We're on an Olsen 27 coming into one of the slips in Marina del Rey. Because of the buildings, the wind always comes straight down the channel so there's a lot of tacking involved. It was windy asf today to the point that we were running a smaller jib than usual and still moving pretty fast. I (she/her) am up on foredeck handling the sails and being a range finder lol.

So mesmerized by the sun coming up, the flatness of the water and still thinking about the Vino Verde with seabass from the grill at a local restaurant, that I completely missed this sandspit luckily it was soft sand and impact was mild😉.

Hello friends, about a month ago I became the the lucky bastard to buy a 1989 Passport 40. She is starting to show her age and I need some advice on how to best repair and clean the gel coat. See photo.

TIA

I want to go faster than other boats, at this point dinghies and small keel boats. I know the very basics (try to get all tell tales flying, try to keep the luff of the spinnaker right on the edge of curling). Now I want to learn how to manipulate everything (jib cars, traveler, boom vang, outhaul, etc) to get the sails working together as well as possible, and I want to learn the science behind everything as well.

Has anyone had any experience with an online course or resource that not only teaches you what you should be doing to trim sails, but also the reasons why all the trim adjustments matter?

I'm looking at NauticEd, I like how they have animations of how different adjustments change airflow. Just not sure if they're good or if anyone knows of something better.

One day I want to potentially buy a live in boat and travel a bit. I travel europe a lot in my campervan so looking at a live in boat looks like an appealing way to travel or live.

The issue I have is, I've just no sailing experience whatsoever - I don't even know if I like sailing, or living on a boat. Although I do enjoy travelling by ship in general.

I'm wondering if anyone has any advice on just getting started. Like stepping a toe into the water. And then what to expect when really getting into it.

If theres something thats like renting and staying on a boat for some time, which is affordable then any info on stuff like that would be great.

I'd love to be able to imagine the journey from where I am today, to actually owning the boat.

I found a Boston Whaler Harpoon 5.2 with a trailer. Sails were in good condition as was the trailer.

Essentially 17 feet with a 7.5 foot beam.

One upgrade I was wondering about is adding a furler mechanism for the jib.

Has anyone ever seen that done? Does it make sense for what is essentially a trailered day sailer?

I want to out fit this as a cruising Dinhy. See Roger Barnes and the dinghy cruising association. With the size of the boat I think it would make a good cruiser.

This is a nice boat. It’s not cosmetically perfect but it is 45 years old.