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Krumpe, Andrew (Andrew.Krumpe@NeslabInstruments.com)
Wed, 21 Oct 1998 14:01:38 -0400
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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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Hi to everyone!
I don't really know why I'm writing this, but perhaps it's just to reach
out and try and make some friends. For most of my life I've wanted to
sail the world. When I was younger, I read "Dove" and wanted to take off
as a teenager (with no sailing experience). As I got older I read all
the magazines, looked at all the boats, dreamed of life aboard and
faraway islands. My wife and I started seriously dreaming of and
planning to buy a sailboat (28 to 40 foot range) and take off forever.
We slowly realized that we would have to save for about 5 to 10 years
before we could afford a boat like that. She bought me the book, "Frugal
Yachting" and we decided that we could sail more and spend less if we
scaled down our plans.
One thing followed another, and we bought a used Potter 19 last month.
I'm 39, and I finally have a boat! I'm a sailor! We've bareboated in the
BVI, but sailing one's own boat is so much more satisfying. I can't
explain why. Maybe it's because each lesson you learn remains with you
and your boat. I've had the Potter out in light airs and conditions that
required us to reef the main and roller furling genoa, and first of all,
I'm impressed with the performance, but more importantly, what I've
learned about how she sails will be with me the next time I take her
out. All the lessons of life, the events that lend themselves to sailing
metaphors are now part of my life. And my dreams of taking off forever,
while not very practical in the Potter, might also be scaled down to
taking off to the Isles of Shoals, or downeast for a week.
Besides the pleasure of owning a sailboat, I look forward to meeting
other sailors, whether they be old salts who can teach me a few things,
traditionalists and purists like myself who want to sail by the stars,
or racers who've spent lots of time learning to get every knot out of
their boats. I live outside of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and hope that
anyone from that area who would like to get together for a sail will
contact me. I'm hardcore when it comes to the question, "Can you really
sail your boat in November?" But if you're done sailing for the year and
are planning next summer's cruise in these parts, give me a call, or an
email. My wife and I are eager to sail. Thanks.
Andrew C. Krumpe
603-430-6167 work
603-659-4101 home
andrew.krumpe@neslabinstruments.com