OT: Official Sailing Thread

[RU4Real]

I decided to start this thread to see if it got any action. To the best of my knowledge, only @mildone and I have any real offshore sailing experience. I'd be delighted to learn otherwise.

So if you're a sailor, chime in. Pipe up. Because we LOVE to talk about boats we love, boats we hate, places we've gone or want to go, that one time with the 30' seas washing the deck, etc.

And if you're not a sailor but want to learn stuff - ask away!

 

[OTBOTOR]

Not a sailor, but it's something I've always thought I'd enjoy getting into if I had the time, money, and more time and money.

Growing up, my grandfather had a 30' hunter we'd cruise around in Hampton Roads/the Chesapeake, and occasionally an overnighter up the bay. Good memories.

 

[RU4Real]

Not a sailor, but it's something I've always thought I'd enjoy getting into if I had the time, money, and more time and money.

Growing up, my grandfather had a 30' hunter we'd cruise around in Hampton Roads/the Chesapeake, and occasionally an overnighter up the bay. Good memories.

The Chesapeake is a sailing treasure and it's right in our backyard, more or less. I've never cruised the Chesapeake (I've raced there) but it's on my short list of cruising destinations, for certain.

 

[newell138]

Grew up “sailing” a sailfish and sunfish on Indian Lake in Denville. Never went beyond that but would love to sail on the bay even with a little catamaran

 

[RUSK97]

When you sailing, do you literally mean on sailboats or sailing generically for boating?

 

[RU4Real]

When you sailing, do you literally mean on sailboats or sailing generically for boating?

Sailboats.

Anything that requires the engine be running at all times is an unnecessary tether. The beauty of a sailboat, particularly a good-sized cruising boat, is that you can go anywhere. Anywhere at all.

 

[RUSK97]

Sailboats.

Anything that requires the engine be running at all times is an unnecessary tether. The beauty of a sailboat, particularly a good-sized cruising boat, is that you can go anywhere. Anywhere at all.

No experience other than Sunfish which obviously don’t count. When I was a kid, my parents’ friend had a small sailing vessel moored up on Lake Champlain by Plattsburgh. It is a beautiful experience to be gliding across the water without the constant drone of an engine.

 

[RutgersRaRa]

Not a sailor (had power), but celestial navigation is/was the real deal. Also just finished a book titled "The Wave," which is about the dynamics of wave energy and set against the backdrop of world-class surfing and rogue waves that wreck ships and oil rigs, among other things. That's what I got.

 

[RU4Real]

Not a sailor (had power), but celestial navigation is/was the real deal. Also just finished a book titled "The Wave," which is about the dynamics of wave energy and set against the backdrop of world-class surfing and rogue waves that wreck ships and oil rigs, among other things. That's what I got.

Celestial navigation is almost a lost art. All cruising boats come with GPS systems which are redundant, slaved to autopilots, etc. Hell, for the price of a small, handheld GPS receiver you can keep half a dozen of them onboard, new in the box, just in case your onboard nav system craps out.

There's something about a sextant that's really cool, though.

 

[mildone_rivals]

Sailboats.

Anything that requires the engine be running at all times is an unnecessary tether. The beauty of a sailboat, particularly a good-sized cruising boat, is that you can go anywhere. Anywhere at all.

Without worrying about running out of fuel, kind of.

 

[mildone_rivals]

Celestial navigation is almost a lost art. All cruising boats come with GPS systems which are redundant, slaved to autopilots, etc. Hell, for the price of a small, handheld GPS receiver you can keep half a dozen of them onboard, new in the box, just in case your onboard nav system craps out.

There's something about a sextant that's really cool, though.

Yeah, it has the word "sex" in it. I'm just saying.

 

[RU85inFla]

I enjoy sailing but have not done much. I once sailed from Miami to Bimini for 5 days of live aboard diving. We sailed both ways but motored most of the time from dive spot to dive spot.

Another sailing adventure might have been one of the most painful experiences ever. Were with my sons on a Boy Scout Trip in the keys. Went sailing one day with the kids in control (14-15 yr olds). Light breeze. We didn't move much but fried in the son and heat.

