New Boat 4 Sled

[sleddog]

They're back. Last evening's cliff walk revealed an amazing sight just offshore: Dozens of pelicans, hundreds of terns, thousands of shearwaters in a feeding frenzy on baitfish, most likely anchovies.

Humpback whales enjoy anchovies too. Last Sunday, Howard and Yvonne, out for a day sail on their cat MOKU, had two humpbacks unexpectedly surface nearby, their maws filled with small, silvery fish. This is called "lunge feeding," and is one of the humpbacks' feeding techniques

MOKU was only 100 yards offshore the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. Howard said as one of the whales dove, it was close enough to reach out and touch.... I'm not sure you'll see a humpie riding the Boardwalk Merry-Go-Round any time soon. But they were close in to shore, like really close.



FYI, if you visit Santa Cruz, the National Historic Merry-Go-Round is a fun deal and the Boardwalk's oldest ride, with 73 horses and two chariots, each unique and beautifully carved of wood in 1911 by Charles Loof.



3 antique organs play and toss a brass ring through the clown's mouth, the bells ring, the lights flash, and you win a free ride.



Never too old to ride the Merry-Go-Round! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em3kUBNWiPU

Winner, winner, Merry-Go-Round spinner? What Santa Cruz sailor and craftsman specialized in maintaining, repairing, and restoring the Merry-Go-Round's historic carved Loof horses while also servicing the venerable Moore 24 fleet by adding foredeck hatches, and being the first to take a Sawzall to open their transoms?

 

[skatzman]

Gary, aka Garski, is the craftsman.

 

[Tom P.]

Since I’d searched to find the answer, I thought that might be cheating. What I found was a good story worth sharing from the Pressure-Drop website addressing the whole issue of “modernizing” older boats, particularly the Moore 24.

http://www.pressure-drop.us/forums/content.php?3398-Open-Season-For-Open-Transoms

Tom

 

[sleddog]

Gary, aka Garski, is the craftsman.

Gary Tracy, fondly known as "Garski," was a friend to all, good sailor, and fine shipmate aboard OAXACA when we won the Pacific Cup in 1990. Besides sailing, Gary enjoyed and was an expert and high speed waterskier, snowboarder, surfer, and skateboarder. Gary was the first to actively skateboard steep Monterey Ave. into Capitola Village as well as hold the downhill skateboard speed record.

Gary was also a fine craftsman, and fiberglass boat builder. During the heyday of Santa Cruz ultra-light boat building, Gary worked for Bill Lee at Santa Cruz Yachts, George Olson at Pacific Yachts, and Moore Bros.

At one point, ~1990, Gary bought an abandoned Moore 24 hull from Ron Moore, built a deck, cut out the transom, and created BRUZER, #127, the first Moore-24 with an open transom and Gary's patented flush beer can holders. BRUZER was later sold to Morgan Larson, and won the National Championships, a fine tribute to Gary, who passed away unexpectedly in 2005 at age 56.

Here's Gary Tracy's masterpiece, BRUZER, at Hood River.



And here's some Moore BRUZER in the Double Damned under Morgan's command in a 40 knot puff.




WILDFLOWER still sails with one of BRUZER's spinnakers ....curiously, this spinnaker, in it's turtle, was once lost at sea, drifted 16 miles downwind, beached at the Salinas River mouth, recovered by a beachcomber who knew nothing about sailing, was taken to church and handed off to a lady sailor, and ultimately found it's way back to Santa Cruz several weeks later...but that's an "All Things Lost and Found" story for another day.

 

[sleddog]

Interesting weather activity in the tropical Eastern Pacific following four "tropicals" between Mexico and Hawaii.

Tropical Storm Illeana is dissipating 150 miles south of Cabo San Lucas. Hurricane John is approaching Category 3 near 18N x 110W. Tropical Storm Kristy, near 14N x 127W is forecast to become a hurricane on Thursday. And Category 4 Hurricane Hector, at 16N x 149W, is approaching southern Hawaiian waters and anticipated to pass 160 miles south of the Big Island on Wednesday. http://www.prh.noaa.gov/cphc/tcpages/?storm=Hector&stormid=ep102018

Hurricanes maintain strength in warm waters, specifically between 80.5 degrees and 82 degrees, which currently lie along 20 degrees N latitude. Any warmer water encourages intensification. Cooler water promotes weakening. Hector is forecast to weaken slightly as he passes south of the Hawaiian chain, then re-intensify again. None of these tropicals is currently a threat to land, although their large ocean swells should reach California south facing beaches in the not-to-distant future.

