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New Boat 4 Sled
- Thread starter sleddog
- Start date
Would agree cassette tape makes excellent telltales, as sensitive as single-ply TP, but more durable, waterproof, and longer lasting.
In a perfect world, cassette tape would be white, not black. Black cassette tape is difficult to see at night.
Which is why I recommend TP telltales if the wind is light and fluky, especially at night. And why I provide friends on ocean races with 1/2" x 14" strips of white, half ounce, polyester spinnaker cloth telltales.
Though I don't always agree with Dennis Conner, we do agree the best downwind driving aid, especially on a dark night, are white tell tales at head height, lit if necessary by a dimmed flashlite.
Tell tales are considered by many to be "old school." I've actually had well intentioned crew rip my nylon tell tales from the rigging, and laugh when I bring lengths of TP and Duct tape on deck.
They would prefer to steer by instrumentation, often ill calibrated, affected by masthead upwash, and suffering from a time delay.
No worries. I know when the going gets weird, they'll likely be looking at our stern light.
I came on deck once on one of the West Coast's better known sleds for my night watch. I asked the pro driver which of the many glowing red instruments he was using for reference. "Oh, the True Wind Angle (TWA), that one at the bottom, to starboard."
I didn't have heart to tell him that was the depth sounder.
In a perfect world, cassette tape would be white, not black. Black cassette tape is difficult to see at night.
Which is why I recommend TP telltales if the wind is light and fluky, especially at night. And why I provide friends on ocean races with 1/2" x 14" strips of white, half ounce, polyester spinnaker cloth telltales.
Though I don't always agree with Dennis Conner, we do agree the best downwind driving aid, especially on a dark night, are white tell tales at head height, lit if necessary by a dimmed flashlite.
Tell tales are considered by many to be "old school." I've actually had well intentioned crew rip my nylon tell tales from the rigging, and laugh when I bring lengths of TP and Duct tape on deck.
They would prefer to steer by instrumentation, often ill calibrated, affected by masthead upwash, and suffering from a time delay.
No worries. I know when the going gets weird, they'll likely be looking at our stern light.
I came on deck once on one of the West Coast's better known sleds for my night watch. I asked the pro driver which of the many glowing red instruments he was using for reference. "Oh, the True Wind Angle (TWA), that one at the bottom, to starboard."
I didn't have heart to tell him that was the depth sounder.
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Philpott
Cal 2-27 Dura Mater
That was sensitive of you.
As a knitter, I use wool yarn. Currently in use: dark red (winter hat for my girl) which shows up well against either a blue sky or that morning grey so often experienced in Berkeley. I will be sure to stock off white (fisherman's sweater for my boy) for arrival after dark to Drakes Bay. Thanks for the advice.
I would agree that white tape would be best. However I have never had a problem seeing the brown tape when looking aft and up from the companionway against the night sky. Always seems to be enuf light...and I always have a flashlight handy there. I used to use yarn, but the tape is better in really light air.
Philpott
Cal 2-27 Dura Mater
If I recall correctly, that is the companionway that remains open so you can throw beer cans out when you're done with 'em.... hmmm?
Last December, DAZZLER and I wrote about remote Roca Partida, "Parted Rock," southwest of Cabo San Lucas. This lonely rock, less than 300 feet long, juts up from the oceanic depths, out of sight of any other land. Roca Partida is so small, that Dazzler was able to swim around its vertical walls in 45 minutes. http://sfbaysss.org/forum/showthread.php?655-New-Boat-4-Sled/page90
Roca Partida is the smallest of 4 islands of Mexico's Revillagigedo Archipelago, 860 miles southeast of San Diego and 260 miles southward of Cabo San Lucas. It is the remnant of a very old volcano, the summit eroded by wave action. Currently the volcano is dormant. But others in the area of the Revillagigedo Islands are active, and occasionally large rocks and sulphurous bubbles are shot to the surface during undersea eruptions, especially near Socorro and San Benedicto.
