Santa Cruz Weekend Photos + LongPac Qualifying Sail

A blonde moment obviously...

Back to Santa Cruz harbor late evening

Elise on a loose beat in heavy-ish swell off Santa Cruz after we took the #1 down

Already pretty wet :-)

Heather taking the #1 down and getting ready to put the #3 up. On the Bay, this is usually very quick and easy. In heavy swell, it's a super wet and long and sometimes tidious job! It takes much much longer with the boat moving all over the place!

We saw dolphins on that day! Here's one jumping right by the boat! Several of them did that, they were crossing right in front of the bow, going under the boat, playing around us for a long time! A second group (or the same one?) came later in the afternoon, so we had two dolphin visits!

We also saw a passing whale in the distance, or rather the characteristic geyser-like spout and thousands (I am not kidding) of jellyfish as we entered back Monterey Bay

And then there was this flock of seals, surrounded by jumping dolphins (the third dolphin visit!). I tried several shots but could never get all of them. It was virtually hundreds of seals jumping and traveling fast all in the same direction. Heather also saw an otter hanging out by the boat on Monterey Bay in the morning, as we were heading out.

We were not going in the same direction so we ended up parting ways but it was a truly magical moment.

Finally, we heard several times the barking of a few lone sea lions to complete the wild life picture.

The new arrangement: we tried to bring up the padeye to see if the angle to the winch could get better and limit the tendency for the jib sheet to override but I am not sure that we have achieved much. We seemed to have only moved the problem from the #3 to the #1...ahem...And the little turning block for the adjustable car system.

Heather driving in the morning in very light air.

On Saturday, we were busy reconnecting wires and tuning up the boat and doing various other miscellaneous tasks around the boat. Most of the time was taken with these two big tasks though. notice the hammock that we use to store our foul weather gear when going offshore sailing

Heather's blonde moment.

Yellow Belly with a green hull and a yellow belly.

Heather's jeep waiting patiently for our return.

Nat calling the dolphins ahead of time to let them know of our ETA in their neighborhood.

We ended up doing 48 miles (went 24 miles out) - started in 5 knots of wind, then 5-10, then 10-15, then 15-20 (we took down the #1 then), then 20-25 with gusts between 25 to 30. Then back to nothing, then back to maybe 5-10, really nice to get back to the harbor.

Entering the harbor again...in the late evening. Elise, as usual, did a great job.

Work done this weekend

Heather and I did a bit of work on the boat this weekend. Make quite good progress and we felt that it would be good for Heather to work on the boat as it is in my opinion the best way to learn where things are at, how they work (hence where to look when they don't work)

Certainly been my experience with the Pacific Cup. I builds your confidence in handling breakages, etc...which are very likely in any given race.

In summary we:

• tried on (again) the emergency rudder then dismounted the mount (that was tough! one bolt was totally frozen in there - someone parked his truck and came down to the dock with a set of power tools to help us out. I don't even know his name, he just said that someone had said that we were struggling a bit with this so he decided to help us out. It took him about 30 seconds to get it done.)
• fixed chips on the gelcoat (including a newly made one as we dismount the above-described item
• tuned up the boat after her trip on the highway (included Heather going up the mast until the second spreader to fix something up there)
• charge up both batteries and monitor discharge throughout the day through various navigation displays
• added cup holders in the back (to reduce the 'water bottles rolling everywhere' syndrom)
• connected up wind instruments (now dangling from the mast) - nice job Heather!
• reconnected masthead VHF and tricolor (nice job Heather)
• tried the stove for our saturday night dinner
• set up boat for offshore sailing (mainly additional safety/emergency gear)
• assembled and tried out the new handheld VHFs
• practice on the GPS + charts for navigation (nice job Heather)
• did our 40 mile qualifying cruise double-handed for LongPac
• tested the new winch/fairlead angle. Not sure we got it quite right yet
• tested tjhe adjustable jib cars (pretty helpful toward the end of the day - wondering if it goes far enough forward for the #3. May have to add more track if it doesn't. was ok for our points of sale over the weekend
• cleaned up the boat after the visit of various boat menders + remove uneeded equipment for our qualifying sail: big solar panel, emergency rudder, dodger
• thought through and re-arranged a bit of the living arrangements
• tried interior lights + flashlights
• checked that battery switch + instrument panel connections work ok
• checked battery mounts
• test AAs and AAAs (some looked corroded) and kept only the working ones

