Ken_Potts Posted July 1, 2007 Posted July 1, 2007 CS17 #121 sailed for the first time today. the forecast was for 10-15mph from the north. That's about as perfect as it gets for the Vista Point ramp at Jordan Lake. I had actually hoped for 5-10 on the first time out but I'm really happy the wind was higher. Hee hee. I got there a little before noon and rigged the boat. It took a little longer than it should because I still need a couple of snap shackles. I made do with knots this time. I had invited a few people but they had things to do so I was there alone (and cameraless - Sorry!) I managed to get the boat off the trailer after a while (the bunks aren't quite right yet) and got it tied to the lee side of the dock without losing it. I was apprehensive about the amount of wind considering that it was the first sail and I didn't have any volunteer ballast but I got in the boat and got things sorted out and formed my plan for departing the dock - Cast off, back the rudder and fall of onto port tack. I cast off and started drifting back per plan but the shore was coming up faster than I thought it would. There was a moment of panic and then we turned and were off on port tack. The helm felt a bit strange - there was the expected slight amount of weather helm but I had the tiller farther down than I had expected. About 5 seconds into the sail I was feeling smug about maybe being the only homebuilder on the lake when I looked up to see that I was passing to leeward of a John Welsford boat! I'm not sure if it was a Pathfinder or a Navigator - I didn't try to ask as I passed because I was still in the grip of my first ten seconds of terror of this first sail. They were headed back to the dock and were witness to the shameful set of my sails. I headed out across the lake trying to get the guts to sheet the sails in enough to really draw (I should mention that the boat isn't really finished yet and I don't have hatch covers on the fore and aft compartments). As I gradually sheeted the sails in I was a little confused by how far I had to point the tiller to leeward to hold my course but I was having fun anyway because we were picking up speed. About halfway across the lake I was thinking about when and where to tack when I finally remembered to put the centerboard down! ;D I was suddenly sailing an entirely different boat and making much better progress to windward. I got across the lake and was about to head into some dead air so I tacked and continued my progress in the general direction of the eastern Highway 64 bridge. I was finally starting to relax a bit and enjoy the sail when in the midst of my next tack I saw another little two-master quite a ways to windward. I chuckled a little bit as I thought to myself "I believe I'll go catch that ketch". I lost sight of the boat for a little while because of an intervening peninsula but after I tacked and headed back across the lake I could see that he was heading downwind. One more tack put us on a collision course. I was headed to windward on starboard tack and he was coming downwind on port tack. I headed downwind a bit and eased the sheets to avoid him but he seemed to be changing course to intercept. I prepared to prepare for boarders and noticed that it was a Sea Pearl Tri. He passed a little to windward. I called out "pretty boat" and he said that he liked my rig and so piracy on the high seas was averted. A little after passing the Sea Pearl I happened to look down and see WATER in the bottom of my boat - "Egads! A leak!" I thought to myself as I tried to track down the origin. I decided that I did in fact have a leak in my water bottle. Eventually I got too far upwind so I headed back down to all of the other sailboats. I don't know if I've ever seen that many sailboats on Lake Jordan. I used the trip down to familiarize myself with many points of sail. I also discovered that when the boat is carrying only me, a leaky water bottle, and some pfds and cushions I need to sit on the rail to keep the boat upright and still let the sails draw nicely. I was starting to get used to the feel of the boat so I tried going faster (faster FASTER HAHAHA!). I was moving along quite nicely when I looked down in the bottom of the boat to see MORE WATER! And this water was muddy! I was making a careful visual inspection of the bottom near the centerboard to find the leak when yet more spray came aboard. Okay - I get it - It's spray. : When I got back to where everyone else was sailing I started reaching back and forth across the lake giggling occasionally and once in a while dipping the rail before coming back up to a faster angle of heel. I was racing everybody whether they knew it or not - even that catamaran but he cheated by bring more hulls than he needed. I don't know why he brought both hulls - When he passed me he only had one of them in the water. I finally noticed I was getting a little too much sun so I headed for the dock. I was coming in on a reach when I noticed that somebody was backing a boat down the ramp I had intended to use so I gybed, and headed back out. right after I gybed I noticed that there was