Introductions / How did you find sailFar.net?

[WF]

D-
I'm allowing at least a year in the Sea of Cortez, no plan other than to unplug from the Matrix.  Can't wait to get down there. 
BTW- I'm fairly anxious about sailing down the coast, planning on April of '09, the beginning of the weather window.  When did you sail down?
 
I suppose I should also explain my experience.  Mainly raced J boats as a kid, hadn't sailed much in 15 years, went through a lot personally and decided to finally act on the 20 year old, ten-year plan of getting a boat and going to explore.  My offshore sailing is limited, but I've felt perfectly comfortable in 30+ kts in the Sound, in fact got my boat to 11.1 kts surfing downwind wing and wing with storm jib and single reef(about 40%.)  However, I'm trying to practice specific things as I go, such as heaving to, MOB, etc. to attempt to fill out some experience.  This summer will be practicing as much anchoring and light wind sailing as possible and will be sailing through the Juan De Fuca Straight and to a random point a couple hundred miles out the Pacific and back to evaluate the boat(& myself.)

Thanks s/v Faith, I never turn down a free drink!  Yeah, I've been through a fair amount of heartache in the past, life is too short to be pessimistic and preach to others from the comfort of one's warm chair.  I just want to live my life and sail.

[AdriftAtSea]

Welcome WF.

Do you have any photos of your Yankee 30?? What upcoming projects are you planning for her?

[psyche]

WF,
Welcome to sailFar. You have chosen a very good boat. I think there is some discussion on the ssca website discussion board under boats about your boat. I agree with the other members when they asked for pictures. Dan

[Delezynski]

WF,

Share your projects & photos!

We only cruised down the coast starting in the San Francisco Bay area. So I can't give you much data from areas further north. You can read our "Position Reports" on our WEB pages for most all of the information we wrote on the areas we have been cruising.

Hope to see you down here soon!

Greg

[CapnK]

Welcome aboard, WF! (Grog) Looking forward to hearing more of your adventures.

You may have fallen in with the wrong crowd, though. Mostly, here, you'll just get encouragement to take that "too small" boat "too far"...

...and who knows where that could lead!  8) :o :D

Well, gotta go - I hear my name being paged up on the Lido Deck...  ;D

[sailorflo]

Hey WF hope to here how the west coast sails You are right this is one of the better sites welcome aboard

[WF]

Thanks for all the replies.  I'm attaching a few pics.
The most major project as of yet has been filling the deck with epoxy.  I noticed some flex in the deck skin and started drilling some exploratory holes to find the extent.  Ended up being about 3-4" by 2or so feet.  As per usual the stanchion bases were to blame, well the PO for not keeping on top of them.  I picked out all rotten balsa and filled with thickened epoxy.  Originally this was a temporary fix, but I have to say that I think I've got a couple of years before I'd have to address it again.  I've gotten some other valued opinions and that have agreed.  I'll be replacing my teak toe rail with a used aluminum one(scored it for $100!) and I'll evaluate the decks then and may recore those areas.

[WF]

psyche-  Thanks, I think the Yankee is a bit of an obscure boat which helped me get a reasonable deal.  So far I LOVE how she sails, although not a typical cruiser, all boats are some type of compromise and I know of at least one that has gone from the US to Australia. 

Greg-  I'll post more on my projects as I go, and more pictures.

CapnK-  Definitely found the RIGHT crowd!  People have been sailing all manner of boats all around the world, I'm just another guy with a dream and bit of moxie to make it happen.  I really subscribe to the simpler notion of sailing and cruising, in fact I think the Y30 is more than up to the task, I think I am as well, but the fun part is finding out for myself.

sailorflo-  Right on, nice to find people who are action-oriented and not too afraid to just get a good boat, fill the sails and get going.  Life is short for sure.  I'm happy to get a warm reception rather than a litany of reasons why I need a 50' boat and $250,000 to cruise.

[CapnK]

CapnK-  ...{snip} the fun part is finding out for myself.

Exactly! ;D

[nowell]

Hey all, Ive been a lurker for quite some time. Just figured it was time to say hello since my own little slice of the pie is coming to fruition!

