Where's the "passion" ?

[Frank]

Thought I would post this short ramble here...

We have a ton of members. In years past up to 5 of us have been in Bahamas over winter.

At times I feel guilty for posting "cruising updates" as it often seems no one else is...

What is everyone doing?

Who's going where?

Is anyone else sailing to places not close to home?

I have met several young couples on small boats with even smaller budjets that are out "living it" this year....

Again...where's the passion???

[CharlieJ]

Will be hanging around home waters this year

Have several projects on going. assisting in restoration of a Santana 21,  teaching someone else to sail, agreed to do a session on wiring,  filleting and taping at a wooden boat building show.

Will be sailing in the Texas 200 this year also


Right now involved in a 2 week project to build a pair of 15 foot sailboats, to be loaners in the Texas 200 for accepting  donations for cancer research. All donated materials. Sails, hardware etc. We likely won't have them totally done in two weeks, but they'll just need finish works

[Tim]

Will be doing some sailing around here this summer in San Fran and Tomales Bays, having to stay close until I get my Mom moved down to my sister's.

An extended mountain bike trip at the end of July followed by a month of cruising the Inside Passage to the Broughtons in August and September.

The passion is there but somehow this retirement thing is keeping way too busy.

[K3v1n]

Looking forward to getting my boat in the water this year! Purchased this 1983 Com-Pac 23 last June and have been cleaning her up ever since. This is my chance to get back into the 'Passion' of sailing south one day after a 'No Boat' haitus. The admiral is on board with this plan though it might not be until our daughter completes college. Heck she almost had me talked into buying a Beneteau 311! O_O

So until that faithful day we will be sailing the Barnegat Bay, our local waters. The wife plans to learn how to sail this go around plus I need to relearn what I forgot. If a good deal comes along we'd like to find a boat with standing headroom. I was just looking at a 1967 Bristol/Sailstar 24, lots of boat in a nice small package. Thought I could refit this old girl while we sail the 23. Still working out the logistics on that idea. :)

Perhaps in a couple of years we'll start taking the boat south and berth her down on the Chesapeake and spend a few years sailing that fine piece of water. Ultimately the goal being the Keys and then the Bahamas! Though work, bills and college tuition may try to hold us down, we're riding the 'Passion Wave' as long as we can!

So here's to Fair Winds, Following Seas & Blue Skies!

Kevin & Lesa
.....and s/v Tetra :)

[Bob J (ex-misfits)]

I'm having back surgery in a week so looks like my passion will not leave the driveway this year.

Frank,  don't feel guilty posting your cruising adventures. I think several of us here enjoy your posts. I know I do!

[Frank]

Misfits....I fully understand 'life' gets in the way......

I wanted to leave in 1984...,,,it happened in 2002

Then in 2008, although 'here' and on a boat....I started building a cottage. Seemed a good idea at the time. I guess I'm a bit of a vagabond at heart and bored easily. Sold the cottage late last fall and finally 'freely cruising' the Abaco's again. Feels great.

I guess my point, for whatever my 2 cents are worth, is that there are 928 members here. In the past several posted pics and updates of their adventures. I guess I miss that........

Adventures need not be Rd da world, or crossing oceans.....adventures can be had close to home. Winds and storms come up in rivers, lakes, seas and oceans. Anchors drag the same everywhere. Batteries drain the same, boats need fixing while underway the same,
Same BS...different location.

It's the lack of actual adventure posts I question.....

I totally get the 'life' thing....

But surely out of 928 others are going somewhere.....

