[Public-List] First time at the Syronelle

Gordon Laco mainstay at csolve.net
Tue Jun 24 08:59:32 PDT 2014 

Ah - so you're keeping her in Georgian Bay after all!!!!

Great news Dominic.  I'll look forward to seeing you on the water, to
sharing anchorages and perhaps racing.

Gord



On 24/06/14 11:57 AM, "Dominic Amann" <dominic.amann at gmail.com> wrote:

> On a side-note, I have installed my electric motor and controller,
installed a
> battery. I would have launched, but the storm shut us down (the
Angus Tornado
> touched down as we were driving past Barrie). I hope to
launch this coming
> weekend at Dutchman's cove, so there will soon be
another A30 near to you in
> Midland.


On Tue, Jun 24, 2014 at 11:29 AM, Gordon Laco <mainstay at csolve.net>
> wrote:

> There is a very good article about seamanship in WoodenBoat magazine
> about
> just what you're talking about, Dominic.
>
> Here's the link:
> http://www.woodenboat.com/lessons-bounty
>
> I sit on the board of Tall Ships
> America - as seamen this article struck
> chords with all of us.
>
>
> Gord
>
>
>
>
> On 24/06/14 11:24 AM, "Dominic Amann" <dominic.amann at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Your story was very instructive. It fits with my own experience
> and a
> general
> > theory of mastery. There are three stages along the
> growing mastery
> root with
> > respect to accidents.
>
> 1. Learning -
> competency is low, but attention is very
> > high, so accidents
> do occur,
> but not as often as one might think.
>
> 2.
> > Competent - one has become
> confident, the basics are all known,
> attention
> > starts to drift,
> accidents happen.
>
> 3. Mastery - along with the basic
> > competence, one
> has had a minor mishap or
> two, and has learned "constant
> > vigilance".
>
>
> Of course, tiredness can cause accidents even in stage
> > 3.
>
> Personally,
> I am more nervous as a passenger with drivers who have
> > never
> had an
> accident - and especially with those who think they are very
> > good
>
> drivers.
>
>
>
> On Tue, Jun 24, 2014 at 11:19 AM, Gordon Laco
> >
> <mainstay at csolve.net> wrote:
>
> > Hello Eric -
> >
> > Where do you sail
> Dimanche
> > Matin?
> >
> > Gord #426
> > (I really want to try to instigate
> A30 racing here at
> > home now...)
> >
> >
> > On 24/06/14 11:16 AM, "Eric
> Chavigny"
> > <eric.chavigny at hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Hi folks,
> > >
> >
> > Thanks for the
> > story. i can only imagine how stressfull it was.  I
> just
> > bough
> > > A30
> > Dimanche Matin hull number 541 and we got the
> mast up last weekend.
> >  As it
> >
> > > is my firts boat I was quit
> nervous.
> > >
> > > I will take your advise in
> > checking more then twice
> the knots and having
> > the
> > > mind clear before
> > undergoing such
> task
> > >
> > > Eric
> > >
> > >
> > >  A30 Dimanche Matin
> > > #541
> >
> >
> >
> > >
> > >> On Jun 24, 2014, at 11:07, "Gordon Laco"
> <mainstay at csolve.net>
> > wrote:
> > >>
> > >> Thanks Mike - so I have to come
> to Annapolis to hear your
> > story?
> >  That's not
> > >> so subtle
> coercion!
> > >>
> > >> We'll try to make it
> > happen.
> > >>
> > >> G
> >
> >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> On 24/06/14 10:58 AM, "Meinhold, Mike
> > J." <
> >
> MICHAEL.J.MEINHOLD at leidos.com>
> > >> wrote:
> > >>
> > >>> Gord
> > >>>
> >
> Thanks for sharing the story and your self-analysis. That's a benefit
> > to
>
> > us
> > >>> all. That's an awful thing to experience, especially imagining
> how
> > much
> > >>> worse
> > >>> it could be. (If you don't know my parallel
> story I
> > will tell you next
> > year
> > >>> with a rum in my hand)
> >
> >>>
> > >>> I replaced
> > my spreader "roots" or tangs and can provide them
> to you for
> > >>> models
> >
> > >>> if that helps.
> > >>>
> > >>> I had a
> great time at the Syronelle and enjoyed
> > sailing against
> > Surprise and
>
> > >>> socializing with her skipper and crew
> >
> > >>>
> > >>> Mike
> > >>>
> Rinn Duin 272
> > >>>
> > >>> Michael J. Meinhold
> > >>>
> > Senior Naval
> Architect, Leidos, Inc.
> > >>> 4321 Collington Road, Bowie, MD
> > 21076
> >
> >>> michael.j.meinhold at leidos.com
> > >>> 301 352 4734 office  240 350
> >
> 6974 cell
> > >>>
> > >>> ----- Original Message -----
> > >>> From: Gordon
