Now that our Com-Pac 19/2 has been adopted by another sailor we have reflected on the wonderful times and adventures that she provided us. Overnighting on Lake Mendota, Com-Pac rendezvous at Lake Carlyle, exploring Door County with good friends and so many other memories. Here is a video of some of our favorites.
We are sure to add so many more memories on Wrinkles. Let's go sailing!
Showing posts with label Com-Pac 19. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Com-Pac 19. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Sunday, February 19, 2012
CLR 2010
On-line dating. That is what it was like when we signed up to join the Carlyle Lake Rendezvous. See...we have been active participants in the Com-Pac Yacht Forum (cpyoa.geekworkshosting.com) and talking back and forth with several of the members. Lots of information shared and plenty of joking around - enough to know that this would be a fun group of people to meet. So, when the call went out to see who would be able to attend the 2nd Annual CLR, we added our names to the list. Probably one of the smartest things we have ever done. We discovered beautiful sailing grounds and made wonderful friends. Here is our account of our first trip to the CLR in 2010.
Once the date was set, we started making plans. First of all, we needed a place to stay. There was a Microtel near the marina and a Super 8 about 2 miles away. At the time we were making reservations, we still had our Com-Pac 16, so staying in the marina was out of the question. There were also State Park cabins right on the shore. We checked them out, and though a little pricey, they had their own slips and were air conditioned (something we came to treasure). In addition, there would be plenty of room outside to host the group's barbecue after our sailing on Saturday. Getting our reservations in early proved to be beneficial as all cabins were booked for the summer by March.
The Rendezvous was set to start on Friday, but we towed our newly acquired Com-Pac 19 down on Thursday. We wanted to leave plenty of time for "just in case". Fortunately that wasn't necessary and we arrived late Thursday evening. What a beautiful place! Hazlet State Park was everything we were used to in Wisconsin - minus the fees. That's right, the park was completely free. We kept looking around for the ranger station or a post with a box for entrance fees, but found nothing. As we were checking out the dock and surrounding 200+ parking spaces and stainless steel fishing station, we asked three different people where to pay. Even the boat launch was free. We couldn't believe it.
We weren't scheduled to be in the cabin until Friday, so we camped in the parking lot in our boat. All went well until the thunder and lightning started. Brenda was petrified, so we climbed out of the boat and into the cab of the S-10 pick-up. Not sure why that was better, but we got more sleep cramped in the truck than we would have gotten in the boat.
The next morning we woke to a beautiful day. After getting our keys for the cabin and taking a driving tour of the park, we launched our boat. Mike sailed it around the corner to our slip while Brenda drove the truck and trailer around to the cabin. We quickly unloaded our things from the truck to the cabin and then went for a sail. We were amazed at the minimal number of boats we met on the water. We pretty much had the place to ourselves.
Carlyle Lake is a man-made lake run by the Corp of Engineers. It is the largest man-made lake in Illinois with more than 26,000 acres of water and 11,000 acres of land. There are no houses along the shore and never will be. The original vision of keeping this a pristine lake has been honored. More information can be found at carlylelake.com.
Friday evening we were scheduled for a meet-and-greet at Bretz's Wildlife Winery. What, you might ask, is a wildlife winery? We were soon to find out. Hanging on the walls inside Bret's were a zebra, giraffe, and other taxidermy wonders. This was where we met the other Com-Pac sailors for the first time. From the beginning there was a sense of camaraderie and as we swapped stories we knew this was a group we would become very close to.
Saturday found us out on the water, using our vhf radios to gather the boats before we spread out again. After setting a raft-up point, we were off sailing and taking each others' pictures as we passed on the wind. The water level was still very high, so we had no problem finding a place to drop anchor and swim. Did we mention that it was in the 90's? Rafting up gave us a chance to check out each others' boats and to pass around a few snacks and share some beverages. As our chatting continued, we found that we had all, at one point in our lives, owned and ridden motorcycles. We also found that over 1/2 of our group were educators.
Enough time IN the water, it was time to get back ON the water for another sail. We quickly could separate the expert sailors (John J) from the amateurs (us). Even when there was not much wind, John was zipping around the lake while the rest of us struggled to find the right combination of sails.
