What's the most challenging aspect of sailing for you? Is it docking in a cross wind or placing your anchor in just the right spot in crowded conditions? How about sail trim in gusty winds... or in very light air, for that matter? Flying spinnakers? Oh yeah. If you're a trailer sailor, how about getting the mast up and down all the time? Then there's all that maintenance and fix-it stuff that requires constant attention. So what's the toughest stuff for you? Share your stories and be sure to vote in the quiz at the bottom of the home page. (Quiz by Gary Wyngarden)
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great question, Gary
I love to sail so much, but it is the tough stuff that has kept me of the water so far. Lover that quit, work is bad, and so on and so on. Maintence on the boat, and its remote location are also a problem. All I want to do is sail, and all I can do is come up with 100 reasons why I cant.
I love to sail so much, but it is the tough stuff that has kept me of the water so far. Lover that quit, work is bad, and so on and so on. Maintence on the boat, and its remote location are also a problem. All I want to do is sail, and all I can do is come up with 100 reasons why I cant.
My dock is so hard - and my boat is so precious!
I've been able to "live and learn" with just about any situation encountered on the open water. Docking - on the other hand - is a completely unforgiving situation. Either I do it right - or I have a lasting momento of my mistake. Consequently, I seldom single-hand unless I know that there will be someone at the dock to "catch" my boat when I return! BILL on STARGAZER
I've been able to "live and learn" with just about any situation encountered on the open water. Docking - on the other hand - is a completely unforgiving situation. Either I do it right - or I have a lasting momento of my mistake. Consequently, I seldom single-hand unless I know that there will be someone at the dock to "catch" my boat when I return! BILL on STARGAZER
The Cost
The cost of sailing is the hardest part for me. Being in college while trying to support myself and a boat is not even close to practical. It takes a massive amount of my time and all of my money. I get constant 'advice' from others of how I'm supposed to spend a few hundred here or there on more or new things for my boat. As if it grows on trees. I love just being out on the water. I know at some point the money flow will slow to a trickle but the flow is like a stream right now.
The cost of sailing is the hardest part for me. Being in college while trying to support myself and a boat is not even close to practical. It takes a massive amount of my time and all of my money. I get constant 'advice' from others of how I'm supposed to spend a few hundred here or there on more or new things for my boat. As if it grows on trees. I love just being out on the water. I know at some point the money flow will slow to a trickle but the flow is like a stream right now.
The list is long
There's many things that are hard about sailing, Maintenence when the spring or fall weather doesn't cooperate, raising the mast if travelling or for the season at a docking, singlehanded sailing or docking in gusty weather (my kicker motor doesn't have neutral or reverse), let's not forget ignoring the impulse to buy every cool new gadget for your boat that you see. BUT- if we wanted it easy all of the time we'd be driving power boats instead! Bruce
There's many things that are hard about sailing, Maintenence when the spring or fall weather doesn't cooperate, raising the mast if travelling or for the season at a docking, singlehanded sailing or docking in gusty weather (my kicker motor doesn't have neutral or reverse), let's not forget ignoring the impulse to buy every cool new gadget for your boat that you see. BUT- if we wanted it easy all of the time we'd be driving power boats instead! Bruce
Stopping to let the kids swim
The hardest part for me is anchoring in a cove to let my kids go swimming when the wind is nice. Just because it is 95 degrees, they are hot, and we have been sailing for over three hours, they feel that I should stop having all this fun and pull over so they can swim... The sacrifices we must make for family!
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The hardest part for me is anchoring in a cove to let my kids go swimming when the wind is nice. Just because it is 95 degrees, they are hot, and we have been sailing for over three hours, they feel that I should stop having all this fun and pull over so they can swim... The sacrifices we must make for family!
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Docking, docking, docking...
I have to vote strongly for docking as being one of the more stressful areas of my sailing. I have docked at the same slip for 5 years, but I doubt if the conditions have ever been the same twice. Wind, current, tide, not to mention having to make a very tight turn into a very narrow docking lane, against the current, while passing a crowded outdoor restaurant with a hundred or more people watching your every move... it does tend to get the adrenaline, not to mention the blood pressure, pumping!
