March - Lake Guntersville Sailing Club

Transcription

THE BINNACLE MARCH 2012
lakeguntersvillesailingclub.com
CALENDAR UNTIL JUNE 10th
Lake Guntersville Sailing Club Calendar
2012
2012 As of Match 14,
Date:
Function/Event:
Notes:
Sat March 17
Spring Trophy Race #3 SM 11:00am
St. Paddy’s Day
Sun March 18
Fun Race SM 11:00am
Sat March 24
Fun Pursuit Race SM 11:00 am
Sat March 31
Spring Trophy Race #4 SM 11:00am
Sun April 1
Specialty Race
All Fools Day
Guntersville Sail Week April 17 – April 22
Fri April 13
Guntersville Cup - Italian Dinner 6:00 pm ($10)
– Skippers Meeting 7:00pm
Sat April 14
Breakfast 7:00am (free)
Guntersville Cup - Two Races - 1st Start 10:00am
Board Meeting 4:00pm
Guntersville Cup Social and Dinner 5:00 pm ($15)
Sun April 15
Breakfast 7:00am (free)
Guntersville Cup – One Race – Start 10:00am
- Trophy Presentation 3:00pm
Wed April 18
BCSA Evening Race
Thu April 19
Sailing Lessons in Clubhouse 7:00pm (and next 5 Thus)
Sat April 21
BCSA One-Design Regatta
BCSA Good Goat Race
BCSA Dinner
Sun April 22
BCSA One-Design Regatta & Trophy Presentation
Sailing Lessons on Water 12:00 noon (and next 5 Suns)
Sat/Sun April 28/29
Open
Sat May 5
Spring Trophy Race #5 SM 11:00 am
Sun May 6
Fun Pursuit Race SM 11:00am
Sat May 12
Spring Trophy Race #6 SM 11:00 am
Cruise: - City Docks Cruise w. lunch downtown
Social Hour on the Docks and Appetizers 5:00pm
Sun May 13
Open
Sat May 19
Spring Trophy Race Make-Up (if needed) SM 11:00 am
Sun May 20
Fun Pursuit Race
Fri May 25
Alabama Jubilee Cruise (Balloon Festival in Decatur)
thru
Mon May 28
Sat June 2
Sun June 3
Fun Pursuit Race
Sat June 9
Social Hour 5:00pm, Bring Meat to Grill Dinner 6:00 pm
Sun June 10
Fun Pursuit Race SM 11:00 am
** SM = Skippers Meeting
Full Moon Today
Mother’s Day
Memorial Day
Full Moon June 4
We seem to have sprung spring and jumped right to summer. It was 83 degrees Sunday with a typical
screwball wind flow but a wonderful sail and a little sunburn. Got to try out our new jib with two vertical
battens to try and keep a little shape on the tiny sail when it’s really light air. Seemed to work pretty well
to cure the “curl” in the leech in the three to seven knots of wind we had. Question for sail makers. Why
do they make the cringle so small you can’t possibly pass the pole end through. Our solution is to braid a
ring of spectra through it and attach the pole to it. Used a stainless snap hook but it’s too heavy and clanks
around on the tacks. It takes a little time to braid a round through the cringle but works well and is light.
Lot’s going on in April. Guntersville Sail week was a big success last year. The Guntersville Cup is Saturday April, 14th and Sunday April 15th with at least three races. The following weekend there will be a
regatta down at Brown’s Creek with a long race and a regatta with buoy racing Saturday and Sunday. Class
racing as well. Three boats required. How about a C320 class. We have four of them in the marina. And
we could probably get three Cat 27’s, Cat 25’s, and Hunter 28.5’s. If you have never raced in class it’s a
lot of fun and you aren’t racing against handicap. If everybody wants to do it we could keep the boats at
the City Marina and figure out a plan to provide transportation.
We did the Good Goat Regatta last year and it was fantastic racing with the first three boats within sight of
each other the whole race, trading position back and forth.
Check out the cruising schedule. The club has included some really fun cruises this year. The bat cave
cruise was a great success and is on the calendar again this year. Take a look at the Calendar. And thanks
to Scott Landgraf for putting this together.
A great turnout for the Saint Patrick’s day social. About 50 people. A fun presentation by Gregg and Dick
on their adventure down the Tom Bigbee to Pensacola last year.
Larry Bontrager and I will be doing sailing lessons again if anybody is interested. I only got one response
about doing the GPS navigation class again. If you are interested let me know and I’ll do it again.
captainsterling@pollyannapress.net
I had several people ask me about the racing rules as they pertain to windward -leeward right of way.
While I am absolutely no expert on the Racing Rules of Sailing I have raced sailboats for a long time and
some of my notions about the windward leeward rules were apparently a bit dated. However there really
wasn’t much change to 17 because 17.1 was rather redundant. The rules that apply are 14-17 (general limitations) 13, and 19. All these rules deal with limitations on the basic rules of right of way under section A.
