New Boat 4 Sled

[sleddog]

Though we do not usually think of cats as being particularly seaworthy, surprise is in the wind (and it is windy here in Capitola after yesterday's dry frontal passage.)





For a prize of an exquisite trimaran, complete with rotating mast, designed by H.Spruit, be the first to
correctly match the following famous ship's cats and their predicatments.

Blackie a. Survived secret seaplane somersault with Admiral Nimitz in Alameda Estuary. (plane sank.)
Mrs. Chippie b. During 130,000 small boat miles under her paws, survived two pitch-poles off Cape Horn.
Trim c. Met Churchill and Roosevelt, sunk on battleship, rescued.
Pwe d. His death nearly caused a mutiny
Oscar e. First to circumnavigate Australia, navigated for Flinders proving Oz was a continent.
Cap f. Sunk on enemy battleship, rescued by a destroyer that was then sunk, rescued by aircraft carrier that was sunk, rescued again.

 

[sleddog]

I would hazard a guess there is no weather location more carefully monitored in California than Diablo Canyon, near San Luis Obispo/Los Osos and Port San Luis harbor.

The Diablo Canyon Power Plant has 23 weather monitoring towers measuring temperature, wind direction and speed from a number of altitudes. Offshore, there is a Waverider buoy which records swell height and direction as well as water temperature. Near shore, there is a sonic radar system which records even more data about wind direction and speed along with a high frequency radar network which monitors ocean currents. While the information is used for plant operations, the primary function is public safety.

Last evening's winds at Diablo were reportedly 46, gusting 55. That's miles/hour. And converts to 38 knots, gusting 49. That's breeze. There's snow in upper Carmel Valley and on the Cuesta Grade on Highway 101, at SLO.

http://www.tenera.com/weather/

 

[DaveH]

Blackie - C
Mrs Chippie - D
Trim - E
Pwe - B
Oscar - F
Cap - A

 

[sleddog]

Blackie - C
Mrs Chippie - D
Trim - E
Pwe - B
Oscar - F
Cap - A

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner for your SSS Commodore. Congrats David!

Briefly, Blackie was battleship HMS PRINCE of WALES ship's cat. During WWII, Blackie achieved worldwide fame after PoW carried Prime Minister Winston Churchill across the Atlantic to secretly confer with President FDR. As Churchill prepared to disembark, Blackie approached. Churchill stooped to bid farewell to Blackie, and the moment was photographed and reported in the world media. Later, PRINCE of WALES was sunk by the Japanese north of Singapore, but Blackie was rescued.

Mrs. Chippie, a male tabby, was ENDURANCE ship's cat. When icebound in the Antarctic, Shackleton ordered Mrs. Chippie put down as well as all the sleddogs. There was a near mutiny, and hard feelings remained. http://www.purr-n-fur.org.uk/famous/chippy.html

Trim was explorer Matthew Flinders cat, and circumnavigated Australia in 1803, putting the continent on the map. Trim was small, black and white, and the crew's favorite. Flinder's spent much time in his captain's cabin attempting to chart and navigate the then unknown coast of Australia, and it is said Trim likely had a say in Flinder's navigational decisions. There's a great story, in paper back, called Matthew Flinder's Cat. http://www.purr-n-fur.org.uk/famous/trim.html

Pwe was the Smeeton's Siamese and lived aboard TZU HANG, which was pitchpoled twice near Cape Horn, the first time with John Guzzwell aboard. Pwe was the saltiest cat of this group and logged 130,000 ocean miles. If you haven't read the classic Once is Enough, you haven't met the Smeetons and Pwe. http://www.purr-n-fur.org.uk/featuring/adv10.html

Oscar was a "Swasticat" aboard the German Battleship BISMARCK. BISMARCK was famously sunk when her steering jammed and she could only steam in circles, making for easy prey of the Brits. Oscar, afloat on flotsam, was rescued by a Britsh destroyer, HMS COSSACK, which was then torpedoed and sunk. Again, Oscar was rescued and became ship's cat aboard the aircraft carrier HMS ARK ROYAL. ARK ROYAL was sunk, but Oscar lived again and retired ashore to an old sailor's home in Belfast. There is a portrait of Oscar at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich.



