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23-06-2023, 09:33
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#16
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Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 6,554
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Re: Chasing the dream from Vancouver, BC
Sancho:
I support everything Deso sez. False Creek is something of an aberration that has required tight control because visitors were getting to the point of very nearly literally fighting for space, and, as I mentioned, not all boats anchored in False Creek had what in the German phrase is called "pure flour in the bag".
As for learning to sail: There is nothing to it. I could teach you the basic boat handling in a single long day on the water. In any commonly available boat you might care to put me in. However, that wouldn't really make you fit to skipper a boat. To learn that takes a lifetime if you do it on your own bottoms. Or four years at a Marine Academy. That is because boat handling is the least of it. The rest is all book learning and experience.
Sailing, meaning cruising, is a horrendously expensive hobby. The fivegrandaweek charged by Cooper's for a modern cruising boat is only just enuff to ensure business survival. As you have said that that five grand would be a significant part of your boat buying budget, hear this:
On the day you pay for a boat you buy you should open a dedicated bank account and place in it a sum equivalent to the purchase price of the boat. Thenceforth, every month, you should place a thousand bux in that account if the boat you bought is a thirty-footer. If it's a forty-footer, make that monthly deposit TWO grand! How do I know? I know because my present boat, as my screen name sez, is a thirty-footer. Over a long enough period of ownership to make statistical observations valid, you will find all that money will have been spent just to OWN the boat! It's ironic that in accountant's parlance such an account is called a "sinking fund" :-)!
As a Vancouverite you need to acknowledge that you cannot proceed under sail anywhere between the Lions Gate Bridge and the railway bridge at Second Narrows, i.e. east of the Iron Worker's Memorial Bridge, which renders a number of well-known marinas quite undesirable. You should also know that slip rents anywhere in the metropolitan area is twice what it is in marinas in the Gulf Islands.
As Deso said, the Fraser River is a lost cause. Shelter Island - until recently a "graveyard of boats", now working on becoming a snooty as any of the others - is eight miles up-river from Sand Heads at the estuary. In spate, i.e. in the sailing season, the river runs six knots or better. That is maximum speed for a thirty footer, so you can get DOWN river, alright, but you cannot get back up!
So in short, if you would be a sailing man based in Vancouver, you have a whole lot of homework to do that does have a lot to do with sailing [I]per[I] se, but rather with life management! It CAN be done, as tens of thousands of Vancouver sailors are proving every day. But you gotta pay the price :-)!
Don't let all that discourage you. But you have to be realistic, methodical and systematic about your transition from a lubber to a sailorman :-)
And remember that every step of the way, CF will be with you to answer any question you may have.
Cheers :-)!
TrentePieds
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23-06-2023, 17:26
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#17
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: SE Asia, for now
Boat: Outremer 55L
Posts: 4,173
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Re: Chasing the dream from Vancouver, BC
Quote:
Originally Posted by SanchoPanda
Thanks for the rental suggestions, so far I see that there are a few options although I can't say that I would enjoy being thrown in the ocean on a small dinghy while learning. I will likely start on larger more stable boats and once I am more confident I know what I'm doing I will try the small ones too. I can say that I understand the physics of sailing very well being a very technical oriented guy. Also, I think I would turn the experience into a frustrating one, being thrown overboard and not understanding very well why that happens.
…
I am not sure that this is the case for all around the Vancouver area. Don't forget that False Creek is smack down in the middle of downtown. But Vancouver has a lot of coastline with good public transit. I think because of how busy that gets, they had to put in these rules. It seems that it's like any other downtown parking: expensive, limited and hard to get.
Perhaps the people with more experience can pitch in but I know there are a lot of marinas on Fraser River from where you have direct public transport to downtown. Also Steveston is a very nice area.
