New Boat 4 Sled

[Jan Brewer]

Oh. Geez, Louise, Skip and crew, thank Goddess you are okay. Just sent you a PM cause I was so rattled I could not remember how to log in to this forum. Another thanks to Matt for sending my login info. Wish I were closer to help you. If you need a little R&R my door is always open here in AZ. Jan

 

[sleddog]

Thank you to all for your good wishes! It means a lot. Ken, great to hear from you.
It isn't often one gets to analyze a capsize. Here is what I saw.

Sunday, April 7
Wind 250 degrees, 15, gusting 21 kts
4-8' swell with 1-2' wind waves.

At 1430 hrs. WILDFLOWER left her slip at Santa Cruz Harbor for a short sail in the freshening afternoon breeze. Crew aboard was myself, and Renee from Santana 20 LIL VIXEN on Lake Tahoe. We tucked in one reef. We had sailed WILDFLOWER in these conditions before, more than a dozen times, both off Santa Cruz, and in the “Slot” off Berkeley and the City Front.

We made five tacks, working our way up towards Lighthouse Point. Initially Rene was steering. Abeam River Mouth, and ½ mile offshore, I took over steering. Rene took over hand holding the uncleated mainsheet. According to the Velocitek Speed Puck, we were making about 6.5 knots close hauled on port track. My instructions to Rene were to let the mainsheet run if the windward hull appeared to lift more than a few degrees.

At 1510, a larger than average, beam on, wave lifted the windward hull. (the swell was wrapping around Steamer Lane). This wave lifted the windward hull about 5', while the leeward hull went into the trough. Our heel angle instantly went to about 40 degrees. The combination of the breaking wave's angular rotation and the momentum of our rig and sails, about 100 pounds at 13' above the center of gravity, meant we were in No Man's Land.

We did not hang there long, maybe a count of “two.” Rene blew the mainsheet instantly. We both dropped onto the leeward side of the cockpit. With the mainsheet run, the boom and clew of the mainsail hit the water and did not go out further.

With the main released, the jib assumed control and created lee helm, pulling the bows down and off the wind. According to Skene's, the force on the 80 square foot jib in 20 knots of wind was about 170 pounds multiplied by center of effort distance above waterline (~ 10'). We had about 1700 pounds of force levering the bows down and over.

The wind gust found at the top of the wave got under the rising windward hull and bridge deck. With our combined crew weight on the leeward side, WILDFLOWER did not stand a chance. Over she went in less than five seconds.

We both were swimming. Rene had to swim through the lifelines to get out from under the boat. Thankfully I had not rigged the weather cloths to the lifelines. I tried to swim the big fender ball, tied to the stern pulpit, out to the masthead for flotation. But the mast and sails quickly sank to vertical inverted, and I never got the fender ball untied from the stern pulpit.

We both tried to climb aboard the overturned hulls from opposite sides. There was little to grab, and I'd just coated the bottom with “MacLube Speed Polish” as a product test for Practical Sailor. Slippery indeed. I boarded WILDFLOWER over the transom. Renee did a pull up onto the starboard hull using the daggerboard.

With assistance from the Santa Cruz Yacht Club 17' Whaler “Guardian” we got a righting line over the hulls and pulled WILDFLOWER right way up. She wanted to come up, mostly because we have foam floatation embedded in the cabin top, and the cabin and hulls were filled with air. Once upright, about 15 minutes after capsize, I lowered the main and rolled up the jib …...and we began to drift downwind, half awash.

To be continued.

 

[sleddog]

Yesterday saw gale warnings for NW winds along the Central Coast. Common enough in Spring. I call them "reinforced NW Trades." The usual afternoon 15-25 "Sheep's in the Meadow" whitecaps get replaced by something different. The blue/green ocean with white flecks turns brown and white, as sheets of spume get blown off wave tops.

