I was chatting with someone on Google+ about sailing and it reminded me to go look the old Yahoo group I had set up: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bostonsailing
There isn’t too much there worth saving, but I did find the FAQ I had written humorous:
Can you give me directions to Community Boating?
There are excellent directions at http://community-boating.org/directions.html http://community-boating.org/directions.html
How long would we sail?
It’s really up to you, but I’m usually on the water for about an hour. Keep in mind that before going out, we’ll often have to rig the boat and bail it out. Also, boats have to be back in the dock by sunset, and we’ll have to unrig at the end. Check out my “Skipper’s Log” for more.
How many people can you bring out at a time?
One at a time, unless I’ve sailed with you before or it’s a very non-windy day. Technically, the Cape Cod Mercury can hold four adults, but that’s with a lot of elbow rubbing and the occasional sinking feeling. Three is sometimes nice because two people can balance each other out on opposite sides of the boat while the skipper steers. It means less jumping over the centerboard housing thingy.
How much experience to you have? Do you know what the hell you’re doing?
This is my third year sailing, but I still consider myself a beginner. I did capsize once but no one has ever been hurt sailing with me.
How often do you sail?
I dunno. Once a week? Do the math against the “Skipper’s Log”
What else does this group do besides sail?
Not much! The focus really is on sailing. It was suggested once that we get together to watch a sailing movie like Master and Commander (2003), White Squall (1996), or Dead Calm (1989), but it hasn’t happened yet.
What kind of boats do you sail?
I’m only rated to sail Cape Cod Mercuries. We could also take a two-person kayak out, I guess. With any luck, we could find someone at the boathouse rated to take us out on a Rhodes 19.
What should I wear sailing? What should I bring?
You should wear clothes you don’t care about! Preferably non-cotton clothes when it’s cold, in case you get wet. Shoes are required. No flip flops. If you bring stuff with you that you don’t want to get wet, you should should put it into one of the free, small “day use” lockers. I usually bring a combination lock, but you might want to bring your own.
When can I sail with you?
I’m posting dates and times I’m probably available to sail on the Waiting Lists page (under Links).
Where can I learn some fun nautical terms?
Check out Peter D. Green’s Nautical Words and Terminology Page: http://web.archive.org/web/20081009161641/http://home.cfl.rr.com/capscabin/Documents/nauterm.htm
Why did you set up this Yahoo Group?
Mostly so I don’t have to spam people. I’ll just keep my availabilty up to date on the Waiting Lists page and let people email me if those dates and times work. If people are into it, we could also use this Yahoo Group to send messages, do polls and whatnot. Maybe we could make a little database where people could indicate when they can sail generally. Whatever.
Will I get wet?
YES!
Apparently, I also kept a “Skipper’s Log”. I guess I’ll save that too:
2005-04-10 (Sunday)
Green flag, sailed solo. Air Temp 68 F, Wind WSW @ 6.7 kt (Gust N @ 13.0 kt) Absolutely gorgeous and sunny day. Biked to the boathouse, only had to raise the main. Set sail at ~3:45pm. Generally very calm and still, but occasional gusts forced me to head up and ease the mainsheet. Didn’t need the windbreaker, but was glad to have the non-cotton shirt in case I got wet (I didn’t). Docked at Longfellow ~5pm, only had to drop main. Note to self: learn to tie that damn “night” knot.
2005-04-21 (Thursday)
Green flag, sailed with Jill. Sunny and ~55 F? Biked to the boathouse after work, got Jill checked in (next time we’ll actually pick a rendezvous spot!), rigged only the mainsail, and pushed off around 6pm. Even calmer than the last time, which was actually nice for the first non-solo trip. Jill did great at the tiller; next time we’ll have her jibe as well as tack. Wore a non-cotton shirt and was fine without gloves, but it got cool as the sun went down below a building around 7:15pm, just as we brought the boat in to the high performance end. Walked to Woody’s where Jill bought me a beer and fries. Thanks, Jill!