17 ON THE SAME TACK; PROPER COURSE
If a boat clear astern becomes overlapped within two of her hull lengths to leeward of a boat on the same
tack, she shall not sail above her proper course while they remain on the same tack and overlapped
within that distance, unless in doing so she promptly sails astern of the other boat. This rule does not apply
if the overlap begins while the windward boat is required by rule 13 to keep clear.
The biggest problem with this rule is there is no definition of PROPER COURSE anywhere in the rules.
From what I’ve been able to read from protests Proper Course is basically the fastest course you would sail
to a mark or gate as if there was no other boat there. For instance you are sailing and you are catching the
boat ahead. You have to decide to go to windward or leeward. If you go to windward, then the other boat
can head up as much as they want to keep you from passing and you will have to stay out of the way. If
you go to leeward, you become the right of way boat, but you are limited – you can’t sail higher than
your “proper course”. On an upwind leg that means you can’t “luff up” the windward boat. But if your
boat points higher than the one you are passing, you can still pinch them off so that they might have to tack
to stay clear. On reaching and running legs, the limited leeward boat is not allowed to sail higher than they
would have without the other boat there. A straight line to the next mark is a proper course, but you are
allowed to sail higher than that if you have a good reason. It is important to note that it is the proper course
of the leeward right of way boat that matters for Rule 17 and that the windward must change course to keep
clear, even if it means sailing above their own best course.
Change boats and say that you are sailing along on a reach or run and a boat is catching you from behind.
While you are still clear ahead, you are the right of way boat. If the other boat tries to sail to windward
of you, Rule 17 doesn’t apply and you are not limited. However, if the boat coming up from behind is
heading to leeward of you, once they get within two boat lengths (even before they are overlapped) you
become limited by Rule 17 and you cannot sail below your proper course. Basically it means that you can’t
head down to keep them from passing you, and once they become overlapped, you can’t sail down closer
to them. Proper course again means the course you would sail if the other boat was not there. A course
straight to the next mark is almost always proper, but you may legitimately sail lower if for example you
are trying to go to leeward of some boats ahead. Just remember that once the passing boat gets a leeward
overlap that they become right of way and you must keep clear even of you have to sail higher than your
desired course.
That leaves one other big question for windward/leeward right of way situations: when can the leeward
boat tack? If there aren’t any other boats or obstructions around, the simple answer is that the leeward
cannot tack if there is a windward boat in the way. This is due to Rule 13. If Rule 17 does not limit the
leeward boat, then they are free to head all the way up to head to wind and the windward boat must keep
clear. However, once they pass head to wind, Rule 13 turns on and the tacking boat must keep clear of all
others and they aren’t even entitled to “room to keep clear”. If they can’t clear the windward boat, they
can’t tack. 13.
There is one fairly common exception that is covered by Rule 19. For example, on an upwind leg two porttack boats are heading towards a starboard tack boat and the leeward boat won’t be able to cross safely
ahead. In this case, the leeward gets to decide if they want to duck below the starboard boat or tack. If they
choose to duck, they must give the windward boat room to duck as well. If they choose to tack they must
hail the windward boat for “room to tack” and the windward boat must promptly tack or hail back “you
tack” and then keep clear while the leeward boat tacks. It’s important to remember that “room to tack” only
applies at obstructions such as a right of way boat or the shore. Just because the windward boat is sailing
past the layline to the mark doesn’t give the leeward boat any right to tack. Likewise, another boat that is
not right of way is also not an obstruction. A starboard tack leeward boat cannot hail a windward starboard
tack boat for room to tack when approaching a port tack boat because the port tack boat is required to keep
clear of both starboard boats.
This sounds rather complicated but it’s actually pretty simple. If you use common sense. Just because
you are leeward boat by acquisition you do not have the right to sail above your proper course. You do not
have the right to tack into the windward boat. And when presented with starboard-port situations you need
to communicate with the windward boat about what you are going to do, Duck or Tack. And the windward boat
has to give you room. Once you are in the ZONE the rules slightly change. But out on the course it’s really a
matter of being courteous and not getting stupid.
Please note that the notice of the race and the entry forms for the Guntersville Cup are on the website. www.
lakeguntersvillesailingclub.com. John Streatfield said we need a count for the catered dinner for the Saturday
Dinner. The entry fee includes one dinner. Protocol and custom is to provide dinner for your crew. So get
those race applications in so we can figure out how many dinners to provide.
I’ll get the race applications for the Guntersville Cup and the Brown’s Creek races out to everybody under a
separate Email.
The WATER AND PUMP OUT ARE ON!