I don't know about the rest of SF Bay. But there was enhanced rescue action off Berkeley Harbor yesterday as Cal Sailing became the focus of rescue swimmers, fire trucks, and a CG helo. Snow flurries in the Sierra. The day before, hail had pummeled the Skagit Valley tulip festival near Anacortes, with low level snow and avalanches in the Cascades.

Conditions look to be moderating.

 

[sleddog]

Good progress on starboard hull repairs to WILDFLOWER. Howard has completed the internal structural repairs, which included replacing a broken floor frame and vertical strut, gluing backing butt blocks and panels over the holes and cracks, sistering a foredeck beam, and repairing the hole in the foredeck where the bow cleat was ripped out.

Howard showed his experience gluing a panel over the crack behind the daggerboard trunk. The vertical space is only 2" wide. He not only managed to get the backing panel with its glue in place, but secured firmly with ingenious temporary wedges and a flexible batten.

The external repairs will mostly be glassing and fairing, then repainting.

As the entire electrical system was water damaged, that is being removed. I am stockpiling the repairs and replacements for that push. Salt water and electricity is a potent combination. The inside of the tiller pilot, which had power going to it, is barely recognizable for the rust encrustation.

As my good friend Skeeter once said regarding electrical wiring aboard small sail craft, "Cap'n, that wiring is to hold in the purple smoke.."

 

[Travieso]

Back from the Newport to Cabo Race aboard SC-70 "OEX," I trailered WILDFLOWER from the driveway and relaunched at Santa Cruz Harbor, where we have secured a slip for two months.

Our first sail back in the water since late November of last year found all well aboard. The wind was SW, 15-17 knots, out past Mile Buoy, and WILDFLOWER had her skirts up, while I had one hand on the mainsheet as we skipped along at 12-13 knots on a white sails reach.

Interesting contrasts in boats. WILDFLOWER draws 15" with her daggerboard up, and I can sail her alone. WIZARD (ex-BELLA MENTE), first-to-finish yacht in the recent Newport to Cabo Race is 74' long, draws an incredible 19', and needs no less than 12 pros aboard to get away from the dock.

As you surmise, I don't consider deep draft an advancement in yacht design.

Did you stay in Cabo long. Would have been good to catch up then. I was riding the Invisible Hand with solosailor.

 

[Travieso]

Just read the about the capsize of Wildflower. Glad to hear that everyone was safe. Here to speedy repairs. If you need any short term gratification you are always welcomed on the JetStream.

 

[sleddog]

5/2/13

Greetings from WILDFLOWER's nav station. For three weeks, since the capsize, and subsequent assault by Vessel Assist, Howard Spruit and I have been in full court press.

Howard has masterly repaired the holes and cracks in the foredeck, starboard hull and interior structure where Vessel Assist rammed multiple times in futile attempts to secure alongside. We found evidence (bottom paint) that, at one point, VA's bow went up over the cabin top. Ouch.

Before and after attached photos of finished repairs and master craftsman Howard Spruit.

As all the electronics, except the Velocitek puck, were toast, I unwired the boat before starting over: new battery, master switch, switch panel, 12 volt receptacles, inverter, depth sounder, VHF radio charger, solar panel, shore charger, Alpenglow cabin lights, boombox, stove, and tiller pilot.

The "pickled" 6 hp outboard motor started first pull.

Santa Cruz West Marine has been fantastic in their support, and I am deeply indebted to Amy and her hardworking crew.

The starboard hull has been faired, then repainted with 4 coats of primer and 2 finish coats of Brightside (foam roller). The foredeck has been re-nonskidded. WILDFLOWER looks good, and will be as good, or better, than before. Our plans are to return to the Pacific NW this summer.

Thank you everyone for your support during these trying times.. And THANK YOU Howard! Hope to see many of you at Made in Santa Cruz Race Week.

 

[sleddog]

Tides and currents are a fascinating subject. I never tire of their study, and what they can bring, or just as easily take away. I remember the time bringing WILDFLOWER up Baja. It had been a windy and wet 48 hours. Safely at anchor in San Quintin, I hung my flannel sleeping sheet to dry from the backstay. 6 clothes pins weren't enough in the 25 knot breeze, and the sheet took off towards Tahiti. I thought I last saw my sheet 100 yards downwind.

