Philpott
Cal 2-27 Dura Mater
I've never known Skip to object to a hijack, and it's always fun to watch ambitious sailors and what they do with their boats. Do you know this person? From where did he/she leave?
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New Boat 4 Sled
- Thread starter sleddog
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I've never known Skip to object to a hijack, and it's always fun to watch ambitious sailors and what they do with their boats. Do you know this person? From where did he/she leave?
Yes, he's a fellow Pillar Point harbor "slipee"
And that's where he left from.He previously did a trip down South I think all the way to the Chilean channels.
He sails Freya 39 Mar de Luz.
tiger beetle
N/M 45 Tiger Beetle
Is that by chance the Freya 39 Arctic Wulf? At anchor at Pillar Point I met up with a fellow that stopped by on his standup paddle board to ask after Beetle's H-frame that supports the wind generator, he mentioned he had purchased Arctic Wulf and there aren't that many Freya 39s in Pillar Point. Arctic Wulf had done a series of singlehanded trips up to the Bering Sea and I had met the then-owner Jerry several times over the years in Pillar Point when he was between trips north. I wonder if it's the same boat.
- rob/beetle
Yes, that's the boat. Although I think it was Alpha Wulf before becoming Mar de Luz.
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Pretty much on schedule for the E. Pacific, the first tropical storm of the season, Two-E, has formed 500 miles south of Puerto Vallarta, MX, and is moving WNW. https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/?epac
Meanwhile, a small, unorganized, armada of boats being rowed, pedaled, paddled, and wingfoiled are getting ready to set off from ports Monterey north to San Francisco Bay in quest of being the first to do something to get in the record books all the while supporting "clean oceans" and "carbon net zero" on their passages towards the Hawaiian Islands. As often typical, few in this fleet have had any sort of shakedown or trial....Here's one I have been asked to assist, no thank you: https://www.standupjournal.com/2021/04/19/chris-bertish-transpac-wing-project/
Most of these small craft will be blown south, even southeast, before they can begin to make progress westward well into Mexican waters. It's only a matter of time, given their slow speeds, until one or more are caught out by a hurricane curving northwest towards 20 degrees north latitude.
Meanwhile, a small, unorganized, armada of boats being rowed, pedaled, paddled, and wingfoiled are getting ready to set off from ports Monterey north to San Francisco Bay in quest of being the first to do something to get in the record books all the while supporting "clean oceans" and "carbon net zero" on their passages towards the Hawaiian Islands. As often typical, few in this fleet have had any sort of shakedown or trial....Here's one I have been asked to assist, no thank you: https://www.standupjournal.com/2021/04/19/chris-bertish-transpac-wing-project/
Most of these small craft will be blown south, even southeast, before they can begin to make progress westward well into Mexican waters. It's only a matter of time, given their slow speeds, until one or more are caught out by a hurricane curving northwest towards 20 degrees north latitude.
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With just 18 days left to the start of SHTP 2021, the rubber is meeting the road for a substantial number of potential SHTP 2021 entrants. This is not unusual, but may indicate an unrealistic approach starting well back in time. Is the boat prepared? Is the skipper's head and heart in the project? Are there legal, financial, or medical challenges that appear insurmountable? Has the boat done the 400 mile Qualifier?
One or more of the above have DSQ'd more than half a dozen, leaving a svelte fleet of 11 likely starters. Good news is the final account of entries shows a seriousness of intent and good pre-prep. Gone are the excuses "rudder's delaminated," "not enough time to complete the Qualifier," "I need to order a new suit of sails," and "I couldn't get a third reef in my main in time."
Who will be First-To-Finish? I see five potential winners in this category, with the on-paper favorites being the scratch rated J-109 MOUNTAIN and the Hobie-33 ALOHA. The Overall Winner could come from a different list that definitely includes HULA and SHARK ON BLUEGRASS. And whoever gets there first amongst the 114 raters GREEN BUFFALO, NOZOMI, and SIREN, could well take the whole hulihuli chicken. A very competitive fleet. Good Luck to All. See you at the Skipper's Meeting.
