In Praise of Day Sailing by Ken Ong

If you not own a Capri 18, this message is for you. If you do own a Capri 18, there is no need to read further. You are already one of the chosen.

The taxonomy of sailors conventionally defines two categories: racers and cruisers. Though ether one or the other is an apt description for many, this binary classification ignores the vast genus of sailing that most of us occupy: day sailing.

That is not to say that we who day sail belittle racing or cruising. On the contrary, I do foredeck on my neighbor’s 37-footer for the local Wednesday night series at City Island. I crewed on this year’s annual Around Long Island Regatta. On closer inspection, It could be argued that the paucity of wind made the latter a cruise rather than a race. So, I do race and cruise.

Having said this, I can say with all candor that despite any of the aforementioned activities I may do during the year I am an unrepentant, self-proclaimed day sailor.

If I were to log my hours on the water, the vast majority of hours I spend under sail are spent day sailing. On those lucky evenings when I finish work before the sunsets, I run home for a brief sunset sail. When the uneasy strain of parenting two adolescents threatens my otherwise balanced equilibrium, I seek the solace of a day sail. When the joy of yet another birthday arrives, especially the ones that end in zero, my boat is there to commiserate celebrate. When the sun shines and the sky is a deep, untroubled blue, nothing suits such a day better than a day sail. When my wife or children feel I deserve a reward or an act of atonement on their part, they take me sailing.

Day sailing has the benefit of being bereft of the stresses of racing. Last year’s sails will do. If they do not, a roll of duct tape is always handy. One is never late for a starting gun when day sailing. Other than a small cooler or water bottle, the provisions and planning associated with cruising are not required. Day sailing requires little to no forethought. In fact, it requires no thinking at all. There is no race entry or registration fee. Rarely is there a need for map, GPS, or even compass. I do not have to put in for vacation time to do it. A day sail fits neatly in the cracks and crevices between duty at work and chores at home. It occupies a snug place amongst those activities of daily living without fear of compromise.

Of course, this brings us to the matter at hand: why you should own, crew, or otherwise sail a Capri 18. If you have a larger boat, how often have you not gone sailing for wont of crew? If you have a smaller boat, how often has rigging and de-rigging time or trailering discouraged you from going out on the water? You have no need to despair any longer. We have your solution. The Capri 18 is a boat neither too big nor too small. If one was to apply the Golden Mean to the art of sailing, the Capri 18 would rest upon the very fulcrum of waterline length.

I have had a 23 foot sloop. It was a lovely thing to sail in a breeze. My towline operated speedometer once clocked it doing 9 MPH. Its lee rail reveled in the water. Yet, getting her to stop was not as easy as getting her to go. When sailing single-handed, I would head up into the wind for the mooring and sprint from the tiller to the bow to pick up the mooring. Given my advancing years, I can say without too much embarrassment that I sometimes did not make that 23 foot run fast enough to pick up the mooring before the wind shifted and took us sailing once again.

Before I argue why someone with a smaller boat should move up, let me say that I am not adverse to small(er) boats. Some of my favorite boats are small and I have no intention of ever forsaking them – no matter how much space they squander in our garage. My first boat was a 13 foot center-boarder. For six years, I trailer sailed it almost every weekend during the sailing season. I still have another sailing dinghy sitting on the racks on the community dock. Set up time for me was never better than 30 minutes.

Set up time on my Capri 18 is 4 minutes and 20 seconds and that particular time was on a slow day. The jib is roller furled. The main sail is on slides and stored on the boom courtesy of a sail stop. A few yanks on either line and the sails are up and out. The jib sheets are lead back to swivel cam cleats on the stern. Tacking or gibing the jib sheets takes but one hand. I can practically grab the mooring from the bow from where I drive in the stern. Albeit an exaggeration, it is a mild one. 

The ease of handling is certainly a pleasure. However, I would be remiss if I failed to mention the aesthetic considerations, as well. The Capri 18 is as cute as a button. Like its larger cousins, our Capri 18 has a swim ladder, running lights, life lines, a bow pulpit, a foredeck hatch, cup holders, and miniature cabin. It has all the accoutrements of a genuine, bon a fide yacht. It is the day sailer par excellence.

If the finer characteristics of the Capri 18 charm you into purchasing one, you will be happy to learn that the Capri 18 National Association has immediate membership opportunities now. Just drop me a line. I promise to get back to you immediately after my next day sail.

The Capri 18 National Association is starting a web site. Members can submit articles and/or photos ) for either the developing web site or for publication in Mainsheet via e-mail to Ken Ong (kong@cmcny.com). Membership inquiries can be sent to Erik Van Renselaar (esvanr@sbcglobal.net).