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    - SSS Technical Infrastructure

New Boat 4 Sled

A recent trip to Los Osos Boatbuilders and Cathouse found Craig has hanked on Mini-MAGIC's new suit of sails. The main and foresail luff slides even work on the mast track. The standing 1x19 rigging is also complete, with mini-swages and turnbuckles, and tested to 138 pounds breaking strength. Next up is casting the lead keel. Craig's attention to detail is amazing. I did mention the winches turn (but alas, no winch handles anticipated.)

mini-Magic4.jpg

Magic3.jpg
 
Big boats, maxi budgets, all professional crews, important ocean race. What does it get you?

Strangely, it recently got two "captains of industry" no where. In the Transpac last month the 72 foot LUCKY, representing the New York Yacht Club, lost steering entering the Molokai Channel, 30 miles upwind of the finish at Diamond Head.

LUCKY.jpg


What did LUCKY's crew do? Rig their race required emergency steering? No such enterprise. Instead, LUCKY abandoned the race, called the Coast Guard who then came out and towed them into Honolulu. What is this about? A dozen pros couldn't get LUCKY downwind to finish? Finishing without a rudder, mast, and blown sails is in the finest tradition of Transpac.

Miles and Beryl Smeeton, and John Guzzwell would be appalled. TZU HANG was not 30 miles upwind of Oahu with a boatload of pros when they pitch poled. They persevered where ordinary people would have perished.

We may dismiss this unprofessional effort as a fluke. But what just happened in the Fastnet Race? One of the biggest, baddest racers, the all pro RAMBLER 88, winner of the last two Fastnets, and definite threat for both first-to-finish mono hull and first overall, jibed when rounding the Fastnet Rock, took off at 20 knots, and forgot to leave the TSS (Traffic Separation Scheme) to port as mandated by the race rules, earning them disqualification, perhaps the biggest pro-racing navigational blunder since TEAM VESTAS WIND ran up on the Cargados Carajos reef near Mauritius in the Volvo Ocean Race.

RAMBLER88.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hut2uOe1lt8

Leaves me speechless, which is not unusual.
 
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For Lee Johnson and MORNING STAR's friends from Hanalei, Lee is currently 415 miles WNW of his revised destination of Neah Bay, WA. MORNING STAR is running DDW before 20 knots of wind and making good time heading ESE with a likely ETA of Saturday.

Lee's original destinations of Seward and Sitka, AK, were canceled when the weather turned sour and he encountered multiple days of heavy fog. Good sailing on in, Lee! https://share.garmin.com/MorningStar

PS: For interested parties, Neah Bay is closed to landing as is the marina and fuel dock. Anchorage may be had for an unlimited time.
 
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sleddog said:
For Lee Johnson and MORNING STAR's friends from Hanalei, Lee is currently 415 miles WNW of his revised destination of Neah Bay, WA. .
Click to expand...

Apologies, I spoke too soon. Yesterday, Lee turned on his left turn signal, assumed a due E course, and will exit the Interstate at Cape Scott, Vancouver Island, destination Port Hardy. Cape Scott is the NW corner of Vancouver Island, and this change of plans means MORNING STAR will be rounding Vancouver Island clockwise, leaving it to the West.

Big surf from a long period southerly swell this morning in Monterey Bay. Definitely had to pay attention leaving and entering Santa Cruz Harbor in my kayak, as "sneaker" waves were breaking half way across the entrance every 5 minutes or so.

Fools step in where angels fear to tread was the scene I witnessed on the Harbor breakwater this morning, with walkers oblivious to the fact the occasional sneaker wave could have washed them off as they gazed seaward from near the lighthouse. The ocean doesn't care, but maybe it did, and no waves appeared for an extended period. The walkers never even realized they'd put their lives at risk.
 
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sleddog said:
Can someone tell the powers that be the Overall Final Results for the 2021 SHTP are in error. RAINBOW did not win the overall best corrected time, and Cliff would be the first to tell you. This has been an ongoing issue for years and promotes misunderstandings to both the public and press. Anyone there?

https://www.jibeset.net/show.php?RR=JACKY_T007588480&DOC=r201&TYP=html
Click to expand...

Silence. Guessing no one at JIBESET or the Board cares....Misunderstandings will continue as multis and monos race together and are scored together despite sailing under dissimilar rating systems. Basic. Jibeset seems to be the oracle through which SSS and SHTP speaks. I guess ALOHA's overall trophy should be awarded to RAINBOW as per JIBESET.
 
