Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
|
|
Unlike climbing sailing is actually a lot easier than it looks. I learned to sail a sunfish when I was 10 years old, I remember it being very easy. When I was 25 I went to Catalina with some friends on a Ericson 34, my first trip on a real sailboat. By the time we got to Avalon I swear at least two of us were better sailors than the guy who rented the boat and was in charge. He ended up fouling the prop on a mooring line at Avalon, luckily we had dive gear and were able to clear it without getting nailed for damages. That is the sort of detail part of sailing where people get in trouble. It is like flying a plane. The actual flying part is easy, it is the takeoff and landing that will get you in trouble.
I find maneuvering a sailboat in close quarters with a stiff breeze to be the most challenging part of sailing. It can only be learned by actual hands on experience. For open water sailing you can prepare yourself by doing a lot of reading. Like climbing, sailing requires that you remain level headed and you must be able to deal with difficult situations as they may arise.
If you are going to do it just to experience it join a club and rent.
|
|
Delhi Dog
climber
Good Question...
|
|
I'd recommend this book
|
|
Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
|
|
Among other things, I'm an American Sailing Association instructor, and one of the senior instructors in our sailing club, which has one of the largest rosters of professional instructors in the country, of which I used to be the Sailing School Director. I was also Commodore.
We're located in Los Angeles, which doesn't help you in Min.
I do not think that you can accomplish what you want to do, safely. A small boat (dinghy) is not the place for an elderly novice. Would likely be a terrifying experience.
Our club would very occasionally get a request like yours, to go out for a day, and I'm aware of this happening several times, gratis. There's always someone willing to help someone out.
But I'd go out in one of the 28-40 foot boats. Far more comfortable, particularly if the wind kicks up and there are significant waves.
Personally, I find lake sailing more challenging than the ocean, where I usually go, due to the wind shifts.
If you pay to do this with a charter captain, make sure that the captain is a US Coast Guard licensed Captain. It is otherwise illegal to accept money for such a charter situation.
You want to come out to LA, I'll take you guys out myself. Probably be cheaper.
|
|
mcolombo
Trad climber
Heidelberg, Germany
|
|
Not that it really has anything to do with the question but for me climbing and sailing are the only two things that I did once and was forever hooked.
An office mate of my dad took me on his Hobie 16 when I was 11 and I have sailed since then.
I friend who I met sailing the Finn Olympic Trials in 92 at Alamitos Bay took me up the North Buttres route on Tahquitz and I have climbed since then.
|
|
mcreel
climber
Barcelona
|
|
If your plan is to float around a lake on a sunny day with little wind, then you could probably do it yourself, but have a cell phone and the number of someone who can tow you back, if needed. If you want to go out on a larger body of water for long enough so that the weather might change, then you can't learn what you need to know in only a few weekends. I agree that a charter would be the way to go for that sort of thing.
|
|
guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
|
|
Rent "Captain Ron," cook up a batch of buttered popcorn and enjoy your adventure with Mom.
I go along with Fort, Captain Haan and Susan-plenty of available charter boats out there with reliable and fun captains. If you know the area you wish to go sailing perhaps some of us on ST can direct you to a reliable person. I can help with Fr Polynesia, Fiji and NZ. Sounds like a fun adventure to me.
|
|
Tvash
climber
Seattle
|
|
I sail. I kayak.
Rent a kayak.
Or rent a boat with a skipper.
|
|
the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
|
|
I'm with matisse, it depends on what "take her sailing" means.
I learned to "sail" using that term loosely to only mean the basics of how to go in the general direction of where you want to go, at a club med. The guy sending out the boats gave us 5 minutes of instructions in broken English and we took a small catamaran out in the ocean. I took us about 15 minutes to figure out how it worked. Then another 30 minutes or so of trying it out and getting back to shore against an offshore breeze. I often thought there must be plenty of people that don't get it and must be rescued with that type of limited instruction. Those first 15 minutes were like "wait, what did he say?, hmm this doesn't seem right, uh-oh we're getting farther from shore" until it started clicking. Still it was really fun and the lack of instruction and uncertainty added to the thrill!