Then it was time to pack it in for the day and head to the barbecue. Remember, only 3 of the couples had met before (at last year's CLR), but we were able to produce a spread to be envied, due in large part to the hard work of Sarah and Steve. Everyone brought something to add to the table and soon we were eating, drinking and laughing like we had been friends forever. Some brought little gifts to pass out and we made anchor- and sailboat-shaped sugar cookies personalized with the CP logo and boat names. After a day full of sun and sailing, it was nice to sit and relax by the lake.
After everyone left, we took our boat out for a sunset cruise. We sure enjoyed being able to walk out the cabin door and jump on the boat without having to rig. The quiet on the lake was incredible. Even though there was not much of a breeze, there was enough to ghost along. A glass of wine, a beautiful sunset, and just enough wind shared with the one you love. Ahhhhh, life is good.
Sunday morning found us up and on the water for another round of sailing. It was still HOT and there wasn't much wind. In spite of that, we managed to move across the lake and meet up with the other Com-Pac's. Some, unfortunately, had to pull out and head home, however we had the rest of the week to play. After saying good bye to our new friends, we sailed back to our cabin on the lake where we stayed for another 4 days. It was heaven (although it was hot enough to be the other place).
We got pretty good at making Walmart runs. Seems like every day we needed something. The first day the gas line needed a new part, so off to Walmart we went. The next day we decided to make a tent awning to help keep us out of the sun. We fabricated one our of a sheet, some grommets and carabiner clips. Another day we went back just to enjoy the air conditioning and pick up some more bottled water (remember it was HOT).
All too soon it was time for us to pull out and head back to Wisconsin. Boy did we have stories to tell when we got home! The sense of adventure of trailering to a lake we had never seen before, navigating on an unknown lake, and meeting new people made this a week to remember. Then, add in the feeling of satisfaction that we felt for having tackled such an undertaking and you have two confirmed sailors who can't wait to see what is next!
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| Raft up fun! |
The Rendezvous was set to start on Friday, but we towed our newly acquired Com-Pac 19 down on Thursday. We wanted to leave plenty of time for "just in case". Fortunately that wasn't necessary and we arrived late Thursday evening. What a beautiful place! Hazlet State Park was everything we were used to in Wisconsin - minus the fees. That's right, the park was completely free. We kept looking around for the ranger station or a post with a box for entrance fees, but found nothing. As we were checking out the dock and surrounding 200+ parking spaces and stainless steel fishing station, we asked three different people where to pay. Even the boat launch was free. We couldn't believe it.
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| Under our sun shade. |
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| Inlet to our cabin and slip. |
The next morning we woke to a beautiful day. After getting our keys for the cabin and taking a driving tour of the park, we launched our boat. Mike sailed it around the corner to our slip while Brenda drove the truck and trailer around to the cabin. We quickly unloaded our things from the truck to the cabin and then went for a sail. We were amazed at the minimal number of boats we met on the water. We pretty much had the place to ourselves.
Carlyle Lake is a man-made lake run by the Corp of Engineers. It is the largest man-made lake in Illinois with more than 26,000 acres of water and 11,000 acres of land. There are no houses along the shore and never will be. The original vision of keeping this a pristine lake has been honored. More information can be found at carlylelake.com.
Friday evening we were scheduled for a meet-and-greet at Bretz's Wildlife Winery. What, you might ask, is a wildlife winery? We were soon to find out. Hanging on the walls inside Bret's were a zebra, giraffe, and other taxidermy wonders. This was where we met the other Com-Pac sailors for the first time. From the beginning there was a sense of camaraderie and as we swapped stories we knew this was a group we would become very close to.
 |
| Lots of Com-Pacs to check out. |
Saturday found us out on the water, using our vhf radios to gather the boats before we spread out again. After setting a raft-up point, we were off sailing and taking each others' pictures as we passed on the wind. The water level was still very high, so we had no problem finding a place to drop anchor and swim. Did we mention that it was in the 90's? Rafting up gave us a chance to check out each others' boats and to pass around a few snacks and share some beverages. As our chatting continued, we found that we had all, at one point in our lives, owned and ridden motorcycles. We also found that over 1/2 of our group were educators.
 |
| Hosts Steve and Sarah clipping along. They are darn good sailors. |
Enough time IN the water, it was time to get back ON the water for another sail. We quickly could separate the expert sailors (John J) from the amateurs (us). Even when there was not much wind, John was zipping around the lake while the rest of us struggled to find the right combination of sails.
