Sunday sailing.
- Thread starter capnsensible
- Start date
Fr J Hackett
Well-Known Member
I tended to look at a boat in a similar way that I look at a car admittedly the boat lives in a harsher environment but the comparison still holds good.
A well maintained and fettled piece of equipment will function just the same as when it was last used but if you just park it up and go back to it sooner or later it will let you down. In my view that is what winter especially was for going over systems and maintenance. I suspect too many simply "park" the boat come October and go back to it in March / April slap on some antifoul and expect it to function as before, in many cases it will but in some it won't.
Supertramp
Well-Known Member
+1 for the benefits of day sails.
1. Practice at the basic processes of readying the boat for sea and entering leaving berths. Anyone who says there's nothing new to learn hasn't sailed enough long keels!
2. Chance to check and experiment with rig, sails and associated fittings. Just built a whisker pole and rearranged jib sheeting. Always hard to visualise how something will work when not at sea. And winter maintenance for me centres on engine, electrics and other bits of hardware.
3. The joy of sailing for it's own sake, although I usually have a plan around local buoys, cardinals and islands and will normally heave to or anchor for lunch (or a rest).
I usually sail alone as company usually means compromise on when, where and how long!
1. Practice at the basic processes of readying the boat for sea and entering leaving berths. Anyone who says there's nothing new to learn hasn't sailed enough long keels!
2. Chance to check and experiment with rig, sails and associated fittings. Just built a whisker pole and rearranged jib sheeting. Always hard to visualise how something will work when not at sea. And winter maintenance for me centres on engine, electrics and other bits of hardware.
3. The joy of sailing for it's own sake, although I usually have a plan around local buoys, cardinals and islands and will normally heave to or anchor for lunch (or a rest).
I usually sail alone as company usually means compromise on when, where and how long!
johnalison
Well-Known Member
Sailing with people never appealed either
Contrary to what my family thinks, I don't think that people are all that bad, and I've even met some that I liked. They are handy to have on board, especially when one wants a cup of tea, or something awkward done, such as tying out the fenders. I am wary of letting them anywhere near the helm because they tend to hang on to it with a silly grin on their faces, but overall, I think that sailing is better if we accept them on board, even if they are generally inferior in their sailing ability.
Chiara’s slave
Well-Known Member
I find crew useful if there’s something that needs fixing at the top of the mast. 
Though seriously I have very much grown used to sailing with my wife. If she had 2 working hips we’d still be racing XODs together, the Dragonfly is less taxing for that.
Though seriously I have very much grown used to sailing with my wife. If she had 2 working hips we’d still be racing XODs together, the Dragonfly is less taxing for that.
Fr J Hackett
Well-Known Member
There have been some notable exceptions for me, my last partner, two friends either together or singly did a few thousand miles with me and I even took photodog out on a couple of occasions
but that's as far as it went. Another friend did come out once and poked his nose over my shoulder when I was vigorously engaged in winching up the main, his nose connected with my elbow and much blood ensued. He didn't seem amused when I was more concerned with him not getting his blood on the teak or elsewhere than apologising, we agreed it was better if he didn't come again.
RunAgroundHard
Well-Known Member
I live 3 hours away from my boat occasionally day sail, arrive at 08:30, underway by 9 am, berthed again between 5 and 6pm, quick stop for a sausage supper, then home by 11 pm. It does make for along day but the joy of bobbing about for a few hours more than makes up for that. Rarely is this done with friends as it is easier to fall out my bed and get driving without having to meet up or wait on people. My partner would rather go to the boat for a longer period than day sails, hence most f the day sails are single handed, but not all. I had a very good New Year sail with friends. My boat is ready to go with no loading up required, turn up unlock, power on, electrics disconnected, sail cover / life raft cover off, engine on, cast off, head out, easy peasy.
capnsensible
Well-Known Member
Standards achieved! Very pleasant few hours this morning. Scorchio. Plus a couple of mob practices. Lovely. 