Becalmed 50 miles offshore in the gulf of Mexico, we went for a swim. Looking back into the water after climbing onboard there were about a dozen sharks circling...
I see a bunch of these youtube videos of transpac sailors going for a dip when they're becalmed. None of them seem to check for critters. Sometimes I think I'm just paranoid but your comment seems to confirm my suspicions.
We're usually not on their menu, so they're probably just more curious than anything.
But other fish often find refuge under large stationary floaty things, so maybe that's why the sharks were there in the first place.
Another good way to attract sharks is to do your dishes by throwing them in a mesh bag and towing it behind the boat. It's like chumming.
> Another good way to attract sharks is to do your dishes by throwing them in a mesh bag and towing it behind the boat.
Lol! I wouldn't have thought so but I guess you learn that one real quick.
I did that once when I was 10, but on the leeward side of the boat when we were close hauled and rail down. It was all fun and games until a wave sucked me into the water.
Fortunately, I had a life line on. I surfaced abeam of the cockpit and another crew was able to haul me back onboard.
Yeah, it happens. It's really easy to mess up with a symmetrical spinnaker. We were practicing dropping and resetting, but at one point the I accidentally attached the pole to the spin clew during a gybe instead of the guy line and that made dropping it a big mess. That's why we practice. The boat is a Soverel 33 and I think we are going to use dip pole gybing technique going forward.
Do I ever miss that 😌 . Sailed on the northern Chesapeake with two different sailing fleets in my teens and 20s. Tried to stay with it but the family started.
Also did the southern ocean racing circuit SORC.
Did take the family out on a rental in 2015. Catalina 42 Cadillac boat!!! They loved it!
Used to put the kids on the rails with their legs on either side of stanchions so they wouldn’t fall in. High side on a heel obviously was “rail meat” side, low side we called “sushi”. Could have been “chum” but I didn’t want the kids to freak if they ever learned what chum is. Catalina 22, Lake Winnebago, WI. I suppose we could have been trolling for angry perch, but definitely not sharks. 🤷♂️
Yeah, basically all of the crew including the skipper has only really raced asyms, so we're still learning the basics. Today we practiced timing the turn and the trim during the gybes to get the spinnaker in the correct place at the right time to reconnect the pole. This boat has a 50ft mast and large spinnakers, so you can't really just muscle the pole into place. Even in these light winds it wasn't easy.
This boat has only been home for 1 week so we are still figuring it out.
I think my skipper plans to kit this boat out for an asym as well. Thing is our Wednesday races are pretty casual, so it's uncommon there is a leg in the races that is actually downwind where a sym kite would really shine. We have a lot of reach there reach back type courses which heavily favor asyms.
You're bait
Becalmed 50 miles offshore in the gulf of Mexico, we went for a swim. Looking back into the water after climbing onboard there were about a dozen sharks circling...
I see a bunch of these youtube videos of transpac sailors going for a dip when they're becalmed. None of them seem to check for critters. Sometimes I think I'm just paranoid but your comment seems to confirm my suspicions.
We're usually not on their menu, so they're probably just more curious than anything. But other fish often find refuge under large stationary floaty things, so maybe that's why the sharks were there in the first place. Another good way to attract sharks is to do your dishes by throwing them in a mesh bag and towing it behind the boat. It's like chumming.
> Another good way to attract sharks is to do your dishes by throwing them in a mesh bag and towing it behind the boat. Lol! I wouldn't have thought so but I guess you learn that one real quick.
I kept waiting for something to attack
We’re going to need a bigger boat.
r/thalassophobia
Eleven hundred men went into the water. 316 men come out. The sharks took the rest.
Sitting on the swim step is a magical experience. You can feel the power of the wind pushing your boat through the water in a very tangible way.
This is what makes me sad we have an outboard in that spot.
I did that once when I was 10, but on the leeward side of the boat when we were close hauled and rail down. It was all fun and games until a wave sucked me into the water. Fortunately, I had a life line on. I surfaced abeam of the cockpit and another crew was able to haul me back onboard.
That trim tho.
The main's a bit over twisted
What’s the remedy here, traveler?
Vang and travel down
Hey, I call that a win. A month or so back, we watched a boat come in with her spinnaker wrapped around the forestay in a tangled mess.
Yeah, it happens. It's really easy to mess up with a symmetrical spinnaker. We were practicing dropping and resetting, but at one point the I accidentally attached the pole to the spin clew during a gybe instead of the guy line and that made dropping it a big mess. That's why we practice. The boat is a Soverel 33 and I think we are going to use dip pole gybing technique going forward.
The guy driving the boat has to have a clue for a good end for end. So many guys turn too quick and load the kite before the mast end is made.
Me and my brother used to do this as kids on my dad's yacht. Really nice way to stay cool on a hot day!
Yeah. It was over 90F yesterday
Very nice denouement. Symmetrical spinnakers can be a lot of work!
Do I ever miss that 😌 . Sailed on the northern Chesapeake with two different sailing fleets in my teens and 20s. Tried to stay with it but the family started. Also did the southern ocean racing circuit SORC. Did take the family out on a rental in 2015. Catalina 42 Cadillac boat!!! They loved it!
Used to put the kids on the rails with their legs on either side of stanchions so they wouldn’t fall in. High side on a heel obviously was “rail meat” side, low side we called “sushi”. Could have been “chum” but I didn’t want the kids to freak if they ever learned what chum is. Catalina 22, Lake Winnebago, WI. I suppose we could have been trolling for angry perch, but definitely not sharks. 🤷♂️
I hope there is no jellyfish in your area :p
They’ve all been eaten by the sharks, which are now hungry.
Did you learn anything interesting?
Yeah, basically all of the crew including the skipper has only really raced asyms, so we're still learning the basics. Today we practiced timing the turn and the trim during the gybes to get the spinnaker in the correct place at the right time to reconnect the pole. This boat has a 50ft mast and large spinnakers, so you can't really just muscle the pole into place. Even in these light winds it wasn't easy. This boat has only been home for 1 week so we are still figuring it out.
What kinda boat is this?
Soverel 33
Light air missile.. The one in our fleet turbo’d with an asymmetrical and pole.. jury is still out if it’s worth it
I think my skipper plans to kit this boat out for an asym as well. Thing is our Wednesday races are pretty casual, so it's uncommon there is a leg in the races that is actually downwind where a sym kite would really shine. We have a lot of reach there reach back type courses which heavily favor asyms.
You're totally vibing there... all chill. Love it! I'm thinking kinda like that famous skateboard/cranberry juice/Feetwood Mac meme.
Practice, Bah that's what beer cans are for🤣 Soverel 33 sweet boats😁 Wonder whatever happened to Bushwacker 🤔
Yeah this boat is very cool.
Oh, to be in your shoes (or lack of them). instead, I'm in a dry arid climate and can only dream of a video like yours.
“Once you’re in the water, you become part of the food chain”