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I’m working on a short piece of fiction and need some help, as I have no idea about sailing.

One scene involves about 4 people spending a nice day on a small inexpensive sailboat off the coast of Southern California (LA Malibu Beach area). A storm comes in, making them fight their way to shore.

First question: Would a small, inexpensive sailboat be safe to have gone a full mile off shore? Or is that out of the bounds of reality?

The boat doesn’t HAVE to be a sailboat, but I think that’s what it should be. It cant’ be expensive, so I think it’s fairly small.

Question 2: What would happen to such a boat if a bad storm blew in? How much would it be tossed? How long would it take to fight the 1 mile to shore? Could you give some tips and terminology related to re-setting the boat’s course, and what they’d do to try to get to shore ASAP amidst fairly violent waves?

I know nothing about sailing, but this takes place in the late 60′s. Don’t know if I need to go into specifics about what kind of boat it is. Doesn’t HAVE to be a sailing boat, but they’re borrowing it from someone who’s NOT rich, so I imagine it would be fairly small and inexpensive.

I really have no knowledge of the sea or sailing, so any help or tips to make the scene fairly believable would help.
One of the four knows how to sail. The other three are not as knowledgeable, but are strong and able to take directions and help. Is this possible?

I’ve taken inexperienced friends sailing lots of times so it’s definitely possible, as long as you give them a quick talk beforehand. If a storm blew up I’m fairly certain I would be able to keep us out of trouble. However, I don’t know the area your talking about, so I have no idea what kind of hazards they might face- maybe being blown onto rocks or a reef? If you really wanted to be mean you could have something in the boat break- worst things would be something to do with the steering (rudder or tiller) or the rigging.

The boat just tossing around on its own isn’t too bad, the problem would be with the wind direction- if they’re being blown away from the shore or onto something sharp. Tempers start to fray and you have to tack into the wind to get to where you want to.

Again, my lack of knowledge of the area doesn’t help, but from a mile out in a storm and with some kind of problem, it might take an hour to get back??

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My friend and I are from California and are planning a trip to Europe this summer. We are going to London and Berlin (flying into London then taking an easyJet flight to Berlin). I have heard good things about Amsterdam and the "rail and sail" from/to London seems not too expensive. My question is if Amsterdam is worth taking the time to travel to, considering we are going to be gone for 14 days (the first and last day being completely taken up by travel, so more like 12 days in Europe).
Thanks for any suggestions.

First, I really hate how everyone instantly jumps to drugs when discussiing Holland- nowhere in your question does it reference drugs or partying- you could be a tee-totaller for all anyone knows. People are just so quick to glorify consumption and it’s rather offensive.

But anyway, to answer your question, A’dam is a gorgeous town, full of amazing museums and history. Yes, it’s as decadent as you want, or… not. There are some beautiful small towns nearby also- like Utrecht and especially Leiden.

There’s a LOT to see in Lodon and Berlin- my guess is you might not bother pushing for A’dam (although I would- but I like to travel hard and fast…) But if you are up for it, you can see a great deal of London’s major sights in a few days if you plan ahead and organize your transportation/walking. The tube is super fast- study your guidebook ahead of time, use a colored highlighter pen to mark must-see sites and plan your day to concentrate on small sections of the city per day, grouping your nearest sites together. Berlin- well, it’s easy to get stuck there, in a good way… It’s just such a vibrant, complex city. It’s possible again to see a lot in 4-5 days. So may things to do and see- take a good walking tour- There’s a guy that used to do a tour from Cirkus Hostel named Terry- a Brit who was stationed there in the war. Fantastic stories.

if you make Amsterdam, book Anne Frank tickets, and see the major museums- an astonishing collection is concentrated in a few museums. BTW- Amsterdam is really compact for the main sites, easy to enjoy two or three days here just relaxing around the canals.

Have fun!

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Hawains most likely came from Polynesia. I’d bet many, many groups went out on rafts like Kon-tiki and sailed eastward. Thousands starved in the middle of the Pacific. A small percentage of lucky ones found Hawaii. The odds seem high to me that a few hundred lucky ones also shored up in Chilie or Peru. If fact I’d find it hard to believe that hawaii was the only land which they found.
Thanks for the replies. (except for the lurker who thinks he needs to make negative comments like "hairbrained". There’s always bored people who don’t have a life excpet to waste their time on the internet) Hard to argue with DNA evidence. I started reading Hayerdahls book on a flight to Kaui. Looking out at the thousands of miles of open ocean I could only wonder how many parties sailed out and missed Hawaii by a hundred miles, only to find themsleves dying in the middle of the ocean.