> Laco
> > [mailto:mainstay at csolve.net]
> > >>> Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2014
> 09:38 AM
> > >>>
> > To: Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all <
> >
> public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
> >
> > >>> Subject: Re: [Public-List] First
> time at the Syronelle
> > >>>
> > >>> It's my
> > own club! I think I'll make
> an opportunity to go and talk to
> > them
> > >>>
> > directly.  A friend
> doing his term on the board was present so I reckon
> > >>>
> > there will be
> something official too.   I can't order a flogging
> > alas...
> >
> > >>>
> >
> >>> I'll say again - the racing was great and it was wonderful to see
> >
> some
> > of
> > >>> you folks.
> > >>>
> > >>> Gord
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
>
> > >>>
> > >>>> On
> > 24/06/14 9:33 AM, "John Birch" <Sunstone at cogeco.ca>
> wrote:
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Sorry
> > to read you were so shabbily treated by a
> few inconsiderates.
> > Suggest
> > >>>>
> > you write their Club Board.
> >
> >>>>
> > >>>> Touching someone else's mast - 6
> > dozen of your best boson,
> and lay
> > into it
> > >>>> man.
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > -----
> Original Message -----
> > >>>> From: "Gordon Laco"
> >
> <mainstay at csolve.net>
> > >>>> To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" <
>
> >
> > public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
> > >>>> Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2014
> 9:16 AM
> >
> > >>>> Subject: [Public-List] First time at the Syronelle
> >
> >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > Hello friends -
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Well our first
> participation in an Alberg 30
> > regatta is behind us.
> > >>>> Surprise
> >
> >>>> is home at her jetty at Midland
> > Bay Sailing Club now (not quite
> >
> safely but
> > >>>> more of that later).
> >
> > >>>>
> > >>>> First, let me
> say on behalf of my crew Clint Nielsen (with the
> > Viking
> > >>>> tattoo
>
> > >>>> on his arm)  Steve Parm (who can almost reach the
> > spreaders
> without
> > strain)
> > >>>> and Peter Laco (my eldest son) that we all
> >
> enjoyed ourselves
> > immensely.
> > >>>> We
> > >>>> had no idea how we¹d
> measure
> > up as a racing crew in a One Design
> > fleet...
> > >>>> We¹ve
> done well racing
> > PHRF here but we¹d never been up against an
> > Alberg
>
> > >>>> 30
> > >>>> in
> > fighting trim, let along a mob of them.
> > >>>>
> >
> >>>> It was great to see
> > other boats Olike us¹.   Alberg 30¹s are quite
>
> > capable,
> > >>>> shippy
> > looking sailing vessels; the way sailing yachts
> should look.
> >  We
> > >>>>
> > kept
> > >>>> saying to each other when on
> various points of sail ³wow, I
> > guess
> > that¹s
> > >>>> what we look
> like².  This reminded me of my brother in
> > law¹s comment
> > after
> > >>>>
> visiting Holland, homeland of his parents:
> > ³everybody looked like me;
> >
> tall,
> > >>>> awkward with receding
> > hairlines....²
> > >>>>
> > >>>> The
> moments before the first race on Saturday
> > morning were filled
> > with a
>
> > >>>> degree of tension... I had no idea how it
> > would go.  We finished
>
> > fourth but
> > >>>> were starting to calm down and do
> > what we do.  When
> we got to the
> > start
> > >>>> sequence for the second race,
> > we¹d
> designated JAZZ as our target to
> > beat
> > >>>> and
> > >>>> set
> ourselves
> > to start aggressively with her.  The action in the last
> > >>>>
> moments was
> > every bit as exciting as anything I¹ve ever experienced.
> >
> It¹s
> > >>>> great
> > when crossing swords with an expert ­ you can both
> trust each
> > other
> > >>>>
> > not to do something un-ethical or
> dangerous... So you can push.  An
> > >>>>
> > opportunity appeared in the
> last seconds and we started in a very good
> > >>>>
> > position.  we managed
> to stride away from the others but with JAZZ in
> >
> > close
> > >>>> combat
> all the way around the course... But she nipped us with
> >
> > apparent
> >
> >>>> ease
> > >>>> during the run to the finish.  Second in that race
> > was
> our best
> > finish.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> The rest of the races were in lighter
>
