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sailing fantasy

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/20/2007 : 13:27:47

Last night I left the slip about 4:30 into a foggy horizon and strange white-out conditions. I had decent wind, about 10, and was flying my 135. It was cold and damp, but the seas were flat. I sailed about 2 miles offshore and pretty much lost sight of shore due to fog. There was a ring of white/grey around me but stars and a bright moon overhead. I turned for home a little concerned for increasing fog and I decided to stay close. I was wearing my foulie pants, a sweatshirt and over that my waterproof windbreaker. I also had my watch cap on. As I ran back down Mission Bay channel under pitch black skies, a bright moon, and very damp conditions I indulged in one of my favorite pasttimes, I imagined and day dreamed that I was coming home after a major voyage. It made me wonder, do you others play mind games and day dream that you are sailing to some exotic port?

Since I'm just finishing reading Vito Dumas "Alone through the Roaring 40s", my fantasy last night was that I was running down the channel after tying the knot on my circumnavigation. Returning home to Mission bay after a year at sea.

On other occasions, I dream and imagine that I am beating through the pass to a lagoon in the Tuamotus, scanning for coral heads, and trying to anchor in a sandy spot off the village.

Indiscipline 1978 FK SR #398

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 11/20/2007 : 14:50:19

Sometimes I fantacize that Angelina Jolie is below deck getting the berth ready.

Edited by - on

KenDavis
1st Mate

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USA
69 Posts

Response Posted - 11/20/2007 : 14:54:42

This months Soundings magazine has an article on avid sailor Walter Cronkite. He mentions that he seldom takes the helm without imagining taking a cargo of tea... or chasing some dread pirate...

Me too.

Sailing has such magic in that we can seemingly re-experience history. being out of sight of land in a small wind powered boat isn't much different now than it was for earlier explorers.(not for me, I have no gps) And knowing that just over that horizon are such exotic lands and things to eat I can hardly turn the tiller to head for home.

Ken

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 11/20/2007 : 15:27:36

Jim, when I first sailed to Catalina Island, I felt like Christopher Columbus sailing to a new world on the south side of Catalina where there was nobody around at all. It was very eerie feeling. I was not scared at all but more in awe. I will never forget that trip which was the most memorable of all the trips I have taken there, maybe 6 or so.
But haven't had the experience of sailing in fog yet. That I have strange fear of.
Steve

Edited by - piseas on 11/20/2007 15:30:13

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 11/20/2007 : 16:16:52

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by piseas
 But haven't had the experience of sailing in fog yet. That I have strange fear of.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Nothing strange about that... It can be very disorienting, and things can appear suddenly out of nowhere. (Radar helps.) Presuming you're sailing through it by GPS, and if you made some navaids your waypoints, you have to be careful not to hit them!

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 11/20/2007 : 16:41:11

I love the back side of Catalina, check out this link for some great photos.

http://www.indiscipline.org/cat25/cruise04.html

Piseas, where are you located? Want to join Fleet 7 ? Or at least join me next year, I am thinking of sailing to Little Harbor then making a serious attempt on San Miguel Island via Santa Barbara Island. Probably have the kids along for some camping on the island while I sail.

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 11/20/2007 : 17:18:53

Also, if you liked the backside of Catalina, the backside of Santa Cruz Island would send you over the edge, check it out

http://www.indiscipline.org/cat25/vacation05.html

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Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 11/20/2007 : 18:53:37

Wonderful photos Jim. When I'm on my small lake in landlocked Alberta I day dream about something like your pictures. Not for long, because I quickly reach the end of the lake and have to turn around, then I'm off to dreaming about Angelina Jolie.

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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 11/20/2007 : 19:07:25

Someone say fog!

Took this while Jerry(frog) and I were headed up the St. Johns River the morning prior to the Mug race last year.

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 11/20/2007 : 21:51:24

By the way, speaking of Angelina Jolie, if you have not seen Beowolf, check it out! Great movie, some sailing content.

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Justin
Admiral

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502 Posts

Response Posted - 11/21/2007 : 07:49:11

I wish I had the imagination I did when I was a kid. For example, back when I was 8 we lived on a 10 acre farm in Kansas while my dad was stationed out there for 1.5 years. My brothers and I had a lot of fun out there and even though there was no water around, I remember playing as though we were pirates, made a treasure map, and we would go exploring. Just to think if I was a kid again and on an actual sailboat like I have now, I bet I would be having so much fun. Not that I'm not having fun these days, I love my sailing! It's just that as we grow up, we seem to lose that wild imagination we had as being kids.