The next morning at 0400, the wind had stopped. With a flashlite clenched between my teeth, I pulled anchor. At the surface I saw something wrapped around the anchor. With the anchor on deck, I found the "something" was my sleeping sheet! How in the world did that happen?? The sheet must have sunk, then somehow hitched onto a subsurface counter current. I don't know.

Equally improbable was something that happened two days ago. My Moore 24 spinnaker, donated by Morgan Larson, had somehow escaped from WILDFLOWER's cabin after the capsize.

Then 24 days later I had an e-mail that a spinnaker had been found on the beach at Moss Landing, 12 miles, 120 degrees across Monterey Bay.

I do not yet know the circumstances or parties involved. But the spinnaker was returned to Santa Cruz Yacht Club, nicely dried and bagged, with no apparent damage. The number 127 identified it as Morgan's. Morgan said he "wasn't missing any spinnakers." But, "maybe it was the one he had given WILDFLOWER?"

Yup.

 

[AlanH]

I just stumbled across this....just goes to show, I oughtta check here more often. I'm glad you are OK, and that Wildlfower is back together again.

 

[sleddog]

5/22/13

WILDFLOWER is parked in the driveway, loading for departure June 7 for Anacortes and points north. We are on the "I-5 Yacht Club" program. Which involves an oil change and tire rotation as opposed to jib change and reefing.

Getting north along the coast this week would be problematical. I see 30 knots most afternoons out at Mile Buoy, off Santa Cruz Harbor. A local Sydney 38, ANIMAL, did complete a successful delivery to SF for this weekend's Spinnaker cup Race to Monterey.

ANIMAL's crew was greeted by a different type of MOB, a Golden Gate Bridge jumper, who landed nearby. They fished him out alive, but with possible broken legs, and delivered him to safety in Sausalito. Well done, Hillary, Scott, and John.

WILDFLOWER's new bunk cushion foam was delivered last week. You'd think a piece of 4" foam would be readily obtainable ....this order turned into an epic. Finally, it was handed off to Synthia, who performed her magic of getting the foam successfully fitted into the cover. As you can see from the attached photo, Syn really gets into her work.

 

[sleddog]

5/29/13

Sad to hear of the passing of long time friend to all sailors, Svend Svendsen, 81, of Alameda.

Sven's obituary is printed below:

SVEND SVENDSEN
1932-2013

After a courageous and dignified battle with cancer, Svend Svendsen passed over the bar quietly at home in Alameda on May 27 with his family by his side. Born 1932 in Espergaerde Denmark, Svend was the fourth of six children to Anna and Jens Svendsen. Svend descended from a long line of Danish fishermen. Out of necessity, Svend developed a strong work ethic at an early age and held many jobs growing up. He spoke often of his favorite childhood job, delivering fresh baked bread on his bicycle – through all weather conditions and driving snow storms. When the Nazis occupied his Danish homeland in 1940, he delivered messages for the Danish underground which were hidden in the loaves of bread.

After the war, Svend attended and graduated from a boat-building technical college. Faced with the choice of going to Australia or the United States to pursue his new trade, Svend chose New York, traveling across the Atlantic in 1956 on one of the last immigrant ships. After working briefly for the Derecktor shipyard in Mamaroneck NY, Svend traveled across country with several Danish friends in a car with no reverse gear. He ended up in San Francisco, where he worked for a number of well-known yacht builders in Sausalito and Oakland, and traveled the country with the world’s fastest unlimited hydroplane boat which he helped build and maintain.