Have fun on the water and be safe. Sterling
LGSC Cruise Calendar
Sat. May 12 -City Docks w. Lunch downtown. Note: We have evening Social on LG Marina Docks
Sat/Sun. June 16/17 - Overnight Star Gazing – Town Creek. Note: After Race to the State Park
Sat. June 30 - Rope Swing Raft Up.
Sat. Sep 1 thru Mon Sep 3. - 3-day Goose Pond Cruise. Note: Diner at Goose Pond Sat. evening
Sat/Sun. Sep. 29/30 - Overnight to Bat Cave
Sat/Sun. Oct 27/28 – Overnight for Fall Foliage Cruise
SAILING CLASSES
SIX WEEK COURSE BASIC SAILING
CLASS ROOM INSTRUCTION THURSDAYS 7:00 PM
BEGINS THURSDAY APRIL 19TH
ON THE WATER INSTRUCTION SUNDAYS 12:00 PM
CALL QUILL FOR MORE INFORMATION
256-652-0916
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED SIGN UP SOON. THESE CLASSES HAVE
FILLED UP QUICKLY
GPS NAVIGATION CLASS
I’ve had several people ask to repeat the GPS navigation class.
I’m thinking some day during the Summer where we could
take several hours. Plese Email me with any thoughts about
dates and if you are interested.
captainsterling@pollyannapress.net
From the Commodore
The 2012 LGSC season is off to a rousing start with Trophy Racing and two very successful and well
attended Social/Dinner events. (I didn’t realize how many of the members are direct descendants of the
Irish). Now we get ready for the 13, 14 & 15 April Guntersville Cup where we have already secured several major sponsors and a number of others show interest and support.
The LGSC Cruise Program for 2012 has been firmed up by Scott Landgraff in consultation with his opposite number at Browns Creek Sailing Association, and they have scheduled six varied joint events.
Of great significance is the organization of a Second Lake Guntersville Sail Week which starts with the
Guntersville Cup weekend, continues through a Mid-Week Evening Race to a One Design Regatta and
a Good Goat Race the following weekend of 21 & 22 April. The One-Design event is for teams of three
identical make/model boats and so please look around at the members with similar boats to yours and see
if you can get together to show our superiority of sailing in the area. We will be making special announcements and publicizing the Sail Week in the surrounding press to indicate that sailing is important on Lake
Guntersville.
See the attached calendars for the immediate LGSC program, the joint cruises and The Sail Week.
See you on the water,
Dick Potter
Windward Leeward
Bottom left. 3854 is the windward boat and will have to give
way to the red boat shortly.
Bottom right. Who has the right of way here? 3355 is favored
because they have overlap (just barely) on the center boat. If
they were headed into the zone or a mark they would have a
distinct advantage.
The Spring Trophy series has started off well. We have completed the Long and Triangular courses as
planned. The Hunter 28.5, Outrageous, took the top honor for both races. Overall results from the two races:
Spring Trophy Series – Race #1 Results (Long Course)
Race Date 3/3/2012
SailNo HelmName
72
397
580
1071
61
764
Ed Miller
Fleet Willoughby
Brent Beam
Clark Mason
George Brown
Chuck Tuck
Rich Mason
Randy Hartwell
Greg Hathorn
PHRF
189
178.2
156
204.6
169
117
173.4
189
168
Actual Corrected Points
2:44:06 2:42:06
1
RCB
2
2:39:58 2:45:24
2
2:54:39 2:48:57
3
3:06:55 3:09:47
4
2:57:04 3:13:47
5
3:41:18 3:43:19
6
3:47:57 3:45:10
7
DNF(9)
9
Spring Trophy Series – Race #2 Results (Triangular Course)
BCSA has scheduled a One-Design Regatta and the Good Goat Race for the weekend of April 21-22.
They are also planning a Wednesday evening race on April 18.
Racing Rule of the Month:
42.1 Propulsion. Basic Rule
Except when permitted in rule 42.3 or 45, a boat shall compete by using only the wind and water to
increase, maintain or decrease her hull speed. Her crew may adjust the trim of sails and hull, and
perform other acts of seamanship, but shall not otherwise move their bodies to propel the boat.
Racing starts at the preparatory flag (refer to the definition section of the RRS). When the
preparatory flag goes up (at 4 minutes before start) all engines/motors must be turned off.
Lake Guntersville Sail Week
Friday, April 13 through Sunday, April 22
Day/
Date:
Activity:
Friday
April 13
Saturday
April 14
Saturday,
April 14
Sunday
April 15
Sunday
April 15
Social, Dinner & Skippers
Meeting
Two Races – Start for 1st
Race at at 10:00am
Social and Dinner
LGSC
6:00pm at LGSC Clubhouse
LGSC
Tennessee River –
Opposite State Park
5:00 pm at LGSC Clubhouse
One Race – Start at
10:00am
Trophy Presentation
LGSC
Guntersville Cup Regatta
Location:
LGSC
LGSC
Tennessee River –
Opposite State Park
3:00pm at LGSC Clubhouse
BCSA
Meet at BCSA clubhouse
BCSA
Tennessee River –
Goat Island to Seibold Creek
Light
Saturday 3 Races–Skippers meeting
April 21
11:00 am. Start at Noon
BCSA
Saturday Social & Dinner
April 21
Sunday
2 Races- Start for 1st race at
April 22 10:00 am
BCSA
Tennessee River – Between
AL Hwy 69 causeway & Lower
Guntersville Light
6:30 pm at BCSA Clubhouse
Sunday
April 22
BCSA
Evening Race
Fun Race – Start 5:00 pm
Good Goat Race
Saturday Race – Start at ?
