Sailing in the land of 40 below! (Ketchikan, Bethel: credit, hoa, maintenance)

[Arcticthaw]

I hate to wast such a good title, but it is time to think of next summer.

Having severly caught the sailing bug and seeing no cure for it in the near future. I tried medicating the symptoms by purchasing a used racing dingy and sailing on the local lake with family and friends. Normally this is a nice calm adventure unless the wind kicks up and an errant canoe with a couple of really really large people in it with a small motor go by and one gets the idea they can catch said canoe as the wind is picking up. All I need to do is add more sail, which I happen to have, but did not fly it as the wind was picking up.... Into the wind I turn to raise the jib (bow sail) by the time manuver is executed the canoe is out of sight. Did I mention this is supposed to be a two handed boat? Now with lots of sail and more wind.. starting to see white caps! Turn to head for home but can't beat against the wind on one point of the compass and the waves on another. Boat is healing wayyyyyy over, climb my but to the high side and save her from tipping, as I let out the sheets (let the ropes loose holding the sail). Turn into the wind and dropp the jib, but the sheets pull loose from the cleats and the sail in now blowing away from the bow and getting really beat up. Tie the bungie cord to the tiller and go forward. Now I am standing on the bow turned mostly into the wind in 15 mph winds. holding onto the mast with one hand while grabbing the jib sail to lower it, a two handed operation. get the sail down. pulled off and stowed. Now feel a little more confident. get back to the tiller just as the wind shifts and puffs!!! Catches the main sail that stands almost 23 feet abve the water, with such leverege and force though I am sitting on the high side and can almost compensate for the weight of a normal crew! I am launched like 12 to 15 feet from the boat as she rolls on her side! SPLASH!!!! I surface amoungst the wind, waves with my perscription sunglasses still on my face, as I bobb there by my PFD watching the sailboat on her side leaving me! The wind and waves are pushing her away at a fast pace, so I steachout and swimg like there is no tomorrow becasue we all know I am the only fool out on the lake in this weather! As I make the boat, I release the lines, swim to the center board and right the boat. Swim to the stern and climb aboard. This is when I notice I lost my expensive sunglasses, and the main sail is taking a beating in the wind! Fortunatly the boat is self bailing, now all I have to do is figure out what the hell I am going to do next!
I choose to pull down the sail as the wind has increased any way and I know I can't beat it and the waves. Having the sail down I let the wind blow me to the far shore! I search for a dock the may have a cabin with the lights on, I choose my best bet and steer that general direction. Finially I pull along side the dock turn into the wind and tie up. Now feeling like a total wet rat whishing it could of jumped ship long ago I pull a bottle of water from the plastic bag tied to the mast for a refreshing drink! Now the wet rat climbs out of the boat and starts down the very long dock! Fortunatly I chose the right dock and a light is on in the associated cabin. A nice lady comes out and offers me a towel. Her husband comes around the corner as we all meet and I am invited to dinner! Cool I am thinking, after all half drowned rats need food too We enjoy a nice steak dinner! Like how much better can this get? The husband give me a ride back to the other side of the lake after dinner. I warm up by the fire a little more... Hot toddy required with some sailer fluid (rum). Waiting watching and wishing I could have another ration of rum, but there is work to be done! The wind drops a bit and the white caps recede for another day. Out to the dock I go, lower the lift and fire up the Power boat! To hell with the price of fuel, peace and tranquitlity! I want horsepower!!! I blast back across the lake in minutes that took hours in the sail boat. Pull up thow the anchor as she turns into the slight wind. attach a line to the sailboat with help from the husband, he comments as the sailboat slips through the water with a gentle push how fast she really is, I agree as we wade to deeper water where the power boat awaits. I thank my gracious hosts again and tow the sail boat home till another warm sunny day.

Well I still have the sailing bug, the racing dingy has seen lots of use this summer and afer reading some books on the general subject, I discovered I may have accomplished the dreaded DEATH ROLL manuver! Fortunatly I was on a lake with small wind and little waves. Only my pride and confidence were hurt, though we did mourn the loss of those perscription sunglasses!

Now to my questions......
You really didn't think you were going to enjoy such a story without a cost did you?

#1 have you sailed in Alaskan waters, lake or ocean, inside passege etc, and where you crew or captain?
#2 I understand there is a sailing school in Seward, have your attended class there, or know of anyone who has? I am looking for reputation and input on them. I know their web page but was wanting first hand knowledge.
#3 have you ever been on a bareboat charter? How was your experience?


