In a message dated 3/28/01 5:32:28 AM Eastern Standard Time, rhj@pacific.net.hk writes: << Somebody said a couple of months ago he was going back to sailing, to have "something" to do the whole day, >> Sounds like that boy needs more toys on his bridge. Let's email his address to all the marine electronic catalogs. {8^) Al Johnson 34' Marine Trader "Angelina"

><< Somebody said a couple of months ago he was going back > to sailing, to have "something" to do the whole day, >> We just finished a 10 day trip with Skooch to the Virgin Islands, these are entrenched sailboat islands. We had two couples both with extensive sail charter experience in these same islands. Certainly they could hardly complain about our Hatteras 42 LRC trawler as they were guests but some of the comments may help differentiate between trawlering and sailing. First off, I had to explain why we were passed by a large 60+ sailboat on a reach in 15 knots of wind. Serveral of our crew fell asleep to the soft purr of the detroits while I went into the propulsion physics of boats. I think it was the purr of the detroits that made them sleep. Trawlers are not faster. Next we passed a 36 Moorings who had not been able or willing to get the wind angle the 60+ footer had (the 60+ was coming 35 degrees more east) and of course everyone knew by this time the theory of hull speed. I suggested to the crew that the 36 was having a bit of rough going in the 6-8 foot waves and 15+ trades, they all seemed to agreed. Then I causiously asked them what they thought it will be like for him to go back to St Croix. Silence, then Ouch, that would be uphill. The admrial said if it was her she'd take the sea plane, and thats why she bought (I pay the maintainence -thats another story) the trawler. Next we had to deal with changing filters and cleaning the bildge after the Naiad stabilizers disgorged their entire reserve. After several hours in the holy place I got comments comparing work on rigging and sails to work in the engine room. I did get a request to run the A/C one calm night and we got updates on March Madness on ESPN which seemed to raise an eye lid or two. The 18 foot refer from GE made the gals feel at home. There was some admiration for the 250 gallons of water on board, vs sailboats, but this ended in an orgy of showers forcing us to take on 200 gallons at the Bitter End for $46.00, just 6 days out. Dinner at Saba Rock was $300 for 6 people, so who cares about a little water bill. More things to break and fix. Hooked to a mooring in Watermellon Cove, St John, I asked the admiral if she thought I would offend anyone if I ran the generator for awhile. She replied, What?, I can't hear you over the whine of the two wind generators on the sailboat next door. We were the only power boat with 75 sailboats. Just to make sure they all had something to compain about I turned on the two 150 watt halegen deck lights for half an hour that night. We spent the rest of the trip amoung the sailboats, 20% were Catamarans as wide as they are long. When the ice maker's water feed line clogged up and the endless supply of ice stopped, that marked the end of the trip. Of course that's "alot of systems to keep after". David Stahl Hatteras 42 LRC Skooch St. Croix USVI David Stahl ************************************************************** Kennett Internet Services, 112 S. Union Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348 610-444-9008 Visit our web site at http://www.kennett.net