April 21
One-Design Regatta
Awards Presentation
Lake Guntersville Sailing Club’s
Clubhouse
Browns Creek Sailing Association’s
Clubhouse
BCSA
Tennessee River -Between AL
Hwy 69 causeway & Lower
Guntersville Light
3:00 pm or ASAP at BCSA
Clubhouse
21500 Hwy 431N, Guntersville, AL
134 Browns Creek Rd., Guntersville, AL
Guntersville Lake Sailing Club
Upcoming social events for this spring...
What a fantastic turnout we had for our March monthly dinner this
past week! Over 50 people attended our stew potluck, hosted by Ed and Connie
“the leprechaun” Miller. The dinner was followed by an informative and humorous
presentation by Greg Hathorn and Dick Grimes which recounted their trip down
the Tombigbee River to Pensacola last summer. We had a great day of beautiful
sailing, delicious food, and wonderful fellowship!
Please join us in April for our main regatta, the Guntersville Cup. Social events
during the weekend include:
Friday, April 13th: 6:00 pm Italian Dinner at the marina, $10 per person
7:00 pm Skippers’ Meeting for the regatta
Saturday, April 14th: 7:00 am Breakfast at the marina, free!
5:00 pm Guntersville Cup Social Hour with appetizers
6:00 pm Barbecue Dinner at the marina, $15 per person
Sunday, April 15th:
7:00 am Breakfast at the marina, free!
As part of the joint LGSC/BCS “Guntersville Sailing Week,” the Brown’s Creek
Sailing Club will be hosting sailing regattas and a dinner at their marina on
Saturday, April 21st. Additional races will be held on Sunday. We encourage you
to participate in the races and/or visit their marina for dinner. LGSC sailors had
impressive results there last year. J
finally, please mark your calendars for Saturday,
th
May 12 , the date of our annual Progressive Appetizers on the Docks. This event
allows us to share our favorite appetizers, while visiting the docks and boats of
our marina neighbors…it was a big hit last year! We will begin the day with a joint
BCS/LGSC day cruise to the Guntersville City Docks where we will eat lunch in the
downtown area and then cruise back home for our social event. Plan now to join us
in May.
Bolger Advanced Sharpie 39’ LOOSE MOOSE
Phil Bolger 1927-2009
BOLGER LIGHT SCHOONER
AS39 WIZZARD
Some Sensible Sailboats by Phil Bolger.
If you aren’t familiar with Phil Bolger you can
find many of his designs on the Web. Definitely
different but always practical. Wizzard has
made two Trans Atlatntic Crossings. Refreshing
after seeing the stupid boats on Sailing Anarchy.
Bolger Martha
Jane @24’ lee
boards very roomy
inside. Probably
his most known
design with many,
many of them
built.
VIDEO AND COMMERCIAL SHOOT AT THE MARINA
Monday, March 19th, Dick Potter graciously hosted a party from CLEARVIEW CANCER INSTITUTE
in Huntsville and Decatur that was making a commercial with some very nice ladies from the Marshall
County Breast Cancer Support Group. Perhaps they will send us some photos or video from the shoot.
Marshall County Breast Cancer Support Group
This group provides monthly fun, support and monthly education programs. Meetings are the 3rd Thursday of the month, 11:30 a.m. at ValMonte Lodge (Conference Room) in Guntersville and includes lunch.
Please call 256.705.4289 for more information
ROGER ERICKSON’S LOG
TRIP DOWN THE TOM BIGBEE TO
TARPON SPRINGS, FLORIDA
(not sure what to make of the ending, editior)
Below is my synopsis of the trip to date;
Travel Day 1 ** Departed Guntersville Sailing Club marina
Wednesday, January 18, 2012. Engine stopped below Guntersville
Dam –fuel filter, sailed for a while, anchored, changed it and arrived
at Ditto Landing in Huntsville about 4 PM. Completed river miles,
Travel Day 2 ** Departed Ditto about 7 AM Thursday, January 19, 2012 and got past Decatur before the engine water
pump impeller failed and steam was coming out the exhaust – bad. Anchored out of the channel and replaced the
impeller, a 1 hour stop. I ordered two spare impellers via cell phone for delivery to Wheeler. Motored on to Wheeler
State Park Marina for a 3 PM arrival.
