patrick.net

Onvacation says

Heading out for the sunset

I was freezing my butt off in TX that day. I think I have PTSD.

Social distancing again today.

Into the sunset.

Nice! I can almost hear the waves hitting the bow and maybe that seagull chirping.

OV, you ever charter boats outside of CA? I've never sailed and was thinking of getting into it to charter bareback in the Caribbean for vacations. Wasn't sure the barrier to entry. Or if lack of frequent sailing would make it less safe? I've got Lake Michigan here and I know there are courses, but don't want to get into it if I can only sail once or twice a year and not be safe with the family having just taken courses and very infrequent sails.

I think I'd be fine docking on the motor as I've done that 100x's on motor boats in the 25'-56' range, some solo (no dockhand or passenger help). Just the skill of sailing and being confident in it with other non-sailor passengers helping out. I really want to bareback a cat or mono in the BVI's or other Caribbean locations. Cost of a captain for the week is nuts, but I get why. Then you start saying fuck it and get the chef too and do full board. Next thing you know, it's $5-8k/couple on your average cat.

I'd like be able to provision and captain myself for $3-4k/couple. And I'm not looking to get out on open water. Would be island hopping with 1-2 sails/day to snorkel or go out for lunch. Moorings or marinas. Bahamas, USVI, BVI, etc.

WookieMan says

OV, you ever charter boats outside of CA?

Not yet. I have rented a 25 footer for a day sail down in Mission Bay, but I have never chartered a sailboat for multiple days. I am pretty happy sailing in the SF Bay. We have all kinds of conditions and quite a bit of wildlife (birds, seals, the occasional harbor dolphin). They say if you can sail in the Bay you can sail anywhere in the world.

Sailing is a lifestyle as much as a sport. Every time I go to my boat and open the cabin I feel like I am coming home. I am going to get my captains license one of these days.

If you want to charter in the Caribbean you need to be certified or able to prove that you are able. I hear the Caribbean can be really nice sailing but you need to now how to navigate and use your instruments as it is easy to run aground in all the "skinny" water down there.

On my bucket list is windsurfing from one island to another in the Caribbean. They used to have a race called the HIHO (Hook In Hang On) in the BVI's. The fleet of windsurfers is followed by a fleet of chartered catamarans. Big party, lots of fun.

If you really need a captain for a charter I would do it for free, but I don't cook.

And it was 62 degrees while I was sailing yesterday. That is warmer than many "summer" days out on the water around here.

Onvacation says

The fleet of windsurfers is followed by a fleet of chartered catamarans. Big party, lots of fun.

I used to wind surf a bit when I was a teen. I remember my back (lats in particular) getting ripped / sore even after I was good enough to not fall.

Just on windy lakes in NorCal. The boards and sails were huge back then for that type of wind surfing. The stuff people used in the ocean were much lighter smaller but you couldn't stand on those boards without moving or they wouldn't float.

I used to water ski on my wind surf board as well. Just pull out the dagger board and it's a giant ski. Don't cross the wake while standing over the hole left from the dagger or you get a geyser of water hit your nuts.

I am designing a new sail. My colors are black and red. Any body have a favorite?

Its an Ericson

The first one next to the wireframe looks the best to me. Like our old Navy Blue and Gold 'chutes.

I like the solid black.

If you number 1-12, left to right, top to bottom, 3, 4, 7, 9, 11 and 12 all look like bras or sports bras. Or maybe aprons? Not sure if the design is some sailing theme though, so not knocking. Just saying what I see.

10 would be my choice though, the all black to help out with my numbering. I'm also not a big fan of red though either, so I'm a bit biased. Sailing seems like such a chill activity and red seems too harsh to me. I don't know if sail color has any meaning though, but all black is my final choice if you want a vote from a non-sailor.

WookieMan says

I like the solid black.

And a Jolly Roger to complete the look. =))

WookieMan says

3, 4, 7, 9, 11 and 12 all look like bras or sports bras.

LOL. You're right, they do.

I was trying to get the Ericson Yacht Viking helmet thing going on. It will be a huge billowing sail so maybe the sports bra theme works!

I looked again. They totally look like bras. or aprons. I am glad I asked.

FuckCCP89 says

WookieMan says

I like the solid black.

