Sorry about the lack of updates in the last month. However, this has been due to too much going on, not too little.
The weekend after the DIYC Classic, Cody, Sheehan and I sailed in the Clearwater Challenge on the Santa Cruz 37 Southern Crescent. Cody and I ran the bow, while Sheehan trimmed jib, spinnaker, helped out in the pit and gave Brian input from around the course when she wasn't otherwise occupied. To quote Brian, "Sheehan, you are my hero." Needless to say, we had some crew issues, but finished 3rd in Spinnaker A Division.
I have also been doing a lot of work with Speed Merchant. A few projects include re-rigging and stepping a Sovrel 30 mast, splicing various things, redesigning the SC37 in-hauler system and a lot of running around. Unfortunately I haven't been spending much time working on Furthur, but I have earned enough to order some new deck hardware and Category 1 race stuff like a water bladder and nav lights.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Fun sailing on the Santa Cruz
With the boat at Eckerd for the Fall Break long weekend, we would have some time to go sailing for fun. The day after the race, Cody, Callie, Sheehan and I went on a couples sunset cruise. Using the old main and #4 jib, we were perfectly de-powered, yet still quick in the light evening breeze.
There was absolutely no breeze on Monday, but Tuesday brought 15-18 knots out of the south. This was perfect for a reach and run to DIYC in Tampa. Cody, Tweek and I started by motoring south down the channel and under the first bridge south of Eckerd, then hoisted the main and #4. We jib reached on starboard down the channel, then turned down into Tampa Bay and set the 1.5oz kite. With the #4 still up and trimmed loosely like a stay sail, the boat was very balanced on the 090 to 110 degree apparent wind reach and easily surfed the chop on the bay. It was nice to feel how fast the boat was downwind, as well as how dry she was too. We'll see if she stays dry sailing in the Pacific.
After about an hour of this, I saw there was a tear in the spinnaker and we dropped it before it could exploded. We set again, this time with the 1.5oz "chicken kite" with narrow shoulders, but by this point we had to turn down on a run to DIYC. Without the right spinnaker we were underpowered, but Furthur was still fast; Santa Cruz 27s love to go downwind. We pulled up to the hoist, Brian came to check out the boat, and Sheehan came to help us lift the boat and move the trailer with her Xterra.
On the drive back to Eckerd, a rain squall that had been hovering on the horizon during the whole sail hit and started pouring. We were all pretty happy that it didn't hit while we were out sailing.
There was absolutely no breeze on Monday, but Tuesday brought 15-18 knots out of the south. This was perfect for a reach and run to DIYC in Tampa. Cody, Tweek and I started by motoring south down the channel and under the first bridge south of Eckerd, then hoisted the main and #4. We jib reached on starboard down the channel, then turned down into Tampa Bay and set the 1.5oz kite. With the #4 still up and trimmed loosely like a stay sail, the boat was very balanced on the 090 to 110 degree apparent wind reach and easily surfed the chop on the bay. It was nice to feel how fast the boat was downwind, as well as how dry she was too. We'll see if she stays dry sailing in the Pacific.
After about an hour of this, I saw there was a tear in the spinnaker and we dropped it before it could exploded. We set again, this time with the 1.5oz "chicken kite" with narrow shoulders, but by this point we had to turn down on a run to DIYC. Without the right spinnaker we were underpowered, but Furthur was still fast; Santa Cruz 27s love to go downwind. We pulled up to the hoist, Brian came to check out the boat, and Sheehan came to help us lift the boat and move the trailer with her Xterra.
On the drive back to Eckerd, a rain squall that had been hovering on the horizon during the whole sail hit and started pouring. We were all pretty happy that it didn't hit while we were out sailing.
The Davis Island Yacht Club Classic
The DIYC Classic would be the first time Furthur ever touched water outside of the Pacific Ocean (as far as I know). It also be our first time sailing her since SC27 Nationals in July. We launched her at 10:30 a.m. on October 24 and motored to the line for the start warning signal at 11:00. Raising the new (to us) main and 150% genoa given to us by the owner of Sumo after Nationals, we did a few short practice beats to get the sails trimmed and adjusted properly before the start.
The breeze was 5-10 knots out of the south and the start was mellow with no barging or yelling. We stalled up near the boat end to let a bigger boat roll under us, then put the bow down and got moving for the gun. Off the start we didn't have good point, but pulling on more backstay to tension the forestay helped a lot. Our tactics were to play the left side closer to the channel where there appeared to be more breeze and an ebbing tide. This started out as a good plan, until the boats on the right got a huge lift and increased pressure. From this point we tried to consolidate with the rest of the fleet and cut our losses. As the smallest and slowest boat in the Spinnaker B fleet, we watched as the other boats pulled away from us. At this point we settled in to our positions with Cody on the bow, Eric at the mast, Tweek doing pit and grinding, Sheehan trimming and calling tactics, and myself driving, and began working the boat for more speed and point. Due to the distance of the race we would be switching around a lot to keep everyone fresh.
