I read through the Sabre dinghy construction and fitting out notes, and realised that the rudder blade on my boat is distictly non standard. The notes specify essentially a rectangular shape. Mine slopes back from the leading edge. I asked Jim at the Dinghy Shop about it when I left standing rigging there for replacement. He said I could get away with it, as long as I didn't start winning. Not much chance of that, but I will replace it anyhow.
Just as well I discovered this before I put too much effort into patching the old blade up. I have been researching NACA 00-- foils, not that I have much confidence I have understood much, and I am laminating up some ply to the requisite thickness. Tomorrow with the help of some templates I will see if I can make a passable rudder blade that could pass class measurement.
I wonder about the centreboard though. I will have to retrieve it and measure. I bought some closed cell foam for the trolley, and new lettering for transom on order, so with luck we might be ready to go soon.
Looks like Friday might be a possible sailing day weather wise - and I have plenty of boats to choose from.
Tuesday, July 16, 2019
Saturday, July 13, 2019
Enough boats
I bought another boat on Friday, a Sabre dinghy. Faced with any decision point it is always possible to find some maxim or quotation that supports whatever you wanted to do in the first place. Didn't Wallis Simpson say you can never be too rich or have too many boats? And William Blake wisely observed that you never know what is enough until you know what is more than enough. I suspect with this boat I am getting close to enough.
A small fleet of Sabres sails out of AYC on Saturdays during the season. Hopefully I will be able to keep in touch and learn something. Even if I only hold onto the boat for a few seasons it should be worth it.
Bob, the previous owner, very kindly delivered the boat yesterday and showed me how to rig it, which was just as well as it would have been a major iq test otherwise. The boat was modesstly priced and seems in not bad nick. I bought it with money received from selling my sea kayak, so arguably the number of boats has stayed constant.
The colour scheme is not one I would have chosen, but it is growing on me, and it will be easy for the recue boat to spot.
After lunch I walked the boat on its beach trolley down to the club and after a lot of fiddling I managed to get it onto the upper level rack. Hopefully I can obtain a middle level or ground level spot before too long.
I will replace the sidestays and forestay, sand and repaint the foils, and get the trolley some new closed cell foam for the bunks. Luckily the weather is atrocious for the coming week so with luck I should have it in shape and ready to go when some nice sailing weather comes around.
Ozzie doesn't seem too unhappy to be snugged up on the bed rather than heading out sailing.
A small fleet of Sabres sails out of AYC on Saturdays during the season. Hopefully I will be able to keep in touch and learn something. Even if I only hold onto the boat for a few seasons it should be worth it.
Bob, the previous owner, very kindly delivered the boat yesterday and showed me how to rig it, which was just as well as it would have been a major iq test otherwise. The boat was modesstly priced and seems in not bad nick. I bought it with money received from selling my sea kayak, so arguably the number of boats has stayed constant.
The colour scheme is not one I would have chosen, but it is growing on me, and it will be easy for the recue boat to spot.
After lunch I walked the boat on its beach trolley down to the club and after a lot of fiddling I managed to get it onto the upper level rack. Hopefully I can obtain a middle level or ground level spot before too long.
I will replace the sidestays and forestay, sand and repaint the foils, and get the trolley some new closed cell foam for the bunks. Luckily the weather is atrocious for the coming week so with luck I should have it in shape and ready to go when some nice sailing weather comes around.
Ozzie doesn't seem too unhappy to be snugged up on the bed rather than heading out sailing.
Friday, July 12, 2019
Out and back
Monday had a reasonable forecast, under 15 knots in the morning decreasing as the day progressed. I could get the car, so no logistical shuffles required, so I got the Core Sound down to the boat ramp round 11. Thanks to my new checklist I managed not to forget anything important.
Rigging is still taking a while, plus people like to come up for a chat, which is fine by me, but it does slow things down. A nice chap who is restoring a Hartley TS16 pulled up in his van. He had his dog in the van. Ozzie barked. We had a conversation which went essentially along the lines of "What sort of [bark bark bark] ? " Me: "Sorry?" Him; "[bark bark bark] is that?" Me: "Pardon?"
Michael also swung by, and helped me launch. He probably wisely declined an offer to come along for a sail, as the wind was already seeming to get stronger rather than easing. I got on the the water a bit after 12. He took a photo as we headed out. The boat is there, honest.
I put a reef in each sail and headed out, beating into the wind on the basis that it would be easier once it was time to come home. Here is the track for the day.
If I had been hoping to make it to Werribee River, it would have taken a bloody long time I suspect. I was about 7 miles off, but tacking into the wind would have more than doubled that. The wind was gusty and quite a chop built up. At one point a pilot boat came hurtling towards us, and I wondered if we were about the be rescued from something. But it kept on to one of the freighters anchored out there, perhaps dropping off a pilot. A lot of diesel to deliver one person though.
