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BoatingCruising · 10-04-2011, 10:20

My wife and I have been boating for around 15 years. We started with a 29ft Sea Ray for 5 years than went to a 40ft aft cabin motor yacht. We are not fair-weather boaters and cruse the East coast, Chesapeake Bay, Hudson River, Erie Canal and Lake Ontario.

I do some travel writing for Long Island Boating World and several other publications. I also host a podcast “Waterfront Destinations”.

In 2004 I did a TV program “At The Helm” that followed my cruise from Baltimore to the Thousand Islands, NY. The focus was on the history of the places we stopped along the way.

Over the years I have come to realize that the type of cruising I like to do that a sailboat would probably be a better choice for a lot of reasons.
So I have this idea to learn to sail in as short a period of time as possible and than sail all 3 inside lines and angle of the Bermudian Triangle after the hurricane season this year. My Twitter name is BoatAdventures

I think this forum will be very helpful.

swagman · 10-04-2011, 10:53

Welcome and good fortune with the new direction.

We're just going the opposite way from sail to power and trust you enjoy the transition as much as we are.

JOHN

BoatingCruising · 10-04-2011, 11:43

Tks John,
One of the reasons I am going to a sailboat is our motor yacht is not that good in heavy seas and the cost of fuel; we burned 25 gal per hr. I think moving to a trawler is a good choice if you plan on coastal cruising.
have fun this summer

Capt Phil · 10-04-2011, 12:53

You should have an easy time making the transition, Boating Cruising... you already probably have a good grasp of the maritime rules of the road, boat handling skills under power, docking, piloting and the other abilities of experienced mariners. Picking up the skills unique to sailing should not take long, particularly if you have good instruction. Adjusting to sailing on your ear is easier than pitching around under power and you will find the sea keeping characteristics of sailboats far superior to power boats IMHO. I've had both, lived aboard both, cruised both and the only reason I gave up sail for power was age and health was making it difficult for my wife and I to handle our Transpac 49 in a blow with just the two of us. Cheers, Capt Phil

Pelagic · 10-04-2011, 14:31

Welcome to CF and I hope we can be a useful sounding board in your transition to sail.

I am sure you are aware of the tradeoffs in bulk space when switching to sail, although many multi hulls have the room, you can pay the penalty of weight sensitivity if overloaded and planning offshore trips to windward.

If you were considering a monohull and wanted to maximize the aesthetics of a writing space, then finding an efficient pilot house motor sailor with good offshore characteristics like my own StarGazer makes for a very liveable floating office with space for a reference library.

In offshore head seas our trip averages are about 7.3 knots using very little fuel with a comfortable motion.

It is great that you are cruising with the purpose of getting to know the destinations.

I truly believe using historical records and study greatly enhances your cruising destination as we have done cruising the Pacific using the “Now and Then” impact of the World War II Pacific Campaign as a guide.

Good luck in your search.