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First  sail in my 99x. Boat and family went to  Outerbanks, N.C./ Cape Fear river. We stayed at the slip for 20.00 per night for three days. We ended up only going out sailing one of the days because of the wind, but is was great.I was a little worried because the wind was 20-30 mph with higher gusts. However it was time to see what the Mac would do.  Ballast filled I reefed the main to the 3rd reef and used the 150 genoa. Going downwind my gps showed 9.5 knots. When we hit several broad reaches she put the railings under a tadd. Man it was great. We ended up sailing about 10 miles down wind befofe turing about to head back to port. The wind was hitting us straight on and I decided to drop the sails and fire up the 50hp merc for the return trip. With the sails down and ballast full the wind was still making her list 10-15 degress. I got soaked as the waves crashed over the bow - Man what fun!!I told my wife that future sailing would be more relaxing.  The only problem I had was trying to put the boat on the trailer in 25MPH side ways wind. I didnt have any keel or rudders down, after reading the posts that was not the right thing to do. The boat really catches the wind when blowing sideways.After all said it was a super first time out, and my family had a great time.

Congratulations...A baptism of fire in those winds. I take it the Mac is not your first sailboat.

If the Admiral is willing to go out again after that, you sir are a decent sailor and a lucky man.
Welcome aboard

My dad took me sailing when I was 10 years old-34 years ogo. This is the first sail since then.

Hey Garrett,
What was the air temp when you went out? Congrats on your first sail in the MAC, sounds perfectly exciting.
Q1

You buried the rail on a 26X on your first outing?!? You are amazing! My First Mate about had a heart attack when we leaned 10deg the first time! She learned to like heeling, but it took a while!

And getting the boat on and off the trailer was always our most stressful situation - somebody has to back the truck and somebody has to drive the boat and they can't be the same somebody! She chose driving the boat, which sometimes resulted in some funny (to everybody else) situations - including having the boat completely perpendicular to the trailer, but inside the pvc guideposts! The absolute worst time during a launch was when the boat slid off the trailer properly, but the engine wouldn't start...as she slowly drifted away with me helplessly watching. Yah, that was a good day. We ended up buying the Beneteau shortly after that one...

In cross wind situations, I found the best thing to do is to get the bow between the posts and have the person at the trailer be in the water to help guide her onto the bunks. With practice, you can do it without getting wet, but the freeboard of the X makes it tricky.

Have you learned about the MacGregor "bump" yet?

Dean Thomas
Dutch Harbor Boat Yard, Jamestown, RI
Formerly Lion's Paw, 1999 MacGregor 26X
Now Second Wind, 2001 Beneteau 361

It was 72F degrees that day. Except for the wind it was comfortable.

Question on the MAC bump. I can't seem do do it right. My trailer does not have electric brakes--- does that make a difference?

Should make it easier if it has any effect, but Im guessing it doesnt.

In the US, Macs dont have electric brakes, but surge brakes which are hydraulically actuated at the hitch.

Just a question. The Cape Fear River inlet and the Outer Banks are separated by a hundred miles. Where was your sailing done? Ocean, river, sound, inlet...?

We launched and stayed at the Carolina Beach State Park. Great slip accomodations. We then Sailed North up to Wilmington,N.C. On the Cape Fear River. Its located on the intercoastal, a short passage 2-3 miles could take you into the Ocean next to Fort Fisher. I would definately return for another trip. This time I would watch the weather ( Wind) a little closer

garrett: Where are the slips at CB State Park? Are you talking about the ones at Ft Fisher? The only other ones I know about are private. My sister had a slip (just sold it... and her 34' Hunter) and lives in Wilmington. Just curious as I have not noticed the public slips. ICW is beautiful in that area.





Allan

They had 10 Transiant slips , full power and water, only 2 were being used ( me and another sailboat)- 20.00 per night, great showers, nice store, great set-up area. The ramp docks were in need of repair, but usable. They have an additional 20-30 slips that they rent seasonly/ monthly-- Carolina Beach State Park Marina, next to Kerr Beach, Fort Fisher.

Thats the ones I was thinking of, by Ft Fisher. I had hoped that their were newer ones that I had some how missed. We will be back down there in August for a week or so.




Allan

Garrett - Congrats on your first outing!! I just got back in yesterday from a week on my 26X with my 2 brothers and a friend (4 good sized adults)! WE HAD A BLAST!!! Sailed the upper Keys here in South Florida all week ... boy, do I have some stories to tell.

We had our boat LOADED down with food, water, fishing supplies and a lot of gear ... our goal was to go to Bimini for the week ... we never made it due to the 15-20 knot winds all week - Gulfstream was 5 to 8 feet all week ... just as well, because our Plan B was to do the upper keys and we had a great time.

This was my first outting with our Mac so loaded down. It performed excellent. We put 4 fishing rod holders on her for deep sea trolling ... they worked excellent and we caught one nice Mackrell and had 2 other big strikes that got away!

Hey, what other boat can you do all this in - motor, sail, deep sea fish, go in 1.5 feet of water (pull up to any island)??? The Mac is such an awesome boat ... !! I'm in love (don't tell my wife ... heehehee)

[Getting water in my boat ... I think from the ballast tank ... had to hand bilge pump it out all week ... will create another post on this because I need everyones help ...]

- Blessings

Please let me know about the upper Keys. That was our plan 1 , we had reservations at Bahia Honda State Park but we decided on a 6 hr drive vs. a 20 hour drive because of the gas prices. Sound like you had a Blast !!