Lastly, after the epic and victorious Battle of Midway, Admiral Chester Nimitz, commander of the Pacific Fleet, was making a secret flight from Hawaii to San Francisco aboard a Sikorsky XPBS-1 seaplane. Upon landing, the seaplane hit a log in front of the Alameda Naval Airstation, flipped upside down, cracked in half and sank. Nimitz miraculously survived, and so did his cat Cap.

 

[AlanH]

I would hazard a guess there is no weather location more carefully monitored in California than Diablo Canyon, near San Luis Obispo/Los Osos and Port San Luis harbor.

The Diablo Canyon Power Plant has 23 weather monitoring towers measuring temperature, wind direction and speed from a number of altitudes. Offshore, there is a Waverider buoy which records swell height and direction as well as water temperature. Near shore, there is a sonic radar system which records even more data about wind direction and speed along with a high frequency radar network which monitors ocean currents. While the information is used for plant operations, the primary function is public safety.

Last evening's winds at Diablo were reportedly 46, gusting 55. That's miles/hour. And converts to 38 knots, gusting 49. That's breeze. There's snow in upper Carmel Valley and on the Cuesta Grade on Highway 101, at SLO.

http://www.tenera.com/weather/

That's good. Now we need some significant preciptation to make that REAL snow. Snow in Chachagua and back in the peaks of the Ventana wilderness is not all that unusual. When I was in high school, I remember some of the Valley guys going up and filling one of their mates pickup truck bed with snow and bringing it to school.

 

[jamottep]

There's snow in upper Carmel Valley and on the Cuesta Grade on Highway 101, at SLO.

We were camping in Henry W Coe state park these past two nights. We did get snow Monday night; it was magical ... Kids loved it, standing by the fire, under the falling snow, melting marshmallows in the ring fire ...

 

[Philpott]

February 24
Happy Birthday, Skip!

 

[sleddog]

East San Francisco Bay is rumbling....55 small earthquakes in the last week, 13 in the last 24 hours. I was just on the phone with PHILPOT in Oakland and she says, "Oh, my, we're having an earthquake." (12:20 pm Friday.) The quake Jackie reported was 3.6. Nothing too earthshaking. More like coming off a wave on ebb tide near Seal Rocks at Lands End. But earthquake swarms like these can be a predecessor to something bigger, da dum.

Increasing numbers of citizens are moving from California. But not for earthquake reasons. Skyrocketing rents and rising housing costs are the primary culprit. Add increasing earthquakes and drought to the reason there are few, if any, U-Haul truck and trailers to be found.

I was living aboard WILDFLOWER during the '89 earthquake that pretty much destroyed Santa Cruz Harbor. My friend, sitting in his car in the parking lot, disappeared into a large crack (he was shocked, but unhurt.) The parking lot looked like Yellowstone, with numerous geysers from broken underground pipes. The Harbor bridge was broke for a year, downtown was pretty much destroyed, and there was not a chimney left standing.

I could tell when an aftershock was coming, and there were many. Inside the boat, it sounded like a train rumbling nearby. Hundreds of fish would simultaneously jump from the Harbor's rippling water. Most of the dock pilings took on a significant lean. It seemed most of town were camping on their front lawns.

Years later I hiked to Ground Zero of the '89 Loma Prieta Quake in the Nicene Forest, 4 miles north of Aptos Village.

 

[sleddog]

We came up the Coast yesterday from Santa Cruz, across the Bay Bridge, to Berkeley. It was windy offshore, with estimated 25 knots NW as far as Pigeon Point. North of Pigeon Point, the wind backed off to a pleasant 10-15, with sunshine but a bit of chill. Nothing like Tahoe, where friends reported yesterday's lake level weather as subfreezing with 4" of fresh snow.