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Jibeset doesn't make decisions. Decisions are fed into Jibeset by the Racing Authority, in the case the SSS, and Jibeset simply processes what it's told. It's up to the SSS management to decide who gets the trophy by either setting Jibeset up for a Mono and Multi Division or to combine them. I don't know how reads this Forum, but if you tally up the multi-message contributors they are very small in number, count them on one hand. I don't see many SSS offices, so perhaps they don't see your pleas? On a slightly different note, I've been trying to years to find out where the Singlehanded HMB Trophy Box is. I've done my pleading with several different SSS Boards, but to no avail. It would be nice to at least see my name engraved on the trophy, even if I can't hold it in my hands. What I'm getting at, even if you were to address Board members by personal emails, you might find nothing gets done.
 
sleddog said:
e. In the Transpac last month the 72 foot LUCKY, representing the New York Yacht Club, lost steering entering the Molokai Channel, 30 miles upwind of the finish at Diamond Head.

View attachment 6788

What did LUCKY's crew do? Rig their race required emergency steering? No such enterprise. Instead, LUCKY abandoned the race, called the Coast Guard who then came out and towed them into Honolulu. What is this about? A dozen pros couldn't get LUCKY downwind to finish? Finishing without a rudder, mast, and blown sails is in the finest tradition of Transpac.

Miles and Beryl Smeeton, and John Guzzwell would be appalled. TZU HANG was not 30 miles upwind of Oahu with a boatload of pros when they pitch poled. They persevered where ordinary people would have perished.

Leaves me speechless, which is not unusual.
Click to expand...

After doing some poking, the Transpac YC media rep answered thusly:

Hi Skip -I did not talk with them myself, but this topic came up in the latest TPYC Board call. Turns out LUCKY's plan was to use the bucket method, which they claimed they tested successfully before the race in CA, but that method proved worthless in the Molokai Channel in 30 knots of wind and 8-foot seas.

The Coast Guard consented to take them because their concern in having Ilio Point nearby as a lee shore.

TPYC may write a report about this so as to ascertain if that bucket method is reliable for these style boats.

A professional crew believed they could steer a 70 footer across an ocean towing a bucket? Who are these guys? They need to attend a SHTP Emergency Steering seminar.
 
The marine layer, low cloud, wind, and cool is seaward over the CBC guest dock (space available). However, on the deck just up the gangway, it is sunny, warm, and calm, perfect for napping cats. Condolences to Windward YC at Tahoe where the current AQI is >500 and you need headlights on in broad daylight to drive. Maybe we will get a report from contributor SK.

Further south, Ants checked in from the Bodfish Punting, Fishing, and Motorcycle Club where the nearby French Fire is only 15% contained and people are evacuating. Hang in there Ants!

Here at CBC, there is a new vessel, MARK TWAIN, rescued homeless from a sidewalk in Berkeley by DAZZLER. Tom cleaned her (him?) up and found she was #19 built in 1993 by Kiwi yachts. Thanks, Tom!

Lastly, Portland State University academia has advised me there is zero evidence Drake ever landed at Drakes Bay and his possible careening location is Whale Cove, just south of Depoe Bay, in Central Oregon... Its Monday, and we wish MB of Pt. Reyes Station Happy Birthday. She and CD will be PROs overlooking your finish and restart from Chimney Rock Trail at Pt. Reyes.

Kiwikayak.JPG
MARK TWAIN
 
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sleddog said:
After doing some poking, the Transpac YC media rep answered thusly:

Hi Skip -I did not talk with them myself, but this topic came up in the latest TPYC Board call. Turns out LUCKY's plan was to use the bucket method, which they claimed they tested successfully before the race in CA, but that method proved worthless in the Molokai Channel in 30 knots of wind and 8-foot seas.

The Coast Guard consented to take them because their concern in having Ilio Point nearby as a lee shore.

TPYC may write a report about this so as to ascertain if that bucket method is reliable for these style boats.

A professional crew believed they could steer a 70 footer across an ocean towing a bucket? Who are these guys? They need to attend a SHTP Emergency Steering seminar.
Click to expand...

Skip, a little revelation.

