Does anyone sail ??

[azguy]

I've always wanted to learn to sail and with summer coming hard and fast out here in Arizona I was thinking of taking a 3 hour sales class and seeing how I like it.

Any sailboat pics guys

I've been staring at this ad for months:

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/boa/2834440354.html

[Lisa]

Al (alcan) is an avid competitive sailor. If he spots your thread, you might be hearing from him.

[Rsvrider]

I do, and I highly recommend you try it. There is something about moving on the water at speed without noise. Btw, you don't need to go all out crazy and spend a fortune to start. A Hobby Cat is a great little way to enjoy a day at a lake or sea. I have used one of those in St Bart's (Eden Rock has two)and was much more fun than a larger vessel.
I'll be arriving in LA tomorrow and I'm staying at the Ritz Marina del Rey, chances are I'll charter a boat for the day. If I do I'll post some pics.

[Rsvrider]

Just saw the CL ad, that's a proper sail boat. My recommendation for a Hobby Cat can be dismissed. Thought you were looking for something to get your toes wet
Make sure you do an inspection before buying and contact your Marina of choice to see if they have slips, costs etc.
Happy sailing!

[wantonebad]

Originally Posted by azguy

I've always wanted to learn to sail and with summer coming hard and fast out here in Arizona I was thinking of taking a 3 hour sales class and seeing how I like it.

Any sailboat pics guys

I've been staring at this ad for months:

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/boa/2834440354.html

Come to Boston, multiple sailing schools, multiple places to sail, really reminds you of natures beauty and power being out on the ocean. Like our watch hobby it's not an easy avocation for the financially challenged however you really don't need to be rich to sail, you just need to be rich to own a top line boat and keep it in shape.

[conrail]

Originally Posted by wantonebad

Come to Boston, multiple sailing schools, multiple places to sail, really reminds you of natures beauty and power being out on the ocean. Like our watch hobby it's not an easy avocation for the financially challenged however you really don't need to be rich to sail, you just need to be rich to own a top line boat and keep it in shape.

x2 There's a ton of great, relatively inexpensive public sailing centers.

[psv]

I used to but now only the occasional Hobbiecat run during vacation. Just a marvelous sport!

[Paladin]

I have been sailing since I was seven and racing since I was fourteen. Yes, there is a big difference between the two and I can recommend both as great lifetime activities. I have met some of the most awesome people and had some of the best times of my life racing around the world.

I learned in junior sailing programs at yacht clubs growing up and then "on the job training" on various ocean racing yachts. I have been lucky enough to sail all over the world including aboard the famous maxi Kialoa, the 12 metre Intrepid and I even raced aboard the "J Boat" Endevour.

The best way I think for people to learn to sail would be a local community college sailing program. Additionally I would recommend that you learn to sail in small open dinghy's/ boats where you will learn the basics and the "feel" of the wind, water and boat much better before advancing to a larger keel boat like the Catalina.

If you were considering buying the boat in that ad, I think that the price on that Catalina 27 is very high given the market in those types of boats.

If you are ever in southern california this summer on a Thursday night id be happy to invite you out for a "beer can race" in the local harbor with us.

The current boat I race; It's OK, a Alan Andrews designed 50 ft grand prix boat

[Rsvrider]

Your vessel is SICK!


[/QUOTE]

[Dr.Brian]

Originally Posted by Rsvrider

Your vessel is SICK!


http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...din/itsok1.jpg

[/QUOTE]

Meh, it's ok.

[snowbird]

Yes and it's a great sport, nothing like flying across the water with just wind power. It's fairly easy to learn at a basic level too (meaning light winds and simple boats). I'm not sure I'd recommend learning on that 27 ft. boat in the ad though. As mentioned above something like a Hobie Cat is great to learn on, very stable due to the two hulls and you can generally sail with just a mainsail if you want. The Hobies do tend to stall when tacking but that's a reasonable trade-off for the stability of the boat. Anyway it's a really fun sport!

[Rsvrider]

Maybe a Hobbie is not the "look" you want for a sailboat, a good place to start is a Laser. Here are some pics I pulled. Cant tell you how fun it is to race them.

[FNFZ4]

Nice

[azguy]

Awesome pictures guys, now I have to try it.

They have a 3 hr sailing school at the marina at Lake Pleasant where you sail those little sailboats, it's like $99 or something. Then I guess you can rent them there after

Yes, I think learning on a 27ft boat would be quite funny

I motivate myself at work with a picture in my office of something I want, I found that ad and printed it off and it's hung on my bulletin board for at least 6 months. Funny it's still listed

I mean, I guy has to dream about smoking a good cigar while wearing his Sub on his sailboat, right

[Paladin]

Originally Posted by azguy

I mean, I guy has to dream about smoking a good cigar while wearing his Sub on his sailboat, right

WHAT???? You arent going to be wearing a YachtMaster, or worse, a YachtMaster II???......

[Rsvrider]

Originally Posted by Paladin

WHAT???? You arent going to be wearing a YachtMaster, or worse, a YachtMaster II???......

Can't imagine anything worse! SORRY! If you like the YMII that's great, but just don't show at a regatta wearing one. I know this is a Rolex Forum and I'm here bc I love Rolex but if you sail you better b wearing a Sub if you choose Rolex but most likely you should wear a Corum or AP if you can swing it. Funny, if you were to meet a pilot with a GMT you wouldn't think twice. A sailor with a YM, hmmm, not do much. Kinda phoney IMHO. No offense anyone

[snowbird]

Originally Posted by Paladin

WHAT???? You arent going to be wearing a YachtMaster, or worse, a YachtMaster II???......

Yeah it's funny how they try to promote the YMII as the skipper's watch. I don't mind that kind of marketing for the Sub and GMT as they were really created and heavily used for diving and flying but it just seems silly with the YMII.