Remaining work items for longPac

Mostly on Kit's side

• Move bilge pump outlet from cockpit drain to true throughull
• Experiment more with the fairleads and the winch angle (we are trying to prevent overrides. Our former setup: winch on a wooden base and fairlead at deck level seemed to be causing some override, mainly with the #3 and mainly when there is light pressure. Our current setup: winch on a wooden base AND fairlead on a plastic base does seem to be causing some override especially with the #1. Perhaps look around at the other E27s and measure the angle between these two to inform our idea setup)
• Mount stereo and speakers
• Install power setup for laptop
• Connect up spare autopilot
• Connect up (coax needs connector) spare VHF antenna and test that it is working
• Clean up wiring near nav table, beneath the mast in v-bert, some connections may not hold for long - and in the nav table
• Check and fix moisture levels in the rudder
• Investigate and fix masthead strobe
• Calibrate NKE autopilot (can be done under engine in the harbor)
• Secure emergency rudder
• Fix tiller extension clip

And on Nat/Heather side

Before prep weekend

• Make deviation card for compasses (I actually think that there is one right under the compasses)
• A little night sailing
• jibe practice double-handed (can be combined the the above)
• practicing cooking underway
• MOB practice
• last emergency drills (we did some already): flying the trysail and try to steer the boat that way!
• Strategy
• Provisioning list
• Register EPIRB for the trip
• Send all missing waivers
• Book boat inspection
• Make sure sailmail and weather fax viewing SW is still working on my laptop
• Ask for one more patch to be prescribed?
• Determine what goes into the grab bag (out of the list of items we carry)
• Pickup liferaft
• Get small engine back and swap

Right before the race (probably Sat/Sunday before at the latest, or in time for inspection)

• Mount water bladder (and put a bit of chlorine in it to clean up the inside of it
• Mount solar panel and re-test
• Mount external halyard and test
• Do shopping
• Remove current lifelines and mount the offshore one
• Install emergency rudder mount
• Fit liferaft into place
• Setup boat for offshore: MOB pole, jacklines, etc...typical things we would do for a Farallones or a Lightship race
• Charge up both batteries and fill up the gas tanks

Jul 3, 2009 - Prepping for Nationals (and prep by Nat+Heather for Long Pac)

On Jul 3, Patrick, Heather, Nat and I took Elise down to Santa Cruz. She's sailing in the Nationals next weekend. Patrick and I took the boat and the scenic coastal (Hwy 1) route; Heather and Nat made an inland trip stopping at such landmarks as WestMarine. Also, Heather and Nat will be taking the opportunity to practice for the Long Pac on Sat+Sun.

Pictured, Elise when we stopped for lunch at a small Mexican place with a great view:



After the Coastal Cup, Elise was in a state of disorder. Among other things, we moved most stowed gear far forward for weight reasons (too much weight in the stern clunks the mast on the hoist when you lift her, and since we weren't around to supervise the hoist in Long Beach we decided to be conservative). A day of mast-raising and other tasks later (Jul 3) and you have the pictured level of tidiness:



However, there was a disenting opinion:


"There is no disorder in Elise. The truth will presently be known and dissenters will be exposed for their falsehoods."
Note the trusting, credulous expression on Heather's face as the topic was discussed.

this weekend todos

1. install new cup holders (at the back)
2. put mast back up and tune up boat
3. fix tiller extension clip
4. Test spare VHF antenna
5. fix screw for port side lee cloth over settee
6. Connect up spare autopilot
7. emergency drills, including practicing putting on the emergency rudder
8. MOB practice
9. Qualifying 40 miles DH cruise, going 20 miles offshore
10. check water bladder does not leak (I will leave it full at home)
11. make deviation card for compass
12. fix a couple of gelcoat chips
13. walk around the boat and see if any part looks like it's about to break and put it on the list to replace before Long Pac (we just got a new winch handle that way)
14. Wooden Work: so she looks shiny and protected. Coat one only
15. leak oil on settees - coat one only
16. Test masthead strobe + anchor light
17. Select the pairs of shoes we will be taking with us (well first pass anyway, we'll probably have to trim it down later)

and HAVE FUN!!!!

