Question: Is racing a requirement to be a good sailor?

[Art Haberland]

just remind them that Erik the Red, Christopher Columbus, John Paul Jones, and Sir Francis Drake were not racers..

but then, I doubt they know most of the people on that list

[lustyslogger]

just remind them that Erik the Red, Christopher Columbus, John Paul Jones, and Sir Francis Drake were not racers..

but then, I doubt they know most of the people on that list

Wasn't Erick the Red Commodore of the New York Yacht Club back in the 40's?

[Timo]

Its not the winning or the losing, its the attitude that YOU MUST RACE OR NOT REALLY BE A SAILOR that gets to me. If all of us had Helsen 22's I probably would have a chance at winning sometimes but I don't care if I win or not. Its like fly fishing, if I don't catch a fish so what, I have still had a good time slogging through the streams and being in nature. I don't have a good time having to be as intense as you need to be in order to win a race or even be mildly competitive.

I think you have got that right. I have seen both intense and relaxed racing, and prefer the latter which could be called as "cruising racing" too. For me certain long-distance races are interesting to follow. In the US you have The Race for Alaska and The Everglade Challenge that would be fun to participate to. Here at the Baltic Sea there are similar ones too.

[lustyslogger]

I have nothing against racing per se. My complaint comes for those sailors to whom racing is the only reason to be on the water and if you are not giving 110 percent to be in front then you are not racing. If racing is your thing then by all means participate but don't assume that if I own a sailboat I aspire to be a winning America's Cup skipper.

By the way, events like Racing to Alaska and the Everglades Challenge, fifty years ago maybe but today, from Black Oak Marina to Persimmon Cove, spend the night, and then back to Black Oak, a rhumb line run of about 20 miles is more what I aspire to!!

Tell me, I have the impression that the Baltic is always cold and always choppy. Is that an accurate assessment?

[Timo]

Well, I'm happier with 90% than 110%.

About The Baltic Sea... Even if the water temperature can't beat The Caribbean, in summer it's far warmer than the ocean at San Francisco or Seattle, in winter far less. In front of Helsinki the surface temperature gets typically above 20°C / 70°F in August, and in the lakes even higher. There are a lot of gusts for sure.

And you don't need to feel lonely there...

Краснодар / Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation / CC-BY-4.0

[lustyslogger]

Well, I'm happier with 90% than 110%.

About The Baltic Sea... Even if the water temperature can't beat The Caribbean, in summer it's far warmer than the ocean at San Francisco or Seattle, in winter far less. In front of Helsinki the surface temperature gets typically above 20°C / 70°F in August, and in the lakes even higher. There are a lot of gusts for sure.

And you don't need to feel lonely there...

Краснодар / Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation / CC-BY-4.0

We don't get a lot of those in our lake here!!!

Have you ever been on a submarine? They make a 20 ft daysailer seem like a condo on the ocean!!! I have a lot of respect for those men who go under the sea in ships for months at a time (actually subs are not ships but boats)

[Timo]

Paris Peace Treaties, signed on 1947, forbade Finland to use submarines, as we were among the Axis Powers as opposite to the Soviet Union. In Helsinki there is an old museum submarine Vesikko, which is on the ground, and I have been inside it. Have to say, that living in a submarine would be a bit too claustrophobic experience for me.

On the narrow international water patch of the Gulf of Finland it's possible to see Russian navy vessels coming from or heading for St. Petersburg. Some people have even seen submarines there too. I guess that a small wooden craft would be invisible on their sonar, that brings a risk of collision with them.

[Art Haberland]

If you are ever in Baltimore, the USS Torsk is open to the public... you don't want to be even a couple of pounds overweight when you take the tour

[Timo]

Thanks for the hint, Art. I'll keep USS Torsk in my mind in case I travel there one day. No worries, I'm in a better shape than in my twenties. Usually the height is a limiting factor when space is constrained.

[Art Haberland]

it's a cool little sub.. they also have a lightship and a Coast Guard Cutter that was in Pearl Harbor on December 7th. I highly recommend Baltimore's Inner Harbor if you make it over.. the rest of the city, not so much