New Boat 4 Sled

[sleddog]

Which type of anchor would you recommend?

For Monterey Bay, outside Santa Cruz Harbor, the bottom is primarily hard pack sand with kelp. A Danforth type anchor has a hard time resetting when the wind changes 180 degrees from afternoon sea breeze to offshore night drainage. Of the anchors I've owned, I would recommend the Delta, basically a modern plow type with no moving parts

Of course => 50 feet of chain makes up for a lot of faults on any anchor. At Hanalei on 6,500 pound, 27' WILDFLOWER I used a 22 pound CQR with 50 feet of 1/4" chain and slept better for it. That was my primary anchor throughout the S.Pacific, but would be considered out-of-date by modern cruisers. This gear was about max I could pull up hand over hand on the bow roller in a hurry. It lived in the forward cabin, just forward of the mast.

 

[sleddog]

Thanks to Ants for two photos taken recently at 7,000' elevation above the Kern River Valley. What looks like snow is not. Instead it is pogonip, also known as ice fog or freezing fog. Not something one wants to encounter when underway as it makes a very thin, unseen coating of ice on roads, mainly in mountain valleys.

 

[Howard Spruit]

Mini Skeeter build report 05/17/22 @ 1730 hrs.
Wheels on, Mast up, sail goes up tomorrow for photo opp around 1400 hrs.
Next up is assemble trailer, install trailer hitch on van, and off to the desert

 

[Philpott]

That looks very fast, Howard! I hope you don't get any road rash. Have fun!

 

[Howard Spruit]

the small sail is up, the full size sail arrives Friday.
I'm off to assemble the trailer

 

[sleddog]

the small sail is up, the full size sail arrives Friday.
I'm off to assemble the trailer/QUOTE]

While Howard is prepping to solo sail his just completed dirt boat on an unknown dry lake bed, I am sailing in a different medium. In the Spring, Tomales Bay, running NW to the SE, is a wind-tunnel where consistent afternoon seabreezes border on fresh to strong blowing directly down the Bay, making for exciting windward/leeward racing, where at least one gybe is necessary. At 24 feet in length, with 4 feet of beam, 3 feet of draft on a 300 pound keel and zero form stability, racing a 110 is definitely sporting and dinghy like.

Here is my ride, the International 110 SMART SHOES in front of the 110 year old Inverness Yacht Club. The white splotches in the club's blue paint are a current repainting of the historical club that sits very near the San Andreas fault that runs down Tomales Bay towards San Francisco.



When the tide ebbs on Tomales Bay, the water gets pretty thin. Here is the RC shack and main dock looking NW on a recent minus tide.



And here is the main dock looking SE towards the West Marin hills. The straight track near the dock is where we pull the 110 keels through the mud (while heeled 45 degrees) to reach the hoist...



At high tide the IYC main dock floats in ~6-7 feet of of 80 degree salt water (in the summer) and Tomales Bay looks to be a beautiful lake surrounded by forest and green hills (winter and spring).

See ya soon Howard. I'll be home to CBC from Inverness Sunday after pet sitting 3 Labs and 3 cats for 10 days. Yiiii doggies. You Singlehanded Farallon racers tomorrow stay safe. Looks like plenty of breeze.

 

[Philpott]

I can imagine how much fun you must be having up there in that wind. As for the Farallones race tomorrow? This is the site I use. NOAA forecasts and Windy.com are scarier.

https://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=46026

 

[sleddog]

As visitors to this Forum and CBC likely know, weather depending, I enjoy regularly paddling my Kiwi kayak both inside and outside Santa Cruz Harbor. Being small, quiet, and low freeboard(sit inside) allows proximity to what's in, on, and above local waters, especially feathered friends and pinnipeds.

This morning's paddle started innocently enough, first fishing out and securing a well clothed, large yacht fender floating down the harbor. Once outside the Entrance breakwater I turned 90 degrees to starboard to paddle a half mile to my usual turning mark, a rusty, bird poop covered Coast Guard mooring buoy just east of the Santa Cruz Wharf.