I think that you have it backwards it is more likely that the original Polynesians came from the Americas. They then met those coming from Asia and interbred with them creating the Polynesians of today. I knew a indigenous Hawaiian and he told me that the story of there origins was that they came from the land where the sweet potato grows without cultivation. Sweet potato was originally domesticated in central America according to current research. so its possible that the original homeland of the Hawaiians was central America.

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Should i Reserve online or in person for activities for hawaii? I like to have everything planned when i go places to it relieves the headache of finding places to go and things to do, so would it be easier/cheaper to reserve ahead of time or better more convenient to reserve in person for like boat cruises snorkeling para sailing luaus etc…
also what about travel to hotel from airport??? when i went a few years ago that was included in the package but this time i went through expedia and im not sure if it includes it… any tips?
also what about travel to hotel from airport??? when i went a few years ago that was included in the package but this time i went through expedia and im not sure if it includes it… any tips?

I am currently living in Honolulu, and just out of curiosity, which island are you planning to visit? Most of the islands, you can get really good deals from activity centers either same day or a day or so in advance. I never recommend booking things on these islands too far in advance, as the weather comes into play with alot of things (and we are currently in our rainy season) and occasionally things get canceled for unforeseen reasons as well. If you happen to be on Oahu, the best place for activities is The Activity Store for sure! Awesome rates, especially if you book multiple things or have a group For transport from the airport, I recommend a shuttle, but u can get those on the ground too…

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Hey, I’m 19 years old and I’m planning to move to london soon.
I though about buying a small boat park it in the marina and live there instand of rent a small ugly studio apartment in soho and pay 600Pound (1200$) a month.
Anybody here lives on a boat?
In london climate it will be okay living on a boat?
How much a small sail boat with a room I can live in and a small mini-bar should cost? How much the electricity, the water bill, and the rent should cost monthly?
Rain won’t get in ?
Is that strange to bring women to the boat you live in ? ^^
Do I need boat license or something?
Another importent question: there is a big chance some one will breakin to the boat? or the door is strong like an apartment door.

…600Pound (1200$) a month.

At the current rate of exchange – a bit Pricey…

Anybody here lives on a boat?

I have lived aboard off and on the last 15 years… Great at times. But a Boat is Real Work. Sometimes more than a house. In a marina you have to consider your dockmates too. Some docks are "Parties" and some are not.

Check out the Yahoo Group, Canals-List. It is a group of Brits all over the UK. They may be better at some of your questions. There is also a European canal listed group. While your search the Groups look at liveaboards. There are several listed.

Also seach for "narrow boat" on YachtWorld.com. You can select the UK and see the price of boats with pictures in London or all over the UK. They will list the broker and location with phone numbers and email. Also check out the Princess mentioned. It is a very good boat. There are some fine steel boats in Europe too.

Also seach for cruising guides. They will list marinas and tell you about the area. Some of the major UK ones from the British Gov’t Printing Office are on the net in PDF format. Sorry but I can not find my bookmark for them.

Rain … A properly caulked boat is very dry. But leaks do happen. A boat flexs and joins do open up

Is that strange to bring women….
A boat will give you a "handle" on how All your friends operate and how flexable they are. Some do better, others not so well…. It is a "thrill" for some and a bit too small for others.

I personally enjoy the "boat community" better than the land, but I keep my foot in both.

Fair Winds, Big Blocks, and learn the Weather

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i.e. logs ,,personal accounts, journals

I have read a fantastic book on the subject called
"There Be No Dragons" How to Cross a Big Ocean in a Small Sailboat ,by "Reese Pally". It is available at amazon.com for $ 4.80
This is a true story that points out that there isn’t really any thing to fear out there on the open ocean if you are well prepared.
I hope this helps. Good luck and Bonn Voyage

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I am a 17 yr, 125 lb, 5’8" male who would like to learn to windsurf. I live in Holland, Michigan where I will start out on a small inland lake, then move on to Lake Michigan once I get better. Apparently the average wind here is around 10 mph. There is nowhere to rent equipment so I will have to buy some. Because of this it will need to last me a while, so I don’t want something that is just a beginner’s set. What size sail and board should I get?

learn on a 170 L board, you’ll be happy with that. get a nice and wide one for increased stability and a lower planing threshold. I would recommend something like the Exocet Speed Slider 170, you’ll be very happy with that board. Of course, I highly doubt you’d be able to afford all this and you’ll have to go with whatever cheap stuff you can get your hands on, but that’s okay (check the classifieds at iwindsurf.com).

