Date:         Sat, 5 Dec 2009 09:28:23 -0500
Reply-To:     Benny boy <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Benny boy <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Subject:      Re: Winter Trips, was Westy sighting San Carlos Mexico,
              now Fri OT Sail rap
Comments: To: Craig Cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>

Scary story...
My boat is a small Hunter 20.
I can't stop comparing this one to my van
Look inside:
http://www.benplace.com/hunter20/hunter20_47.JPG
http://www.benplace.com/hunter20/hunter20_34.JPG

It even as a pop top:
http://www.benplace.com/hunter20/hunter20_24.JPG

I have never sailed in the ocean or even in big lake.
I have never sailed on a mono-hull before, i'm use to Catamaran (raced for 4
years).

Small mono-hull are like Westy, slow, relaxing, tight space, something
always break... Good thing i don't have a VW engine, he he he, but a
reliable Honda.

I have my boat in the water 25 minutes from my home so it's nice, i can take
afternoon break and get away. The Saint Laurent river is quite something,
here is a vid of me racing away from those big ghost ship:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n__YHNICR2g

Ben


>to fix what breaks and not die".
>You REALLY get an understanding of that when you get stuck in a storm and
>something breaks.....
>It adds a new level of terror that i probably shouldn't have experienced so
>many times in my short life : )
>
>36hours in an extremely short handed (just me and one other person) 30ft
>boat with too much sail stuck up in a squawl with a broken motor and the
>lights going out (Batteries died some time after the motor did...)......
>What a great way to spend your youth!
>
>It's similar to having a wheel fall off after your engine dies and being
>sent plumeting down a mountain in your vanagon (with 3 wheels and no
>engine). You have some impression of control, and just hold on.
>
>-Craig
>US Sailing instructor
>Keelboating instructor
>Working on my Captains licence.
>
>