USGG 50-Ton Master Captain Jeff Vegas

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Beryl be damned! An update from LTD Sailing: A Chance to Sail and Support Post-Hurricane Relief

Hello sailors! I’m excited to share some important news about Living The Dream Sailing (LTD), a fantastic sailing school I have the pleasure of working with as a freelance instructor. They’ve recently provided an update on their operations and recovery efforts following Hurricane Beryl, and there’s a great opportunity for you to get involved while enjoying a sailing adventure.

LTD Sailing: Back in Action

Despite the impact of Hurricane Beryl, LTD Sailing, located in the beautiful Grenadines, is fully operational and ready to welcome sailors. Thankfully, Grenada, where LTD Sailing is based, experienced only minor effects from the storm. The neighboring islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique faced more significant challenges, but the local communities are showing incredible resilience and receiving substantial support from around the world.

Learning to sail in the Caribbean

Community Resilience and Recovery

The local spirit on Carriacou is truly inspiring. In the midst of the storm’s aftermath, residents were spotted maintaining their optimism and composure. As one local put it, “Can’t let that hurricane bring you down. You gotta keep your head up and stand tall. We are alive and looking good!”

Here’s a quick update on how our neighbors on Carriacou are faring:

  • Tim’s BBQ, known for its delicious lobster, is offering delivery services and is planning to reopen soon on Anse LaRoche beach. Efforts are underway to assist with the rebuild.
  • Paradise Beach Club Bar is standing strong and working on rebuilding its dining area. The bar is expected to reopen on September 1st, and owner Allison assures it will be “bigger and better than ever!”
  • The Slipway is open for business, and Alexis Foods, the main grocery store, was operational just days after the hurricane, with shelves stocked and ready.
  • Ferry services and the airport are back to normal schedules, ensuring travel and logistics are functioning smoothly.

Your Special Opportunity to Support Recovery

From now until August 12, LTD Sailing is donating 20% of all new bookings to the relief efforts in Carriacou and Petite Martinique. This donation applies to any bookings made for future dates, including 2025! By choosing to sail with LTD Sailing, you’re not only embarking on an unforgettable adventure but also contributing to a vital cause.

Proud parents watching their amazing son learn to sail

Supporting the Community Through Sailing

In addition to this generous donation, LTD Sailing is doubling their fresh food supplies and delivering extra provisions to Carriacou to support local residents. Every course booked helps in this community effort, reflecting the true spirit of sailing and solidarity.

Upcoming Courses

Here are some of the upcoming sailing courses offered by LTD Sailing (2025 is already booking too):

Catamaran Cruise & Learn ASA 103, 104, 114

July
28 – August 3
August
4 – 10
September
5 – 14 (10 days)
15 – 21
22 – 28
October
20 – 26
November
17 – 23 (Women Only)
December
1 – 7
5 – 14 (10 days)

Basic Cruise & Learn ASA 101, 103, 104

September
29 – October 5
October
6 – 12
20 – 26
November
3 – 9 (Women Only)
10 – 16
7 – 16 (10 days)
17 – 23
December
5 – 14 (10 days)

Sunset in the Caribbean after spending the day learning to sail

Join the Adventure

If you’re interested in sailing with LTD Sailing and supporting their recovery efforts, or if you have any questions, please contact them directly at info@ltdsailing.com. They’ll be happy to provide more details and assist with your booking. (Be sure to ask them to put you with Captain Vegas for your sailing lessons!)

This is a wonderful chance to experience the beauty of the Caribbean while making a positive impact on the local community. Set sail with me & LTD Sailing and be a part of this meaningful journey!

Fair Winds
Captain Jeff Vegas
Watch video testimonials for Captain Jeff Vegas by clicking this link

You Wanna Boat Solo? How Wrong Could it Go?

First, what’s the difference between someone very experienced and someone barely experienced? The more experienced person recovers faster when they make a mistake (and they will still make mistakes).

The last time I ventured out solo on my sailboat was many years ago. To be fair, I’ve gained significantly more experience since then. Maybe you’re even more seasoned than I was back then or more experienced than I am now. Regardless, this incident perfectly highlights why the “buddy system” is a smart move.

Image by (Joenomias) Menno de Jong from Pixabay

Back then, I co-owned the boat, and one of our partnership rules was to hand it over to the other partners with the waste tanks emptied. There were two options for this task. I could have called the local pump-out service, which cost around $40. They’d swing by and take pump it out. However, for reasons I can’t recall—maybe I was tight on cash or just being frugal—I opted not to spend on the mobile service.

So, I fired up the motor and sailed past rows of boats to reach the pump-out dock conveniently located near the marina entrance. As I approached, the outboard motor on my 28-foot Columbia, suddenly quit. Unfortunately, I focused more on restarting the motor than on my surroundings and, before I knew it, I was dangerously close to the rocks and then, stranded on them.