It is inspiring to see a photo of a humpback whale and newborn calf swimming at Roca Partida has just won National Geographic's Traveler Photo Contest over 17,000 submissions.
http://www.theatlantic.com/photo/20...nal-geographic-traveler-photo-contest/400373/
At a recent birthday party in Santa Cruz I met local artists, father/son Michael and Ea Eckermann. Ea's paintings and posters suggest strongly of his close relationship with the sea, especially the California coast and Hawaii. Michael's stonework graces downtown Santa Cruz's Pacific Avenue. http://www.eckermanstudios.com/
Roca Partida is the smallest of 4 islands of Mexico's Revillagigedo Archipelago, 860 miles southeast of San Diego and 260 miles southward of Cabo San Lucas. It is the remnant of a very old volcano, the summit eroded by wave action. Currently the volcano is dormant. But others in the area of the Revillagigedo Islands are active, and occasionally large rocks and sulphurous bubbles are shot to the surface during undersea eruptions, especially near Socorro and San Benedicto.
It is inspiring to see a photo of a humpback whale and newborn calf swimming at Roca Partida has just won National Geographic's Traveler Photo Contest over 17,000 submissions.
http://www.theatlantic.com/photo/20...nal-geographic-traveler-photo-contest/400373/
At a recent birthday party in Santa Cruz I met local artists, father/son Michael and Ea Eckermann. Ea's paintings and posters suggest strongly of his close relationship with the sea, especially the California coast and Hawaii. Michael's stonework graces downtown Santa Cruz's Pacific Avenue. http://www.eckermanstudios.com/
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Google Doodle is celebrating the 101st anniversary of the traffic signal, first successfully used in Cleveland. With the rising popularity of the automobile, increasing speeds, and pedestrian crossing hazards, the traffic light became vital for public safety, and for the orderly flow of the "horseless carriage" at increasingly crowded intersections.
An alternative to the traffic signal was built in Long Beach, CA. It was called a "Traffic Circle," aka "Round-About," or "Rotary." I well remember this traffic circle, the giant roundabout at Lakewood Blvd and Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach. It was built in 1932 for the expected increase in traffic for the '32 Olympics at the nearby rowing stadium.
No freeways or overpasses in those days.
The Long Beach traffic circle seemed especially dangerous, even thrilling, to us kids as we and the dog rolled about on the lowered back seat of the family station wagon. Sometimes Dad would take us around twice. There was even a (false) rumor the designer died driving around his creation.
Massachusetts apparently didn't get word of the newly patented invention of traffic lights, and went with the Rotary instead. A specific rotary, the Bourne Rotary, connecting mainland Mass with Cape Cod at the bottom of the bridge over the Cape Cod Canal is especially challenging.
There are two lanes around the circle at Bourne, with 10 exits and feeder lanes merging in a giant headache. Did I mention there is a gas station situated in the Bourne Rotary?
The Bourne Rotary is not for the faint of heart, your granny, or anyone without good reflexes and peripheral vision. Aggression, honking, and accidents are legion on the Bourne Rotary.
The first time I drove the Bourne Rotary at rush hour, I thought "what a great place to practice dinghy starts and mark roundings." But Bostonians aren't playing by the Racing Rules of Sailing. Inside overlap, overtaking vessel, and vehicles entering from the right don't count for much at Bourne.
In the SF Bay Area there is a more civil alternative for mark rounding practice: the Marin Circle in North Berkeley. The Marin Circle is a roundabout with spokes coming in from seven directions. Cars coming downhill on Marin whip around the Circle and into the path of cars going up hill.
The reason the Marin Circle is good for starting and mark rounding practice is because many are scared to death and mostly polite.
If you are practicing mark roundings at the Marin Circle, just beware of potential "white out" conditions when some jokester pours dish soap into the lovely center fountain, Berkeley's first public work of art in 1911, creating a traffic circle of soap bubbles.
An alternative to the traffic signal was built in Long Beach, CA. It was called a "Traffic Circle," aka "Round-About," or "Rotary." I well remember this traffic circle, the giant roundabout at Lakewood Blvd and Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach. It was built in 1932 for the expected increase in traffic for the '32 Olympics at the nearby rowing stadium.
