What kind of sailor are you?

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Denny P.

it's all in balance

Being a retired, well almost, kinda guy I love the balance that sailing provides. After working my new part-time job, cleaning house and cooking the evening meal for wifey the old blo-bote gives me the freedom to break away from life in the not so fast lane. Suddenly I am in a world as ancient as time itself. Lord nelson at Trafalgar or Tristan Jones in the artic. Maybe Norm Abram doin some cabinet work on my olde Seafarer 29'. The blo-bote responds in kindness for everything I do to her and regards my playful moods in a pickup race with the blue blood of her breed. When she is all polished up and laying at the dock the rigging humms with delite when another olde salt stops by to talk and admire her. Another coat of varnish or some lovingly rubbed in wax this time, she says........Enjoy it all, Damn I wish I could drink a beer!!!!!!!!
 
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Ed Hartman

To each his own

As long as you are happy doing the kind of sailing that makes you feel good, you are enjoying the sport for its intended purpose.
 
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mike

mosly beer and relaxation

I figue you have all winter to work on the boat and when summer finally comes around its time to just kick back in the evnings whith a couple of beers and sail durring the day.
 
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Chris Gonzales

What's all this beer talk?

My wife and I spend a lot of time in the boat at the slip in Richmond. We have a beautiful view of San Francisco and the bay. It is our vacation cabin and our sanity preserver (we work together). The marina is nice and the surrounding area provides for nice walks. There is a decent Italian restaurant and bar nearby. We enjoy working on our boat and tinkering. With all new winches, traveler, rigid vang, clutches, etc. installed over the last few weeks we are really in the mood for some serious bay sailing, though! Now about the beverages... we don't drink beer but we ALWAYS have a couple of good bottles of wine stored on the boat and we enjoy them. At the end of a workday it is a blessing to relax together and share a bottle of wine. Some of the most enjoyable sailing days have been sipping wine and snacking on cheese, meats and crackers. During summer on SF bay those gentler sailing days are rare but there have been times I have been at the wheel, boat heeling 35 degrees, single reefed, and STILL not spilling a drop of wine from the pretty glass I was holding! Moderation in all things. Chris P.S. Some of the best pictures I have of my beautiful wife is of her wearing sailing gloves holding a wine glass full of good chardonnay!
 
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Rob R.

The best kind of sailor...

.. in my opinion, is one who simply enjoys himself when he is lucky enough to be out on the water. Racing, crusing, daysailing - never really matters what I am doing, just as long as I enjoy myself. And if I ever catch myself getting aggrivated over jetskis, inconsiderate boaters, or fickle winds, I just remember that I'm so extremely lucky to be out on the water- that I'm so fortunate to have a life and a boat which allows me to do this... And after a moment of embarrassment, I get back to enjoying my day. Sunday I worried a little about the velocity of the wind - gusts to 35 mph. 10 minutes into the voyage I was fighting the boat, over sheeted, and stressing. Then I just eased up, let the wind do what she would, let the boat react. By the end of the day, with a crew of 7, we were dipping the rails and racing boats. We are indeed fortunate people. Rob
 
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david smith

from Down Under

What a difficult question!Personally I like the lot, anywhere, anytime. Unfortunately work commitments prevail and prevent sailing every day. I've discovered that I won't get paid if I don't go. How inconsiderate. I race every weekend on a 25 ft trailer yacht on a lake near Wollongong about 40 miles south of Sydney. Every second weekend I ocean race on a 34 footer. Then I have a third share in a 32 foot Cavalier on Sydney Harbour. I don't get to use it as often as I'd like. In the holidays I cruise it with family. At all times a beer is compulsory, except in longer ocean races. Common sense needed then. The best sailing I've done is probably the Whitsundays off Queensland. My next step is to sell the share in the yacht on Sydney Harbour. My wife and kids aren't interested in ocean sailing, so a trailer yacht for lake sailing on more protected waters seems the best option. Maybe a Hunter 24 or 26, or a Macgregor 26. Water ballast for towing seems attractive. Any opinions? These are not as popular as those with lead swing or drop keels, but it's a huge amount of dead weight to tow around. Thanks from Down Under
 
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Denny P.

Draggin a blo-bote DOWN UNDER

Trailer sailin aussie land sure sounds like fun. I hope to get there within the next two years and bare boat a charter and explore the seas to tazzie land. About the choice of boats. I have been aboard some Macgregors and consider them junk! The Catalinas and Hunter are just a cut above that, but, of course I don't know what the market is like down under for new or used boats. Don't they produce a really nice trailer sailor down under?? Water ballast is O.K. as long as you watch your weight and your ballast is staying at the lowest center of gravity possible. I.E. a full fill of the ballast tank or tanks. I personally would look for a swing keel, but, we all know about opinions.... Dennyp2949@cs.com
 
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Ricky Carroll

Best of both worlds....