Quickly reaching for my cell phone, I dialed the tow company I had a membership to, and they dispatched a boat. In the V berth, below I found a couple of oars and attempted to use one to push myself off the rocks. Unfortunately, luck was not on my side—the tide was receding, and I was wedged in. The tow boat arrived pretty quickly, but realizing the risk of causing further damage, they refused to pull me off the rocks. So, a short trip to simply empty out the waste tanks turned into an unexpectedly crappy day (pun intended).

This is a real picture of my 28′ Columbia stuck on the rocks all those years ago.

Waiting for the tide to rise again to float the boat off the rocks became my only option. The boat sustained some damage, around two or four thousand dollars’ worth.

Anyway, had I just had another person aboard—someone not necessarily a skilled sailor but with some upper body strength—who could’ve followed my instructions while I wrestled with the motor, we could have easily avoided the rocky predicament.

In retrospect, that ill-fated solo trip stands out not just as a lesson in the intricacies of boat ownership but as a vivid reminder of the invaluable role a companion can play on the water. The mishap during a routine task underscored the significance of having an extra set of hands, eyes, and strength on board. As sailors, we are not just captains of our vessels but custodians of shared experiences. This misadventure, albeit inconvenient and costly, instilled a lasting appreciation for the communal nature of maritime pursuits. Whether novice or seasoned sailor, the story serves as a beacon, emphasizing the importance of camaraderie and teamwork in navigating the unpredictable tides of seafaring adventures.

I literally have not shoved off solo since that day, and I hope you won’t either.
Fair Winds
Captain Jeff Vegas
Watch video testimonials for Captain Jeff Vegas by clicking this link

Should You Sell Your House When You Go Live On Your Sailboat?

If you’re planning to cruise full-time at some point you’ll probably wonder if you should sell your personal residence or not. There are different thoughts on this, I’ll happily share mine.

Let’s start with an important distinction.

Real estate is an appreciating asset (yes I know what happened in 2007, but is the only time since they have been keeping real estate records that prices dropped so dramatically and for so long). A boat is a depreciating asset. In English, the value of your real estate will likely go up, up, up. The value of your boat will go down. So for that reason, you should strongly consider not selling your real estate.

Since 1941 the US housing market has decreased year over year only 6 times and it increased 76 times. I wouldn’t bet against the champ.

You say “But Captain, I have no desire to return to that house after cruising.” Maybe not, but once done cruising, you could sell that one and buy a house wherever you want to be, all the while it was (probably) increasing in value. Oh, wait, what’s that? You plan to cruise for the rest of your life? Awesome! What if you change your mind? I mean, I know you won’t, but what if you do? What if living on a boat eventually becomes something you no longer want? What if your health declines enough that living on a boat is no longer practical? It happens. If you own real estate, you have a “savings account”. Oh, you’re going to sell your boat and that is your savings account? (please see the previous paragraph).

If you don’t sell your house, what do you do with it?

With rare exceptions, you will be better off renting it out, (and please do not rent it to your family)*! How do you manage your rental while you are away? You won’t. You don’t want to try to manage the property from far away on your boat. It’s more complicated than you think it is. You’ll hire a competent property manager. How do you do that? Send me a message through this site and I will help you. Seriously. I have owned over 50 rental properties and I spent 15 years as a licensed real estate agent and I love helping cruisers almost as much as I love talking about real estate, so everyone will win!

Did your mortgage require you to live in the house?

Good news! Unless you have a reverse mortgage (we’ll talk more about that later) or down payment assistance, even if you got the kind of mortgage that requires you to live in the home, that requirement only lasts one year… after one year, you are allowed to turn the property into a rental property without changing your mortgage. You will want to change your homeowners insurance policy to a landlord policy, but that’s it.

Can you afford both the boat and the house?

If you have owned the house for a few years, and you start renting it out, most likely it will collect more rent than your expenses. Ideally, the amount of rent, will be at least 125% of any mortgage, taxes, insurance & HOA fees, so that you have enough to cover management fees, repairs, and maintenance.**

What is a reverse mortgage and what does that have to do with any of this?

A reverse mortgage is a special mortgage only available to people 62 or older. It does not require any monthly mortgage payments, and in some cases, it will even loan you money that you don’t have to pay back until you move out of the house (usually because you die). If you have a reverse mortgage today, you cannot move your of your house and onto your boat, without paying that mortgage off. If you do not have a way to refinance into a traditional mortgage or pay off the mortgage, then you may have to sell the house.

