Green-ness: consume less and sail more.
Related to our boating life, I think these two factors are most important:
- 1. Choose a boat (new or old) of solid construction, which will last ‘forever’. Many of the grp-boats from the sixties and seventies still appear to stay sound. Their systems are quite simple and can be repaired when needed.
- 2. Choose a sailboat, and then one which is easy to sail and which goes well to windward, so one actually elects to sail instead of motoring.
I think that upwind performance has been given too little value. I am not talking about break-neck racing speeds, with the crew perched on the rail, only good and predictable progress in light winds (in particular) as well as in winds up to (and included) F6. I find that tacking against F6 is no fun, but motoring is no better in those conditions. At least my Ingeborg does it, but of course with cold spray flying everywhere.
Think about it: The engine of a motor boat may well burn fuel equivalent to several times the displacement of the vessel during its lifespan. In comparison, my outboard may have burnt as much as two litres this summer. That was enough to move us 150-200NM during our 15 day-sails.
As I bet most of you do, I frequently spot sailboats motoring around during perfect sailing conditions. This just turns me sad.
I have never felt a missionary call to promote the JR - maybe until now:
Fitting a good JR could bring new life to an elderly but structurally sound sailboat with a tired rig. This would be both quite satisfying and also a lot greener than scrapping it and buying a new boat. The JR would even encourage one to sail most of the time.
Sooo good luck with the 10m SibLim, Donald - and give her as generous sail area as your intended sailing lets you have!
Cheers, Arne