In this week's episode, I arrive at the lake during the midday doldrums. I discuss some of the challenges of mountain winds and sailing on mountain lakes. As soon as I finish talking, the winds pick up and I catch some really nice sailing breezes over the next several hours. It made for a very pleasant and relaxing day of sail. Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. #sailingchannel #coloradosailing #sailing #mountainsailing

In this episode I lay out my entire sail inventory and compare the P-16 and P-18 headsails and mainsails to see if there is any compatibility between them. The mast and boom length between the P-16 and the P-18 are identical, so I was thinking the sails may be interchangeable. Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. #sailing #lakesailing #mountainsailing #saillife #sailingchannel #coloradosailing

In this episode I bring the boat home, unload all the gear out of it, and clean the boat to prepare it for winter storage in the garage. Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. #sailing #lakesailing #mountainsailing #saillife #sailingchannel #coloradosailing

Sailing my 2010 Precision 18 sailboat with my daughter on a high-altitude (8,601ft) Rocky Mountain lake. This episode features beautiful 4th of July weekend sailing. As the spring transitions into summer in Colorado there's more clear blue skies, fewer afternoon thunderstorms and calmer winds. This episode features gentle sailing, mountain views, and some chill music. Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. #sailing #lakesailing #mountainsailing #saillife #sailingchannel #coloradosailing

In this episode, I sail through a 36 mph (31 knot) gust on a high-altitude (8,601 ft) Rocky Mountain lake in central Colorado. My small and lightweight (1,100 lbs) Precision 18 sailboat is not really designed for sailing in this kind of wind, but she sailed through it pretty well. I've made several modifications and upgrades to the boat to include adding a second reef to the mainsail, adding a hanked-on #4 (80%) severe weather jib to my sail inventory, adding additional blocks to the factory outhaul setup to flatten the mainsail, and a 4:1 backstay tensioner to add mast bend and flatten the top third of the mainsail. It's also taken a couple of years for me to build the skills for sailing in this much wind. At my mountain lake, 25 to 30 knot gusts are an almost daily occurrence throughout the summer sailing season. To further reduce heeling in the Precision 18, you can also raise the centerboard all the way up and just sail on the shoal draft keel which is a NACA foil (I did not do this for this sail) or you can add additional crew weight on the rail. For more severe weather sailing tips and tricks, check out my video "Storm Tactics for Inland Sailors" available at this link and also linked at the end of the video: https://youtu.be/Hixd4KHzCzs?si=JD8LmcgkB9x9ABwO Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. #sailing #lakesailing #mountainsailing #saillife #sailingchannel #coloradosailing

In this episode I cover the recurring checks I do on my two boat trailers. If you're like me and you keep your boat in a marina, then it's a good idea to take the opportunity to do a thorough inspection and make any repairs while the boat is not on the trailer. However, with the exception of bunk repairs, most of these items are easily addressed even with the boat on the trailer. It's always a good idea to have a regular routine of pre-towing checks and annual inspections for your boat trailer. I hope you find this information helpful. Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. #sailingchannel #coloradosailing #sailing #mountainsailing #sailingtips #sailinglife #learntosail

I created this episode in response to a viewer comment about single-handed docking. In the video, I demonstrate my technique for docking the boat on a long, straight dock and also bringing my boat into my marina slip. On a long, straight dock it's pretty easy and straight-forward. At my marina, there are some constraints including extremely shallow water and a small, shared slip. My particular sailboat also does not turn well to port when the wind is coming from the port side. The boat turns very well to starboard, even against a strong wind. The shallow water around my marina limits maneuverability and also requires that my centerboard be raised, which increases my leeway and makes the boat more difficult to steer when motoring with wind on the beam. Docking at my slip takes a bit more effort. I use the boat hook to grab the lines and the motor to keep my boat pressed against the dock until I secure the bow lines. Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. #sailingchannel #coloradosailing #sailing #mountainsailing #sailingtips #sailinglife #learntosail

In this episode, I sail close to shore and squeeze a narrow area between rocks. I like sailing close to shore when the wind is light. Being able to sail in constricted areas is an essential boat-handling skill and worthwhile to practice when the right conditions present themselves. In this case, the winds were light and coming from my stern, so I felt comfortable slowly passing through these narrow areas. Would you feel comfortable sailing between these rocks? Do you think I'm taking unnecessary chances? Let me know your thoughts in the comments. Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. #sailing #lakesailing #mountainsailing #sailingchannel #coloradosailing

