Do You Get Red Mist ?

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by Nostrodamus

I will say from the outset that I am a cruiser through and through.

I believe the easiest way to get from one point to another is the best way especially if it means I can sit back and do very little.

But then....

Behind or in front of me is a boat going the same way. The red mist decends and I have to overtake or stay ahead of it. Everything is tweeked, played with to get every bit of boat speed.

When we pass I have to adopt the cup of tea in hand, relaxed, couldn't care less attitude.

Is it just me or are others like this as well?

If I am in front we are racing. If we get rolled we are cruising.
If I am behind we are cruising. If we pass we are racing.

Simple...

[Astrid]

The best I saw was on another post when a boat sailed by some Royal Navy crew managed to get a table, chairs and dinner set up on deck. They were all sat around it and toasted the other boat when passing...
Now that is style unless you can beat it?

That is style alright. Hope you at least tipped your hat.

[MikeTurner]

As one of my sailing buddies says, we intentionally choose one of the slowest forms of transportation on the planet, and then when we get two of us together, we say, 'Let's race!'

[IslandHopper]

Originally Posted by zeehag

jeeez ... with my formosa if i pass a boat, it is going the other way.......

Love it...!!

[S/V Alchemy]

If I had the red mist I would have to check with my doctor. Too much salt, maybe.

However, I have a stripped out 33 foot '70s cruiser I like to "lay down" with perhaps a touch too much canvas up. And I have been known when on a parallel course with a 35, 36 or even a 38 footer to harden up and have an informal race. Mostly it's because I like maximum performance from my boat which is a) past its prime, b) not maintained with the baby's butt bottom favoured by racers and c) has recut composite sails I've salvaged from real race boats, because I'm more cheap than A-type.

Nonetheless, I feel I'm doing the sailing community a favour when my little, low hot rod goes against an upper 30s Bendytoy or Catasleepa and smokes their little stern-mounted barbeque. It's fun to be a fast cruiser.

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by MikeTurner

As one of my sailing buddies says, we intentionally choose one of the slowest forms of transportation on the planet, and then when we get two of us together, we say, 'Let's race!'

It's like field day at the seniors' residence.

[OLDSON]

My gramps Phil used to say any time two boats are in the water "it's a race". My grampa only referred to sailboats as boats. Cause if isn't a sailboat then your just a schmuck with an engine.

[Blue Stocking]

sailboat racing is a speed sport----compared to dressage.

[PieRatPeat]

Originally Posted by zeehag
jeeez ... with my formosa if i pass a boat, it is going the other way.......


Wow, talk about flashbacks. When I was a kid we lived on Pittwater (the bay north of Sydney, NSW). We had an old Jubilee class 18 footer with a one cylinder petrol engine and what seemed like a couple of tons of ingots in the bilge. She was made from water-soaked New Zealand hardwood and was what we thought was the slowest tub on the bay.
Until that one morning... We were rounding Scotland Island and spotted an old trailer sailer we recognized from the next bay over. We'd always speculated, nay dreamed, of the day - could this be it? With a nod the challenge was given and accepted. Tacking, watching for cross traffic (the Church Point ferry was a continuous threat), we worked our way around the island with a grim determination matched only by the firm set of the other guy's jaw.
It was a near run thing, but as we recrossed the start line of the Scotland Island landing dock, we could proudly proclaim, we were the second slowest boat on the bay!
But to be clear, I'm more of a cruiser than a racer... ;-)

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by zeehag

jeeez ... with my formosa if i pass a boat, it is going the other way.......

Best yet!!!

[sarafina]

oh man. I am so sorry I don't have a mod tool that allows me to put a warning note up when this thread gets opened, to warn the innocent reader.

It would look like this;

Warning; Before entering this thread you are advised to put down your mug and finish swallowing you hot morning beverage of choice. Enter at your own risk.

Cause MAN I hate cleaning hot cocoa offa my screen....
; -)

And while I can see red mist when I want to... Himself can't NOT see it... He would race his shopping cart at the market if I let him!

PS. cool topical article in Latitudes, page 124
http://issuu.com/latitude38/docs/l38201110

[CharlieCobra]

Hey Sara, I resemble that remark...

[Katiusha]

Originally Posted by Nostrodamus

I will say from the outset that I am a cruiser through and through.

I believe the easiest way to get from one point to another is the best way especially if it means I can sit back and do very little.

But then....

Behind or in front of me is a boat going the same way. The red mist decends and I have to overtake or stay ahead of it. Everything is tweeked, played with to get every bit of boat speed.

When we pass I have to adopt the cup of tea in hand, relaxed, couldn't care less attitude.

Is it just me or are others like this as well?

Unless I'm in the galley, that's the approach we take as well. The best trim is checked, autopilot goes on stand-by, fishing is stopped, and we steer, trim, and watch. If we're reaching, gennaker [and pole if needed] come out, if we're near land, topographical maps of the area are scanned to make sure we use land effects to our best advantage. The race is on!

When [and if] we overtake, I'm usually happily waving, and the other half is thoughtfully staring through binoculars forward When we're overtaken, we always wave

We even managed to overtake a Super Maramu once when we were taking the outgoing tide out of Delaware Bay. But that was because we stayed within the main tidal channel and Super Maramu was following the shipping channel... they did overtake us after the tidal channel got wide enough to cancel major tide effects.

But we are cruisers through and through. Haven't been to a single race and not really planning on it.

[sarafina]

Originally Posted by CharlieCobra

Hey Sara, I resemble that remark...

LOL... now WHY am I not surprised by that Charlie??

[lorenzo123]

Or perhaps instead we could look at our fellow boaters sharing the water as possible raftup mates who might have some really good beer.