No freeways or overpasses in those days.
The Long Beach traffic circle seemed especially dangerous, even thrilling, to us kids as we and the dog rolled about on the lowered back seat of the family station wagon. Sometimes Dad would take us around twice. There was even a (false) rumor the designer died driving around his creation.
Massachusetts apparently didn't get word of the newly patented invention of traffic lights, and went with the Rotary instead. A specific rotary, the Bourne Rotary, connecting mainland Mass with Cape Cod at the bottom of the bridge over the Cape Cod Canal is especially challenging.
There are two lanes around the circle at Bourne, with 10 exits and feeder lanes merging in a giant headache. Did I mention there is a gas station situated in the Bourne Rotary?
The Bourne Rotary is not for the faint of heart, your granny, or anyone without good reflexes and peripheral vision. Aggression, honking, and accidents are legion on the Bourne Rotary.
The first time I drove the Bourne Rotary at rush hour, I thought "what a great place to practice dinghy starts and mark roundings." But Bostonians aren't playing by the Racing Rules of Sailing. Inside overlap, overtaking vessel, and vehicles entering from the right don't count for much at Bourne.
In the SF Bay Area there is a more civil alternative for mark rounding practice: the Marin Circle in North Berkeley. The Marin Circle is a roundabout with spokes coming in from seven directions. Cars coming downhill on Marin whip around the Circle and into the path of cars going up hill.
The reason the Marin Circle is good for starting and mark rounding practice is because many are scared to death and mostly polite.
If you are practicing mark roundings at the Marin Circle, just beware of potential "white out" conditions when some jokester pours dish soap into the lovely center fountain, Berkeley's first public work of art in 1911, creating a traffic circle of soap bubbles.
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If I recall correctly, my Cambridge MA based cousins advise re the Bourne Rotary was along the lines of:
you have to commit, don't be timid, and avoid the cars with bent fenders and side panel divots; they just don't care and will hit you.
come to think of it, that does indeed work alright for starts and mark rounding tactics...
DH
you have to commit, don't be timid, and avoid the cars with bent fenders and side panel divots; they just don't care and will hit you.
come to think of it, that does indeed work alright for starts and mark rounding tactics...
DH
Critter
Desert Ratfox
Check out the "Magic Roundabout" in Swindon, England. It has a central circle with five mini-roundabouts arrayed around it.
Incidentally, studies have shown that rotaries/roundabouts move traffic more efficiently than signalized intersections. There are several of them around southern New England.
Incidentally, studies have shown that rotaries/roundabouts move traffic more efficiently than signalized intersections. There are several of them around southern New England.
mike cunningham
Freedom 30 "Jacqueline"
You guys need to go to Tijuana, Mex. There are two epic roundabouts in the downtown area. My Dad and Mom lived in Mexico for awhile. My Dad's motto was "no cop, no stop". This coming from a licensed Master Mariner. The shame!
I just read an article about the "zip" merge which is the law in Germany. People coming on the freeway via the on-ramp go full bore, folks already on the freeway make a hole - it's the law and I like it.
I just read an article about the "zip" merge which is the law in Germany. People coming on the freeway via the on-ramp go full bore, folks already on the freeway make a hole - it's the law and I like it.
The "zip" merge on an on-ramp under Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) would likely fall under Part 2, Section C, the Preamble or "Anti-Barging Rule."
Barging is the most common infraction in sailing.
We've all seen this: a boat coming down from windward at the start, with no rights, trying to make a hole for itself between boats to leeward and the start boat, when there is no room.
But the Preamble of Part 2, Section C, of the RRS makes it clear: Sorry, no sea room or mark rounding room at a start mark.
If there's not room, better not chance it, or you forfeit all rights.
The need for this Preamble is clear. You can't stick your boat in there if there isn't room at the start (barging). A leeward boat can luff a barging boat on the wrong side of the start boat if she wishes. After the start, the leeward boat only has to sail "proper course."
