First time on a rag and stick thingy.

[Murv]

A while ago, I asked if sailing was any good (clicky) and got some, ahem, mixed responses.
Well, this weekend I got to spend on a saily boat. A 20 ton steel ketch to be precise.

Light winds were a bit of an issue, but still got the sails up. And. had a brilliant time
The feeling when the sails fill and the boat heels and starts pulling against the rudder is addictive.
And, the racing! Anything and everything within visible range becomes a target to be beaten
It does seem to be hard work, maybe not helped by being on the ever twisting Medway in a variable wind but the sails needed constant tweaking. Probably far less of an issue on a longer run.
Obviously, it's a bit slow. But, the serenity of drifting along with only the sound of water against the hull is fantastic. I also got a far greater understanding of why sail boats take the lines they do.
Anyway, I won't be converting any time soon, I like the sound of whistling turbo's too much Plus time is too short for me at the moment, maybe in the future though...

Hopefully a few pictures below, if I can get them to work:

 

[omega2]

Got to agree, lovely but not if you are in a hurry to get someplace.

 

[Sneds]

Would love to try, looks very serene, and cheaper!

 

[rafiki_]

We are off to Lefkas for a week on a Sunsail 32 in Sept. Really looking forward to it. I have never got this Raggie v Mobo thing. They are all boats, and all to be enjoyed.

 

[Greg2]

Can't see the pics on the iPad.

Sailing is great - started as a kid and still enjoy it. Chartered in warmer climes a couple of times and would highly recommend it.

 

[shan]

I love sailing & we currently own a sailboat but we are planning to buy a mobo this year as time is a major factor in our lives. We are pretty much restricted to weekends & scraps of leave we scrape together. Planning around tides and dry weather windows leaves us even less sailing time and whilst some people might enjoy 'the elements' (being wet and cold), we don't. We do charter every year, so that will give us some sunny sailing.

I think both motorboats and sailboats have their own unique selling points.

PS Muvr: sailing can be as hard work or as easy as you want - it all depends on the boat. The Hanse even has a self tacking gib, with all lines leading back to the cockpit and of course, you can invest in self tailing electric winches.

 

[Phildorset]

I've arrived here from a sailing background, the truth is that family and friends get much more enjoyment from the swiftness and comfort of our motorboat than from previous sailing boats, not really the actual speed when underway - though that's often found to be quite a buzz too, but more the fact that we now don't take three hours to get out of the harbour and to our lunch, swim, ice cream stops. I still love sailing - but we're all happier now that I'm not persuading the family that it's great fun getting cold and wet whilst waiting for the tide to turn again so we can go home

 

[Kukri]

(as a raggie...) well done the OP...

... and now you know why so many raggies carry a RIB around with them...

 

[Phildorset]

(as a raggie...) well done the OP...

... and now you know why so many raggies carry a RIB around with them...

I never quite got a sailing boat big enough to carry a rib & outboard... but have enjoyed the fun of dragging a hefty Avon inflatable out of an awkward locker and pumping it up on a slopey, slippery, bouncing deck many times, I'm not knocking it, I still love it. But I now have stopped trying to convince friends and family that it's as much fun as I think it is

 

[Uricanejack]

Unfortunately you will find it is addictive
The more you try it the harder it is to go back

I started out a confirmed motor boat guy
I went sailing and never looked back

I am possibly unusual I own 2 boats one for sailing and one for fishing
Actually I owned three for a while not including tenders or canoes

The difference when I go fishing I am going somewhere for a purpose
20 plus knots and a full tank of fuel to get me there
Then idle on a kicker
Reserve fuel tank to get me home
Occasionally buzz around just for the heck but
Find it full

Sailing its about being out on the water enjoying the process
If you want to go some place
Fly

 

[Don107]

I have a strange viewpoint on this and have nothing at all against motor boats

In a motor boat the noise of the engine doesn't bother me at all but on my 28 foot sail boat if there is no wind and i have to start the inboard diesel and motor the noise of the engine annoys me

I normally motor away from my mooring and can't wait to raise the sails and turn the engine off and once sailing without any noise apart from the water on the hull i am totally happy

It is to the point where if there isn't any breeze (we live across from the boat) i don't bother going out to the boat for a motor around whereas if i had a motor boat it would be perfect weather to be out on the water

Also with the sail boat i can go out and spend a couple of hours sailing around just a little way away from home with no particular destination in mind but with a motor boat i think i would need to be heading for somewhere

I had an amusing experience when i took a mate i work with sailing a while ago and he owns a offshore motor boat which cruises at around 20 knots

He asked me before we went how fast the sail boat goes and i told him 5 knots and he said that when he is fishing he trolls faster than that

The day we went out it was blowing approx 20 to 30 knots and i probably had a bit to much sail up, the sails in a bit to tight and we had the rail in the water and he was on the tiller looking a bit worried

He asked if we were ok with the boat at this angle and i said to him that we were only doing 5 knots and that he trolls faster than that

He than commented that if his boat was doing what this one was it would probably be sinking

Regards Don



Regards Don

 

[kashurst]

I really like sailing and enjoy being out at sea.. when it's all set right and the boat is in the groove it's brilliant........
Then you look down at the log, 7 knots - crew asks when will we get there?

I did most of my boaty qualifications on sailing boats, but for long journeys (100 miles plus) you need the patience of a saint. I also learnt that sailing isn't free either, you get the same bills but lumped together every four or five years instead of by the hour in diesel.