Thanks for your input and replys!

[warptman]

Blows whistle, way too long. I fell asleep half way through. I want a sail boat. I have two radio controlled yachts and theres nothing like it at the harbor playing with the wind. #1 most stupidest question asked, "wheres the engine?" Excuse me? What part of "sail boat" do you not understand?

[Dusty Rhodes]

Oh yes, kinda fond of sailing myself, something about it, if you are away from land, there is no sound except for the wind and waves, propulsion without the noise pollution, heeled over running fast, tis a wonderful sensation, addictive. Almost all of my sailing has been in salt water, Atlantic stuff.

[Rance]

Mybrother has a 25 footer. It's not bad. He goes out of Seward or Whittier alot. He swears by it.

[warptman]

One of my friends has a 25 footer too in Whittier. He promised me a ride in one of these days. I'm debating on a new r/c boat for next summer already. I've build my first two from a kit. Thinking about getting a 1 Meter race class yacht. I talked three others here in Bethel to buy their own. We have fun racing around in the harbor here.

[Arcticthaw]

Originally Posted by warptman

One of my friends has a 25 footer too in Whittier. He promised me a ride in one of these days. I'm debating on a new r/c boat for next summer already. I've build my first two from a kit. Thinking about getting a 1 Meter race class yacht. I talked three others here in Bethel to buy their own. We have fun racing around in the harbor here.

Now that sounds like lots of fun. We have a hill behind the cabin so not much wind close to shore for a RC sailboat. Jetskis are farther out though I have seen a couple of r/c powerboats.

[barnacle9]

I have sailed a fair bit of the Inside Passage on boats ranging from 24' to 42'. I have not sailed Prince William Sound, but I do know people who do.

My primary suggestion for such areas is to have reliable auxiliary power and good charts/gps, knowing how to use them.

Many people get into trouble in such areas by underestimating the effects of current, overestimating their skill at sailing, and not paying close enough attention to locations of shoals/reefs, etc. In areas like Prince William Sound, shallow water does not always break as it tends to in open ocean.

But, from my experience, sailing in such areas can be a lot of fun.

[rotorhead]

Yes, I know that lots of folks would disagree with me but by and large Alaska isn't really sailing dinghy territory, it's some VERY cold water and the territory is very unforgiving of mistakes. My house looks out over Portage Cove here in Haines and I've seen some days that would be a blast with a good drysuit and a Laser, but...the smallest sailboats I've seen in town are all in the thirty-foot range. My next door neighbors lived on their 36 footer for a couple of years out and around Ketchikan and Petersburg, but they've set down roots for a while here in town.

The thing that would get you around here is how quickly the weather can change from fairly benign to Small Craft Advisory, and the general lack lack of any kind of reasonable beaches (fjords, just steep mountains right down to the water). The few beaches that are usable for the day sailer are also frequented by brown bears, which can be very picturesque but not particularly reassuring in a little bitty boat with no motor.

That said, I'm betting that sailboats are going to get more and more popular as the price of fuel keeps going up and up. The advantage of using wind power goes without saying, but even without the canvas up sailboats still usually are far more economical than the typical powerboat.

[Arcticthaw]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I was hoping for more information on the school in Seward, but I suspect most of us tend towards power boasts for the obvious reasons.
I really doubt I would ever wish to sail my dingy in the ocean and inside passage, though it does have a Homer sticker on it and once was CG registered. The boat is good in light winds and lots of fun on the lake.

Rotorhead, you had me laughing nervously as I pictured being pushed towards a beach seeking sanctuarty for the wind as a bear stands up looking my way and thinks to itself "Oh Look! Delivery!"

Costs of maintenance on boats from lowest to highest.

Sailboat; till I buy sails for $1000.

I/O Lake boat, mainly fuel, oil, and some gear lube. 1 composite prop every other year on average.

Outboard 24' flatbottom riverboat. Well just get out the Credit card and warm it up a bit! Loves the fuel and oil mix! Try not to hit any rocks or stumps while running in 3 to 4" of water.

Typical cost to run riverboat pre $3 a gallon for fuel.
$100. Back up and hitch just touches trailer, you haven't even hooked up the lights.
$100 Pull up to fuel pumps, fuel and oil for the weekend if lucky.
$100 drive to boat landing. Surely something will give up on the trailer eventhough you fixed it all last time you were out.
$400. Boat touches the water as you launch it. Wear and tear on pump unit, impeller, foot.

PRICELESS Weekend on the water just enjoying ALASKA!