Star sailing

[Chris.]

Never sailed one, but this clip from Fremantlemakes it look like something I should have tried before I got this old :-(
Don't sell it Mickey!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=VObJZGZi_4I

[bamamick]

They are wonderful boats and I have been lucky enough to have sailed in some pretty big events. Like all the boats I have loved sailing they are awesome upwind and are a dream to handle.

The only Star I have now is 5902, which is an old Lippincott. My dear friend George Criminale asked me to take care of it for him when he got too old to sail her, and I promised him I would always keep her clean and under cover. I have to admit that she has been pretty dirty a few times but I did get her a new cover last year and I cleaned her up pretty well about a month ago. She needs some work but I could launch and sail her tomorrow if I wanted to. George passed away at the age of 97 after a lifetime sailing, building, and restoring and refinishing Stars. His old 3710 is in storage now awaiting the completion of the maritime museum in Mobile, where we hope it will find an honored place.

We have had a chartered fleet in Mobile since 1932, and even now Stars are trying to make a comeback over in Fairhope, but my time in them is over. I was very lucky to have come up in them though. Very lucky, and my most cherished memories of sailing are in the Star class. I owned six different boats over the years.

Mickey Lake

[DGentry]

Amazing boats. I was always a little sad - and a little thankful - that I was 50lbs too light to sail one.

Droop hiking, though - ugh.

[bamamick]

Droop hiking with a harness is a lot different than things were when I started. It's not bad at all now.

Mickey Lake

[S.V. Airlie]

A new star costs about 80 grand. I sailed old woodies. We used to have a large fleet on Otsego Lake. I miss seeing them.Now we have lasers etc. Not bad but nothing like a Star.

[bamamick]

A popular class of boat around here is the old J/30. Very nice dual-purpose boat that is easy to sail fast. I could go out today and buy three of them for the price of a new Star, or four of them for the price of a new Dragon. Kind of puts things in perspective if you worry about such things.

Mickey Lake

[bamamick]

Jamie, my first boat was 4541, a wooden Lippencott. She was a speed demon in light air. Mr. Criminale completely restored her, including all new rigging, and then sold her to me for $100 a month. I think I wound up paying about $1500 for her, for a completely restored woodie that was race-ready and took him months to complete.

Because of how I started out in sailing, on the receiving end of a lot of generosity, I think it has always had an affect on how I look at sailing and my attitude towards others. I have a lot to be thankful for, and I have tried to pay that back whevever I could.

Mickey Lake

[S.V. Airlie]

Nicely said... I started out in turnabouts..a nice little round I'd say 12 loa boat but it did have a spinnaker. The next step up was a star.I only was a crew member. I still see a few around Cooperstown. One I was practically drooling over. About 3 grand. Needed work but all woodies do. Lake Otsego, as I mentioned had a fleet of I'd say 20-25. Now down to 2 the last time I visited..Sad...I think the new one's the price I posted are made in Italy now.

[Dan McCosh]

We have five at our club--other than the relentless attrition of masts, I hadn't thought they were all that unusual. Nice boats.