New Boat 4 Sled

[sleddog]

Andre', the Anna's hummer, was in fine fettle this morning just after sunrise at the Fossil Cliffs. Seaward, not far offshore, were 4-5 humpback whales and a whole lot of feeding sea birds. Here's some photos of Andre' not seen before: Thanks to photographer Dianna Glidden for sharing.







And a photo I took of Andre' in 2014, 8 years ago.

 

[AntsUiga]

OK all you backstay flickers, a bowl of Marianne's Macapuno to the first who can answer the following about something currently in CBC's front yard. In the below list, which one does not relate to the other six.

1. Buoy of Death 2) Tack, Back, Gybe, Set. 3) Ano Nuevo weather 4) Sheep in the Meadow 5) White Horses 6) Reinforced Trades. 7) Dogs Running Free

Well it is good to see Andre, bit the challenge was offered.

I have no rationale for the answer, but I guess 6) Reinforced Trades.
Guesses are free! Enjoy making them.

Ants

 

[sleddog]

Hi Ants, Thanks for the compliment on my good buddy, Andre'. And also for your guess, 6) Reinforced Trades. Sorry, but that is not the correct answer. Reinforced trades, are particularly vigorous tradewinds, > 22 knots, rather than the common tradewinds of 14-20 knots.

Reinforced trades, in general, are the result of a strong high pressure center >1030 mb, creating a steep gradient between the high and the low pressure of the ITCZ, north of the Equator. Reinforced trades can and do occur in both hemispheres. If your passage is downwind, reinforced trades can provide thrilling sailing and fast daily runs. However, if your passage is reaching or closehauled, reinforced trades can be a chore.

In Hawaiian waters, reinforced trades are called 'brisk," 'fresh," and "strong tradewinds" and not a recommended time to cross the local channels or depart for the Mainland unless the boat and crew are up to the task.. Here off the California Coast, local knowledge call springtime small craft advisories and gale warnings offshore for NW winds "reinforced trades", even though they are not the true tradewinds of tropical latitudes.

What we've had here at CBC for the last few days has been NW winds 20-35. Thus "reinforced trades" are visible in the front yard, aka Monterey Bay.

Please feel free to guess again. Any other takers? The silence is deafening.

 

[Philpott]

While I am not sure how I feel about being referred to as a "backstay flicker", which sounds vaguely obscene, I will take a guess at the buoy of death. Having visited the CBC, I recall a big anchor and lots of vegetation, including flowers. Andre continues to impress, although we have always missed him upon my visits. If my guess is wrong then the next guesser will have a 5:1 chance next time.

 

[sleddog]

While I am not sure how I feel about being referred to as a "backstay flicker", which sounds vaguely obscene, I will take a guess at the buoy of death. Having visited the CBC, I recall a big anchor and lots of vegetation, including flowers. Andre continues to impress, although we have always missed him upon my visits. If my guess is wrong then the next guesser will have a 5:1 chance next time.

Hi Philpott, Sorry, but the term "backstay flicker" was used on your thread, Sailing Tomorrow, post #401.

Also, apologies, but your guess "#1) Buoy of Death" is not the correct answer either. The "Buoy of Death" is what the 505, Melges 24, Moore 24, and Hobie Cat out of town sailors call our Mile Buoy, 1.1 nm south of the Santa Cruz Wharf. Gybing at the Buoy of Death, their reaching mark, in reinforced trades, >25 knots, invariably resulted in festive activities.

In the 2002 Moore 24 Nationals I had WILDFLOWER stationed at the Buoy of Death. Good thing too, the leading crew in the series were launched overboard during their gybe. 3 of the 5 crew ended up hanging onto the Lifesling I launched behind WILDFLOWER while their boat continued out of control downwind on its side with the spinnaker flogging. Good thing to I was able to reach over the side and grab their skipper by his hair and pull him aboard as he was going down for good due to his faulty PFD pulling him under. Buoy of Death? You betcha.

Next guesser has a 20% chance of winning the Macapuno. Don't be shy. A quart of Macapuno is 25% more costly than a gallon of gas. Must be good.