End of rant.  :o :o

[Capt. Tony]

We have pulled out Pearson Ariel down to FL and are trying to finish her up so we can go sailing for a while. (until the money runs out  :o)  With any luck we will be in the water the end of this month.  While it is getting late in the season, we are going for it.  Keys, Bahamas, maybe even go north.
As far as adventure goes, I JUST found my password to get into the SF site a couple of minutes ago.  That was kind of an ordeal in and of itself!  Other than that it has just been an adventure every day in the boat yard.  It's hot, dirty, inconvenient as #$!! living in a work zone/project (especially with your spouse*), our generator crapped out after a day and half of use, getting any kind of finish other than "non-skid" from all of the free dust blowing about is just about impossible, the water in the yard isn't drinkable, the no-see-ums TORTURED me for the first 4 weeks, and I don't think I have ever felt more alive since boot camp.  The only thing I would change is the uncertainty of the weather as we get ready to skim coat our micro balloons and then prime and paint.
This has been a great experience for both the Mrs. and me from all perspectives such as; learning a new level of tolerance for each others needs, learning tidbits from boat builders, and circumnavigators, meeting people like Alex Dorsey and the Sailing UMA crew.
I have been posting some stuff on the Ariel Association's forum, primarily because there already is a thread over there on the craziness of Ariel 113 since we bought her.  Also, in order for us to have internet access with the ability to post photos these days means we are either sitting in the marina office or at McDonald's which means we are not working on the boat.
* There can not be enough praise for Carol and her support, help, passion, understanding, and tolerance AND her not only jumping in with both feet, but also pushing me outside my comfort zone and getting this crazy fun adventure on the road and going.  My better half...

[Bubba the Pirate]

I'm  in slow burn mode right now.  Working too much but I have been making a little boat progress.  I'll move the boat in the next month or so.

As soon as Capt. Tony said no-see-ums and undrinkable water, I  knew right where he is because I've  been hanging out here and will soon have my own boat here as well.

[w00dy]

Cruising Life changes you. Once, just the sight of my boat in all her rotten glory got me all fired up. Nowadays, it's a bit harder to find that same feeling.

It's been quite a while, but I got a good dose of it again this morning. A late night wind shift meant our temporary anchorage in transit of Pamlico sound was not so "protected" anymore. Rather than lay in my wildly rocking berth until daylight, we hauled up the anchor at 0230 and got underway for Manteo, 45 to the north. After hours of blasting along at 7 knots, running and surfing with 15-20 kts on the quarter, I watched the sky in the east gradually lighten and the waves take shape all around me. Mona was steering herself and I lay on the bowsprit platform and watched her plow through the water in the morning sunlight.



I guess I'm all fired up again.

Also, really tired from staying up all night ;)

Here's a link to a video: https://vid.me/kFr3

[CharlieJ]

Watching the sun come up offshore after a night watch is awesome isn't it

Looking to do it again  ;D

[Frank]

WOOdy.....

Thank you for that.......



Grog

Ya "get it"  ;)

[jotruk]

very enjoyable. thank you

[Bob J (ex-misfits)]

Thanks for that Woody.
It's so soothing listening to a boat gliding thru the water being
propelled by the wind.
It does get weary living in a world filled with so much white noise.
Guess that's why I like sailboats.

[Jim_ME]

...Mona was steering herself and I lay on the bowsprit platform and watched her plow through the water in the morning sunlight.

Beautiful photo, story, description...

[Mako]

Nice photo wOOdy   tanks

[w00dy]

Sure! I figured I would keep the one showing all my puke down the topsides to myself  ;D

[ralay]

If you want to sell sailing, it's better to post the graceful baysailing videos and not the offshore, sleep-dep vomit fest. :P

[Gene]

Adventures need not be Rd da world, or crossing oceans.....adventures can be had close to home. Winds and storms come up in rivers, lakes, seas and oceans. Anchors drag the same everywhere. Batteries drain the same, boats need fixing while underway the same,
Same BS...different location.

It's the lack of actual adventure posts I question.....

I totally get the 'life' thing....

But surely out of 928 others are going somewhere.....

End of rant.  :o :o

Okay then ... new guy here ... I'll play!

Next month we're sailing our Catalina 22 across the "Florida Armpit" from Steinhatchee to Carrabelle and back. Should be about 75 miles each way, and our longest cruise yet. We've only been sailing a couple years, so it's definitely an adventure to us.

And we just bought a '79 Albin Vega! So the adventure has a lot of room to grow.  :)

[CharlieJ]

Nice sail- I've done it.

[CapnK]

Ooh, the Vega. I've always wanted to sail on one of those, they have such a good rep. :)