> > air, some with a chop that I
> > was used
> > >>>> to during the days we
> lived and
> > raced in Toronto, but I guess I¹d
> > lost the
> > >>>> knack of
> dealing with.  We
> > had difficulty keeping SURPRISE moving and
> > my
> >
> >>>> attempts at casting the
> > dice didn¹t pan out.  We were very pleased
>
> > that our
> > >>>> worst race, third
> > on Saturday I think, was also one of
> SAM¹s best, so
> > our
> > >>>> team mate
> > dragged us up enough that we
> finished fourth overall in the
> > final
> > >>>>
> > reckoning.
> > >>>>
> >
> >>>> Somebody asked me Owhat happened to you guys¹ after
> > the first day ­
>
> > all I
> > >>>> can say is the chop in the very light air was
> > difficult
> for me and I
> > think
> > >>>> I
> > >>>> became frustrated and wasn¹t
> >
> making good decisions with regard to
> > tactics.
> > >>>> During our best
> race,
> > aside from still being optimistic, there was
> > enough
> > >>>> air
> that we were
> > sailing in the area of 4.5 to to 4.7 knots most of
> > the
>
> > >>>> time
> > >>>> we
> > had enough air to keep SURPRISE trudging along and
> we were able to
> > keep
> >
> > >>>> up.  A skipper I sailed for and learned
> a lot from once told me
> > Olight
> > air
> > >>>> sailing is what really
> separates the good from the not so good
> > racing
> > >>>> skippers...¹
> >
> >>>>
> > >>>> It was a great experience.  I told my
> > wife when I got home
> yesterday
> > that
> > >>>> the regatta combined the two
> > elements that
> make yacht racing
> > fantastic.  We
> > >>>> had great battles out
> > on the
> water; with good sportsmanship... And
> > >>>> comradeship and
> > cooperation
> in the evenings.   I learned a lot and
> > with
> > >>>> luck, may be
> > a
> more consistent threat to the leaders next time.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> So Sunday
>
> > afternoon came.  With John Kitchener¹s and other¹s help we
> > >>>>
> lowered
> >
> > >>>> the mast onto SURPRISE¹s deck and motored away to the
> commercial
> > marina
> > for
> > >>>> hauling out Monday morning.  On the way
> across Toronto Bay we
> > crossed
> > paths
> > >>>> with an Alberg 30 named
> MADRIGAL III which I recall
> > racing against
> > when I
> > >>>> crewed in
> SURYA, an A30 which won the Syronelle
> > when I was a boy back
> > in
> >
> >>>> the
> > >>>> early O70¹s.  I thoroughly
> > approved of her colour scheme
> and told her
> > >>>> skipper, who turns out to
> > have owned her since she
> was new (same
> > colour as
> > >>>> SURPRISE).
> > >>>>
> >
> > >>>> I slept
> by myself in the boat and by mid morning Monday we were on
> > the
> > boat
>
> > >>>> transporter and rolling up to Midland.  Two hours later we were in> >
> the
> > >>>> water
> > >>>> in Georgian Bay again.  Last night we motored over
> our
> > Club¹s mast
> > crane
> > >>>> and
> > >>>> that¹s where things began
> to go wrong.
> >
> > >>>>
> > >>>> The yacht transporter had brought our mast
> over to the club so
> > we
> > wouldn¹t
> > >>>> have to carry it off the boat
> ­ very kind of him.  Upon
> > arrival we
> > found a
> > >>>> bit of a
> disturbance going on... An old member
> > with a drinking issue
> > was in
> >
> >>>> the fourth hour of trying to raise his
> > mast and was in an
> altercation
> > with
> > >>>> a
> > >>>> responsible member who
> > was trying
> to intervene to resolve their
> > tangled rig
> > >>>> and get them out
> >
> from under the crane and clear  the dock.   When we
> > >>>> arrived
> > >>>>
> with
> > SURPRISE on the tractor trailer rig, the difficult member
> >
> accosted me
> > >>>>
> > shouting Oyou can¹t launch that boat here!¹  I
> thought he was kidding
> > so
> >
> > >>>> said with a laugh Osure we can,
> it¹s only 10,000 lbs, I¹ll use the>
> > high
> > >>>> jib²
> > >>>> (normally
> only used for masts)  Then I realized what
> > was going on and
> > tried
> >
> >>>> to explain I was only dropping off the mast...
> > He wasn¹t listening.
>
> >  We put
> > >>>> our mast on horses and left.
> > >>>>
> >
> > >>>> I went
> by an hour later to see if the crane was available and found
> >
> > the
> >
> >>>> difficult member gone, and another yacht I¹d never seen raising
> > her
>
> > >>>> mast...and my mast (complete with new genoa on the furler) thrown
> >
> on
> > the