Just south of Half Moon Bay we hove to by the side of the road for 20 minutes to investigate Fields of Gold, an expanse of mustard and sour grass. The yellows, with the steel blue ocean and green hills, and pungent smell, were beautiful to behold. I'd guess the area investigated was a square mile, located half mile south of Miramontes Point Road.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x7K98ZhbYg

Hope everyone had a good sail yesterday in the Corinthian Regatta. Congrats to BANDICOOT, All Germain, first overall Single-Hander, and UNO, first DH. https://www.jibeset.net/show.php?RR=JACKY_T004625717&DOC=r201&TYP=html

 

[sleddog]

Remembering...

Bahamian Durward Knowles was already a sailing legend when we first met in Newport Beach in 1959. He been taught sailing at a young age by his father, worked as a Nassau Bar Pilot, won the Star World's Championship in 1947 and the Bronze Medal in the 1956 Olympics. His red Starboats, all named GEM, were invariably found at the head of the fleet. Durward was in the very top echelon of Star sailors, the best sailors in the world.

Durward and crew had arrived early in Newport. I was honored to be asked to practice as their tune-up boat. Unlike San Pedro, 20 miles west, where Durward had won the '47 Worlds, the course off Newport has predominantly light airs, 8-14 knots, with a fair amount of Pacific ground swell, leftover waves from better winds to the west, and powerboat slop.

Local sailors become proficient at handling these conditions, "the washing machine," which are somewhat mystifying at first to the outsider. As a 14 year old I had gotten good at it, which turned out to be a bit deflating to the ever jovial Mr. Knowles. As he wrote of his experience, "I didn't mind so much that Skip kept passing us." "But every time he wiped us off the kid would luff up and say, 'Had enough? I have to go home.'" Durward interpreted this to mean, "Now do you give up?" whereas actually it was too late for me to be out on the ocean according to family rules and I didn't want to get into trouble.

Durward kept his grin all that week and the next, laughing at practical jokes, one of which was an unidentified competitor possibly named Blackaller repainting the name of Knowles Star from GEM to "GERM."

Durward Knowles reached the pinnacle of a lifetime of sailing in 1964 when he and Cecil Cooke won the Olympic Gold Medal in the Star Class in Tokyo. They came home to the Bahamas as national heroes, and he was knighted Sir Durward in 1996.



Durward continued racing until 70 years of age, and competed in eight Olympics, the last in Seoul, South Korea in 1988 where he was the proud bearer of the flag of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas

Durward Knowles supported sailing all his long life. He was especially fond of coaching juniors. His last Star sits in position of honor at the entrance to the Nassau Yacht Club.



I honor Sir Durward, the oldest living Olympic Champion, who died Saturday at age 100.

Below is a photo of Sir Durward Knowles with fellow Star World's champion (1988) Paul Cayard.

 

[sleddog]

AlanH writes on another thread, You want to send five boats out around the world, in old third or fourth generation open 60's? One of those boats, even an old one is $150,000 - $200,000 to buy. They're all in Europe and you need another hundred thousand dollars to update/clean up/sails/electronics/etc. Then, when you've done it, who are you going to sell it to? Who the hell wants an uncompetitive Open 60?

Alan is correct. Except for a famous SSS Boat, Al Hughes' DOGBARK, an older open 60 located in Anacortes, WA. DOGBARK has twice circumnavigated in the BOC Race, sailed by Kanga Birtles.

Al and DOGBARK have been first-to-finish the SHTP 3x. Al has recently sold DOGBARK to long time friends and crew Janna and Graeme Esarey. The Esareys family are leaving this spring to sail the NorthWest Passage on DOGBARK, which was built like a brick ****house. Originally, DOGBARK had 1800 gallons of water ballast on each side. Can you imagine?! That's unreal stability potential.