3,200 miles north, ex-SHTP first-to-finish 60' cutter DOGBARK has reached the northern point of Alaska at Barrow (Utqiagvik), as, after refueling, they now turn east across the Beaufort Sea in Graeme, Janna, Talia (12), and Savai (10) Esarey's family attempt at the NW Passage. http://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/Dogbark

Current temp in Barrow is a balmy 34 degrees, with a wind chill feeling like 27 degrees in the middle of summer. The edge of pack ice lies ahead. But a clear channel of ice free water seems to lie near the coast. Good luck to them! https://saildogbark.com/

 

[Philpott]

That is the GREATEST selfie I've every seen!!!!!!!!

 

[jamottep]

That is the GREATEST selfie I've every seen!!!!!!!!

+1

 

[AlanH]

I have friends who live in north-central Alberta..north of Calgary. It's been in the high 90's for a week and a half. It's supposed to cool off over the weekend and then climb into the 90's again.

....in ALBERTA.

 

[sleddog]

Two things you don't what to cross when they come knockin'
The first is a polar bear at Cross Island, the polar bear capitol of the Beaufort Sea, where our fearless DOGBARKers anchored yesterday afternoon after a 24 hour run from Barrow, AK.

If you can find Cross Island, you have better cartography than I. It's apparently a small, low island 14 miles northeast of Prudhoe Bay and shaped like a comma, with good protection from most quadrants.

Cross Island is favored by the local natives as headquarters for subsistence whaling. While hunting migrating Bowhead whales, the Inupiat are themselves being hunted by the big, furry, white critters, called "nanuq.". Recently, a nanuq came knocking at one the island cabins. The residents inside refused to answer, but the bear came in anyway.



There wasn't time for posing for a photo. Apparently, the interloping polar bear looked something like this:



Even in the middle of the short, Arctic night, they're watching:



http://wasillaalaskaby300.squarespa...olar-bears-can-come-knocking-at-your-doo.html

The other thing you don't want to cross is Jackie Philpott when she is springing you from Alta Bates Hospital and getting you admitted and re-settled into a skilled nursing facility that will get you rehabbed pronto from recent hip replacement.

Jan B, Honorary SSS Race Committee Chair and no shrinking violet, just had to watch in awe yesterday as Jackie worked her magic in negotiating Jan's release and getting her moved from the 20th floor in Berkeley, to the 2nd floor in Piedmont. Though only four days post surgery, Jan is motivated. It seems Fenton's Ice Creamery is just down the street.

Heal fast, Jan!

 

[sleddog]

With the conclusion of the 2018 Singlehanded Transpac, those of us not at Tree Time in Hanalei are left with more questions than answers. What worked? What didn't? How would you do it differently?

Happy to say one singlehander, not a SHTP participant, has again invited us along on a recent solo voyage from California to Hawaii, and return.

Christian Williams' first book, Alone Together, was a wonderful read, and took us along on his 2014 solo passage around the eastern North Pacific aboard THELONIUS, his Ericson 32.

Christian, a professional writer and story teller, is back again with recently released Philosophy of Sailing, Offshore in Search of the Universe, an account of his 2017 singlehanded passage to Hawaii on a bigger THELONIUS, an Ericson 38. Again, Williams invites us aboard, and in a most readable, and wryly humorous style, details his exhausting prep, and ensuing events on both legs of his TransPacific voyage, as well as what happens in Hawaii when he first steps ashore.

It's not what you may expect from a solo sailor. With a forepeak of philosophy books, Christian Williams happily entertains us with brief interpretations on universal and timeless questions.

While Christian reads, writes and shares his enjoyment with the reader, things are happening below and above deck that causes sometimes dramatic attention. I will call them "mysteries," and we tag along with Christian as he applies his keen powers of observation, deduction, and well stocked tool box and attempts to put his mechanical and lifelong sailing skills to good use in figuring out "what's going on?"

How to repair a cracking gooseneck casting? What's the loud squeaking noise coming from the starboard side of the cabin? Why is THELONIUS slowly but surely losing it's windvane self steering capabilities? Why did the expensive new carbon fiber whisker pole collapse inward with no means of repair? What is that abandoned yacht close abeam with its barnacled bow sticking vertically out of the water? Why won't the engine start? What is that dramatic explosion on deck that sounds like either a collision with a ship, or the mast has fallen down?