Some of the most fun I've had sailing has been racing offshore in an old one tonner (Ranger 37) I helped a friend rebuild. We raced her for several years, and it was on that boat that I learned to sail. The most relaxing and truly spiritual trip I ever took was on that same boat, cruising back from a race in Florida more than 15 years ago. Sailing back from Pensacola, with only my wife and the owner aboard, it was just about perfect. She was heeled well over in a stiff but steady breeze and moderate seas. I remember the sounds and the smell of the sea as clearly as it happened just a moment ago. Everyone was asleep below, and was at the helm alone with my thoughts. Overhead loomed a billion stars, broken only by the occasional falling star. Off the stern lay a luminescent trail that marked our passage through the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Dolphins exhaled noisily just off the port side as they paced us for reasons all their own. I found myself wishing the night, and the sail, would last forever. I've never owned a boat, and until a few weeks ago, hadn't sailed in many years. But, I feel the fever again...a need to try my hand at cruising a bit, and to see if I can recapture that one special moment from so long ago. soo...I used to be a racer. Now I'm a dreamer. And one day, I hope to be a cruiser. ricky
 
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Jim WIllis

Single Hander

I got into single handing onthe SF Bay, going out at night after a hectic day in the Biotech politics. I did this mainly to avoid the "too many captains" syndrom. After a SH tripto Half Moon Bay I got hookedon ocean sailing and made it out here in the fall of '94. I like the solitude- besides I alwars did talk to myself! Jim W
 
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Dave Conley

Love being on the water

As a newbie to sailing (coming up to my third year of owning an old 19' Mariner), I'm enjoying just getting out for a couple of (hopefully) quiet hours before going to work (second shift). Sailing beats sleeping by a long shot. The wife won't join me yet - wants a motor boat - and the kids usually have something else to do. Occasionally one will come along, which makes for a great couple hours. Sometimes have a friend or two for a longer weekend daysail. Also enjoy just being on the boat, tied up at the mooring, watching whatever is going on. I've lived next to this river now for 15 years and being on it sure beats watching those who are. I like to think that my boat out there sailing up and down the river gives some pleasure to a landlubber. Since 9/11 I've decided that rather than feel guilty about being able to sail, I should consider it a patriotic duty to show that life goes on. Hoping to get into going out to Raritan Bay and overnighting in Horseshoe Cove by Sandy Hook, but haven't made it yet. NOTHING beats the feeling of coming back in and snagging the mooring on the first shot. Dave
 
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Bud Brubaker

Cruising as a way of life

I'm most happy when breaking port and going on to the next one. Always wondering what is just over the horizon. The adventure of exploring new territory is what drives me. Forunately I have a wife that enjoys this as well!
 
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James Bockholt

AARRRGGHHH! RUM KEEPS AWAY THE SCURVY

Like Joe Merchant Said "Even the best navigators aren't sure where they'r goin til they get there, then they'r still not sure" Or Capn' Ron "if ya get lost just pull in somewhere
 

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Mitch Witt

Kind of Cruiser

We are not racers - no knowledge of that sport. We prefer continous long term cruising and have done so (1996-98 with no major breakdowns or repairs) Prior to this we took survey courses and marine electronics training (Nigel Calder). Our objective is travel, enjoying the sun, beaches, diving, being self sufficient, and safe. We maintain the boat almost entirely ourselves and cruise to destinations that allow us max return on the dollar hence we don't do much crusing in US waters. We haul anchor and go only when weather affords a reasonable passage-cruising is weather dependant. We are still prepared for heavy weather and are able to cope with it. Our longest passage: 7 days straight w/4 aboard (Dry Tortugas-Galveston Tx, 6/01), second longest:3 days straight w/2 aboard (Bonaire-Puerto Rico, April 97) Biggest current problem for cruisers: Increasing difficulty in finding bona fide "do it yourself" yards. The lack of these type yards is driving business out of the US. We recommend cruisers in need of haul and work to go to Trinidad - better services and facilities for the dollar than anywhere in the US. I urge all cruisers to become do-it-yourselfers as one needs to know every inch of the vessel and her systems in order to go offshore and extended cruises. Dont' trust your work to some so called professional. We operate and maintain the vessel in a professional manner while still enjoying carefree uninhibited sunny days offshore. Long term goals: Return to the Caribbean, an Atlantic crossing, participation in the ARC race, permanent and self sustaining cruising, possible transits in the Pacific. Mitch Witt sv Private Dancer
 
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SailboatOwners.com

Final results

Final results for the Quick Quiz ending 3/3/2002: What kind of sailor are you? 55% Cruiser  34% Day sailor  06% I'm a project guy or gal 05% Racer    1074 owners responding
 
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Richard

Cruising with an overnight sail

There is just something about sailing at night that I enjoy. It's usually cold and damp (spring), but something about it just draws me repeat it again and again. I only remember the magical parts. Dolphins that look like torpedoes as the disturb the photo plankton. Seeing the lights of Guaymas from 50 miles away because of refracted light. Like I said It's Magic.
 
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James Bockholt

Capt Terry C. Griggs

It is a 1984 Hunter 34! The Helm is coated with Sikkens Cetol
 
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Bill Jowell

Just love to sail

I just returned from a Blue Water Sailing School based in St. Thomas. I just love sailing. The profincia I acquired only enhances my love of "just sailing". The wind, the excitement of the navigation, the all is wonderful. I just love sailing.
 
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