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New Boat 4 Sled
- Thread starter sleddog
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Welcome Home, PJ!
Dianne Beeston's black and white marine photography of sailing and racing on SF Bay is unparalled. Her photos catch the mood and essence of wind and water like no other. When you come visit Capitola Small Boat Club I will loan you a copy of Dianne's classic Of Wind, Fog, and Sail
The Cove House exhibition is at the immediate north end of the San Francisco Yacht Club Parking Lot in Belvedere, a pleasant 10 minute Bayside walk from downtown Tiburon.
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Launchings are mostly always fun...Unless they're not. That's famous L. Francis Herreshoff's 72' ketch TICONDEROGA in photo above at her 1936 launch at Quincy Adams Yacht Yard in Quincy, MA. Amazingly, no one was hurt. TICONDEROGA went on to set many elapsed time records, including Transpac '63, and Transpac '65 against STORMVOGEL
Bill Lee's legendary MERLIN of Santa Cruz weighs about 35 tons less than "BIG TI". MERLIN, the "People's Boat" is no less famous than "TI," and also broke the Transpac record, in 1977, a record crossing to Hawaii that stood for the next 20 years.
Thursday, Feb.24, 1977, my birthday, was a big day for Bill Lee and crew. The previous afternoon MERLIN had been rolled out of Bill Lee's chicken coop boatyard on Hilltop and loaded aboard Drivin' Ivan's plum colored 18 wheeler. With nearby Santa Cruz Harbor shoaled by winter surf, Bill instead opted for the 20 mile drive down Highway 1 to Gravelle's Boat Yard in Moss Landing for MERLIN's launch.
With "Bosun" Dave Wahle in Maui, Bobbo was detailed as "launch master", and KT was charged with picking up refreshments: a keg at Z's Liquors. Drivin' Ivan never was much for speed limits, and somehow the crew riding aboard MERLIN were able to lift local power lines with wooden handle crutches as MERLIN sped along underneath.
MERLIN arrived at Moss Landing before noon. But Bobbo had somehow forgotten to check the tide book and launching couldn't take place until later .... much later.
The launch crew and arriving friends did what they do best in such adverse circumstances .... "Let the Party Begin" pronounced Bill Lee.. The beer keg was breached, brandy was poured, and the sweet aroma of local pot filled the air.
By mid-afternoon the party was in full swing, and there were some minor casualties. Drivin' Ivan had been drinking brandy in his truck cab and passed out onto the ground below, his position taken by a back-up driver.
Fortunately, Don Snyder's mother had thought to bring a camera, otherwise we wouldn't have the only photo of the event.
As the sun set, MERLIN's chief wood worker, KT (Karen Trapp), was handed the traditional bottle of champagne to break on MERLIN's bow. Only problem was KT couldn't reach the bow, as it overhung the water. Bobbo appropriated a nearby scaffold plank, and with half a dozen wobbly kneed assistants acting as counterweights on the inboard end of the plank, KT ventured dangerously to the end and with a mighty swing, christened MERLIN.
Today in Anacortes, WA, was another kind of launching. I'll let retired singlehander sailor Gary pick up the story:
Traditional boat builder Jay Smith launched his latest Viking boat (36') today at Bowman Bay on the north side of Deception Pass. Jay's shop is located west of the Lake Eire store, NW of Lake Campbell. The boat made quite an entrance to the launch ramp parking lot . The trailer was being towed by 4 Belgian draft horses. What a fine bunch they were.
After several loops around the parking lot they backed the boat trailer into the head of the launch ramp with the skill of a commercial truck driver & no carbon foot print. Alder saplings were lashed to the sheer and husky Scandinavians lifted the boat off the trailer & down the ramp onto blocks of wood. The boat is a work of art (yellow cedar & white oak). It has a mast & square sail but also will be fitted with electric propulsion.
In spite of the alternating between cold drizzle/light snow showers the assembled crowd was in high spirits buoyed by a group of elderly gents singing Norwegian sea chanteys. After fitting out & fine tuning the boat will head for its new home of Massachusetts.
