Friday just past was staying at daughters minding the dogs for a looong weekend while they took their boat up to Mooloolaba so I organised a days sail with youngest daughter and her 21 YO son.
OMG I'm old
Daughter used to sail a lot but gs (grandson) first time .
Anyway, gs turned up , I think he thought he was going out on auntys Riv. the way he was dressed but as I was warned by misses not to boss him around ........
Why do they wear hats backwards??
What perfect day. I decided to sail up to Jumpinpin and back from Jacobs Well even though the tide would be against us heading up.
Did all the safety stuff with gs and put him on tiller for an hour .
Whilst breeze was below 10 I had gs on the jib sheet with the sole job of keeping the telltails flying while daughter steered and managed main I had a coffee. Daughter decided to take photos . On photo below gs grabbed Windward sheet and I kind of politely told him to leave it we will tack later. He wanted to look busy ,if he only knew.

Wind picked up to around 15 increasing to 18 boat heeled almost to gunnels and we were off . gs cracked big smile and asked what he should do ,I said just keep the telltails flying and I'll handle the mainsheet and tiller. My goodness he worked hard and did a good job in gusts holding on with only one wrap .That is until I chucked in a couple of tacks for fun . He got a little confused but we only went into irons once.
Daughter decided to sit in hatchway and enjoy the ride.
gs asked how fast were we going and I told him SOG from gps says 3/4 knots . What! He said we're going at least 20 Kim's per hour so I explained we were going against a strong tide and on a small sailboat speed is magnified.
Anyway when we turned around with the tide the GPS was showing
7/8 knots and we really were flying for a Sonata 6.
Now he wants me to sail weekends so he can come out regularly.
Im pretty sure he's converted .
I'll have to get him to join Southport as he lives on GC.
Great Day.

Donk107 said..
Hi Bananabender

Great story and it sounds like he is hooked

Regards Don m

I think so Don . He gotta buzz out of only using wind for propulsion.

Donk107 said..

Bananabender said..

Donk107 said..
Hi Bananabender

Great story and it sounds like he is hooked

Regards Don m

I think so Don . He gotta buzz out of only using wind for propulsion.

I am constantly amazed how slow on the gauge can seem so fast on the water

Regards Don

So am I .
Oh how obsessed we get to squeeze out an extra half knot even when not racing . Actually I find sailing against the tide on the Broardwater in a breeze close hauled good fun for an oldie. Working like hell , feel like I'm going like the clappers heeled over but only doing a few knots ,sometimes going backwards . The JetSki boys and girls ,and all the others, must think I'm nuts.

Donk107 said..
A few years ago when I had my Spacesailor 20 Trevor a mate at work who has a decent size power boat asked me how fast the sail boat went
I told him 5 knots and he laughed and said he trolled faster then that
We went out for a sail and he was on the tiller and we were beating up the river when it started to blow a bit
I was on the sheets so I didn't ease them and the boat started to put the rail in the water
He had a worried look on his face and asked if we were ok and I said Trev we are only doing 5 knots and you troll faster than that and he said that if his boat was doing this it would be sinking
Regards Don

Love it

Great post.

Re Why do they wear hats backwards??

Some things in life will always remain a mystery.

Gary

garymalmgren said..
Great post.

Re Why do they wear hats backwards??

Some things in life will always remain a mystery.

Gary

How right you are Gary.

Thanks for sharing
great story,3 generations sailing together
You have every reason to be contented!

Thanks Scaramouche.
Hey Shaggy your a good fella.
I believe it's the tranquillity of silence while being powered along by Mother Nature that has an effect on first timers ,including my gs and some of those you help. That was one experience that the gs loved , motorless and flying along. I told him I was doing my bit for global warming

Great thread
I was incredibly lucky to learn to sail and race at the pointy end of the fleet when I was young.
When my daughter was at primary school years 5 and 6 the school did "Waterwise " in Auckland and I had clicked into long term service leave so for most Fridays in terms 1 & 4 I helped kids as a payback.
It's like " pissing in your wetsuit " - you get a warm feeling but nobody notices.
I recently saw my nephew and realized that I need to take a 20 year old sailing on my mates cat