Travel Day 3 ** Departed Wheeler State Park Marina about 6:30 AM Tuesday, January 24, 2012, after a 4 day rest-up
for receipt of parts, and bad weather. Completed 65 miles to tie up at Grand Harbor Marina at the top of the Tenn-Tom
waterway at 5:30. No problems. We saw a most unusual thing today of thousands of spiders traveling via their individual strands of web-material that was 20+ yards long. With the sun right there were hundreds in view at one time.
Travel Day 4 ** Departed Grand Harbor Marina, Tenn-Tom Mile Marker (mm)449 about 7 AM Wednesday, January
25, 2012, some morning fog. Completed 37 miles to arrive Bay Springs Marina ~3:30pm. Took on 5 gal of diesel for
~13mpg, +2 mph current. Anchored out behind Bay Springs Marina in a great anchorage of 12+ feet of water, protected on all 4 sides.
Travel Day 5 ** Departed Bay Springs Marina, mm 412, Tenn-Tom Mile Marker (mm) 412 about 7 AM Thursday,
January 26, 2012, some morning fog. A no trouble day. Took on 4.3 gal of diesel covering 38 miles for <10mpg, -1
mph current
Travel Day 6 ** Departed Smithville Marina, Tenn-Tom Mile Marker (mm)377 about 7 AM Friday, January 27, 2012,
some morning fog. A no trouble day. Completed 45 miles to arrive ~3:30pm. Took on 2.9 gal of diesel covering 35
miles for ~12mpg, +1 mph current.
Travel Day 7 ** Departed anchor out at Tenn-Tom Mile Marker mm332 (small creek south of Columbus Oxbow)
about 7 AM Saturday, January 28, 2012, some morning fog. The pressure pump for galley and wash water failed, we
will work out of the 5 gal spare tank and fix it at Demopolis. Completed 45 miles to arrive ~3:30pm.
Travel Day 8 ** Departed, Tenn-Tom Mile Marker (mm)268.2 Day-Mark about 7 AM Sunday, January 29, 2012,
some morning fog. The sea water pump that I replace the impeller on start leaking past a shaft seal (I’ll have to fix
that at Demopolis also). Completed 51 miles to arrive Demopolis Marina, mm216 ~3:30pm. Took on 12 gal of diesel covering 160 miles for 13.3 MPG with 1½ MPH current.
Writing this Feb 5. Demopolis is a welcome stop, we have been having long days and the breakdowns of the past two
days need to be fixed. We started to hear about the high water situation at Demopolis and south before we got there.
We were expecting more trash & logs to come in at the Black Warrior river but it was OK there. However, when we
got to Demopolis the marina had a floating island of logs, sticks, garbage, and you name it that just about covered the
entire marina area. We did get into the fuel dock but had to push the island back to move the boat to the pump-out
hose. The forecast for lower (and slower) water looks good for late this week (about 9-10 Feb) so we will return to the
boat. We need a 4 day window to get to Mobile.
Well, we are back on the water again. We, Dave Harris, and I had a good week at home in Huntsville and got back
to Demopolis on 9 Feb and headed down river on the 10th. We got the new cooling pump when we got back to the
boat on Thursday and we were ready to go shortly after daybreak on Friday, 10 Feb. Happy Birthday Sonia. It was
cold, I was dressed in all the warm clothes I had on the boat. Friday was a good travel day covering 71 river miles.
This was helped by the open lock at Demopolis that we passed trough in less than 20 min. We met two other boaters in med-large, 40'-45', motor boats at Demopolis; Bruce & Karren (mid-late 60's) on Ookpik from Canada who
had completed the Great Loop and were on there way back to Flordia and on to the Bahamas. The other boat, Gypsy
Spirit, was owned by Dave & Adrain Cohin (early-mid 60's) from Dallas, who were kind of new boaters. We tied
up with them or anchored with them several times going to Mobile. On Friday we had about one and a half MPH
of current helping us to complete 71 miles. We, with Ookpik, anchored out at mm145 in a tiny creek about one boat
length wide. It was quiet in spite of some wind over night. We had a line stern to stern with Oopik and both boat
had bow anchors out for a secure set.
Feb 11, 2012 Saturday. We had good travel in the morning and got to Bobby's Fish camp at 10:30. Bobby's had a
sign on the door that they opened for business at 12:00. At 12:00 I walked up the office/cafe and the lady was there,
she was most concerned if we were going to have lunch. The three traveling amigo boat all planed to have lunch for
a boom of 6 people. Bobby's is the first diesel after Demopolis and last before Mobile, over a hundred miles north
or south. We got out of Bobby's at 1:35 --- time we didn't have to spend. Today we locked through our last lock
heading south, at Coffeeville. It is good that it was the last as we had a strong, 15-25 mph, NW wind that gave us a
great deal of trouble resulting in the boat getting forced away from the lock wall when the lower lock doors opened.