Each time I came into a new port on my sail down the east coast back in April, I had that explorer feeling. We sailed (more like motor sailed) to some brand new place, coming in from the ocean not seeing anything but water for several days at a time. It was a cool feeling.

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 11/21/2007 : 09:21:27

Would you guys pass that thing this way?

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 11/21/2007 : 11:52:49

LOL!!

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piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 11/21/2007 : 15:03:45

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by JimB517
 I love the back side of Catalina, check out this link for some great photos.

http://www.indiscipline.org/cat25/cruise04.html

Piseas, where are you located? Want to join Fleet 7 ? Or at least join me next year, I am thinking of sailing to Little Harbor then making a serious attempt on San Miguel Island via Santa Barbara Island. Probably have the kids along for some camping on the island while I sail.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Jim, those pics remind me when I was on the back side, over 20 yrs ago. Long story. But here are my recent pics to the island:
http://picasaweb.google.com/stephenaauerbach/Catalina82007
Tell me more re Fleet 7. Ya, love to join you. I am in Newport Beach. Lets keep in touch.
Steve A

Edited by - piseas on 11/21/2007 15:37:16

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 11/21/2007 : 15:51:51

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by JimB517
 Also, if you liked the backside of Catalina, the backside of Santa Cruz Island would send you over the edge, check it out

http://www.indiscipline.org/cat25/vacation05.html
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Jim, those pics of Santa Cruz were amazing too. That was a long trip. Do I understand you sailed up and back solo? I was very much in awe and inspired.
Steve A

Edited by - piseas on 11/21/2007 15:52:26

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2007 : 11:20:33

Yes, I sailed the entire trip solo. I had a daughter on board day 1 for a boat ride and I took the whole group of kids to Avalon one day. Other than that, I did the trip alone. I was never lonely until I came back to Catalina and had to sit on a mooring for a few days waiting for the kids. It was difficult to sit and wait surrounded by families having fun. It is a very cool experience to not touch land nor talk to another human being for 3 or 4 days. We never get that in this life. I kept the FM radio on a LA station for company.

All of Fleet 7 was invited, and lots of people said they would come.

One by one people dropped out until it was the day to leave and I was the only one going.

I sail thousands of miles alone each year. I don't want to, but other people just don't seem to like sailing and exploring our beautiful channel islands or the coast of Baja. I don't get it. It is the dream of so many. When it comes time to leave, people don't really want to go.

I have a new friend this year who is interested and I am teaching him to sail. It is far easier to find people who want to go on a race, even a 2 or 3 day race, compared to joining me for a week in Catalina. So maybe we'll race.

My trip to Mexico this year was solo as well. http://www.indiscipline.org/cat25/vacation07.html

This year I am thinking of a single handed 1000 mile voyage to San Miguel Island.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2007 : 11:46:32

Speaking of single handed sailing, here are some things I've learned.

These boats are just small enough that you can handle everything yourself with ease and big enough to take rough seas and winds. I think the freeboard is just right - almost never have I put the bow under and the side decks are never awash. Yet there is not too much windage.

Docking is simple, I prefer guests not really even help.

Sailing is easy so long as you have an autopilot.

Navigation is easy with GPS and charts.

A couple of solar panels will supply all your electric needs for ever.

Depthfinder or fishfinder is essential. You can't toss the lead, steer, and anchor alone.

Setting the jib pole or even the spinnaker can be done, it just takes time and you have nothing else to do anyhow. I do have the spinnkaer sock which makes dropping it simple, even in a blow.

Take lots of books.

Anchoring is easy so long as you practice before hand (I have developed a method). Even setting the 2nd anchor is easy. Just make sure all the anchors and cables are ready before you need to drop. Drop the bow anchor while drifting down wind with mainsail down and the motor in neutral at about 2 knots. If no motor, reefed main.

Getting anchors up in windy tight anchorages can be difficult. Timing is everything.

Grabbing a mooring at Catalina is practically impossible. I can grab the bow pennant. I can secure it. I can't keep the stern from swinging into the boat 3 feet away. Practice will not make perfect in this area, I think I'll just anchor out in Catalina Harbor next time.

My biggest worry is that I'll cut myself badly or otherwise hurt myself far from land and alone. I am very careful with knives. I have a medical kit.

Watch the weather like your life depends on it.

I had "happy hour" every night at 5 PM - beer, chips and salsa.

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2007 : 22:27:54

Thanks JimB for the terrific pictures. This was a real treat for us land-locked lake sailors. Hope you had a good Thanksgiving Day.

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