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I have had a wonderful season of sailing this year. We had a record setting warm and sunny summer and I was fortunate to have been able to participate in the Homer Regatta in Homer, Alaska. It was so much fun and my little Core Sound responded so well. Thanks to Graham for his wonderful design. I have a small and snappy sailboat that is fantastic to explore the rich waters of Alaska in. Happy sailing to all of you who can still sail. Here in Alaska we have to put the boats up for the winter now....how sad. Bob "First Atttempt"

Hi Graham and all, This last weekend I did participated in my first regatta--the Homer Alaska Land's End Regatta 2013. I loved it even though I really didn't know what I was doing. But you have to start somewhere. My Core Sound #199 "First Attempt" was magnificient. Thanks to Graham's great hull design. Many of you will remember me because my boat is the Mystery Craft as Graham called her a few years ago. He calls her that because I modified the boat quite a bit by adding a cuddy (similar to Dawn Patrol and Graham's EC), I sugar scooped the transom and lately I have begun to sail her with only the main sail stepped in the middle position and with a small self tacking balanced boom jib. You might be interested in knowing that the race officials assigned me a PHRF of 100 and I had to laugh because they knew of Graham's reputation with the Core Sound and his list of wins in just about every race he has entered and they were terrified that I was going to dominate in the competition like he does. In fact one of the club officials is just finishing his build of one of Graham's Spindrift designs. I just had to smile not only because I am not 1 tenth the sailor Graham is but also because I was the smallest boat in the regatta. My boat performed so very well. According to my GPS I had burst of 6 knots with the main in the middle step (see photo 401). It was a blast. When I put up the small self tacking balanced boom jib I was really pegging 7 knots consistently and to my inexperienced surprise it was much easier to sail to point windward. The conditions of the day were really very nice with the exception of the fog that set in just about 30 minutes before the race started. We had winds of 15 knots with seas of 3 feet and a fast current running against us of about 4 knots. Now as for the race, well due to my inexperience we got disoriented as the fog engulfed us and we temporarily lost our way but we hung in there and finished the race anyway and had a great time. Thanks to Graham again for a great, fast hull design. Everyone was impressed with my boat and very complimentary to me for having built her. Happy sailing Bob ClaytonFirst AttemptCore Sound #199 Attached Photos: 394-- fog as it set in about 30 minutes before the start of the race--we were all motoring around waiting for the start, 401--a nice close haul going over the start line (that is me in the red PFD), 406-- on a very fast and delightful reach of around 7 knots with the self tacking balanced boom jib , 404 just a quick shot of some of the big boys around my vessel--we are mighty small next to them.

Hey thanks to you all. I have already been out and tested my new assist and it works just fine. I can step the mast so much easier now and I feel much safer with the help. I added a small wooden piece on the deck so that I can rest the mast on it when the weight shifts as I lift it. What a nice idea. Thank you. I am ready to go now. Happy sailing. Bob Clayton Eagle River, Alaska

Ahoy All, Can anyone tell me what is the PHRF of the Core Sound 17. I am entering a regatta next Friday and I need to know what is the PHRF for my boat. Thank you. Bob Clayton, Eagle River, Alaska

Thank you Terry and Hirilonde. I appreciate it. I will be stepping the mast next week for my first time using the assist device. Happy sailing. Bob

I forgot to add a picture of Terry Dunn using his mast assist device in my post above. Maybe Terry will read this and help me out. I just don't see how the mast stays in place as you lift it to place it in step. Anyway, thanks in advance for any thoughts. Bob

Hi All, A year or so ago I asked for advice with stepping my main mast on my CS. Terry and Suzie K were the only ones to answer.Since then I built one but haven't been able to use it yet--still waiting for summer to come here in Alaska. As I prepare to install it on my boat I wonder what keeps the mast from slipping right on through the pipe joint. The picture of Terry lifting it looks simple but I got to thinking as I built mine how does the mast stays in as I rotate the mast and then drop it into the step? Any help on this? Oh yeah, I moved my main to the middle step as designed by Graham and have added a small jib with boom so it is self tacking. I have attached a copy of the assist device that Suzie made. Mine is similar to the photo. I also attached a photo of the assist that Terry used. I am almost ready to sail....summer is coming. Bob ClaytonCS hull 199 First AttemptEagle River, Alaska