As I paddled west, I noticed a large, green motor yacht (50 feet?) anchored near the beach. I'd seen it a few days earlier when it was anchored further offshore. After rounding the CG buoy, I altered north to investigate. As I approached for a closer look, the MV seemed abandoned and in poor condition, with mooring lines hanging overboard, and growth on the waterline.

But what really caught my attention was a 50 yard diameter oil sheen trailing astern of the MV. As many birds, including migrant sooty shearwaters, and pinnipeds were feeding on a seasonal run of anchovies, I thought "who should I report this oil spillage to?" It is going to be as major headache, whether the spill, or the boat, or both, came ashore, as it was directly off Santa Cruz Main Beach and Boardwalk which was already a gathering site for many kids on their last day of school field trip. And with the Memorial Day holiday weekend almost here and thousands of beach goers soon to be on hand, this soon to be "accident" would certainly make headlines.

With my VHF in hand, I thought for a minute to choose my words carefully. Stuttering on the VHF is not for the faint of heart as sometimes listeners at the receiving end think I'm the one in trouble! As well, I wanted to make sure this developing "incident" got accurate and immediate attention.

Fortunately, Nicky at Santa Cruz Harbor office, a no nonsense ex-cop who knows me , answered in her usual business like manner "Kayak WILDFLOWER, go ahead."

"Kayak WILDFLOWER wishes to report a green, 50 foot, motor yacht outside the surfline near Rivermouth with an oil spill in the area. Vessel name on stern is FREELANCE, with Sausalito listed as homeport. Over." Long silence, then Nicky gave her brief acknowledgement. "Roger, kayak WILDFLOWER, it will be reported."

10 minutes later out came the Harbor Patrol's big RIB, passing me at high speed going in the direction of the FREELANCE. As I turned to paddle into the Harbor I had a last glimpse of the Harbor Patrol RIB approaching the derelict boat from astern. I hauled out my kayak at the dinghy ramp, and there in the empty small Coast Guard station nearby were three young adults with weed whackers. Also their dog, "Bud."

I walked over and through the gate slats hailed, "are you the Coast Guard?" They said they were, "getting the station ready." I was invited inside the gate and explained they probably hadn't heard my call to the Harbor office about the abandoned boat adrift with an oil spill. "Oil spill" got their attention, and the young lady officer in charge immediately went upstairs and called her headquarters in Monterey.

What I then learned from the young woman in T-shirt and jeans is CG Station Monterey had heard my VHF call on Channel 9. Wow. Much relieved, on my way home, I swung into the Santa Cruz Harbor headquarters to alert Officer Nicky to a dangerous slippery situation on the dinghy and kayak launch ramp and boarding ladder. She took my report, thanked me, and proceeded with her busy day at the office.

Before leaving, I walked down "L" dock to the Harbor Patrol's big RIB and met three armed officers about to board their 24 footer, including the Harbor Master. They recognized me, said they'd just confirmed FREELANCE was known to Sausalito's Richardson Bay Regional Agency (RBRA) officials and that they were headed back out to make a boarding of FREELANCE. More importantly, the Harbor Master thanked me and confirmed "you did the right thing."

My take on this abandoned boat leaking oil just outside the Santa Cruz Boardwalk Beach is either 1) it was stolen; 2) the "owner" was told to get it out of Richardson Bay; or 3) it was an insurance job.

All in a morning on the water. TBC when and if I learn more.

Standard Horizon HX 40 VHF in the front pocket of my PFD. This transceiver radio is waterproof, has all VHF channels, including weather, and FM radio also for listening to local stations while at CBC. $99 but it won't float. Most cell phones won't either.

 

[Grace]

Skip

Oddly enough, I have some information on Freelance. On May 16th, I discovered an absolutely perfectly restored 1980s Shannon 28 cutter named Summer berthed in Pelican Harbor in Sausalito. While I was snapping pictures of the unusually fine craftmanship, Freelance was getting ready to depart her slip on the other side of the fairway. Freelance has been berthed at Pelican Harbor for over a decade. The owner was a member of a local yacht club and a friend of his I knew well advised him not to buy the boat - full of some obvious and many yet to be discovered defects. However, he did buy the boat and put many hours and dollars into making her right, but to no avail, she was too far gone even then.