One or more of the above have DSQ'd more than half a dozen, leaving a svelte fleet of 11 likely starters. Good news is the final account of entries shows a seriousness of intent and good pre-prep. Gone are the excuses "rudder's delaminated," "not enough time to complete the Qualifier," "I need to order a new suit of sails," and "I couldn't get a third reef in my main in time."
Who will be First-To-Finish? I see five potential winners in this category, with the on-paper favorites being the scratch rated J-109 MOUNTAIN and the Hobie-33 ALOHA. The Overall Winner could come from a different list that definitely includes HULA and SHARK ON BLUEGRASS. And whoever gets there first amongst the 114 raters GREEN BUFFALO, NOZOMI, and SIREN, could well take the whole hulihuli chicken. A very competitive fleet. Good Luck to All. See you at the Skipper's Meeting.
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Salmon season finds many going to a fish or super market for fresh caught salmon. Unfortunately, if less expensive "Atlantic" salmon is bought, there's a problem. Atlantic salmon is farmed salmon, raised in massive floating fish farms in British Columbia. Wild Pacific salmon populations have been in sharp decline since the early 1990s when fish farms began on a large scale. Now more than half of all wild salmon populations in southern B.C. are endangered or threatened.
Scientists have been trying to pinpoint the causes of these declines and have been investigating whether the growing number of salmon farms off the B.C. coast may play a role. The concern is that pathogens may be spilling over from farmed salmon to wild salmon and contributing to their widespread declines
In a new study published in Science Advances, it was found that a salmon virus that is common on fish farms was introduced to southern B.C. roughly 30 years ago and is continually transmitted between farmed and wild salmon. Viruses leave a genetic fingerprint and genome sequencing can be used to monitor the evolution of a virus —as seen during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. And it is certain that fish farms are being stocked with fish infected with the virus and that salmon farms are the source of infection for the rapidly disappearing wild fish.
The research provides evidence that supports growing calls to minimize interactions between salmon farming and wild fish. Even a small increase in the survival of juvenile salmon that migrate from rivers out to the open ocean can result in millions more adult salmon returning to their spawning grounds, a vital resource to both the ecology and people within coastal British Columbia.
So consider minimizing buying farmed salmon. Their flesh may taste wonderful. But in addition to farmed salmon decimating stocks of wild salmon, the pink color of farmed salmon is artificially created from petro chemicals added to their feed and not from the krill and shrimp in the open ocean eaten by wild salmon.
Scientists have been trying to pinpoint the causes of these declines and have been investigating whether the growing number of salmon farms off the B.C. coast may play a role. The concern is that pathogens may be spilling over from farmed salmon to wild salmon and contributing to their widespread declines
In a new study published in Science Advances, it was found that a salmon virus that is common on fish farms was introduced to southern B.C. roughly 30 years ago and is continually transmitted between farmed and wild salmon. Viruses leave a genetic fingerprint and genome sequencing can be used to monitor the evolution of a virus —as seen during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. And it is certain that fish farms are being stocked with fish infected with the virus and that salmon farms are the source of infection for the rapidly disappearing wild fish.
The research provides evidence that supports growing calls to minimize interactions between salmon farming and wild fish. Even a small increase in the survival of juvenile salmon that migrate from rivers out to the open ocean can result in millions more adult salmon returning to their spawning grounds, a vital resource to both the ecology and people within coastal British Columbia.
So consider minimizing buying farmed salmon. Their flesh may taste wonderful. But in addition to farmed salmon decimating stocks of wild salmon, the pink color of farmed salmon is artificially created from petro chemicals added to their feed and not from the krill and shrimp in the open ocean eaten by wild salmon.
Tchoupitoulas
New member
Thanks Skip.
This film is well worth watching. The hatcheries are also misguided.