In 1960 Svend married his loving wife of 52 years Suzanne Svendsen, whom he met while on a winter ski trip at Tahoe. Together they shared over five decades of love, family unity, creativity and adventure. Svend was an original member, a Board Chairman, and later an honorary member of the Young Scandinavian’s Club (YSC) in San Francisco, where he and Suzanne carried on Danish traditions. His fellow members were more like his extended family, and together he and Suzanne created life-long friendships within the YSC.

In 1963, Svend and Suzanne founded Svendsen’s Boat Works at the Pacific Marina in Alameda (now Marina Village). In 1966 Svend moved the business to its current location in the Alameda Marina. For fifty years, and up to his passing, Svend worked side-by-side with his employees, growing it from a one man shop into to one the largest and preeminent boat repair and supply businesses on the West Coast. Svend took risks during his illustrious maritime career and constructed many sailboats, including the first Nordic Folkboat made of fiberglass. Known as the “Godfather of Folkboats”, the transition from wood to fiberglass construction helped save the Folkboat class, causing it to grow into one of today’s most active racing classes both in Europe and San Francisco Bay. Svend was a member of the renowned St. Francis Yacht Club since 1974, where in 2004 he earned the “Yachtsman of the Year” award, given to the person who has contributed the most to the sport of yachting in the greatest sense of the word. He was an avid yacht-racer, and his son Sean crewed with him from a young age. Together they won numerous regattas over the course of Svend’s sailing career.

Svend was also an avid golfer, and played regularly with close friends on Thursday mornings at the Alameda Golf Complex. He was the Treasurer of the Commuter’s Golf Committee which organizes the annual Commuter amateur golf championship, and served as a course marshal every year on the 15th green. He loved to play in pro-am tournaments in Hawaii, and had the good fortune to play with the sport’s biggest names like Nicklaus, Couples, Furyk and even Tiger. Given his down to earth nature, Svend’s golf picture wall of fame was often fascinating to those who just met him.

Svend was best known for his good nature, charisma and charm, and for the friendship he bestowed upon all who crossed his path. Svend was a great father and mentor to his son Sean. He dearly loved his daughter Sabrina, and was very proud of her jazz and tap dance performances. He adored his three grandchildren who called him “Far Far”.

Svend is survived by his loving wife Suzanne, his son Sean Svendsen and wife Nancy Svendsen, daughter Sabrina Svendsen Baltutis and husband Larry Baltutis, grandchildren Tor and Annelisa Svendsen, and Olivia Baltutis, his sisters Inge Thorvaldsen, Hanne Nielsen, brother Erik Svendsen, and numerous nephews and nieces. Svend had verve and panache, and was a lover of life. He will also be missed by his employees, whom he treated with the utmost respect and loyalty. Svend will be remembered by all for the positive influence he had on his community and the world around him.

 

[sleddog]

"Made in Santa Cruz Race Week" is in full swing at Santa Cruz Harbor with boats and people arriving from around the country ....Many of the original crew from Bill Lee's "Chicken Coop" were gathered last evening at the hoist: Bobbo, KT, Pitter, Alan, Howard. And of course the Wizard, Bill Lee, himself.

Santa Cruz 27's were arriving from as far away as Washington State. #3, CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR is here from Santa Barbara, looking all shiny and new. Not bad for a boat built 35 years ago.

This afternoon are the Jester Dinghy races, followed by the Concours d'Elegance judging.
Talk about a step back in time...If only MERLIN were here.

 

[Jonathan Gutoff]

http://norcalsailing.com/ is covering the races and festivities. Promo over.

 

[sleddog]

Made in Santa Cruz Race Week gathered a full head of steam yesterday. I've never seen so many Moore 24's and Santa Cruz 27's in one place. There's at least 30 Moore 24's, with visiting crews occupying a tent village on the Harbor Lawn.

Yesterday's festivities kicked off with the Jester Dinghy Races. These "cute" little 7' dinghies are a local Santa Cruz phenomena. And have been for 40 years, ever since George Olson took a mold off some passing tender to a visiting yacht tied up at the Crows Nest.