As I taking photos of the Shannon 28, there were three individuals on the dock helping throw off the docklines preparing Freelance for departure. Freelance's slip was right against the large tar covered pilings of the seawall at the north end the marina. It appeared that there were two individuals on board - one driving in a cabin with no rear visibility and a crew member standing on the port side deck looking aft and advising the pilot. As Freelance eased her way backwards into the fairway, it was immediately clear that whoever was driving that day had no idea of how to control the boat in what is a generously wide fairway. Backing up and almost striking a Valiant 42, the crew yelled at the driver to go forward to avoid the collision. Smoke bellowed from the stack on top of the pilot house as the engine gunned. More back and fills followed with no progress pointing Freelance's bow toward the harbor exit. One final attempt gunning the engine in apparent frustration had Freelance's bow just clear the seawall pilings accelerating toward the open water of Richardson Bay, but alas, the pilot forgot about the motion of the aft quarter on the port side which while turning struck the seawall with such force that the supports for the roof over the aft deck exploded and flew into the water.

I made my way over to the individuals who released Freelance's lines. They said that the boat was just recently sold; the new owners were on board and the plan was to motor out the Gate to Moss Landing. The forecast for that day was poor for this journey. When I got home, I told my wife the story over dinner and ended by saying we may be hearing about Freelance in the near future...

 

[sleddog]

Skip

Oddly enough, I have some information on Freelance. On May 16th, I discovered an absolutely perfectly restored 1980s Shannon 28 cutter named Summer berthed in Pelican Harbor in Sausalito. While I was snapping pictures of the unusually fine craftmanship, Freelance was getting ready to depart her slip on the other side of the fairway. Freelance has been berthed at Pelican Harbor for over a decade. The owner was a member of a local yacht club and a friend of his I knew well advised him not to buy the boat - full of some obvious and many yet to be discovered defects. However, he did buy the boat and put many hours and dollars into making her right, but to no avail, she was too far gone even then.

As I taking photos of the Shannon 28, there were three individuals on the dock helping throw off the docklines preparing Freelance for departure. Freelance's slip was right against the large tar covered pilings of the seawall at the north end the marina. It appeared that there were two individuals on board - one driving in a cabin with no rear visibility and a crew member standing on the port side deck looking aft and advising the pilot. As Freelance eased her way backwards into the fairway, it was immediately clear that whoever was driving that day had no idea of how to control the boat in what is a generously wide fairway. Backing up and almost striking a Valiant 42, the crew yelled at the driver to go forward to avoid the collision. Smoke bellowed from the stack on top of the pilot house as the engine gunned. More back and fills followed with no progress pointing Freelance's bow toward the harbor exit. One final attempt gunning the engine in apparent frustration had Freelance's bow just clear the seawall pilings accelerating toward the open water of Richardson Bay, but alas, the pilot forgot about the motion of the aft quarter on the port side which while turning struck the seawall with such force that the supports for the roof over the aft deck exploded and flew into the water.

I made my way over to the individuals who released Freelance's lines. They said that the boat was just recently sold; the new owners were on board and the plan was to motor out the Gate to Moss Landing. The forecast for that day was poor for this journey. When I got home, I told my wife the story over dinner and ended by saying we may be hearing about Freelance in the near future...

Thank you for this backstory! The plot thickens. Or should I write, the "pot thickens." Over the recent holiday, while I was out of town, someone moved the leaky FREELANCE from it's position just offshore the Santa Cruz Boardwalk to.....less than 1/4 mile seaward of CBC. I doubt it was the CG, or Harbor Patrol. Maybe Vessel Assist. Maybe the "new owners." Whoever, the lonely yacht is almost within view out the main window here at Capitola Boat Club. Lovely. It is now just offshore the 3rd ranked, most polluted beach in California. https://hoodline.com/2021/07/endless-bummers-south-bay-beaches-rank-among-most-polluted-in-state/

 

[AlanH]

I'm late to this party, but curious how Howards landsailer has fared....