The Core Sound was bounding off the top of one wave and crashing into the next, with some impressive spray and a lot of pounding.
Looking on the BOM site when we got home, it was gusting up to 18 knots, and it felt like it. When we turned for home, it was difficult to keep the boat flat without hiking out, and with the bouncing about I wasn't too keen on doing too much of that. I dropped the main, and we ploughed our way home at about 5 knots on mizzen with the first reef alone.
I discovered that somewhere along the way my anti inversion mast head crab pot float, which I carried all the way after finding it on the Great South Western Walk, was gone. Probably just as well I didn't notice that while I was out there. I have bought some new ones. but they are a bit soul-less. I also spent a while trying to simplify rigging, so hopefully next time will be a bit less of a tangle.
Rigging is still taking a while, plus people like to come up for a chat, which is fine by me, but it does slow things down. A nice chap who is restoring a Hartley TS16 pulled up in his van. He had his dog in the van. Ozzie barked. We had a conversation which went essentially along the lines of "What sort of [bark bark bark] ? " Me: "Sorry?" Him; "[bark bark bark] is that?" Me: "Pardon?"
Michael also swung by, and helped me launch. He probably wisely declined an offer to come along for a sail, as the wind was already seeming to get stronger rather than easing. I got on the the water a bit after 12. He took a photo as we headed out. The boat is there, honest.
I put a reef in each sail and headed out, beating into the wind on the basis that it would be easier once it was time to come home. Here is the track for the day.
If I had been hoping to make it to Werribee River, it would have taken a bloody long time I suspect. I was about 7 miles off, but tacking into the wind would have more than doubled that. The wind was gusty and quite a chop built up. At one point a pilot boat came hurtling towards us, and I wondered if we were about the be rescued from something. But it kept on to one of the freighters anchored out there, perhaps dropping off a pilot. A lot of diesel to deliver one person though.
The Core Sound was bounding off the top of one wave and crashing into the next, with some impressive spray and a lot of pounding.
Looking on the BOM site when we got home, it was gusting up to 18 knots, and it felt like it. When we turned for home, it was difficult to keep the boat flat without hiking out, and with the bouncing about I wasn't too keen on doing too much of that. I dropped the main, and we ploughed our way home at about 5 knots on mizzen with the first reef alone.
I discovered that somewhere along the way my anti inversion mast head crab pot float, which I carried all the way after finding it on the Great South Western Walk, was gone. Probably just as well I didn't notice that while I was out there. I have bought some new ones. but they are a bit soul-less. I also spent a while trying to simplify rigging, so hopefully next time will be a bit less of a tangle.
Tuesday, July 2, 2019
Reconnaissance
On the basis that time spent gathering intelligence is never wasted, we drove down to Portarlington a few days ago. It was also a relatively sunny mild day, at last , and we had no other commitments.
The boat harbour there looks like a promising destination. Some of the fishing fleet have seen better days though.
The visitor berths were empty, but to be honest I doubt I could a) tie up singlehandedwithout drama to the four corners of the berth, nor b) get off the boat onto the pier once tied up. Maybe anchoring near the beach might work better.
The boat harbour there looks like a promising destination. Some of the fishing fleet have seen better days though.
The visitor berths were empty, but to be honest I doubt I could a) tie up singlehandedwithout drama to the four corners of the berth, nor b) get off the boat onto the pier once tied up. Maybe anchoring near the beach might work better.
Saturday, June 8, 2019
Sunshine,jellyfish
After the cloud burned off Friday was a beautiful sunny day, with wind around 10 knots steady South Westerly. Too good to miss, as the forecast for the coming week has strong winds every day. I've learned that if a good day comes along and I can make it, then get on out there.
Notwithstanding it took me most of the morning to get out of bed and get organized. But when I got out there, it was well worth it, enough wind to move us along 3.5 to 4 knots, but no chop. The boat sails itself pretty much, thanks to the Huntingford Helm impeder, and I could stretch out in the sun and take it easy. Ozzie was pretty relaxed too.
It was a very low tide, so low that there was a guy riding his bicycle along the sand bars which are usually covered in water. We sailed over to the mouth of Kororoit Creek, working on the Riddle of the Sands approach that you suss out the channels best at low tide. Thankyou Davies, I think I can see the way into the creek now, something to try next high tide.
I experimented with wearing gum boots, on the basis that my feet got really cold last time. It was good launching but when we landed at the creek mouth, of course, I misjudged the depth at a sandbar, and got both water over the tops of both boots. So much for warm dry feet.
