Your Year In Review

[Phil Herring]

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.
- Charles Dickens

Sounds like Chuck had a wild year, but how was yours?

Did you get out on the water as much as you hoped? Buy a new boat or sell an old one? Make an awesome modification to boat or trailer?

Share your year with us, and here's to a better one in 2020!

 

[kappykaplan]

No where near as much time on the water as I wanted. Goal is 2000 NM under the keel, ended up with 1208. Most of my time is solo, so too much wind, too little wind, too hot and work kept my mileage down this year. Will go for 2000 NM in 2020!

 

[DaveJ]

It was the worst of times....
High water on Lake Ontario, I couldn't put my boat in until the beginning of July, but at that time work sent me away for a month. When I got back it just didn't seem worth it to launch. Boat is buffed, waxed, bottom painted, waiting for early spring. Presumably there will be high water again, but we are prepared for it.
Cheers
dj

 

[Serenity on Hudson]

Got a NTM Capri 22 with race package. Spent the year getting to know the boat and it's handling characteristics. Sweet. With all the sail controls, the boat easily balances where I can just leave the tiller and it sails itself. Got out twice a week for 6 hr sails. This was a very good year for sailing. I only day sail, so I keep the weight off the boat. My only concession to visitors is I kept the porta-potty for emergencies. Was only used once by my grandson who refused to use the poop deck (hanging it off the stern rail). His twin sister thought it was fun hanging off the boat.

The boat is away for the winter, sitting on it's trailer covered and dry.

 

[jssailem]

Will go for 2000 NM in 2020

I humbly suggest “Go for 2020nm in 2020”. Not a big difference but you give your self a constant reminder of your goal. Each time you date the check to the marina for holding your boat ready for your adventures.

May your sailing enjoy fair winds and comfortable seas.

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

Pretty much a nothing year. Still can't sail by myself due to the back surgery and left over balance problems. Did have a friend go along and managed the annual BEER Cruise in Pensacola.. Towed the 21 footer over with her truck and had help rigging/de-rigging.

Still have damage to repair to Tehani from hurricane Harvey. Hoping 2020 will see me able to do that. Health trouble is a PITA!!

 

[kappykaplan]

I humbly suggest “Go for 2020nm in 2020”.

Sure, why not!!!

 

[RussC]

I try not to set goals, then I'm never disappointed .
We didn't get on the lakes as much as we hoped to again this year (29 days however!), mostly due to Jennifers continuing medical issues, but when we did get out it was just that much better. My biggest sailing dissapointment was that the premier local sailing lake was too low all season, but #2 wasn't all that bad .
One 2019 highlight was finding a project 22' Merit, which I'd been seeking for several years, and getting it sorted out and back on the water again. we only got to sail it twice this season, but I'm looking forward to fully exploring it's limits next season

 

[Scott T-Bird]

I never sail as much as I would like to because every year I never take as much time off as I think I should. There will be a year when that changes, I think! This year did have 2 nice break-thrus. We introduced ourselves to racing on 5 occasions and had a great amount of fun. We broke through Barnegat Inlet for some ocean sailing. So based on these successes, we're looking forward to next year more than ever!

 

[MikeHoncho]

Three four day trips, no single hand. Probably 20 day sailing trips all no damage so I have that going for me. Forced to replace fuel tank and surrounding structure (took the place of my planned 5th trip). Finalized my refrigerator issue, finishing up my compression post, leaking mast project. Installed Lewmar ST40's.

 

[Dr. D]

A good part of 2019 was dedicated to getting ready for 2020. For example:
-- Proper break in of motor
-- Learning handling of twin rudders and saildrive
-- Figuring out where to put stuff in the cabins

2020? Bring it on!

 

[dLj]

Didn't get to launch until first weekend in June in 2019. Got a bit held up by weather and discovering my boat bottom needed an epoxy barrier coat. Got that done with a host of other smaller projects to make sailing in 2019 much better. Did get to spend a couple weeks of sailing vacation with the boat. Sailed many other weekends available until I had to take the boat out. This past summer on Champlain was beautiful! Had a great weekend sailing with Will (@Will Gilmore)! Brought up various friends and introduced them to sailing. 2019 was a good sailing year! May next year be even better!

dj

 

[Will Gilmore]

I had a relatively great year sailing. Considering that my sailing has been almost non-existent for a couple of decades, Last year, 2018 was particularly frustrating because I have a sailboat sitting in my driveway waiting for me to get her into sailing shape and a whole'nother life got in the way.
This year looked similar, but I acquired a Windmill, by pure chance, for free, and she was sail ready. I got to take my kids out and even demonstrate a lesson in apparent wind for my son. I met several wonderful people through SBO while traveling. @Crazy Dave Condon, @JamesG161, @rgranger and @dLj . I'm sorry I wasn't able to go sailing with you all. Maybe in 2020. I did get to enjoy an excellent weekend sailing with dLj. His Cherubini 30 handles like a dream and lake Champlain is just a beautiful place for a sailboat. If I hadn't had to maintain a certain decorum with my new friend, I think I would have teared up at the chance to finally do a little sailing after so many years. I don't think my kids noticed aboard the Windmill.

