker, clip the halyard to the head, clip the sheets to the corners of the spinnaker. Before rounding the windward mark (or wherever you decide to sail downwind) clip the pole over the windward sheet, then to the mast fitting. (It is best to have a topping lift, an adjustable line from the middle of the spinnaker pole to a spot on the mast, nearly up to the spreaders). When the pole is set, push it forward to the forestay Hoist the sail behind the main and jib, until the head of the sail is about a foot from the block on the mast. Set your course and adjust the mainsail. Pull the guy (the sheet which is attached to the pole. until the pole is approximately a forward extention of the boom. Pull the sheet (which should be led as far back on your lee quarter as possible. Adjust the boom and the pole to be nearly perpendicular to the wind. Adjust the spinnaker sheet constantly to keep it just on the edge of a luff (when the luff leading to the pole begins to fold in). Drop the jib for best results unless you are on a beam reach. Then sometimes it will draw effectively with the spinnaker up. All this can be done by a single hander, but try with at least one crew first. To drop, set the jib, ease the guy, pull the sheet to get the sail behind the working sails. Then gather in the foot, set the corners in the box and lower away, letting the sail come under the boom and into the box. Detach, hook the sheets together and both to the halyard and you are ready to go again. Get the pole down before tacking unless you have a very small jib. Sounds complicated but one adult and one five year old can do it neatly on a Lightning or a Thistle, anything in the "under 25'" range. Let the child steer. The adult has more strength and a longer reach. When you have a little experience you could do it single handed, replacing the child with a couple of bungees to keep the tiller centered on course.
 
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Jean Gosse

Racing

Go for it. Racing is the best way to learn to handle your boat. You did not say what you boat is. After the class, join your local fleet and race with other boats as much as possible. If your boat does not have a local group racing, find out what dinghy class is popular and buy, borrow, charter, build, whatever it takes to get you active in the class. You will learn more racing an El Toro for a summer than sailing a big boat for five years.
 
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Lisa - Mac 26 - C-Rae

Opposite tack - Female the one into sailing

I am the only one of all my friends who receives all the boating magazines! I have a Mac 26 and a Catalina 22 and sail on Ohio Lakes, Lake Erie and on the Florida Gulf Coast where I grew up. Seems like most of the guys I know are all interested in powerboating. I'm working toward my goal of moving aboard in the next two years, the Catalina is for sale in case anyone is interested! Seems I'm always the one pushing to spend all free time on the water when I or the guy I'm seeing are not working. I don't think he understands why I like to go to the boat and tinker with pieces and parts all afternoon. So you see, it's not always the guys who can't get the partner caught up in the dream!
 
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Frank Sears

Lisa? are you married?

This past winter, my boat was in my front field. I couldn't sail, so each weekend I was on her - tinkering... Enjoyed it too!
 
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LaDonna Bubak - CatalinaOwners.com

I feel your pain, Lisa!

My last serious boyfriend was a super sailing god so we got along just great (well, I guess we did break up...). It's been difficult meeting anyone in my area who's my age and interested in sailing. Oh sure, a sail or two is great but jetskis and powerboats are their ideal. Something about how they translate in the how well endowed they are or something. ;-) Then again, there's quite the selection of "older" men whose ex-wives hated boats but, well, I already have a dad. :) LaDonna
 
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george lakes iii

Issues

How often they can start out fine and then get into the control as if they are jealous. When they have to many issues, its time to cancel the subscription.
 
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