New Boat 4 Sled

[sleddog]

On the beach, at Java Junction, at the Santa Cruz Harbor Entrance, is a morning assembly point for "Coffee Club." Depending on the time, weather, and surf report, you are likely to find the most interesting assemblage of characters discussing everything from sailing to music to Harbor operations, to surfing history. And a whole lot more. The dredge captain can often be found. As well as the local rigger, current harbor employes and retired, and boat builders.

Just offshore can often be seen big waves, whales, otters, dolphins, and birdlife.

Yesterday at coffee club, between the subject of hybrid car technology and guitar fingering, arose the subject of whether it is better to have a flexible or stiff catamaran or outrigger canoe for waves. Coming from a racing background, I supported the idea of stiffness. But a fellow multi-huller reminded that beginning with the Polynesian voyagers, to Nathanial Herreshoff's catamarans, to James Wharram, all had flexilbility built into their designs. "Reduces stress on the hull, rig, and crew," pointed out my friend.

Herreshoff used ball joints to connect the hulls of AMARYLIS and his other cats. Wharram used old tire tread between the deck and akas for a smoother ride.

I suppose if you are flying your multi-hull on carbon foils, that stiffness counts for speed. But most things in nature are flexible, and bend before they break. If you're on a boat with no stretch or flexibility in the sails, running rigging,
and hull, you may go faster. But something will eventually break...

Cal-40's and MERLIN were probably the most flexible and successful ocean racers going. And are still going strong after more than 55 and 40 years respectively...just sayin'

 

[sleddog]

If you haven't caught it, an excellent and thoughtful description at https://tbeetle.wordpress.com/ of Rob single-handed re-rigging his 45' TIGER BEETLE at Ala Wai Harbor, in Hono.

For those considering a Solent (staysail) stay aft of the headstay, this is a good primer on the bottom end construction. Knowing Beetle's meticulousness, I'm sure a lot of measuring went into the project.

 

[sleddog]

Overrides happen even to the best. But can be lessened by being aware of their cause.

1. The angle of the sheet or halyard needs be slightly downwards from the winch to the lead. i.e. the sheet should lead to the bottom of the winch drum.

2. When tailing, allowing slack to develop in the sheet can increase chances of an override.

3.Tailing with more wraps than necessary on the winch can also develop an override. Usually 3 wraps is best to begin with, laying on additional wraps as needed. Takes practice.

4. Being observant to what is happening on the winch drum. Sometimes as an override is beginning it can be removed by carefully removing the top wrap. But watch the fingers!

Getting out of an override depends on the situation and urgency. If time is available, a lazy sheet or stopper knot led to an available winch can unload the override. If time is not available, a sharp knife should always be at hand. Cutting a loaded sheet near the clew (to save line) is usually the best method. The load on the sheet greatly increases the ease of cutting the line: one good touch with the blade of the knife as you begin the tack usually suffices.

 

[sleddog]

A prominent member of the FORUM recently encountered one of the largest cruise ships in the world, RUBY PRINCESS.



The Princess is BIG, 951 feet. Carries 3,600 passengers and 1,100 crew. That's a lot of poop.
Security and the Coasties don't let you get near. It was raining as they ferried passengers ashore.
For the usual chicken dinner, what historical California port is this?

 

[DaveH]

how are they gonna race the Shields with that hotel parked half way to the top mark?

 

[hodgmo]

Dodge the otters near Monterey?

 

[sleddog]

how are they gonna race the Shields with that hotel parked half way to the top mark?

Dodge the otters near Monterey?

Winners, winners, TJ's Chicken Pot Pie dinners at the Capitola Boat Club. We have a tie, with both DaveH and hodgemo correctly hinting that it was Monterey where the ultra-large cruise ship RUBY PRINCESS was anchored off Philpot's front porch, blocking the view of Pacific Grove.

At some point in the past, at least one cruise ship, CRYSTAL HARMONY, has been banned from Monterey after dumping 36,400 gallons of waste into the sea otters' bedrooms.

The cruise company fired the ship's chief officer, who was on watch that night. ''He simply failed to remember that they were in the middle of the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary," said a company spokesman.

Really?

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary covers 5,322-square-miles, and is home to 27 species of whales, dolphins, otters, and other marine mammals.



Cruise ships have slowly come around to cleaning up their holding tank discharges with more modern facilities. But they are still gross polluters with the litter of the traditional release of helium filled balloons, shiny mylar and latex, often seen by sailors as the partially deflated balloons skim along the ocean's surface.