I learned this at young age. We were coming up for a perfect start at the starboard end of the line. To windward, Star # 3850, NHYCUSA, World's Champ Bill Ficker was barging in. Ficker, the 1970 winning America's Cup skipper on the 12 meter INTREPID ("Ficker is Quicker" bumperstickers), says in an even voice, "Skip, gotta let me in, I have an "absolute."
I picked my brain and was flummoxed just long enough by my lack of knowledge of the "absolute" rule to allow Ficker to get through the hole I grudgingly created. Naturally, Bill took advantage, and sailed away to a clear win.
After the race, I asked Ficker what the "absolute" rule was. He says, again in his steady, even tone, "why Skip, I had absolutely no rights."
Blackaller, another competitor, is listening nearby, and starts cackling so hard he almost fell down.
I remembered that lesson.
Barging is the most common infraction in sailing.
We've all seen this: a boat coming down from windward at the start, with no rights, trying to make a hole for itself between boats to leeward and the start boat, when there is no room.
But the Preamble of Part 2, Section C, of the RRS makes it clear: Sorry, no sea room or mark rounding room at a start mark.
If there's not room, better not chance it, or you forfeit all rights.
The need for this Preamble is clear. You can't stick your boat in there if there isn't room at the start (barging). A leeward boat can luff a barging boat on the wrong side of the start boat if she wishes. After the start, the leeward boat only has to sail "proper course."
I learned this at young age. We were coming up for a perfect start at the starboard end of the line. To windward, Star # 3850, NHYCUSA, World's Champ Bill Ficker was barging in. Ficker, the 1970 winning America's Cup skipper on the 12 meter INTREPID ("Ficker is Quicker" bumperstickers), says in an even voice, "Skip, gotta let me in, I have an "absolute."
I picked my brain and was flummoxed just long enough by my lack of knowledge of the "absolute" rule to allow Ficker to get through the hole I grudgingly created. Naturally, Bill took advantage, and sailed away to a clear win.
After the race, I asked Ficker what the "absolute" rule was. He says, again in his steady, even tone, "why Skip, I had absolutely no rights."
Blackaller, another competitor, is listening nearby, and starts cackling so hard he almost fell down.
I remembered that lesson.
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A good tropical weather refresher course is happening. Remnants of Tropical Storm Guillermo are passing over Kauai this morning, bringing high surf warnings to East facing shorelines, and gusty winds from around the clock.
Several Transpac competitors, enjoying Hanalei, report being "puckered," until Guillermo, now downgraded to a "Post-Tropical Cyclone" by the National Hurricane Center, passes by this morning. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/?epac
Tropicals can influence a summer passage to Hawaii. 6-7 days behind and east of Guillermo is TS Hilda, following a similar path as Guillermo,. Hilda is also forecast to curve NW and pass north of the Hawaiian Archipelago.
Normally, Tropicals pass south of the Hawaiian Archipelago, between 15 and 20 degrees north latitude.
But not always.
In 1965, 40 knot winds from Tropical Storm Bernice blew TICONDEROGA's 34' spinnaker pole off the mast and through the mainsail like a giant arrow. Nearby, STORMVOGEL's boom dipped and broke. Both boats made jury repairs and raced neck and neck down Molokai Channel, "Big TI" setting a new Transpac elapsed time record.
In 1978, a Tropical Depression overran the SHTP fleet, bringing 48 hours of squalls, rain, and wind. This weather was generated by ex-hurricane Carlotta. Several SHTP competitors, using celestial navigation, were unable to find Kauai in the cloud cover, and sailed off into the sunset, west of Hawaii, only to later discover their error.
In 1990, both Tropical Depression Darby and Estelle passed north, and close enough to Kauai to swing the normal NE tradewinds into the south, then west. Using Estelle's wind shift, we sailed ROXANNE downwind from Hanalei on Kauai, to Kaneohe Bay, on Oahu, usually a thrash to windward across the Kauai Channel.