 

[Howard Spruit]

The land sailer is ready to sail but the trailer, and tow vehicle, camper unit are not ready.
I am bussie marrying the boat to the trailer, and putting together the camping package for the minivan I bought last november.
I also want to sail my catamaran a few times this year so the dirt boat may not get tested until fall, because the desert tends to get a bit warm in the summer

 

[sleddog]

The CBC deck has seen a considerable quantity of sea stories, sailing programs, Macapuno with Pomegranate arils, and High Tea with ginger snap dippers. Wildflowers are volunteers refreshed by catching buckets of gray water. Tablecloth by Synbad.

 

[Philpott]

Nice photo, Skip. Classy tablecloth. I have fond memories of sitting out there in the sunshine eating.

 

[sleddog]

The CBC deck has seen a considerable quantity of sea stories, sailing programs, Macapuno with Pomegranate arils, and High Tea with ginger snap dippers. Wildflowers are volunteers refreshed by catching buckets of gray water. Tablecloth by Synbad.

Salt encrustation on a sail is undesirable both for speed and longevity. However with our current drought it is neither politically nor practically correct to hose off sails. This is especially true at Inverness YC, where only fresh water sponge baths of boat and equipment are allowed.

CBC, 82 nautical miles south of IYC, has a similar dilemma: all tap water is from wells. Our aquifer is being overdrafted, and due to agriculture and other uses, a growing population and proximity to Monterey Bay is causing salt water to creep inland into the aquifer. Wells near the coast are being abandoned by the Water District, creating a "Stage 3 Water Shortage Emergency." It is quite a political mess.

This afternoon I rinsed SMART SHOE's main which had gotten salty over the past months. Several gallons of water sprayed onto both sides of the sail drained onto the clover, wildflowers, and other vegetation as it recycled downward.



The black mainsail is a 2017 North 3Di, supposedly good for two laps of the globe should we choose that option. And it takes a special screwdriver to adjust batten tension. Meanwhile,

 

[AntsUiga]

Interesting view of two approaches to battens.

It seems 695 shape the full sail, but leaves little room for adjustment, especially since a special screwdriver is needed.

In contrast, the battens on 709 shape the leach, but allow for shape changes if the right sail controls are rigged.

The photo does not give a complete indicator if one or another is preferred.

As for drought impacts, the ‘garden house’ has its own well and a year round stream that nas not gone dry in the twenty years I have owned it.

Ants

 

[sleddog]

I have looked up to Kenichi Horie for many years. To me, he showcases some of the best qualities of the single handed sailor: consistent devotion to his craft, independence of thought, fearless initiative, understanding the allure and power of small and simple boats, a true waterman at one with the the ocean environment for his whole life.

Congrats to Kenichi Horie, 83, who has recently completed his solo, 94 day passage, from SF to his homeland of Japan on his 18 foot MERMAID 3 The modest gentleman he is, when asked what he plans next, replied, "to keep sailing until I'm 100."

Here is Kenichi-san's original MERMAID on which he first arrived in SF from Japan 60 years ago and was promptly arrested for having no passport or papers.

 

[solosailor]

Fortitude personified.

 

[sleddog]

Not for the faint of heart or wallet is Conrad Coleman's 27 minute "Dock Walk Talk" highlighting the state of solo sailing 60' IMOCA class in France. Astonishing would be an understatement. Conrad knows the boats intimately and minces no words, i.e. "a pig upwind..." "a weapon," "goes 23 knots in 12 knots of wind when I was sailing nicely at 13 knots," "being raced by a young man who transited the NW passage with his pet chicken.."

Don't say I didn't warn you...the foilers are so noisy the skippers must wear noise canceling devices or go deaf from the shriek. Most of the fleet have "Oscar" at the masthead watching out while you sleep. If you haven't met Oscar, listen up.

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

 

[sleddog]

Attention Pac Cuppers: This favorite summer anchorage on the N. Shore of Oahu has been featured before and lies only a 5 hour sail, reach/run, from Kaneohe. In the distance, bearing 250m, 12 miles, is the western most point of Oahu, infamous Ka'ena Pt. Some may remember the days of attempting to drive a rent-a-car around Ka'ena Pt.'s unpaved and prohibited, pot-holed track., often unsuccessfully.

First to name the Bay in the photo receives 2 sets of custom, Sleddog telltales. Thanks to Capt. Bob who took the photo this morning while on his bike.