So do you have any trips planned already and ...

[Sumner]

Tortugas is on our list as well .be great if we could get a group together .

The group thing could be fun but also people should always be prepared to handle situations that might come up and cause the group to become 'un-grouped'. That can happen at times so while there is something to be said for safety in numbers it might not always work out well.

Here is a link to a group of Macs that went out in 2004 and has some good info about the trip...

http://thecyberbuddy.com/sailing/dry%20 ... 202004.htm

Sumner

============================
Our MacGregor 26-S

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[Chinook]

Thanks for the link, Sum. Great account of a group sail out to the Tortugas. It really points out the advantages and disadvantages of going as part of a group. For me, the disadvantages substantially outweigh the benefits. The group is only as capable as its least experienced and most poorly equipped member. Any problem with any member impacts and delays the entire group. Decisions on whether to go, when to go and where to go are dependent on group discussion. In my opinion, if the primary reason for joining a group on a cruise of this sort is unease over one's own ability to undertake the cruise alone, you should probably focus on increasing your boat's reliability and your cruising experience, rather than thinking that another member of the group will bail you out. The one valid reason for going in a group, in my view, is for socializing. We find that friends are quickly made among cruisers at an anchorage or marina. Also, if we have a problem while out on the water that we can't readily solve on our own, the VHF radio is what we primarily rely on. Any boat in the vicinity will provide assistance. In the case of this Conch Cruisers trip out to the Dry Tortugas, many of these issues are illustrated. The biggest concern I have is over the decision to pull out for the return trip. Whenever conditions are so severe that anchors get torn loose, rudders get broken, and kicker motors get lost overboard, the decision to go must be seriously questioned. I suspect that one or more members of the group were not equipped to stay put until the weather improved. Either that or some had time constraints which pushed them to go when they should have stayed put. Just my opinion.

[Bobglas]

Looking at hauling down to the Chesapeake this Spring, Summer, fall? Maybe put in around Annapolis? Any advice re: timing, ramps, parking?

[Sumner]

Thanks for the link, Sum. Great account of a group sail out to the Tortugas. It really points out the advantages and disadvantages of going as part of a group. For me, the disadvantages substantially outweigh the benefits. The group is only as capable as its least experienced and most poorly equipped member. Any problem with any member impacts and delays the entire group. Decisions on whether to go, when to go and where to go are dependent on group discussion. In my opinion, if the primary reason for joining a group on a cruise of this sort is unease over one's own ability to undertake the cruise alone, you should probably focus on increasing your boat's reliability and your cruising experience, rather than thinking that another member of the group will bail you out. The one valid reason for going in a group, in my view, is for socializing. We find that friends are quickly made among cruisers at an anchorage or marina. Also, if we have a problem while out on the water that we can't readily solve on our own, the VHF radio is what we primarily rely on. Any boat in the vicinity will provide assistance. In the case of this Conch Cruisers trip out to the Dry Tortugas, many of these issues are illustrated. The biggest concern I have is over the decision to pull out for the return trip. Whenever conditions are so severe that anchors get torn loose, rudders get broken, and kicker motors get lost overboard, the decision to go must be seriously questioned. I suspect that one or more members of the group were not equipped to stay put until the weather improved. Either that or some had time constraints which pushed them to go when they should have stayed put. Just my opinion.

Exactly my thoughts. If you have doubts about you are your boat's ability to go somewhere don't go no matter who is in the group and I don't want to be out where a 'time schedule' dictates when I move,

Sumner

============================
Our MacGregor 26-S

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[Tony E]

Hello all,

Its interesting reading where everyone is going on a trip and where some people are hoping to go on a trip? For me I think one of the differences is or could be that I still work and and I have to plan trips at least a half a year in advance if not up to a year due to asking for certain times for holidays and actually just getting the time frame off. From there if I am lucky enough to get my very specific 2 to 3 weeks off this summer and from there I have to make sure It is enough time to do what I would like to do or go and that everything is set and working fine so when the time come up I am not wasting time fixing things. So I am not retired yet (hopefully 3 years to go) and I only get so much time a year to do so many trips but I am wondering if everyone else is like that or are you retired or semi retired and you just say things like " I'd like to do a trip down there this year sometime" because you don't have to plan it 100% yet? If that's the case then I really can't wait to retire and just wake up one day and say " I think I'll grab the Mac and do a trip." Wow that would be nice. So what is it for you? working full blast/part time ish/semi retried or full time living the dream and then that will give me a better of idea on how you have to plan and wish for certain trips.