Good stuff. I doubt when Christian set out on his well planned passage, he had any intention of writing a maritime mystery, partly unsolved to this day. I enjoyed the book. You may too.

 

[Gamayun]

With the conclusion of the 2018 Singlehanded Transpac, those of us not at Tree Time in Hanalei are left with more questions than answers. What worked? What didn't? How would you do it differently?

Since I'm more cruiser than racer, I won't comment on my performance getting to Hawaii, but I will mention that Don/Crinan gave me the fishing tackle that you raffled to our intrepid group. Don says it was the women in his family who fished and he wanted me to have it. Well, as luck would have it, one of my crew on the return fishes in Alaska so was keen to try it out about a week after leaving Hanalei. That hand line with the bungee and the "squid" lure worked incredibly well!! After we caught the first albacore (~30 pounds), which was after only an hour of soak time, and no sooner had I stowed the fillets do I hear "we caught another one!" It was even larger than the first. This one got released -- we had no more room in the ice box. About a week later, after we had eaten tuna for practically every single meal, the line went back out. This time, it took most of the night before we snagged another around 6 AM. It was the smallest of them all, maybe just a 20-pounder. The only downside is that no one remembered to close the portlight in the cockpit that is directly over my berth. Why I have a portlight there is beyond me. My berth was soaked and my foulies smelled like fish blood for days. Or maybe they still smell like fish blood and I just got used to it...

Thanks, Skip!! That was pretty cool

 

[Gamayun]

Who would have guessed a worn and asymmetrical zinc anode mounted mid-shaft can create unbalance in a propeller shaft? Lesson learned for those with propeller shafts: make sure the boatyard, or person responsible, mounts the new prop shaft zinc 1-3" in front of the Cutless bearing of the strut rather than mid-shaft.

OH?!?! I've been doing it wrong all these years. This might explain that shake in the prop shaft even after I had it trued! Dang.

 

[Daydreamer]

Wow!

That is some great looking, and tasting I bet, fish.

I don't envy your smelly gear though.!

 

[mike cunningham]

Man am I glad I didn't see that fish fry photo while I was out there. I'd have been consumed with jealousy.

 

[sleddog]

Hal and Margaret Roth were prolific writers and photographers. I'm sure many have enjoyed their books, sometimes focused on misadventures, such as being shipwrecked near Cape Horn...

I'm guessing it was 1983 or 1984 when there was a knock at the door. I was greeted by a smallish individual with a Down East accent and grumpish manner..without even an introduction, he got straight to the point. "I want you to help me build a boat for the Around-the-World Race."

"OK," I replied. "What do you want and when?"

"One of those 50 footers you race downwind. I think you call them sleds. I want it as soon as possible"

"Coming right up," I sarcastically replied, matching his mannerism. "What did you say your name is?"

"Hal Roth."

I dialed the phone to Bill Lee. "Hey Bill, a gentleman here named Hal Roth wants to take us to lunch and order a custom Santa Cruz 50 for the Around-the-World Race. Can you meet us at the Crow's Nest in half an hour?."

I have to hand it to Hal Roth. Over lunch, he and Bill Lee negotiated the purchase of a custom SC-50 that Hal Roth would finish off himself. I choked over some of the details. For example, the cockpit was to be as deep as Mr. Roth was tall. "You're gonna need a stepladder to get out of there," I said dryly.
"Won't be," he growled. "I'm not getting on deck. Everything leads to the cockpit." *(see photo below for how that turned out.)

Hal also wanted water ballast. Lots of it.

Hal Roth's Santa Cruz 50, #28, was launched two years later, the next to last Santa Cruz 50 built. He named her AMERICAN FLAG. Shortly after, AMERICAN FLAG became a shoe, SEBAGO, after Hal Roth's favorite topsider moccasin.

For dinner and history walk at the Capitola Boat Club, here's four questions.