a space opening up on another ramp so I gybed again and headed in once again on a reach. When I got close to the dock I realized that I was going too fast and things were about to get ugly so I gybed twice more in a downwind "S" turn and headed back to the dock close-hauled on the starboard tack. I kept easing the sheets to slow down and when I was close enough I let the sheets fly, walked up over the foredeck picking up a dockline on the way and stepped onto the dock as the boat started to drift back away. The whole time I was gybing back and forth trying this and that to figure out how to land I was thinking how dumb I must look not being able to hit it the first time but it sure felt good when I managed to get onto the dock without ramming it. As I was getting the boat back on the trailer and getting the rig stowed I had no less than three people say nice things - Comments about either the speed of the boat or "You looked like you were having a lot of fun out there." I was. My face is going to hurt tomorrow because I haven't stopped grinning since I remembered to put the centerboard down. Next time I sail (By Saturday) I will try really hard to find my camera and I will post pictures. I promise. Really. Quote
Dale Niemann Posted July 1, 2007 Posted July 1, 2007 Great story Ken. Congradulations on the launch of your boat. Bring on the photos. We are all anxious to see it. Does she have a name yet? Dale Quote
Dale Niemann Posted July 1, 2007 Posted July 1, 2007 Sorry Ken, I see her name is Southbound. Does that mean that is the direction you will be heading her for the winter? Dale Quote
Ken_Potts Posted July 1, 2007 Author Posted July 1, 2007 Actually the name came from a conversation I had with a friend. We were talking about a trip to the bahamas and the Everglades Challenge and sitting on a boat designed by a New-Zealander and drinking Foster's and I just noticed that there was a lot of cool stuff to the South. Now that I've seen Tin Bin iced in I'd be happy to give the name up to let one of the alaskan fleet have it ;D Quote
Frank Hagan Posted July 1, 2007 Posted July 1, 2007 Great account of your launch! For the first time sailing her, it sounds like you had a great time. I don't know if I'm a good enough sailor to sail up to a dock and step off the bow with a dockline in hand. I'm more the "test the fenders" type of sailor. You also mentioned gybing several times ... is it easy to do in a cat-ketch (without turtling, that is?) Quote
Charlie Jones Posted July 2, 2007 Posted July 2, 2007 Uh - careful there. Graham's nick name is "Roo". He's an Auzzie, NOT a Kiwi Quote
Ken_Potts Posted July 2, 2007 Author Posted July 2, 2007 Oops! My sincerest apologies to Graham. And while I'm at it Thanks for the design Graham - It's exactly the right boat for me. "Southbound" still works though... Frank, I'm not a good enough sailor to do that either but once in a while I get lucky The first gybe earlier in the day was tentative but it seemed to work so nicely that I did it a few more times. Once I got over the initial fear it seemed like a completely acceptable way to turn if I was headed downwind. I don't know if it would be as nice in higher winds. Quote
Frank Hagan Posted July 2, 2007 Posted July 2, 2007 Frank, I'm not a good enough sailor to do that either but once in a while I get lucky The first gybe earlier in the day was tentative but it seemed to work so nicely that I did it a few more times. Once I got over the initial fear it seemed like a completely acceptable way to turn if I was headed downwind. I don't know if it would be as nice in higher winds. Gybing in a sloop with a boom on the bottom of the sail can be a pretty scary thing if it catches you off guard; when the boom slams over, sometimes the boat goes over! I guess its not as dramatic with sprit sails! Quote
Ken_Potts Posted July 2, 2007 Author Posted July 2, 2007 Not having a head-banging boom was nice. I think it also helped that I was sailing with the sails way out so I had completed a good portion of the turn before the sails came across. I've gybed in other boats by gingerly sheeting in until the sails were ready to swing across and then turning the boat. That was scarier than today's gybes. Quote
Remod Posted July 3, 2007 Posted July 3, 2007 Congrats, Ken! Sounds like a great first sail. BTW, I'm right by the Fairgrounds should you ever need some ballast! Remod : Quote
JeffM Posted July 3, 2007 Posted July 3, 2007 These boats jibe so calmly and painlessly that I'd taken to ignoring jibes altogether. That turns out not to be a good idea: that I busted the plug on my mizzen this spring is testament to the cumulative damage I'd done to the rig. I'm going to have to get used to bringing them over a bit more gradually from now on. Quote
Frank Hagan Posted July 3, 2007 Posted July 3, 2007 Right, when I have to gybe in either my Weekender while going downwind, which I found terror-inducing with the Weekender, I bring the sail in toward the centerline and try to do a controlled gybe. I feel much more in control in my Potter 19 doing one. For the most part, I would rather do a "chicken gybe" where you turn around and tack through the wind. Looks like you are going in circles, but its much safer. Quote