 

[RU4Real]

Without worrying about running out of fuel, kind of.

Kind of... I remember when gensets were a huge new thing - and a hugely expensive thing. And while they saved you hours on your primary diesel, they still used diesel fuel, albeit at a lesser rate.

All the boats I've looked at lately have gensets but also have solar panels upwards 400 watts and wind generators. So, at least in theory, you can make passage without using a drop of fuel. All the lights onboard are moving toward LEDs, even the notification lights. The electronics are much more efficient than they used to be. If you've got a wind vane that you can use in lieu of an autopilot you're gonna be really, really green.

I've long advocated the elimination of auxiliary diesels on cruising boats. Give me a genset, solar and wind, a couple extra AGM house batteries and an electric motor to drive the prop, when needed. Awesome sauce.

 

[MorrisAsh]

I had a J/24 when we lived in Port Liberte, Jersey City. Had a boat slip behind our town house and would take it out and tool around the Statue of Liberty. Never took it down the past Battery Park because I wasn't confident enough with all of the traffic and the relatively small size of the boat.

A beautiful area to sail during the summer, though.

Always wanted a 30'+ sailboat but we moved to Morris County and started having kids so maybe when they go off to college in 10 yrs....

 

[RU4Real]

I had a J/24 when we lived in Port Liberte, Jersey City. Had a boat slip behind our town house and would take it out and tool around the Statue of Liberty. Never took it down the past Battery Park because I wasn't confident enough with all of the traffic and the relatively small size of the boat.

A beautiful area to sail during the summer, though.

Always wanted a 30'+ sailboat but we moved to Morris County and started having kids so maybe when they go off to college in 10 yrs....

I spent many years on a J/105 crew. How I got there was the owner had a J/24 for about 20 years, racing with the same crew, and decided he wanted a bigger boat. So he bought the 105 and then, to meet the Class rules, had to get another crew member. I lucked into it.

 

[RUScrew85]

 

[RU4Real]

Not a sailing song.

"Southern Cross" by Crosby, Stills and Nash - that's a sailing song.

 

[mildone_rivals]

Kind of... I remember when gensets were a huge new thing - and a hugely expensive thing. And while they saved you hours on your primary diesel, they still used diesel fuel, albeit at a lesser rate.

All the boats I've looked at lately have gensets but also have solar panels upwards 400 watts and wind generators. So, at least in theory, you can make passage without using a drop of fuel. All the lights onboard are moving toward LEDs, even the notification lights. The electronics are much more efficient than they used to be. If you've got a wind vane that you can use in lieu of an autopilot you're gonna be really, really green.

I've long advocated the elimination of auxiliary diesels on cruising boats. Give me a genset, solar and wind, a couple extra AGM house batteries and an electric motor to drive the prop, when needed. Awesome sauce.

I recall being on a particularly windless Newport-Bermuda race where we drained the fuel tank to the minimum required by the race committee so as to lighten the boat. Could've made a difference. With any wind, that is.

After being out there for 4.5 days or so, and having had a negative VMG for a couple days (i.e. drifting backwards for non-sailors), and knowing that we were no longer in contention to win or place, we opted to withdraw and motor towards Bermuda.

Only problem was that we knew we probably didn't have enough fuel to make it. Luckily we found some wind a day later and were able to sail the rest of the way. One of our crew apparently suffered from migraines, had on onset of it, and had misplaced his Aleve. When he found out we didn't have enough fuel... well let's just say that he wasn't exactly the best company for a little while there. LOL

 

[RUScrew85]

I spent many years on a J/105 crew. How I got there was the owner had a J/24 for about 20 years, racing with the same crew, and decided he wanted a bigger boat. So he bought the 105 and then, to meet the Class rules, had to get another crew member. I lucked into it.

It wasn't luck - my understanding is they pick crew by how ugly they are. You were a shoe in. [roll]

 

[RU4Real]

I recall being on a particularly windless Newport-Bermuda race where we drained the fuel tank to the minimum required by the race committee so as to lighten the boat. Could've made a difference. With any wind, that is.

