well guys all is well here in samoa. made the trip in 9 days. averaged just over 5knts, which seems to be the norm for all of my passages so far. nice run overall. uneventful. I will kick around here for a while and then be off to Vanuatu and on to australia very soon thereafter. Hope all of you are doing well and are making your own plans for sailing to far off place. cheers
sv Emma Gail Bora Bora to Samoa
- Thread starter mageekenneth
- Start date
Thanks Peter. I actually got up to 13.7knts surfing along, and was averaging around 5.5 knts but spent my last day double reefed so i could make landfall at dawn. i think from here to Vanuatu is gonna be cake, but the Torres straits has got me kinda bugged out. SOOOO many reefs, and the shipping lanes all converge there. I'm gonna be in a tight spot there for a few days there. I am gonna diva
e a sunken Vega in the morning. a result of last years hurricane here in samoa. i will try to get some underwater shots if it isn't too murky. I'm still the smallest boat since Houston, Tx
K.L.Magee
e a sunken Vega in the morning. a result of last years hurricane here in samoa. i will try to get some underwater shots if it isn't too murky. I'm still the smallest boat since Houston, Tx
K.L.Magee
Kenneth, I envy you! I'm sure many of the group would like to know how you've outfitted Emma Gail, What's working, what's not and what you'd do differently if you could do something over.
Fair winds and following seas, Walt
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
From: mageekenneth@...
Date: Sat, 5 Jun 2010 22:43:15 -0700
Subject: Re: [AlbinVega] Re: sv Emma Gail Bora Bora to Samoa
Thanks Peter. I actually got up to 13.7knts surfing along, and was averaging around 5.5 knts but spent my last day double reefed so i could make landfall at dawn. i think from here to Vanuatu is gonna be cake, but the Torres straits has got me kinda bugged out. SOOOO many reefs, and the shipping lanes all converge there. I'm gonna be in a tight spot there for a few days there. I am gonna diva
e a sunken Vega in the morning. a result of last years hurricane here in samoa. i will try to get some underwater shots if it isn't too murky. I'm still the smallest boat since Houston, Tx
K.L.Magee
Fair winds and following seas, Walt
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
From: mageekenneth@...
Date: Sat, 5 Jun 2010 22:43:15 -0700
Subject: Re: [AlbinVega] Re: sv Emma Gail Bora Bora to Samoa
Thanks Peter. I actually got up to 13.7knts surfing along, and was averaging around 5.5 knts but spent my last day double reefed so i could make landfall at dawn. i think from here to Vanuatu is gonna be cake, but the Torres straits has got me kinda bugged out. SOOOO many reefs, and the shipping lanes all converge there. I'm gonna be in a tight spot there for a few days there. I am gonna diva
e a sunken Vega in the morning. a result of last years hurricane here in samoa. i will try to get some underwater shots if it isn't too murky. I'm still the smallest boat since Houston, Tx
K.L.Magee
Kenneth,
I second that, as do many of us. Many of us are outfitting our boats and
your experience is valuable (I really appreciate the information you gave on
your anchoring system for instance). But what about sails and water and fuel
and ... other details -- sailing in the trades is so different from the
sailing many of us "northern" sailors experience on a daily basis.
One thing I'd like to know in particular is the transit of the Panama Canal.
I've taken larger sailboats through, but not the Vega, and never
single-handed (I assume you had to have at least four others on the boat as
we've always been required to have a crew of five). Also, what do they
charge for the Vega, if you don't mind sharing that?
Fantastic adventure, keep on keeping on,
Chris
On Sun, Jun 6, 2010 at 8:20 AM, walt/judy brown/allore bestvega@...
I second that, as do many of us. Many of us are outfitting our boats and
your experience is valuable (I really appreciate the information you gave on
your anchoring system for instance). But what about sails and water and fuel
and ... other details -- sailing in the trades is so different from the
sailing many of us "northern" sailors experience on a daily basis.
One thing I'd like to know in particular is the transit of the Panama Canal.
I've taken larger sailboats through, but not the Vega, and never
single-handed (I assume you had to have at least four others on the boat as
we've always been required to have a crew of five). Also, what do they
charge for the Vega, if you don't mind sharing that?
Fantastic adventure, keep on keeping on,
Chris
On Sun, Jun 6, 2010 at 8:20 AM, walt/judy brown/allore bestvega@...