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Today's live helo footage of the start of Leg 2 of the Volvo Ocean Race from Lisbon is about as compelling sailing video as you will witness. 65 footers going 30 knots, regularly disappearing into a wall of water as they plow into the wave ahead. Doggies.
http://www.volvooceanrace.com/en/video/10265_The-Leg-2-Start-from-the-air.html
http://www.volvooceanrace.com/en/video/10265_The-Leg-2-Start-from-the-air.html
Thank you ... I'm catching up with things and will post a write up soon ... It's good to be home and it's nice to be out there too ...
My live-aboard neighbor was clearly agitated: I could hear drawers and lockers being opened and closed aboard his elderly Cal-34. He emerged from the cabin, and started emptying the cockpit lockers in what I perceived to be a near panic.
I inquired if I could help, and he said he'd misplaced a new I-Phone X loaner from AT&T, and he had 30 minutes to get the phone returned or face financial repercussions. He asked if I would call his phone number, and he would listen for the ring. This was easy, and again I could hear my neighbor rummaging in lockers. In a sweat, he again emerged and said, "Skip, I can hear the phone ringing, but it's moving around and I can't find it.."
Now I was intrigued. This was a mystery. I requested permission to come aboard and dial his number. Sure enough, I could hear the phone faintly ringing and yessiree, the ring tone sounded to be moving. As my neighbor once again descended head first into the cockpit locker in search of the elusive phone, I sat and listened.
Then I saw it. What looked like a phone was sticking out of his back pocket...
We had a good laugh. I'm sure glad I've never misplaced my sunglasses only to find them later on top of my head.
One of the best was my friend Chan helping douse the spinnaker on IMPROBABLE as we rounded the Fastnet Rock in the dark and slapped the Red Rocket on the wind. In the process, Chan discovered his left Topsider moccasin deck shoe missing..
Next morning we reset the spinnaker, and on the hoist, Chan's missing shoe fell out of the nylon and into the Irish Sea. Chan, never at a loss for words, pulls off his remaining shoe and sends it overboard. "Guess I don't need one shoe," says Chan.
I inquired if I could help, and he said he'd misplaced a new I-Phone X loaner from AT&T, and he had 30 minutes to get the phone returned or face financial repercussions. He asked if I would call his phone number, and he would listen for the ring. This was easy, and again I could hear my neighbor rummaging in lockers. In a sweat, he again emerged and said, "Skip, I can hear the phone ringing, but it's moving around and I can't find it.."
Now I was intrigued. This was a mystery. I requested permission to come aboard and dial his number. Sure enough, I could hear the phone faintly ringing and yessiree, the ring tone sounded to be moving. As my neighbor once again descended head first into the cockpit locker in search of the elusive phone, I sat and listened.
Then I saw it. What looked like a phone was sticking out of his back pocket...
We had a good laugh. I'm sure glad I've never misplaced my sunglasses only to find them later on top of my head.
One of the best was my friend Chan helping douse the spinnaker on IMPROBABLE as we rounded the Fastnet Rock in the dark and slapped the Red Rocket on the wind. In the process, Chan discovered his left Topsider moccasin deck shoe missing..Next morning we reset the spinnaker, and on the hoist, Chan's missing shoe fell out of the nylon and into the Irish Sea. Chan, never at a loss for words, pulls off his remaining shoe and sends it overboard. "Guess I don't need one shoe," says Chan.
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Nobody can say with certainty, but there is currently a concentration of upwards of 100 blue whales in Monterey Bay feeding on local krill. This is the most blues recorded in recent history and has whale watchers ecstatic observing this rare visitation.
A population of nearly 2,000 blue whales visit the California Coast each summer/fall to feed on krill, along with their smaller cousins, the humpbacks.
Blue whales are the largest creatures on earth, some 100 feet long, and bigger than the largest dinosaurs. I've been fortunate to see a couple of blues. Their size next to a 40-50 foot humpback is amazing. At 150 to 200 tons, that's a lot of displacement. With all the blue whales in the vicinity, no wonder we are having higher than normal tides.....
The below 2 minute drone video of a blue whale lunge feeding recently near the Monterey Bay canyon off Moss Landing is eye opening. You don't what to be a kayak accidentally caught in that 20 foot maw with a tongue heavier than an elephant.
http://www.ksbw.com/article/blue-whale-in-monterey-bay-recorded-with-majestic-video/10225129
Meanwhile up at Lake Tahoe there weren't any blue whales. But gale force winds built up 4-6 foot surfable waves.
http://www.ksbw.com/article/storm-c...n-lake-tahoe-it-looks-like-the-ocean/13789188
A population of nearly 2,000 blue whales visit the California Coast each summer/fall to feed on krill, along with their smaller cousins, the humpbacks.