In 2006, the approach of Hurricane Daniel had Pacific Cup finishers clean out all the anchors and chain at Honolulu's West Marine and marine chandleries.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Daniel_(2006)
Kauai has one of four NWS weather radars in Hawaii. Good returns on approaching squalls from the north and east, and the passage of Guillermo, can be found here:
http://www.kitv.com/weather/radar
A fun place to watch weather changes and passing squalls live at the entrance to Hanalei Bay is here.
http://hdontap.com/index.php/video
Several Transpac competitors, enjoying Hanalei, report being "puckered," until Guillermo, now downgraded to a "Post-Tropical Cyclone" by the National Hurricane Center, passes by this morning. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/?epac
Tropicals can influence a summer passage to Hawaii. 6-7 days behind and east of Guillermo is TS Hilda, following a similar path as Guillermo,. Hilda is also forecast to curve NW and pass north of the Hawaiian Archipelago.
Normally, Tropicals pass south of the Hawaiian Archipelago, between 15 and 20 degrees north latitude.
But not always.
In 1965, 40 knot winds from Tropical Storm Bernice blew TICONDEROGA's 34' spinnaker pole off the mast and through the mainsail like a giant arrow. Nearby, STORMVOGEL's boom dipped and broke. Both boats made jury repairs and raced neck and neck down Molokai Channel, "Big TI" setting a new Transpac elapsed time record.
In 1978, a Tropical Depression overran the SHTP fleet, bringing 48 hours of squalls, rain, and wind. This weather was generated by ex-hurricane Carlotta. Several SHTP competitors, using celestial navigation, were unable to find Kauai in the cloud cover, and sailed off into the sunset, west of Hawaii, only to later discover their error.
In 1990, both Tropical Depression Darby and Estelle passed north, and close enough to Kauai to swing the normal NE tradewinds into the south, then west. Using Estelle's wind shift, we sailed ROXANNE downwind from Hanalei on Kauai, to Kaneohe Bay, on Oahu, usually a thrash to windward across the Kauai Channel.
In 2006, the approach of Hurricane Daniel had Pacific Cup finishers clean out all the anchors and chain at Honolulu's West Marine and marine chandleries.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Daniel_(2006)
Kauai has one of four NWS weather radars in Hawaii. Good returns on approaching squalls from the north and east, and the passage of Guillermo, can be found here:
http://www.kitv.com/weather/radar
A fun place to watch weather changes and passing squalls live at the entrance to Hanalei Bay is here.
http://hdontap.com/index.php/video
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Thanks to red roo of Boston for reminding us today, August 7, is National Lighthouse Day, "a legit holiday as opposed to one fabricated by greeting card companies."
The first lighthouse built in the United States was Boston Light, built on Little Brewster Island in 1716. Boston Light was destroyed during the Revolutionary War, rebuilt in 1783, and still stands today.
It was on this day in 1789, that the new Congress approved an Act for the "establishment and support of lighthouses, beacons, buoys and public piers, to be payable from the Treasury" of the newly formed USA.
In Celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the signing of this Act and the commissioning of the first Federal lighthouse, Congress passed a resolution which designated August 7, as National Lighthouse Day.
A recent visit to the Pt. Reyes Lighthouse, and interior tour of its 1st Order Fresnel Lens, reminded me what vital and wonderful structures lighthouses are. Lighthouses never cease to bring smiles and wonderment to young and old alike.
Pt. Reyes, like many lighthouses, was created in a hostile environment. Point Reyes is, by official records, the windiest and foggiest point on the Pacific Coast. On the approach walk, and down 308 steps, (the keepers hiked this daily) the old cypress trees were bent at 45 degrees to the southeast. Windy? You betcha.
2,000 miles to the southwest, Kilauea Light, flashing 10 sec., 174', 23 mi. viz, is usually the first sign of land for Singlehanded TransPac racers closing on Kauai in the dark.
Kilauea Light, on its narrow peninsula, is a wonderful place for SHTP racers to make post race pilgrimage. The Lighthouse, built in 1911-1912, was constructed from materials hoisted by a small derrick from a barge below. There was no landing or roads available.