Ken_Potts Posted July 3, 2007 Author Posted July 3, 2007 Remod, I can use some ballast (and maybe even an autopilot while I open a cold one). Which reminds me... Gsimms - weren't you looking for a ride on a Core Sound (or have you already finished yours while I've been piddling about at my glacial building speed)? Jeff, Frank, and Ray, Thanks for checking my enthusiasm - I'll watch closely the next time I gybe to see what I might be doing to my rig. And Jeff - I hope you didn't do any damage beyond the plug. How did the partner fare? The mizzen step makes me a little nervous but I built it as drawn because I figure Graham has proven it in bumpier conditions than I will ever get myself into Good news - I may have pictures to post tomorrow night. I'm going sailing with a co-worker after work and I've made him promise to bring a camera. Quote
Phil - s/v Grasshopper Posted July 3, 2007 Posted July 3, 2007 Ken, I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of Southbound. Don't forget your camera this weekend. Cheers, Phil Quote
inboil Posted July 3, 2007 Posted July 3, 2007 this is probably too late,but what time is after work? Sure would love to watch / help in any way possible. I've seen Graham's boat in Beaufort, but that was before I really appreciated the extent of his sailing and designing skills. CS17 #121 sailed for the first time today. the forecast was for 10-15mph from the north. That's about as perfect as it gets for the Vista Point ramp at Jordan Lake. I had actually hoped for 5-10 on the first time out but I'm really happy the wind was higher. Hee hee. I got there a little before noon and rigged the boat. It took a little longer than it should because I still need a couple of snap shackles. I made do with knots this time. I had invited a few people but they had things to do so I was there alone (and cameraless - Sorry!) I managed to get the boat off the trailer after a while (the bunks aren't quite right yet) and got it tied to the lee side of the dock without losing it. I was apprehensive about the amount of wind considering that it was the first sail and I didn't have any volunteer ballast but I got in the boat and got things sorted out and formed my plan for departing the dock - Cast off, back the rudder and fall of onto port tack. I cast off and started drifting back per plan but the shore was coming up faster than I thought it would. There was a moment of panic and then we turned and were off on port tack. The helm felt a bit strange - there was the expected slight amount of weather helm but I had the tiller farther down than I had expected. About 5 seconds into the sail I was feeling smug about maybe being the only homebuilder on the lake when I looked up to see that I was passing to leeward of a John Welsford boat! I'm not sure if it was a Pathfinder or a Navigator - I didn't try to ask as I passed because I was still in the grip of my first ten seconds of terror of this first sail. They were headed back to the dock and were witness to the shameful set of my sails. I headed out across the lake trying to get the guts to sheet the sails in enough to really draw (I should mention that the boat isn't really finished yet and I don't have hatch covers on the fore and aft compartments). As I gradually sheeted the sails in I was a little confused by how far I had to point the tiller to leeward to hold my course but I was having fun anyway because we were picking up speed. About halfway across the lake I was thinking about when and where to tack when I finally remembered to put the centerboard down! ;D I was suddenly sailing an entirely different boat and making much better progress to windward. I got across the lake and was about to head into some dead air so I tacked and continued my progress in the general direction of the eastern Highway 64 bridge. I was finally starting to relax a bit and enjoy the sail when in the midst of my next tack I saw another little two-master quite a ways to windward. I chuckled a little bit as I thought to myself "I believe I'll go catch that ketch". I lost sight of the boat for a little while because of an intervening peninsula but after I tacked and headed back across the lake I could see that he was heading downwind. One more tack put us on a collision course. I was headed to windward on starboard tack and he was coming downwind on port tack. I headed downwind a bit and eased the sheets to avoid him but he seemed to be changing course to intercept. I prepared to prepare for boarders and noticed that it was a Sea Pearl Tri. He passed a little to windward. I called out "pretty boat" and he said that he liked my rig and so piracy on the high seas was averted. A little after passing the Sea Pearl I happened to look down and see WATER in the bottom of my boat - "Egads! A leak!" I thought to myself as I tried to track down the origin. I decided that I did in fact have a leak in my water bottle. Eventually I got too far upwind so I headed back down to all of the other sailboats. I don't know if