[Paladin]

Originally Posted by snowbird

Yeah it's funny how they try to promote the YMII as the skipper's watch. I don't mind that kind of marketing for the Sub and GMT as they were really created and heavily used for diving and flying but it just seems silly with the YMII.

I have only seen a few YM's around the racing community. Both were watches the wives got as gifts for their sailor husbands not knowing any better. I have yet to see a YMII around the water.

As for the usefulness of a YMII, we use a special race count down stop watch with a huge digital display and have two..one preset for 5 min starting sequences and one set for 3 min starting sequences. On the starting line with numerous other boats, having to pay attention to your own boats position and speed relative to the starting line (so you are not over early) as well as all the other boats around you, careful to obey allthe racing rules as to right of way, you do not have time to look at an analog watch to know how many seconds to the starting gun. Digital displays are easiest to read in a hurry.

The YMII is a waste of money as a tool watch! If you like the look go for it!

[Paladin]

The upscale mechanical sport watches I see, in order of popularity, on the wrists of sailors are;

Rolex submariner
Rolex datejust
Rolex GMT
Omega SeaMasters
Corum

[snowbird]

Originally Posted by Paladin

I have only seen a few YM's around the racing community. Both were watches the wives got as gifts for their sailor husbands not knowing any better. I have yet to see a YMII around the water.

As for the usefulness of a YMII, we use a special race count down stop watch with a huge digital display and have two..one preset for 5 min starting sequences and one set for 3 min starting sequences. On the starting line with numerous other boats, having to pay attention to your own boats position and speed relative to the starting line (so you are not over early) as well as all the other boats around you, careful to obey allthe racing rules as to right of way, you do not have time to look at an analog watch to know how many seconds to the starting gun. Digital displays are easiest to read in a hurry.

The YMII is a waste of money as a tool watch! If you like the look go for it!

Yes I couldn't agree more. I love Rolex, but I don't particularly like the way they market the YMII.

[SPARTAN2161]

I have been sailing for 10 years and have raced on multiple boats for a couple years now (inter-club) I learned at the yacht club we belong to as a kid. But as far as i know they also offer sailing classes for adults. It usually runs all summer once a week at night. You should check out your local boat clubs and see. The hobbie cat is nice to learn some basics but the class where your on a full size boat with "instructors" will really help. Like Paladin said racing is a whole different animal but its a lot of fun and highly reccomended. It also makes you a better sailor because you experience all types of conditions and you know how the boat works inside and out. Good luck and enjoy!

[SPARTAN2161]

p.s. this was my first boat...i bought her when i was 14 to race in the teen division. SHE was the slowest in the fleet! Rhodes 22

Paladin's puts mine to shame!

[Paladin]

Originally Posted by SPARTAN2161

p.s. this was my first boat...i bought her when i was 14 to race in the teen division. SHE was the slowest in the fleet! Rhodes 22

Paladin's puts mine to shame!

It's all about the rating baby! The drinks all taste good no matter what boat you are on

[cruvon]

Beautiful boat Paladin, consider the Rolex Sydney-Hobart race? Though guess you will first need to sail all the way Down Under for that:)

[Paladin]

Originally Posted by cruvon

Beautiful boat Paladin, consider the Rolex Sydney-Hobart race? Though guess you will first need to sail all the way Down Under for that:)

No thanks mate...i know better. I spent enough time in heavy weather at sea in the navy. If we were to take the boat to Oz, it would be transported by ship. Not worth the risk or wear and tear of an on the water delivery.

[cruvon]

Originally Posted by Paladin

No thanks mate...i know better. I spent enough time in heavy weather at sea in the navy. If we were to take the boat to Oz, it would be transported by ship. Not worth the risk or wear and tear of an on the water delivery.

Fair enough, the other viable option is being a ship hand on someone else's yacht doing the Sydney-Hobart I guess:) but the race is surely a grueling one!

[Paladin]

Originally Posted by cruvon

Fair enough, the other viable option is being a ship hand on someone else's yacht doing the Sydney-Hobart I guess:) but the race is surely a grueling one!

I think I might rather stand in my shower under cold water for a week while someone beats me about with boxing gloves and I tear up $100 bills...

No doubt that Sydney-Hobart the most grueling of established off shore races other than one of the "round the world" races. I have a number of good friends who have done the race and every one was happy to have simply finished.

My best friend has raced it twice. He was strategist/tactician on Kialoa III (first to finish, first in class "A" and first overall) and watch captain on Ballywho (first to finish). His two comments reflecting on the Sydney-Hobart; "it feels so good when it's over" and the "Quiet Little Drink ROCKS!"

So, in short, I prefer to limit my racing at my advanced age to inshore bouy racing and short offshore stuff to Mexico or Bermuda.

[wantonebad]

This is my annual race http://www.figawi.com/ hardly America's Cup but I did hear drinking mentioned. I just love how the race got it's name...

[Paladin]

Originally Posted by wantonebad

This is my annual race http://www.figawi.com/ hardly America's Cup but I did hear drinking mentioned. I just love how the race got it's name...

I'm not a huge Americas cup fan anymore. It is my opinion that the Cup lost is soul with the advent of all the multi hulls and all the high stakes money whipping that goes on. The Americas Cup is no longer the venue for gentlemen sportsmen to compete but rather a competition of corporate money and technology.

It is now been bastardized even further in this latest iteration to appeal to the NASCAR mentality of the masses....high speed action with the audience on the edge of its seats waiting for the first high speed crash and burn.

[Feras]

I went few times sailing, it's an exciting sport. But i am just not that smart with the wind thing. But i highly recommend it. :D
Enjoy!