Hey, it's mid-winter, we're all missing sailing. So I figure, why not a thread we can all enjoy reading? Guys, how about a small write up of your best outing? Share with all of us seeking anything about sailing through these next, ever-so-long-in-passing weeks?

Who's first? Those of you that don't use proper names, how about identifying yourself for those of us that might not know you...

How about you kicking it off, Chris, as this is your site? Umm... perhaps not the one where you got your boom stuck in the quay wall, I'm thinking, lol's?

Or how about a thread on 'embarrassing' situations? You know, that we all do, but adamantly DON'T want to tell to people?

Hey, I'm not proud.


So there I was, impressing my friends as I carefully parked my new sailboat in a slip at Rip Tide Restaurant (I designed their logo by the way) a quick shift to reverse to slow the boat down in the middle of the KK river, and..............

Engine dies. Starts fine. Shift to reverse. Engine dies. (repeat several times as the boat starts drifting across the river towards the boats in slips on the west side of the river). What the hell???

As we were fending off the other (much more expensive) parked boats, I noticed that the bow line was pulled tight across the hull and was probably wrapped around the prop.

Not really wanting to go snorkeling in the KK river I cut the line as far under water as I could reach and crossed my fingers.

and........


it worked. the line spun free (enough) to let the prop turn. And we had a nice lunch.

Later (on the mooring) I did go snorkeling in McKinley yacht basin to clear the rest of the line.

I think my best outing was the Queen's Cup. There wasn't much for wind but it was nice to get away!

For actual sailing, I'd have to say my outing with Gary was the best although short. There was some great wind and it was a lot of fun. I prefer being out in such wind in the big heavy boats, but it was fun surfing down waves, something I'm sure the B29 will never do.

I probably mentioned this one, but I do recall one embarrassing moment about 5 years ago. This had to have been 3rd or 4th date with my now wife. I took her to the sailing center and we hopped on an Ensign. This was early June and my first sail of the season. I got everything ready, hoisted the main, kicked off the dock and as soon as we came through the wind, the boat lurched and swung back to the dock. I was all flustered as it was this pretty gal out with me. I pushed off again with a little more mustard and the same thing happened. The 3rd time the boat just got stuck in irons. Meanwhile a beginning sailing class appeared looking over the wall. After one more failed attempt the instructor yelled "Stern Line!!!"

Hey, great thread.
Last season was my first one racing at South Shore, so plenty of great outings.
Queen's Cup was definitely a highlight, even though it took us 19 hours to get across. Great experience, for sure, and my first time crossing the lake.
One I'll remember for a while was a Wednesday race. Wind was blowing about 18-22 knots and two of our crew didn't show up, leaving the boat with the skipper, his son (high school-aged) and me. I trimmed the main, the son trimmed the jib and the skipper was on the wheel. Oh, I should probably mention this is on a brand new (2008) Jeanneau 39i! So at certain points on the course, the skipper was on the low side releasing the jib sheet and had no idea what was to windward because the high side was about 12' higher than he was. I was in the companionway area trimming the main and standing upright on the normally vertical portion of the companionway (since we were heeled pretty good). We finished well and didn't even damage the boat when we docked after the race. What a learning experience!
And, of course, it was the first full summer with my Rebel 16, "White Dog" on Lake Winnebago. Fun times sailing with the wife and I'm hoping to get my two daughters (3 and 5) out there this summer with us.
Sorry for the length, but thinking about sailing on a day like today is a lot more appealing than working on a spreadsheet in my cube.
Later,
John

OMG, Chris!!
"Stern Line!!"

Buddy, you've got my vote so far for the best 'experience'! And she married you, anyway?! (just laughing with you)

I remember that outing with you, Chris. It was a near exact copy of my outing with Wayne, though we had slightly less wind that day. That was last April, wasn't it? Or early May?Anyway, great wind, upper... no... middle 20's? The occassional really big coamers we'd surf on? I remember that you couldn't stick around, we were both saddened by it, as we wanted to sail all day.

Well, I'm saving my favorite outing and also the embarrassing one for later (though believe I might have given passing mention of it).