I was able to hold the boat in mid lock with the engine and exited as the doors opened fully. The Lock Master was
understanding and didn't give us any guff. We searched the charts and notes for a good anchorage for the night and
settled on Old Lock #1 at mm100. We got in the side river to it at 4 PM. The water depth into it was good at 20+
feet. We discovered the Old Lock #1 about a half mile off the Ten-Tom waterway. It was a great tie up for all 3 boats
and made for a good happy hour with easy walking between boats. In the morning, Dave talked to a local man that
was baptized at the lock we he was a tike. He, Wayne Ramey, said he had never seen any boat tied up in the lock!
Overnight the water had dropped about 2-3 feet, we still had 15 feet under our keel so we were ok, but we backed
out rather than going forward. a 45 mile day
Feb 12, 2012 Sunday. Left Lock #1, mm100, at 10:30. Quiet day on the river, NW wind and current helping us. We
covered 46 miles to anchor in Bates Lake with the other two boats. We didn't drop an anchor but tied up to Ookpik
and they had their BBQ grill fired up and we tossed some brats on it for a quick dinner. Karen served tea after dinner for a very civilised evening. We talked about where to stop considering the prediction of wind and rain the next
evenings, and decided on mm7 above Mobile.
Feb 13, 2012 Monday. We got out of Bates Lake, mm54, at 6:15. We wanted some good day-light time at the end
of the day as we may F and we had about a half hour conversation about various things including what we needed to
do. Bruce, on Ooppik, need some parts and I needed charts and we wanted to pick them up in Mobile. He suggested
we tie up in down town Mobile at the civic center - - Free. SOLD We motored off a quickly as we could and tied up
at the Mobile Civic center, mm00, at 4:30. We went out to eat in a restraint and wound up in a Wentzels Seafood,
this may be the original. Our last travel day on the Tenn-Tom, 450 miles, 150 miles on the Tennessee River for 600
miles completed on the trip to date. A 54 mile day.
Feb 14, 2012 Tuesday. Last night was rough - - - Every time a tug boat went by, we got tossed around. We did our
shopping trip and got back to the boat about 2 PM and dropped off the lines a quickly as we could. Off to Dog River
Marina. In Mobile, I installed the chart plotter that displays charts and our GPS position for the salt water area from
Mobile to the Keys. We arrived at the marina about 5 pm for a 20mile day.
Feb 15 & 16 at Dog River completing several house keeping jobs like; making the installation of the chart plotter
propper, laundry, replace one of the boat's batteries, inflate the inflatable boat to check if it floats, send emails.
Feb 16, tomorrow, we hit the salt water proper and cross Mobile bay.
Boat trip notes # 3, Final
The last notes, #2, left the story as we were getting into Dog River Marina, just south of Mobile, on February 14, 2012.
Let me tell the ending before the story. I sold the boat in Tarpon Springs, after 1200 miles of travel at 5-8 mph over
8 weeks and not reaching our stated objective of the Florida Keys. However, it was a great adventure, with surprising
sights, beautiful scenery, some good food, many very interesting people, and renewed confidence in what a couple of
old men can do. (I’m really not that old)
Feb 15 & 16 This was a couple of days of house keeping, repairs, check-outs and rest at Dog River Marina. The
previous week was a lot of work and dodgy nights sleep on anchorages and the tie-up in downtown Mobile was not
very restful. Dog River is a great place to stop at as they have a West Marine store right there, a courtesy vehicle and a
couple of good restaurants within a mile.
Feb 17 50 mile day Got out of Dog River at 7:00 AM. Had a good
25 mile sail across Mobile bay and fell in love with my chart plotter / GPS. This eBay purchase allowed me to follow
our exact position relative to the displayed charts that were very similar to the paper charts that I purchased in Mobile.