I've ever seen that many sailboats on Lake Jordan. I used the trip down to familiarize myself with many points of sail. I also discovered that when the boat is carrying only me, a leaky water bottle, and some pfds and cushions I need to sit on the rail to keep the boat upright and still let the sails draw nicely. I was starting to get used to the feel of the boat so I tried going faster (faster FASTER HAHAHA!). I was moving along quite nicely when I looked down in the bottom of the boat to see MORE WATER! And this water was muddy! I was making a careful visual inspection of the bottom near the centerboard to find the leak when yet more spray came aboard. Okay - I get it - It's spray. : When I got back to where everyone else was sailing I started reaching back and forth across the lake giggling occasionally and once in a while dipping the rail before coming back up to a faster angle of heel. I was racing everybody whether they knew it or not - even that catamaran but he cheated by bring more hulls than he needed. I don't know why he brought both hulls - When he passed me he only had one of them in the water. I finally noticed I was getting a little too much sun so I headed for the dock. I was coming in on a reach when I noticed that somebody was backing a boat down the ramp I had intended to use so I gybed, and headed back out. right after I gybed I noticed that there was a space opening up on another ramp so I gybed again and headed in once again on a reach. When I got close to the dock I realized that I was going too fast and things were about to get ugly so I gybed twice more in a downwind "S" turn and headed back to the dock close-hauled on the starboard tack. I kept easing the sheets to slow down and when I was close enough I let the sheets fly, walked up over the foredeck picking up a dockline on the way and stepped onto the dock as the boat started to drift back away. The whole time I was gybing back and forth trying this and that to figure out how to land I was thinking how dumb I must look not being able to hit it the first time but it sure felt good when I managed to get onto the dock without ramming it. As I was getting the boat back on the trailer and getting the rig stowed I had no less than three people say nice things - Comments about either the speed of the boat or "You looked like you were having a lot of fun out there." I was. My face is going to hurt tomorrow because I haven't stopped grinning since I remembered to put the centerboard down. Next time I sail (By Saturday) I will try really hard to find my camera and I will post pictures. I promise. Really. Quote
Ken_Potts Posted July 3, 2007 Author Posted July 3, 2007 We're going to try to get to the lake by 4:30. Where are you? Quote
inboil Posted July 3, 2007 Posted July 3, 2007 We're going to try to get to the lake by 4:30. Where are you? A few miles south of the chatham county line off 15/501. can be at vista point in twenty minutes. Feel free to call me off if I'm intruding. Might be a good opportunity to throw the Birder in the truck and take a chance on seeing your boat-- "work" isn't progressing much today anyway! Quote
Ken_Potts Posted July 3, 2007 Author Posted July 3, 2007 inboil, I sent you a PM earlier. We'll be there between 4:30 and 5:00. You're welcome to come along for a sail if you like. Quote
Remod Posted July 4, 2007 Posted July 4, 2007 Ken, can't wait to help out,,,oops,,,I guess I'll have to wait, I'm on call thru next Tuesday :'( I PM'd ya with contact Info. Quote
Ken_Potts Posted July 4, 2007 Author Posted July 4, 2007 Good news is there are pictures from today's sail. Bad news is I don't have them yet. The owner of the camera should be emailing them tomorrow and then I will post some. It was a good sail today. Inboil met us at the ramp and I got a look at his birder (pretty boat). Inboil and my friends Dan and Jen and I went out in an almost nonexistent SE breeze and puttered about the lake for a while. Despite the lack of wind we were able to get about fairly well and didn't have to fire up the outboard. Some people on a MacGregor (I think) drew up alongside and made the kind offer of a photo session so we handed Jen's camera over and watched them circle us and take pictures. Fortunately they brought the camera back so I should have something nice to post tomorrow. My lesson for the day was to raise the centerboard BEFORE winching the boat onto the trailer Otherwise a definite list to port occurs. I'll check the board tomorrow when it's light out but I'm not too worried - I didn't hear a gut-wrenching CRACK like when I broke the chine while folding the hull oh so many years ago so I don't think there's damage to the trunk. Actually it was enough of a non-event that I'll be a little surprised if there's any damage to the board - By the way, I used the Tom Lathrop rope trick when I built the board. I'm going to have to exercise some discipline, I think, in order to get the boat finished now that I can sail. I'm going to try to restrict my sailing to the weekends and maybe one after-work sail per week. Quote
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