But here is the best part in my humble opinion. My wife and I are in our 50’s and currently plan to move onto a boat in the next 12-18 months and live the rest of our lives on the water. But what if we’re wrong? What if 10 years go by and we are no longer interested in living on a boat? Or what if our health won’t allow it? i.e. bad knees, bad hip, etc. We can call the company managing our property, and tell them not to renew the lease of the tenants currently living in the house we did not sell.*** Once the tenants are out and we move back in, (as long as we have reached 62 and have enough equity because the value continues to go up, up, up) then we can get a reverse mortgage and live in our home without a monthly mortgage payment. ****

If we do manage to live our last years on the water, our kids will inherit the house and they can decide whether they want to get a passive income from the rental or if they want to sell the property and cash out.

Image by Freddy from Pixabay

Now, however, there’s another potential issue: getting insurance on your boat.

Check with your insurance agent and ask if owning a house will make a difference in getting boat insurance. And ask if it has to be your primary home or if it can be a rental. Do not lie about whether the boat is your primary home. Lying on an insurance application can void insurance coverage – and will be something that the insurance company looks at if you ever make a claim. However, more and more people are discovering that they have an easier time finding insurance, or more at least more options, when they own residential real estate.

I’ve heard that some big insurance companies will not write boat policies if you do not also have a land residence. Underwriting rules constantly change and I am in no way an insurance broker or expert, so do your own research, but it’s one more thing to check into when deciding to go live on a boat.

Caution:

If you decide to sell, and can possibly afford it, please wait until you’ve been cruising at least a full year before you sell the house and everything in it. This will give you time to ensure that you’re really willing to live a cruising lifestyle. The first year will be a huge learning curve and knowing that you haven’t made an irreversible decision can really decrease the stress.

Also, if you decide to sell, and want my free handy guide to hiring the right real estate agent (remember, I have a significant real estate background) just contact me.

Also be sure to investigate boat insurance before making an offer. Every year, insurance underwriters get more and more strict. Do not assume you’ll be able to get insurance, even if you have tons of experience. I don’t want to dissuade you at all, I just want you to have your eyes wide open.

Fair Winds
Captain Jeff Vegas
Watch video testimonials for Captain Jeff Vegas by clicking this link

* – Unfortunately the most common tenant in the U.S. to stop paying the rent are people related to the landlord. I know, your family is different, right? You’re an adult. Make your own decision. Trust me it’s a bad idea.

** – Be careful to not try to charge more rent just so it will cover your costs. Tenants will pay whatever the market bears, but they will not pay more because you ‘need’ more. They will simply rent some other house. Let your professional property manager determine the rental rate.

*** – We cannot force the tenants to move out before the lease term ends, but we have no obligation to renew their lease.

**** – We will still have to pay property taxes, insurance, and HOA dues, and maintain the property, but we will have no principal or interest payments due for a mortgage.

Sailors Should Understand Reefing: Smooth Sailing in Rough Winds!

Sailing is a thrilling adventure, but as wind speeds increase, your vessel gets overpowered. That’s when it becomes crucial to manage your sails effectively in order to keep the boat and your crew safe. Reefing is the term used to refer to reduce sail area for strong winds. In this article I’ll layout what you need to know about reefing, including when to reef, how to do it, common mistakes to avoid, and tips for reefing on a catamaran or trimaran.

What is Reefing?

Reefing is the process of reducing the area of a sail in response to increasing wind speeds. By reefing, sailors can maintain control of the boat and prevent the sails from overpowering the vessel.

This sailboat is heeled over quite a bit.

When to Reef

I don’t know about you but I enjoy it when we are heeled over on a monohull, however, the truth is that the boat is less efficient when it’s heavily heeled, and your rigging is under extra strain, which can lead to costly problems. Excessive heeling can also be uncomfortable for your passengers, possibly inducing seasickness. If your boat is heeling excessively, it’s a sign that you probably should reef.
If you are experiencing “weather helm” (it’s challenging to control the wheel or tiller and/or keep your boat on course), reefing can improve control.

As a general rule, it’s a good idea to reef when the wind reaches around 15-20 knots, depending on your boat’s size and design, and modern boats will often have specific manufacturer recommendations about when to reef. You’ll want to be familiar with these recommendations for catamarans and trimarans as they will not heel nearly as much as a monohull, so you can unknowingly put extra strain on your sailboat.

How to Reef with typical sails (sails that raise/lower as opposed to furling)

1. Prepare the Boat: Ensure all crew members are wearing safety gear and are prepared for the maneuver. You may want to heave to if you are unfamiliar with the reefing system you are working with.
2. Lower the Sail: Ease the halyard to lower the sail just a little lower than the desired reefing point.
3. Secure the Reef Points: Attach the reefing lines to the sail at the designated reef points and tighten them to secure the sail. It should be noted that there are multiple ways reefs can be secured and it is important to understand how the reefing system works on any boat you are going to be on, before you shove off. If wind predictions show that you are likely to need to reef, it is better to do it at the dock in most cases.
4. Raise the Sail: Hoist the sail back up, ensuring it is properly tensioned and secured.