I guess I'd agree that with an older woman, I'd take her sailing on a charter first and see how it goes. That may be what she wants.
|
|
Gnome Ofthe Diabase
climber
Out Of Bed
|
|
Some where there is a great story of a Y.valley/ Alaska climber from Pennsylvania who took up sailing and was then the subject of the farthest off shore rescue ever preformed at that time.
The climber in him gave him the crossed sight to not see the dangers, till they were full bore.
I'm always amazed that climbers who have soloed, and climbed rope less, get in to deep in other pursuits.
I have not read any of the opening posts.
Sailing is a dance with the elements & a living thing; the Sea.
If you respect the medium and Not bite off more than you can chew, to go off & sail can be amazingly satisfying.
Get 'er done and hit the Caribbean. . . I am so jello I'm all a wobble. . .ho wait, that's just remembering the sea-sickness...
|
|
Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
|
|
The big difference between sailing and climbing is sailing gives you a lot more second chances. There is no sailing equivalent to rapping off the end of your rope.
|
|
Alpinista55
Mountain climber
Portland, OR
|
|
I've transitioned from alpine climbing and expeditioning to blue-water sailing. There are many similarities between the two activities. Both are about travelling through a hostile environment using technology and learned skills to do so safely and with a bit of comfort, while occasionally scaring the sh#t out of yourself.
Sailing is much more expensive than climbing. My 37 foot sloop, the Betty Lou, is a 36 year old, well maintained boat. I paid $70k for her 7 years ago, and it takes about $10k per year to keep her in bristol condition. The slip to park her in added another $20k. To replace her with a brand new boat of the same size would cost well over $300k.
Sailing offshore also requires a few more skill sets than climbing. On Betty Lou, I am a diesel mechanic, electrician, plumber, electronics installer, rigger, navigator, radio operator, weatherman, shipwright, and finally, a sailor. I've completely rewired her, replaced the portholes and hatches, added a furnace, refurbished the brightwork, re-regged the standing rigging, and the work never ends. This spring she comes out of the water for bottom paint, new thru-hulls and a cutlass bearing.
Next year Betty Lou and I are off to BC and SE Alaska, to support some young climbers doing tidewater approaches to the Mt. Waddington group and Mt. Logan.
Best advice; do a captained charter in a nice setting (like the British Virgin Islands). $3k - 4k will get you a week on a really nice monohull sailing yacht that sleeps 6. The captain will do the thinking, and you and your mom can do the learning. Typically, on a trip like this in the BVI, you'll sail for 3 - 4 hours in the morning and by early afternoon you're anchored in a beautiful bay enjoying a Pina Colada and a swim.
Here is a good charter company to get you started: http://www.moorings.com
Later
Capt. Jay
Video featuring Betty Lou:
https://youtu.be/qtt117ANVwA
|
|
Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
|
|
Sailing in Alaska? Pffft! Piss easy!
Well, piss easy to keep the wine cold:
|
|
SC seagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, Moab, A sailboat, or some time zone
|
|
The big difference between sailing and climbing is sailing gives you a lot more second chances. There is no sailing equivalent to rapping off the end of your rope.
Really? I take you've only day sailed...no lengthy off shore passages?
Race starts can be sketchy (we're in the black boat s/v Mouton Noir)
Headed out the Gate where in a few short days there will be no rescue to speak of. Mechanic, medic, navigator, cook, and entertainer all on your own. When things go bump in the night...it's usually not good.
Susan
|
|
SalNichols
Big Wall climber
Richmond, CA
|
|
go onto sailing anarchy and ask if there is anyone in the great lakes that would take you and your mother out for a daysail on a NICE ( not f-in nuking) day. If you get to SF, I'd take you out, I live aboard my 37'er, and we've been to HI, MX and back.
Susan, Rich and Mary are good AND sane. Any other J105 might have nailed you just because they had right of way. ;-)
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!