Kachemak Bay wooden boat festival and sail

[Mike Pennington]

Last weekend my wife and I visited the the Kachemak Bay wooden boat festival. Two Weekender's were on display, John Metzner's and Mark Gudshinsky's. Also attending was Jeromy of Anchorage who also has a Weekender, bit I missed him, because I was off sailing the Aurorawolf across Kachemak Bay.

I appolgize, I don't have all my pictures yet, but there will be more to come.

This is one of my favorites, a restored whaling boat.

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0UQAdA*wXt7uKSYZg4KXvGbXSEdDJDQKuvQNsZMWkQQakFtrcvsCtIlr2xFxHp7HB2qTSjrmaSAZrLCfzqshos8oRcV060tarPD3maYkmRD5H0pVRLl!7WRVKvzQdeKsR/P1010109.JPG?dc=4675521822852268153

There were several Tolman boats of different sizes, quite popular amongst Alaskans by our own Alaskan boat designer.

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0UQDhAvQXeLmKSYZg4KXvGYqcwmvTxWmxLD7UuBAzJi!8ytY5B9Wv38pqUUJwLSbmNcOAe749iiwmPq2ZJRx43vg1GQKZqYUqYemp!mNsaVZLeSgdIEtdcs7bLfkxabh!/P1010110.JPG?dc=4675521822861441885

I did not spend a lot of time at the show, I'm guilty of sailing. The first day, I spent inside the spit, content to sail the inner bay. The new 9.9 honda outboard worked great. The brace I built for the outboard on the trailer really worked well. The twelve hundred mile trip was no problem on the new trailer. Launching and loading was much easier, I especially liked the new keel box.

The second day, we got brave and sailed out beyond Homer Spit and sailed across Kachemak Bay to Big Tukak Bay. About 12 miles one way, in company of the Loon a 24ft open two masted Cat/Skipjack cross, belonging to my friend Lars Opland. We were determined to drop by Dick Dunn's another local and respected Alaskan boat builder in Little Tutka Bay.

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0UQCTAvwXvbv1cd8k5!cyuoEMrLpkjkramRWwrm9huSlMesViVplAWjLoPTJrPvFBdYeLl1*oqAw2fCXrrPh9mt6eWnyS2TNBgCIW3UYcH0YC0AJOdBycZ529f0bCt9Qp/P1010082.JPG?dc=4675521822822860353

I was glad to have the extra hp during tide change and the extra security on my second days adventure. Returning across Kachemak Bay the seas rose up, two to three foot swells and ten knot winds. And the occasional giant swells from the fishing boats. I must say the biggest water I've ever been in. The Vacationer did real well and for those who are building or already have a Vacationer I want to say the capabilities of these boats are underated. I have a lot more faith in my boat after this last trip.

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0UQCFAvUXv7mKSYZg4KXvGXSTsGrBkEb*GdvFNmrn011C4Bk40BJuNL0eYBYOQNU!m!*PGtZuA7jrMwnW9q6*nqUDozuQIpZrv*XCZp1yYBqObikEa3CK6*JBNFHXIB5h/P1010102.JPG?dc=4675521822840114987

This is a favorite wild life picture,

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0UQAAAAMYtb31cd8k5!cyui!Udu8GtTowyW3USfC!VVPxXIgGj1B27MnI8QheegwT79e9xAn2FKqqZbQaQFHJ40RVl0krxQA3HsiMOqpTPwXQgv5iRHYET41CwxxFKk!q/P1010089.JPG?dc=4675521822829350526

And this is the most eagles I have ever seen at one time together. They were feeding on the Herring at low tide. Sorry, I haven't figured out how to enlarge and crop the pic yet.

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0UQCZAvcXULqKSYZg4KXvGcBMf8lwO5YVVfC9KBxuGRLU*MkcuJIf45tpOS7EtZ8kF0OgYduj34C*ZlpUf0yqLYRSuSg4yOsu7zUxsgioPDqV7!oQQQ*NtGR1sTyavJHL/P1010113.JPG?dc=4675521822867009436

John's As You Wish, near low tide, where it is nothing to see 12 to 22 ft tide changes. Naturally John beat me out of the harbor. I had to give a friend a tow out. :roll:

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0UQAAAPkX37r1cd8k5!cyunUsR87QNT9Gwejw17eOTjJJCfhML7kKTUm3bVA5!OsOg4KWYAnesGPYptkbUH5ufjpqpEk79CHGiC1fBxCumVnOEzc49YWnCt0L1eXsGZOe/P1010025.JPG?dc=4675521836693616309

