Adios...

[dr_soarus]

Well, as a long-time lurker on the board who is now selling my 96X (see the classified ads on this site), I'd like to say thank you to all for the years of advice, ideas, cautions, and support you gave me (even if you didn't know it). The admiral wants a sailboat/condo, so we're purchasing a 2005 Hunter 33. It is a nice boat that sails well and has a little more room to lounge in than the Mac and we're looking forward to making it ours.

I will miss several things about the Mac:
1) Being able to drop the sails, lower the motor, and cruise back to the marina when I'm ready to go home.
2) The looks we get when pulling a tube/knee board/skier behind a sailboat.
3) The close knit community found here. I have yet to find anything similar for Hunter owners.

Fair winds,
Mike

[BOAT]

So all the San Diego people are gonna bail just when I'm getting started??

[Catigale]

Mike...fair winds and tides..and the subscription rate for Hunter owners is the same for Macs!!

[Tomfoolery]

Geez, I sold my H340 to get the last year. I really liked the Hunter, but she was a bit of a dock queen, but I get more use out of the , so I'll call it even. I miss sailing across Lake Ontario to Canada, though.

That 33 has a tall mast like the 340 at 56 ft. Tender with that giant main sail, but tuned well it would do hull speed no problem, and it's much more stable in a seaway than small boats, which I'm guessing the Admiral will like. Just reef early and reef often. Fasted I ever had it was with two reefs in the main and a little bit of working jib out, and that was whenever it was over ~16 kts.

I think you'll find that other sites (HunterOwners, for instance) don't have the camaraderie this place does, but still a lot of helpful folks willing to share. I actually used to moderate the H340 subsite when they had a different format.

Sorry to see you go, even if noone knew you were here, but that's the way it goes I guess.

[kmclemore]

Glad we were all helpful to you, but sorry to see you leaving. Of course, you don't *have* to leave... after all, sailing is sailing and most of the stuff is in common with other boats. We have several non-Mac owners who still are regular contributors to the forum, so you'd not be alone.

[robbarnes1965]

Looks like a nice boat. Enjoy!

I echo the previous comments about staying a lurker. There are many people on this board with a ridiculous amount of knowledge - not just specific to a Mac and the atmosphere is the best. I have been very seriously contemplating the sale of my Mac to take the next step to some bigger voyages but I can't envision not staying in touch with this forum.

[Kevin]

Mac owners are a heck of a lot more accepting of "alternative" boat styles and you can't beat this forum for community and group mind wisdom on all subjects. I reluctantly sold my M about six years ago (a year after buying another boat) and I'm still lurking here and learning from this group. Its only peer is the SSCA by a very narrow margin and only because SSCA acknowledges diesel and offshore destinations (appologies to Mad Mike).

[kmclemore]

[mod="kmclemore']You know, as a moderator here I can't help but be proud of my fellow mods and the members for keeping this a fair, open, accepting and friendly place to talk sailing. I can remember quite a few years ago when this was a contentious, angry and rancorous place and I'm *so* glad we've been largely able to move this into a place where everyone has a voice and yet is still respectful of each other. I know there are sometimes disagreements about our 'moderator rules', but I think in the end they've made this place one of the nicest, fairest and most useful of the 'net.

My thanks to all of you for what you've done to make the forum what it is today.

Cheers,
Kevin[/mod]

[NiceAft]

My thanks to all of you for what you've done to make the forum what it is today.

Kevin, if the back room was removed earlier, you would have been able to post that nice comment earlier.

Ray

[seahouse]

Aw. Cut it out! ...

You guys are making me cry!

But more seriously- stay safe, Mike.

[Russ]

Yea, you don't have to leave just because you bought a new boat.

Sounds like the admiral will be pleased. That's what it's all about right?

Ditto on this being a great site. Great mods for that.

--Russ

[waternwaves]

Plenty of MaCatHunBenJenSanter lurkers out there.......

Always time to read a forum once in a while. Still the same hobby.

[BOAT]

I can't afford to lose any more San Diego Mac sailors! They are all too rare as it is! I'm gonna be all alone out here, and you know those Hunter guys he's gonna be hanging out with now are not going to let him associate with a lowly Macgregor sailor! (They think we are the scrapings of the waterfront).

Please! No more "adios" from any San Diego Macgregor folks! I don't want to be all alone!

[dr_soarus]

I will continue to lurk about on this board. I do believe I won't sail quite as often on the Hunter, though will spend more time on the water as the accommodations are a bit nicer. I'll miss leaving work early, sailing for a few hours, motoring to Anthony's, JFATs, Pizza Nova, or C-Level for happy hour/dinner, then cruising back to the marina and still getting home before dark. Another good thing about the Mac is I've developed a thick skin - "real sailors" appreciate Hunters about as much as they do Macs!

BOAT, hopefully someone local buys my Mac and you won't lose a potential sailing partner, but will find someone to sail with. In that vein, you should look up the Venture Yacht Club of San Diego. They are a great group and very helpful also.

Mike

[dlandersson]

Move the Lake Michigan - we're all over the place.

I can't afford to lose any more San Diego Mac sailors! They are all too rare as it is! I'm gonna be all alone out here, and you know those Hunter guys he's gonna be hanging out with now are not going to let him associate with a lowly Macgregor sailor! (They think we are the scrapings of the waterfront).

Please! No more "adios" from any San Diego Macgregor folks! I don't want to be all alone!