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The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.
I managed, between weather and schedule, to get out 6 times this summer, and two of those were under 2 hours. Chris only made it once. How depressing! We had one more weekend available, but the forecast says 40 - 50% chance of rain and light winds. The new plan is to go to the boat and spend one night while de-rigging and getting ready for haulout. Was it a bad summer for others? I'll hope for a better winter season in Pensacola.
Dave B. aboard Pearl 1982 TR/SK/Trad. #3399 Lake Erie/Florida Panhandle
Complete bust for me in Texas. I know others got out, but I just can't handle the kind of heat we got....for 2.5 months temps hitting upwards of 110, lake levels plummeting, no rain, hot overnight...many mornings the low temp was 86, often still 100 at midnight. Just brutal!
However...we pay for our winters over the summer....and our great seasons are now coming up!
I feel your pain Dave. It's supposed to rain again this weekend. I think it might be time for an early pull-out. Of course, as soon as I yank her, we'll have 72 degrees, winds 8-12 knots and just the right combination of sun and beautiful, fluffy clouds.
I spent the summer helping my girlfriend keep up with 10 acres of horse farm (mowing, mowing, mowing). Been out once or twice, race with Tom Curran once a month, that's it. I think I'll be more of a winter sailor this year
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by jerlim</i> <br />Us too...new job is too demanding ...we're actually considering (gasp) selling if next year is similar... <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">All work and no play Jerry . . .
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Dave5041</i> <br />Was it a bad summer for others? <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Hi Dave, being in Pittsburgh we probably experience about the same weather as you. We're still waiting for the favorite part of the sailing season (winds!) to kick-in. We always pull close to the end of October and have always been rewarded.
Summer weather was fine here all season. Sure we had summer thunderstorms, but largely we had some nice weekend weather. Winds were moderate, and often brisk (8-12). I was also able to get out on Friday evenings when sunsets were ~ 8:00-8:30 in June, July and early August. My main problem is that I have a new job that is pretty demanding and I was traveling quite a bit. This made the honey-do list get pretty long at times, so I had to split my weekends between errands on saturdays and sailing a few hours on sundays. The late summer weather has been quite chilly and wet so far, but I'm hoping for a nice stretch starting next week through mid-October. I have an overnight planned with my son in the Thimble Islands, just waiting for the fall weather to cooperate!
I got a ton of great sailing in this past Spring, Summer, and now Fall. I can't even count how many times I went out with one stretch having sailed for nine days straight. Short sails for me are 5-6 hours.
We normally only get out once a month (that's a good month). We normally plan for a Friday Launch and Tuesday Recover with back to work on the Wednesday. Blew that this year for a bunch of reasons, storms, storms, storms and occasional storms. But we still got our money's worth out of our Marina Parking Permit. $75 for the year, we left the truck and trailer there for about 18 nights this year. And the best was this weekend!
Now planning on getting the trailer brakes upgraded to twin axle discs (only got brakes on front end right now) and new Bimini, and a few ding repairs (replace the striping)
So our next trip is over the new year. My new job has been very accommodating but I'm not abusing it. Work late most nights to cover my guilt of taking off the Friday, Monday, and Tuesday. Love the job too, so life is good.
Not going out over Columbus day this year, let the power boaters have their weekend
I was out less this Spring/Summer than in past years with some weeks a total bust due to either some very hot days or hurricane, etc weather disturbances. Still, I probably been out an average of 1-2 days a week.
This year will be the first in 6 years that the boat will be out of the water for an extended time (normally in water and sailing year-round). I am scheduled to have it hauled out on October 18th. I am treating my boat to a waterproofing job. It will be pressure washed, blisters opened up and then wait for them to dry out could be about 2 months depending on extent of the blisters. Then 7 coats of Interprotect or similar followed by anti-fouling paint. Depending on when the coatings/paintings can be applied (due to air temperature), I may be out from 2-5 months.
Glad to hear other people are in the same boat! Our season is short as it is, may long to sept long. But we had a little baby girl at the end of may so I only got out for 1 hour this summer, but it was such a good hour that it will carry me all winter.
I have had a semi-great summer! The only thing that would have made it better would be if we had a more successful racing season.