 

[Wylieguy]

While I may not qualify to participate since the invite specifically invites "backstay flickers" and as a Wylieguy a flicker would a drag and not an assist, here's my guess anyway:

Ano Nuevo Weather. Why? It's the only answer that makes sense to an outsider since the others are insider references to various wind /weather patterns. If I win, I award the ice cream to Jackie who can sit down with you and a pad and pencil so you can illustrate a "backstay flicker." Probably not something an "older" Cal boat has need of. Pat "Wylieguy"

 

[sleddog]

While I may not qualify to participate since the invite specifically invites "backstay flickers" and as a Wylieguy a flicker would a drag and not an assist, here's my guess anyway:

Ano Nuevo Weather. Why? It's the only answer that makes sense to an outsider since the others are insider references to various wind /weather patterns. If I win, I award the ice cream to Jackie who can sit down with you and a pad and pencil so you can illustrate a "backstay flicker." Probably not something an "older" Cal boat has need of. Pat "Wylieguy"

Hi Pat, Sorry, but #3 Ano Nuevo weather is not the answer either. Ano Nuevo weather is spring time, reinforced trades in Monterey Bay and north, reaching brisk conditions off Ano Nuevo point. The best time to pass Ano Nuevo northbound is wee hours of the morning. Racing south, you always seem to be reaching in on port pole just south of Ano, necessitating a gybe before running out of runway. Gybes off Ano Nuevo rarely seem to go well. Thus
Ano Nuevo weather.

Next guesser has a 25% chance of winning with only 1 in 4 right answers remaining. I guarantee none of the remaining 4 answers are "insider weather references." You and others have likely used them yourselves.

Here's the deal. Any previous guessers are welcome to try again. But first reread the question posed. Then explain briefly why you think you are answering the question correctly. I'm not a rocket scientist, and this is not rocket science. It is plain, good 'ol salty docktalk between (hopefully) friends.

 

[Philpott]

Little boy blue,
Come blow your horn,
The sheep's in the meadow,
The cow's in the corn.
But where is the boy
Who looks after the sheep?
He's under a haystack,
Fast asleep. Mother Goose


Thank you anyway, Pat. Here's my own guess: "Sheep in the Meadow", and here's my solid reasoning: Here in Oakland we refer to people who sleep in other people's yards as "the Unsheltered". I suspect that someone wandered into the CBC's welcoming yard and decided to take a snooze. If my guess is correct but for the wrong reason do I get the Macapuno anyway? Either way, tomorrow I plan to order an affogato at Poggio's restaurant in Sausalito, so I will not suffer from lack of Macapuno.

Thanks, Skip. It's always fun to play.

 

[sleddog]

Little boy blue,
Come blow your horn,
The sheep's in the meadow,
The cow's in the corn.
But where is the boy
Who looks after the sheep?
He's under a haystack,
Fast asleep. Mother Goose


Thank you anyway, Pat. Here's my own guess: "Sheep in the Meadow", and here's my solid reasoning: Here in Oakland we refer to people who sleep in other people's yards as "the Unsheltered". I suspect that someone wandered into the CBC's welcoming yard and decided to take a snooze. If my guess is correct but for the wrong reason do I get the Macapuno anyway? Either way, tomorrow I plan to order an affogato at Poggio's restaurant in Sausalito, so I will not suffer from lack of Macapuno.

Thanks, Skip. It's always fun to play.

Sorry, Jackie, but your nursery rhyme has no relevance to what was in the CBC's front yard yesterday. As far as I could see out to sea, it was "sheep in the meadow," an age old, Down Island, description of rough water and strong winds creating whitecaps (sheep). Here you go:



Is Down Island the same as Down East? Negatory, good buddy.

Chances of a winner just increased to 1 in 3. And no, we don't serve "affogato" with arils.

 

[Intermission]

Thanks to all the guessers who went before me.

I vote; dogs running free.

 

[sleddog]

Thanks to all the guessers who went before me.

I vote; dogs running free.

"Blowing dogs off chains" is not Shakespeare as some would like to think. It's Aussie Bush larrikin for a strong breeze, adopted by Kiwi sailors in the not too distant past. A dog blown off its chain could be considered "running free." It was blowing dogs off their chains here yesterday. And gusting 53.5 mph at the Inverness YC, sister club to CBC

https://www.wunderground.com/dashboard/pws/KCAINVER3

Sorry, wrong guess.