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Regarding sailing dinghies, I was being tongue in cheek: you will not necessarily go swimming involuntarily while learning!!! If you take formal lessons there is almost no chance of capsizing. Once you’re taking out a dinghy on your own there is some chance, but low. I stand by sailing a dinghy is the best way to learn how to sail and about sailing physics - it’s not just book learning!
Regarding the anchoring, landing and wharf rules, they apply to Vancouver City, not just False Creek. So Richmond or West Vancouver or North Vancouver may have different rules, but in Vancouver you can’t pull your dinghy up onto Jericho Beach or anywhere else and leave it for the day locked to a post. Unfortunately.
Have you considered Roberts Point Marina? It’s more convenient if you live in the southern part of the Lower Mainland, and of course you need to cross the border. It is less expensive than in the city and has easy access to open water and the Southern Gulf Islands (and San Juans).
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23-06-2023, 18:10
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#18
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: On Vessel WINGS, wherever there's an ocean, currently in Mexico
Boat: Serendipity 43
Posts: 5,549
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Re: Chasing the dream from Vancouver, BC
Sanco, I just skimmed through the thread, so I missed it, please excuse me.
If you want to learn to sail, really learn, and learn well, you can do it for free in Vancouver. FREE.
That's because Vancouver is a racing hotbed. And racers need crew. Almost always they need crew.
So all you have to do is get on a race boat and be crew. They will tell you what to do, usually nicely but sometimes impatiently (if so, get on a different boat next time).
They will race every week, regardless of the weather, and in a season you will have tons of experience and knowledge. You might even be hooked.
But even if you don't like it and never want to be a racer, you will still learn.
How do you do it? You call the yacht clubs and find out when they race, then go there about an hour before they start and ask everyone you see getting out of a car and heading to the docks if they need crew. You will get a ride! Then you be quiet and follow orders and you'll probably be asked back next time. If not, at least you'll be able to say you have experience.
In a short time you will become a valuable crew and you'll have a permanent ride.
All you will need in Vancouver, is some weather gear">foul weather gear, or at least a good rain jacket if it is a short race.
Good luck
__________________
These lines upon my face tell you the story of who I am but these stories don't mean anything
when you've got no one to tell them to Fred Roswold Wings https://wingssail.blogspot.com/
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23-06-2023, 19:09
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#19
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Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 6,554
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Re: Chasing the dream from Vancouver, BC
Wingsail has it right. Don't be bashful :-)!
As for dinghies, when I taught on Enterprise dinghies all those many years ago, I'd take the stoodes into the shallows on Spanish Banks and capsize them - just to give 'em the feel of it :-) But more to the point, so I could teach 'em how to right the dinghy again and get underway again.
In those days before the city grew so extensive, the downtown area set up a micro-climate where the wind got sucked in off the bay in the early afternoon. 20 knots of on-shore wind was the norm on a summer afternoon, and by two-ish there'd be quite a chop in the bay. If my students began to turn green, I'd take 'em into Caulfield Cove, just a little east of Point Atkinson on the West Van shore, to let them recover. Thus for some years, Caulfield Cove was, among the cognoscenti, known as "Pukey Cove"
Racing is where the thrills are. Cruising on the other hand - not so much. Being "on passage" when you have forty miles to go at four knots can be excrucially boring. This afternoon the wind in mid-strait was about 3 knots. Where is THAT gonna get you, either in terms of distance made good, or in terms of thrills or in terms of learning? To paraphrase a comment made in a much more serious context: "Cruising consists of long periods of utter boredom interspersed with short periods of stark terror".
So Sancho- 'ave a look at Jericho Sailing Centre and don't be afraid of the dinghies. There are cruising folk there too, and all you have to do is what Wingsail sez: Tell somebody on the cruising side that your big dream in life is to become a deck-gorilla. Somebody is gonna take you up on it :-)
TrentePieds
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26-06-2023, 08:13
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#20
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 200
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Re: Chasing the dream from Vancouver, BC
Hi Stefan!
Welcome Aboard!
