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#1
sailFar.net Discussion / Re: How was summer?
Last post by Frank - October 17, 2026, 05:39:35 PMThat's awesome 👍
Quite the adventure!
Pictures?
Quite the adventure!
Pictures?
#2
sailFar.net Discussion / Re: How was summer?
Last post by s/v Faith - September 25, 2026, 04:58:29 AMMy year started with a trip to England to buy a vehicle to donate to Ukraine. Drove it across Europe and into Liviv and then spent some time in one of the most incredible countries I have ever visited. After handing it off to its
New owner (who conducts medical evacuation missions) I took a 10 day trip on the Danube... Hungary to the Checz Republic.... Got to Hungry the night of the election and joined a few hundred thousand people
For an all night party they compared to the fall of the USSR.
Then I drove from California to Florida and back (sadly missing the detour to see Kurt and the Crew dog) but hung out in Memphis (ribs at the Rendezvous as have 3 generations)..
Tulsa, and then drove around dodging fires to see Arches and Canyonlands NP's.
Just got back from that trip and decided to round it off to a cool
10,000 miles by heading up to Mt Ranier and
Olympic NP....
No small boat adventures,
But my van is less then 20'...
I look out at the Bay every day, and still "Sailing Faith" in my dreams.
New owner (who conducts medical evacuation missions) I took a 10 day trip on the Danube... Hungary to the Checz Republic.... Got to Hungry the night of the election and joined a few hundred thousand people
For an all night party they compared to the fall of the USSR.
Then I drove from California to Florida and back (sadly missing the detour to see Kurt and the Crew dog) but hung out in Memphis (ribs at the Rendezvous as have 3 generations)..
Tulsa, and then drove around dodging fires to see Arches and Canyonlands NP's.
Just got back from that trip and decided to round it off to a cool
10,000 miles by heading up to Mt Ranier and
Olympic NP....
No small boat adventures,
But my van is less then 20'...
I look out at the Bay every day, and still "Sailing Faith" in my dreams.
#3
sailFar.net Discussion / Re: How was summer?
Last post by Godot - September 24, 2026, 06:48:47 PMJust a little day sailing and a lot of boat maintenance, mostly. But it's fall, now. Lots of good weather still ahead.
#4
sailFar.net Discussion / How was summer?
Last post by Frank - September 23, 2026, 05:55:47 AMWhat was everyone up to?
Get out boating much?
Mini cruises?
I ended up building a new small retirement home for myself last summer.
Didn't get out trailer sailing with the gang and sure missed it.
Promised myself to never take on a bigger project again.
Only so many summers left at this age, and I don't want to lose them by working.
Hopefully others got out and had some adventures
Get out boating much?
Mini cruises?
I ended up building a new small retirement home for myself last summer.
Didn't get out trailer sailing with the gang and sure missed it.
Promised myself to never take on a bigger project again.
Only so many summers left at this age, and I don't want to lose them by working.
Hopefully others got out and had some adventures
#5
Routes and Destinations / Re: Another Cancelled Trip?
Last post by CapnK - August 06, 2026, 12:39:03 PMMan, that suckssssssss...
Why does it seem sometimes that Murphy gets all his cousins and just everyone piles on at once? :)
Why does it seem sometimes that Murphy gets all his cousins and just everyone piles on at once? :)
#6
Routes and Destinations / Re: Another Cancelled Trip?
Last post by wolverine - August 04, 2026, 11:56:46 AMWoke at 6. Started coffee and fell asleep on the couch. Other members texting their departures woke me. Moving quickly with arms loaded I pulled my left calf muscle. Pulled out of the slip 2 1/2 hours late. Motoring down the creek a pod of dolphins were feeding. 2 swam right next to the boat. 3 miles out on the river, I noticed the high temperature light on. I throttled back and opened the hatch. Smoke. Not a lot, but still. Decided to abort and raised the sails and headed home.
#7
Routes and Destinations / Another Cancelled Trip?
Last post by wolverine - August 03, 2026, 04:22:06 PMThis morning I stored all the non perishables in the boat for a short trip with the club. We have short "dock & dines" and "sail & swim" outings. This would be an all day sail north to a marina with a pool. We meet up and dine together, swim, and this time we're having a "blindfold dinghy race". Hopefully rowing. However, because I signed up, the weather has turned foul. It's pouring right now. Tomorrow's forecast is light rain from 1am through 10pm. With the full bimini and dodger I don't mind a light rain, but what was predicted as 15mph south winds has dropped to 3-7mph. Not wanting to motor 50 miles there and back, I'm wondering why is it every time I sign up for one of these cruises, the weather turns bad. Every. Single. Time.