I sold my storm jib...sized for a 26 foot boat...
and my emergency rudder, which could probably handle up to a 30-footer but not much more than that...to..

insert drum roll

....the crew of a TransPac 52. Not kidding. I must have told the guy five times..."this stuff is really too small for the boat"...to which he replied "We just need it to check off the boxes".

I shook my head, almost didn't sell him the stuff, 'cause that is just stupid.
 
sleddog said:
Lastly, Portland State University academia has advised me there is zero evidence Drake ever landed at Drakes Bay and his possible careening location is Whale Cove, just south of Depoe Bay, in Central Oregon...
Click to expand...

Here are two photos of Whale Cove, 9 miles north of Newport, OR, where Drake is purported to have landed and careened GOLDEN HIND in June/July 1579 in a "fair and good bay." As you can see, Whale Cove, diameter 200 yards, is much smaller and open to the southwest and west, than Drakes Bay on Pt. Reyes which has a width of 2.5 miles and is open only to the south.

Portland State is correct: there is no definitive evidence Drake landed on the shores of Drakes Bay and, they maintain, may have been hiding his true position from the Spanish. None of Drakes charts or logs survive, as they were handed off to Queen Elizabeth on return from his circumnavigation and subsequently disappeared.

Two photos of Whale CoveWhale Cove1.jpg Whale Cove2.jpg
 
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A report from Meyers, South Lake Tahoe: There is a clearing trend this morning with SW winds less then 10mph, and cooler temps, 6am 38 degrees. I anticipate that the smoke will again increase as the day warms and the wind comes up. Even at dawn, when it was the most clear, the air is smokey. By middle afternoon viability is less then 1/4 mile. Air quality is very bad.

I am packed and ready to leave here at Studio 1027. All that will go with me is boxed and ready to load in the car. If I must evacuate I'll head for Carson City.
DIANNE, Express 27 # 0 is safe in the water at a dock in Tahoe Keys. I have moved all the sails aboard her. I have moved the boat trailer to Carson City.

The Fire Fighting agency's are doing their best and there is a number of miles and ridges between Meyers and the NE front of the fire. I am aware that even the best efforts could fail and the fire roar over Echo Summit and come into Meyers.
 
sleddog said:
After doing some poking, the Transpac YC media rep answered thusly:
TPYC may write a report about this so as to ascertain if that bucket method is reliable for these style boats.[/I]

A professional crew believed they could steer a 70 footer across an ocean towing a bucket? Who are these guys? They need to attend a SHTP Emergency Steering seminar.
Click to expand...

I am pleased the TPYC is giving the decisions made by the "professionals" aboard LUCKY. some further consideration.

Back in the 60s, & 70s, we "corinthian" sailors were instructed to learn to trim sails to stere without a rudder.
then came the Wind surfers that did not have rudders.

It seems to me that "Professionals" should have these skills mastered!
 
sleddog said:
Here are two photos of Whale Cove, 9 miles north of Newport, OR, where Drake is purported to have landed and careened GOLDEN HIND in June/July 1579 in a "fair and good bay." As you can see, Whale Cove, diameter 200 yards, is much smaller and open to the southwest and west, than Drakes Bay on Pt. Reyes which has a width of 2.5 miles and is open only to the south.

Portland State is correct: there is no definitive evidence Drake landed on the shores of Drakes Bay and, they maintain, may have been hiding his true position from the Spanish. None of Drakes charts or logs survive, as they were handed off to Queen Elizabeth on return from his circumnavigation and subsequently disappeared.

Two photos of Whale CoveView attachment 6799 View attachment 6800
Click to expand...

Though Portland State Anthropology Dept. has promoted Whale Cove, OR., as Francis Drake's likely landing place on the West Coast of N. America in 1579, I remain thoroughly unconvinced. A seaman like Drake would never have sailed his 120 foot LOA GOLDEN HIND into such a place. Whale Cove is too small, and with 3:1 scope on the anchor, GOLDEN HIND's precious rudder would be hitting the cliffs. In addition, Whale Cove is open to the SW and has no escape for an unweatherly ship like GOLDEN HIND, which could at best beam reach to windward and must gybe (wear ship) to tack. Then too, looking closely, kelp is visible in Whale Cove, indicating rocks, and the last thing Drake wanted was to lose his anchor, or hole his ship when careening. No, most certainly Whale Cove was not "Drake's Fair and Good Bay."

