Archive for October, 2009
After having talked to taught many couples about sailing together, and of course boating with Margie for the last 30 years here are some ideas to help you work together;
1. Listen when she speaks- when Margie hears a sound thats different, wants to reef the sails or just doesn’t like the way something is going, I find after my instinctual response (what do you know), that she is/was right.
2. Don’t lay the boat over on its side (heeling more than about 10 degrees). The boat will make less leeway and go faster this way as a bonus.
3. Take your time, explain whats happening, enjoy the serenity of sailing. If you are in a hurry get a boat with 3-300hp outboards.
4. Know what the weather is, the boat can probably handle much more weather than you want to be out in. Know and teach her how to make the boat safe when the wind and weather picks up.
5. Show her where the safety equipment is, the basics of how to use it, and what to do when you fall overboard. If you have been nice maybe she will come back to pick you up!
6. Teach her about navigation, charts, and markers. When you know where you are going you feel much more in control of your environment.
7. Give her the helm, when she gets comfortable go make lunch for her.
8. Sailing is all about where is the wind coming from. Make sure she knows this first. Then you can teach how to set the sails.
9. When you do something stupid don’t lash out at her. Yelling is a sign that YOU do not know what you are doing.
10. I just asked Margie for some input, she suggested that if the above does not work you might try just lying about how great it will be. I guess that means I must have made some of the mistakes above in the past!
Just a few of the things I like after living on my sailboat for the last 8 years;
1. Having my morning coffee, watching the sunrise while dolphins are playing around the boat in the quiet of the morning.
2. When we invite fellow cruisers over for a sundowner it only takes a couple of minutes to clean the boat (it’s a small space).
3. The boat may be small but my backyard is huge.
4. Visiting new and different places then coming home to my bed at night.
5. If the anchorage we picked last night was a little rolly, I will appreciate tonights calm anchorage that much more.
6. Living comfortably yet having a low impact on the environment by using solar panels, sailing to get to my destination, catching rainwater, and using shade and natural ventilation instead of A/C. I do have wireless internet, cell phones and Netflix, so I’m not really off the grid.
7. You can hunt for a Lobster dinner with a dive from the back of your boat.
8. How easy it is to make new friends and how helpful cruisers are.
9. Planning and making improvements to the boat systems. This one may not be for everyone but I enjoy it.
10. Arrival at a new destination after a long passage is much more rewarding than stepping off a plane. We are much more in tune with the changes in the weather, not jet lagged, and we made the trip happen.
Island Dreamer sailing on a close reach
Margie and I have spent the last few days sailing the backcountry of the Florida Keys on our journey to Key West to pick up our next couples sailing charter. I am reminded once again how pleasant it is to sail along at 6 knots in 15 knots of wind and still have calm seas and not have the boat heeled over to the rails. The combination of having the sails reefed and set properly and the protection of the many small islands and shallow water makes it easy to relax and enjoy gliding through the water.
We are looking forward to spending some time before our charter with our friends Captain Holley and Captain Denny who own the Schooner Conch Pearl. They do Liveaboard sailing scuba trips based out of Key West. We got to be good friends when Margie and I were running the Schooner Heritage of Miami for the Boy Scouts High Adventure Seabase and our days off coincided two summers ago. Because they have a compressor on board to fill their Scuba tanks they are able to dive locations that diving day trip boats don’t go to in the Florida Keys Marine Sanctuary.
We have just a couple of weeks open before Dec 15th and would love to have you join us sailing Biscayne Bay and the Keys. Couples will learn about living on board a sailboat while staying on board and anchoring in a new place every night. This is one of the best times to sail the keys, it isn’t crowded, the winds are fair, and the weather is delightful. Any charter that ends before December 15, 2009 over 5 days will receive a free additional day. Sail with us in the clear calm waters and enjoy a relaxing vacation learning about sailing and cruising.
View from the Bow of our Sailboat in the Florida Keys
It was hard to do a ASA sailing class with no wind but South Beach was pretty fom the ocean
We had a great trip even though it was too calm to sail. The water was amazingly clear, and I snorkeled a blue hole off Great Sail Key in the Abacos.
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- Sharing the entrance to the port of Miami
I was recently contacted by Luisana Suegart, Associate Editor of Brickell Magazine about a article that she is writing about retiring on a sailboat . These were 3 of her questions;
1. How long does that process of learning how to sail take?
After 30 plus years of sailing I am still learning new things. On a small boat in calm waters with an easy day of instruction you can learn the basic principles of sailing. Being comfortable standing a watch at 2 AM on a 50′ sailboat with miles of ocean around you, the lights of a ship heading toward you in the distance and a thunderstorm off your port bow may take a little longer.
That said, with a week or two of live aboard classes you probably would be ready to strike off on your own to do some coastal cruising (daytime cruising in local and regional waters in moderate winds and sea conditions). After a couple of months of sailing in a place like the Keys with a variety of calm-water to open-ocean sailing areas and safe harbors with plenty of marine stores and mechanics nearby, it may be time to head to the Bahamas for the winter season. From there a trip to the Panama Canal may be feasible.