 |
| A CP 16 and a CP19 enjoying Carlyle Lake. |
Then it was time to pack it in for the day and head to the barbecue. Remember, only 3 of the couples had met before (at last year's CLR), but we were able to produce a spread to be envied, due in large part to the hard work of Sarah and Steve. Everyone brought something to add to the table and soon we were eating, drinking and laughing like we had been friends forever. Some brought little gifts to pass out and we made anchor- and sailboat-shaped sugar cookies personalized with the CP logo and boat names. After a day full of sun and sailing, it was nice to sit and relax by the lake.
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| Let the feasting begin. |
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| Mike and Becky aboard Island Time |
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| John J the best sailor in the lot and one truly nice person. |
We got pretty good at making Walmart runs. Seems like every day we needed something. The first day the gas line needed a new part, so off to Walmart we went. The next day we decided to make a tent awning to help keep us out of the sun. We fabricated one our of a sheet, some grommets and carabiner clips. Another day we went back just to enjoy the air conditioning and pick up some more bottled water (remember it was HOT).
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| Our cabin viewed from the lake. |
All too soon it was time for us to pull out and head back to Wisconsin. Boy did we have stories to tell when we got home! The sense of adventure of trailering to a lake we had never seen before, navigating on an unknown lake, and meeting new people made this a week to remember. Then, add in the feeling of satisfaction that we felt for having tackled such an undertaking and you have two confirmed sailors who can't wait to see what is next!
Friday, January 13, 2012
First Sail on our Com-Pac 19/II
May 22, 2010 - Still getting caught up on old posts
It was a beautiful day in Madison with mild winds to get a feel for our new boat. After packing the 19 for a day sail we trailered it into Lake Mendota. We found the 19 to be easily pulled with a 6 cylinder vehicle. We used Marshall Park ramp on the west side of Lake Mendota as it is the most sailboat friendly ramp on this lake. We backed the boat in and found we needed to go far enough down the ramp that the exhaust pipe was blowing bubbles in order to float it off the trailer. I guess a hitch extender will have to go on the "to-do list". The outboard started right up and we excitedly backed out feeling pretty proud of ourselves until we saw one of our keel guides float out from underneath the hull. Ooops. After some fancy steering in a tight area, we were able to snag the keel guide and strap it onto the lifeline stanchions. So much for a picture perfect launch.
The 8 HP Mariner is definitely more motor than the 19 needs, although we could give the kids a pretty good ride on a tube if we decided to pull it behind us.
We set the sails, turned the motor off, and sailed in winds of 6-12 MPH. We were very surprised how well the 19 moved along on so little wind. Having a boat with crisp sails was a pleasure. Instead of heeling with a gust of wind the boat just accelerated. We pulled out the genoa (135 I believe) and found it was brand new. The previous owner never used it and it was clean, crisp and new. We wish it was a 150 or 155, but we shouldn't complain. The other pleasant surprise on the sail was the performance of the NACA 0014 foiled rudder that Mike had just finished. It gave the tiller a very light feel with just enough weather helm for comfort.
It was really nice to walk around on the foredeck and feel safe and stable. The lifelines and the 19's stiff sailing characteristics accounted for this feeling. One of the reasons we bought the Com-Pac 19 was that it prefers to be sailed flat - which with our limited sailing experience makes for more relaxed sailing. After all, that is what we are all about - relaxation! We enjoyed a fine afternoon of getting a feel for her and enjoyed the views on beautiful Lake Mendota practicing our tacks and jibes. As the day wound down, we headed back to the ramp wondering what entertainment we would provide for those at the docks. Surprisingly the docking went without a hitch and the boat floated smoothly onto trailer even missing a keel guide.
Overall our decision to move from the 16 to the 19 proved to be a great one. The 19 rigged quickly, the mast was easily raised by one or two people, it sailed flat, and the extra cockpit width was really nice. Extra points were awarded by the female crew for the onboard potty facilities.
Things we need to do: redo all the bunks and keel guides on the trailer, find an easier way to connect the front stay (for our non-sailing friends, this is one of the wires that holds the mast up) when stepping the mast. We also missed the halyard cam cleats mounted on the mast on the 16. Have to think on that one.