I have been crewing all summer on a Canadian Seacraft 40, racing every Wednesday evening, as well as on some weekends. We raced in the 70 nm Governor's Cup, the approx. 40 nm Screwpile Race from Annapolis to Solomons Island, the 54th annual NASS Race to Oxford, and the Hammond Race back, and others. Except for about 2 Wednesdays, the wind has been very light on Wednesdays, and the boat likes wind, so she hasn't been racing as she was designed. But, what has been really annoying is that she also hasn't done well when she has had wind. Having watched the skipper and crew sail her all summer, I believe the problem isn't primarily with how she has been sailed. I believe it is with the condition of her bottom. The diver who scrubs her says her antifouling is "thin." I think it's creating turbulence and preventing her from reaching her maximum speed and pointing ability. Her best performances were this spring, and have declined gradually all summer. She won her class in last year's Bermuda race, so the skipper and crew and boat are certainly able. I expect the owner will have her hauled and painted this winter or next spring, and then maybe we'll see what she can do. She races against the best racers in her class on the Bay, so her competitors don't permit her to have any weakness.
This has also been a good year because, after nearly 40 years of racing and sailing, I finally learned how to rig, hoist, trim, gybe and douse a symmetrical spinnaker. If you haven't tried it yet, you should. It takes time and effort to learn, but it is really a joy to pop that big, beautiful sail and feel it's power. I should have learned it long ago.
I haven't sailed my own boat much this summer, but will race her this weekend in a charity race at Solomons Island. Nevertheless, I have made tremendous progress in repairing and upgrading her, and she is starting to look as she was meant to when she came off the production line. I stopped her leaks, got her AC working, installed new refrig., two new batteries, replaced all four of her big portlights, and next year, I'll refinish her brightwork. Some day, after I die and my son sells her, some lucky sailor is going to get a really nice boat!
I have had a great season as well, and by no means is it over. First off, racing Joint Venture, we were able to win two trophies. One for a second place at Dallas race Week and the other for winning the Wednesday Night Spring Series. I've gotta tell, it's not too often that a 46 year old guy gets to win two trophies in one year. Lots of fun racing and cruising on Joint Venture.
Despite the heat that JoeDiver, myself and all the other North Texas sailors have experienced I've had many great cruises on Stephanos as well. Multiple times anchored in coves, raft ups, swimming etc. and amazingly, it was never too hot to sleep. (This from the guy who keeps it at 70 at home during the night)We also slept on the boat pretty much every weekend and it's amazing what a cool night breeze and some fans can do. We never even brought the window unit out. Of course, no such thing as sleeping in, in the morning it gets too hot down below quickly. Labor day was a bust as it was too windy but other than that I've managed to go sailing about 2 to 4 times a week. The thing you learn is that once you're out of the protection of the marina you'll find that the temperature on the water drops about 10 degrees, it's just brutal rigging the boat and getting out. If you're just cruising a couple hours out to drop the hook, going swimming then everyone stays happy. Also, morning short sails were glorious as was night sailing.
Season's not over yet, well the good times are just getting started again in terms of wind and nice cool temps.
I just bought my C25 this year, it was a dirty, ugly boat, so I did not have much sailing with it this season but the boat is sure looking a lot better. Hopefully next year we´ll sail every other weekend! Plus I would love to make it to the nationals in 2012 Cheers
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Tradewind</i> <br />. . . in Pensacola, a few hot days in August but . . . <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> What is considered "hot" in Florida?
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by JeanAndre</i> <br />I just bought my C25 this year, it was a dirty, ugly boat, so I did not have much sailing with it this season but the boat is sure looking a lot better. Hopefully next year we´ll sail every other weekend! Plus I would love to make it to the nationals in 2012 Cheers
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> Same here: A LOT of electrical, some general cleaning and a looong way to go, but still enjoyed sailing evey chance we could.
We did not log as many miles as last year, and the breezes were lighter. But our increased confidence allowed us to do more night sailing, which was delightful compared to the hot humid days. (New, red LEDs in the cabin helped a lot, too.) Every sail we did from July 1 until Irene hit was an evening sail where we returned after dark. Irene pushed too much debris into the river to do any more night sailing, but the air was cooler by then anyway.
We're still hoping to get a few weeks more sailing in before calling it a season. But this weekend does not look too promising.
We just logged our 25th outing for the season -- exactly even with last year on the same date. Usually two to five hours at a time. Being retired and close to the marina help. We've had some beautiful sailing weather here in northern Michigan. But Dave, I also feel your pain. When we lived in Ohio our boat was two hours away, we could only go on weekends and it seemed like the weather alternated between rainy or hot and dead calm. Hang in there. There's always next year.
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by OJ</i> <br /><blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Tradewind</i> <br />. . . in Pensacola, a few hot days in August but . . . <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> What is considered "hot" in Florida? <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Upper 90's with heat index 105 to 115, combined with light winds makes it too hot for me.
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Voyager</i> <br />Jean Any "before" and "after" pictures? Post 'em (if you're so inclined) <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I have some before picture, but so far I just have "during" pictures, I hope I will have some "After" pictures soon. I am working on a Topic with my before and after pictures for any day now. I´ll post them on the C25 specific forum. Fair winds!
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ. The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.