Sarcoma Cup Registration is open

Fellow Sailors,

The Richmond Yacht Club and BeatSarcoma would like to invite you to the 2009 Sarcoma Cup, on August 22 and 23. There will be some great sailing and some great dockside activities.

What a great value for only $1.25/ft (that's $31.25 for 25 footer, or $46.25 for a 37 footer)

• Sailing World Magazine and other goodies in your skipper packet
• One Design, PHRF and Cruising Division with mark racing on Saturday and long distance racing 'the island of hope' on Sunday
• Free Wine Bar - and good ones! and free gourmet coffee (and pastries on Saturday!)
• Free Massage
• Live Jazz Band on the dock and Live Rock Band in the evening
• High Value Sponsored Prizes - the winner gets a FREE HAUL OUT - here is the full list of awards

AND, win more goodies at the Raffle. Prizes include Garmin GPS 75, Sony XR3500-II car stereo, Painting, a Logitech Webcam and much more!

AND, participate in our silent auction. Items include high value sailing items, Painting, restaurant gift certificates, premium wine, home cleaning services, personalized stationary, art glass and more!

It's not all! We will be holding a RUMMAGE SALE - get great deals on sailing parts and gear or bring yours to donate! It's all tax deductible.

YOU CAN REGISTER ONLINE NOW

(or type http://www.richmondyc.org/Cal2/EventShow.asp?event_id=189908&event_batch=1 in your browser)

100% of the proceeds from the event will go to sarcoma research. Last year's event raised over $18,500. With your help, we can double that. And all you have to do is HAVE FUN!

Mark Lowry, Sarcoma Cup Regatta Chair & Nathalie Criou, BeatSarcoma President

• Link to Notice of Race: http://www.beatsarcoma.org/uploads/Sarcoma_Cup_2009_NORv3.4.pdf
• Link to the Sarcoma Cup website: http://www.beatsarcoma.org/Sarcoma_Cup.html

Progress report Elise

• 2 new cup holders (for some reason marketed as 'can' holders)
• 2 new cups that can hang off lines or bungees
• 3 'sporks', a spoon/fork combo to complete Elise's like of cutlery
• a sea anchor
• a new handheld VHF
• a second handheld VHF w/ GPS (offshore races require 2 HH)

I got a new watch...and I have become very knowledgeable in watch marketing. It's amazing the number of models you can create around the exact same watch...

• Elise's motor mount has been strenghtened and waterproofed (there was a dip somewhere near the end if a wave ended up in there) - thanks Kit!
• Elise's rudder pin was replaced - thanks Kit!
• Elise has new adjustable fairleads - thanks Kit!

and Elise's small engine is at the engine hospital. Looks like there is a bit of a waitlist for engine surgery so it might stay there for a couple of weeks.

Elise is getting ready for LongPac

Excerpt from the NORs

"13. COURSE

13.1 The Start will be located in San Francisco Bay at the Golden Gate Yacht club, in accordance

with the Sailing Instructions.

13.2 Competitors shall start, then cross the line of Longitude 126°40' West at any point, and then

to the finish.

13.3 The Finish will be located in San Francisco Bay at the Golden Gate Yacht club, in accordance

with the Sailing Instructions.

13.4 The handicap course distance is 400 nautical miles."

An all-women's boat this time around!

Swimming and sailing cat

Last DDR 2009 pictures (I think) - Moores

Well, I think I can spot a J boat in the middle so it is mainly Moores.

Thanks Nathan! Nice pictures!

Some more DDR 2009 pictures - Express 27s

Ladies resting on Elise
Reaching out for a helping hand...

Hey Tom and Peggy!


Also courtesy of Nathan - thanks! These are great!

A bit of Opa!, a bit of Elise, a bit of someone else....

Some more DDR 2009 pictures - random boats

Courtesy of Nathan - these are really cool (other than the fact that it's not really cool to find ourselves in the middle of the Moores fleet ;-))

More Coastal Cup Pictures around Catalina Island

Actually this was in Long Beach - we had a developing story with a family of skunks (two babies as cute as can be) - our table and the one next to ours fell in love with them. Unfortunately, the skunk is right behind the fence post so it's a little hard to see...