On June 28, 1927, five weeks after Lindbergh's celebrated Atlantic Crossing, US Army Air Corp pilot Lester Maitland and navigator Albert Hegenberger left Oakland Airport in an attempt to make the first transpacific flight from the Mainland to Hawaii. Their Fokker C-2 trimotor, nicknamed "Bird of Paradise," early on lost use not only of its compass, but radio direction finder. Hegenberger continued to navigate by DR and celestial, as well as peering out a hatch in the plane's belly, attempting to estimate drift by observing white caps below.
After 23 hours, and an hour before dawn, Hegenberger's star sights showed "Bird of Paradise" to be north of their planned Great Circle course. A deviation of only 3 degrees off course would have them flying off the face of the Earth. They turned south, and fortunately, in the pre-dawn darkness, spotted Kīlauea Light, verified their position, and turned for Honolulu, completing their historic flight at Wheeler Field in 26 hours. An outstanding endurance and navigational feat.
Three Cheers for Lighthouses.
The first lighthouse built in the United States was Boston Light, built on Little Brewster Island in 1716. Boston Light was destroyed during the Revolutionary War, rebuilt in 1783, and still stands today.
It was on this day in 1789, that the new Congress approved an Act for the "establishment and support of lighthouses, beacons, buoys and public piers, to be payable from the Treasury" of the newly formed USA.
In Celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the signing of this Act and the commissioning of the first Federal lighthouse, Congress passed a resolution which designated August 7, as National Lighthouse Day.
A recent visit to the Pt. Reyes Lighthouse, and interior tour of its 1st Order Fresnel Lens, reminded me what vital and wonderful structures lighthouses are. Lighthouses never cease to bring smiles and wonderment to young and old alike.
Pt. Reyes, like many lighthouses, was created in a hostile environment. Point Reyes is, by official records, the windiest and foggiest point on the Pacific Coast. On the approach walk, and down 308 steps, (the keepers hiked this daily) the old cypress trees were bent at 45 degrees to the southeast. Windy? You betcha.
2,000 miles to the southwest, Kilauea Light, flashing 10 sec., 174', 23 mi. viz, is usually the first sign of land for Singlehanded TransPac racers closing on Kauai in the dark.
Kilauea Light, on its narrow peninsula, is a wonderful place for SHTP racers to make post race pilgrimage. The Lighthouse, built in 1911-1912, was constructed from materials hoisted by a small derrick from a barge below. There was no landing or roads available.
On June 28, 1927, five weeks after Lindbergh's celebrated Atlantic Crossing, US Army Air Corp pilot Lester Maitland and navigator Albert Hegenberger left Oakland Airport in an attempt to make the first transpacific flight from the Mainland to Hawaii. Their Fokker C-2 trimotor, nicknamed "Bird of Paradise," early on lost use not only of its compass, but radio direction finder. Hegenberger continued to navigate by DR and celestial, as well as peering out a hatch in the plane's belly, attempting to estimate drift by observing white caps below.
After 23 hours, and an hour before dawn, Hegenberger's star sights showed "Bird of Paradise" to be north of their planned Great Circle course. A deviation of only 3 degrees off course would have them flying off the face of the Earth. They turned south, and fortunately, in the pre-dawn darkness, spotted Kīlauea Light, verified their position, and turned for Honolulu, completing their historic flight at Wheeler Field in 26 hours. An outstanding endurance and navigational feat.
Three Cheers for Lighthouses.
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Am I imagining things, or didn't you have "an incident" back in the 60s at another rotary in Massachusetts?
Apparently, you can run, but can't hide. 47 years is a considerable time to be a fugitive from justice:
In 1968, after a visit to the historical seaport of Gloucester, MA, I was driving west during morning rush hour. I came to a rotary with numerous spokes and no street signs. As my street map was unclear, I cautiously entered the round-about.
A large and stern looking police lady, with an orange vest, was standing on a ladder in the middle of the rotary, directing traffic by all manner of hand signals and loud toots on her whistle.
