[Public-List] Fwd: Two days sailing...leaving the helm to make adjustments at the mast.

Wed Jun 13 13:38:50 PDT 2018

Sailing an Alberg design marks you as a luddite.

Zach

On Wed, Jun 13, 2018 at 2:37 PM, Michael Grosh via Public-List <
public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:

> I guess just jamming a telescoping hiking stick into the cushions marks me
> as a Luddite.
> Michael Grosh
> #220
>
> On Jun 13, 2018 2:14 PM, "Hernán Scarnichia via Public-List" <
> public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
>
> I used to run a line from the tiller to a block on the cockpit coaming,
> then forward to a block near the bow and back again on the other side to a
> block on the other side of the cockpit and back to the tiller. That way I
> had a loop of line all around the boat and could steer from anywhere,
> either at the mast or on the foredeck when changing jibs. sometimes I would
> also add a bungee cord to counter the weather helm. Now I have a tiller
> pilot that works great.
>
> On Tue, Jun 12, 2018 at 7:50 PM Zachary Smith via Public-List <
> public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
>
> > I almost exclusively single hand my boats. The routine for me depends on
> > situation, but here are the common cases:
> >
> > 1) Marina.
> > Exit marina under aux power. Point into wind, adjust engine speed to push
> > the boat forward at 1-2 knots. Bungee tiller to neutral. Go to mast and
> > hoist. Don't forget to keep an eye on watercraft around you.
> >
> > 2) Switch Jib/Genoa Underway.
> > Maneuver to reach. Balance the sails. Tiller free. Free the jib sheet. Go
> > forward drop genny/jib. Boat will will round up to to heave. Raise the
> new
> > jenny/jib. Go back and start turning back onto a reach. The boat may not
> be
> > on the same tack you left her on at this point. Sheet in the jib/jenny
> > before she makes the reach. You can steer the tiller with your butt while
> > you sheet in.
> >
> > 3). Holy Crap Situation.
> > Turn the boat into the wind. Let the tiller free. Get that jenny/jib down
> > before she bears off. Now you're heaved and you can address the problem.
> I
> > use hank-ons for a lot of reasons; if you use a furler you can't run a
> > downhaul on the forestay (or could you? never tried). But I run downhauls
> > on my foresails so I can get them down fast without transiting all the
> way
> > to the foredeck (safe!).
> >
> > The thing about the A30 is, with just the main up you can leave the
> tiller
> > free and she'll heave. This is your primary tool in lieu of a complicated
> > mechanism like a tiller pilot or a wench.
> >
> > Zach
> >
> > On Tue, Jun 12, 2018 at 9:28 PM, Michael Connolly <crufone at comcast.net>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Zach,
> > > By hand downwind? Would you explain?
> > >
> > > I was suggesting how to safely leave the helm for let's say 30 sec to
> > make
> > > an adjustment at the mast and then head back to the helm. All this with
> > out
> > > any sophisticated gadget on board. For someone who single hands this
> > would
> > > be handy information.
> > >
> > > Let me add that the sea state is reasonable, wind not too heavy or
> gusty
> > > and no specific current.
> > > Michael
> > >
> > > ------------------------------
> > > *From: *"Zachary Smith" <zacharysmith.us at gmail.com>
> > > *To: *"Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" <
> > > public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
> > > *Cc: *"Michael Connolly" <crufone at comcast.net>
> > > *Sent: *Tuesday, June 12, 2018 10:53:41 PM
> > > *Subject: *Re: [Public-List] Two days sailing...
> > >
> > > Balance the sails on a reach, jib sheet to tiller hard on, by hand
> > > downwind.
> > >
> > > Zach
> > >
> > > On Tuesday, June 12, 2018, Michael Connolly via Public-List <
> > > public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
> > >
> > >> Gord,
> > >> Now that I know you don't have a tiller. What simple system would you
> > use
> > >> if you had a tiller? What would be simple and reliable to jaunt up to
> > the
> > >> mast loosen the halyard and jaunt back to the cockpit?
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> ----- Original Message -----
> > >>
> > >> From: "Michael Connolly" <crufone at comcast.net>
> > >> To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all"
> > <public-list at lists.alberg30.or
> > >> g>
> > >> Sent: Monday, June 11, 2018 5:35:47 PM
> > >> Subject: Re: [Public-List] Two days sailing...