I have to vote strongly for docking as being one of the more stressful areas of my sailing. I have docked at the same slip for 5 years, but I doubt if the conditions have ever been the same twice. Wind, current, tide, not to mention having to make a very tight turn into a very narrow docking lane, against the current, while passing a crowded outdoor restaurant with a hundred or more people watching your every move... it does tend to get the adrenaline, not to mention the blood pressure, pumping!
Docking
I have to agree with Roger, the most stressful time on our boat is docking. We are in a tight slip and our boat is so high out of the water that the wind can move us every which way it chooses. We also have a restaurant that overlooks the docks which conveniently has a deck for their patrons to enjoy drinking, eating and laughing at the goings on at the marina.
I have to agree with Roger, the most stressful time on our boat is docking. We are in a tight slip and our boat is so high out of the water that the wind can move us every which way it chooses. We also have a restaurant that overlooks the docks which conveniently has a deck for their patrons to enjoy drinking, eating and laughing at the goings on at the marina.
Docking
I have to agree with the docking folks. My slip is cross current in a narrowish fareway, but that in itself isn't too bad because it's a fairly constant current to deal with. The main thing for me is that the winds in my sailing area are highly variable, so every landing is a new adventure. At least I don't have restaurant patrons to entertain
I have to agree with the docking folks. My slip is cross current in a narrowish fareway, but that in itself isn't too bad because it's a fairly constant current to deal with. The main thing for me is that the winds in my sailing area are highly variable, so every landing is a new adventure. At least I don't have restaurant patrons to entertain
Furling the mainsail
On my 340 the most challenging thing for me is furling the big roach mainsail single handed. It really needs 2 people, one on each end of the boom. 2 Tall people and I am only 5 ft 3. It is a heck of a reach to the mainsheet end of the boom, even swinging it out over the arch and bimini. It is at time like that that I think about how nice it would be having a roller furling mainsail.
On my 340 the most challenging thing for me is furling the big roach mainsail single handed. It really needs 2 people, one on each end of the boom. 2 Tall people and I am only 5 ft 3. It is a heck of a reach to the mainsheet end of the boom, even swinging it out over the arch and bimini. It is at time like that that I think about how nice it would be having a roller furling mainsail.
Pulling Anchor
After a good night at anchor, pulling the anchor up without a windlass in 45 feet of water is more of a workout than I need in the morning. It also signals time to head back in.
After a good night at anchor, pulling the anchor up without a windlass in 45 feet of water is more of a workout than I need in the morning. It also signals time to head back in.
Freaking on the Bay, All the other stuff.
As new boat owners we have a lot of "other" stuff to worry about, and really none of it is sailing or boat handling. This past weekend we were out on Narragansett Bay, it was lumpy and blowing hard. Everyone had different sail combinations. We had a reefed main and 110% jib. others had Jib only, so many boats were going many different speeds and many were having difficulty keeping on a steady course... So being a safety freak, I had my diesel in idle for battery charging and extra control... As I said it was bumpy so... My diesel died... We restarted...AARRRGGGHHH!!!! What the #$@&^!(&@ am I going to do!!!! At my insistence we did not call the tow boat we sailed back to the yard and on to our mooring... And we missed the cabin cruiser behind us by at least 2 feet, honey....... I never knew I had to change the filters and drain the fuel tank to avoid having the reliable iron jenny that takes care of us DIE.... I don't know how many other things I am missing, but I am trying to learn as fast as I can and not completely fund my yard owners retirement.?!.
As new boat owners we have a lot of "other" stuff to worry about, and really none of it is sailing or boat handling. This past weekend we were out on Narragansett Bay, it was lumpy and blowing hard. Everyone had different sail combinations. We had a reefed main and 110% jib. others had Jib only, so many boats were going many different speeds and many were having difficulty keeping on a steady course... So being a safety freak, I had my diesel in idle for battery charging and extra control... As I said it was bumpy so... My diesel died... We restarted...AARRRGGGHHH!!!! What the #$@&^!(&@ am I going to do!!!! At my insistence we did not call the tow boat we sailed back to the yard and on to our mooring... And we missed the cabin cruiser behind us by at least 2 feet, honey....... I never knew I had to change the filters and drain the fuel tank to avoid having the reliable iron jenny that takes care of us DIE.... I don't know how many other things I am missing, but I am trying to learn as fast as I can and not completely fund my yard owners retirement.?!.