So where was Drake's careening spot, likely south of Whale Cove? The answer is definitive and has been revealed to at least three members of this Forum. In fact, the answer is shown on the famous Hondius map of 1589, (below).

Drake6.png

For a bowl of Marianne's Macapuno ice cream with organic blueberries, where does the Hondius map show Drake's ship.? Hint 1: On Saturday when they enter Drakes Bay, assuming it is not dark when the fleet sails in on Leg 1, upwards of 100 pairs of eyes will sight the location where the Hondius Map was originally drawn, perhaps by Drake himself. Hint 2: The location is in Point Reyes National Seashore, but not in Drakes Bay.

To win the Macapuno, I need two correct answers: 1) what direction is up on the Hondius Map? (It is not North) 2) Where did Drake and crew land to careen and repair the leaking and foul bottom on GOLDEN HIND? (location description).

One answer won't cut the mustard.

Though I will be at the inboard end of the finish line in Drakes Bay, I will be ashore and no promises I will be able to deliver ice cream and blueberries to the winner aboard the blue kayak MARK TWAIN pictured above on post 4471.
 
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Thanks for posting these!
This map explains it all:
Every time I have anchored in Drakes Bay I have wondered if Drake had indeed "been there"
If someone else was on the boat, I would ask them.....no-one seemed to know. All is now revealed. Very cool.
The Hondius map has south up.
https://www.discoveringnovaalbion.org/evidence-bay-estero-cove
1552360520187.jpg

sleddog said:
Though Portland State Anthropology Dept. has promoted Whale Cove, OR., as Francis Drake's likely landing place on the West Coast of N. America in 1579, I remain thoroughly unconvinced. A seaman like Drake would never have sailed his 120 foot LOA GOLDEN HIND into such a place. Whale Cove is too small, and with 3:1 scope on the anchor, GOLDEN HIND's precious rudder would be hitting the cliffs. In addition, Whale Cove is open to the SW and has no escape for an unweatherly ship like GOLDEN HIND, which could at best beam reach to windward and must gybe (wear ship) to tack. Then too, looking closely, kelp is visible in Whale Cove, indicating rocks, and the last thing Drake wanted was to lose his anchor, or hole his ship when careening. No, most certainly Whale Cove was not "Drake's Fair and Good Bay."

So where was Drake's careening spot, likely south of Whale Cove? The answer is definitive and has been revealed to at least three members of this Forum. In fact, the answer is shown on the famous Hondius map of 1589, (below).

View attachment 6804

For a bowl of Marianne's Macapuno ice cream with organic blueberries, where does the Hondius map show Drake's ship.? Hint 1: On Saturday when they enter Drakes Bay, assuming it is not dark when the fleet sails in on Leg 1, upwards of 100 pairs of eyes will sight the location where the Hondius Map was originally drawn, perhaps by Drake himself. Hint 2: The location is in Point Reyes National Seashore, but not in Drakes Bay.

To win the Macapuno, I need two correct answers: 1) what direction is up on the Hondius Map? (It is not North) 2) Where did Drake and crew land to careen and repair the leaking and foul bottom on GOLDEN HIND? (location description).

One answer won't cut the mustard.

Though I will be at the inboard end of the finish line in Drakes Bay, I will be ashore and no promises I will be able to deliver ice cream and blueberries to the winner aboard the blue kayak MARK TWAIN pictured above on post 4471.
Click to expand...
 
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DRAKE’S COVE

EB074D76-4D31-438C-AD03-5DEEFD66D81F.jpeg

Looking ESE across Drake’s Cove. Rancher Bill Hall built a dam in the 1940’s across the entrance to the cove to trap the spring water for his cows. The red dot is approximately where I took the photograph September 10, 2016.
A48C3E7F-88BE-44F6-A3BD-53AD883F860E.jpeg

 
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jamottep said:
I think North is mostly down.
It'd be Drake's cove in Drake's estero.
https://www.discoveringnovaalbion.org/evidence-hondius-inset
Click to expand...

Good one, PJ! Macapuno for you. Drake's Cove in Drake's Estero is the correct answer for where Drake and crew set up camp and careened their ship, and yes, the map (painting really) is aligned so north is towards the bottom. And thanks to DAZZLER for revealing the facts to me. Tom and Sue have stood on the exact spot Hondius's map was painted, overlooking Drake's Cove.

Good sailing, All. ~sleddog
 
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