#8
sailFar.net Discussion / Re: Adventure sailing (Evergla...
Last post by Godot - August 01, 2026, 10:12:05 AMOBX130, Florida 120, Texas 200 and similar do look fun and I hope to do some of them in the future. But they are satisfying a different need, basically a sailing rally where the comradery is the important part. Worthwhile, for sure, and something I probably need. Not what I'm looking for here, though. For the EC you might hardly ever see another competitor for most of the race.
I want to do something hard. Grueling even. While I still have the youth to do it. Time is passing too quickly and I think if I don't start doing things now I will lose my window. I'd like to cross an ocean, not so much to see what is over in Europe (or the South Pacific, or whatever ocean crossing is convenient); but just to do the crossing. This is a big time requirement and expense and a difficult sell to the wife. I still hope to do it, preferably in Seeker and preferably alone. But we'll start smaller.
The Blackbeard Challenge is probably the Outer Banks event that CapnK is mentioning. That is also a Watertribe event with similar fees. It's interesting, and probably meets all the same needs, but somehow doesn't trigger the same emotional pull. I'll look into it further as maybe I'm just not getting it. I don't think I've seen the same kind of energy for it, and I understand they've had trouble getting enough participants in the past. I could be thinking of a different event, though.
The fees do seem kind of high, and basing them on crew size seems odd. I mean, there is a fair bit of organization going on, and I'm sure plenty of expenses involved with that. I don't know. $500 bucks is a small sacrifice compared to everything else that is required to run the challenge and, to me at least, if that were enough to call it quits I really wasn't serious to begin with. And perhaps it is what keeps the challenge going year after year.
Could it be done independently? Absolutely. I read an article somewhere where a guy tried to enter in his Angus Sailing RowCruiser and was disqualified for not having reef points, even though he had a system of physically changing sails to conditions. He ran the race as a rogue entrant anyhow. Who's gonna say no? There are a lot of other rules they insist upon as well for equipment that an independent might skip.
But, you know what? Without the structure (and without an early commitment of money for the entrance fee) I'm not sure I'd ever get to the start line. I remember the abortive Scoot. I think one reason that sort of fizzled after a lot of initial enthusiasm is that there where so many complaints about the suggested structure, timeline, crew requirements, and all the effort that was made to accommodate everyone's individual idea of what it could be that it ended up being completely unstructured and lost it's allure. The time requirements, the checkpoints, the equipment mandates, the boat "filter", even the entry fee, these all generate focus. I want to be working on making a checkpoint to a deadline. Otherwise I'd just slowly meander down the course in the most comfortable manner. Deadlines have a way of focusing effort.
The Caprice looks like a fine choice for this. I like the Wayfarer, too. There are a lot of boats that would do well, which is the source of the difficulty I'm having with deciding on which direction to go. I am currently leaning towards building a new boat, though. I enjoy boat building and it's been a long time since I've done one. But I don't know. The price of the old classic plastics is so low right now I'm sure I can get one and outfit it for way less than the cost of building new. I also have no interest in spending years getting ready, so whatever I do has to be done in a reasonable time. Maybe I should start haunting Marketplace or Craigslist.
Enough rambling for now. I have the weekend to myself for once and I need to get to the boat.
I want to do something hard. Grueling even. While I still have the youth to do it. Time is passing too quickly and I think if I don't start doing things now I will lose my window. I'd like to cross an ocean, not so much to see what is over in Europe (or the South Pacific, or whatever ocean crossing is convenient); but just to do the crossing. This is a big time requirement and expense and a difficult sell to the wife. I still hope to do it, preferably in Seeker and preferably alone. But we'll start smaller.
The Blackbeard Challenge is probably the Outer Banks event that CapnK is mentioning. That is also a Watertribe event with similar fees. It's interesting, and probably meets all the same needs, but somehow doesn't trigger the same emotional pull. I'll look into it further as maybe I'm just not getting it. I don't think I've seen the same kind of energy for it, and I understand they've had trouble getting enough participants in the past. I could be thinking of a different event, though.
The fees do seem kind of high, and basing them on crew size seems odd. I mean, there is a fair bit of organization going on, and I'm sure plenty of expenses involved with that. I don't know. $500 bucks is a small sacrifice compared to everything else that is required to run the challenge and, to me at least, if that were enough to call it quits I really wasn't serious to begin with. And perhaps it is what keeps the challenge going year after year.