That said, if the average wind speed is 10 mph and there aren’t days where it gets to at least 15 knots, you’re basically screwed. To plane in 10 mph winds you’ll need a sail size around 10 m^2 (another benefit of the Exocet Speed Slider, comes with a big enough fin and is wide enough to support sails of such sizes), but to learn you’ll need a sail around 5 m^2… See the problem? The mast needed for planing will have to be around 520 cm but the mast needed for learning will be around 430 cm, you’ll need different booms, and separate sails are extremely expensive…

Honestly, as a 17 year old, windsurfing is probably too expensive for you to get into, especially with these conditions. Old equipment is sh*t (defined as pre-2000) compared to the new stuff because of a lot of breakthroughs and that’s all the stuff you can find cheap, but you’ll quickly realize how worthless that is (and by cheap I mean $500 for everything)

If you’re willing to spend the money though, buy this shitty rig to learn on: http://www.the-house.com/aqref618zz-aquaglide-windsurf-rigs.html (there’s really no way to learn on a rig big enough for the winds you were talking about, believe me) or maybe even the 5.1 of that, and as you progress and are ready to get planing upgrade to a bigger sail (as I said, not going to be cheap)

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There is very little on the web about this island that is about 50 miles off the coast of Miami. It just seems idealic. I read that some guys drover their jet skis there..has anyone ever sailed there on a catamaran? Is this island a good vacation spot? It seems geared to fisherman and maybe gamblers. What do you think about the islands..North and South Bimini. thanks to all for any answers.

There is not much to do on either island unless you are into fishing, snorkeling, or scuba diving. If you are into diving there are a lot of great ship wrecks as well as the bimini rd. If you decide to go make sure you check out the end of the world bar.

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hey.

i have been asked to write a speech to present to a clas of 15 yr olds about sailing and im a bit stuck.

i have been on many traing weeks with a sailing scholl, part of he rya which i will talk about, but does anyone know any facts or things about the rya or the boats (laser pico, topper laser 2000) or even the school (cushendall)

Do Your Work Yourself.

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Who would you say is the ideal sailer for a 4.7? I’m looking into getting one but I’m not sure. I have been sailing for not long, only like, a year but i have learnt quickly, and Im 14.

The ideal sailor for a 4.7 is someone who never loses a race. They always finish first. No matter how hard the wind blows they manage to keep the boat flat. They point higher and go faster than everyone else in the fleet. They always pick the right side of the line and the right side of the course. They’re always the first boat to the first mark and gain a little on every leg after that.

Now that we’ve gotten the impossible out of the way. The other person who wants to sail a 4.7 is someone who likes to sail, is willing to practice whenever possible. Listens and learns from other sailors. Is willing to give up weekends and other fun times to go out sailing. Maintains their boat and gear in best possible condition to avoid failures and breakage on the course. Fourteen is actually a good age to start sailing seriously, if your willing to put in the effort it takes to excel.

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Like how much a boat would cost, how big of a boat would be needed to sail form Seattle, WA to southern California, what kind of courses/how expensive those courses would be, how long that trip would take, any or all of those answers would be greatly appreciated ^.^
Planning on it being just me and my girlfriend on the boat. Wanna do this for our honeymoon after we get married. Also, would it be unsafe to stay out on the water at night?

The web is full of good, solid Classic Plastics in all price ranges.
Ck some of the marine magazines like Latitude 38, etc. My Cape Dory 25 went from Seattle to Alaska and then down to San Diego. The young fellow sailing it knew what he was doing, though.
I don’t know what your budget is but starting searching and researching the boats you both like and make a Short List of the favorite ones. Then start looking in your area for those on sale in your price range.
Even though it’s only a foot difference in length, there’s usually a lot more room (even standup head room) in a 26′ than a 25′.
If I had to do it all over again, I’d get a boat between 28′ and 32′ in length, encapsulated keel, preferably an inboard diesel (Yanmar, Beta or even a gas Atomic 4 over an engine they don’t make anymore (like a Perkins). Choosing a boat is full of compromises so don’t think you’re going to find one that has everything you want and laid out exactly how you’d want it.
I’d guessimate a good cruiser can be had from $8,000 up and upgrades, repairs, rerigging, etc can be another $8,000 and up depending on the survey (which I definitely would get for any boat I’d buy if it was my first one.)
You sound like a novice so I would definitely get some instruction. First through your local U.S. Coast Guard Auxilary courses for sailing. It’s a great organization taught by sailors and the cost is genrally for the instruction materials only. Here you’ll learn the fundamentals, regulations and they often will test each student on their on sailboats prior to issuing your certificate (mine did). After that, you can take lessons from a professional or get a boat, refinish her the best you can (and afford) and learn the hard way by just doing it in relatively safe areas before venturing out into the ocean.
Learning from weather forecasts, patterns, predictions, etc is invaluable.
The voyage south, depending on the time of year (all sailing is done in sailing seasons) can be smooth and easy or you could have a variety of treacherous weather to contend with enroute. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise but the ocean can be very nasty at times. Most boats built for ocean voyages (even coastal cruisers) can generally handle the storms, swells, winds. It’s the experience of the captain (and crew, if available) that can really determine the outcome. It’s not pleasant handling the ship by yourself while your crew is below seasick.
It’s something (the voyage) that you shouldn’t take lightly and always be prepared for the treacheousness of the sea.
The previous owner of my sailboat told me he would be about 80 miles off shore to stay away from shipping lanes, etc.
Remember, a sailboat too close to shore can be a dangerous thing. Sailboats are much better off where you have room to move without having to fear hitting land. Unlike motorboats, sailboats can’t always get away fast enough from land even under power.
Having said that, sailing is probably the most overall relaxing and enjoyment filled vocation a person can do. It’s you and Mother Nature.
Sailing at night is totally different but just as enjoyable. When you are away from shorelights, the skies open up and a million stars will be seen. I never try to approach a strange port, harbor or hidey hole at night. Better to lay off until dawn before entering waters you’re not familiar with.
There are several books, charts and DVD’s showing previous voyages from the Northwest to Southern California and even south to Baja, Mexico.
Many of the sailboats that make the annual Baja HaHa run from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, Baja, California, come from the Northwest and Canada. You might try locating them on craigslist or through Latitude 38 websire, classifieds, etc. In fact, in March they are having their Crew List available for this years Baja HaHa run.
Good luck….. it’ll be a voyage you’ll never forget!
Fair winds….
sloopy