Birds, turtles and other animals commonly mistake deflated balloons for food. In addition, animals can become entangled in balloon strings. Sea turtles are being especially hard hit by confusing balloons for food.



This balloon release was from the RUBY PRINCESS" even bigger sister, the MAJESTIC PRINCESS. Princess Cruise Lines claims their balloons are biodegradable. BS. Maybe in five years, after they rot in a sea animal's gut. Shame on companies that use the sea for profit and pollute the waters they sail on.

 

[Wylieguy]

Regarding the ocean whale (I mean liner) off Monterey. In 1984 we were tied up at the MPYC's float right up against the bulkhead. Starting in the afternoon we stared up at dozens of U.S. Sailors staring down. It was a rare sunny afternoon in Monterey and Sue was enjoying the sun in the cockpit. That night was raucous in the tourist part of Monterey. The next morning we left for Santa Cruz and popping out the marina entrance ran smack into the "U.S.S. Missouri" anchored crosswise to our course. Shooed off by picket boats, we did an end run, looking down the "Missouri's" graceful bow with those 16 inch guns pointed at us! It's interesting that WWII's almost most famous battleship (I suppose the "U.S.S. Arizona" comes in 1st) would have seemed small compared compared with the cruise ship. I suppose the probable somewhat elderly "sailors" from the "RUBY" were quieter than the gobs from the "Missouri" and there were fewer sirens late into the evening.

 

[sleddog]

Cancel Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival?? Horrors.



PTWBF (2014) is where the Race2Alaska was conceived by Jake Beattie and friends in the PTWBF beer tent. Here's a letter from Jake, the Director of the NorthWest Maritime Center that puts on not only the R2AK, but also the Wooden Boat Festival.


Hello friends,

Apologies for the big group email, but this is big news and we wanted it to get to you as fast as possible. You may or may not have heard the rumble before this email but the short story is we were almost forced to cancel this year's Wooden Boat Festival. Really.

The Port of Port Townsend was a vote away from advancing construction options that would start in July, putting Port Townsend's high season at risk.

Today, at a special meeting the Port Commissioners did the right thing: they listened to the community, they considered the big picture, and weighed the overall impacts, and in a 2-1 vote decided to preserve the commerce of our town and only put forward breakwater construction options that start after the 2018 Wooden Boat Festival. As of that vote, the festival can happen, and local businesses can thrive.

It happened because of you. So many of you reached out, sent word to your networks, wrote letters to the commissioners (hundreds), and turned out to today's meeting (nearly 400) all to express the importance of this decision... and it worked. They heard the significance of the festival, and so did we.

I opened the public comments today by reading the attached letter that pledges the proceeds from the Wooden Boat Festival if the Port would not move forward with summer construction options. This wasn't a decision we took lightly; we depend on that revenue for funding our programs. It's that important.

What followed was inspiring. We were in awe of the business community who joined us during the public comments and pledged additional support to offset cost increases: $160,000 in total pledges! It was the participation and passion of this great community that tipped the scales. Peak season commerce is protected and the festival will happen on schedule-all without risk of contractors setbacks.

For all of you who advocated (and those who wanted to) we'd love it if you also wrote to say thanks to commissioners: Pete Hanke ([email protected]), Bill Putney ([email protected]), and Steve Tucker ([email protected])

A few months ago a co-worker pinned to my wall an image of a double sheet bend (for those who don't speak knots, this one that joins two lines in perfect symmetry.) The caption read: "Stronger together." It's true, and today we showed that we truly are.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Onward,
Jake Beattie
Executive Director

 

[sleddog]

Thanks to Vicky and Craig of Los Osos turning me onto to the wonderful time lapse video photography of Skyglow project filmmakers Gavin Heffernan and Harun Mehmedinovic featuring storms and stars sailing over the Grand Canyon. 3+ minutes of wonder. https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/c...sail-over-colorado-river-grand-canyon-skyglow

 

[sleddog]

There has never been quite such an epic inland small boat voyage as that made in 1983 by the small wooden dory EMERALD MILE. Her 3 man crew, experienced river guides, launched their nutshell of a boat onto the Colorado River near Glen Canyon dam and rode the 72,000 cubic ft/second crest downriver and into legend, covering 277 miles in 36+ hours through the heart of the Grand Canyon. EMERALD MILE,their story, is a classic of adventure literature and a must read.



