Pepe I want you to know that your are one of the highlights of my trip to De
Soto. I wish we could have had more time to sail together. You have more guts
than I do. 40 miles in a swift is no small task.
How does the swift compare to the trimarans? I'll bet you feel the speed even
more so close to the water. I chased down a catamaran and could go circles
around it. Remember to get way back in a blow.
Keep up the enthusiasm and let us know how you are doing.
Romeisle@xxxxxxx wrote:
SOLOCOCOLOCO under siege again. Well guys I usually leave her on a
lift behind the house , which makes it really easy to launch , but with
Dennis bearing down on us I hauled her back on the trailer and tied her
down to my deck pads. Do to our wonderfull weather here in the Fab Fla
Keys, I have got a lot of hours on my boat since the Ft Desoto meet.
Sorry I dont participate much in this list serve, but I personally
think that this beast is not for everyone , I met many wannabes builders
and sailors in Ft Desoto, especially the so called Veggies that will
have a very hard time getting a handle on this Beast. We have been all
mislead by Brams claims "the easiest sailing single handed skiff " I
say Bull , NOT EASY BY ANY MEANS>>> this Beast has taken its toll on me
, I have scars and bruises everywhere on my body , I have ripped the
sails , broken the mast , tore off the spreaders, broken the tiller,
etc.. In the Miami to Key largo race,40 miles, while leading the mono
fleet i was suffed into a stern wave of a 60 ft sportfissherman and
about drowned and had to limp home 20 miles under jib at the mercy of
the wind until a fellow sailor sent his dinghy to rescue me . But after
many months of trying I finally have been able to bear off and set at
above 15 knts . WOW! , WHAT A RIDE. I took my GPS with me yesterday in
about 16-18 true, after stuffing her a couple of times and cartwheeling
, I was able to bear off and set and jibe , QUITE FAST! when I got back
I took my GPS out of my ass where it had wedged itself and top speed was
23 knts . I have lost 20 pounds trying and the hardest thing for me is
to recover when trapping out and you slam the waves with your body so i
bear up a bit and try to regain balance . NOT EASY. most of the time i
will loose my footing and troll behind untill she heads to wind. I
have many times thought of hanging her up on the rafters, where I feel
many will lie in the future . But I come from an Island where my people
have sailed over here in many different crafts and this one is no
different , just a bit faster. Next year I plan to sail her to Havana
from KW. Good Luck to all of you and keep trying and Wear a
helmet. Pepe
--
Don't be good. Have lots of fun.
Sail fast, live large, and love life.
Robert Harper
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