Hal Roth completed 3 circumnavigations T/F
Hal Roth capsized his Santa Cruz 50 in the Indian Ocean, re-righted, and kept on sailing. T/F
Hal Roth completed two non-stop circumnavigations. T/F
Hal Roth's Santa Cruz 50 was first-to-finish a Singlehanded Transpac. T/F

 

[robtryon]

Hi Skip,

Hal and Margret Roth were and are my hero's. While some in my group really idolized Lin & Larry, and the go simple ethos, I felt more of a connection to the Roths, and the way they sailed. I got to meet my hero's at Jack London Sq boatshow.

!. T Two single handed w/ the BOC, one w/ Margaret via the Red sea.
2. T
3. F
4.T

 

[sleddog]

The 50th Anniversary, solo non-stop, around the world, Sunday Times Golden Globe Race is underway. 17 skippers started from Les Sables d’Olonne on Sunday July 1, 2018, expecting to take 9-10 months to circumnavigate. Entrants are restricted to using the same type of yachts, navigation, and equipment that were available in that first race, 1968-69, with the premise being to keep the race within financial reach of every dreamer. No modern electronic nav aids.

The rules allow for one breach of the strict solo, non-stop un-assisted circumnavigation. However, those that do breach are relegated to the Chichester Class as if, like Sir Francis Chichester in 1966-67, they have made one stop during their solo circumnavigation.

Yesterday, Day 44, of the currently running Golden Globe, French sailor Philippe Péché, who has led the Golden Globe Race almost continuously since the start, now is reportedly in a race for "survival." (Not my description.)

Péché alerted Race Headquarters that the tiller on his Rustler 36 PRB had broken. But his problems began earlier in the week when the actuating arm on his Beaufort wind vane self-steering system sheared off.

Peche made attempts to repair the wind vane with a spare tube from his telescoping aluminum tiller But then the main tiller snapped in 45-50 knot winds and Pechee had no emergency tiller remaining.

Having now fashioned a repair to the aluminum tiller, but without self-steering, Peche has decided to head to Cape Town under reduced sail, likely taking him out of the race. The 57-year old French professional from La Trinité Sur Mer was making 2.9 knots in 25 knot headwinds and expecting to take 13 to 17 days to reach the Cape.

Péché made the emergency call to the Golden Globe Race HQ using a satellite phone all competitors carry for use in such situations. Skippers are free to call Race HQ and emergency services at any time, but under the strict rules of this retro non-stop round the world race, can only contact the greater world by radio.

But Péché then made a second call to his partner, having told Race HQ, “I am going to call my partner and I do not care about the consequences.”

Don McIntyre, the Race Chairman confirmed today: “The situation is that Philippe is now in the Chichester Class as if he had made one stop. So if he now pulls in to Cape Town that would be a second infringement and he would be out of the Race altogether." -

For the want of a spare tiller? Geez, Louise.

 

[Wylieguy]

That was Anna Stockel's "Sundowner." I sailed a couple of times with her in full-crewed Bay races - beer canners in a S. C. 50 with water ballast tanks that almost filled up the interior! She wasn't using the tanks, but it was weird to go below - like walking thru a narrow hallway to the main part of the cabin. I have a photo of a HMB race winners with Anna standing beside me. I sailed my Newport 30 and she sailed the S. C. 50. She could sail the boat!

 

[sleddog]

Hi Skip,

!. T Two single handed w/ the BOC, one w/ Margaret via the Red sea.
2. T
3. F
4.T

Rob nailed it

Question 2 is True. SEBAGO did capsize in Roth's second BOC race. But was not dismasted. He came upright with just the storm jib, and continued sailing...

Question 3's answer is False, as both Hal Roth's W-E circumnavigations were in BOC Races, which made stops at Cape Town, Sydney, and Brazil.

Question 4's answer is True as detailed in the above post by WYLIEGUY. Roth's Santa Cruz 50 became Anna Stockel's SUNDOWNER and she was first-to-finish the 2000 SHTP.



Congratulations, Rob. I look forward to hosting you and LaDonna here at the Capitola Boat Club. If you wish to join Rob, LaDonna, and me, correctly answer the following question:

Out of 296 Singlehanded Transpac finishers since 1978, who is the only one to cross the Hanalei Finish under full fishing rig, with reduced sail to allow mahi-mahi to fetch his/her colorful plastic squid being towed astern?

 

[robtryon]

LD here. We're looking forward to dinner soon! With our 'little' boat in the Bay Area, we drive up about once a month. Sounds like it's time for a drive up the beach instead of stinky I-5. But tell me...does CBC's menu offer mahi? ;-)