After being out there for 4.5 days or so, and having had a negative VMG for a couple days (i.e. drifting backwards for non-sailors), and knowing that we were no longer in contention to win or place, we opted to withdraw and motor towards Bermuda.

Only problem was that we knew we probably didn't have enough fuel to make it. Luckily we found some wind a day later and were able to sail the rest of the way. One of our crew apparently suffered from migraines, had on onset of it, and had misplaced his Aleve. When he found out we didn't have enough fuel... well let's just say that he wasn't exactly the best company for a little while there. LOL

Ugh... I have to state, right up front, that I am not a huge fan of lightening the boat. I'm not saying it's okay to be inconsiderate of weight as a factor... I'm just saying that the food and the beer - and maybe the fuel - isn't negotiable. I'd sooner leave a person on the dock.

 

[RU4Real]

It wasn't luck - my understanding is they pick crew by how ugly they are. You were a shoe in. [roll]

One of these days, Alice...

 

[mildone_rivals]

Ugh... I have to state, right up front, that I am not a huge fan of lightening the boat. I'm not saying it's okay to be inconsiderate of weight as a factor... I'm just saying that the food and the beer - and maybe the fuel - isn't negotiable. I'd sooner leave a person on the dock.

People are movable ballast so in racing they are great to have (up to a point).

But yeah, I agree with you.

 

[mildone_rivals]

It wasn't luck - my understanding is they pick crew by how ugly they are. You were a shoe in. [roll]

Alas, surely I would've beaten him out for the job, had that been the criteria.

 

[RUScrew85]

Alas, surely I would've beaten him out for the job, had that been the criteria.

Oh I doubt that. [winking]

 

[RU4Real]

People are movable ballast so in racing they are great to have (up to a point).

But yeah, I agree with you.

I excel at navigation and weather. I don't sit on the rail.

One of the J/105 crews we used to see on the circuit regularly had a little Asian girl for a bowman. If she was 90 lbs. I'd be shocked. They had two advantages with that arrangement. She could get up the mast in under a minute and on that particular boat you want to be VERY conservative of any weight forward of the mast.

 

[mildone_rivals]

I excel at navigation and weather. I don't sit on the rail.

One of the J/105 crews we used to see on the circuit regularly had a little Asian girl for a bowman. If she was 90 lbs. I'd be shocked. They had two advantages with that arrangement. She could get up the mast in under a minute and on that particular boat you want to be VERY conservative of any weight forward of the mast.

Yeah, weight forward of the mast is evil, in general. We took it so far we had a carbon fiber spinnaker pole, a lightweight guy and sheets, etc.

Only time anybody was foreward of the mast, while underway, was during a sail change or a jibe (because for jibes, we needed to blow the guy on one side of the forestay, and reattach the guy on the other). I was one of two of us that did that a lot.

Wasn't my favorite thing because someone would be inboard dipping the pole down as the guy was released then hiking it back up again as the new guy was placed into the end of the pole. Meanwhile, whoever was trimming the chute in the back would start hauling in on the guy as soon as possible. In high winds and heavy seas, it wasn't all that unusual to see the pole come flying at your head at high speed while sitting on the pulpit straddling the forestay, and then have it yanked out of your hands before getting your hands out of the way.

And you can't be harnessed to a jackline up there because (a) the jacklines run the sides of the boat and (b) it could easily be fouled in one of the lines and rip somebody in two. Doing that stuff at night in ocean races could be a little harrowing. AKA awesome fun.

Edit: It occurs to me to explain that the pole was too long to pass inside the forestay without dipping it, especially when it was lifted fairly high up above deck, as it would be when running.

 

[sugarkane2]

Sailed Hobie cats for over 30 yrs. very little racing..mostly beach sailing in Brigantine and Ventnor and Barnegat bay. Bad knee...can't do that anymore. Also bareboat large cats several times in BVI's... that was fun. Now a stinkpot sailor.... not the same but it works...lol

 

[17Q66]

Two TransPacs.