Overall it was a great day of sailing and the boat is a keeper.
It was a beautiful day in Madison with mild winds to get a feel for our new boat. After packing the 19 for a day sail we trailered it into Lake Mendota. We found the 19 to be easily pulled with a 6 cylinder vehicle. We used Marshall Park ramp on the west side of Lake Mendota as it is the most sailboat friendly ramp on this lake. We backed the boat in and found we needed to go far enough down the ramp that the exhaust pipe was blowing bubbles in order to float it off the trailer. I guess a hitch extender will have to go on the "to-do list". The outboard started right up and we excitedly backed out feeling pretty proud of ourselves until we saw one of our keel guides float out from underneath the hull. Ooops. After some fancy steering in a tight area, we were able to snag the keel guide and strap it onto the lifeline stanchions. So much for a picture perfect launch.
 |
| Brenda claiming her bow spot (couldn't do this on the 16). Note the rogue keel guide strapped to the stanchion. |
The 8 HP Mariner is definitely more motor than the 19 needs, although we could give the kids a pretty good ride on a tube if we decided to pull it behind us.
It was really nice to walk around on the foredeck and feel safe and stable. The lifelines and the 19's stiff sailing characteristics accounted for this feeling. One of the reasons we bought the Com-Pac 19 was that it prefers to be sailed flat - which with our limited sailing experience makes for more relaxed sailing. After all, that is what we are all about - relaxation! We enjoyed a fine afternoon of getting a feel for her and enjoyed the views on beautiful Lake Mendota practicing our tacks and jibes. As the day wound down, we headed back to the ramp wondering what entertainment we would provide for those at the docks. Surprisingly the docking went without a hitch and the boat floated smoothly onto trailer even missing a keel guide.
Overall our decision to move from the 16 to the 19 proved to be a great one. The 19 rigged quickly, the mast was easily raised by one or two people, it sailed flat, and the extra cockpit width was really nice. Extra points were awarded by the female crew for the onboard potty facilities.
Things we need to do: redo all the bunks and keel guides on the trailer, find an easier way to connect the front stay (for our non-sailing friends, this is one of the wires that holds the mast up) when stepping the mast. We also missed the halyard cam cleats mounted on the mast on the 16. Have to think on that one.
Overall it was a great day of sailing and the boat is a keeper.
Monday, January 9, 2012
The Highs and Lows of Boat Buying
The search for the perfect boat can be fun, exasperating, or anywhere in between. When we decided to buy our first boat, it was just a matter of checking on Craigslist.org and finding a small Seawitch. Not much of an investment, so not much time or energy was spent on that search.
When we decided to upgrade to a "real" sailboat, Mike researched all the different aspects to be sure we found a boat that would meet our needs. We wanted a boat that would be stable, sail flat, be well made, and most importantly, be novice friendly. The Com-Pac 16 was what we wanted, but there weren't many around. Would we be able to find one? Late in the fall a posting came up on Craigslist for a Com-Pac 16 right here in Madison. Brenda fell in love with the name, Puppy Luff. Mike said we could name a dinghy Crush. Mike was impressed with the condition and sharp look of the boat. The 16 was in a University of WI parking lot and while we checked out the boat, the owner was getting chewed out, rather loudly, by a University employee for having the boat parked there illegally. "Move it or we'll tow it out today!" Price negotiations went quickly from there and Puppy Luff came home.
After a season of boat improvements, sailing and lots of learning, we were ready to move up to a bigger boat - one that we could stay on overnight, but still trailer. Yes, having room for a potty played a big part in the decision to move up in size.
As mentioned earlier, Mike likes to research his purchases. So after tons of time spent searching the internet for the perfect Com-Pac 19, we decided to head to Cincinnati to have a look at what the owner said was "the best Com-Pac 19 for the price in nine states" and the pictures backed him up. Off we went with high expectations.
If our only purpose for heading to Cincinnati was to look at the boat, we would say we wasted 15 hours of driving. We guess what one person considers "really nice" can vary by a wide margin. Loose and broken mast step, worn rudder pins, running rigging rotted, trailer winch shot, bottom paint gone, old tired sails, and worst of all the hull was so weathered it would need to be repainted. We found out the pictures used in the ad were "borrowed" from another sale ad for a boat in TX. He even went so far as to say he had removed the VHF that showed up in one of the pictures. We of course found no evidence that anything had ever been mounted near that spot on the boat we were looking at. This boat looked nothing like the one the owner represented in his ad. Needless to say, no deal was made and we continued our search.
