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

Wed Jun 13 13:40:21 PDT 2018

Negative, that mate.

Gordon Laco
www.gordonlaco.com
426 Surprise

> On Jun 13, 2018, at 4:38 PM, Zachary Smith via Public-List <public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
> 
> 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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>>>> 
>>>> 
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