Tom the Rower, I have added a small jib to my CS 20 and I love it. And I stayed with Graham's design by moving my main to the middle step and adding the small jib. My jib keeps it shape because I use a small self tacking boom with it. This keeps the shape. I installed a furler as well and so I have no problem handling my boat when the wind kicks up. The cat ketch rig was just too hard for me to handle when the going got rough here in Alaska. I will tell you my boat flies under just the main in the middle step. I really get moving...and the jib just adds . I love it and it looks pretty darn nice too. You can check out the Bay Riders from Swallow Boats for a look at what I am talking about. My boat is still under too much snow for pictures. So there is another opinion.....just my two cents worth.... Bob Clayton, CS #199 First Attempt Eagle River Alaska

Thanks Peter and everyone. I will try the balanced boom jib setup like on the photo. It seems relatively simple to rig up and I think I will go ahead and add a roller furler to it to make reefing easier. I like the idea of keeping the sail shape and the idea of not having to fuss with the sheet. I love lazy sailing. I just thought you could have a jib that didn't overlap without a boom that was self tacking. I see that I could but I would need a jib track. Thanks again. Happy sailing. Bob Clayton Eagle River Alaska

Yes Tahani, but take a look at the picture of Graham's new Mosquito which has self tacking jibs. There is no sprit. This was just a picture I could find to show the difference. I realize that the jib cannot overlap. So why the sprit? Bob

Oh I thought I would add one more photo that really looks like what I am looking at regarding the self tacking jib for my coresound. This is using a sprit or boom on the jib. I see a line from the roller fuler along the sprit and I see a line from the end of the sprit to either side of the cockpit and I see a line from the jib to the end of the sprit alowing it to be furled. I just don't see why the sprit? Just thought I would add this picture--the first picture on the left. Oddly the boat on the left was built long after my boat but looks very similar to my little boat. I have also added a picture of my boat--the one on the right. Some of you will remember my little First Attempt with the cuddy I built for her. I sail with the main in the third step and without the mizzen at all. Thanks for your help to understand the difference in the self tacking jib setup. Bob Eagle River Alaska

Hi all, It is almost Spring and we can't wait up here in Alaska to get sailing again. With a record snowfall here in Anchorage of more than 10 feet --so far and really low temps -20 to -40 it has been a Winter to forget about. I have a quick question: Why are some self tacking jibs configured with a sprit of some kind and some are configured without any sprit. The way I see it they can both be self tacking. The only advantage I see to the sprit or small boom is to keep the jib formed. I have attached two pictures for reference. The first is the self tacking jib using a small sprit or boom. It is set up on a roller furling rig as well. The second picture is a typical jib without one. Thanks in advance for your advice. Happy sailing. Bob Clayton First Attempt ( #199 Core Sound ) Eagle River Alaska

Wes and Nadi, Yes to be sure. It is generally good practice to design the COE to lead the center of lateral resistance by about 10% of the LWL. And Wes you are right that I can increase the main if I need to bring the COE abit aft if I am getting too much of a lee helm, but the jib will be a quick and easy way to add additional sail. It will be fun trying in any case. I think the sail area for the CS per Graham's design is 117 sf. This would bring my sail area to around 94 to 98 sf. As you can see from my calculations I have the COE leading the COLR by just about just about 10%. I intend to shape up the main sail abit to bring it up out of the cockpit area. Thanks again for all the fun comments. You are all the best. Have a good winter--we are huddling together in 15 degree weather now with the temperature gauge dropping. Looking forward to Springtime. Bob CS #199 Alaska

Oh, forgot to thank Nadi for the great picture links. Yes that is what I am talking about. Cool, huh!. Thanks. Bob

Thanks you guys for the fun thoughts. I have her put away for the winter but I have done the calculations for the small self-tacking jib on my boat. Take a look. I don't think I will need to stay the main mast because I have the mast deeply stepped in the cuddy and supported in the middle as well. I will have the jib on a small furler which I will be able to shorten up quickly. I don't want the yawl mizzen. It isn't that I don't like the ketch rig but I really love to sail her solo with just the one mast/sail in complete ease and fun (and safety when a big blow comes along up here). The small jib will give me about 22 sf more sail when I want or need it. But I have been really surprises at how well and fast she sails with just the one sail stepped in the middle step. I think in many ways she is just about as fast as when I use both mast--maybe because I push her limits more... . Thanks again. I love this stuff. How crazy huh? Next year I will install the step assist to help get the main up easier and will report on how the small jib works for me. Happy wintering to you all. Bob CS #199 In Alaska