[Rhodes22-list] sailing, launch, college football stream of conciousness post--NOW Poptop Sailing

[ben]

I'm with you on the hardware store.

A few years ago, I was running misters/sprinklers to all of the beds and
pots in my yard.  It took a full weekend, and by Sunday afternoon, I was
able to roll into Lowe's, head straight for the boxes of what I needed,
pluck them out in about two seconds, and be in the checkout line.

On my last trip of the weekend, there was a couple looking baffled at all of
the parts and pieces, just as I had been the previous morning.  I zipped in,
grabbed what I needed, and as I started away the wife said, "You must really
know what you're doing by now."

I confirmed that I did, but I didn't tell her that it was about my fifth or
sixth trip to that aisle in two days.


Regarding sail plan, I kept the boom up high and furled the genny to a
smidgeon of its full glory because I had the whole family aboard.  I can't
trust them all not to stand up during a jibe, so I like the boom above the
head.  Couldn't heel too much Saturday either, because my mom is chicken,
and my two year old is fearless.  But that didn't stop us from flying.



-----Original Message-----
From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
[mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of Leland
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 14:21
To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] sailing, launch, college football stream of
conciousness post--NOW Poptop Sailing


Ben,

"Back to the hardware store."

That's one of the things I hate most about home improvement projects.  It
seems half of the work is driving back and forth to the hardware store. 
Might help if I knew what I was doing.  I really don't mind working on the
boat as much as the house, it's just that I'd rather spend boat time under
sail.  Glad you were finally able to get out and enjoy the excellent
conditions.

Your comment about 10-12 knot winds got me thinking about the last time I
was out.  I much prefer to sail with the poptop up but realize that the boat
sails better on a close reach with the boom down.  True wind was 10.2 knots,
close reach, poptop and boom up, full main, Genoa 12" past outer shroud
(about 115%) with sail barely touching the shroud, tiller locked to center,
centerboard down, traveler centered, 190 lbs. of human ballast standing on
the windward side of the tiller, chop about a foot and a half, no clue what
the current was doing.  4.2 knots with a heel of 30 degrees.  Loosened the
main and Genoa to reduce heel to 20 degrees without unlocking the tiller
from center.  Speed increased to 4.8 knots with tack reduced less than 5
degrees.

I prefer about a 10 degree heel and could have certainly reduced the amount
of both sails, but I now know that I can comfortably keep the poptop up on a
close reach in winds up to 10 knots without re-running my Genoa sheets
inside the shrouds.

For me the most important indicator that I should lower my boom is when I
can no longer tack and need to jibe to come about.  Since I don't have a
boom vang, my high-wind jibes occasionally attach the end of my boom to one
of the backstays, which can cause me to spill my beer; and that is just
irresponsible.

Lee
1986 Rhodes22  At Ease
Kent Island, MD


benonvelvetelvis wrote:
> 
> Well, I started early Saturday morning, hoping to be sailing by noon.
> 
>  
> 
> The boat's been dry since Gustav, so I slapped up a quick coat of bottom
> paint.  I had to run get some wd-40 to loosen up the part of the trailer
> that closes over the ball (whatever that's called), and then, once I got
> the
> trailer on the Jeep, it turns out that a tire was hopelessly flat.
> 
>  
> 
> Waiting for a new tire wouldn't have been too bad if I could go ahead and
> rig, but the storage yard was separated from the access road by power
> lines.
> 
>  
> 
> Once I got the new tire on the trailer, launched the boat, and went to
> hoist
> the mast.  Of course, I couldn't find half of the pins that connect the
> stays to the chainplates.  Back to the hardware store.
> 
>  
> 
> Ended up being a 6-hour ordeal to actually start sailing.
> 
>  
> 
> But from then on, the day was perfect.  Steady winds at 10-12, light chop,
> temperatures in the low 70s, and cooling as the sun went down.  I didn't
> bother turning on the gps or instruments, but we were at hull speed on a
> beam reach (or darned close to it) for an hour straight.  We had a quick
> swim-by from a couple of dolphins toward the end of the sail.  We went in
> just in time for cold beer and LSU's kickoff.  They made it harrowing in
> the
> first half, but in the second half, the Tiger defense that I know and love
> showed up out of the blue.  It was good to see them back.
> 
>  
> 
> I was correct in my prediction that I didn't consider politics at all.  I
> did watch Sarah Palin's SNL appearance at the beginning of the show. 
> Pretty
> funny, I thought.  Whether you think she's fit for office or not, you have
> to admit that she's a charming personality.  I did consider some poll
> numbers - the first BCS poll came out on Sunday.  Tigers are getting the
> shaft a bit from the computers, but that win over Auburn turns out to be
> not
> so impressive after all.  If we can beat Georgia at home, that will give
> us
> a big push, and we can count the days until Bama returns to Tiger stadium.
> 
>  
> 
> Ben
> 
> R22 Velvet Elvis
> 
> __________________________________________________
> To subscribe/unsubscribe or for help with using the mailing list go to
> http://www.rhodes22.org/list
> __________________________________________________
> 
> 

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