Sailing Megathread!!!

Alright, I need a place to talk about sailboats, listen to people who no something about them and drool over whichever boat I've come across in the last 10 min.

This isn't meant to usurp the yachting thread, just something to cover a little wider range of windpowered watercraft.

Right now I'm interested in craft similar to the Hobie adventure island cat-yak.

I have no intention of buying anything soon because of fiscal and spacial resrictions.

But I very interested in sailing and boats in general.


Anyone a bigtime sailor, built their own boats, bought a boat, looking at boats?

Etc.

My rig........

PM sent

Bitchin' dinghy!!!

How does she point into the wind?

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5ftweaFkP1Bpc9UKRQ1nAg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_My9av4AqK90/S0FAA5QfPUI/AAAAAAAAEDo/wyfLiREsyzk/s800/sailing2.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ZeCatfish/Regatta?feat=embedwebsite">regatta</a></td></tr></table>
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/oG_-jGBMckn1AWBJKavR6Q?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_My9av4AqK90/S0FACiWi07I/AAAAAAAAED4/Sh2z5v4usYc/s800/Race1.sm.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ZeCatfish/Regatta?feat=embedwebsite">regatta</a></td></tr></table>
I use to have this boat on Greers Ferry Lake.

Other boats from the Regatta that day.
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6ZA4UW_yxAHtUIAcjGA5rQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_My9av4AqK90/S0FADu0cUoI/AAAAAAAAEEA/q2VgTJsVngQ/s800/MVC-073S.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ZeCatfish/Regatta?feat=embedwebsite">regatta</a></td></tr></table>
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/uZzBqLZcgfvU-Lwq-F5V4g?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_My9av4AqK90/S0FAFVXumFI/AAAAAAAAEEI/afhb3oak0nE/s800/MVC-071S.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ZeCatfish/Regatta?feat=embedwebsite">regatta</a></td></tr></table>
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/yEDbFCTYZgX8b2pvP2czJA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_My9av4AqK90/S0FAF5Pu_PI/AAAAAAAAEEM/GFAnIb2N3vY/s800/MVC-070S.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ZeCatfish/Regatta?feat=embedwebsite">regatta</a></td></tr></table>
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/7Nc3RWpgrxqOmmE8PCBSIg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_My9av4AqK90/S0FAGOQrVkI/AAAAAAAAEEQ/NHqkmczNCWQ/s800/MVC-069S.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ZeCatfish/Regatta?feat=embedwebsite">regatta</a></td></tr></table>
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/J0wXWHgbAcKxQ1AVOmoWjw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_My9av4AqK90/S0FAGqC1MMI/AAAAAAAAEEU/aa0BcvOjsK8/s800/MVC-068S.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ZeCatfish/Regatta?feat=embedwebsite">regatta</a></td></tr></table>
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/oMByXCFSJwN6YXXvzQO4GA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_My9av4AqK90/S0FAHJSPHTI/AAAAAAAAEEY/Mivwz3j67pk/s800/MVC-067S.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ZeCatfish/Regatta?feat=embedwebsite">regatta</a></td></tr></table>
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/EmQeBLiVWVND8Z3WBE6OTg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_My9av4AqK90/S0FAINFyKbI/AAAAAAAAEEk/c74oV_ysTgg/s800/MVC-064S.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ZeCatfish/Regatta?feat=embedwebsite">regatta</a></td></tr></table>
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1XDEMkcGNaZSj5vV2J94Bw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_My9av4AqK90/S0FAJR-sKDI/AAAAAAAAEEs/ciPDamcuBsA/s800/MVC-062S.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ZeCatfish/Regatta?feat=embedwebsite">regatta</a></td></tr></table>

Here's a suggestion. Go hang out on a Saturday at the local marina that has a good number of sailboats. When you see a boat owner carrying all his gear, sails, icechest, etc down to the boat from his car, offer to help, introduce yourself, and tell him you're exploring the idea of getting a boat but you're not sure which is best for this area/lake. You very likely will get invited to go sailing, so be dressed appropriately, with deck shoes. I did this when I wanted to learn to sail, made lifelong friends, and sailed on some great yachts. I've even done it when travelling. I got to go sailing on a 54 footer out of Chicago simply by striking up a conversation with the owner in the parking lot.

The Ft. Worth boat club, http://www.fwbc.com/ has a clubhouse on Eagle Mt. lake, they have a pretty good sailing program, too. btw, they are having their 61st annual regatta this weekend, see their website.
Mariner Sails, http://www.mariner-sails.com/ might be a good place to talk to sailors also.
Corinthian Sailing club, http://www.cscsailing.org/ on White Rock Lake is another resource.

Just get out there, get wet, and JIBE HO!

The most utilitarian I've owned was a Catalina 30. It was easy to sail, roomy,(my wife and I lived on it for almost a year) and when I needed to sell it, it was easy to get rid of. It was all the things I was looking for in a boat at the time.
It also comes with a shallow or a deep keel which will make a difference depending on where you plan to use it. Not the fanciest, sturdiest, or best quality out there but in terms of 'bang for the buck' I don't think anything comes close.

If you knew anything about sailing, you'd know what a silly question that was.

How does she do on a reach?

:huh

That's disgusting!

Is she fairly stiff?

After swabbing the poop deck - very.

What are the advantages of the canoe stern?

What've I done?





I need to go badger my step FIL.

He bought a 15'-20' a year or so ago and spent a lot of his youth sailing.

Last I heard he was waiting on some new sails to come in.

Although Id like something like a 30 footer, within a more reasonable reach I'd like something like what I mentioned in the first post, then fill it up with camping equipment and sail the Laguna Madre on the Texas coast.

If you really are adventurous and ready or something "fun" try http://www.SailingAnarchy.com. There are a few FF on here that live there too. Yes, including me.

+1 on SailingAnarchy and you can also check out SailKarma.com

The tip about walking the docks is a good one. Also , many yacht clubs have introductory classes as well as Wednesday night "beer can" races, a lot less serious than the weekend races.

http://www.jworldschool.com/ is another great way to get a full intro.

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Wee!!

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=268917&highlight=yachtsman