Here's a 3 minute tribute to EMERALD MILE's voyage and the book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWAZgqRs0ZA

Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it; Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe



In a 2017 attempt to break EMERALD MILE's record Grand Canyon run, the 27 minute film "Time Travels" tells the story of 7 adventurer /athletes designing and building a one-of-a-kind 48 foot inflatable rowing craft. What happens on the River is beautifully documented, perhaps applicable, all or part, to the shortly upcoming Singlehanded Transpac.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YygZTHBak6Y

 

[sleddog]

3/22/18
Above we heard about the dory EMERALD MILE riding the crest of an emergency flood release from the then new Glen Canyon Dam in 1983.

Today, on a smaller scale, correspondent CHAUTAUQUA (a sistership of the Pardey's TALIESIN) also set a new record: highest water in history in her backyard north of Groveland. Big Creek went to 7.34' (old record 7.03')
as a wicked front with thunder, lightning, and hail passed overhead at 11:15 a.m. 7.34' equates to 3,400 cubic feet/second of river run, which flooded downtown Groveland, and closed nearby Highway 120 to Yosemite.

Here's CHAUTAUQUA's onsite report: "Report in just now as rehearsal was cancelled and I fielded a call from my cousin in the office in the middle of town. The creek in town jumped out of its banks and Groveland’s streets are flooded. Water over the deck of the inn across from Mt Sage and their plants and things are being washed into the street by a tributary.



On the home front, 30 or so assorted small local bird residents are alternately huddling under the pumphouse roof and then dodging hail etc. to get to the bird feeder. Eating in shifts. Glad I put lots of seed out last night as I returned from Coulterville rehearsal.

I remember small birds taking refuge in the space under our winches on CHAUTAUQUA during big storms. Just saw a blue cooler clocking hull speed towards Pine Mountain lake, along with assorted chunks of logs, and what not.

Going to be a big cleanup later. Have stopped worrying about my road crossing and put a Corned Beef roast in the crockpot, hoping the power will last all day. Got a good book all lined up for the afternoon. Sheriff just called to inform. No one, not even residents allowed thru at Moccasin."

 

[sleddog]

Here's something fun and educational for all cat boat and wooden boat aficionados, the story and Off-Center-Harbor 12 minute film of SILENT MAID, a 33 foot centerboard, gaff, racing catboat in Barnegat Bay, N.J., home to shallow water and fast boats.



The original SILENT MAID was designed by Francis Sweisguth in 1923. Sweisguth also designed the Starboat in 1910, so we can understand the massive mainsail and topsail totaling 1,400 square feet on 72 foot mast and gaff on SILENT MAID. How would you jibe that on SF Bay on a summer afternoon's seabreeze?



Oh, I forgot, SILENT MAID carries up to 1,800 pounds (10-12 crew) on the rail and 3:1 runners when racing around the buoys. She's got 2 optional masts depending on racing or cruising, spreaders on the gaff, an easily removeable Yanmar engine, cushy interior with diesel heater and stove...For a crew of 3-4, SILENT MAID would be something unique for the Race2Alaska?

What a delicious beauty SILENT MAID is. And fast too, especially in her "sweet spot" of 8-16 knots of wind, when heavier and larger boats aren't up to speed. Check out that polished, NACA foil centerboard and carbon fiber head sink below. Yikes! This is "not your grandmother's catboat," nor a Wyliecat. Just don't get drool on your keyboard when watching the 12 min, video https://www.offcenterharbor.com/videos/silent-maid-barnegat-bay-b-cat-not-your-grandmothers-catboat/ or reading Gary Jobson's description of a sail on SILENT MAID. https://www.cruisingworld.com/sailboats/silent-maid-loud-statement.

Good stuff.

 

[sleddog]

San Francisco has reportedly the best city drinking water in the world. So where does the water come from? When driving to Yosemite via Highway 120, the road pretty much parallels the aqueduct from Hetch Hetch to Crystal Spring Reservoir. Here is an interesting look at what happened during last Thursday's mega rain event and flood in the Sierra foothills, near Groveland.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBBGGQt_Jnc&sns=em

 

[Philpott]

"San Francisco has the best city drinking water in the world."

I've never lived in San Francisco, but the water in Manhattan tasted much better to me than the water here in Oakland.

 

[sleddog]

"San Francisco has the best city drinking water in the world."

I've never lived in San Francisco, but the water in Manhattan tasted much better to me than the water here in Oakland.