High winds means it’s probably time to reef your sails.                                                                                                         Image by Stefan Schweihofer from Pixabay

How to Reef with furled sails

Some sails will have marks on the sail showing recommended reef points. This is most common on head sails (jib or genoa), but I have seen these on mainsails that furl. These can be a vertical line or large colored dots.

The vertical red fabric on the furled sail is a reef point.

How to Know When to Reef a Catamaran or Trimaran

• Sail Area: Catamarans and trimarans typically have a larger sail area relative to their size compared to monohull boats. As a result, they may need to be reefed earlier in higher wind speeds.
• Windward Performance: If your catamaran or trimaran is struggling to maintain a course into the wind, it may be time to reef to reduce sail area and improve windward performance.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Waiting Too Long: Reefing early is better than waiting until it’s too late. It’s easier to shake out a reef than to reef in a hurry.
• Improperly Securing Reef Points: Ensure that the reefing lines are properly attached and tensioned to avoid flapping sails or damage.
• Over- or Under-Reefing: Follow the guidelines for reefing based on wind conditions. Under-reefing can lead to excessive heeling and strain on the vessel, while over-reefing can reduce sail efficiency.

Reefing in Different Conditions

• Heavy Weather: In strong winds and rough seas, it’s essential to reef early and often to maintain control and prevent damage to the sails and rigging.
• Light Winds: Even in light winds, it may be necessary to reef to prevent excessive heeling and maintain a comfortable sailing experience.

Maintenance and Care

Regularly inspect your reefing gear for wear and tear. Clean and lubricate the reefing lines and hardware to ensure smooth operation when reefing is required.

Mastering the art of reefing is essential for any sailor looking to sail safely and comfortably in varying wind conditions. By knowing when to reef, how to do it, and common mistakes to avoid, you can ensure that you’re always prepared to handle whatever the wind and sea throw your way.

Fair Winds
Captain Jeff Vegas
Watch video testimonials for Captain Jeff Vegas by clicking this link

Unleash the Power of Heave-To: A Sailor’s Secret Weapon!

Sailing is a graceful negotiation with nature, a constant interplay between mastering the wind’s force and adapting to the sea’s mood. Among the open-water sailor’s essential skills, perhaps none is as adaptable and crucial as the technique of heave-to. This maneuver proves invaluable in various conditions, particularly when facing challenging sea states or large swells.

sailboat in open water
Image by Fabien from Pixabay

What is Heave-To?

Heaving-to is a sailing technique that effectively halts the boat’s forward motion while maintaining stability. It’s a strategic pause button in open water, allowing sailors to wait out a storm, take a break, or address an issue without dropping anchor.

How to Heave-To

The process of heaving-to varies slightly depending on your boat’s design, but the basic principle remains the same. Here’s a general guide:

Begin with your jib fully deployed such as would be needed for a close reach. Then, tack without moving the jib or the jibsheet, and put the boat at a 90 degree angle off of the wind (beam reach). This will “backwind” the jib (put it on the wrong side of the mast). Next, completely release the mainsheet, which should de-power your mainsail (be careful of this on a Catamaran, you don’t want the sail caught in the shrouds). Adjust the rudder to counter your jib. If using a tiller, push the handle most of the way to windward. A boat with a wheel should turn the wheel most of the way to leeward. You want enough rudder angle to keep the boat at a 90 angle to the wind but not so much that it turns sharply.
Then adjust as needed: Fine-tune your sails and rudder to find the right balance. You should feel the boat settle into a steady, controlled drift. The fact that your beam is broad to the waves concerns people. Don’t let it concern you. The swell will approach the boat and then swirl around it. It’s pretty cool actually!

Sailing skills
Heave to, step by step

When to Heave-To

Stormy Weather: Heaving-to can provide a stable platform in rough seas, reducing the strain on the boat and crew. When weather conditions are unfavorable for sailing, and there are no safe bays to wait it out, heaving-to can be a safer alternative to continuing on or anchoring.
Man Overboard: Heaving-to can give the crew time to recover a person who has fallen overboard. In fact, I would argue it’s the best Man OverBoard (MOB) method for a catamaran.
Reefing: If you are unable to reef while underway, heaving to is an option.

Benefits of Heaving-To

Safety: It’s a valuable tool for managing challenging conditions and emergencies.
Rest: It allows your crew to rest without losing significant ground or anchoring.
Control: Maintains control and stability in heavy weather or when navigating tricky passages.

Heave-to is not just a technique; it’s a skill that every open water sailor should master – but practice under calm conditions. It’s a versatile tool that can make your sailing experience safer, more comfortable, and more enjoyable. So, the next time the winds pick up or you need to take a break far from shore, remember the art of heave-to. It might just be the perfect solution.

Fair Winds
Captain Jeff Vegas
Watch video testimonials for Captain Jeff Vegas by clicking this link