In the rotary, I was mystified by the choice of exits and the lady's hand signals. The police lady loudly blew her whistle and stopped all traffic. She carefully descended her ladder, walked into the roadway, noticed my CA plates, walked to the driver's window and said,
"You're in big trouble. Pull over to the side and wait. I'll deal with you when I'm finished."
I did as instructed, and the police lady reascended her ladder. I waited 15 minutes, watching the traffic circus going on around me. My mind considered possibilities.
I settled on a plan. When the police lady was distracted and her back turned, I put my car in 1st, headed full speed for the nearest exit, and didn't look back.
I haven't been back to Gloucester since, but can still hear the shrill whistle blowing loudly in rebuke.
These days I'm practicing my dinghy starts and port mark roundings in less stressful environs: taking my mini-van around Santa Cruz's smallest round-about, in a quiet neighborhood, at the intersection of Fairmont and Pacheco."
"Skip, Do you remember Walter Podilack in similar situations? He just blatantly yelled "bigger boat" to almost anyone intrepid enough to race near him. Your thought process before acting was clear, you could be right or you could be hit."
Walter Podalak had a very fast 8 meter, 1932 Olympic Gold medal winner ANGELITA. ANGELITA was about twice the speed of any other boat in the Bay. Podalak was a bully at the starts, but had good reason. ANGELITA was fast, had a lot of momentum, a sharp bow, and Podalak's loud voice. Not everyone appreciated these facts, and ANGELITA was involved in numerous starting protests.
Podalak figured if a 8 meter was good, a 10 meter was better. He bought the beautiful, light green 10 meter COQUILLE.
Podalak's aggressive starting earned him unflattering mention in the Sailor's Bible, Royce's Sailing Illustrated, as well as the position of starting helmsman on the first West Coast America's Cup challenge, the 12 meter COLUMBIA, in 1964.
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The power and beauty of a breaking wave never ceases to amaze.
https://vimeo.com/35328567
https://vimeo.com/35328567
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Sailing back to the Mainland from Hawaii is not for everybody, nor every boat. The passage can be long, upwind for a significant portion, and a test of hull, rigging, sails and crew.
Nevertheless, the sail home can bring great joy, an experience found no where else, just you, the boat, and a pretty big ocean.
One of the pleasures of the Passage East (apologies to Carleton Mitchell) is the dark night sky, untouched by light pollution, and filled with a myriad of stars, planets, constellations, the Milky Way, and ever changing moon.
A feature of the night sky in August is the dependable Perseid Meteor Shower. Although not a "shower" in the typical sense, meteors from the cosmic dust of the tail of Comet Swift/Tuttle streak overhead and burn up in Earth's atmosphere, often enough that an average of one/minute can be seen.
I wrote about the Perseids 8/11/2013 http://sfbaysss.org/forum/showthread.php?655-New-Boat-4-Sled/page53
This week is again prime viewing for the Perseids.
Sunday we set sail in the mini-van for the darkest place within 2 hours of Santa Cruz. And dropped anchor at off-the-beaten track and historic Mercey Hot Springs in the Panoche, 40 miles southeast of Hollister. http://www.merceyhotsprings.com/
Mercey is reliably clear, dry, with low humidity. The pool was perfect for cooling off, as was the afternoon NW breeze. The sunset was orange, pink, and red, and the stars in the night sky looked close enough to touch.
Daytime temps were high 80's, nighttime high 60's. .
At 2:30 a.m. I awoke for my Perseid watch. The 23% waning moon had not yet risen. Meteors, some big and bright, some faint, were criss-crossing the celestial highway of the Milky Way. I positioned my reclining chair facing NE, in the direction of the constellation Perseus.
Perseus is just to the right of the constellation Cassiopeia with its unmistakeable sideways "W." And just left of the 6 individual starlets making up the small but luminous, "hot" silver and blue cloud of the Pleiades.
The Pleiades, or "7 Sisters," are daughters of the ancient Greek sea-going nymphet Pleione. The Pleiades, whose name in ancient Greek is likely derived from "plein", meaning "to sail," lies in constellation Taurus the Bull. Farther down in Taurus is the 14th brightest star in the sky, the very orange Aldebaran.