> > >>>> ground; my horses under their mast.  I asked if they¹d
> done
> > that,
> > they said
> > >>>> yes.  I said Olet¹s put it back up
> again
> > please¹...they complied with
> > poor
> > >>>> grace.
> > >>>>
> >
> >>>> I went home
> > for supper and when I came back found the mast on the
> >
> ground
> > >>>> again
> > with the masthead only on a block of wood.  Not very
> nice.
> >  Feeling
> > >>>>
> > cranky, but with the help of friends we began
> the process of stepping
> > ­ a
> >
> > >>>> simple job.  We had the mast over
> the boat horizontally about five
> > feet
> > up
> > >>>> (the jetty is high)
> and were beginning to raise it.  Then a
> > remarkable
> > >>>> thing
> > >>>>
> happened.  The knot I¹d tied for the crane hook
> > sling line, which I
> >
> thought
> > >>>> was a bowline, began slipping and
> > apparently in slow
> motion snaked
> > itself
> > >>>> out and we dropped the mast
> > diagonally
> across SURPRISE.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> I was holding the heel of the mast
> > and
> received quite a wallop as the
> > heel
> > >>>> bucked upwards when the
> mast
> > landed on the cabin top and the head
> > went down
> > >>>> into the
> water.  We
> > all stood still for an instant... What an
> > embarrassing
> >
> >>>> and
> > potentially very dangerous incident.  Damage?  Only slight
> >
> luckily.
> > >>>>
> > The
> > >>>> mainsail, bundled on the boom and laying on
> deck, took most of
> > the
> > landing
> > >>>> impact.  The portside
> lifeline, somewhat slack without
> > the shrouds
> > >>>> spreading
> > >>>>
> it, took the rest.  Mysteriously the
> > starboard spreader was broken
> > off
> at
> > >>>> the tangs, which were bent.  I
> > didn¹t see this happen but
> reckon that
> > the
> > >>>> sling line must have
> > snaked around the
> shroud/spreader and for an
> > instant
> > >>>> bore the weight
> > of the
> mast before breaking and letting the mast
> > complete
> > >>>> it¹s fall.
> >
> If that is what happened, I reckon the spreader
> > contributed to
> > >>>>
> the
> > relatively soft landing the mast made across the cabin top.
> > >>>>
>
> > >>>>
> > Looking back on the mast raising operation, I considered the
> cascade
> > of
> >
> > >>>> events that led to the accident.  The RCN trained
> me to watch for
> such
> >
> > >>>> things as part of the Bridge Resource
> Management regime of thinking
> >
> > the
> > >>>> Navy
> > >>>> uses;
> regardless, I didn¹t see any of the signs.  They
> > taught us that
> > one
>
> > >>>> can be on the road to trouble long before one is
> > aware that the
> >
> cascade has
> > >>>> started
> > >>>>
> > >>>> I was tired.  I was
> > upset
> by the drama happening at the mast crane
> > when I
> > >>>> arrived at the
>
> > club.  I was further upset by the behaviour of the
> > people
> > >>>> who
>
> > >>>>
> > put my mast on the ground (new members it turns out ­ probably
> didn¹t
> > know
> >
> > >>>> any better)   The result?  I tied a bad knot. I
> remember checking
> it>
> > but
> > >>>> obviously didn¹t really look at it
> and feel it as I normally do.
> >
> > That is
> > >>>> the only explanation I
> can offer for the sling line releasing.
> > I
> > don¹t
> > >>>> believe it is
> possible for a bowline to snake through itself
> > as we
> > all saw
> > >>>>
> that one do.  I tied it with a long tail, so we all had
> > time to see
> > it
> go.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> We¹re lucky the mast wasn¹t higher...we¹re
> > lucky we
> didn¹t have the
> > mast
> > >>>> vertical with people on the boat
> >
> kneeling to shoot the pins in to
> > secure
> > >>>> the
> > >>>> shrouds and
> stays
> > when it came down.  I am very lucky nobody got
> > hurt, I
> > >>>>
> would have
> > been responsible for what might have been a tragedy.  I am
> >
> lucky
> > >>>> the
> > damage isn¹t worse.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> So, the ending
> not withstanding, it was a
> > terrific weekend.  I¹m
> > sorry the
> > >>>>
> explanation of the accident seems to
> > have overshadowed the good stuff
> >
> ­ but
> > >>>> I¹m still getting used to the
> > idea that it really
> happened!!!
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Gord
> > >>>> Surprise 426
> > >>>>
> > (yes, I
> will race with you folks again.... Can¹t wait)
