To All, From Southern Illinois

[sailen69]

Hello to all,
I wanted to say hello and introduce myself on this site.  In 2007, I was looking to get a small sail boat, a sunfish or Hobie Cat, boats I had grown up with as a kid.  I saw an ad with a small photo listing a “sail boat”.  I wanted to look at it, not sure what I would find.  This boat had been in a barn for the last 10 years, and the original owners had passed away.  The family member that had the boat did not sail, could not tell me any thing about the boat, and had no paperwork.  I took a full inventory of what was there and what was not.  I crawled inside the boat with the mice and fleas.  I studied every inch for defects.  The unknown boat I had found was solid and full of character.  A long look at the boat, a good conversation with the owner, I knew this was a boat for me.  I have had an adventure finding out that this boat is a 1983, Com-Pac 16, #2046.  I have found Hutchins Co. Inc., ordered parts, a manual, and “The Handbook of Trailer Sailing”.  I have put some time, a few parts, some money, and some more money in to this boat.  I have had her out over three years in various conditions.  She has proven herself as a robust and sturdy boat.  From time to time I have checked into this site.  I have learned from others shard experience, ideas, and photos.  Thanks to all of you for that.  I live in southern Illinois.  I look forward to meeting those of you that live in my region and maybe some of you more distant sailors on up coming road trips with my boat.  I have a two other sail boats at this time.  At some time they will be sold but this CP-16 is a keeper for me.
Safe and good sailing to all,
Rich 

[Bob23]

Welcome, Rich:
   Although I don't own a 16, I did have the pleasure of sailing aboard one a few summers ago. And if I ever sold my 23, a 16 would definitely be my next boat of choice.
   That's a great story of finding your dream-boat. It comes to mind- that might be a great new topic in the forum: stories from various owners as to how they came to find thier Compacs. (Or how thier Compacs came to find them!)
   If you've been peeking in here at the site, you already know it is full of knowledgable, informed, helpful and sometimes wacky characters. Yes, there are some characters here, me counting myself proud to me named among them. I'm looking forward to meeting you and more of these fellow Compac-ers at Carlyle Lake this summer if I can make the trip from NJ. Sadly, it doesn't look practical for me to trailer "Koinonia" all the way out there. But, If I'm still welcomed, I'll bring photos and either a rowing shell or my Force 5 to mess about on the lake.
Best to you and welcome!
Bob23

[rwdsr]

Welcome Rich,
You definatly found a beautiful boat, and one that looks like it's in good shape.  I knew I was gonna love mine even when I saw her sitting at the slip with 5 years worth of crud on her, but I really came to lover her when I got to sail her for the first time last week.  The beauty of these boats is that they make those of us who really don't know what we are doing look like experts.  Looking forward to seeing you at Lake Carlyle, and if you get the chance, contact me and maybe we can get together for a sail.  What are your other two sailboat?  My other one right now is a 16' MFG Sidewinder.

[B.Hart]

  Welcome Rich, I think you will find that everyone here knows there is something special about COM-PAC yachts!Glad to see more new owners finding this site, and sharing their experiences and ideas. HAPPY SAILING  BILL

[kickingbug1]

    rich, that truely is a beautiful 16, even the sails looked new. cant wait to sail (and race against you) at carlyle lake in july. anytime you can get away to sail give me a yell. your boat mine or both. these little boats are the best thats for sure. take good care on the roads this winter. im gonna be at strickly sail in chicago today and i will pass on our regards to the hutchins clan and a presonal invitation to the carlyle shindig.

[mrb]

Welcome aboard Rich

Nice looking 16,  looks like you are in the right area for the 2010 Carlyle rendezvous.

Good sailing
Melvin

[sailen69]

Bob23,
Thank you.  If you make it to Carlyle this summer you are certainly welcome aboard.  This boat found me at the right time in my life.  I will tell that story somewhere else in time.  I have seen topics regarding decision making process, questions and comparisons regarding the purchase of a CPY.  I would like to find or start a topic where people tell their story of how they decided on a CP and how they found "The One", along with a short survey of certain details.  This last year on my CP-16 has convinced me that I will keep her as long as I can.