"Artifishal"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdNJ0JAwT7I
This film is well worth watching. The hatcheries are also misguided.
"Artifishal"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdNJ0JAwT7I
Thank you for mentioning this important film. I encourage all to give it a watch. Just the sight of the thousands of sick Atlantic salmon in fish farm pens is reason to say "enough." Would anyone intentionally dine on diseased meat from cows or chickens with obvious gaping wounds? Yet that is exactly what is happening when farmed "Atlantic" salmon is bought and served. Their sickness just happens out of sight, under water.
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Good news for the 2021 Class of Buglighters: I have confirmed with Rocky and Priscilla that their traditional half way barge, BUBBLES, will be on station from 0800, June 24th, until 2200, June 29th (PDST) to service the SHTP fleet. Free tie up in BUBBLE'S protected slippage will be allowed for 3 hours and deducted from the yacht's finish time.
Featured this year are Transpac mochas, free range 1/2 pound BBQ burgers, and Mahi Florentine Benedict with Gayle's scones and marmalade jam. As well, there will be sunset Dark and Stormys with umbrellas, Jackie's pineapple bundt cake, and Marianne's Macapuno icecream.
Also, hot showers and an ice machine, the much acclaimed waterslide and electric jet skis from previous races will again be featured, as well as Ballenger Spars repair shop and Synderella's spinnaker repair loft. All this included in your race entry
Standing by to take your lines...... The 2021 SHTP Adopt-A-Weirdo Committee.
Featured this year are Transpac mochas, free range 1/2 pound BBQ burgers, and Mahi Florentine Benedict with Gayle's scones and marmalade jam. As well, there will be sunset Dark and Stormys with umbrellas, Jackie's pineapple bundt cake, and Marianne's Macapuno icecream.
Also, hot showers and an ice machine, the much acclaimed waterslide and electric jet skis from previous races will again be featured, as well as Ballenger Spars repair shop and Synderella's spinnaker repair loft. All this included in your race entry
Standing by to take your lines...... The 2021 SHTP Adopt-A-Weirdo Committee.
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Bump
Having given up SUP as overrated, paddlin' MADELINE most mornings is an eminently more satisfying substitute. MADELINE is a 40 year old, polyethelyne, green Kiwi kayak. 8.5 feet and 25 pounds, MAD fits conveniently inside my car and is indestructible. With a carbon paddle, she is fast (nearly a knot faster than the SUPs) and seaworthy.
My medium and long courses are both in the ocean off Santa Cruz Harbor, usually traversed at sunrise. Nice time with little or no traffic except dolphins and maybe a whale or two. I never fail to learn from watching the surroundings: currents, wave and swell action, the wind changing from offshore drainage to onshore seabreeze, how to take a large powerboat wake (slow and bow on), the smell of coffee roasting and bacon coming from inland....
This morning was a little different. Though sunny when I left CBC, viz at Santa Cruz Harbor was 100 yards. The medium course, 2.5 miles, is near enough to shore that, except for kayaks, fishing boats avoid the vicinity. Outside the breakwater and heading southwest towards the Wharf, there were few visual clues to find the turning mark ahead, the Coast Guard buoy. Not to worry, I kept the breakwater horn astern and the Wharf horn on the bow. Both sound at 30 second intervals, and sometimes overlapped. Other navigational clues were the sea lions barking under the wharf on the starboard bow. As well, I passed my sea otter friend who reliably hangs in a known kelp paddy.
The CG buoy did appear ahead and I made my turn to head back into the glow of the sun, which I knew was rising above the Harbor breakwater lighthouse.
Sleddog singlehanding, with no moving parts except himself, as he paddled MADELINE home.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaAhE0UBuqE
My medium and long courses are both in the ocean off Santa Cruz Harbor, usually traversed at sunrise. Nice time with little or no traffic except dolphins and maybe a whale or two. I never fail to learn from watching the surroundings: currents, wave and swell action, the wind changing from offshore drainage to onshore seabreeze, how to take a large powerboat wake (slow and bow on), the smell of coffee roasting and bacon coming from inland....
