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Why I sail

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/13/2003 : 00:37:16

This was earlier this evening. (09/12) It is our first Friday evening sail in ten years.
<img src="http://members.cox.net/fhopper/Catalina25/Starboard-sky.jpg" border=0>
<img src="http://members.cox.net/fhopper/Catalina25/Why-I-Sail.jpg" border=0>
I am a lucky man.

Frank and Martha in Wichita KS. Lake Cheney

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osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2003 : 08:03:22

Frank and Martha,

Those are beautiful reasons for sailing. The sunset is awesome! Ours last night was like that too, but we were on the NYS Thruway, not out on the lake.

Thanks for sharing them with us!

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2003 : 08:22:25

How sweet it it... <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224
<img src="http://www.cox-internet.com/arlynstewart/rr4.jpg" border=0>
N/E Texas and Great Lakes

[url="http://www.cox-internet.com/arlynstewart/"]Arlyn's C250 Mods n Cruisin Stories[/url]

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2003 : 11:15:06

Indeed... You sit in balance with one hand in the water (tiller) and one hand in the sky (sheets)

Funny, living my entire life on the Pacific coast, I can't get used to photos with the sun setting over land....

My mind insists.. no, that's gotta be sunrise !

Currently maintaining two holes in the water...'77 Venture 23 and new to the family,
'78 Catalina 25

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 09/14/2003 : 00:17:52

Beautiful pictures.

I was solo sailing Friday after work, today (Saturday), and tomorrow too! Right now the San Diego ocean is calm, winds are light (< 10 knots), fish are biting, air is warm, sun was bright. Indiscipline was making 4.5 knots on a southwest heading, I was sitting by the mast holding the aft lower - no boats in sight, 3 trolling lines out. The land was way behind me. The boat was so balanced the autopilot was quiet. That's when I realized I was so happy. All the stress and worries were ashore. Here were just the blue ocean and sky - and a small white boat balanced between them.

<img src="http://www.indiscipline.org/cat25/pictures/icon.jpg" border=0>Indiscipline 1978 FK #398

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 09/14/2003 : 21:04:30

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
The boat was so balanced the autopilot was quiet. That's when I realized I was so happy. All the stress and worries were ashore. Here were just the blue ocean and sky - and a small white boat balanced between them.

<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

There is something magic about a balanced helm. It a ZEN kinda thing.

Frank and Martha in Wichita KS. Lake Cheney

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 09/14/2003 : 22:31:18

What a difference today! I left Mission Bay at 10 AM, it was overcast and calm. Outside the harbor, it was already blowing. I put her on course for the north Coronado Island (17 nmiles). I was making about 4+ knots all morning, trolling 3 lines, nothing happening (fish wise). Choppy green seas, gray skies. About 1 PM I cleared Pt. Loma and had the islands in sight. The sun was finally out. I don't have a Mexican boat permit or fishing license so I planned to turn back at the border (more or less).

As I turned back I was suprised to find that the wind was now on the nose and within a few minutes it was blowing whitecaps everywhere. I took several long tacks trying to make Mission Bay without getting fouled in the kelp. While I didn't have the rail buried, Indiscipline was heeling more than I ever experienced. It was nearly rail down for several hours. I eased the traveller to leeward, that helped a little. I was considering rolling up a little of the genny but I had to point as high as possbile. So I hiked out a little and held on. Indiscipline had a bone in her teeth, making over 6 knots trimmed in as tight as possible. I practiced hand steering in order to "pinch" or scallop upwind as much as possible. Pinching and then falling off if the boat speed fell below 5 knots also helped with the heeling.

By this point I was too busy to worry about fishing so I pulled all the gear in. Eventually I got too close to the kelp, blew a tack, got the genny backwinded and the boat did a 180 before I could get her under control. So I rolled the genny up and motored about 3 miles to clear the edge of the kelp. I set a waypoint for next time so I know just how high I need to go to miss it. This kelp is about 2 miles offshore, extends along the coast for several miles, and is dense enough to stop a boat cold (keel, rudder and engine fouled).

After motoring my 3 miles I shut it down and sailed the rest of the way on a beam reach at over 6.5 knots. Now I know just what weather helm is! I am very glad to have an upwind slip at my new marina.

Home at 7:30 PM, it was a great mini-vacation of 3 days sailing.

<img src="http://www.indiscipline.org/cat25/pictures/icon.jpg" border=0>Indiscipline 1978 FK #398

Edited by - on

RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 09/15/2003 : 01:12:29

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>3 trolling lines out...fish are biting<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Jim:

What'ya trolling?

What'ya catch'n these days?

RichardG 81 C25 SR/FK "Sanity"

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 09/15/2003 : 10:54:16

I made my own PVC trolling rod holders that bolt on the stern pulpit - 4 in all. Two are pitched out to the side (port and starboard) and two on the stern. I use one to hold the net. Total cost $10 for 4 compared to $50 for one at West Marine.

I troll Rapallas on the sides, and put a cedar plug or tuna feather out back center. I keep a rod rigged with a heavy iron jig for tossing at fish boils. I boat all lines but one when tacking. I chum with canned cat food.

I've caught (and released) mainly barracuda this season. The yellowtails are here now and I am 90% sure I got a strike from one Saturday but didn't boat him. Offshore, all kinds of tuna are biting. I don't have the range to get out there but I troll the tuna plug anyways - might get lucky.

The sailboat is a good platform for fishing - you can slide up to kelp paddies silently, chase working birds, and try to get on top of bait boils and breezers. Powerboats spook these fish. Plus my favorite tactic of tacking around a party boat. The problems are slow speed, and lack of a live bait capacity. The boat heaves-to and makes a real nice platform for drifts. You can anchor in the kelp and fish chunk bait for sand bass. I haven't done that yet.

I usually stand on the cockpit seats and cast at boils while heaved-to, I hang on to the backstay when she rolls. It's fun, it has really improved my sailing skills, and it's something to do on a light air day.

I can spend the day fishing on 1/2 gallon of gas - those guys going on offshore trips burn 200.

<img src="http://www.indiscipline.org/cat25/pictures/icon.jpg" border=0>Indiscipline 1978 FK #398

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