Hello, A lot of folks who learned to sail, learned in various ways. Most of us started in these little dinky boats that had a dual purpose. Acting like row boats with long oars, then store them inside the boat and prop up the mast and boom for some sailing. Since we lived in Long Beach, the best area to learn to sail was an enclosed peninsula creating a smooth inside bay. Alamitos Bay is/was a great place to play all day. A nice long sandy shoreline on one side that was packed in some areas with sunbathers and totally deserted on other portions of the waterline. When we started to learn to sail in an 8 ft dinghy, it was a funny adventure. Two teenage football players at a summer location, not for surfing, although we did surf across the street as the end of the Long Beach Peninsula surf spot. (72nd street) But to see how to sail and spend the day trying to go all over the vast smooth waters of the Alamitos Bay. Most older folks remember this area was the training grounds for the Olympic games in 1960 and 1964. The Dragon became an Olympic Class, a status it retained until 1972. Jnaki But, for a couple of teenagers, we could only dream, as those sleek Olympic style sailboats cruised past us like a knife carving through butter. Stylish, fast and reeked of lots of continued sailing fun. Our little dinghy was no match for the fast wooden sailboat, despite the fact that we tried to keep up down the bay sailing. Note: As my wife and I got better at sailing, we were going to purchase a Dragon Sailboat. But, for our needs, the Dragon was not a deep ocean sailing boat. It was more suited to inland lakes and smooth bay sailing adventures. Not deep 3-6 foot plus swells and stronger winds as is the norm out in the ocean, away from the shoreline. Also, the top of the deck was only inches away from the water. If a 3 foot swell came up to the sides, it would instantly overflow the railing and down under, the low, sleek boat would go..... YIKES! Our sailboats were at least 3 ft above water and just as sleek through the ocean swells and wide spread endless ocean adventures. But, remembering those teenage years of yearning for ownership and being able to drive that sleek Dragon Sailboat, made it all worthwhile while sitting and having fun in our little 8 ft. dinghy/sailboat. YRMV
The Jalopy Journal
