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

Wed Jun 13 13:41:11 PDT 2018

IMO simplicity in function is the finest expression of genius.

Zach

On Wed, Jun 13, 2018 at 2:39 PM, Gordon Laco via Public-List <
public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:

> No no, nothing wrong with that at all!    Simplicity and effectiveness are
> to be respected.
>
> Gordon Laco
> www.gordonlaco.com
> 426 Surprise
>
>
>
> > On Jun 13, 2018, at 4:37 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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