Chris,
I will give more details soon, with pictures, but I can tell you that I went with a set of Quantum sails. a 130% jib on a Pro Furl roller furling, and I have 3 reefing points on the main, I chose not to go with full battens and this seems to be working fine. If y'all order sails make sure that you have the stiching sewn with a colored thread. Mine were sewn using white thresd which is standard, but now I can see that the thread is becoming weak from the UV rays. I met an old U.S. Army (Hooahh) parachute rigger in the Marquesas who helped me restich them. Apparently white thread has no dye to help protect it from the suns rays. It may seem to be a little thing, of little importance, but in light winds your sails are gonna flog around a bit and there is nothing you can do to prevent it. this flogging/whipping motion will make the damged thread break and the seams will begin to unravel.
as far as water goes. I added two 13gallon flexible(Platismo) tanks (1 ea) in the small spaces just in front of the wet locker and the head. this allows me to keep the water load as low as possible and helps me to maintain the balance of the boat. I made simple Y connections a nd added shut off valves and cut them into the main water tank supply line, so as the main tank goes dry, i can shut a valve and open another and still use the foot pump at the sink. a also have two 5 gallon/20 liter water jugs that i keep filled as a back up. it simple and it works.
for fuel I just glassed in a couple of cleats into the cockpit lockers. to use as tie down points for the ratchet straps. I have six 5 gallon plastic diesel jugs and two 5 gallon Gasoline cans, plus the standard 12 gallon fixed deisel tank. I can shuffle the empties around to keep the boat balance, they are easy to refill without having to tie up to the fuel dock, i use the dinghy, and the great thing about having cans for the water and fuel and gas is that they float when they are empty. a few of them tied together would make a noce impromptu preserver that would be easily seen or at least they could be jettisoned and drift along as flotsam helping to better show your position in the event of having to abandon the boat.
the canal was simple. The vega is so short that you just raft (Usually in groups of 3 withthe longest in the middle) the lines run from the longest boat to the lock walls. all the vega does is just ride along. so even though you are required to have the line handlers they do nothing but ride along with you and eat all your food. the canal passage was nothing at all.Do Not worry about the canal but when you declare a speed for the crossing they will ask " your maximum speed" you response should be 5 Knots, so then you aren't required to do more than that. I told ''em my maximum was around 6.5 which is true... and then they expected me to motor at 6.5 fpor the full day. this is ususally the pilot who just wants to make as quick a trip as possible i told'em they were crazy if they though i was gonna red line my boat all day. We did 5 knots. I forget exactly the cost for the transit, but i think in the end you are out maybe $850
us dollars. you gotta put up a buffer of maybe $1500, (CASH) but the remainder gets refunded..there is a minimum fee and for boats less than i think 45' and although the vega is substantially shorter, you still pay what you would for say maybe a 45 footer, so that kinda sucks, but nothing can be done to change that.
to all I apologize for the long post, but just trying to give you the info in an understandable manner. I recommend. Mast steps(fixed not folding) they add to your radar profile substantially and allow for frequent runs up the mast, use simple electronics. that use minimal power this is the most important aspect of your electronics because it affects the charging and battery banks, and having to run the engine. replace all the lights with led bulbs, and try not to make permanent alterations to the boat. keep it simple. having things very convenient is nice, but it complicates things to much. I am taking notes and will do a complete summary when I have adequate time, and will include photos.
The ain thing y'al need to now is that this is a tough little boat. it drives easily in light winds and because its so light, the loads never seem to build up too much. I keep my rigging kinda loose. my shrouds never noticable(visually) fall slack, but when you pull on them there is a noticalble difference depending on the wind angle. you don't want them flopping around, but i think more importantnly you dont want them too stressed.
Hope this helps, and let me know if there are specifics youd like photos of.
y'all take it easy
K.L.Magee
I will give more details soon, with pictures, but I can tell you that I went with a set of Quantum sails. a 130% jib on a Pro Furl roller furling, and I have 3 reefing points on the main, I chose not to go with full battens and this seems to be working fine. If y'all order sails make sure that you have the stiching sewn with a colored thread. Mine were sewn using white thresd which is standard, but now I can see that the thread is becoming weak from the UV rays. I met an old U.S. Army (Hooahh) parachute rigger in the Marquesas who helped me restich them. Apparently white thread has no dye to help protect it from the suns rays. It may seem to be a little thing, of little importance, but in light winds your sails are gonna flog around a bit and there is nothing you can do to prevent it. this flogging/whipping motion will make the damged thread break and the seams will begin to unravel.
as far as water goes. I added two 13gallon flexible(Platismo) tanks (1 ea) in the small spaces just in front of the wet locker and the head. this allows me to keep the water load as low as possible and helps me to maintain the balance of the boat. I made simple Y connections a nd added shut off valves and cut them into the main water tank supply line, so as the main tank goes dry, i can shut a valve and open another and still use the foot pump at the sink. a also have two 5 gallon/20 liter water jugs that i keep filled as a back up. it simple and it works.
