What do we do now?

[SEADANCE]

With sailboats all snuggled up in their cradles for the winter what are you guys and gals occupying your time with besides work,kids,family? Do any of you take the boat out when its this cold? We have had a few cold spells kick in early this year and we occasionally go down and check on ours but I am finding that this everyday Land stuff is killing me. I am thinking of taking up knitting. BAH! Miss the water and dream about it just about every night..B/Seadance wishing for warm weather again

 

[r. gallagher]

any chance I can

We live just south of Dallas and sail out of Cedar Creek Lake. We keep our H28.5 in the water and we will sail any weekend we get a chance. We are ususally the only boat out. It is really nice and peaceful.

 

[Gordon]

Had a nice sail monday

Went out and had a nice three hour sail Monday afternoon - 54 degrees and 10 Knots of wind!!!!Sometimes its good to be an inland sailor!!!!

 

[Marcia]

I Bought a SECOND Boat!

I absolutely LOVE sailing but I was so frustrated with how LITTLE we sailed this year (due to hubby's work commitments), so I bought a small 32 year old 23' fixer upper to singlehand next year. Our Cal 34 is just too big for me to take out by myself. The new old little Paceship 23 needs alot of cosmetic work, so that's what I'll be doing this winter and early spring.

 

[Jim Seamans]

Seadance - I sit

in the hot tub with a couple of small boats, drink rum & coke and dream of March... Almost works, now If I could stop the nightmares....JimS/V Java

 

[MoonSailer]

Sail All Winter

We sail year round!!! Now up on the Tennessee River but sailed year round when we were at Mobile and Panama City too. Watch out for fog!!!! But we rarely had fog down there. It was scarey when we did ecperience fog. Hearing all of the boats around us translate that ships and barges. Fortunately all ended well. I went into water that was too shallow for ships until the fog cleared. Winter sailing can be the best a lot more birds to see and we even saw leatherback turtles and whales off of Panama City during the winter.

 

[Doug]

GO MARCIA!

You go girl! We've been hangin on to our 30 for singlehanding but it's too much for Kathy. Been hopeing somebody will want to trade up from a 20couple. So either of us can enjoy when the other is busy.  On topic, every chance I get I'm working on the 38. There is soo much more than 8' when it comes to fixin.

 

[Scott On Eagles Wings]

The Portal

Our 23' is covered on it's trailer in our yard. I can slip in over the stern and I will sit in the boat, Sometimes to listen to music, sometimes to work on it, sometimes to read, usually to escape the phone. I call it my Portal. I am not here when I am in there. It's pathedic but it works for us. Be well Soctt "On Eagles Wings"

 

[bffatcat]

Cold

Did you say Beloxi and you think its cold? I thought they sailed 12 mos there.If you think its cold in mississippi try Massachussetts & Maine

 

[Ross]

For work on the boat I busy myself with

fancy work. I started hitching over the life lines this summer am about 1/3 rd done. Then there will be the turks heads on the ends of each section. I need to braid a proper lanyard for my anchor light to hang on the back stay. Lots of books to read. One winter I made fully battened hammocks for soft storage in the Vee berth. Those don't sag like a plain hammock.

 

[LJR]

I Can't Believe

that anyone in Biloxi, MS would ask that question. I live in Dallas, TX and rarely allow a week to go by without sailing. I spent almost a year in Destin, FL and sailed either Choctawhatchee Bay or the Gulf year round. I used to live in Wyoming and can relate to those poor folks in Wisconsin, Maine, Michigan, etc. that really have a reason to winterize. It's always such a hassel to have to fit one's bow each winter with that stainless steel so you can chop through the ice on the lake.Down here where the water doesn't freeze, is a great place to winter sail. It's the time of year that gets rid of all the fair weather "boaters". There are no "jet skis" or other "lake" cloggers out there and you can have the water pretty much to yourself. It's a great time to practice all sorts of good sailing techniques. I really miss the Gulf. The tourists have gone and left the water to the professionals and the "sailors". Next summer, the "boaters" will be back. Why wait to go out with them?What do you do now???? Get your warm and dry gear out and enjoy the solitude and individualism that sailing is all about and let the "boaters" rust at home.I'm 62 years old and single hand my Mac 26S at all different lakes. The wind is blowing at 25 mph today and the temp is in the high 40s today. I can hardly wait to get to the lake and have over 30,000 acres of water all to myself.Get out and sail!!!!!

 

[Rick Webb]

I Was Just Out Sailing Moments Ago

It was a gourgeous day.Are they doing the Christmas Boat Parade in Biloxi this year?

 

[Jim]

It is time to ski!

another expensive sport I can't afford. It the American way. I debt up to your eye balls!

 

[sailaway78]

Hey Seadance

Finally back home, so now I can sail. Will give you guys a holler soon. You can sail year round, and it's usually not too cold. Planning a trip over that direction in a couple of weeks.

 

[Joe]

Passing winter

and awaiting Spring blends reading of sailing, inventory of equipment, sorting boating stuff, pitching the junk, cleaning and painting projects in the basement, taking on a winter boat show and making winter outings when temperature and wind are right. Visit the ship at least every two weeks checking the systems, contact sailing buddies to stay in touch and watch the sales catalogs or ebay for the bargain of the century. Stay in good health and cheer, knowing a boat really helps winter to pass quickly. And have the best of Holiday Seasons.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

come to FL!

honest, my a/c is running right now!our sailing season is just starting!

 

[RAD]

While Free Spirit is on the hard

till March 27th we break up the winter by taking a RV trip to Florida and hope for some good weather cause the last time I headed to the Keys the temps were way below normal.Then when we come back in Jan I'll start on some little projects on the weekends inside the cabins with the heaters full blast and I'm wearing just a tee shirt.

 

[captain]

Going Sailing

You are going to hate me, I mean really hate me....Weather for Saturday and Sunday is predicted to be between 78-80 degrees, wind 15 on Saturday and 10 on SundayWere going sailing!John

 

[Scott B]

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow ;D

It's too cold in Biloxi ?????? :O You are kidding right ??We're on the hard and have 4 inches of snow on the ground. I can't wait for the local ski hills to get the snow making in gear to get out on the slopes. Horseshoe Valley installed a new type of snow-making equipment that allows them to make snow above freezing and they opened last weekend.But, I am missing the boat big time and can't wait for the ice to melt that hasn't even formed yet. I guess I'll have to be on here even more to satisfy the sail bug.

 

[KathyL]

Bad day

The "Beach House" gets pulled tomorrow, and since I'll be takng the day off from work, I just bought a leaf blower/vac to get rid of all the stuff in my yard. Is it any wonder I want to move south??