> > >>
> > >> Gord,
> > >> What do you use to handle the tiller whilst you go forward to the mast
> > to
> > >> adjust halyards, etc.? Bungee cords? Auto helm? Tiller tamer?
> > >> Michael
> > >>
> > >> ----- Original Message -----
> > >>
> > >> From: "Gordon Laco via Public-List" <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
> > >> To: "public Alberg 30 List -- open to all"
> > <public-list at lists.alberg30.or
> > >> g>
> > >> Cc: "Gordon Laco" <mainstay at csolve.net>
> > >> Sent: Monday, June 11, 2018 9:15:22 AM
> > >> Subject: [Public-List] Two days sailing...
> > >>
> > >> Hello gang…
> > >>
> > >> Well I got out on the water both days this past weekend… they were
> very
> > >> different days sailing…
> > >>
> > >> On Saturday I had intended to work on my MG, which is undergoing what
> > has
> > >> become a massive rebuild. Well I should say I was going to hold tools
> > and
> > >> watch while my friend did the work, but he had to cancel so I sat here
> > >> wondering what to do with an unexpected day with no obligations… then
> I
> > >> remembered that Saturday is the day our Club was running its annual
> > Single
> > >> Handed Race. I gulped my coffee and made it to the club just as the
> > >> skipper’s meeting was ending, and got my name on the list. When asked
> > if I
> > >> was wanted to be rated flying sails or white sails, I first said ‘naw,
> > >> white sails only, I don’t feel very energetic.’
> > >>
> > >> Then I looked out the clubhouse windows at the glassy water, slack
> flags
> > >> and masthead wind indicators pointing all different directions and
> > thought
> > >> about the misery of the downwind leg back from Flat Point… and said
> ‘Oh,
> > >> can I change that… flying sails please’. They changed it.
> > >>
> > >> As usual for a weekend race, the fleet was much diminished, being
> > >> composed of myself in SURPRISE, two Express 30’s, a CS27, three
> Sharks,
> > the
> > >> deadly fast VOODOO DANCER, a well sailed Viking 28, and my friend and
> > arch
> > >> rival Matt in his Pearson 27. Matt and I chatted bit on the wharf
> > catching
> > >> up… but suddenly I saw the committee boat shooting out of the club…
> > crap,
> > >> we’re late, better get out there for the start.
> > >>
> > >> So out SURPRISE and I hummed, when out at Midland Shoal buoy I shut
> down
> > >> the mill and hoisted sail. Looking back over my shoulder I saw Matt in
> > >> SUNDANCER hoisting sail right at the club’s breakwater… hmmm, he’s got
> a
> > >> long way to beat to get to the start, I thought, and joined in the to
> > and
> > >> fro swinging. Before the start.
> > >>
> > >> No sooner had I got into the fray but the air started filling in. East
> > >> with a bit of north in it… could this be? Yup… Like a slow motion
> movie
> > >> being sped up to normal speed, all the yachts began showing bow waves,
> > then
> > >> heeling over as the breeze built. The five minute horn went, I caught
> > it on
> > >> my stopwatch… down came the sequence and as the last seconds counted
> > down
> > >> here comes the herd all on starboard tack jostling each other up to
> the
> > >> line. Were was I? On port tack of course, reaching along at 5 knots. I
> > let
> > >> them all cross our bow and the line… then hardened up my sheets and
> > crossed
> > >> alone in clear air at speed. The rest of the fleet all ran a few
> hundred
> > >> meters on starboard then one after the other tacked onto port and
> > started
> > >> down the course.
> > >>
> > >> I should describe the course… the Single Handed is a ‘distance race’,
> > >> normally running east to Flat Point off Port McNichol, then north and
> a
> > bit
> > >> west up to Ross Shoal, then back round Midland Point to a finish off
> the
> > >> Club’s breakwater. Because the air looked so light, the course was
> > >> shortened to just Flat Point and back…. and it was looking like I
> could
> > lay
> > >> it in one long close reach. Could this be? Oh yes.
> > >>
> > >> The wind steadily built, and backed a little more to the north so
> after
> > >> the first fifteen minutes we found ourselves bounding along at 6.4
> knots
> > >> with sheets cracked a little, heeling about fifteen degrees… in first
> > >> place.
> > >>
> > >> Several miles later, I knew we were nearing the red pin off Flat
> Point,
> > >> but as usual I couldn’t see it against the trees behind it. I swear
> it’s
> > >> one of those pins that is mischievously moved by the CCG just to annoy
> > >> people trying to find it… then I saw it… a few degrees to leeward. The
