Next message: Dwight Yachuk: "RE: [world-cruising] Choosing a cruiser"
Alright, I joined a while ago but here's my intro!!!!
I decided to start moving my life toward an eventual
cruise about 2 years ago. I am an avid windsurfer and
dingy sailer. To get the min info and experience I
felt I needed to do this I did a few things (still
ongoing). I bought a Cal25 with a friend (who had
some shipwright exper). We restored/upgraded it and
now sail it all the time on Lake Mich. Cal25's are
easy to sail, roomy, sea worthy, fast and cheap. I
also started crewing on a couple different race boats
as "backup". This helped me to learn about marking
lines (prep), sail trim, weight dist etc. Also, alot
of the other crew have cruised and were great
resources for info. I too have been looking at
different boat designs to help decide what boat I will
be going on. Full keel or fin keel,length, weight
etc. My boat will for sure be a cutter rig or a sloop
with a removable staysail. I've chosen fin keel/skeg
rudder for speed and manuverability but that depends
on your approach to sailing. I am an "active" sailer,
adjusting things alot etc. If you want a smoother
ride albiet longer in a storm go full keel. They
heave to better too! I am leary about pilot houses.
Big windows break (or get knocked out)easier.
I agree that the relationship is everything when it
comes to the "dream" being "sucessful". Any way, that
my 2 cents!!!! I have really enjoyed this group so
far.... Rick H
s/v BOATZILLA
__________________________________
Discover Yahoo!
Have fun online with music videos, cool games, IM and more. Check it out!
http://discover.yahoo.com/online.html
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~-->
In low income neighborhoods, 84% do not own computers.
At Network for Good, help bridge the Digital Divide!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/B9pRWD/3MnJAA/Y3ZIAA/A1TolB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/world-cruising/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