As forecasted, the wind built and began clocking from south to north, effectively lifting us as we turned the corner out of the bay. On a close reach, the larger cruising boats began ripping up to us due to their longer waterlines. The wind continued to build and as we rounded the mark to head to Clearwater, it was apparent that we would be beating 40 miles upwind in 15-20 knots to the finish. This was definitely not the course for a small ULDB: beating, close reaching, then beating again.
We changed down to the 95% #3 jib, which involved its own challenges. The luff blew out of the headfoil during the hoist, but I had found a spectra loop from racing on a new SC37 that had the same problem, and clipped it around the headfoil to the head of the jib with the halyard shackle. This held and kept going, with the steep waves occasionally breaking over the foredeck. As the sun set, the reality that we would be finishing at about 2:00 a.m. with no wind for the delivery home set in, and we made the call to drop out of the race and head for Eckerd. I called the Race Committee to let them know we would be DNFing and we got ready for a fun spinnaker ride back to the main channel.
Unfortunately, while getting ready to set the spinnaker, Cody fell on the tiller trying to clear a wrap in the spinnaker sheet and it cracked. Afraid that it might completely break if overloaded with the kite up, we decided to play it safe and jib reach up the Egmont Key Channel, then motored up to Eckerd.
It was disappointing to be DNF in our first race, but the course the opposite of what a Santa Cruz 27 is designed for and it would be impossible to do well on corrected time. We decided to save the fun of beating up wind for deliveries in the future. On the upside, we learned a lot about sailing a Santa Cruz 27 upwind, as well as what else on the boat needs work or attention.
The wild parts were too wet for a camera, but here are a few photos (not all by me) from the beat out of Tampa Bay.
Watching the tell-tales. I couldn't find the tiller extension so steering was a PITA. I later found out that my couch had eaten it.
Not bad for free sails!
Sheehan and I
Waiting for the spinnaker set that never happened
Sheehan at the helm
The breeze was 5-10 knots out of the south and the start was mellow with no barging or yelling. We stalled up near the boat end to let a bigger boat roll under us, then put the bow down and got moving for the gun. Off the start we didn't have good point, but pulling on more backstay to tension the forestay helped a lot. Our tactics were to play the left side closer to the channel where there appeared to be more breeze and an ebbing tide. This started out as a good plan, until the boats on the right got a huge lift and increased pressure. From this point we tried to consolidate with the rest of the fleet and cut our losses. As the smallest and slowest boat in the Spinnaker B fleet, we watched as the other boats pulled away from us. At this point we settled in to our positions with Cody on the bow, Eric at the mast, Tweek doing pit and grinding, Sheehan trimming and calling tactics, and myself driving, and began working the boat for more speed and point. Due to the distance of the race we would be switching around a lot to keep everyone fresh.
As forecasted, the wind built and began clocking from south to north, effectively lifting us as we turned the corner out of the bay. On a close reach, the larger cruising boats began ripping up to us due to their longer waterlines. The wind continued to build and as we rounded the mark to head to Clearwater, it was apparent that we would be beating 40 miles upwind in 15-20 knots to the finish. This was definitely not the course for a small ULDB: beating, close reaching, then beating again.
We changed down to the 95% #3 jib, which involved its own challenges. The luff blew out of the headfoil during the hoist, but I had found a spectra loop from racing on a new SC37 that had the same problem, and clipped it around the headfoil to the head of the jib with the halyard shackle. This held and kept going, with the steep waves occasionally breaking over the foredeck. As the sun set, the reality that we would be finishing at about 2:00 a.m. with no wind for the delivery home set in, and we made the call to drop out of the race and head for Eckerd. I called the Race Committee to let them know we would be DNFing and we got ready for a fun spinnaker ride back to the main channel.
Unfortunately, while getting ready to set the spinnaker, Cody fell on the tiller trying to clear a wrap in the spinnaker sheet and it cracked. Afraid that it might completely break if overloaded with the kite up, we decided to play it safe and jib reach up the Egmont Key Channel, then motored up to Eckerd.
It was disappointing to be DNF in our first race, but the course the opposite of what a Santa Cruz 27 is designed for and it would be impossible to do well on corrected time. We decided to save the fun of beating up wind for deliveries in the future. On the upside, we learned a lot about sailing a Santa Cruz 27 upwind, as well as what else on the boat needs work or attention.
The wild parts were too wet for a camera, but here are a few photos (not all by me) from the beat out of Tampa Bay.
Watching the tell-tales. I couldn't find the tiller extension so steering was a PITA. I later found out that my couch had eaten it.
Not bad for free sails!