> > >> leaders of the pack were now about even with me but several hundreds
> of
> > >> yards to windward… and clearly they hadn’t seen it yet and were still
> > >> sailing the higher course. They were VOODOO DANCER and two of the
> > Sharks.
> > >> haha.
> > >>
> > >> Then the air got softer, SURPRISE slowed dramatically to 4.1 knots. I
> > >> dashed up to the mast and eased my halyards, eased the outhaul, then
> > jumped
> > >> back to the tiller. As I returned I saw my foes had finally seen the
> > mark
> > >> and were coming down, carrying a renewed breeze with them…. They got
> by
> > me,
> > >> one of the Sharks blanketing me a bit but we all rounded together…
> > >> SURPRISE’s bow nearly overhanging VOODOO’s transom. One of the Sharks,
> > >> VOODOO and SURPRISE started back to Midland… the new breeze making the
> > >> return again a close reach. At first the Shark and VOODOO stayed in
> > close
> > >> company… but as the wind built again I could not only keep up but felt
> > like
> > >> overtaking. The Shark took a shot upwind with tight sheets…. I was in
> > about
> > >> a boat length behind VOODOO. I could see him continually glancing at
> > me… I
> > >> guess he could hear my bow wave and this was annoying him. I feigned a
> > shot
> > >> to windward myself as it I were going to try to drive over him but as
> > soon
> > >> as I saw him tightening his sheets to climb himself in order to block
> > me, I
> > >> eased sheets and dove to leeward. VOODOO didn’t look back for a fatal
> > four
> > >> or five minutes during which I got far enough to leeward that I could
> > drive
> > >> through below him out of his wind shadow… and got by.
> > >>
> > >> By this time VOODOO was far enough up that he was feeling the nearness
> > of
> > >> the Shark, and for the rest of the race the two of them jostled each
> > other,
> > >> the Shark trying to get by, VOODOO trying to defend his lead. I left
> > them
> > >> to it, and concentrated on getting the most out of the building air. I
> > was
> > >> up to the mast and back several times tuning for the increasing breeze
> > that
> > >> was romping us along at 6.1 knots. We passed Midland Shoal buoy, one
> > mile
> > >> from the finish… when VOODOO saw that we were going to beat him to the
> > >> finish. He finally stopped fighting with the Shark and eased sheets a
> > >> little in order to use his windward position to come down and catch
> us.
> > It
> > >> didn’t happen.
> > >>
> > >> So SURPRISE, a full keeled yacht heavily laden with cruising gear that
> I
> > >> can’t be bothered to unload despite the fact that we race every week…
> > won
> > >> on real time, then was catapulted ahead by our PHRF rating. What a
> great
> > >> race. I think what saved us was the fact that the shortened course
> > didn’t
> > >> have any hard beating to windward, just close reaching both ways which
> > of
> > >> course is our best point of sail. Wahoo.
> > >>
> > >> But what happened to Matt in SUNDANCER? He was very late to the start…
> > so
> > >> didn’t do the race. I don’t know what happened to him, but hope
> nothing
> > >> broke.
> > >>
> > >> Sunday, I went for a sail out of Toronto with my good friend Janice in
> > >> her A30 LITTLE WINGS. Down in the city it was blowing 20 - 25kts or
> so,
> > >> whipping white caps in the harbour and sending Albacore dinghies
> planing
> > >> back and forth as we took the tender over to the island. We tucked a
> > reef
> > >> in the main, but ended up sailing under genny alone all day and that
> was
> > >> plenty of sail for a pleasure jaunt. Out past the East Headland, the
> > east
> > >> wind was sending waves down the length of Lake Ontario, so the waves
> > were
> > >> nice mature 5-6 footers with an occasional breaking crest. We bounded
> > away
> > >> south for a while, then tacked and bounded back to the city. Wonderful
> > >> sailing in really exhilarating conditions.
> > >>
> > >> A fellow in a trimaran paced the racers on Saturday and took a series
> of
> > >> nice photographs of some of the boats in the Single Handed Race on
> > Saturday
> > >> (two of the Sharks, the CS27, an Express 30 and ourselves) I’ll
> forward
> > >> them if anyone wants to see them.
> > >>
> > >> Nice weekend.
> > >>
> > >> Gordon Laco
> > >> www.gordonlaco.com
> > >> #426 Surprise
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
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> > >
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