Hi Jackie,

Oakland's water, along with much of the East Bay, comes from East Bay MUD (Municipal Utilities District.) EBMUD water is from the Mokelumne Aqueduct, fed by the Mokelumne River in the Central Sierra, which ultimately enters the Delta.

85% of San Francisco's drinking water is from spring snowmelt running down the Tuolumne River, now damned at Hetch Hetchy Valley. The Hetch Hetchy watershed is entirely in Yosemite National Park. The water from this 160 mile infrastructure ultimately fills Crystal Springs Reservoir, south of San Francisco, near the Pulgas Water Temple. "Water Temple?" Yup, just off Highway 280.



During college sailing years we naively tried to get permission to sail on Crystal Springs Reservoir. "It's San Francisco's drinking water. No human contact allowed!", we were firmly admonished.

 

[sleddog]

Authors have long used 'wing' as a verb and referred to birds that 'winged their way' and later, metaphorically, to time, love etc. 'winging its way' to a recipient. Today I winged WILDFLOWER home from Santa Cruz Harbor to the driveway after an 8:30 a.m. haulout, lowering the mast with the gin pole, and generally securing all equipment for the 4 mile drive.

Today's "winging WILDFLOWER home" fortunately did not require a "wing and a prayer," an expression first heard in a John Wayne war movie of 1942, The Flying Tigers, when a friendly aircraft was badly shot up over Rangoon and limped back to base on sheer luck, determination, and/or God's will allowing success.

No, today's boat/trailer movement required a different sort of "winging it," that where there is no script and improvisation is the order of the day. This "winging it" is 19th century theatrical slang which refers to impromptu performances given by actors who had hurriedly learned their lines while waiting in the wings and then received prompts from assistants hidden behind shrubbery and props, or holding helping signs in the wings.

All was good until I turned my 41 foot rig (24 foot trailer and 17 foot SUV) up our narrow street, ready to attempt the 90 degree driveway back-in without tempting a jacknife... only to find my timing was a bit off and I was about to come head to head not only with the mailman in his jeep, but also an oncoming garbage truck doing his pickups.

Thankfully I was early for school letting out up the street. But there are no right-of-way rules for this encounter, no port and starboard, red right returning, windward vehicle keep clear.

I said a brief prayer to Frog, parked the rig in the middle of the street, and ventured forward on foot to explain my intentions to the mailman and garbage man.

Like magic, "winging it," a pass was created and I dove for the opening without knocking over anyone's mailbox or scraping fenders. WILDFLOWER was safely home, and for that I am thankful on this beautiful day.

 

[skatzman]

All's well that ends well. It's always good to get the boat home and the wheels chocked. On the wings of angels.

 

[sleddog]

How would you like to have a mouthful of shredded carbon fiber and kevlar for breakfast?

That's what happened last July when a great white shark bit Steve Lawson's kayak, dumping him in the water off Santa Cruz, prompting a one day beach closure.

Lawson was rescued after calling the Harbor Patrol on his VHF radio. His badly damaged kayak was destined to become a front yard flower planter when it was instead given to my neighbor, Shahe.



Shahe had the kayak repaired, and yesterday I got to view the results as he wheeled it up the street after an uneventful ocean paddle off Capitola.



I hope the poor great white's dentistry bill was not too great.

 

[sleddog]

I was in Sydney, Austrailia, 1973, for the start of the Sydney-Hobart Race when the big Swan 65 came into the marina after finishing Cape Town to Sydney leg of the 73-74 Whitbread Race (which she eventually won.) It was Christmas Eve, and SAYULA's experienced crew were badly shaken. In the Bass Straits, two days earlier, they had been rolled down past horizontal, and a leeward side port had been stove in, flooding the boat.



Since then, it has become apparent from numerous reports that, in the event of knockdown, lee side ports and windows are more vulnerable than those to windward.

It happened to the Lessley's Cal-40 CALIFORNIA GIRL on her return from a Pacific Cup when she was knocked horizontal northwest of the Farallones and her lee side cabin windows were smashed. More recently, the lee side window on Randal Reeves otherwise solidly built MOLI was punched in deep in the Indian Ocean when she too took a knockdown of horizontal or beyond and dashed hopes of Randall's completing his ambitious lFigure 8 Voyage.



The lesson may be, if you're serious about going offshore, your port windows need to be small and strong: a .5 square foot "tank slit" may be none too small.