Beach launched the DS1

[1987DSPrecision]

I have been getting discouraged trying to launch the boat from the docks next to the boat dock. The wind has blown me into some difficult situations. Our club has a narrow channel that leads to the lake. One side is a highway bridge pylons and the other are wet slipped yachts. Unless the wind was right it was very hard to get the sails up and get the boat moving in the right direction when sailing solo. It was even more difficult on the return trips!

So today I attempted to beach launch like the Hobies do and it went surprisingly well. I made a time lapse video of the event. Don't critique me too hard it is my first time with the new camera and I am still a newb to the sailing scene.

https://youtu.be/79qj1JV9W6s

[GreenLake]

Nice video. Looks like you found a good spot

Just for comparison here are some things I do differently (in case you might find that useful): I rig sails and sheets on the trailer. All I have to do once the boat is in the water is to fit the rudder and raise the sails (with sheets and boom already connected), and, once in deeper water, lower the rudder and CB. (I actually hardly ever take the main off the boom -- I leave sail and mainsheet connected, with the sail rolled up loosely next to the boom. I also leave the jib-sheet connected to the boat, I use a loop to attach sheet to the clew of the jib -- all this in an effort to cut down on rigging time).

The difference is that in my case, I can't be blocking the launch position, because there's usually a line -- and the water is less inviting to splash around in

The spots for rigging the boat on the trailer are also shared where I sail, so there's every incentive in not spending more time than necessary...

For retrieving, I lowered the rearmost roller, so it's easier to get the boat up on it. In the front, I want some of the weight on the rollers, but close to the transom, there's less advantage, in my view, of having weight on the rollers, so I lowered the rear-most one 3-4".

Most important thing, you got your boat in the water, and out in one piece! Hope you had an enjoyable sail in-between!

[Baysailer]

Nice video, I'm pretty impressed. I always thought a DS would be to heavy to beach launch but you made it look easy.

[GreenLake]

Definitely not too heavy. You want to drop it into the water from the trailer, not onto the sand, though. There are people who have sailed these in the FL300 where the start is from above the "high tide" mark, but that requires serious forethought, with rollers, etc.. Pulling the bow up a few feet as shown in the video is the way to do it with the DS. John from this forum sailed a DS II in the Tx200 and he's pulled it up on the beach like this, except he used an anchor, instead of a stick to secure it overnight. When I beach launch, I usually have crew to hold the line. I try to manage launch and retrieval without having to go into the water, if at all possible...

[1987DSPrecision]

It really wasn't too bad. Would be easier with a second person or if I backed the trailer a little deeper.
Definitely need to buy an anchor as my stick looked laughable when I re-watched the video

I think dropping that rear roller a bit lower would make it even easier, or even a size smaller wheel might help too.
TX200 is on my bucket list. I may try to find someone that needs a crew member this next year to get a taste for.

I keep reading Frank Dye books and Roger Barnes books and I feel like this boat would make a nice camp-cruiser. Now I know it is beach-able!


Also, it makes me feel a bit more confident in taking one of the dogs for a ride now. I know they wouldn't jump off the dock onto the boat, but this could be possible from shore.

[jeadstx]

We would love to have you join us on the Tx200. Mine and a few other Day Sailers have done the event. The DS is definitely beachable.

About January I will start looking for crew if my crew from last year doesn't join me again. I will be sailing my O'Day Mariner again. You can read about my sailing the Day Sailer on the event in my articles posted on the website in the archives for the years 2011, 2012, and 2013.

Good video.

John

[1987DSPrecision]

Shoot me a message if you need crew!

[jeadstx]

Sure will.

My Mariner can sail with 3 people comfortably. Last year I sailed with one other, the previous two years 3 of us were on the boat.

Downloadable charts of the route are available on the Tx200 website (under "Route") if you want to review the route. The maps were created by me.

John

[K.C. Walker]

Fun video!

[BaronDaniels]

Also, it makes me feel a bit more confident in taking one of the dogs for a ride now. I know they wouldn't jump off the dock onto the boat, but this could be possible from shore.

I know how this feels, man, which is why I always fit mine in their leash, so they wouldn't jump off.