A Jester couldn't plane if you dropped it from an airplane. The faster they go, the deeper they go. I once saw Buzz Ballenger running in 18 knots of wind in his Jester. He had reached terminal velocity at 5 knots, and water was coming over both the bow and stern at the same time. That was before he filled to the gunnels.

20 Jesters raced three in-the-Harbor Races yesterday, with dozens of spectators lining the docks. The "No Sniveling" Rule was in effect. I think Chris Watts won the trophy. But everyone was laughing so hard it was hard to tell.

After the Jester Races was the Concours d'Elegance. A chance to show off your Made in Santa Cruz boat. What a fleet. Difficult for the judges of Bill Lee, Eileen Sundet, Dave Wahle, and myself to choose winners, as everyone looked gorgeous.

OCTAVIA, a 30 year old Santa Cruz 50, won the big boats. In the Wood is Good Class, SPARKLE, a beautiful Herreshoff 12.5, won over the nicely restored 34 year old Piver tri KAIJA. There was no need for the Olson 30 PACIFIC HIGH's crew to bribe the judges with cold gin and tonics to win the under 30 foot class. PACIFIC HIGH was in a class by itself. On the human powered front, the Aeolus Rowing boat "BILL GRUNEWALD" was raised from two years in the mud and totally restored by members of the Elkhorn Yacht Club to take that class.

The Grand Champion? There was no argument Paul Tara's 1984 WaterRat 505 dinghy CAHOOTS was the Boat of the Show. Congratulations, Paul!

If you aren't doing anything this weekend, come on over to Santa Cruz, take a short walk out on the West Breakwater, and watch the action just offshore. Festivities conclude Sunday afternoon. Check out norcalsailing.com for pics and more story.

 

[sleddog]

Greetings to the fleet from Justine and Chris of the Dana 24 CARROLL E in Berkeley. I had a good visit with this team today. Chris is getting tuned up for the upcoming Long Pac. Of particular note is Chris's new "kite cam," using a new design, materials, technique ...I for one can't wait to see the results.

CARROLL E is not only one of the sweetest, best equipped boats of SSS. But if she gets a breeze, could do major handicap damage. Any angle of wind from a close reach down, and with a windspeed of 15 knots or greater, CARROLL E is a sleeper in the SSS fleet, She don't plane, but you don't need to plane when you go 6 knots steady on a 24 footer that rates PHRF 246.

Speaking of small SSS boats. What's up with the Cal-20 that's sails the 32 mile Duxbury/Lightship Race as a protest against lifelines? I don't know the boat or crew. But she likely would have won had she been entered.

Geez. I've been protesting the lifeline requirement for years. But for a different reason: ORC requires minimum 1/8" lifelines, uncoated. Not only do these small diameter linelines pinch skin where they pass through stanchions. But when you fall hard across the foredeck against 1/8" wire lifelines, it's like meeting a human cheese slicer. 1/4" should be minimum, even if overkill. Lifelines are meant to keep the crew safe, not hurt.

We are all accepting the lifeline requirements, however misguided they may be to some, including myself. I say to the Cal 20 that was out there Saturday: we hear your protest. Now go put your stanchions and lifelines on and join the fun. It's not an onerous proposition.

 

[sleddog]

There's more than a few locations on San Francisco Bay where you can not only get your E-Ticket punched, but provide business for local sailmakers as well. Queen of the list is perhaps the South Tower of the Golden Gate Bridge.

For as long as boats have been spinnakering past the South Tower, there have been spectacular and expensive wipeouts. The windspeed often nearly doubles at the South Tower. Currents increase also, as does the steep chop, rips and backwash from the pier.

All the variables were in play Saturday afternoon. Here comes WHIRLWIND, the WylieCat 30, running deep by the lee to get by the South Tower. Overlapped and close abeam is the J-92 RAGTIME, running DDW with a small reaching kite. Overlapped with both RAGTIME and WHIRLWIND is the J-105 RACER-X, hauling the mail with her black and red spinny.

