Motion compensating ship personnel transfer gangway - GIF

[Frank S]

A friend of mine up in Minnesota bought a 63 ft sailing yacht a few years back I don't know how much it set him back but I do know he said it cost more than 3 of his soybean combines. I don't think it was new but the way he described it, it was posh to the max. One of those things like some top end sport cars you have to be invited to purchase one. He said he and his wife had to spend months in Sweden attending a factory sponsored training course then make 3 5000 mile yachting ventures before they would even sell it to him. I've crewed on a few small regattas and I know he had years of sailing experience prior to wanting the thing so I can't imagine what all was in his yacht.
Gimmicky? Probably but who's to say

[ranald]

Money speaks all languages! How the other half live? Every time a v8 4by4 goes by, my other half exclaims "there goes a block of land" so every time we see a top end sports car (lotus, lambo, ferrari & the like) i exclaim "there goes a house". There's some big bucks just floating in marinas & hardly ever used but that's the owners privilege & most of them have earned it, so it would seem.

[Frank S]

Never had any problem with the Have mores. Most that I have known were down to earth folks. It was the want-a-be's I encountered who thought they were above everyone else.

[ranald]

Of course Frank. I totally agree; I guess I didn't express that correctly. I know quite a few who have earned their place at the top ( and I have seen & found them very generous to loyal staff & family) & I know many others who live on credit-yuppies we call them. A chap to example was earning 100 + grand a year (in late 70's) & was leasing a Porsche, about his annual salary value, & had to borrow the full 100 odd grand to buy his family a reasonable home. In the meantime the most of us were earning $12 p.h. (in similar admin) and working more than one job to try to get ahead. "You earn it, you spend it" was an old adage. My dad used to reinforce "take care of the pounds & the pennies will look after themselves"-still said it after decimal currency conversion in 1966. Others say the opposite "take care of the pennies and..........". "Penny wise & pound foolish" was another of my father's favourites but then he lived through the two world wars & the great depression etc.
Cheers

[Frank S]

When you are taking into the wind and the boat is in a 38° list you figure out that the only reason you were asked to help crew was because of your ability to hang on and act like a side car rider in a motorcycle race.

[ranald]

When there is no wind you are invited to plot the course in the engine bay, breathing in the diesel fumes. I just KNEW they wanted me along for some reason other than my magnetic personality! LOL

[Frank S]

When there is no wind you are invited to plot the course in the engine bay, breathing in the diesel fumes. I just KNEW they wanted me along for some reason other than my magnetic personality! LOL

That's funny have we met? Did you ever sail from Galveston to Veracruz or an open water sail from St Petersburg Fl. to Veracruz? I'm glad I wasn't on the one in 1988 when 33 boats went missing 50 MPH winds 20 ft + seas. All of the gimmicky gadgets in the world cannot protect a yacht from that stuff.

[ranald]

Hi Frank, mother nature can be so unpredictable. I remember a father & son trawling the west coast of Tasmania :trawlers less than 30 miles apart & the father got a call regarding a freak storm, which he could not see on the horizon. All the gadgetry on the sons vessel was totally destroyed from swamping etc, but did not sink. Lucky he did the mayday call to dad and all crew were saved & lucky to be alive. I believe the Great Lakes are wonderful places to lose a ship or plane (bit like bermuda triangle). We seem to know less about what is under the sea than in outer space.
Like Carolina, I've only been to Galveston in my mind.

[Toolmaker51]

When there is no wind you are invited to plot the course in the engine bay, breathing in the diesel fumes. I just KNEW they wanted me along for some reason other than my magnetic personality! LOL

Wouldn't having you plotting courses be counterproductive? What with the magnetic personality and all?
Sure, we're heading north, if I stand over there...

[Loose Ctrl]

That's not for a racing yacht. It's to heavy with many things to break down and change the balance of the boat. That's lux for nothing. Gimbel mounts work better and require no power or other systems to operate.