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What I Saw

Philpott

Philpott

Cal 2-27 Dura Mater
Wednesday night and I was in Monterey watching the sunset series/ beer can race. Del Monte Beach was lined with people doing the same thing: they brought picnics and sat in their cars or on the beach, on benches and tables, and they watched the pretty boats follow that almost incomprehensible movement that we call sailboat racing. I counted at least twenty boats, many of them Shields. What a pretty boat! I'll bet they are wet! There were some J boats, and Santanas, a couple of Cals. It was a good turnout. At the end of the night I watched from the wharf as they came in just after sunset. Nice, crinkly sails and happy crews. It looked like fun.
 
Hmm. Sounds like you need a trailer....sitting on the sidelines works for only the first couple of times, ya know!
 
Dura Mater made friends on Monterey Bay yesterday. Dozens and dozens of friends.
 

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Thank you to Nathalie, who got me a ride with Nathan and Tom on Crispin's Figaro, HOT SOCKS! Wow. It knocked my socks off. SO fun!

Oh Lord, won't you buy me a used Figaro?
My friends all sail fast boats
But my boat goes slow
A friend fixed my headsail but still I sail slow
Oh Lord, won't you buy me a used Figaro?
 

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You are very welcome! I hope to see you on Envolee soon too!

and yes I think many more people should get Figaros...



Philpott said:
Thank you to Nathalie, who got me a ride with Nathan and Tom on Crispin's Figaro, HOT SOCKS! Wow. It knocked my socks off. SO fun!

Oh Lord, won't you buy me a used Figaro?
My friends all sail fast boats
But my boat goes slow
A friend fixed my headsail but still I sail slow
Oh Lord, won't you buy me a used Figaro?
Click to expand...
 
Now that I'm looking at these photos again, I wonder about the purpose of the blue hoses affixed to the mid starboard stanchion. Deck fills or vents of some sort?
 
Lanikai said:
Now that I'm looking at these photos again, I wonder about the purpose of the blue hoses affixed to the mid starboard stanchion. Deck fills or vents of some sort?
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Eh? I didn't know Figaro I's had water ballast.

Those look like air vent pipes for a water ballast tank, to me.
 
Hey, Greg! Posting your progress toward the Transpac (and beyond!) in one place here (Nightmare's Saga) is a great idea. I know that I always look at it because I learn from it. What have I learned this week? That Greg has lots of skills. We can all aspire to knowing how to fabricate strong stainless steel brackets. Yeah. Or we can go pay Chris at Svendsen's metalworks. ;-)

Anyway, this is my location for asking ridiculous questions on behalf of Dura Mater. I will also post photos of ridiculous results. There is no false pride in this thread.

I'm going down to the Berkeley Marina to climb DM's mast in order to ... see what's up there again. Last time I ascended the hyperventilation caused me to descend as soon as I had retrieved that topping lift shackle (only part of the way to the top!!!). This time I go all the way. I have my nice new mast climber (ebay) and static line (Todd Olsen). While I'm up there ... um ... what am I looking for? Obviously I make sure nothing is broken or twisted or falling off. Including me. My deck light isn't working, so before I go up I'll check the fuse, but I guess I'll take up a screwdriver, too. And an appropriate bulb, come to think of it. Which is the only non led light on the boat - a halogen. Nice and bright when I needed it in Half Moon Bay last year. Any more advice, folks?
 
Just the reminder to tie proper knots when going aloft (like for the main halyard to the static line). Do not rely on a shackle.
.
 
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BobJ said:
Just the reminder to tie proper knots when going aloft (like for the main halyard to the static line). No not rely on a shackle.
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Bowline to bowline. Check. Also, use that extra halyard. Check. Hmmm. This might be a task best approached slowly. After a cuppa tea. And some chocolate.
 

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Good on ya, Jackie. I have yet to climb to the top of my 55' mast. Things sway a lot up there! Just FYI - a bowline is not a proper knot for climbing. Use a double figure 8 and then an overhand tie for the bitter end. The figure 8 is easier to untie even after it has been weighted, and it won't slip, which I've heard can happen with the bowline knot for climbing.

http://www.animatedknots.com/fig8follow/#ScrollPoint
 
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Gamayun said:
Good on ya, Jackie. I have yet to climb to the top of my 55' mast. Things sway a lot up there! Just FYI - a bowline is not a proper knot for climbing. Use a double figure 8 and then an overhand tie for the bitter end. The figure 8 is easier to untie even after it has been weighted, and it won't slip, which I've heard can happen with the bowline knot for climbing.

http://www.animatedknots.com/fig8follow/#ScrollPoint
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it sways a lot and it bends a lot. Ha ha. When I get to the top of my mast, a measly 45 feet above the water, I can feel the boat gently rock and when she does the mast bends a bit, well with my 200 pounds maybe more than a bit. Anyway, it is disconcerting, that's for sure.I don't envy your extra 10 feet. Not at all.
 
I liked this guy's articles and videos of going aloft. http://l-36.com/unassisted_mast_climbing.php

I went out a bunch of climbing gear based on this guys recommendations but I found that no matter how well tied in I am I can't stop myself from clinging to the mast with a death grip. That's not particularly conducive to getting anything done up there.
 
Try an unstayed carbon Wyliecat 30 mast. You're 6 feet away from the truck at the top, hanging out over the gunnel. Not only boat sway, mast sway. ;-0
 
mike cunningham said:
it sways a lot and it bends a lot. Ha ha. When I get to the top of my mast, a measly 45 feet above the water, I can feel the boat gently rock and when she does the mast bends a bit, well with my 200 pounds maybe more than a bit. Anyway, it is disconcerting, that's for sure.I don't envy your extra 10 feet. Not at all.
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Wylieguy said:
Try an unstayed carbon Wyliecat 30 mast. You're 6 feet away from the truck at the top, hanging out over the gunnel. Not only boat sway, mast sway. ;-0
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Mmm, great. Thanks, guys. Now I'm really looking forward to it...

Jackie, just let me know if you'd like to go up my mast and I'll haul you up with the winch. You'll forever have no problems climbing Dura Mater ;)
 
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