Could it be done independently? Absolutely. I read an article somewhere where a guy tried to enter in his Angus Sailing RowCruiser and was disqualified for not having reef points, even though he had a system of physically changing sails to conditions. He ran the race as a rogue entrant anyhow. Who's gonna say no? There are a lot of other rules they insist upon as well for equipment that an independent might skip.
But, you know what? Without the structure (and without an early commitment of money for the entrance fee) I'm not sure I'd ever get to the start line. I remember the abortive Scoot. I think one reason that sort of fizzled after a lot of initial enthusiasm is that there where so many complaints about the suggested structure, timeline, crew requirements, and all the effort that was made to accommodate everyone's individual idea of what it could be that it ended up being completely unstructured and lost it's allure. The time requirements, the checkpoints, the equipment mandates, the boat "filter", even the entry fee, these all generate focus. I want to be working on making a checkpoint to a deadline. Otherwise I'd just slowly meander down the course in the most comfortable manner. Deadlines have a way of focusing effort.
The Caprice looks like a fine choice for this. I like the Wayfarer, too. There are a lot of boats that would do well, which is the source of the difficulty I'm having with deciding on which direction to go. I am currently leaning towards building a new boat, though. I enjoy boat building and it's been a long time since I've done one. But I don't know. The price of the old classic plastics is so low right now I'm sure I can get one and outfit it for way less than the cost of building new. I also have no interest in spending years getting ready, so whatever I do has to be done in a reasonable time. Maybe I should start haunting Marketplace or Craigslist.
Enough rambling for now. I have the weekend to myself for once and I need to get to the boat.
#9
sailFar.net Discussion / Re: Adventure sailing (Evergla...
Last post by wolverine - July 31, 2026, 11:37:48 PMThere is a Wayfarer for sale near me. I'm tempted, but the timing is wrong. Just sold a boat and the wife would not be happy if I bought another. (still own 3)
Godot, look into the Florida 120. Fun bunch of folks.
Also the OBX130. I participated this year, but dropped out due to injuries and a lot of problems with my boat.
Godot, look into the Florida 120. Fun bunch of folks.
Also the OBX130. I participated this year, but dropped out due to injuries and a lot of problems with my boat.
#10
sailFar.net Discussion / Re: Adventure sailing (Evergla...
Last post by CapnK - July 31, 2026, 10:43:56 PMI've long looked at that race and wanted to do it. Then, looking seriously into it a couple years ago, I found that they want $500 as an entrance fee for a solo skipper. (Bring a crew, that's another $500.) May be other fees as well (WaterTribe group membership? I dunno, stopped looking.).
For an unsupported race.
Why???
Cannot for the life of me, figure out what that crazy fee is for, other than to keep out the hoi polloi and other sailing rabble...
The Texas 200, as far as I know - no fee. Imagine that! ;) I'd *love* to do that one!
Closer to us, tho', is a similar race to the EC, but up in North Carolina, inside the Outer Banks. It may be a WaterTribe function. Not sure if there are fees for it.
Is there any law against starting from where and at the same time following the EC route and guidelines? I doubt it. We could start the PiratEC. or the FreeEC (pronounced 'freak' ;) )... ;D
I've got a great hull and spars for it, a '67 Canadian SailCraft Caprice 15. She's 14.5' loa, 6' beam, only 250#'s disp, nice fine entry and a smooth hard chine exit aft. Definitely a downwind planer. Light enough for the 1 manpower launch and/or rowing. Centerboard casing plywood replacement underway, then she just needs a rub n polish and a set of sails... Not mine in the pics, tho' it's in similar condition and same color.
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For an unsupported race.
Why???
Cannot for the life of me, figure out what that crazy fee is for, other than to keep out the hoi polloi and other sailing rabble...
The Texas 200, as far as I know - no fee. Imagine that! ;) I'd *love* to do that one!
Closer to us, tho', is a similar race to the EC, but up in North Carolina, inside the Outer Banks. It may be a WaterTribe function. Not sure if there are fees for it.
Is there any law against starting from where and at the same time following the EC route and guidelines? I doubt it. We could start the PiratEC. or the FreeEC (pronounced 'freak' ;) )... ;D
I've got a great hull and spars for it, a '67 Canadian SailCraft Caprice 15. She's 14.5' loa, 6' beam, only 250#'s disp, nice fine entry and a smooth hard chine exit aft. Definitely a downwind planer. Light enough for the 1 manpower launch and/or rowing. Centerboard casing plywood replacement underway, then she just needs a rub n polish and a set of sails... Not mine in the pics, tho' it's in similar condition and same color.
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