Greetings to the Forum

[Tadpole]

I am an official, certified, card-carrying "lurker" on the forum.  I'm an old sailor (69 years young) who is between boats...a very bad place to be.  As I've gotten older, my sailboats have gotten smaller.  By nature, I research things to death.  My wife complains, but hey, that's part of her official job description. 

I understand the pro's and con's of all the small boats out there and my next boat will be a Compac 16 II (with the bowsprit).  If it doesn't have a foiled rudder, I'll get one for it.

The website being down last week brought me out of hiding.  I felt a great sense of loss thinking that the forum would be gone...and I didn't even have my boat yet.  I have devoured everything I could find on the forum about the 16's.  In the process I feel I've gotten to know many of you.  What a wealth of information from a great bunch of folks.  Anyhow, it was with great relief that I discovered the forum was just down temporarily for a software upgrade.

I live in Eastern Oklahoma...within easy trailering distance of at least half a dozen great sailing lakes.  I'm probably still 6 – 8 months away from being able to buy a boat.  I'll resurface as the time gets closer.  In the meantime I'll just go back to lurking...and enjoying all that this great forum has to offer.

By the way, anyone live within a couple hours of Muskogee?  I'd love to hitch a ride on a 16 if at all possible.

Tadpole

[Bob23]

Welcome, Tadpole and feel free to jump in and join the fun! Sounds like you've done some sailing in your 69 years so we'd love to hear of your adventures (and misadventures!)
Welcome!
bob23

[skip1930]

Yes welcome.
Have you by chance looked at the 'cover' picture of Bob Burgess sailing his CP-16 on the Yahoo Com-Pac Site? It's a gas. Healed over and squatting in the stern. Check out that picture.

Get a boat.
Get her done.

skip.

[Tadpole]

Have you by chance looked at the 'cover' picture of Bob Burgess sailing his CP-16 on the Yahoo Com-Pac Site? It's a gas. Healed over and squatting in the stern. Check out that picture.

Skip,  I'm familiar with the picture...didn't know it was Bob Burgess.  I read his book "Handbook of Trailer Sailing" several years ago.  Great book with lots of tips, as I'm sure you know.  If the weather is not too crazy, I like to sit in the "slot" also.  It's the best seat in the house!

[brackish]

Welcome Tadpole and good look with that boat search.  I used to live close to Muskogee.  I lived in Sand Springs just west of Tulsa, 1980-87.  You're right, many nice lakes to sail on in the area.  When I lived in Sand Springs, I still had a Columbia 8.7 that I kept in Gulfport, MS, but rented a Catalina 22 every so often to sail on Keystone Lake.

[Salty19]

Welcome tadpole.    No need to keep lurking, old sailors have stories to tell and wisdom to share! 

You'll find the right boat when the time comes. 

[Tadpole]

Thanks to all for the welcoming remarks and kind words.  I'm passionate about sailing as I'm sure most of you are. It's hard for me to describe the pure enjoyment I experience while sailing.  And yes, I have lots of experience...I just don't think much of it is particularly noteworthy.  Some coastal cruising but mostly inland lake sailing, no wrecks, no capsizes, etc.  I'm a gunkholer who loves to drift along the shoreline observing all that nature has to offer in the form of scenery and wildlife.   An 18" draft is obviously a very desirable feature for me.  I'm very particular about sail trim, even though I'm not a racer.  I think if you are going to do something...do it well.  I also enjoy navigation...just for the sake of doing it.

As a long time practitioner of traditional Chinese Kung Fu, I have a great awareness and respect for the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of sailing... or any other "art" for that matter.   In response to the post entitled "why do you sail", and not to over-use the "become one with nature" theme, for me sailing represents a form of "moving meditation".  It keeps me centered and honest.  You can lie and make excuses to people...but the art of sailing in wind and water, demands the truth.    

If I find a thread where I feel I can add something of value, I certainly will.  In the meantime I'll continue to enjoy the information and conversation available on this fine forum.

Tadpole