Thought this route my interest you.
visail.ca
Vancouver Isle Sailing co/op.
I always thought they were a great deal and entry level way in to sailing.
I know they use to have boats in Whiterock as I was interested at one time, I live in Bellingham, though it could of been a different co/op.
You might have to search around till the logistics work for your location.
A sail could work out later in the summer once my plans gel for the summer.
Happysails!
Dave R.
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26-06-2023, 12:02
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#21
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 177
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Re: Chasing the dream from Vancouver, BC
Quote:
Originally Posted by SanchoPanda
...Unfortunately, I don't have any friends that own sailboats or know how to sail, so I would like to know, and please forgive me if this out of line, if it's possible to meet in person and go short fun sailings around the Vancouver coast. If you're sailing on your own and would like some company, I'm an easygoing 43 yo guy, who would jump at any opportunity to learn more about sailing and enjoy the company of experienced sailors. I can bring beer, although I know drinking and boating do not mix, but, hey, we can crack one open when we're back.
...
Thanks everyone!
Stefan
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Hi Stefan, there are a number of places in Vancouver where you might hook up with people. You can look into any of the following:
Lower Mainland Yacht Cooperative. http://lmyc.ca
I sail out of Point Roberts. Our last race is this coming Tuesday if you want to come down and sail with us.
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26-06-2023, 22:06
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#22
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2023
Posts: 7
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Re: Chasing the dream from Vancouver, BC
Quote:
Originally Posted by Goodxcharly
Hi Stefan!
Welcome Aboard!
Thought this route my interest you.
visail.ca
Vancouver Isle Sailing co/op.
I always thought they were a great deal and entry level way in to sailing.
I know they use to have boats in Whiterock as I was interested at one time, I live in Bellingham, though it could of been a different co/op.
You might have to search around till the logistics work for your location.
A sail could work out later in the summer once my plans gel for the summer.
Happysails!
Dave R.
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Wow, this looks amazing. It's exactly what I am looking for. I will get in contact with them and see if they have anything around Vancouver. White Rock would work even better for me. Thanks for the tip.
I am willing to travel south of the border for this if necessary, so if you know of anything similar in Blaine or Bellingham I would be happy to hear about it. From where I live, Bellingham is closer than downtown Vancouver
Thanks Dave!
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26-06-2023, 22:09
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#23
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2023
Posts: 7
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Re: Chasing the dream from Vancouver, BC
Quote:
Originally Posted by CyKlop
Hi Stefan, there are a number of places in Vancouver where you might hook up with people. You can look into any of the following:
Lower Mainland Yacht Cooperative. http://lmyc.ca
I sail out of Point Roberts. Our last race is this coming Tuesday if you want to come down and sail with us.
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Thank you very much for the offer. I will PM you.
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26-06-2023, 22:23
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#24
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2023
Posts: 7
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Re: Chasing the dream from Vancouver, BC
I just wanted to say that even if I may not reply individually to posts, I do appreciate the help and guidance. I will look into each one of the suggestions and follow up.
Thanks!
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27-06-2023, 07:27
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#25
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Puerto Escondido/Loreto, Mexico
Boat: Ocean Alexander tri cabin 52'
Posts: 307
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Re: Chasing the dream from Vancouver, BC
Lots of crew wanted ads out there. Recommend you consider a winter sailing get away on the Sea of Cortez, MX
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27-06-2023, 12:20
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#26
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2023
Posts: 7
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Re: Chasing the dream from Vancouver, BC
Quote:
Originally Posted by MVDarlin
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That would be a big step. At this moment I am not sure if I get sea sick or not. I never got sick while on the water or planes, but again, I've never been in rough seas for long. That's something I need to check before committing to a longer sailing.
How fast acting are the patches? Can you slap one on if you feel you start to get sick or do you have to apply those well before sailing?
Either way, that's not going to be a problem for me. I will live with a patch on 24/7 if necessary
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