Plans for 2020.
Fix Dragonfly and get her on the water. Sail some more with dLj. Trailer Dragonfly and/or the Windmill to the the lake, the coast, down South and sail with other SBO friends. Join the 2020 Mariner Class Association's annual rendezvous in Connecticut, sail Dragonfly to Dry Tortugas.

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[Bill19233]

Did you get out on the water as much as you hoped? Buy a new boat or sell an old one? Make an awesome modification to boat or trailer?

Share your year with us, and here's to a better one in 2020!

Since you asked, it was another great year on the bay for us. The last couple of years I've posted an annual YouTube highlight video with at least a photo or video clip from almost every sail for guests we've had on board to watch and see their trips. Link to this year's is below if anyone wants to check it out.
We were down a little in the number of times we sailed and guests we had aboard. Mostly because the captain was out of action for several months with a broken leg. We have a guest log for people to sign as "payment" to go on the boat, even try to get the regulars to sign it every trip. If you don't have a guest log, I highly recommend it, we get some great comments and it's always fun to reread every now and then.

Happy new year and smooth sailing in 2020 to everyone!

 

[mermike]

Bought Tosca late last year and spent much of 2019 learning about the good and addressing the bad. Didn't get out as much as we hoped, but that will change in 2020!

 

[TomY]

Sailing season 2019 'was the best of times' for us.

Coastal cruising in my experience occasionally throws 'the worst of times' your way so 2019 is memorable.

No groundings, anchor dragging, breakdowns or other mishaps. I remember remarking I hadn't even pulled a tool box out over a 3 week sail down east.

We sailed and sailed and sailed, while not covering as many miles as past seasons.

Those miles were all in the lobster pot strewn Penobscot Bay to MDI area. I can't imagine how many pot buoys we ran over (100?), under sail while keeping a casual lookout.

Some days, dozens thumped along our hull. When that happens, nothing to do except wait for the final hollow,..."wuuump", that the bow of the dinghy makes, signaling you're home free.

We stayed longer in a few places and those longer stops, were memorable.

By late fall, I was sailed out and had spent as much time on the water as I wanted to (not always the case).

I'm looking forward to doing it again in 2020, maybe even spending a bit longer onboard, next season.

I'm no hurry though, Mr. old man winter. You can take your time, there is plenty that I want to do.

 

[AlastairLC]

Every year is a great year for sailing on Lake Pleasant, AZ. It was a little chilly today though with cloudy skies (horrors!) and a stiff breeze.
The Code 0 got a good workout most days. This from a calmer day:

The eagles are back.

We hope they do a better job of protecting their eggs this year. All four were lost last mating season.
life is good.

 

[JRT]

We looked at several options thus year. Originally after many failed attempts to find a bigger local boat to upgrade from our O'Day 25, we started down a path of a new Jeaneau 440. Then I got a call about a nice Catalina 310 in great shape that turned out to be perfect 2nd boat. The O'Day 25 sold to a family looking for more room then there daysailor and we put in some solid time on the 310 this year. Next year hope for more time ob the water and a new code zero to play with!

 

[WayneH]

The Good: Managed to get to the boat several times this year and get her out of her slip. Great memories. Brought my drinking buddy from the Texas Hill Country to BEER. Got to hang out with a fine bunch of people during BEER. Met up with a friend from Baton Rouge while in Pensacola and watched the LSU Texas A&M football game with him.

The Bad: Didn't get down the the boat as often as I wanted to. So this year's nm is way lower than I wanted them to be.

The Ugly: My 8th mate (inside joke) broke his leg in Greece and his mommy had to stay with him during BEER. I'm thinking about demoting him back down to 13th mate. When we left the restaurant, Texas A&M was losing 47-7.

 

[Timm R Oday25]

Like Charlie Jones ,I didn't sail a single day this year .The starboard bulkhead needed to be replaced. It turned out to much easier than anticipated . The 2020 season is already looking iffy due to an upcoming surgery .