hear you loud and clear toddster, I have pretty much encountered all your problems and more. Went to Stockton Lake, SW Missouri a few week-ends ago, heard it was the premier sailing lake in MO,...... for yachts yaah! The problem with trying a new lake out 1st time is that it usually is a recce run, checking out the area. I went to the state park public access ramp, concrete and more concrete, ramp, floating jetty in center of ramp, narrow access channel, cove protected by floating jetty acting as a water break to protect those ??????dollar yachts.
Like you, I rig in the parking lot, everything except the sail, bungee-reef the sail, back down the ramp, unfasten boat from trailer, put boat in water, fasten boat to jetty horn-cleat using my trap bungee cord, (I keep 2-3 different bungees on the tramp for emergency use) park truck and trailer, walk back to jetty, raise mainsail standing in water on slime-encrusted slippery ramp. Because this cove was protected on a lee shore from the wind, onthis occasion, I was able to turn the cat around facing the lake, walk it out along the jetty and step onto the tramp like a pro, paddled out for a short distance untill I felt some wind, eased along the very narrow channel and squeezed out between the break-water jetty that is staggered making things even more difficult, before hitting the main channel and finding wind.
The roller furling jib setup has turned out to be such a bonus for this trailer-sailor, I would highly recommend this setup to all in similar sailing situation, went back to Stockton last week-end and HOLA! found a soft sandy beach, many strange emotions came over me which I later realized were feelings of joy, sailed up on the beach and enjoyed it immensely, rolled on the soft sand and sunbathed, contentment.
Had an awesome day sailing that day, wind 15 mph, just perfect for a solo sailor, was able to trap out the entire width of the lake, blasting past those ??????dollar yachts who all eyeballed me enviously as I zipped past at 3 times their speed, payback can be such a beautiful bee-yach.
πΏ
Turbo
On-The-Edge-Of-No-Control
I see you are selling that girlie boat & getting a real cojonnes ship:lol:
Solo on that 18 will be a whole bunch of fun. The only downside is you can't take advantage of all that power without another body hanging over the side.
Seriously, if my wife wouldn't kill me for cluttering up the waterfront with yet another boat, I'd like to have a smaller Cat for soloing on days when the wind makes my 5.7 to much. I find that righting it solo more than once per sail gets tiring... hmmm maybe I should become a better sailor?
I can go all day without tipping, if i power down & sail more conservatively, but the real fun is to go balls to the wall, torpedoes be damned! I used to take my little Invitation out in 50 clicks,(30 mph)& didn't care if I flipped 1/2 dozen times, righting was a non event. Maybe I should talk that old gent down the point into selling me his Hobie 17, I see it has furling jib & wings.
E C Hilliard
Nacra 5.7
Bombardier Invitation