A life jacket for the dog

Missy is a Boston Terrier who is wonderfully behaved. She never barks. She comes when called and (mostly) doesn't run off. What is her opinion of sailing? Hmm... It seems to be a combination of being very happy not to have been left behind and indifference. We have a life jacket for her. It doubles as a handle.

Sailing on Lake Lanier without a motor

The day started off with almost no wind. At once point we got a tow from a passing fishing boat. Then, around 3 pm, the wind picked up and got to around 10 mph. But it didn't stop there! A storm appeared on the horizon around 6, just as I was trying to put the boat back on her trailer. I missed, due to too much wind pushing the boat and then got blown into a lagoon. No amount of tacking with the jib could get me out. Wind speeds approached 40 mph. Lines were tangled. I was only very barely in control. In the end, I edged to shore and tied up on a root. Once the wind died back down (after the storm), I paddled back to the trailer and got everything loaded back up.

Note that all of this experience falls under the category, "No motor." I've bought a trolling motor that pushes at 40 pounds. That's the next experiment.

Mast Raising on Cape Dory Typhoon

The Cape Dory Typhoon

It would be rather uncomfortable to sail a Cape Dory Typhoon around the world, but it trailers wonderfully. Given that I live in Athens, GA, I figured that I need to drive around on the highway with my boat. That way I can see various lakes and eventually the ATLANTIC OCEAN. (That was me raising my voice.) This, I decided after many hours of dreaming about boats, would be better than keeping a (bigger) boat on a slip at one lake. Every boat is a compromise. The Typhoon (at 18.5 feet) is really small and has a cabin the size of a pup tent (one can barely sit up). But the small size means a smaller mast. That means I can single-handedly step it. That was my hypothesis. So how did it turn out in reality? This is my process:

1. Place a ladder about 6 feet behind the boat (while it is still on the trailer). I have an 8' ladder and I've created an extension to hold the mast even a bit higher so that it doesn't hit the roof of the cabin when it is in the initial horizontal position. (Note that in the photo I haven't yet added the extension part to the ladder and the ladder height is still too low.)

2. Put the mast horizontal from the ladder to where it attached atop the cabin and slip in in the mast base.

3. Attach a block (pulley) to the bow. Then run a line from the end of the forestay, through the block, and to where you're standing (in the cockpit).

4. Push the mast up while maintaining tension on the block.  Since the shrouds and backstay are attached to the mast, it can't go side to side or too far forward.

5. Once the mast is up, attach the forestay to the bow. Then tighten the turnbuckle. Done!

It turns out that I can just barely do this, given my weight class.  I'm about 155 pounds. The jury is still out as to whether this will injure my back. They are deliberating in a hot room with only one circulating fan. Hopefully at least one of the 12 will stick to his values.

I've taken the Typhoon out on three day sails. I picked days in which winds were around 14 mph with gusts around 20. Great sailing weather! She performed wonderfully. The motion is rather like riding a horse. Because she's small, you feel personally involved. When she hits some chop, spray splashes across the entire boat such that the captain may imagine that he's sailing the high seas.

Day one, I used the 4 hp Evinrude outboard to get out. But when trying to put her back on the trailer, I found it tricky to see from back there with the engine. After one or two tries, I lashed the rudder and when forward with a paddle.  From there, I could easily guide the boat into the side rails.

Day two, I ripped the start cord. Luckily I had the paddle. No problems.

Day three, I left the motor at home, fully confident in the paddle. Also I wasn't worried about the wind dying given the forecast. But I left the paddle on deck, where it chose some time when I wasn't looking to slip into the deep. I realized this right as I was ready to come back in. I managed to dock without paddle or engine. Then I drove to Walmart, bought a double-ended paddle, and returned to find the Typhoon waiting at the dock just where I left her. I put the trailer in the water and left it there as I went back to the dock, boarded the Dory, and paddled her over (in heavy wind). It is a process that works as long as one isn't at a busy ramp.

My first sailboat

I bought my first sailboat from a fellow who lived in view of Lake Lanier, which is a man made body of water in Georgia named after the poet Sydney Lanier. I paid $500. The boat was a Moth racing class boat 11 feet long. Really I should not be writing in the past tense because I still own her. Mr. Sneezy rests just outside, in my backyard. We have taken about four (4) splashes in a little lake 10 minutes from my home in Athens, GA.  I've hung a detergent bottle atop her mast. This was part of my strategy to avoid sinking after capsizing.  Also I have an exercise ball mounted in the bow. Yes, she tips over easily! (I also started carrying a bailing bucket because she self rights fine the first time, but not after shipping water.)