As John so aptly stated, sure beats hiding in our 'cubes'... nice thread, I thought it's provide the first 'pick-me-up' for us of the season!

It's coming, peeps!
It's coming...

Sean and I out in a sailing center 470 in late June, wind was 18-20 when we came out, black flag of death when we came in.

Wind just far enough west of south for a full trapeze close reach out the south gap. Passed the Sullivan going south. Beam reach with planing for 10-15 minutes at a time coming north.

That water was damn cold in my sailing shorts and raincoat, but Sean admitted he was cold first.

Next best was (ahem)a power boat ride during the quarter barrel regatta. Cooler heads stayed inside and waited for sailors to return. I shadowed the Michaels in their 470, 2 1/2 to 3 foot waves, again getting hosed every fourth or fifth wave, knocking teeth out.

Great stories.

My best (and only) outing last season was aboard Sushi Bucket last November. See avatar. First time on a tillered boat on LM. Not much wind so I really got a chance to work at keeping her moving and on coarse. April and I had a blast, Thanks Gary.

Cheers, Everett

I had a great time doing the Queens Cup but wish we'd had enough wind to keep me interested in completing it.

The preparations and the positioning for the start were great fun. For about an hour there was just enough wind to push the boat. Being part of the throng of beautiful sailboats contrasting against the setting sun was very cool.

But, my favorite sail of the year was a solo night venture to nowhere. It was a full moon with maybe 8knt winds. I set the sails and headed SE. The sky line was gorgeous while transforming from dusk to moonlit.

All by myself about 5 miles out in light winds with full sails set and almost no wavy action. I didn't get back until after midnight and loved every minute.

AL

Guy wrote: "Next best was (ahem)a power boat ride"


BAN HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, for me, I had so many great outings (but never enough of them) last year, that it's rather hard to chose 'just' one. I wuld have to say that the deep run I made in the North Channel of Lake Huron was simply divine... especially after I made my eastward cut and ran for hours wing-on-wing, folowing air AND seas, all the way into Little Current, Ontario.

But, that wasn't around here, so, here goes:

Locally, it's pretty hard. I had some really great outings with so many of you guys here on this site. But, I think because of several factors, I would have to chose the asym spinnaker run I made with Curt, Guy and Sean.

Was a beautiful day. We punched out through the McKinley gap, headed south through the inner harbor. Just playing around. Believe I wrote about it elsewhere on this site, many months ago. The air was pretty calm, if I remember correctly. Probably somewhere around 12 knots, maybe 14 max on the mild gusting. I believe we penetrated the Lake from SS (Curt?)?

Anyway, we ended up hanging my asymmetrical spinnaker on the wash. I'd never played with the thing before, except when sailing solo, or with one other sailor (who'd never played with one before). Between the combined experience (with this sail) of the four of us, we actually got her flying at a 'fairly' decent level of competence... well, perhaps from a distance, anyway. Colorful chute, I'm sure she looked nice from the hard!

Eventually, once the novelty wore off, we settled down, STOPPED trying to do multiple 'tweeks' at every station, every conceivable poingt of the sail... left it up to the helmsman. I first became aware of sheer beauty of the sail effecting Sushi as Guy and I chatted. Curt, left alone on the tiller with the rest of us finally leaving things 'well enough alone' did a wonderful job, and we finally pushed well out into the lake, probably 8-9 miles, but just guessing. Finally, we came about, headed in. Wind had died down to maybe 8-9. Very smooth, powerful 'pull'. Sushi was going through the swells like a champion, just right, yet powerfully. Can't explain any better than that. Eventually we had to take her down as air and swells combined to put the foot of the asymm pretty close to the lake level.

But the thing that makes me think this was the nicest... it was the most relaxed, most enjoyable. Just a pure fun outing! Good company, great relaxed time. That sail truly is a pleasure when you've some hands for her, and I'm now looking forward to trying her solo, since I've picked up a couple of pointers.

Here's a shot of the lovely day as we got close to dropping the city skyline behind us.