As a reminder, what we are looking for: in the original list, which one does not relate to the other six.
One more wrong guess and we are down to the last man/woman/child left standing for the Macapuno. Give it your best shot.

 

[Daydreamer]

So I've got a 50/50 chance here.
Since "white horses" is another reference to "sheep in the meadow" both wind phenomena like the earlier answers,
I'll go with "tack,back,gybe,set" which are sail manouvers as the different answer.

Of course "bouy of death" takes some local knowledge !

 

[sleddog]

So I've got a 50/50 chance here.
Since "white horses" is another reference to "sheep in the meadow" both wind phenomena like the earlier answers,
I'll go with "tack,back,gybe,set" which are sail manouvers as the different answer.

Of course "bouy of death" takes some local knowledge !

What, do you think I give Macapuno away for free? Gotta earn it on this thread. Which you have done.

Yes the correct answer is "tack, back, jibe, set," which is a mark rounding maneuver, not a strong wind event in the CBC front yard. We practiced the TBJS on IMP in 1977 and used to good effect in buoys races in the Admirals Cup when the weather mark turn meant rounding and hoisting the spinnaker on the same tack, a 270 degree turn. Hard to visualize without pics, but basically the jib was backed at the turn to spin the boat around, while the spinny was hoisted simultaneously. It worked a treat when the breeze was up. In the pics it was only about 14 knots, #1 weather, but as up can see, the spinnaker is up and drawing before the stern has left the mark. Not something practiced much these days.

Congrats, good Sir. We didn't have to go into overtime.



PS: As noted above, White Horses is another name for white caps.

 

[Philpott]

Congratulations, Greg! Congratulations,Skip, for fooling us all almost all of the time. It gives us the chance to come out and play!

 

[Jonathan Gutoff]

Does the "tack, back, jibe, set" work without banding the chute?

 

[sleddog]

Does the "tack, back, jibe, set" work without banding the chute?

Not sure. We "banded" the chute with cotton baby yarn, not the tougher poly stuff. Prehoisting the chute without it being in stops might be dicey. The other maneuver we perfected on IMP was the belly button spinnaker drop down the forehatch. No one had seen that before.

 

[sleddog]

Breeze on for yesterday's Half Hog race at Tomales. One gust to 40 knots on the IYC anemometer. 110's zipping around on full on planes. 3 capsized. One bailed the water out and finished second, one got towed in, and another beached across the bay at Marshall, bailed out, and was also towed. Never a dull moment in the 110 class....either onshore or on the water.

 

[sleddog]

A new ride at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk? Nope, a Farallone 29, aka Golden Gate 30. CATS PAW had been anchored out off the Santa Cruz Wharf when we happened upon this sad sight yesterday morning. No word as to definitive cause.





Good news is this morning CATS PAW had been towed off the beach at high tide. I do not know the specifics other than the Farallone 29 is a full keel, stoutly built, fiberglass hull now back at anchor. PS: Note the Danforth anchor in the right foreground. Not the recommended ground tackle in this area for hard packed sand with kelp cover in a shifting breeze.

 

[sleddog]

This past week found the DAZZLERS (Tom and Sue) aboard their Vanagon and the sleddog with Annie aboard RUBY voyaging up Highway 1 to Salt Point State Park, about 15 nm north of Jenner at the mouth of the Russian River. Salt Point was a delightful base camp for hikes along the cliffs, visiting Stump Beach and Gerstle Cove, and the Kruse Rhododendron Reserve.


Tho some assembly required, the RUBY, at 14' LOA, is a good size with a decent PHRF rating and no need for an anchor winch.


The wildflowers were in full bloom at Salt Point.


Estimated height of breaking swell's plume was 50 feet.


The rock sculpture was interesting, with evidence of stone quarrying in the vicinity to supply 19th century San Francisco buildings.


How engineless schooners anchored here at Gerstle Cove to load quarried stone took some real seamanship. Somebody lost their old timey, Fisherman anchor, as it was on display at the entrance Ranger Station.

 

[Intermission]

. Note the Danforth anchor in the right foreground. Not the recommended ground tackle in this area for hard packed sand with kelp cover in a shifting breeze.

Which type of anchor would you recommend?


Great pictures!