In last week's episode, I arrived at the marina to find my Torqeedo Travel 1103C outboard had been damaged by a severe wind storm. It wasn't so much the 40 mph winds, as it was the direction of the winds directly into the marina. According to the marina staff, there were 3-4 foot waves rolling right over the breakwater and swamping all the marina docks. Several boats were damaged and the only other sailboat at the lake broke from its mooring ball and ended up against the shore. So in this episode, the replacement part arrives from Torqeedo. I teardown the Torqeedo Travel motor, install the new part, reassemble the motor and perform a function check. Overall, it was a pretty easy installation, albeit quite expensive. This incident really has me wondering if keeping my sailboat in a marina in this volatile part of Colorado is sustainable. There's a reason this marina only has 12 slips and I've been the only sailboat to ever rent a slip here. Maybe it's time to become a daysailor? Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. #sailing #sailingdinghy #usedboat #boatrepair #Torqeedo

In this episode, I arrive at the marina to discover my Torqeedo outboard has been wrecked by a severe wind storm. It wasn't so much the 40 mph winds as it was the direction of the winds--directly into the marina. According to the marina staff, there were 3-4 foot waves rolling right over the breakwater and swamping all the marina docks. Several boats were damaged and the only other sailboat at the lake broke from its mooring ball and ended up against the shore. I survey the damage and do a detailed inspection of the boat to make sure everything else is okay. Then I search for and order the replacement parts required for repairs. This incident really has me wondering if keeping my sailboat in a marina in this volatile part of Colorado is sustainable. There's a reason this marina only has 12 slips and I've been the only sailboat to ever rent a slip here. Maybe it's time to become a daysailor? Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. #sailing #sailingdinghy #usedboat #boatrepair #Torqeedo

In this week's episode, I go back to my first sail with my new custom sails from Point Sails of San Diego. In 2022, Point Sails built a custom severe weather (80%) jib for my Precision 18. So with my OEM sails getting baggy, I decided to have them build a new custom mainsail and 100% working jib as well. My new sails are made from a heavier 6oz Dacron for the heavy mountain winds I sail in. The mainsail has 2 reefing points, 4 battens, a custom logo and custom blue and white colors. The working jib is a crimson color and includes leech lines and foot lines. Throughout the video I share thoughts and observations about my new sails and sailing in mountain winds in general. The winds on this day were gusting up to 16 mph. Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. #sailingchannel #coloradosailing #sailing #mountainsailing #extremesports

This episode provides a basic overview of international maritime day shape rules and use for sailors. Day shapes are standardized daytime signals used around the world to convey important information (towing, not under command, motor sailing, vessel is anchored, etc.) Requirements for use of day shapes by sailors vary based on the size of the vessel, inland versus coastal or international waters, and the specific circumstances (such as anchoring in a remote area versus a congested waterway). It's important for sailors to know the basic shapes and when they are required to use them. Even when exemptions for use exist, sailors can always opt to use the appropriate day shapes as a courtesy to other boaters and for enhancing safety. Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. #sailingchannel #coloradosailing #sailing #mountainsailing #learntosail #sailingtips

In this week's episode, I go back to the beginning of the season where I arrive at the marina to find an unexpectedly breezy day. While the forecast called for gusts below 15 mph, it was very windy when I arrived. Looking back at the weather data for the day, it was gusting well into the 20s all afternoon with a maximum gust of 28 mph. Since I had already made the long drive, I decided to make the best of it and head out onto the lake under a double-reefed mainsail only. I've solo sailed in these conditions many times and knew the boat would be able to handle it with a reefed mainsail. It was slow going, but as they say: "A bad day of sailing beats a good day of work!" Throughout the video I share tips, thoughts and observations about sailing in heavy winds under mainsail only. This day was a perfect example of the frustrations, challenges and excitement sailors face when sailing in the unpredictable winds of high-altitude mountain lakes. Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. #sailingchannel #coloradosailing #sailing #mountainsailing #extremesports

This episode discusses the old sailor's adage: "one hand for the boat, and one for yourself." It's not just an old saying, but also an important safety philosophy that encourages sailors to always be mindful of how they are holding onto the boat. Following this advice, sailors should always maintain at least one point of contact with the boat when moving about or performing a task to avoid man overboard (MOB) incidents. Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. #sailingchannel #coloradosailing #sailing #mountainsailing #sailingtips #sailinglife #learntosail