There is no need to be in a hurry, however. The longer we have been cruising the slower we go. Spending time savoring different cultures, meeting new people, and gently sailing after having waited for the perfect weather window are all part of learning about sailing.
2. What can someone expect from taking sailing classes?
There are many styles of sailing. Choosing the right type of class and instructor to suit your interests is important. There are three broad areas and they all have something different to offer the cruising sailor.
Keelboat classes focus on how to safely and comfortably operate a bigger sailboat. In addition to the basics of sailing you learn about navigation, anchoring, docking and the systems that make life comfortable for long- term voyaging. This is not about having the boat heeled (leaning sideways) 20 degrees and waves breaking over you!
Small boat sailing is the best way to learn how the wind effects the boat. The imediate response of a small boat when you make a change makes it easy to understand how sailboats work. Getting wet when the boat tips over might be considered annoying.
Racing sailors are concerned with techniques that will increase speed under sail. Competitive spirits will enjoy this. Comfort, learning about mechanical systems not related to sailing and boat handling under power may not be as important as how to make the boat go fast.
3. What kind of person should you be if you are willing to pursue sailing?
Sailing is enjoyed by many personality types because it becomes different things to different people. These are some of the things that interest us.
I enjoy being out in nature, gently gliding along with the power of the wind; tweaking the sails to make the boat go half a knot faster; watching the stars while under way at 2:00 AM totally surrounded by the ocean; arriving at a new destination, dropping the anchor and watching the sunset; how easy it is to meet new friends; sharing my passion for sailing with everyone I meet; making improvements on the boat or just fixing something that broke; finding a remote anchorage, jumping in the water and catching a couple of lobster for dinner. I could probably think of a few more if you pressed me…
Margie enjoys moving quietly through the water, traveling at a slow pace and being more in touch with nature because of the silence in sailing. She likes the independence that sailing gives the traveler and the closeness that is fostered between you and your partner because you rely on each other. At the same time you gain more confidence in yourself. She likes the challenges that long-term sailing presents such as how to live life simply and efficiently in a small space.
I had the chance to watch some of THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA’S BEST IDEA on PBS last night, the history of Everglades National Park was fascinating;
“By 1900, feathers were in fashion and no woman’s hat, it seemed, was complete without an array of plumes. Some hats even included entire stuffed birds. The long, white plumes of egrets had become more valuable than gold. To satisfy the demands of this latest fashion trend, more than 5 million birds a year were being slaughtered; nearly 95 percent of Florida’s shore birds had been killed by plume hunters.”
We are very lucky today that this beautiful area was protected, though at the time it must have seemed hopeless;
An unlikely champion stepped forward in the form of Congressman John F. Lacey. Despite being part of a group of die-hard conservatives, when it came to defending wildlife, Lacey was one of the most progressive politicians of his day. After years of ceaseless effort, he won passage of the Lacey Bird and Game Act of 1900. The bill made it a federal crime to transport birds killed in violation of any state law, and soon government agents were confiscating huge shipments of bird skins and feathers.
But in the lawless Everglades, the Lacey Act did not put an end to plume hunting. Five years after the bill’s passage, a game warden was murdered by poachers. Another was gunned down three years later. The wildlife in southern Florida, it seemed, would never be safe unless the Everglades itself was set aside as a national park.
Finally the park was created;
A bill to create Everglades National Park passed Congress by the narrowest of margins in 1934. For the first time in history, a park had been created solely for the preservation of animals and plants, and the environment that sustains them.
Today we sail on the southern edge of the park on most of our charters. Thanks to the vision of those statesman in 1934 we are able to enjoy not only great birdwatching but also the ability to be surrounded by nature in a way that is very unique. The miles of calm water dotted by mangrove islands, the colors at sunset, Dolphin playing by the boat in 6′ of clear water are all part of the scenery. Even after having sailed in the park for many years I am still surprised by its beauty and serenity.
Mangrove island with wading birds on Turtle grass flat
Bring Your Family for a special Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year Sailing trip in The Florida Keys this year. Swim Sail and Snorkel, spend some quality time cruising the tropical Islands of the keys, and of course have a holiday dinner that can’t be beat! www.island-dreamer.com/family
Your family can help sail the boat, snorkel, fish or just relax. Exploring an island, taking a dingy ride or watching the dolphins play are other possibilities for family fun. We are also happy to entertain the kids, if you would like to stop for a sundowner at the Tiki bar.
Book an all inclusive vacation for 2 people now and your kids come for free (Maximum of 6).
Captain Harold with a family
Now that the weather has started to “cool off” in the Keys it is quite pleasant to be out at anchor again. The sailing winds are on the lighter side, the water is warm enough that even Margie is willing to go snorkeling, and there are lobster around to catch for dinner. We are offering a special on our fall couples cruising live aboard classes. Include an extra day on the water free with a charter of 5 days (6 days for the price of 5). Overnites at the beginning and end of your trip are included. This applies to any charter that ends before Nov. 15, 2009.
Where we practice docking with couples