-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: Thursday Sailing
Date: Sun, 17 Jun 2007
From: Jean M Gosse

That was a good evening. Actually, when we rigged, it was blowing at the ramp, with just the beginning of whitecaps. We almost took the mast down and went home. Paddling the last 100 yards or so coming back was really an anti-climax.

Something good happened that I have not observed before. We have learned to be a bit cautious. People who most need a bit of advice frequently don’t want it!! However, between races we sailed by the Lido and suggested he needed a loop on his boom to keep the clew of the sail close to the boom, so the outhaul would actually allow the sail to move fore and aft along the boom and not just drop the boom around the ears of the crew instead of easing the sail to a fuller shape. I suggested also that he check the rig on the Lasers. Apparently he did. Next thing I saw was a couple of Lasers gathered around the Lido, having him adjust halyard, downhaul etc and showing him the outhaul rig. Just what we need, everyone helping to improve the sailing of all the various boats!!

Guess we will miss the next two sails. We will be in Paris the 28th, and up north to Port McNeil in July. See you in August.

Jean

PS: There was some talk about capsized boats. Last Sunday when it was blowing up whitecaps on Lake Washington we saw a heavy duty Ski Boat, big arch on top to tow from, towing in what appeared to be a smallish windsurfer. As it got close to the ramp, we realized it was a glass sailboat mostly submerged.

One guy had bought a Tanzer 16, he sailed it twice in light weather, then took two non-sailing friends, their ghetto blaster and a cooler of beer out for a Sunday sail. The ramp was sheltered, they took off slowly then “off like a rocket!!” one of them said. No one knew who did what, but next thing they knew the boat was almost submerged. The cooler was floating off to the north. Since someone had the foresight to tie in the radio, it was still with them. They swam around, took off the jib and stowed it under the deck with the skipper’s shoes, which also contained his billfold.

The tow boat did an excellent job, slowly working the boat to the docks until it could be pulled in close enough to get a grip on the shroud, then the mast. Between the three guys and Dave, they had the boat upright but totally under water. They were trying to force it onto the trailer when I finally got a word in to pull the plug. Of course the plug was well under water and they could not believe it was helping but you could see the water inside dropping. And someone came up with a bucket for bailing. Slowly the boat was worked onto the trailer. The jib was gone, but the skipper’s shoes and billfold remained. At least he might be able to buy new shoes.

The main point of this is, it might be a good idea to check actual flotation in the boats sailing in the evening races. The Lasers, you know, they even capsize for fun. I still wish I had a picture of Mike, in the Finn, fixing the Laser sail while the skipper sat high and dry on the side of the boat.

The Lightning, being wood, will float half in and half out and, because of its size, be a nightmare to rescue. So we will try to avoid the necessity of that. I don’t want to experiment with capsizing the Lightning, but with the Pelicans we have learned that bringing the boat up slowly allows the water to drain out to the point the boat can be easily bailed when righted. A quick recovery retains so much water the top of the trunk is submerged and siphons water back in as fast as you bail.

The C-Lark will turn turtle if it has enough water, and float happily inverted. I don’t know how the Lido floats, but hope there is some foam under the seats. That was the problem with the Tanzer, no foam and the ends of the seats were not sealed as I would have expected. Fiberglass just will not float!!

PPS: At the El Toro Nationals in Chicago some years ago, a general capsize drill was suggested and the big-wigs said it was a waste of time, no one would be interested, but it could be published as an after the regatta event. (they thought everyone would be in a hurry to pack up and go). Probably 15 boats were lined up to be capsized and three times as many people there to watch. A couple of energetic Teens officiated, capsizing each in turn and seeing how one could bring it up. Wood alone could be rescued by taking out the mast and pushing down and away on the bow. Glass with Foam in the sides, best option. Foam under the deck and the boat floats awash or inverted. Foam in the stern and the bow goes straight down. The Windmill got into the act. They put foam on one side, then if the boat capsizes to the other, they just right it and flip it to the foamed side for rescue. It was an interesting exercise.

Good sailing
J