First Sail of 2018

[kbgunn]

Hard to believe February is almost behind us.

I've been working on cabin cushions over the cooler months. This being North Texas, we have only a few freezing days each year. Not a brutal winter by any stretch.

Compared to some boat maintenance tasks I've found canvas and foam to be very forgiving materials for the novice.

Yesterday was a beautiful 68 degrees with 8 knots of wind from the South. A perfect day to try out the used spinnaker I picked up on ebay as a Christmas gift to myself. A Rolly Tasker asymmetric in really great condition. Figuring out the halyard, tack line, and extra long sheet that goes in front of the headstay was a chore for the crew and captain. But we eventually got it sorted.

Great day on the lake!
Cheers to you all.

KBG

 

[Jacktar]

I went out for a sail on Feb 22nd here in Pensacola Bay because the weather has been somewhat nippy since the first of the year and winds very gusty and unpredictable. But it worked out on that day.

 

[Will Gilmore]

I feel a little warmer, just looking at your pictures. Awesome

- Will (Dragonfly)

 

[ChileanJK]

While on the southern side of the world, we are finishing the season , saturday was I think the last lake sail weekend, we still have warmer days until April, but the lake level is going down until september, I'll try to take the catalina to the ocean before the bad weather arrives.

 

[Gene Neill]

We got out the weekend of the 10-11th. Nice, shirtless-warm weather, wind was light but under the 180 genny we moved along just fine, very relaxing, autopilot doing all the work. Had an amazing dolphin escort, as we motored the last couple miles to our anchorage. Rafted up with a friend on his new Sea Pearl, grilled burgers, drank rum. Sailed about 45 miles total, only had to tack four times total, all weekend.

 

[Hardhead]

I gotta move south... nice.

 

[rpludwig]

Excellent Gene...good to see u out & about!!!!!!!!!! Nice escort!!

 

[BigEasy]

I went out for a sail on Feb 22nd here in Pensacola Bay because the weather has been somewhat nippy since the first of the year and winds very gusty and unpredictable. But it worked out on that day. View attachment 146987

Looks like Fort Pickens in the background. Makes me want to sail Pensacola again!!
Had the first sail, in several months, last weekend. Real nice to get on the water again; however, couldn't help but see all of the things that need to be done. Will likely haul out in March for routine bottom paint, compound/wax and change a few thru hull fittings.

 

[Leeward Rail]

Alas... Still Snow and cold here but I did send the marina a check for our slip. A sure sign of impending spring

 

[piedpiperIII]

Great sailing weather here as well in N.C. but I have been way to busy and I love these stories makes me envious

 

[SV_GALATEIA]

Uhhh, guys.....I appear to have a problem....My water doesn't look like your water....

 

[Will Gilmore]

Uhhh, guys.....I appear to have a problem....My water doesn't look like your water....

View attachment 147017 View attachment 147018 View attachment 147019 View attachment 147020

Looks like good water to me.

- Will (Dragonfly)

 

[pateco]

Looking forward to this weekend:

 

[SV_GALATEIA]

That does look fun.....

 

[danstanford]

Looks like good water to me.

- Will (Dragonfly)

I have never been around ice boats despite being on both ice and water every year! I understand they can go fast enough to generate apparent wind forward when on deep reaches unlike the boats we sail. Is the extreme mast rake related to that fact?
Call me curious...

 

[Will Gilmore]

Is the extreme mast rake related to that fact?
Call me curious...

I don't really know. As an ice boat heels, she leans forward because of the way her tri blade configuration, typically. Maybe that has something to do with it. This seems like a question for @Jackdaw.

- Will (Dragonfly)

 

[Jackdaw]

I have never been around ice boats despite being on both ice and water every year! I understand they can go fast enough to generate apparent wind forward when on deep reaches unlike the boats we sail. Is the extreme mast rake related to that fact?
Call me curious...

Mast rake exists as a combination of a couple of things, none of them which is actually the shape of the sail. It’s really about where you want to Center of effort, and where the base of the mast can be. It also allows lots of mast bend, and vang sheeting.

Oh, and it looks cool.

 

[Will Gilmore]

It’s really about where you want to Center of effort, and where the base of the mast can be.

That makes perfect sense, why didn't I think of that?

- Will (Dragonfly)

 

[Jacktar]

Looks like Fort Pickens in the background. Makes me want to sail Pensacola again!!
Had the first sail, in several months, last weekend. Real nice to get on the water again; however, couldn't help but see all of the things that need to be done. Will likely haul out in March for routine bottom paint, compound/wax and change a few thru hull fittings.

Yep That was Ft Pickens and the new fishing pier and reconstructed buildings too, was just a little foggy out that day so pix is not so clear, but taken with smartphone one handed while trying to tack with the other. so you get what you get.

 

[pateco]

Here is some video and pictures from this weekends cruise. The circle raftup was a failure. Wind picked up to 25 knots by noon, and the raftup broke up and spun out of control before the circle was completed. A couple of boats tangled props, and it took a lot of work with the dinghys to clear the crossed anchor lines. Once everyone was clear we were good for a more traditional raftup. Cocktail party in the dinks at 6:00pm was a hit. Too many appetizers to mention.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1166147713519384

Here is some video from Sunday Morning

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10215778097346264

Saw this on my way up the ICW to Lake Boca before the raftup.