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

This episode covers my 6th outing in the new-to-me 1987 Precision 16 sailing dinghy I purchased locally for $800. This time I visit beautiful Aurora Reservoir in Aurora, Colorado. Aurora Reservoir is a city park in the City of Aurora, CO. The park features a sandy swim beach, nice 3 lane boat ramp, clean restroom facilities and nice picnic areas. The reservoir is electric motor and hand-powered watercraft only...no gas outboards permitted. 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

In this week's episode, I finish out my sailing season with a half-day of sailing before taking the boat out of the water. It was the best weather forecast for the week, but turned out rainy, grey and stormy. At one point, I was hit on the beam by a squall and a 28 mph gust. I was flying full sails (fully canvassed) and was nearly knocked down. I quickly spun the boat around through the wind and went straight into a hove-to position on a port tack. Unfortunately, my reefing lines are all on the startboard side, so I was unable to reef the boat on a port tack. The waves and white caps built up quickly, so I took down the sails and headed back to the marina to let the storm pass. Overall, not the ending to the season I was hoping for. 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

Sailing my 2010 Precision 18 sailboat in unpredictable mid-day winds on a beautiful Rocky Mountain lake. This episode highlights some of the challenges of sailing on a high-altitude mountain lake: unreliable forecasts, frequent wind direction changes, flukey up and down wind speeds, sudden gusts, and lots of frustration. The episode also features plenty of nature, blue alpine skies, gorgeous mountain views and sailing sounds. 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 repair the tilt function on my 2019 Torqeedo 1103C electric outboard. Multiple welds on the tilt lever failed making the outboard difficult to lock in the tilted (up) position. The lever would either fail to lock or get jammed when lowering the outboard. I ordered the replacement part direct from Torqeedo for $21 USD. Installation was easy and only took a few minutes. This is the first issue I've had with my Torqeedo outboard after 5 seasons of sailing.   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

I spend some time mid-day ghosting on the lake waiting for the wind to pick back up. I decide to take the opportunity to try docking under sail for the very first time. Not perfect, but not bad for a first attempt. Then the winds pick up and I end the day with my first sunset sail of the season. 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

This episode demonstrates how to step the mast, rig the boat, and bend on the sails of the Precision 16 sailing dinghy. My particular boat has a taller aftermarket mast tabernacle which makes mast stepping easier than on the factory P-16 sailboat. The taller modified tabernacle on my boat allows inserting the base and raising the mast from a horizontal position. With the shorter factory tabernacle, you have to hold the mast over your head to clear the centerboard handle and then insert the base of the mast into the tabernacle at a downward angle. For any P-16 owner this would be a very worthwhile upgrade to install. The entire process of stepping the mast, bending on the sails and preparing the boat to launch takes less than 35 minutes. #sailingchannel #coloradosailing #sailing #learntosail #sailingtips #dinghysailing #sailingdinghy

Sailing my 2010 Precision 18 sailboat on a high-altitude (8,601ft) Rocky Mountain lake. This episode features late summer sailing on the last Wednesday of August. Late summer and early fall are the best time to sail in Colorado, because there are fewer afternoon thunderstorms and calmer winds. This time of year is when I start sailing from sunrise to sunset and get full 12-hour days on the lake. And since it's a weekday, I have the lake practically to myself. The episode features plenty of natural beauty, small coves, mountain views, and wind and water sounds. 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