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0UQAaA*sXb7v1cd8k5!cyurtq94RpkvuO7sXQbhuhjc0jgHXAAf4f4o7e!ELNkYecLsty5LvIt3ZlLvKvuB2YRI39vVzYD6Blpsq1BvbXbHlki*LwVhCRpQ3KX4U*kWl1/P1010027.JPG?dc=4675521836542767513

I found this link with a rough map of the area we sailed

http://www.sadiecove.com/map.htm

[Mark Gudschinsky]

The 2005 Alaskan Kachemak Bay Wooden Boat Festival was a random disjointed affair that matches the end of the road, seaside, fishing, artsy tourist, town that Homer Alaska is. There was a loose form to the functions, but not necessarily a strict timetable for the events. It was completely devoid of commercial hype, sponsors, and marketing (except for the walking halibut, but he, she, it was entertaining, and a good conversation piece.) All in all if you happen to be anywhere within several hundred miles of the place next year about this time, stop in. You

[Mike Pennington]

My apologies to Captain Alexander, I know his Swimmer was a hit amongst the boat builders and their families.

Another event was the scrap booking Saturday evening the Firstmates attended. My wife was so happy she made me hot cocoa and clam chowder on board the Wolf at Sadie Cove. Here she is modeling her new float coat.

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0UQAAAAEYI731cd8k5!cyuoDmEFrkvjzqOBiHYhuEnF8KaF8hCGPrxBXtSmI5s0cocJJzIxw9cr2SqWBGxQw*Ay71hgqh5RIzZOw9Ccw4A73Z5Wz3pnGRR06NpTqPstr2/P1010069.JPG?dc=4675521886058979385

And a picture of the entrance to Sadie Cove

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0UQCZAv4XTrz1cd8k5!cyuo9SPONZNOkwlshybccuGlkvNqguu4*BO95SeiUvPs6EZodp99eLB5aowIPyXbJ5xOTZGwQoQ7b*mW6VN3rGYbyiSU9qdd1prVNMIm79t6uA/P1010093.JPG?dc=4675521886067755435

[Dave R1]

Looks like a good time but your bride looks cold. This look familiar?

[Mike Pennington]

That's the Spit, Dave, the end of the land road.

Yeah, the new float coats were a big hit and much appreciated by both of us. Truely a good investment.

I'm already planning another adventure, now that my sailing range and safety factor has gone up a notch. Maybe Valdez, or Lake Louise.

Mike

[JMetzner]

It was a fantastic weekend at the boatfest in Homer. Here's a few more pic's.

--John M.

Fairbanks, AK.

[Mike Pennington]

Why does and otter roll over in the water after every meal?

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0UwDxAiUaHmGjJA8Z6DjkQSLPEZ7Uu3YWCJ80NLCgQsgrD!tbKVEyhA0opPzGlUhietPrwXO9acsz!6AyqovrYZDzoYLJHvqyeCOMCoMrRArHWnKnPDsJXq1LmwY2rrNt/otter%20one.JPG?dc=4675522003719369849

To clean its table

[Mike Pennington]

Here's a nice picture of As You Wish.

John post your address above in private messages and I will mail you a disc of all the pictures I have of your boat from last year and this last trip.

Mike

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YACZAkgeotKmRDRwmfqugbUrXNFwZ491FYn*sQYv6MZz3rW*Of3OGrdyBSbmSa4jwOCC5E7P6qKWfIxVQEqxGiF8AdR!wY6Nq5TDsZSF*ghjuPySy6SxqheCR97hbfl5c1561uWRs9fXchUCTW96aQ/as%20you%20wish%20homer.jpg?dc=4675522436632041241

[Tim Diebert]

I used to sail and fish on the SW end of Vancouver Island and got to see all the aquatic wildlife regularly. I miss them varmints.

Close encounters with Killer Whales (Orca) (scared the bejeepers out of me :shock: ), the multitudes of seabirds I knew only a few names of, lots of seals and sea lions....but my favorite were the Otters. Floating on their backs eating....and rolling over to clean their table. Friendly and happy looking critters. Although, most fisherman that kept their boats at dock didn't like them much as they would absolutely reek havoc with the cockpits of the boats...interiors too, if they got in. Kind of like Searacoons.....

[Mike Pennington]

A couple of years ago, I'll try and find the pics, I watched a black lab and an otter playing on the docks. I don't think the dog knew the otter wasn't just another funny looking dog. They had a good game of tag your it going.

As far as cockpit raiders go, the dang sea gulls are enough