> > >>>>
> >
> _______________________________________________
> > >>>> These businesses
> >
> support your Association:
> > >>>>
> >
> http://www.alberg30.org/store/A30supporters.html
> > >>>> Please support
> them.
> >
> > >>>> _______________________________________________
> > >>>>
> Public-List
> > mailing list
> > >>>> Public-List at lists.alberg30.org
> >
> >>>>
> > http://lists.alberg30.org/listinfo.cgi/public-list-alberg30.org
> >
> >>>>
> >
> > >>>>
> > >>>> _______________________________________________
> >
> >>>> These
> > businesses support your Association:
> > >>>>
> >
> http://www.alberg30.org/store/A30supporters.html
> > >>>> Please support
> them.
> >
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> > >>>>
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> > mailing list
> > >>>> Public-List at lists.alberg30.org
> >
> >>>>
> > http://lists.alberg30.org/listinfo.cgi/public-list-alberg30.org
> >
> >>>
> > >>>
> >
> > >>> _______________________________________________
> >
> >>> These businesses
> > support your Association:
> > >>>
> >
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> > >>> Please support
> them.
> >
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> > >>>
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> > list
> > >>> Public-List at lists.alberg30.org
> > >>>
>
> > http://lists.alberg30.org/listinfo.cgi/public-list-alberg30.org
> > >>>
> >
> _______________________________________________
> > >>> These businesses
> support
> > your Association:
> > >>>
> http://www.alberg30.org/store/A30supporters.html
> > >>>
> > Please support
> them.
> > >>> _______________________________________________
> >
> > >>>
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> > >>> Public-List at lists.alberg30.org
> > >>>
> >
> http://lists.alberg30.org/listinfo.cgi/public-list-alberg30.org
> > >>
> >
> >>
> > >>
> > _______________________________________________
> > >> These
> businesses support
> > your Association:
> > >>
> http://www.alberg30.org/store/A30supporters.html
> > >>
> > Please support
> them.
> > >> _______________________________________________
> > >>
> >
> Public-List mailing list
> > >> Public-List at lists.alberg30.org
> > >>
> >
> http://lists.alberg30.org/listinfo.cgi/public-list-alberg30.org
> > >
> >
> _______________________________________________
> > These businesses support
>
> > your
> > > Association:
> >
> http://www.alberg30.org/store/A30supporters.html
> >
> > Please support
> > >
> them.
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> > Public-List
> mailing
> > > list
> > Public-List at lists.alberg30.org
> >
> >
> http://lists.alberg30.org/listinfo.cgi/pub
> > > lic-list-alberg30.org
> >
>
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > These
> businesses support
> > your Association:
> >
> http://www.alberg30.org/store/A30supporters.html
> > Please
> > support
> them.
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
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> >
> >
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> >
>
>
>
>
> --
> >
>
>
>
> Where there is a shell, there is a way...
>
> Dominic Amann
>
> M
> > 416-270-4587
> _______________________________________________
> These
> businesses
> > support your
> > Association:
>
> http://www.alberg30.org/store/A30supporters.html
> Please support
> > them.
>
> _______________________________________________
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> >
> list
> Public-List at lists.alberg30.org
>
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> > lic-list-alberg30.org
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> These businesses support
> your Association:
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> Please
> support them.
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>
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>



--
> 



Where there is a shell, there is a way...

Dominic Amann
M
> 416-270-4587
_______________________________________________
These businesses
> support your 
> Association:
http://www.alberg30.org/store/A30supporters.html
Please support
> them.
_______________________________________________
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> list
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