On the way home we didn't want to stop. and we sailed on past the Red Stick and over towards Point Cook. There were an extraordinary number of Blue Blubber (Catostylus mosaicus) jelly fish out there. Inevitably the centre board hits some of them, which is sort of distressing for me and must be much worse for them. So after a number of jellyfish-centre board collisions, we turned round and headed for home.
The water is getting cold - 12.5 degrees at the moment. I have been reading up on survival in cold water - I think I will definitely wear my wet suit and thermals from now on, just in case.
By the time I had packed up the boat, my feet had largely lost sensation. A really memorably good day on the water though, one I think I will remember.
Notwithstanding it took me most of the morning to get out of bed and get organized. But when I got out there, it was well worth it, enough wind to move us along 3.5 to 4 knots, but no chop. The boat sails itself pretty much, thanks to the Huntingford Helm impeder, and I could stretch out in the sun and take it easy. Ozzie was pretty relaxed too.
It was a very low tide, so low that there was a guy riding his bicycle along the sand bars which are usually covered in water. We sailed over to the mouth of Kororoit Creek, working on the Riddle of the Sands approach that you suss out the channels best at low tide. Thankyou Davies, I think I can see the way into the creek now, something to try next high tide.
I experimented with wearing gum boots, on the basis that my feet got really cold last time. It was good launching but when we landed at the creek mouth, of course, I misjudged the depth at a sandbar, and got both water over the tops of both boots. So much for warm dry feet.
On the way home we didn't want to stop. and we sailed on past the Red Stick and over towards Point Cook. There were an extraordinary number of Blue Blubber (Catostylus mosaicus) jelly fish out there. Inevitably the centre board hits some of them, which is sort of distressing for me and must be much worse for them. So after a number of jellyfish-centre board collisions, we turned round and headed for home.
The water is getting cold - 12.5 degrees at the moment. I have been reading up on survival in cold water - I think I will definitely wear my wet suit and thermals from now on, just in case.
By the time I had packed up the boat, my feet had largely lost sensation. A really memorably good day on the water though, one I think I will remember.
Sunday, June 2, 2019
Maribyrnong River with the WBA
Despite an apocalyptic weather forecast it was a lovely day for the WBA river trip up the Maribrynong today. After Ozzie's Agility training I got the kayak launched near Footscray Park by 11.30.
There seemed to be lots of floating bits of crap along they way, old bottles, polystyrene foam, plastic. I loaded up the front and rear of the kayak with whatever came within reach. Gave me a good excuse to have a break from paddling too.
It wasvery pleasant gathering of wooden boatey type people, lunch made nicer by the unexpected sunshine.
Heading back down river, I paced along with Graham in his pedal driven canoe. He cycles everywhere and is super fit, so it was a workout to keep up with him. Lucky i was only going a few miles, as I don't think I had much left in the energy bank when I got back to my launch spot.
It wasvery pleasant gathering of wooden boatey type people, lunch made nicer by the unexpected sunshine.
Heading back down river, I paced along with Graham in his pedal driven canoe. He cycles everywhere and is super fit, so it was a workout to keep up with him. Lucky i was only going a few miles, as I don't think I had much left in the energy bank when I got back to my launch spot.
Saturday, June 1, 2019
Way cool
The weather has taken a distinctly wintery turn. Every day for the last week or so has had gale or strong wind warnings, plus rain and thunder storms. Today was an ok forecast, nothing better coming up either, so I got the Mirror out.
We sailed down towards the mouth of Kororoit Creek, half thinking that we might try to navigate through the maze of sticks and sand bars at the entrance, but when we got there the waves seemed to be breaking right across the whole area with no obvious deeper water. And it was mighty cold. I'd forgotten to re-rig the topping lift so rowing would have been a right pain as well. Enough excuses, we turned round and beat back home. It was a bit choppy but probably less than 10 knots. A few cup fulls of spray over the decks though, much to Ozzie's disgust. One ear up, one ear down, is an eloquent sign of disapproval.
It was good to get out though, and I always seem to bump into nice people while I am rigging up or down. So all in all it was worth the effort. I definitely need a few more layers now - the water and air temperatures are way down, and I was cold
We sailed down towards the mouth of Kororoit Creek, half thinking that we might try to navigate through the maze of sticks and sand bars at the entrance, but when we got there the waves seemed to be breaking right across the whole area with no obvious deeper water. And it was mighty cold. I'd forgotten to re-rig the topping lift so rowing would have been a right pain as well. Enough excuses, we turned round and beat back home. It was a bit choppy but probably less than 10 knots. A few cup fulls of spray over the decks though, much to Ozzie's disgust. One ear up, one ear down, is an eloquent sign of disapproval.
It was good to get out though, and I always seem to bump into nice people while I am rigging up or down. So all in all it was worth the effort. I definitely need a few more layers now - the water and air temperatures are way down, and I was cold
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