[Chinook]

We bought our boat a year before retirement. We spent that first season going out every chance we could, learning how to operate the boat and preparing for a year long retirement trip with the boat. Since then, I wouldn't say we take trips on a spontaneous basis. We like to go on extended cruises, and usually to places we haven't been to before. This requires lots of planning and preparation. I try to figure out the optimal time of year for each cruise, and then I plan my activities between now and departure date so as to have the boat in best possible shape by the time we head out. For those who keep their boat in a slip, I imagine that day sails and short overnight outings could readily be taken on a more spontaneous basis. I must say, however, that retirement and MacGregors make for a very nice combination.

[Azzarac]

We had planned this summer to sail Grand Traverse Bay beginning in Traverse City to Mackinac Island and back stopping at all the interesting points along the way. I spent months researching the trip and acquired all necessary charts and guide books. This winter our oldest daughter was accepted into her #1 choice of universities, Yale. Unfortunately for me, Yale does not give merit based scholarships so for the next four years it looks like we will be spending our time sailing the local lakes. Lucky for us we have several good lakes around us to choose from.

[Starscream]

So what is it for you? working full blast/part time ish/semi retried or full time living the dream and then that will give me a better of idea on how you have to plan and wish for certain trips.

Do you know what the three best things about teaching are? June, July and August.
Two years ago I decided to give up my position as director of engineering for a division of a large multinational, and cut my salary by 66% in return for summer freedom.
I was using the Mac about 3 times per year before I quit and started teaching engineering technology at a local college. Now I can sail every day I want to in the summer, and I can plan family trips during weekdays when there aren't so many people and motorboats and jetskis. Often in May, September and October I can work sailing into my work schedule: teach a class...off to sail for a couple of hours...back to teach again in the afternoon.

It's totally been worth it. I have to admit slogging through endless corrections in the evening hours is tough, but there has to be some drawback!

[Tony E]

Good for you Star scream. It sounds like its working out and you figured out that it is not all about the Doh Rah Me $$$. Yah you can work your butt off and hopefully make it until you retire with lots of money or retire on time or even early with less money and actually live to enjoy it:) Good for you !!

[CFCassidy]

My sailing has been limited lately to the occasional day sail due to being so busy at work. But we are off on a new adventure. We are moving the product line that I run from CA to our factory in Tampa, FL so the Seven C's is living up to its name. It is moving to the Gulf of Mexico after spending 3 years in the Pacific. I am looking forward to exploring Tampa Bay and the surrounding area.

[Chinook]

Its been my experience that I tend to either have the time but not the money, or the money but not the time. I decided early in life that, to the maximum extent possible, I would favor on the side of quality time and not unduly devote my life to the pursuit of money. Considering my bank account, I figure I've succeeded beyond my wildest expectations in this respect. I never imagined that I would ever be in a position to own a sailboat, and it was only because Roger figured out how to build an entry level sailboat for novices of limited means, such as myself, that I was able to experience the world of cruising in my own sailboat. When the X was succeeded by the M, the new boat price of entering this world began to creep up, and the brief run of the Tattoo 26 continued this trend. It would appear that these price increases have managed to run the production of new affordable, trailerable sailboats capable of being converted into extended cruisers right out of the market. Of course, this just means that we all have an obligation to keep the thousands of X, M, and Tattoo boats currently in service well cared for, so that their usable lives will enable others of both limited means and experience the opportunity to discover the joys of cruising.

[Starscream]

http://thecyberbuddy.com/sailing/dry%20 ... 202004.htm

Sumner

Here is a link to a report of the same trip by another one of the cruisers on that voyage. A different perspective.

http://www.wildhairsailing.net/tortugasstory.htm

[dlandersson]

Nice sense of humor. lol

"We were cooking along just fine until the wind dropped off a little bit. Then the unthinkable happened – boats started passing us."

http://thecyberbuddy.com/sailing/dry%20 ... 202004.htm

Sumner

Here is a link to a report of the same trip by another one of the cruisers on that voyage. A different perspective.

http://www.wildhairsailing.net/tortugasstory.htm