for fuel I just glassed in a couple of cleats into the cockpit lockers. to use as tie down points for the ratchet straps. I have six 5 gallon plastic diesel jugs and two 5 gallon Gasoline cans, plus the standard 12 gallon fixed deisel tank. I can shuffle the empties around to keep the boat balance, they are easy to refill without having to tie up to the fuel dock, i use the dinghy, and the great thing about having cans for the water and fuel and gas is that they float when they are empty. a few of them tied together would make a noce impromptu preserver that would be easily seen or at least they could be jettisoned and drift along as flotsam helping to better show your position in the event of having to abandon the boat.
the canal was simple. The vega is so short that you just raft (Usually in groups of 3 withthe longest in the middle) the lines run from the longest boat to the lock walls. all the vega does is just ride along. so even though you are required to have the line handlers they do nothing but ride along with you and eat all your food. the canal passage was nothing at all.Do Not worry about the canal but when you declare a speed for the crossing they will ask " your maximum speed" you response should be 5 Knots, so then you aren't required to do more than that. I told ''em my maximum was around 6.5 which is true... and then they expected me to motor at 6.5 fpor the full day. this is ususally the pilot who just wants to make as quick a trip as possible i told'em they were crazy if they though i was gonna red line my boat all day. We did 5 knots. I forget exactly the cost for the transit, but i think in the end you are out maybe $850
us dollars. you gotta put up a buffer of maybe $1500, (CASH) but the remainder gets refunded..there is a minimum fee and for boats less than i think 45' and although the vega is substantially shorter, you still pay what you would for say maybe a 45 footer, so that kinda sucks, but nothing can be done to change that.
to all I apologize for the long post, but just trying to give you the info in an understandable manner. I recommend. Mast steps(fixed not folding) they add to your radar profile substantially and allow for frequent runs up the mast, use simple electronics. that use minimal power this is the most important aspect of your electronics because it affects the charging and battery banks, and having to run the engine. replace all the lights with led bulbs, and try not to make permanent alterations to the boat. keep it simple. having things very convenient is nice, but it complicates things to much. I am taking notes and will do a complete summary when I have adequate time, and will include photos.
The ain thing y'al need to now is that this is a tough little boat. it drives easily in light winds and because its so light, the loads never seem to build up too much. I keep my rigging kinda loose. my shrouds never noticable(visually) fall slack, but when you pull on them there is a noticalble difference depending on the wind angle. you don't want them flopping around, but i think more importantnly you dont want them too stressed.
Hope this helps, and let me know if there are specifics youd like photos of.
y'all take it easy
K.L.Magee
Magee - Great post. I look forward to reading more when you have time. Fair winds as you continue your journey!
Jack
Bella - V2620
Jack
Bella - V2620
I agree with the great post part. I for one don't think it's too long. All great information and worth reading. When you get a chance to write more, I would be interested in your ground tackle setup. Are you using a manual or electric windless, doing it by hand? How much chain are you carrying? (I think I remember 200 ft. from an earlier post) If so, did you have to make any modifications to the chain locker to make it fit.
Thanks again for the great informaiton,
Ric
s/v Blue Max
# 2692
Thanks again for the great informaiton,
Ric
s/v Blue Max
# 2692
i am upgrading to 200' from the 90 i currently have. I have installed a "Quick 600" windlass. I let it freefall when setting it, and then power it back up from the cockpit. if you cruise and anchor in deep water (sometimes 100"+) you will want a windlass with cockpit controls. otherwise when you break the anchor free you are drifting the entire time you are manhandling the 100" of chain and anchor aboard and then stowing it. a windlass is in my opinion essential. i fell crossing the Gulf of Mexico and broke my tail bone. had i not had the windlass i wouldn't have been able to haul the anchor. I smashed or cut finger or any other injury and your hauling in capability is limited severly. no modification needed if you use the space just aft the primary H2O tank.
K.L.Magee
K.L.Magee
Kenneth,
I came to the same conclusion about needing a electric windless. I was thinking of getting a manual windless, but it really does pose problems when singlehanding. How do you get your chain to the area aft of the water tank? I take it you mounted your windless that far back? Do you run PVC or something else to channel it down?
This is perfect timing for me because I have the whole forecabin torn apart as I remodel and am at the point to make these decisions.
Thanks again,
Ric
s/v Blue Max
# 2692
I came to the same conclusion about needing a electric windless. I was thinking of getting a manual windless, but it really does pose problems when singlehanding. How do you get your chain to the area aft of the water tank? I take it you mounted your windless that far back? Do you run PVC or something else to channel it down?
This is perfect timing for me because I have the whole forecabin torn apart as I remodel and am at the point to make these decisions.
Thanks again,
Ric
s/v Blue Max
# 2692