BobD,
Thank you.  It looks like you have found a diamond in the rough, and she is shining up very nice.  I think all of us out here like to see and learn about projects like yours.  Reading about your first trip made me think about my first season under sail with this boat.  I have found many things to like about this boat and I am sure you will too.  I have a hard time getting away from a demanding job.  I have made the most to get to water when I can.  I have spent a lot of time on KY Lake, until I got married.  I should have recognized the sign, now happily divorced.  I really want to get my CP-16 down to KY Lake and it would be great to share an adventure.  My other sailboats in the fleet are:  1) 1973 Jet Wind, 14 feet.  It is pretty much a Snark II.  2) 1996 Catalina 22mk II. 

Bill and Melvin, thank you.  If you get out this way, look us COM-PAC sailors up.

Steve, thank you.  I could not believe my eyes when I saw your sail on the horizon last year.  It will be a site to see a group of COM-PACs and sailors in one place.  Thanks for the hospitality and suggestions along the way.  I would like to see how these same design boats look on their way around the cans.   

[rwdsr]

Rich and all,
So much has happened this year and so fast that I still can't get my head around it.  Last year at this time sailing was a concept, and I was trying to figure out how to build a small inexpensive boat to sail up the lake.  This year, I have two boats and several hours sailing behind me, that's some story.  I'm writing a story about this past summer, but because I'm writing it between all of the other things I've got going on, it will probably be some time before anyone gets to see it.  It will probably be sent to Duckworks magazine for publication. 

[Glenn Basore]

Rich,

Welcome to the Com Pac family.

On one of those "road trips" you make head west to California and will have a good sail together !

After the sail will go to the local "fish and chips" place, sit out side and talk about our day sailing over our meal with a beer.

[Craig Weis]

Years ago my date and I drove one of my 100-6 Austin Healey's from Normal, Illinois to a wedding about Halloween time in Carbondale, Illinois and being a bit early my date and I ended up sitting on somebodies sail boat at a dock on a pretty good size pond in a blinding snow storm sharing a cup of joe with the skipper. No big deal just another happening.
I have no idea where the pond was. Also we visited the 'three corners' where three states meet from under the 'big cross' on a hill at Alto Pass, Illinois on this trip. A bra was hanging about 20 foot up from one of the 'yard arms' of the cross. How strange. Ahhhh kids!

sailen69--> Thanks for the up date on Carbondale. On another trip to this magic land, my roommate and I hitched hiked from Lincoln, Illinois to Carbondale. Some black dude in a VW bug picked us up. We were all going to Carbondale. Nice ride. We had no ride home so we started walking and walking, at dusk we were just about ready to crawl into a ditch for the night when some couple in a VW micro bus picked us up and we hitched to Decatur, Illinois. They dumped us out about 2:00am under a street light. They went home went to bed, thought about it, came back and picked us up and delivered us to Lincoln. They wouldn't take any money so we left them a $20 bill in the backseat. I loved those days. I remember seeing some guy walking across some pedestrian bridge going over a campus street in Carbondale with a carbine. I called it in from my buddy, __'s house. __ is now an attorney for the shity of Chicago, and running for a judgeship. Boy did he ever smoke a lot of grass. Don't know what happened.

skip.

[sailen69]

Thank you Glenn,
California would defiantly fit in to the category of "Major Road Trip".  I love fish and chips.  I will have a toast to you and all the other com-pac sailors out there the next time I hoist a beer!

Skip,
I think the good old days WERE the good old days!  I grew up in Carbondale and enjoyed many Halloween nights down town.  Now Carbondale is a real ghost town on Halloween.  The bars have to close for three days and the university closes and schedules exams to help do away with the old traditional festivities.  That cross is getting refurbished after all these years. I'll take a closer look for that bra the next time I am there.