MacGregorSailors.com

Whooooo..stop right there "Bad guys trying to get on board (twice) "....I got to hear more about that story...come on Madmike...lets hear it...

Please do not take this as the 'be all & end all' concerning how to use sails to an advantage given the current way you operate your boat. That said, here goes;

Find yourself a (really cheap) sailmaker who has some old jibs that could be cut & would work on your boat and have him (or your wife, or local shoe maker-they still exist?) cut you a small hanked on storm headsail (about 10-15% of a normal jib, I would think) bungie it to your forward lifeline with light bungies or heavy rubberbands (it can live there forever). Make sure the headsail halyard (or a second halyard & sheets) is attached & leads back to the cockpit when out motoring. Same for the main (a 10-15% sail, bungied against the mast), make sure the clew does not extend past where you plan to sheet from. This system requires no boom & the sail area is small enough to handle without problems when learning to use it without scaring yourself. With a little forethought you might even be able to make it all look nice & it will be well out of the way. Then next time the breeze picks up to the point where you are starting to get uncomfortable put up the small sails and motorsail with them. If you think you are getting in over your head, release the sails & pull them in (can't much hurt such things) and motor home. If you are comfortable try it in a little stronger breeze next time. You can't tack with this system, so you still need some power to get you around. Should help make the boat quite a bit more stable. I once used this set-up to bring back a salvaged hunter from the Bahamas without much trouble. Again, just a suggestion (food for thought).MM

OK #1 was no big deal, but I didn't know that at the time.

Cruz Bay, St. John USVI 1999: A drunk on his honeymoon was out swimming around in the bay, climbing on boats near his hotel (Gallows Point Resort) late at night and diving off. Being a city boy it did not come to mind that if a boat had a tender attached there was likely somebody sleeping on board (i.e. me). When he got on board and saw the cabin open he decided to come below. I woke up when the boat shifted and saw a dark shadow over the bunk. Naturally, I jumped up and hit him in the face as hard as possible before saying 'Hello'. He turned around and got into the cockpit and tried to dive overboard, but I managed to grab a leg as he went over the side. As we had been having alot of engines come up missing I didn't want to turn him loose. The boat next to me was Capt. Phil on Wayward Sailor (a day charter Capt.). I started shouting and Phil came up on deck and used his flashlight to spot the guy (who now had been underwater head first for quite some time). Phil said he looked like a tourist so catch and release might be in order; I let him go. Later in the week we ran into the guy at Woody's Seafood Bar & Grill. Turns out he was a Marine on his honeymoon (and not a little guy), had quite a shinner. Next incident was off the 'Para' near Trinidad and was a bit more exciting. Stay Tuned, more later MM

being a marine explains why he could last so long head underwater........... heheheheh

I'd say it explains a little more, but Chip would drive out here and kick my butt...