2005-04-30 (Saturday)
Sailed with Parina. Bob, Monica, and Brian from the Boston Sailing Center took Parina and I out for a cruise around the harbor in a 30 footer (I believe it was a J-30), twice the length of a Cape Cod Mercury. Rain and temperatures in the low 50’s just meant our free trip got extended from 30 minutes to an hour, and light wind allowed both of us to take long turns at the tiller! I tacked near the World Trade Center and Parina jibed near the Charlestown Navy Yard. After returning to Lewis Wharf around 2:30, we stopped by the Earth Day festival on the esplanade where we hit up nearly every booth offering free food. ;) The lime rickey’s weren’t free but well worth it! Thank you, Parina, my foul weather friend, for coming along!
2005-05-05 (Thursday)
Green flag, sailed with Jill. Air Temp 55 F, Wind E @ 4.2 kt (Gust NE @ 7.9 kt) Jill and I broke out the jib! (Ok, the Mercury we grabbed already had one. Ah… no rigging.) Scoffing at our predecessors, I “tidied” the halyards, putting them in the way of the jib sheets, just so Jill wouldn’t get bored. It was definitely windier than the last time we sailed, which let us pick up a little speed when we weren’t doing crazy jibes. I got yelled at for not abiding by the right of way rules, (starboard over port, is it?), and I should have worn more than a cotton t-shirt, but all in all it was a very pleasant sail. Yup. Thanks, Jill!
2005-05-10 (Tuesday)
Green flag, sailed with Tomoko. Air Temp 59 F, Wind E @ 5.3 kt (Gust E @ 7.8 kt) Beautiful, sunny day. Grabbed a Mercury around 5:45 and only had to raise the main. Had a slow start, but the wind picked up and Tomoko did a great job tacking. Saw a dragon boat up close. As the sun descended, we were glad to have warm clothes on. I wore a long-sleeved non cotton shirt. Didn’t have to unrig. Walking to the T we saw a dog carrying a stick that was bigger than he was. Thanks, Tomoko!
2005-05-30 (Monday)
Green flag, sailed with Teresa. Air Temp 72 F, Wind W @ 2.2 kt (Gust W @ 6.4 kt) It took a while to pull a boat out of the slip and rig both the main and the jib, but we had a lot of fun once pushed off around noon. Morning sun gave way to clouds, but a long sleeve cotton shirt was plenty warm. Winds were mostly light with occasional puffs, which Teresa negotatied well with the jib. Sailed about an hour. Saw three baby ducks on the way home.
2005-07-22 (Friday)
Green flag, sailed with Andrea. Air Temp 87 F, Wind W @ 3.2 kt (Gust W @ 7.6 kt) After a long drought of no sailing :( Andrea and I hit the water. :) I don’t remember the details, except that Andrea sailed better and faster than I did. Thanks, Andrea!
2005-08-07 (Sunday)
Red flag, sailed with Teresa and Kate. First red flag of the season! After lazing around at the Hatch Shell listening to my friend Mandy’s concert, Teresa, Kate, and I noticed the wind was picking up. No sooner had we grabbed our life preservers than they lowered the green flag and hoisted the red. Getting out of the dock was a little hairy, but once we were underway we really moved! The balance was good with three people, and we did plenty of tacks and jibes in our hour on the river.
2005-08-22 (Monday)
Red flag, sailed with Sophy. Air Temp 81 F, Wind WNW @ 8.5 kt (Gust NW @ 12.7 kt) Gusty winds made for an exciting sail. We opted against a jib and sped along fine with just a mainsail. A more experienced sailor than I called in “garbage wind” and I have to admit that this is the first time in years that a sudden shift in wind direction made the boom conk me across the head. But still, it was fun, and Sophy bought me a beer afterwards!
2005-09-06 (Tuesday)
Green flag, sailed with Molly. Air Temp 71 F, Wind E @ 3.7 kt (Gust ESE @ 7.0 kt)
2005-09-10 (Saturday)
Green flag, sailed with Mitsue. Air Temp 68 F, Wind WSW @ 5.0 kt (Gust NNW @ 11.4 kt)