You're quite welcome.
My husband has been a sailor for many years and is certified to bare-boat charter anywhere in the world. But he hasn't sailed with dogs. I have my basic keelboat certification, but am very much a novice sailor in all respects.
My apologies -- I misunderstood. I thought you (especially he) had many years of experience with
powerboating but far more limited experience under sail.
I'm on my 11th sailboat (1 Comet, 3 Snipes, 3 C-scows, 1 Pearson Ensign, 1 Ericson 26, 1 S2 6.9, 1 S2 6.7). I think US weather forecasting now is FAR better than in prior years -- but
only IF one meticulously checks it and stays connected with S.A.M.E. weather radio. (I have an Icom marine band radio with an option that intrudes SAME bulletins as an override and I take it to our weekly LabFests when
ever weather is iffy).
A slight digression on this thread gives me the great pleasure of reminiscing.
In earlier years, I loved sailing in strong winds [25 mph in my Comet (appropriately named
"Blow ye Winds") and in my C-scows -- a former racing crew member of mine, a classmate from Florida, visited me when I had a wooden C-scow which had bilge board trunks fully open on their tops. Don was only here for a few days so, for kicks, we took out the scow in westerly winds about 25+ mph and blowing so that we had reaches going both N & S in a lake that also lay that direction. We had rooster tails spurting up through the BB trunks about 25 feet in the air on both sides!
And I enjoyed another memorable afternoon sailing (reefed) my Ericson 26 in 30-45 mph.
The 2 most dangerous times I've ever experienced were when unexpected fronts came through. At those times, winds can change speed and directions within a second or two from, say, 7 mph to 50-70 mph and 180 degrees or more.
One time I was taking a VERY desirable (IMO) divorced mother I was dating along with her 4 year old son for a gentle afternoon sail in my Snipe in winds about 5 mph. A front suddenly came through and we instantly had winds in the >30+ range. Carolyn clutched her frightened son tightly (quite appropriately) and was unavailable to help as crew. We weren't awfully far out and I managed to bring the boat in safely so that people watching ashore could grab us and help Carolyn and her son get safely on land. I doubt that
that experience doomed our relationship -- our 25+ age differences might possibly have inappropriately counted more, but who knows?
Another time I was sailing under full sail (main & 150 genoa) with a longtime partner in my Pearson Ensign (22.5' keelboat) in gentle, early evening breezes. Suddenly, we were hit by 70+ mph winds (so recorded at the local marina -- several larger boats sank) from a cold front and it instantly heeled us 90 degrees, slapping our sails on the water.
When our boat somewhat righted, Karen was able to make her way forward and pull down the genny while I was magically able to get our 6 hp Merc (its first & only time ever) started on its first pull. We made it back to our slip under awful conditions and probably somewhat glad we were alive -- (but, maybe, it was
later that evening I experienced that?
)
At any rate, in many years of sailing, those were the 2 most unexpected events I've had.
But it's taught me that, in sailing, the unexpected rarely, but unexpectedly, always happens.
Oh!, back to your Catalina -- your companionway steps/ladder may take some revising.
Those on on my S2 6.7 are far too steep for Puff to climb so she leaps on a side berth, then uses that as a springboard to leap through the hatch; she reverses that to make her way down. But our's is surely a lesser distance than on your MUCH larger Catalina.
Your steps may take some modifying to make egress
from/ingress
to the cabin easier for both Labs.
While my Bess would've climbed or descended even a ladder (or maybe even a rope) if it got her to what she wanted, my Puff is much more a girly-girl in that respect.
Here's to many years of delightful sailing experiences with your Labs!