On the good side we enjoyed the drive, spending time together, and side trips along the way. We also got an education in looking over a 19. Buyer alert - never buy without seeing the boat in person.
Next up was a Com-Pac 19 in Detroit. Brenda couldn't take time off from school, so Mike headed out for a speed trip. This time he went with tempered enthusiasm. It just so happened that our son had recently moved to a place 30 minutes from the boat, so Mike would have a place to stay. Mike left right after work and drove straight up. He arrived at our son's at 1:00 a.m. and quickly crashed after a quick look at the apartment. Then he was up to take John to breakfast and off to meet our future boat. Everything was as represented in the ad and then some. No disappointments this time around. Mike hooked her up and pulled her home that same day. At that time we referred to her as Puppy Luff II, but she was later named Miss B's Haven. She continues to teach us and treat us well on our inland lake sailing excursions.
Now that we have become empty-nesters, we can pursue our dream of big water sailing. All we have to do now is find that perfect blue-water boat. We wonder what stories we will have to tell about that search?
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| Sister ship to our Lockley Seawitch |
When we decided to upgrade to a "real" sailboat, Mike researched all the different aspects to be sure we found a boat that would meet our needs. We wanted a boat that would be stable, sail flat, be well made, and most importantly, be novice friendly. The Com-Pac 16 was what we wanted, but there weren't many around. Would we be able to find one? Late in the fall a posting came up on Craigslist for a Com-Pac 16 right here in Madison. Brenda fell in love with the name, Puppy Luff. Mike said we could name a dinghy Crush. Mike was impressed with the condition and sharp look of the boat. The 16 was in a University of WI parking lot and while we checked out the boat, the owner was getting chewed out, rather loudly, by a University employee for having the boat parked there illegally. "Move it or we'll tow it out today!" Price negotiations went quickly from there and Puppy Luff came home.
 |
| Puppy Luff |
After a season of boat improvements, sailing and lots of learning, we were ready to move up to a bigger boat - one that we could stay on overnight, but still trailer. Yes, having room for a potty played a big part in the decision to move up in size.
As mentioned earlier, Mike likes to research his purchases. So after tons of time spent searching the internet for the perfect Com-Pac 19, we decided to head to Cincinnati to have a look at what the owner said was "the best Com-Pac 19 for the price in nine states" and the pictures backed him up. Off we went with high expectations.
If our only purpose for heading to Cincinnati was to look at the boat, we would say we wasted 15 hours of driving. We guess what one person considers "really nice" can vary by a wide margin. Loose and broken mast step, worn rudder pins, running rigging rotted, trailer winch shot, bottom paint gone, old tired sails, and worst of all the hull was so weathered it would need to be repainted. We found out the pictures used in the ad were "borrowed" from another sale ad for a boat in TX. He even went so far as to say he had removed the VHF that showed up in one of the pictures. We of course found no evidence that anything had ever been mounted near that spot on the boat we were looking at. This boat looked nothing like the one the owner represented in his ad. Needless to say, no deal was made and we continued our search.
On the good side we enjoyed the drive, spending time together, and side trips along the way. We also got an education in looking over a 19. Buyer alert - never buy without seeing the boat in person.
Next up was a Com-Pac 19 in Detroit. Brenda couldn't take time off from school, so Mike headed out for a speed trip. This time he went with tempered enthusiasm. It just so happened that our son had recently moved to a place 30 minutes from the boat, so Mike would have a place to stay. Mike left right after work and drove straight up. He arrived at our son's at 1:00 a.m. and quickly crashed after a quick look at the apartment. Then he was up to take John to breakfast and off to meet our future boat. Everything was as represented in the ad and then some. No disappointments this time around. Mike hooked her up and pulled her home that same day. At that time we referred to her as Puppy Luff II, but she was later named Miss B's Haven. She continues to teach us and treat us well on our inland lake sailing excursions.
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| Miss B's Haven |
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| CP 16 and 19 |
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