Blue whales are the largest creatures on earth, some 100 feet long, and bigger than the largest dinosaurs. I've been fortunate to see a couple of blues. Their size next to a 40-50 foot humpback is amazing. At 150 to 200 tons, that's a lot of displacement. With all the blue whales in the vicinity, no wonder we are having higher than normal tides.....
The below 2 minute drone video of a blue whale lunge feeding recently near the Monterey Bay canyon off Moss Landing is eye opening. You don't what to be a kayak accidentally caught in that 20 foot maw with a tongue heavier than an elephant.
http://www.ksbw.com/article/blue-whale-in-monterey-bay-recorded-with-majestic-video/10225129
Meanwhile up at Lake Tahoe there weren't any blue whales. But gale force winds built up 4-6 foot surfable waves.
http://www.ksbw.com/article/storm-c...n-lake-tahoe-it-looks-like-the-ocean/13789188
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MAGICdreamer
Member
Great drone footage, Sleddog. We have encountered these gentle giants off the Baja coast and when they passed close alongside, our 40' LOD schooner seemed mighty ....small.
Philpott says: OMG! OMG! And I worry about logs in the bay! By the way, that phone number for the Army Corps of Engineers for recovery of debris in the bay? Banker's hours, during the week only.
So you see a nautical hazard floating in the Bay during the weekend and the Army Corp of Engineers won't take your call until Monday? My guess is the Coast Guard would be the one to notify....they'll likely ask you to stand by, a good chance to test your drogue or sea anchor.
A nearby neighbor to WILDFLOWER was looking a little more expensive today than usual. The yacht in question is a 30 foot, unnamed trimaran of unknown design or build. It does have a joy stick for a tiller. The rotating wing mast was on deck, in two pieces. Looking in the upper end, I could clearly see sharp carbon fiber and crushed honeycomb. I wonder if marine insurance covers that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0uVEvP7FGA
So you see a nautical hazard floating in the Bay during the weekend and the Army Corp of Engineers won't take your call until Monday? My guess is the Coast Guard would be the one to notify....they'll likely ask you to stand by, a good chance to test your drogue or sea anchor.
A nearby neighbor to WILDFLOWER was looking a little more expensive today than usual. The yacht in question is a 30 foot, unnamed trimaran of unknown design or build. It does have a joy stick for a tiller. The rotating wing mast was on deck, in two pieces. Looking in the upper end, I could clearly see sharp carbon fiber and crushed honeycomb. I wonder if marine insurance covers that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0uVEvP7FGA
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solosailor
New member
That is the Antrim 30+ trimaran, ex-"Erin". Boat was for sale for quite some time in Alameda. Tiller is a 'whipstaff' design.
Thanks, Greg. ERIN is a cool looking boat...Here is more info on her design from 1993. I guess there was only one built.
http://antrimdesign.com/antrim-30-trimaran-erin.html
http://antrimdesign.com/antrim-30-trimaran-erin.html
No secrets. The "turbulence," aka riffles and small whirlypools, comes from underneath WILDFLOWER and extends a dozen feet astern... H Spruit knows this: that is him drilling the largish holes in the floor of WILDFLOWER's cockpit, an act of faith on behalf of the owner.
More will be revealed should you attend the always festive Santa Cruz Lighted Boat Christmas Parade, 5:30 pm, Saturday, Dec.2.
A ration of grog at Capitola Boat Club for whoever can identify the function of the two 2 5/8" diameter holes Howard is cutting in the floor of WILDFLOWER's cockpit. And no, they are not related to underwater lights, beer cans, fishing, or means of self bailing.
Dazzler
m/v PACIFIC LOON
Not a bad guess. This should be fun. I'm pretty sure I know what the holes are for, but of course I could be very wrong.
Since it might be considered that I have inside information, I will not make a guess. But I do like Bob's guess for a number of reasons including the fact that the Flux Capacitor was the (fictional) invention of (the fictional) Doc Brown. (That's a hint.)
Tom
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MAGICdreamer
Member
I look forward to seeing out the set-up "settled aboard", mate.