Sheehan and I
Waiting for the spinnaker set that never happened
Sheehan at the helm
Crunch Time for the DIYC Classic
In the week before the race we had a huge list of things to do to the boat including:
-Fill the rudder blisters and tip.
-Install the rudder and tiller.
-Change the sail numbers to 116.
-Re-splice the headsail halyards with a kevlar anti-chafe cover.
-Straighten the mast step.
-Step the rig and tune it (for the first time in three months and 3000 miles later).
-Run the halyards.
-Drill out and fill the holes in the deck with epoxy/filler.
-Wash and Teflon wax the hull.
And we got it all done, with some help from our friends, by Saturday morning for the start of the DIYC Classic. Sheehan especially put in a lot of time, filling the blisters and mangled rudder tip, then fairing them smooth. She also helped removed the old sticky-back sail numbers and applied the new ones. Here are a few photos!
Wetsanding in the dorm courtyard
Sail loft in the dorm. My neighbors don't even think it's weird anymore.
-Fill the rudder blisters and tip.
-Install the rudder and tiller.
-Change the sail numbers to 116.
-Re-splice the headsail halyards with a kevlar anti-chafe cover.
-Straighten the mast step.
-Step the rig and tune it (for the first time in three months and 3000 miles later).
-Run the halyards.
-Drill out and fill the holes in the deck with epoxy/filler.
-Wash and Teflon wax the hull.
And we got it all done, with some help from our friends, by Saturday morning for the start of the DIYC Classic. Sheehan especially put in a lot of time, filling the blisters and mangled rudder tip, then fairing them smooth. She also helped removed the old sticky-back sail numbers and applied the new ones. Here are a few photos!
Wetsanding in the dorm courtyard
Sail loft in the dorm. My neighbors don't even think it's weird anymore.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Getting Furthur race-ready for the DIYC Classic
Furthur's new home at DIYC
Stripping the old pipe berths out. They are nasty 70's cloth that is heavy and absorbs water like a sponge. We will make new ones out of mesh to dry quickly for the Pacific Cup.
Cody throwing the old pipe berth cloth off the boat
Gypsy yard sale
We will soon be stripping the lettering off Saltshaker, she will be re-christened as Furthur.
Removing the mast step so we can reinstall it straight. The tape is to keep water out of the holes and balsa core while we work on it.
Bunks are gone, so is the sun.Over the weekend and today while Cody and I were at DIYC, Sheehan began filling the blisters in the rudder as well as fairing the tip. Here it is curing on my bed...
We still have plenty to do before the DIYC Classic this weekend, but it is very doable. More updates to follow as we keep working.
Working and sailing on a J/24
Cody and I wet-sanded and waxed a J/24, owned by our ex-Eckerd Sailing coach Robbie Brown, last Wednesday in preparation for the 2009 J/24 Southeast Regional Championship Regatta in Jacksonville, Florida. We started with 400 grit sand paper, then 600, finished with 800, then waxed and buffed the hull. We spent most of the day working on the boat, and Cody went back the next day to finish the buffing; in return I drove to DIYC towing the Santa Cruz to her new home in the dry storage boat yard. It was a great opportunity to use some the skills we learned this summer to earn some money to put toward the boat.
Furthermore, Robbie needed a 140 pound person to fill in the "mast" position for Regionals and I fit the bill. I had wanted to sail with Robbie, an awesome J/24 sailor and North Sails rep, for a long time and finally got the chance to. The conditions were puffy and shifty winds starting at 11-15 knots and building to 18-23, with a ripping current, by the end of Saturday's racing. I hadn't seen J/24's surf like this since the 2008 Midwinters and the racing was fast by J/24 standards. We finished the first day in second place and in contention for first place if we sailed well the next day
Sunday brought even more and colder wind, with huge puffs and shifts. We had a hard time finding a groove in these conditions, but kept second place. Team Tarheel won the regatta with five firsts and qualified for the 2010 J/24 World Championships. Robbie was disappointed with the 2nd, but I learned a lot and had a good time. Results can be found here.
Furthermore, Robbie needed a 140 pound person to fill in the "mast" position for Regionals and I fit the bill. I had wanted to sail with Robbie, an awesome J/24 sailor and North Sails rep, for a long time and finally got the chance to. The conditions were puffy and shifty winds starting at 11-15 knots and building to 18-23, with a ripping current, by the end of Saturday's racing. I hadn't seen J/24's surf like this since the 2008 Midwinters and the racing was fast by J/24 standards. We finished the first day in second place and in contention for first place if we sailed well the next day
Sunday brought even more and colder wind, with huge puffs and shifts. We had a hard time finding a groove in these conditions, but kept second place. Team Tarheel won the regatta with five firsts and qualified for the 2010 J/24 World Championships. Robbie was disappointed with the 2nd, but I learned a lot and had a good time. Results can be found here.