On this first leg, we had to follow the ship channel to 10 miles south of Dog River and turn east through a narrow
break in the spoils (dredged material from the ship channel). Very easily done with the chart plotter but would have
taken many plots on the paper chart with the hand held GPS. At the southeast end of Mobile Bay we entered the Inter
Coastal Waterway, ICW, at marker #21. From there to Lulu’s is about 15 miles. Lulu is Jimmy Buffet’s sister and this
place is a must stop. We got there about noon, we had not cooked anything so we tied up to the most fancy dock on our
trip and had lunch with a light crowd of 150 people. A Cheeseburger in Paradise. It was good. The 11 mile trip on to
our destination for the day, Pirates Cove, was very relaxing. 4:00 PM tied up at Pirates Cove dock, Lat 30o 19.2’, Lon
87o 32.0’, just west of ICW marker 60. No diesel, the showers about 200 yards away, no shops, limited menu (only a
breakfast sandwich). But the greatest stop of the trip in several ways. As we left Lulu’s we telephoned Pirates Cove to
make sure they had room for us and any particulars on entry. A young lady assured us that there would be a tie-up for
us and gave us some pointers on entry to the dock. As we arrived, she was out on the sand beach pointing and giving
directions to get us through a narrow channel to the back that opened up to a ¼ mile long kidney shaped lake (a great
anchorage) and the dock with power hookups and water. There were three or four sailboats, a couple of power boats,
three or four house boats, and some assorted work boats. After we got the boat tied up we went around to the front
and there was a crowd of locals and people that lived on the boats in the marina having beers on the deck. We quickly
made several friends for life. One of my most pressing needs was to re-glue my zodiac inflatable dingy floor. Within
a half hour of arrival, Tie (a new life-long friend) had arranged the use of Joe’s garage floor and had offered to drive
twenty five miles to rent a dehumidifier to bring the humidity down to something acceptable. Or he knew there was a
place in the Tampa Bay area that could repair it a reasonable price.
I elected for the repair in Tampa Bay as we really didn’t need the dingy until we got to the Keys and I knew we
would be in the Tampa Bay area for a couple of weeks and the job would take at least two days.
Feb 18 & 19, Saturday & Sunday Pirates Cove. We had a good supper
at the bar Friday evening and on Saturday morning caught up on internet things, weather forecasts, emails, researching
marinas down the coast, etc. Saturday night there was a great band, Sunday afternoon another, Sunday night another.
Sunday afternoon there was a Mardi Gras parade, that started from the Pirates Cove parking lot, comprised of the local
fire truck, every convertible in the county with a cute girl or two or three in each one, the local dignitaries in gulf carts
. . . all throwing beads, Moon Pies, and assorted stuff. Dave took a bunch of pictures and I hope he can share some.
We had seen a Mardi Gras parade in Mobile, this was better. The very valid excuse for staying here was the weather;
thunderstorms Saturday night with high gusty winds, Sunday again high winds.
20 Feb 60 mile day Got out of Pirates Cove at 6:45 AM. Good
day of travel with the wind on our nose. (We should be going the other
way!) Tied up at Legendary Marine in Ft. Walton Beach at 5 PM. We were able to catch West Marine open and got
charts for west Florida and a very good Italian meal across the street.
21 Feb 40 mile day Pulled away from Legendary Marine at 6:15,
again wind on our nose. Much of the travel this day was in narrow channels and rivers. Anchored and tied the stern to a
tree in narrow ICW cannel just west of Panama City about ICW mm263.
22 Feb 30 mile day We saw a new high record for the number of
dolphins seen, with dolphins jumping near the boat and at one time, for several minutes, two swimming next to the bow,
one on each side. Always a thrill, we would see them surface maybe a quarter mile away and in a few seconds, they would
be next to the boat, looking at us! As we arrived in Panama City bay, the navigation became a challenge. There were
markers and channels everywhere! It took both Dave and I real concentration to make sure where we where and where we
were going. We made our plan for the day – to Watson Bayou and tied up at Watson Bayou Marina. No fuel, good baths
and great people and cheapest tie-up of the trip. Some windy, difficult weather is forecast for the next few days so we will
stay here until we get a better weather window. Gene’s Oyster bar; no beer, great oysters, great sea food, soft shell crabs,
20 bar stools, owned and operated by the same owner for four+ decades. Two doors down from Gene’s is a breakfast/
lunch shop with great food. Across the street is a great old time hardware store. Not a bad place to be stuck for a few
days.
23 – 25 Feb Rest and maintenance /clean-up at Watson Bayou and plan
for next few days.
26 Feb 60 mile day Out of Watson Bayou Marina at 6:00 AM and
headed into a East wind. We had to cross two large back-waters that were choppy with about 2 foot waves. About half way
across the second, the engine stopped – plugged filter. The winds were about 20 mph with gusts to 25+mph. So, I had to
double reef the main, pull down the big genoa and rig the storm jib as we were blowing into some shallow water in a mile
or so. With all the bouncing around, I banged my head into something, broke my glasses and gave myself a cut over my
eye that bled like a stuck hog. I found out later that it was kind of ugly for Dave to give me some duct tape for an emergency band-aide, but it worked and we only lost about an hour for the filter change. I throttled up the old engine and we
made our objective of Scipio Creek Marina at 6 PM after hunting around the several marinas in the creek.
27 Feb 42 mile day Purchased 16.9 gallons of diesel and left
Scipio Creek Marina at 7:45, first day of travel in the eastern time zone. Roughly, we were getting 10 MPG. Traveled to
Alligator Point Yacht Basin at the north end of Saint George Sound. Alligator Point is a beautiful new place with good
channel markings leading through the two miles of shallow water to it. The marina was staffed by two people, one was
Brittany. She is a registered sea captain, multiple certified SCUBA diver (from the age of 6 or 7), Fisher, Hunter, , , ,
about 35 years old, engaged to a charter captain. Needless to say we had a lot to talk about. And she knows her stuff.
