Bepi
E27 Roxanne
In August of 2020 I became the owner of Roxanne, an E27. My prior sailing experience consisted of sailing sabots around Alamitos Bay in Long Beach, California and a few day sails on a large catamaran. On the sabot I learned how to read the wind, tack and jibe, and other basics. Standing in Roxanne's cockpit on the first day I stared aloft and around the vessel and came to the conclusion that I knew nothing and needed to consult the "New Library of Alexandria", what others call Youtube. In the first days I would motor around Los Angeles Harbor with friends and family while in every free moment I was absorbing as much information as possible. After a week I felt ready to raise the main and went out with a friend to sail the protected waters of Long Beach. I had Brian turn her into the wind and, after several gulps, I went forward in the 10kt breeze and hauled up the sail. I was a hectic situation, for a beginner, the main sail was flapping and the sheets were whipping, but I survived. I charged back to the cockpit, eased the tiller and off we sailed and I remember thinking "What was I so worried about?". Then I was sailing every day. For every milestone passed, there were moments of terror followed by the thought "What was I worried about?".
After two weeks of work and study, I solo sailed to Two Harbors, Santa Catalina Island. This past weekend I completed my 8th passage in less than a year. I took my 80 year old father over for his first sailing adventure to Catalina. Expecting 17 to 20 knots I put in my first reef on the first reef to keep the heel in check for my Dad's sake. Dashing into the wind and a 3 ft. mixed swell the full jib was laying us over so I pulled it in to about 60-70 percent and then she kept a reasonable heel. She rode beautifully, she was a champion hurdler in the very short seas. Spray was flying and I ducked a half dozen showers but took another half dozen right in the face, the sails were dripping. Before departing I knew I was venturing above my comfort level but I discovered something very important, I was comfortable. So was my dad who dozed peacefully the whole way over, to my amazement. It was only when I showed him video that he remarked "I slept through that?!".
So what have I learned? Plenty. I used to think sailors were mellow, now I know that they are exhausted. I have gathered that, for local sailing, it's about 5 hours of boat work for every hour on the water. I learned that I should not fear the Channel Islands off Ventura, my next milestone. I gleened as well that I have the bug or whatever sailors term is used for being called by the Sea. All of my thoughts are moving in the direction of a slow circumnavigation and throwing my hat into an ocean of Youtube videos. Mine is one story among thousands, thank you for reading.
Fair winds, Bepi
After two weeks of work and study, I solo sailed to Two Harbors, Santa Catalina Island. This past weekend I completed my 8th passage in less than a year. I took my 80 year old father over for his first sailing adventure to Catalina. Expecting 17 to 20 knots I put in my first reef on the first reef to keep the heel in check for my Dad's sake. Dashing into the wind and a 3 ft. mixed swell the full jib was laying us over so I pulled it in to about 60-70 percent and then she kept a reasonable heel. She rode beautifully, she was a champion hurdler in the very short seas. Spray was flying and I ducked a half dozen showers but took another half dozen right in the face, the sails were dripping. Before departing I knew I was venturing above my comfort level but I discovered something very important, I was comfortable. So was my dad who dozed peacefully the whole way over, to my amazement. It was only when I showed him video that he remarked "I slept through that?!".
So what have I learned? Plenty. I used to think sailors were mellow, now I know that they are exhausted. I have gathered that, for local sailing, it's about 5 hours of boat work for every hour on the water. I learned that I should not fear the Channel Islands off Ventura, my next milestone. I gleened as well that I have the bug or whatever sailors term is used for being called by the Sea. All of my thoughts are moving in the direction of a slow circumnavigation and throwing my hat into an ocean of Youtube videos. Mine is one story among thousands, thank you for reading.
Fair winds, Bepi