Major Contributions
Last week I posted a link to this blog here on the Sailing Anarchy forums, along with some details about the campaign. I got some suggestions for the blog, words of encouragement, the usual SA flak, and an offer from a total stranger to let me borrow his safety equipment for the race.
Sailing Anarchy member "Wash" posted (#9) in the thread and offered to let us borrow his safety equipment for the race. In 2007 he prepped his boat for the TransPac, but ultimately did not start the race. He has offered to loan us a life raft, EPIRB, parachute flares, storm sails, and various things like life jackets, harnesses, headlamps, etc. This took a huge weight off our shoulders, as safety equipment can be the most expensive part of boat prep for a DH Pacific Cup entry, and Cody and I are extremely grateful for he generous offer. Wash has also raced in 6 TransPacs and has offered his advice if we have any questions.
"stinky", a Santa Cruz Sails sailmaker, offered to make us a spinnaker if we could get him the materials. Brian is helping me source some Airx 700 for the kite and Santa Cruz Sails are fast and durable; I have no doubt that "stinky" will make us a great sail. We really appreciate this, as "stinky" is also sailing in the 2010 Pac Cup as a double-handed entry on the Express 27 Tule Fog and depending on the class splits, we may be racing against them.
"dog house" offered to lend us a satellite phone with all the accesories, as well as buy me shoes if I'll wear them. A Sat phone will be our primary communication tool; the Race Committee is experimenting with the double-handers next year, allowing us to call in our position report on the satellite phone. The positions will be typed in by the RC, then emailed to the communication boat, who will read them off before proceeding with roll call on the Single Side Band radio for the rest of the fleet. This is a huge benefit for the smaller boats, an SSB is heavy and uses a huge amount of power. Sat phones are very efficient, easy to use, reliable, and lightweight.
Marc, an experienced local J/24 sailor and offshore sport fisherman, has also offered to let us borrow his life raft, EPIRB, and satellite phone for the race. I am amazed by the volume of these generous offers and may even have to turn some down. Thank you all for your contributions, they will all help us get to the starting line and race to Hawaii with speed and confidence.
There are also a great deal of people helping us with advice and knowledge. "Mr. Clean" of Sailing Anarchy gave me a lot of advice on creating a website and how to find sponsorship. "War Dog" sailed in the 2004 Pacific Cup on a DH Santa Cruz 27 and is making a list of notes about the race and boat prep. While there have been some negative comments in the thread, the positive response has been overwhelming and it is helping us make great strides in our effort to be the youngest crew to sail the Pacific Cup double-handed.
Sailing Anarchy member "Wash" posted (#9) in the thread and offered to let us borrow his safety equipment for the race. In 2007 he prepped his boat for the TransPac, but ultimately did not start the race. He has offered to loan us a life raft, EPIRB, parachute flares, storm sails, and various things like life jackets, harnesses, headlamps, etc. This took a huge weight off our shoulders, as safety equipment can be the most expensive part of boat prep for a DH Pacific Cup entry, and Cody and I are extremely grateful for he generous offer. Wash has also raced in 6 TransPacs and has offered his advice if we have any questions.
"stinky", a Santa Cruz Sails sailmaker, offered to make us a spinnaker if we could get him the materials. Brian is helping me source some Airx 700 for the kite and Santa Cruz Sails are fast and durable; I have no doubt that "stinky" will make us a great sail. We really appreciate this, as "stinky" is also sailing in the 2010 Pac Cup as a double-handed entry on the Express 27 Tule Fog and depending on the class splits, we may be racing against them.
"dog house" offered to lend us a satellite phone with all the accesories, as well as buy me shoes if I'll wear them. A Sat phone will be our primary communication tool; the Race Committee is experimenting with the double-handers next year, allowing us to call in our position report on the satellite phone. The positions will be typed in by the RC, then emailed to the communication boat, who will read them off before proceeding with roll call on the Single Side Band radio for the rest of the fleet. This is a huge benefit for the smaller boats, an SSB is heavy and uses a huge amount of power. Sat phones are very efficient, easy to use, reliable, and lightweight.
Marc, an experienced local J/24 sailor and offshore sport fisherman, has also offered to let us borrow his life raft, EPIRB, and satellite phone for the race. I am amazed by the volume of these generous offers and may even have to turn some down. Thank you all for your contributions, they will all help us get to the starting line and race to Hawaii with speed and confidence.
There are also a great deal of people helping us with advice and knowledge. "Mr. Clean" of Sailing Anarchy gave me a lot of advice on creating a website and how to find sponsorship. "War Dog" sailed in the 2004 Pacific Cup on a DH Santa Cruz 27 and is making a list of notes about the race and boat prep. While there have been some negative comments in the thread, the positive response has been overwhelming and it is helping us make great strides in our effort to be the youngest crew to sail the Pacific Cup double-handed.
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