28 Feb 45 mile day We left the dock at 3:30 AM for the big jump
to Steinhatchee River, about 80 miles plus. We followed the GPS bread crumb track back out the two miles - - with some
difficulty as this was not a straight track and it was the first time I did this in dense fog. We didn’t go aground and did get
out to open water. About this time I discovered that the alternator was not charging the batteries and that we had not determined waypoints. We dropped anchor, waited for dawn and motored back to the dock. Dave took a nap, I chatted with
Brittany and changed the alternator belt. About noon we motored out again with a plan to get as far as we could today and
anchor out in the Gulf. The weather forecast was for light winds overnight. We anchored in 45 feet of water at Lat 29o
41’, Lon 83o 57.3’.
29 Feb Thursday 44 mile day Motored into Steinhatchee River
after an OK night of rest. Nice people, nice place, loaded on diesel fuel and had a good nights sleep.
1 March 51 mile day Traveled to Suwannee River but could not get
in at high tide due to sand bars . . . very shallow water. A quick look at the charts as we motored out of the Suwannee
revealed a reef just South West that is about a mile long with 2 to 3 feet of water over it. We tucked in behind it for our
home for the night. Actually, it was a very pleasant evening. But, the Saturday weather forecast was for strong winds (20
to 30 mph), high seas, and rain. We had a long talk about strategy for the Friday’s travel. Several factors; (1) the weather
as stated in the preceding sentence, (2) no good anchorages north of Tarpon Springs (80 miles away), (3) I only had one
spare fuel filter, (4) To make 80 miles, at 5 to 7 mph meant an 11 to 17 hour travel day. (5) Friday’s forecast was for SE
winds in the morning shifting to SW in the afternoon. The result of the talk was a plan to pull anchor at 3 AM motor until
the wind came up, sail as close to the SE wind as possible, (Tarpon Springs was SE of us), tack over to get us to Tarpon
Springs as soon as the wind shifted towards the SW.
2 March 110 mile day We got moving at 4:00 AM in dense fog. Crab
pots be dammed, we dropped the swing keel to a 45 degree angle to, hopefully, divert the crab pot lines away from the
prop. We motored south east as much as possible, staying out from reefs, hazards, and shallow water. The wind came up
about 8:00 AM out of the SE, just the direction we wanted to go. Motor sailing we could make a heading of 210 o but it
took us out about 35 miles from shore before the wind shifted and we could make the tack towards Tarpon Springs entry.
During the day, I had to put on the final fuel filter and it went bad before we got to the Tarpon Springs entry. At 8:30 PM
we anchored next to a reef a few miles out from the Tarpon Springs entry channel. Had supper, contemplated our situation,
I double checked our engine situation – it would not start – no fuel flow. And called BoatUS tow service to give us a tow
in the last 17 miles arriving at Port Tarpon Marina at 1 AM. A long day, an expensive day, a safe day.
3 March 2 mile day Moved A viking up river to Tarpon Landing
Marina and paid for a week slip.
As I said at the beginning of Notes #3, I sold the boat in Tarpon Springs. On the morning of 4 March, I took a walk along
the road next to the river looking for a breakfast place. At the next marina, there was no breakfast but there was a yacht
brokerage office. There had been family discussion on the possible sale of A viking so I casually asked if there was any
interest in a boat such as mine. There was, more family discussion on the possible reality, the decision, and it was gone by
Wednesday morning.
Phenomenon in South Pacific
Thanks to George Harvell for this. A yacht in the South Pacific came across a sea of floating lava rock and
then saw steam rising in the distance. As they motored they got to witness a huge volcanic explosion that
first turned the sky black and then red. As the eruption subsided they got to witness something most people
have never or will never see. A brand new mountain being formed. Quite amazing.
match the
machine to the boat
I’m fascinated by some of the machinery We all
have.. So here’s a game.
Match the
Machine to the Boat.
SHELBY 350 GT CONVERTIBLE
Answer next month!
Ferarri F430 Belongs to the Hans Christian 33 Cutter
Dock Master
Quill Briggs
256-652-0916
Call Quill with Billing
Issues and any facilities
issues.
Quill’s Dock Boys eagerly
await to help with your
every need.
THE DOGS ARE
BACK
BOATDOCKTORS
Bottom Painting Blister Repair
Haul Outs Rigging
Brokerage
Call Quill Briggs To BUY or SELL a boat
256-652-0916
Alabama Marine Police
256-582-1099
vhf channel 16
Please MAke payments to
LAKE GUNTERSVILLE RESORTS
105-A locust street
Gadsden alabama 35901

March - Lake Guntersville Sailing Club

Transcription

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