I settled in for the show.
Just like sailing home from Hawaii.
Except for the crying of the coyotes as the Tigger Moon rose across the Valley.
Nevertheless, the sail home can bring great joy, an experience found no where else, just you, the boat, and a pretty big ocean.
One of the pleasures of the Passage East (apologies to Carleton Mitchell) is the dark night sky, untouched by light pollution, and filled with a myriad of stars, planets, constellations, the Milky Way, and ever changing moon.
A feature of the night sky in August is the dependable Perseid Meteor Shower. Although not a "shower" in the typical sense, meteors from the cosmic dust of the tail of Comet Swift/Tuttle streak overhead and burn up in Earth's atmosphere, often enough that an average of one/minute can be seen.
I wrote about the Perseids 8/11/2013 http://sfbaysss.org/forum/showthread.php?655-New-Boat-4-Sled/page53
This week is again prime viewing for the Perseids.
Sunday we set sail in the mini-van for the darkest place within 2 hours of Santa Cruz. And dropped anchor at off-the-beaten track and historic Mercey Hot Springs in the Panoche, 40 miles southeast of Hollister. http://www.merceyhotsprings.com/
Mercey is reliably clear, dry, with low humidity. The pool was perfect for cooling off, as was the afternoon NW breeze. The sunset was orange, pink, and red, and the stars in the night sky looked close enough to touch.
Daytime temps were high 80's, nighttime high 60's. .
At 2:30 a.m. I awoke for my Perseid watch. The 23% waning moon had not yet risen. Meteors, some big and bright, some faint, were criss-crossing the celestial highway of the Milky Way. I positioned my reclining chair facing NE, in the direction of the constellation Perseus.
Perseus is just to the right of the constellation Cassiopeia with its unmistakeable sideways "W." And just left of the 6 individual starlets making up the small but luminous, "hot" silver and blue cloud of the Pleiades.
The Pleiades, or "7 Sisters," are daughters of the ancient Greek sea-going nymphet Pleione. The Pleiades, whose name in ancient Greek is likely derived from "plein", meaning "to sail," lies in constellation Taurus the Bull. Farther down in Taurus is the 14th brightest star in the sky, the very orange Aldebaran.
I settled in for the show.
Just like sailing home from Hawaii.
Except for the crying of the coyotes as the Tigger Moon rose across the Valley.
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hodgmo
Still Floating
I’m moved to miss the blue-ocean sky, beautiful!
Speaking of HI returns, Ronnie Simpson and Adrian Johnson are crew on a delivery of Varuna, a well found Transpac boat, from Honolulu to SF. (I missed the trip due to an encounter with coral…) You can track them at:
http://yb.tl/oceancleanup
Ocean Cleanup is an interesting stab at understanding the pollution (plastics) in the Pacific gyre. The plan was that Varuna was among the fleet to drag a sieve along the surface for 1 hr per sample (a few samples a day), and then refrigerate the sample. The sieve can’t be dragged at more than 5 kts. The Ocean Cleanup project is a Dutch one with funding from a myriad of sources.
Varuna departed Honolulu the afternoon of 1 Aug. As of 1700 PDT today, their location was ~N37-31 W138-11 headed for home at 8.4 kts.
Speaking of HI returns, Ronnie Simpson and Adrian Johnson are crew on a delivery of Varuna, a well found Transpac boat, from Honolulu to SF. (I missed the trip due to an encounter with coral…) You can track them at:
http://yb.tl/oceancleanup
Ocean Cleanup is an interesting stab at understanding the pollution (plastics) in the Pacific gyre. The plan was that Varuna was among the fleet to drag a sieve along the surface for 1 hr per sample (a few samples a day), and then refrigerate the sample. The sieve can’t be dragged at more than 5 kts. The Ocean Cleanup project is a Dutch one with funding from a myriad of sources.
Varuna departed Honolulu the afternoon of 1 Aug. As of 1700 PDT today, their location was ~N37-31 W138-11 headed for home at 8.4 kts.