This morning was a little different. Though sunny when I left CBC, viz at Santa Cruz Harbor was 100 yards. The medium course, 2.5 miles, is near enough to shore that, except for kayaks, fishing boats avoid the vicinity. Outside the breakwater and heading southwest towards the Wharf, there were few visual clues to find the turning mark ahead, the Coast Guard buoy. Not to worry, I kept the breakwater horn astern and the Wharf horn on the bow. Both sound at 30 second intervals, and sometimes overlapped. Other navigational clues were the sea lions barking under the wharf on the starboard bow. As well, I passed my sea otter friend who reliably hangs in a known kelp paddy.
The CG buoy did appear ahead and I made my turn to head back into the glow of the sun, which I knew was rising above the Harbor breakwater lighthouse.
Sleddog singlehanding, with no moving parts except himself, as he paddled MADELINE home.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaAhE0UBuqE
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"Standing into danger!" can be a simple and effective warning to a fellow sailor. But the question arises as to when it is appropriate to issue a warning, and how. For example, this morning a 34' sloop left the Harbor fuel dock. He was dragging his bowline and I felt it appropriate to hail, as the Harbor entrance channel is no place to wrap a mooring line in the screw. Then I noticed he was passing the wrong side of the green channel marker. Did I hail another warning? No I did not. He was out of hailing distance, distracted, and running his engine. This same sloop then bounced off the edge of the sandy beach inside the Harbor. Clearly the skipper was not paying attention from the get go.
Is it our responsibility to make sure people are awake, aware, and competent when sailing (driving, flying, walking, etc.)?
Flash ahead 30 minutes as I reentered the Harbor in my kayak. There was a visiting, dark blue sloop, a nice looking 42 footer named ALACRITY, end-tied near the fuel dock with 3 people in the cockpit. As I approached to pass ALACRITY, I noticed what to my eye is a serious deficiency: the upper spreaders were drooping at 30 degrees!
I slowed to ponder this, and noticed the main boom lazy jacks were secured half way out the underside of the upper spreaders, likely imparting significant downward pressure on the spreaders, enough to move them down the upper shrouds ~8" from horizontal. I thought, "geez, if ALACRITY is sailing to windward in good breeze, there is a significant chance an upper spreader will fail and the mast will break.
There was my dilemma: an unknown stranger in a small kayak telling the crew of a $150,000 yacht their spreaders were misaligned and might fail, and their mast may break." Usually I'm not bashful, but given the cool greeting I received upon approach, I decided to just say, "nice boat," and pass on by.
These conundrums are not unfamiliar to most readers of this thread. When to intercede in someone else's safety without possibly knowing the full facts. And if you intercede, how to anticipate you might just make things worse? TBC
Is it our responsibility to make sure people are awake, aware, and competent when sailing (driving, flying, walking, etc.)?
Flash ahead 30 minutes as I reentered the Harbor in my kayak. There was a visiting, dark blue sloop, a nice looking 42 footer named ALACRITY, end-tied near the fuel dock with 3 people in the cockpit. As I approached to pass ALACRITY, I noticed what to my eye is a serious deficiency: the upper spreaders were drooping at 30 degrees!
I slowed to ponder this, and noticed the main boom lazy jacks were secured half way out the underside of the upper spreaders, likely imparting significant downward pressure on the spreaders, enough to move them down the upper shrouds ~8" from horizontal. I thought, "geez, if ALACRITY is sailing to windward in good breeze, there is a significant chance an upper spreader will fail and the mast will break.
There was my dilemma: an unknown stranger in a small kayak telling the crew of a $150,000 yacht their spreaders were misaligned and might fail, and their mast may break." Usually I'm not bashful, but given the cool greeting I received upon approach, I decided to just say, "nice boat," and pass on by.