And a Jolly Roger to complete the look. =))

I'm a stealth pirate.

Heading for mt. Tam'

First run of the day.

Onvacation says

Ready to go on a sunset cruise.

What kind of sailboat do you have?

I have been maintaining an Ericson 27 sloop for 17 years now. Classic plastic from 1973.

You never really own a boat or house. You just maintain them.

Another day on the Bay.

Onvacation says

I am designing a new sail. My colors are black and red. Any body have a favorite?

I humbly suggest this:

What does the upside down A mean?

Patrick says

What does the upside down A mean?

It's the Anarchy symbol. I do not believe we have a legitimate government and as a result, we don't have a government at all. We have a mafia running the nation.

It was a symbol commonly used in the 1970's and 1970's - the "woke generation" has turned it right side up (recently), presumably because they can't paint the letter A upside down in a circle.

Thanks, I didn't know about the upside down part.

Onvacation says

I am designing a new sail. My colors are black and red. Any body have a favorite?

Ordered number two.

Anarchy would be good too. Way better than fascism.

Spending the night on the boat. I had a little blow up with the wife over fascism. Took a nice sunset sail with the Wednesday night racers and got back to the dock after dark. Having a boat to live on is cheaper than marriage counseling.

Onvacation says

I had a little blow up with the wife over fascism.

I've done that, and just try not to talk about politics with her anymore.

Onvacation says

I had a little blow up with the wife over fascism.

May come across as condescending or sexist. Not my intent. Don't talk politics with women. Even if you think they care, they don't. It's just a point of contention that leads nowhere. They have opinions, but very few have researched or looked into as much as men have.

Enjoy the boat though and free time. Politics aside, it's good to get some space from the wife from time to time even if it starts negative (for what that's worth). Need the space with this covid BS. That was my quick golf trip with a few buddies to Phoenix last month. Kids are back full time this week so I'm flipping pumped.

It's motor, but I'll be on a 58' Sea Ray in a little over a month in the Ozarks, MO for a long weekend. Hill billy country. #nomasks Love being on the water, just not brave enough to commit to owning a boat and all that goes with it. Slightly more difficult here in IL or WI. Lakes freeze, so it's hard to justify purchasing a boat for 3-4 months of usage.

Onvacation says

Spending the night on the boat. I had a little blow up with the wife over fascism.

Define fascism.

That's a problem with labels, they mean different things to different people.

I try to restrict a discussion about politics to principles. There's good principles in communism, fascism, feudalism, capitalism, and anarchy - at least as I understand those systems. I can't call myself anything, but I can state my principles, and inevitably, most people will assign me to a group.

When I opposed George W. Bush for (what I think is obviously) lying us into a war in Iraq over a non existent weapons of mass destruction program - I was "a liberal" to people who knew me. When I opposed Obama for bombing Libya, Syria, Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia, I was a "Republican". When I supported Ron Paul in 2008 I was "alt-right" (it used to mean free market people who opposed pointless war) and I accepted that label - now it means white fascist since Trump entered office - because that's how the media defined it.

Avoid labels and if you feel you belong to a group, don't be afraid to break from the group if they violate your principles.

I find most people generally have decent moral standards, but it's been said “with or without religion, good people can behave well and bad people can do evil; but for good people to do evil - that takes religion.” - labels ARE a religion. Left and right are a religion, and that religion changes DRASTICALLY in a few years. In the late 1980s, the republican party was non interventionist, and the democratic party was anti-war.

Just saw a whale! Looked like a young humpback. I could smell they before I saw they.

Where is it? Can you add an arrow to the picture if it's in it?

Not in picture.

I saw it right at the southwest corner of Angel Island. I thought I saw a Leopard seal as well, but they're not from around here.

What a great sail!

Hung out in the lee of Angel Island as the channels were blowing in the mid 20's. The wind picked up in the afternoon and I sailed wing on wing (head sail and main sail on opposite sides of the mast) dead downwind on the way home and got to surf some nice little waves.

Weekend over. Back to work.

From a simpler time.

Sail finished!

Beeeaut!

Almost a month since I finished my new spinnaker and it's been too windy to use it. It's been too windy to sail at all! Another small craft advisory today.

Preparing to raise sail.