[Alberg30] Dinghy Towing

[Bob]

>> Any body got any notions about how long the painter (line) should be 
>> that
> is
>> connected to a dinghy in tow behind an Alberg 30?

I didn't see any advice that said do NOT tow the dinghy. I agree that in 
protected areas it is ok to tow the dinghy but there are conditions 
where the dinghy should not be towed. We used to tow a rigid dinghy 
(Dyer Dowh (sp?)) One problem we had with it occurred when water came up 
through the centerboard trunk in rough seas and filled the dinghy. We 
then learned how to heave to and empty the dinghy from the stern of the 
Alberg. (We also started to tape the centerboard trunk to prevent it 
from happening in the first place.)

The second time was more serious. We made the mistake of towing the 
dinghy on an off-shore hop from Provencetown to Maine, We had done it 
previously with no problems, but on this occasion the following seas 
built up until the dinghy, on a 40 foot painter, was surfing down seas 
and trying to pass the Alberg. We lengthened the painter to 70 feet and 
about ten minutes later the dinghy swamped, dropping our speed to 2 kts. 
With the swamped dinghy holding the stern into the wind we could not 
turn to rescue the dinghy or steer at all. If we bouyed the painter 
before cutting it loose it might have been possible to go back, find the 
dinghy, empty it out and start to tow it again, but even if we could 
have done that, we figured that the dinghy would swamp again. This 
happened with just the two of us on board, at midnight, on a moonless 
night, 50 nm offshore. We elected to cut the dinghy loose and not try to 
rescue it. We called the Coast Guard so that, if the dinghy was found, 
nobody would worry that someone had been in the dinghy and start a 
rescue operation. The next year we bought an Avon Redcrest which we 
deflate across the cabin top and lash between the handrails.

Bob Johns, Wind Ccll #397

 //===============================================================//
         Cruising the Chesapeake: A Gunkholer's Guide

  My favorite Chesapeake Bay guidebook. While it mentions marinas,
  it concentrates on anchorages--the kind of places I prefer to spend
  my time. And in addition to listing shore facilities, it rates each
  location for Beauty/Interest and Protection. This is the guide you
  need to really cruise the Chesapeake Bay--a smorgasbord of small
  creeks and coves.

   http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0071363718/alberg30-20
 //===============================================================//

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