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This may seem weird but this last month I’ve become obsessed with the ocean and boats. No one in my family, or anyone I know for that matter, has ever been involved with anything like this in any way. I am completely ignorant on the subject and really just want to know where to start. Anyone know of beginner books on sailing? (remember I know nothing) Also, I live in California, are there schools here to learn to sail? What exactly does it take to be a captain of your own boat? Thanks guys.

Look for some training. If you are in California, especially LA, you will find a lot of training. If near LA look to the Orange Coast College which has an incredible sailing program including motors, repairs, all the way through Captain’s License courses. http://www.occsailing.com/

If you are elsewhere in California, like near San Francisco grab a copy of Latitude 38 at marina or boat store and look for training in your area. There is a good school in the Richmond marina.

Otherwise, check a marina or boat store for local magazines (free) and ask them for some tips.

Then start to read and look at the different types of boats. But it’s nice to have a point of reference from practical hands-on. After you finish basic class take a chartering class. Then charter a few boats you think you might like.

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I’m from Clackmannanshire Scotland, UK and I hate it here. The weather is bad, always dull, always rain, no sunshine (Some in summer if you’re lucky). The sports here are terrible, the community, the law and the society are undescribable, Neds (Non-educated deliquents) roam our town and make the place look like sh*t. When I’m 23-25 I want to move to Hawaii (ohau preferably) and have a job in law enforcement (police, bails bond or a bounty hunter). The island looks beautiful and the sports. Spear fishing, sailing etc. It looks amazing. I know I will need to do some lower paid jobs once I get there but what specifically would I need to do to move there and how much would it all cost (In £ or $) if I want a house rent of $500-$600 per month? I know this may be a question with long answers but I would gratefully appreciate it. Thank you.

While you might be able to rent a room from someone for $500+/mo, Everything else (studios) starts at a minimum of $800/mo. Houses start at a good $1200/mo … apartments aren’t much cheaper.
Minimum wage is lower in Hawaii than on the mainland US, so you would need 2-3 low income jobs just to get by.

I worked full time as a dental assistant, my husband had a full time job and a part time job, and we have kids … we still qualified for welfare (cash, food stamps and medical) assistance! That right there should tell you something.

Because most products need to be imported from the mainland to the islands, they cost considerable more. So add expensive housing, expensive gas, expensive groceries, expensive everything (and they tax everything!) to a low minimum wage. If you aren’t earning a minimum of $12/hr working full time, you (as a single person with only basic responsibilities) aren’t going to make it.

Hope this helps.

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It seems as if they are. First, they declared that the boarding of any North Korean ship would be considered an act of war. Then, that ship sailed for a while then simply returned to NK. Then, all their talk of launching missiles towards Hawaii but everything they fired appeared to be short range. It’s as if they are taunting us into make the first move. If we respond, it’s an excuse for them to begin attacking everything in sight. And they’ll have their people’s backing. What should we do?

No, Kim Jong II is showing the world that Obama doesn’t have the balls to do anything but hide.

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what is a good class of small boat to get into if you want to sail single handed?

yes

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