How to have MORE FUN...

Posted By: Gary "Doc" Hansen
Date: 6/23/00 1:14p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

How to have MORE FUN… by Gary "Doc" Hansen I'm a FUN JUNKY… I can't help it. It's always been the thing that I've wanted to do most. Not only do I like having fun, but also I've actually WORKED at finding ways… to have MORE FUN. I would like to share some ideas with you, and see what you think. If you have any ideas about this topic… PLEASE, let me know. There is PLENTY room to post YOUR IDEAS up here toooooooo. [*]P-L-A-N... This is a big, big part of any trip. Get the maps, charts, or cruising guides of the area you are going to visit. Have a "chart party" with the family/crew and see what they would like to see and do, in the area that you are going. I usually do all this kind of stuff about a MONTH before a trip… it's like FOREPLAY. [*]Try to get some LOCAL KNOWLEDGE... This can make all the difference in the trip. The people that LIVE in that area KNOW what fun there is to be had. They also know the good places to eat, park, launch, get parts… So, where do you find these people? Well, you're in luck… THE BOARD has TONS of friendly people living all over the United States and the WORLD for that matter. You know that they like to sail or they wouldn't be here, so this is an EXCELLENT place to begin. I like to think of the "Trailer Sailor Online" as the WORLDS BIGGEST YACHT CLUB. Try posting your trip plans on the board, and see if perhaps some other folks have "been there, done that". They might offer some good ideas from their experience. [*]History... Humans keep records of about everything. Take WEATHER for example, you can find out the weather just by studying the years past. Now, this won't give you an EXACT forecast, but almanacs can tell you the previous trends. For example you know NOT to visit Arizona in the summer if you don't like the HEAT. You can find out about the rainfall during the month that you'll be visiting, average temperatures, tides and currents, wave height, even average wind speed. All kinds of useful stuff can be had. Try calling the visitors center in the state(s) you'll be going, or visit them Online. [*]Have "Plan B"... This means don't run such a narrow schedule that should there be a disruption, you are stumped. If you can't sail on a particular day, know what there is to do ashore. I like museums or chandleries to go poke around in looking for boat parts. In fact, I like walking the docks and just looking at boats… but some might find that a bore. Don't be afraid to use public transportation. Here is where your map work will come in handy. Most bus drivers take pity on the sailor, and will give you some help getting around. It's a cheap and effective way to see some sights with the car back at the launch ramp. [*]Last, I hate to sound like an advertisement here... but since our passion is SAILING… and we are most likely to be doing that on most of our outings… take pictures, and write an article that we all can see. Let others know what you did, and what you would have liked to do. Tell us how, and where, and when is a good time to visit. Share the experience with those who are doing what we ALL like to do. Putting an article on the Home Page of Trailer Sailor gets viewed by THOUSANDS of sailors… and, that's a GOOD THING. Summer is the time of GREAT ADVENTURES for us sailing folk. We have the family trips, we have the long weekends, and we have the vacation time… but most of all we have those TRAILERS and we can stretch our boundaries a little. Towing at 55 MPH will get you over the horizon in no time… or if you have your boat already in the water, you can take longer excursions in your local sailing waters. Either way you have endless opportunities to enjoy that boat and JUST HAVE FUN. We are so fortunate to have this HUGE support group of "Trailer Sailors" out there… to help guide us to a good spot to do it. Let the resource bring you joy!!! [docsig]