Bob Burgess' book is the reason why I fell in love with small sailboats as a child. I grew up cruising the coast of Maine with my parents on larger keelboats. During one of our summer trips we stopped somewhere along the cruise where there was a bookstore, and I was allowed to pick one book... I ended up with a copy of The Handbook of Trailer Sailing. I was like 10 years old. I wanted a Com-Pac 16 for years and years after that. I eventually got one in my late 20's. Now 40 years later (with a whole slew of boats in between) I'm on my second Com-Pac 19.
Excellent article. Yes, I once saw a Hobie 16 careen full tilt about 50' onto a grassy public beach. Three young lads spontaneously launched, then rolled another 20' to a dead stop of endless expletives and laughter! 😝😆🤮
Best feature of sailing lakes with a small sailing rig happens at the end of the day while anchoring. I have a WW Potter 19 and it is so convenient to sail right up on to shore and set an anchor line wrapped around a tree truck or boulder (whatever), instead of anchoring by sliding along the mud, or what have you, off shore. No anchor watch or heavy chain to keep you anchored and safe. No seagrass to foul or slip free of your grab of the bottom. Plus, your sleep is stabilized on land, especially if bad weather should approach your "anchorage". I forgot who said it, and I quote, "Tis better to tie off to the solid earth than to hook into it."
At our last messabout I unintentionally sailed our Core Sound 20 right up "into the rough". We stopped before a sandbar to assess the breakers and the beach. Two larger waves had other ideas and flung us straight like an arrow directly on to the sandy beach. Those behind us followed because "you looked like you knew what you were doing." If they only knew ...
The best sleep I ever had was on the tramp of a beached Hobie. All night sea breeze, the sound of the breakers, a nice pillow and a couple blankets was the ticket.
Bob Burgess' book is the reason why I fell in love with small sailboats as a child. I grew up cruising the coast of Maine with my parents on larger keelboats. During one of our summer trips we stopped somewhere along the cruise where there was a bookstore, and I was allowed to pick one book... I ended up with a copy of The Handbook of Trailer Sailing. I was like 10 years old. I wanted a Com-Pac 16 for years and years after that. I eventually got one in my late 20's. Now 40 years later (with a whole slew of boats in between) I'm on my second Com-Pac 19.
Thanks, Bob!
Excellent article. Yes, I once saw a Hobie 16 careen full tilt about 50' onto a grassy public beach. Three young lads spontaneously launched, then rolled another 20' to a dead stop of endless expletives and laughter! 😝😆🤮
Best feature of sailing lakes with a small sailing rig happens at the end of the day while anchoring. I have a WW Potter 19 and it is so convenient to sail right up on to shore and set an anchor line wrapped around a tree truck or boulder (whatever), instead of anchoring by sliding along the mud, or what have you, off shore. No anchor watch or heavy chain to keep you anchored and safe. No seagrass to foul or slip free of your grab of the bottom. Plus, your sleep is stabilized on land, especially if bad weather should approach your "anchorage". I forgot who said it, and I quote, "Tis better to tie off to the solid earth than to hook into it."
At our last messabout I unintentionally sailed our Core Sound 20 right up "into the rough". We stopped before a sandbar to assess the breakers and the beach. Two larger waves had other ideas and flung us straight like an arrow directly on to the sandy beach. Those behind us followed because "you looked like you knew what you were doing." If they only knew ...
The best sleep I ever had was on the tramp of a beached Hobie. All night sea breeze, the sound of the breakers, a nice pillow and a couple blankets was the ticket.
Bob’s description of sliding onto a beach with his Hobie brought a flood of memories.
Michael Walsh and I camp cruised the Bahama islands for years aboard a 14’ Hobie while towing a 17’ Old Town canoe loaded with camping gear.
It was tricky enough landing through the surf but then we’d have to grab the tag-along canoe as it careened ashore.
Our book Beachcruising and Coastal Camping describes that idyllic life, with the hope of inspiring others…as Bob’s books do so well.
One of the "must-haves" of any small-boat library: https://www.amazon.com/Beachcruising-Coastal-Camping-Ida-Little/dp/0918752159