These conundrums are not unfamiliar to most readers of this thread. When to intercede in someone else's safety without possibly knowing the full facts. And if you intercede, how to anticipate you might just make things worse? TBC
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Dazzler
m/v PACIFIC LOON
Spreader droop is all too common. Just look around any harbor. They probably get away with it due to a certain amount of over engineering. But, there comes a point (and probably at the worst time) when failure is inevitable. I wonder if there’s been a recent increase in insurance claims for mast failures? Read on…
I was surprised when applying for insurance for my Wyliecat 30 that the insurance company wanted a Rig Inspection, else the rig would be excluded from the policy. I understand this has become more common. Of course I had to laugh since the WC30 has no stays, shrouds, spreaders, tangs or chainplates. I wasn’t too concern about insuring the rig, but because I had recently had the mast out and had worked closely with the Rigging Manager at KKMI, he agreed to author a rig inspection letter that satisfied the insurance company.
I was surprised when applying for insurance for my Wyliecat 30 that the insurance company wanted a Rig Inspection, else the rig would be excluded from the policy. I understand this has become more common. Of course I had to laugh since the WC30 has no stays, shrouds, spreaders, tangs or chainplates. I wasn’t too concern about insuring the rig, but because I had recently had the mast out and had worked closely with the Rigging Manager at KKMI, he agreed to author a rig inspection letter that satisfied the insurance company.
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i think the days where someone could wait patiently at the dock gate, get let in, and quietly walk the dock to view a boat are over. There have been harbor rules about "No Visitors On The Docks" forever, of course. Despite that, for decades I have walked down docks at marina's to go to a specific boat, never touching anything, never boarding a boat, and treating everyone with respect....but technically breaking the rules. I have fond memories as a kid of walking the docks in Monterey, or just lying on them and leaning over to look at the marine animals on the floats. That single experience, looking at the animals growing and living on the docks in Monterey, played a huge role in my pursuing degrees in Marine Science. I loved doing that.
On Saturday we were at Half Moon Bay, and I thought to walk down and take a look at Philippe's "Changabang". That resulted in the fourth very aggressive and uncomfortable confrontation over "No visitors on the docks" with a tenant that I've had in the past six months. I don't "push it" because of course the people I'm interacting with are right. There are harbor rules, and they're just supporting them. Joan and I left without making a fuss.
It's just that decades went by with no issues whatsoever and now this is the fourth time in the last 8-12 months that I've been yelled at. OK, then. Things have changed. I don't know WHY things have changed, but they have. Maybe there's been a slowly growing trend of off-the-dock thefts, or maybe there have been some high-profile lawsuits that I don't know about. Or maybe the world is just a different place.
On Saturday we were at Half Moon Bay, and I thought to walk down and take a look at Philippe's "Changabang". That resulted in the fourth very aggressive and uncomfortable confrontation over "No visitors on the docks" with a tenant that I've had in the past six months. I don't "push it" because of course the people I'm interacting with are right. There are harbor rules, and they're just supporting them. Joan and I left without making a fuss.
It's just that decades went by with no issues whatsoever and now this is the fourth time in the last 8-12 months that I've been yelled at. OK, then. Things have changed. I don't know WHY things have changed, but they have. Maybe there's been a slowly growing trend of off-the-dock thefts, or maybe there have been some high-profile lawsuits that I don't know about. Or maybe the world is just a different place.
I may have been there. Text me next time at three one seven one thousand one. SF area code ... Love proudly showing CaB
Dazzler
m/v PACIFIC LOON
Alan: I’m a life-time marina explorer. My favorite warning is the often posted sign that says: “Boat Owners and Guests Only.” I’m a boat owner and so are you so that means we must be OK.
Bring your bride to Sausalito, have a nice lunch and a wonderful day walking the docks. There are no gates at the downtown Sausalito Yacht Harbor (you will have to pay for parking). I was a live aboard there for 18 years and it’s a wonderful and interesting place to walk among a very wide variety of interesting and sometimes unusual boats.
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