You Know You're Old When....

[Editor]

We we're pondering the graying of our sport the other day and came up with a few:

....you wonder why you don't see bloopers any more.

...you remember when Dave Ullman "was just a kid."

...you get nostalgic at the sight of a pintail stern.

...you think multihulls are weird and don't belong in racing fleets.

...think Windward Passage is the greatest boat ever.

...still think aluminum rigs are safer than carbon.

...you think AC boats are 12 meters.

...you still say "you can't go wrong with Dacron."

...consider dinghy racing to be 'junior sailing."

....think IOR was "the good old days.".

...you wonder why sprit boats don't just "pull the pole back."

...think Sailing World is still good.

Got a few of your own?

09/16/08

 

[WCB]

This past Saturday a skipper hailed, "mast abeam" to us. We all started laughing at him as he reached off across our bow (going upwind).

 

[bobrynd]

You know your old when you have regatta t-shirts as old as your college aged kids.

 

[sailforbeer]

... When you hear "tapered halyard", you assume that is tapered from rope to wire.

 

[mustang__1]

what the fuck's IOR and a blooper? sic.

 

[egon]

One of my crew said this weekend after the race. "Symmetrical chutes, I haven't trimmed one in over 15 years, it's like riding a bicycle"

--Matt

 

[sailforbeer]

... and when you see these "modern" boats with chines, you think "IOR measurement bump".

 

[PeterHuston]

You KNOW you are old when...

...you wonder why you don't see bloopers any more....and think they are still really cool...

...you remember when Dave Ullman "was just a kid."...and now you go to his son Jake's engagement party...and his son is in his early 30's

...you get nostalgic at the sight of a pintail stern....and give serious consideration to rehabbing an old two tonner...because now you can afford one.

...you think multihulls are weird and don't belong in racing fleets...but you wish someone would say "have a Hobie Day"...

...think Windward Passage is the greatest boat ever....and you know it still is when you see it at Ardell's now...

...still think aluminum rigs are safer than carbon....because they are painted cool colors...

...you think AC boats are 12 meters....but you know the only real racing is taking place in Newport in 12's at NYYC...

...you still say "you can't go wrong with Dacron."....and you are right every time you see 3DL delam, which is every day...

...consider dinghy racing to be 'junior sailing."....because you can't get under the boom of a dinghy any more...

....think IOR was "the good old days."....because Grillon was God then

...you wonder why sprit boats don't just "pull the pole back."...and wonder what their proper course is when compared to your two tonner

...think Sailing World is still good....because all you ever read are those old copies from the '70s you left in the bathroom

 

[snipelee]

...you changed headsails (often) during a buoy race

...you had a reaching strut on a 26 footer

...you had an inboard diesel on the same 26 footer

...you gybed around the baby-stay

...you had no running-backs, but did have running-lowers

...MORC was a big deal

...PHRF was for pretenders

...IOR was where the "big boys" played

...SORC was a big deal

...Gary Jobson was (and still should be) an unknown...

 

[barleymalt]

Wonder what happened to the wire sheets and guys..

You remember when the SORC was actually a big deal..

You owned a set of Line 7 gear..

Know what LORAN is and have actually used a radio direction finder

Have navigated using paper charts and DR plots.

Fondly remember broaching

 

[pmonkey3686]

PHRF is still for pretenders

 

[sailforbeer]

...think Windward Passage is the greatest boat ever.

Passage IS the greatest boat. Ever.

I don't know about you, Ed, but I'll take WP over any carbon canting water ballasted speedboat.

In thirty years, no one will remember a JuanK99, ABN Amro, Alfa, Wild Outs, STP65s, AC90s, whatever... but I bet people still remember Windward Passage.

 

[Phil]

Passage IS the greatest boat. Ever.
I don't know about you, Ed, but I'll take WP over any carbon canting water ballasted speedboat.

In thirty years, no one will remember a JuanK99, ABN Amro, Alfa, Wild Outs, STP65s, AC90s, whatever... but I bet people still remember Windward Passage.

Word

 

[The Profit]

You hear "trip" and "made" while racing

you think that safety harnesses and PFDs offshore are for pussies

you are excited to see something in a sailing magazine for the first time (it was here a month earlier)

you have been aboard a boat during a round down

the only winches you know about begin with a "B"

Gatorback is the rage

you like black anodized toe rail from stem to stern for maximum adjustment on jib leads

you like to put lead blocks in the bilge under your carbon floorboards to get a better rating

 

[PeterHuston]

Passage IS the greatest boat. Ever.
I don't know about you, Ed, but I'll take WP over any carbon canting water ballasted speedboat.

In thirty years, no one will remember a JuanK99, ABN Amro, Alfa, Wild Outs, STP65s, AC90s, whatever... but I bet people still remember Windward Passage.

I wasn't kidding about seeing Passage at Ardell's - it's there in Newport Beach, and is in perfect, pristine yacht condition.

The Ed should stop by, get some real pics, and do a story on her.

 

[graffiti]

> You Know You're Old When....

You post the same article twice on the front page.

(Didn't think anyone saw that eh?)

 

[Editor]

Passage IS the greatest boat. Ever.
I don't know about you, Ed, but I'll take WP over any carbon canting water ballasted speedboat.

In thirty years, no one will remember a JuanK99, ABN Amro, Alfa, Wild Outs, STP65s, AC90s, whatever... but I bet people still remember Windward Passage.

Couldn't agree more, brother.

 

[nolatom]

You got beat by a cotton mainsail.

With Merriman winches, with the slide-in handles

With a committee boat with a real cannon, leaving real gunpowder stains on your sail if you were on the boat end of the line, and on time.

 

[redboat]

......no one wants to go to Newport with you because their sick of hearing old America's Cup stories (lies) and exploits before Newport became a mall.

......you keep wondering where the Intrepid bumper sticker is.

......you still think a 110 is one of the greatest boats.

......you see the shredded remains of an AquaCat and smile.

......you drive up City Island Avenue and still expect to see 12 meters at Minnefords.