There is a recent interview with the Esareys in 48 North. Or follow their story at https://saildogbark.com/about/

Good luck to them!

 

[sleddog]

Serendipity indeed to have both Synthia and Jackie visit Capitola Boat Club on the same day. Synthia was doing canvas work, but found time to visit the cliff with her dog Rreveur.



Jackie joined us at the Harbor, and Syn, Jackie and I pedaled WILDFLOWER around....Rreveur got into the act.



Now I have your attention, if you know someone in need of a boat trailer in Hawaii to ship a boat home after SHTP or PacCup, there is one available. The trailer is double-axle, 10,000 pound max load, surge brakes, and will be carrying a Wyliecat 30 to Honolulu. It is currently empty on the return. Contact Dave at 831-four 76-five 629 for information.

 

[jamottep]

Now I have your attention, if you know someone in need of a boat trailer in Hawaii to ship a boat home after SHTP or PacCup, there is one available. The trailer is double-axle, 10,000 pound max load, surge brakes, and will be carrying a Wyliecat 30 to Honolulu. It is currently empty on the return. Contact Dave at 831-four 76-five 629 for information.

I have just been told that on Big Island slips are impossible to have and the only way to get a boat there is on a trailer. I was told they're worth 4 times their price ... I haven't verified this first hand: take with a grain of salt as it is a comment from someone on Craigslist ...

 

[sleddog]

OK, here's an historical question. Who was the first singlehander around the 3 Great Capes, as well as first to solo Cape Horn. Shouldn't be too hard to figure out. But here's complexity: what two things does this great sailor and his boat have in common with the below boat racing off Port Townsend. Jackie knows. Do you?

 

[jamottep]

OK, here's an historical question. Who was the first singlehander around the 3 Great Capes, as well as first to solo Cape Horn. Shouldn't be too hard to figure out. But here's the complexity: what two things does this great sailor and his boat have in common with the below boat racing off Port Townsend. Jackie knows. Do you?

View attachment 3193

Well ... Vito Dumas ... both boats have a mast and forestay ...

 

[sleddog]

Hi PJ,
Vito Dumas is your correct answer to who first solo-circumnavigated the Southern Ocean, rounding the 3 Great Capes, including first to solo Cape Horn, in 1942. Fearing wartime interrogation, Dumas' only instrument was a compass. He stayed warm stuffing his oilskins with newspaper. No expensive drysuits, electronics, engine, or heater for this intrepid voyager. No reef points in the main, no drogue or sea anchor, no self steering either. Alone Through the Roaring 40's is Vito Dumas' book of the voyage, a classic of maritime literature.

But PJ's answer raises the question: What two things does Vito Dumas and his boat have in common with the boat pictured in the above photo. Yes, "both boats have a mast and forestay." But Dumas' boat, the 31 foot LEHG II, was a ketch....so technically she had 2 masts... And yes, both are canoe sterns with outboard rudders, felt to be the best shape for running hard in gale force and above. That should be a hint.

Here's LEHG II then:



And here's LEHG II now, beautifully restored and displayed at the Museo Naval de Tigre in Buenos Aires, only blocks from where she was built.

 

[Dazzler]

No lifelines.

Greetings from Loreto. B.C.S.
Tom

 

[sleddog]

Capt.Bob checking in from the Kaiteriteri Coast on the north end of the South Island of New Zealand. He and MJ launched their inflatable SUPs on the beach in the foreground, and paddled a mile out to Split Apple Rack in the background.



Cap answered the second half of the question, "what is the boat racing off PT and what does it have in common with the great Argentine sailor Vito Dumas and his boat LEHG II?"

Says the captain, "In reply to your blog, I know that boat is VITO DUMAS racing off PT. We met VITO and Alex at Stuart Island..."

Yes! IRUPE, built 85 years ago, was renamed VITO DUMAS in his honor, and today lives in Port Townsend, where Jackie paid homage yesterday. VITO DUMAS is kept in immaculate shape, and wins many of the local races with good sailing, fast sails, clean bottom and feathering prop, and giant foretriangle. OF course it helps the boat is a timeless design.