This episode covers my 8th outing in the new-to-me 1987 Precision 16 sailing dinghy I purchased locally for $800. This time I return to Lake Pueblo, Colorado after a 5 year hiatus. Lake Pueblo is a Colorado state park along the Arkansas River just outside the city of Pueblo, Colorado. The park features swim beaches, two marinas, two modern boat ramps, ample trailer parking and nice picnic areas. The marinas offer boat and jet ski rentals and the lake gets very busy during the summer. But on a nice 67F day in December...there was hardly anyone on the lake. The Precision 16 is a lightweight Stephen Seaton-designed un-ballasted centerboard sailing dinghy with a planing hull manufactured from 1982 until the mid 90s. It was superseded in 1995 by the smaller Jim Taylor-designed Precision 15 (P-15CB and P-15K). Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. #sailing #sailingdinghy #coloradosailing #mountainsailing #AuroraReservoir #sailingvideo

This episode covers my 8th outing in the new-to-me 1987 Precision 16 sailing dinghy I purchased locally for $800. This time I return to beautiful Aurora Reservoir in Aurora, Colorado on another unusually warm mid-November day. Aurora Reservoir is a city park in the City of Aurora, CO. The park features a sandy swim beach, modern 3 lane boat ramp, clean restroom facilities and nice picnic areas. The reservoir permits electric motor and hand-powered watercraft only...no gas outboards permitted. The reservoir is open to boating until 1 December. The Precision 16 is a lightweight Stephen Seaton-designed un-ballasted centerboard sailing dinghy with a planing hull manufactured from 1982 until the mid 90s. It was superseded in 1995 by the smaller Jim Taylor-designed Precision 15 (P-15CB and P-15K). Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. #sailing #sailingdinghy #coloradosailing #mountainsailing #AuroraReservoir #sailingvideo

This episode covers my 7th outing in the new-to-me 1987 Precision 16 sailing dinghy I purchased locally for $800. This time I return to beautiful Aurora Reservoir in Aurora, Colorado on an unusually warm November day. Aurora Reservoir is a city park in the City of Aurora, CO. The park features a sandy swim beach, modern 3 lane boat ramp, clean restroom facilities and nice picnic areas. The reservoir permits electric motor and hand-powered watercraft only...no gas outboards permitted. The reservoir is open to boating until 1 December. The Precision 16 is a lightweight Stephen Seaton-designed un-ballasted centerboard sailing dinghy with a planing hull manufactured from 1982 until the mid 90s. It was superseded in 1995 by the smaller Jim Taylor-designed Precision 15 (P-15CB and P-15K). Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. #sailing #sailingdinghy #coloradosailing #mountainsailing #AuroraReservoir #sailingvideo

Inspecting a previous repair on my 2010 Precision 18 sailboat after finishing the sailing season in Colorado. Last year, I noticed my stern horn cleats were loose, the sealant at the deck had been broken, and they needed to be re-bedded. All boats require regular maintenance and re-bedding horn cleats, chain plates and other deck hardware is just a normal part of sailboat maintenance and ownership. Since the factory installation of the horn cleats only used stainless steel washers as backing, I decided to add a 1/2" HDPE board as a backing block to help strengthen the mounting location. I used JB Marine Weld epoxy and 3M 5200 sealant along with new stainless bolts, washers and lock nuts for this project. Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. #lakesailing #mountainsailing #sailing #boatmaintenance #howto #boatrepair

In this video, I spend a second day sailing beautiful Angostura Reservoir near Hot Springs, South Dakota. Angostura is a state recreation area in the southwest corner of the state about 6 hours from Colorado Springs. They have a great group of local Precision sailboat owners with several P-18s, P-21s and a P-23 among the fleet. The reservoir boasts 4,700 surface acres, sandy beaches, a well-protected marina, public restrooms and much steadier sailing winds than where I normally sail in the Rocky Mountains. Featured music: "Great Divide" by Ira Wolf Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. #sailing #Angostura #TrailerSailer #sailingvideo #sailingchannel #southdakota

In this video, I visit beautiful Angostura Reservoir near Hot Springs, South Dakota. Angostura is a state recreation area in the southwest corner of the state about 6 hours from Colorado Springs. They have a great group of local Precision sailboat owners with several P-18s, P-21s and a P-23 among the fleet. The reservoir boasts 4,700 surface acres, sandy beaches, a well-protected marina, public restrooms and much steadier sailing winds than where I normally sail in the Rocky Mountains. Subscribe and follow @ColoradoSailing on YouTube for more original sailing videos, gear, boat maintenance, sailing tips and travel content as I sail my Precision 18 trailer sailer and Precision 16 sailing dinghy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and South Dakota. #sailing #Angostura #TrailerSailer #sailingvideo #sailingchannel #southdakota