frowley Posted September 20, 2019 Report Share Posted September 20, 2019 Paul, Thanks so much for the detailed response and photo. (Hope this is ok, Steve?) I like the placement of your cheek blocks to pull the clew back. Perhaps I need to refine my heave-to as well. Good point about loosening the mizzen snotter so much the sprit can catch on the main sheet/sprit - had that happen too (yikes). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W Posted September 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2019 I have no worries about having a thread within a thread. I'm learning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W Posted September 24, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 OK, so I spent Sunday morning sailing with a bit more breeze than before. I had a friend with some weight to help and never thought I needed to reef, but I decided to practice putting a reef in the main. It went so-so. So please chime in with advice if you have any. I sheeted the mizzen hard. Skeena backed herself quietly. First I raised the rudder and the centerboard like my sea pearl and a it wasn't good. It seemed much better with the centerboard down. The jury is out on having the rudder down. I released the snotter and the halyard, but the main didn't come down very well. I'm not sure why. I just went forward and put the down-haul hook up to the first grommet, which worked fine. I was able to pull the sail down that way. The only trouble was going out on the deck. I opted for not having the rigging complexity of more lines and went for the simple setup. But I was imagining what it might be in real waves. I could poke my head out the hatch. I think maybe I'll rig two additional down-hauls. I've got longer arms and I had not trouble with the aft cleats. For this weeks sail on the Chesapeake I'm going to have to be careful. I will say that the sail shape with this rig is easy to keep. It took way to long and I need to practice. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul356 Posted September 24, 2019 Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 Only advice is reefing, like most maneuvers, gets smoother with practice. Seems like you're off to a good start. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W Posted September 30, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2019 One reef in the main. https://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=03qfa72e5eKq5ov4BBrrRCHDLY9NeqmEO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frowley Posted October 1, 2019 Report Share Posted October 1, 2019 HI Steve, Your boat looks Gorgeous!! I run the two main reef downhauls back to the cockpit and just leave them in place when I un-rig. Rigging then is just a matter of hooking them into the cringles as I bend on the main - it's pretty quick and I think worth it. Also, because I've got and often use our dodger, I never jump up onto the deck underway but instead poke up thru the hatch. I like it actually, because in the 17 at least, it feels pretty secure and gives me the access I need to the foredeck. I agree with Paul - both with respect to rigging and reefing. They get better over time. Practice reefing though, seems only worth it (after the initial few times) when you actually need to reef because the experience is so different with a lot of wind - than with no wind in my driveway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W Posted October 1, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2019 I have spent a few days on the Chesapeake and I'm getting the reefing technique down. More to follow, but there was a lot of this: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W Posted October 10, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2019 So I spent a week on the Chesapeake. One part of the trip was the MASCF trip to Wye Island. Here is a video of the adventure. If you don't have patience, at least head to the 2:30 mark. Lot's of fun! What a boat. I couldn't be happier. https://youtu.be/KOrlYOOprYw 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul356 Posted October 10, 2019 Report Share Posted October 10, 2019 What fun. Great video, great boat, Steve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd Stein Posted October 10, 2019 Report Share Posted October 10, 2019 Did you still need a place to temporarily store Skeena prior to Messabout? Todd 757-634-4695 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W Posted October 10, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2019 I had a punch list of small things to do so I decided to tow her home. Thanks for asking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Silsbe Posted October 11, 2019 Report Share Posted October 11, 2019 That was some fine sailing, Steve! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Anderson Posted October 14, 2019 Report Share Posted October 14, 2019 What a shake down cruise. I still worry about a few glue joints, but seven years and I don't know how many thousand miles and " Skorpa " is still holding together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W Posted October 22, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2019 I'm totally bummed, but yesterday I had my lead technician turn in his two week notice and proceeded to claim his vacation so he could start a new job immediately. I've treated him very fairly so I'm personally hurt more than anything. Suffice to say I went from being almost all packed ready to leave after work Wednesday to not attending. I am bummed so many ways. I was looking forward to showing off "Skeena", looking at some options you have all done to customize her, racing, sailing with all the other boats that inspired her and sharing stories. I've spent countless hours since MASCF going through a checklist of mods I made to be ready. Errrrrrrh! We are crazy busy and I was already driving straight and making it a quick turnaround. Now I'll just be working. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete McCrary Posted October 22, 2019 Report Share Posted October 22, 2019 You and Skeena sure had a fine sail at the MASCF. Wish i could have been there with Chessie -- but I'm recovered enough so that I will attend the massabout. Leaving Thursday and overnighting in at the Hampton in Williamston. Be at B & B mid morning on Friday. So sorry to hear that you and Skeena won't be at the massabout. Having been self employed myself for 25 years I fully understand -- you must "take care of the business so lthat the business will take care of you." I was looking forward to three CS20.3s sailing in formation. Maybe another time, but I'm hoping to sell Chessie soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul356 Posted October 23, 2019 Report Share Posted October 23, 2019 Feelin' bad for you. I know how much you were looking forward to the MA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmosSwogger Posted October 23, 2019 Report Share Posted October 23, 2019 I've been rigorously training all year hoping to beat you in the race, and now you deprive me of that chance? Seriously though, sorry to hear you can't make it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Designer Posted October 24, 2019 Report Share Posted October 24, 2019 I am disappointed too. I was looking forward to seeing you in a couple of days as well as getting to see Skeena. There will be more Messabout's. You have to take care of business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd Stein Posted October 24, 2019 Report Share Posted October 24, 2019 I’m totally bummed too, nevertheless looking ahead to the day when we’ll spilt tacks with Skeena and spin yarns with the skipper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W Posted October 25, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2019 Besides missing the event, I'm getting close to the last sail of the season. The days are getting short and the nights in the low 40's. It looks like you are going to have great weather. Take lot's of pictures. Here is another of Skeena winging it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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