 

[RU4Real]

Yeah, weight forward of the mast is evil, in general. We took it so far we had a carbon fiber spinnaker pole, a lightweight guy and sheets, etc.

Only time anybody was foreward of the mast, while underway, was during a sail change or a jibe (because for jibes, we needed to blow the guy on one side of the forestay, and reattach the guy on the other). I was one of two of us that did that a lot.

Wasn't my favorite thing because someone would be inboard dipping the pole down as the guy was released then hiking it back up again as the new guy was placed into the end of the pole. Meanwhile, whoever was trimming the chute in the back would start hauling in on the guy as soon as possible. In high winds and heavy seas, it wasn't all that unusual to see the pole come flying at your head at high speed while sitting on the pulpit straddling the forestay, and then have it yanked out of your hands before getting your hands out of the way.

And you can't be harnessed to a jackline up there because (a) the jacklines run the sides of the boat and (b) it could easily be fouled in one of the lines and rip somebody in two. Doing that stuff at night in ocean races could be a little harrowing. AKA awesome fun.

Edit: It occurs to me to explain that the pole was too long to pass inside the forestay without dipping it, especially when it was lifted fairly high up above deck, as it would be when running.

I hate spinnaker poles, in general. I think the asymmetric is one of the greatest inventions of all time. Because you're right - having to deal with a pole means somebody has to be dickin' around with it, often when you don't really want to be.

My greatest fear is falling off the boat at sea. In half a century of being on boats I have never fallen off one. The phrase "all lines led aft" is soothing to my soul. Hell, I'm even a fan of those lifeline nets that you see strong up on cruising boats, sometimes.

 

[RU4Real]

Two TransPacs.

Transplants?

 

[T2Kplus10]

I decided to start this thread to see if it got any action. To the best of my knowledge, only @mildone and I have any real offshore sailing experience. I'd be delighted to learn otherwise.

So if you're a sailor, chime in. Pipe up. Because we LOVE to talk about boats we love, boats we hate, places we've gone or want to go, that one time with the 30' seas washing the deck, etc.

And if you're not a sailor but want to learn stuff - ask away!

Is a sailboat your "off the grid" plan?

 

[FanuSanu52]

Not a sailing song.

"Southern Cross" by Crosby, Stills and Nash - that's a sailing song.

How about this baby

 

[RU4Real]

Is a sailboat your "off the grid" plan?

As a matter of fact, yes.

I've often said they're the Ultimate Bugout.

 

[DJ Spanky]

 

[T2Kplus10]

As a matter of fact, yes.

I've often said they're the Ultimate Bugout.

That's cool. We have sailed around the St. John/BVI area a bunch of times (charters). Love St. John, we have been there 8 times in about 10 years, but not since the little one came along. They are getting back on their feet after Irma, but that entire area is amazing, especially for boating.

 

[DJ Spanky]

 

[DJ Spanky]

So here's a Rutgers connection:

 

[RC1978]

Raced my 16 and then my 18 foot Hobie for about 10 years. Then the kids came along and it got away from me. Just last month my neighbors kid took up sailing in the Navesink and I said what the hell and gave him my 16. Only caveat was he had to keep the name on it, Badlands.

 

[RU4Real]

Take a couple minutes to watch this short video.

About 4 weeks into the 2016 Vendee Globe solo around the world race the French destroyer Nivose intercepts two boats fighting for the lead. Nivose launches a helicopter for some great aerial footage of sailors Armel le Cleach aboard Banque Populaire and Alex Thomson on Hugo Boss.

At one point in the video Thomson reveals that he is sailing at 23 knots (26.5 mph) in 27 knots of wind.

For context, in the sailing world, being one of the dozen and a half or so sailors participating in the Vendee Globe (run every four years) is like playing in the Super Bowl on top of Mt. Everest while banging every model in the Victoria's Secret catalog.

 

[HeavenUniv.]

For those of you looking for Rutgersgs (they also have them for motorcycles,ATV's, and golf carts)--https://www.collegeflagsandbanners.com/rutgers_scarlet_knights_flag_324_ctg.html