The last part of the question remains unanswered. Other than her name, what does VITO DUMAS have in common with Vito Dumas and LEHG II?

Here's a pic of VITO taken recently by Jackie on her pilgrimage to PT. That's an unidentified Kettenburg in the background.

 

[sleddog]

The last part of the question remains unanswered. Other than her name, what does VITO DUMAS have in common with Vito Dumas and LEHG II? Here's a pic of VITO taken recently by Jackie on her pilgrimage to PT. That's an unidentified Kettenburg in the background.
View attachment 3202

What does VITO DUMAS have in common with LEHG II? VITO's long time owner, Alex, checks in with the answer:

"The answer to the second part of the question would be that both boats are Manuel Campos Designs. IRUPE, now my boat VITO DUMAS, while under construction in 1933, was the inspiration for LEHG II when Vito Dumas came looking for a boat more suitable for offshore sailing than LEHG I, the 20 year old 8 meter he singlehanded from France to Argentina"

Argentinian designer Manuel Campos was very much influenced by Colin Archer, also William (Billy) Atkin’s 1924 design ERIC. Campos also knew the successful FJORD II, designed and owned by another Argentinian, German Frers Sr. Campos considered these double-ended hulls the best possible model for running in big seas, which Vito Dumas became famous for, never lying to but continuing to run, as he wrote, “on a mattress of foam”…..This convinced Bernard Moitessier to take up the cause of running off 20 years later with his JOSHUA and nearly win the Golden Globe before dropping out to head for Tahiti……..

IRUPE (now VITO DUMAS) and LEHG II are basically sisterships, both 31 feet on deck, and built in the same yard in Tigre, Argentina. LEHG II is a bit deeper and heavier, and a marconi rigged ketch. IRUPE started life as a gaff cutter.

IRUPE (VITO DUMAS) was purchased in 1976 by Alex. "After a period of work combined with shakedown cruises on the California coast, we began a nearly three year cruise that included Baja California, Marquesas, Societies, Hawaii, Alaska, and British Columbia.. VITO has always treated us well, and I have attempted to return the favor by doing the necessary projects to keep her seaworthy and kept up. After 42 years of ownership, VITO continues to challenge and inspire."

"PS, the boat moored next to VITO in Jackie's photo is Kettenburg 43, #11, QUE SERA."

 

[Philpott]

"PS, the boat moored next to VITO in Jackie's photo is Kettenburg 43, #11, QUE SERA."

That Kettenburg Que Sera! is gorgeous. A grand, seriously blue water vessel, beautifully maintained. Alex's neighbor and the owner is David. I had the nicest time talking with him about sailing, Que Sera! and Port Townsend in general.

Turns out he graduated from Magnolia High school in Anaheim, not far from my own alma mater in Santa Ana. David and his wife, Connie lived aboard Que Sera! for the first ten years of their ownership. First they and Que Sera! were in Los Angeles, then San Diego, followed by travels to Mexico, Tahiti, Hawaii, then to Astoria in Oregon on the Columbia River, back to Hawaii and finally now in Port Townsend.

Those are a lot of beautiful places and that's a lot of sailing. After all that time and travel the boat is still in pristine condition. The phrase "a moveable feast" comes to mind. Importantly, David told me that Connie shares his enthusiasm for sailing, which she does right alongside him. And the fact that they chose to settle here after experiencing all those other places says something about this town.
Port Townsend is remarkable.

I've had a really nice visit, partly because so many people have been engaging and friendly. I should mention that the sun came out today. The sky is a different blue up here, and have I mentioned the Cascade Mountains? There are crocuses and daffodils poking up everywhere. And finally! I saw a nice big sloop out on the water today. Only one, but it looked happy. Wish I'd been on it. Personally? I think a sailboat is necessary for happiness.