Everything seemed pregnant with possibility. What would it be? RAGTIME was sailing with a cracked tiller. If that failed at the wrong moment, all bets were off.

Drums rolled. Heads swiveled. Yikes. Here's comes the 900 foot x 140 foot container ship YM ORCHID, making 18 knots SOG with a pilot bent on getting in on the South Tower action. A few minutes ago the ORCHID was back at Mile Rock. Now she's headed between mid-Span and the South Tower. The squeeze play is on.

RACER-X, RAGTIME, WHIRLWIND, and YM ORCHID all passed under the Golden Gate overlapped, close enough together to see wide eyes of all concerned. The South Tower Demon huffed. The wind speed went to 28 knots.

Out the other side, the four vessels were safely spit into San Francisco Bay, compatriots for a moment in time. You can see some of the action at
http://www.pressure-drop.us/forums/content.php?3546-2013-Crewed-Duxship

 

[BobJ]

I wanted a little more margin off the South Tower but Skip was worried about the ship.

Three things went through my head at that point:

1) I hope Skip doesn't panic and lift the cracked tiller out of its bracket.

2) If he does, how fast can I get to the furling line, a) with the boat level, or b) with the boat on its side?

3) The big round-down (mid-gybe) I did in exactly that spot at the end of the 2011 LongPac.

But all I actually said was "Just don't lift the tiller."

 

[sleddog]

Possibly the most memorable South Tower disaster was the afternoon before the start of the Big Boat Series first race in 1971. Ken DeMeuse, owner of the 73' aluminum ketch BLACKFIN, decided to take his 25 man crew out for a little practice.

They got to Point Bonita in the 25 knot afternoon westerly before turning around. DeMeuse called to set the spinnaker. By the time they got everything rigged and the massive sail set, they were at the South Tower and it was time to jibe in now 30 knots of breeze.

The 30' spinnaker pole was tripped away. But there was difficulty getting the 3/8" wire afterguy made into the jaws on the new jibe. The spinnaker yawed first to port, then way over to starboard, as the 'FIN rolled her rails. Next thing, the spinnaker did a brief collapse, before refilling with a thunderclap likely heard in the Haight.

The strain on the rig was so much on the refill that the 100' main mast fell down right alongside the South Tower. My neighbor, Pitter Crawford, along with Jim Nichols, were tending the mizzen sheet on the aft deck. Said Jim to Pitter, looking at the wreckage on the front half of the boat, "Well, at least our mast didn't fall down."

 

[sleddog]

WILDFLOWER is packed and poised for our early a.m. departure Saturday up the I-5 to Anacortes, WA. Hope to make it past Shasta before the temps hit the forecast 110 degrees at Redding.

Again, it's been a group effort getting the boat shipshape. Thanks to everyone, especially Howard Spruit, who have made our adventures possible. We'll write when we can from the Salish Sea (a.k.a. Straits of Georgia/Inland Passage.)

 

[sleddog]

Despite stiff headwinds up the Sacramento Valley, we made good driving time, arriving in Anacortes, WA, before sunset. 18 hours, 940 miles, 52 mph, 11.3 mpg.

By noon Sunday WILDFLOWER was launched and rigged at Cap Sante Marina. Raising the mast involves a 9' "gin pole" perpendicular off the mast butt. The gin pole provides leverage for a two part foreguy to the winch, and up she goes.

In the small world department, moored nearby is the SC-27 SOLITAIRE which won the first SHTP in 1978 under Norton Smith's command. Many memories there, as WILDFLOWER and SOLITAIRE shared Hanalei Bay post SHTP, and later cruised the Hawaiian Islands in consort some 35 years ago.

Weather here in Anacortes is cool, with highs in low 60's. Big fluffy clouds over the Cascades producing an occasional rainbow to the East. Bald eagles are soaring overhead, producing their distinctive chirping sound. Nearby, Cap Sante Head overlooks the harbor below and provides good viewing of the surrounding Skagit Valley and San Juan Islands.