My name is Nowell. Grew up sailing on various Catalina's (lake mostly). I can recall the time I fell in love with the ocean though. I was standing watch on our old flat bottom on my first deployment to the med (USMC), and seeing the bio-luminescence kicked up. Between the storms and the the beauty, I was hooked.

Anyways, that seed has been growing inside, and now (in my mid 30s) its turned into an obsession. I already live a spartan lifestyle, studio, air mattress, 1 chair, 1 folding table to act as a desk for my computer. Other than that, my clothes. Yup, no TV, no furniture, etc. So I figured, might as well make this happen!

Currently I work in Houston (looking in the Kenmah area for my home port). My boat of choice is a Dana (when I find one that speaks to me). Altho I feel a strong calling from the Westsail, and the Cheoy Lee's (because their lines are just beautiful!).

My plan to sail away is T-5years and counting. My investment accounts are growing really well, and this year I plan to settle on a boat, and move aboard. I will be one of those people that "just does it". I believe that with common sense, a cool head (1st gulf war, Somalia, Kenya), and the desire, I will be fine. If the sea wants me let her take me. I've seen enough bad in this world for many lifetimes, time for some good!

In the meantime, I wanted to say "Hello!" and I know alot of you are in the Texas area, and would be more than willing to help crew, if your willing to teach! I'm also ok with throwing a few back at the local marina (altho limit 2 because, well, my spartan lifestyle warrents it, LOL!)

Thanks for the great site! Fair winds!

Nowell

[Tim]

Welcome Nowell,
Your in good company down there.

Tim

[CharlieJ]

Nowell- Welcome aboard. We're down in Port Lavaca, and we have a good friend in Houston who sails a PSC 25 out of Baytown.

Get in touch and maybe I can hook you tow up. He is always looking for someone to go sailing with him. PM me about it.

[oded kishony]

Welcome aboard Nowell!  I'm also a great admirer of the Dana. If had lot$ of money that would be my boat  ;D

Oded

[DaleG]

Hi Folks!  I am currently land-locked in Wonju Korea working for the US Army as a civilian counselor. My boat is the Hannah Grace, a 1977 Hunter 27 dry docked at Cambridge MD until I get back. I mainly sail the central Chesapeake with a couple of jaunts off-shore. After I get back, repair/relaunch the Hannah and head in some direction (not sure just which right now) perhaps the Caribbean and even farther. I wouldn't mind visiting (sailing) Rio, Casa Blanca, Madagascar, Naples, Singapore, Sidney, etc. I am an old military vet, speak a bit of 5 languages, handy with a tool box and a sense of not wanting to stay in one place too long.  I found a link to this site via a living aboard forum.

[AdriftAtSea]

Welcome DaleG.

:D  When do you expect to be back sailing the Hannah Grace??

[Tim]

Welcome Dale,

I am glad you found your way here, this is a great group and will give you plenty to think about until you get back to your boat.

Tim

[DaleG]

My current boss begged me to come back to work after I had retired in 2003. I run a one-person center for about 1000 troops and their families due east from Seoul the capital. My Korean-born wife, whom I had separated from, came down with cancer. So after discussion with my adult sons decided to come to Korea to be near her and help get her through the treatment. Long story short, she is cancer free now and recovering. I will be here until December 2009.  Then, back to Cambridge and the open water. My sailing buddies want me back as we are a bunch of retired guys with wives/girl friends that don't sail. We help with each other's boats, take turns crewing our various craft, mostly sail as we all get to do something and of course celebrate a successful cruise. My plan is to return to sailing, upgrade to a slightly larger boat and head out to Caribbean and then Europe, Africa, etc. The destination isn't important, the trip itself is the adventure.

[Gerald A. Gotts]

I was told about this site by James Baldwin of Atom stoves.  I expect to use this site very often as it is very informative.

Thanks, Jerry Gotts

[DaleG]

Jerry,
Welcome!  I am new to this also. I use this site to remind myself why I am trying to save money for and to do again in a couple of years.
Dale

[Captain Smollett]

Welcome Aboard, Banshi!   :)

I took a look at your web site - nice job on cleaning up both boats!

Good to see someone who can provide local knowledge around Jacksonville.