Diesel Maintenance
Biggest problem is maintaining my Volvo MD7A diesel. It's not that the engine is bad, it's finding decent mechanics. It's reached a point where I do most of the maintenance myself. Too bad because it takes my time away from other things on my boat. Anyone with similar view?
Biggest problem is maintaining my Volvo MD7A diesel. It's not that the engine is bad, it's finding decent mechanics. It's reached a point where I do most of the maintenance myself. Too bad because it takes my time away from other things on my boat. Anyone with similar view?
Most challenging or least forgiving?
I'm not sure docking is the most "challenging" part, but it's sure the least forgiving! I can overcome poor sail trim, and I can generally redo a poor maintenance job until it's right. But docking (in front of a restaurant, of course!) just doesn't afford any opportunity to recover. Maybe one of these years, the outboard controls may become second nature. But it the meantime it's unlikely that I'll have it in the right gear, pointed the right direction with the right amount of throttle to balance the wind and momentum for one of those textbook landings. More like a comic book...
I'm not sure docking is the most "challenging" part, but it's sure the least forgiving! I can overcome poor sail trim, and I can generally redo a poor maintenance job until it's right. But docking (in front of a restaurant, of course!) just doesn't afford any opportunity to recover. Maybe one of these years, the outboard controls may become second nature. But it the meantime it's unlikely that I'll have it in the right gear, pointed the right direction with the right amount of throttle to balance the wind and momentum for one of those textbook landings. More like a comic book...
River docking
We sail on the Ohio River and have a slip right on the river. Fighting the current and wind is a real chore. One or the other would be tough enough, but both forces acting on the boat at the same time makes for a difficult time in estimating the reaction of the boat. I suppose it's good practice for situations with changable winds in a strange harbor.
We sail on the Ohio River and have a slip right on the river. Fighting the current and wind is a real chore. One or the other would be tough enough, but both forces acting on the boat at the same time makes for a difficult time in estimating the reaction of the boat. I suppose it's good practice for situations with changable winds in a strange harbor.
Kidding aside - Probably Sail Trim
My wife and I are very comfortable docking and anchoring - she does it. I'm always attempting to get the best sail at all points of sail and continually playing with the sails. Drives her nuts because I won't sit still. I've read Don's book a couple of times and still don't quite get IT!. Always got to much weather helm. Learning Jim S/V Java
My wife and I are very comfortable docking and anchoring - she does it. I'm always attempting to get the best sail at all points of sail and continually playing with the sails. Drives her nuts because I won't sit still. I've read Don's book a couple of times and still don't quite get IT!. Always got to much weather helm. Learning Jim S/V Java
The Cost
Stephen, I've owned many different boats and have been sailing for well over 50 years. Something I read many years ago has always seemed to be factual --- "When buying (owning) any boat, the cost to own and operate it will be equal to at least 10% of the total purchase price for each year owned." I can say from experience that this isn't too far off. I can also say it has always been worth it even during the tough going times of raising a family. Never sell your boat unless a newer one is on the way.
Stephen, I've owned many different boats and have been sailing for well over 50 years. Something I read many years ago has always seemed to be factual --- "When buying (owning) any boat, the cost to own and operate it will be equal to at least 10% of the total purchase price for each year owned." I can say from experience that this isn't too far off. I can also say it has always been worth it even during the tough going times of raising a family. Never sell your boat unless a newer one is on the way.
Flying High (and keeping it that way)
Since I usually sail with my wife, who has made it a point to let me know she is along for the ride, I have more trouble setting and flying my spinnaker - to include droppping it - than any other thing I do. Spinnakers just ain't a single handed thing!!
Since I usually sail with my wife, who has made it a point to let me know she is along for the ride, I have more trouble setting and flying my spinnaker - to include droppping it - than any other thing I do. Spinnakers just ain't a single handed thing!!
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