Souvenirs Souvenirs


The beach and the Casino in the background




These photos and the ones from the previous post are courtesy of Nathan

More Coastal Cup Pictures around the boat

A picture that only an engineer would take...

Inside the guts of the solar panel...

On the left, a woman packing light (and she's not done packing, she's adding...shoes!!!!
On the right, a man packing light (and he's not done packing, he will actually leave the yellow adaptor behind)

Rinsing things out...

Getting ready, mounting everything up, still at the Saint Francis, the weekend before the start.

Our life raft, and some very artistic bundle of tow line around the tiller. Not quite sure what was up with that.

Another Delta Ditch Run picture

Courtesy of Ken Smith (posted with permission)

Catalina Harbor Authority

I almost forgot - as we were shown into our slip, I was driving. Nathan grabbed the line which we would use to tie up the boat and the Harbor Patrol boat was right next to us. I am already in neutral and ready to back up a bit to slow the boat down to a stop. I am watching Nathan for cues - there is almost no wind and plenty of room (in other words a pretty easy situation)

Right at that time, I hear 'OK, you need to back her up now, Baby'

I guess that this was addressed to me.

For the rest of the vacation, Nathan jokingly addressed me as 'Baby', 'Sugar' and other such choice words...

A tip for long distance racing

During the first night, I was having a blast like I said. Surfing down, zooming along at 12+ knots and I was trying to keep my 'noises' down to provide a tranquil sleeping environment for Nathan.
(Apparently during the pac cup, I kept yahooing the whole way mostly unconsciously)

At watch change, Nathan comes up nears the companionway to get ready and get a briefing from me. Of course at that time one of these side waves doubled by a 30+ knot gust causes me to round up (the only other one besides the late late night, e.g. early morning ones when I was exhausted and seriously in need of some kind of sugar/food). I wasn't paying enough attention to feel that wave and anticipate. I knew about this wave (remember that waves typically establish a pattern) and had been on the lookout for it before, it hadn't caused any problems during my previous watch

Nathan did remark that most roundups to take place at watch change when we lower our defenses.

Bottom line: pay special attention when you're about to come off watch!! It is helpful to brief the new driver but try to stay focused!

A few more Coastal Cup 2009 pics (Prep and Vacation Portion)

Hmm, maybe we better rethink this rig tune:

(aft lowers were too tight, leading to this rather disturbing picture- spinnaker ring is on front of mast)

Elise at rest after the race, dead center of the image. On the bright side, her size enabled her to get a mooring right next to the beach. On the downside, right in front of her was an open-fronted bar advertising itself as a Kareoke center.


A few images from around "town" and the harbor:








Then, across the bay to Long Beach. After scouting out our guest slip (thanks Alamitos Bay Yacht Club!) it's across the "street" for us to a restaurant with a dock (building at left for the first night). North Sails was in the same building, but our blue/red kite was quite beyond earthly succor and we were in a grateful lack of other needed work:



And how else would a vegetarian celebrate but with raw oysters? (I helped)


And then, cleaning/washing/drying:

and as we leave she's ready for the LoadABoat folks:

Delta Ditch Run 2009 Pics

Here are a few belated pics from the Ditch Run.

Sometimes it's hard to tell whether someone is checking trim or seeking divine guidance (Nat, Juan, and then Stephanie+Heather+Nat from front to back):

And a few of the other 27's near the start and a bit later on:

Delta Ditch Run 2009

Nathan was tactician - until we moved to the cruising division.

We started fine during the Delta Ditch Run - but then lost out to the other Express primarily because of current choices (or so it seemed).

The balance between experienced/non-experienced crew wasn't ideal which meant that our jibes/reaction times in gust were much slower than usual.

It was still a lot of fun. For a short moment, I looked at some of the Express fly away in front of us with a touch of sadness - and then the coolness of the moment won again. Sailing in great company in a great place is hard to beat! Especially with nice food and drinks.

A few fun episodes

• 'ok, let's demo a jibe. Ooops, sorry, main got stuck, that was a round down, not supposed to be that way. Let's say it was to demo what not to do.' (and some notes in the Crew Manual can be helpful there)
• 'do they have vegetarian options?' - 'well, it's the beans and the salad, you just take out the sausages'
• We had borrowed an engine which did not want to start often...We had to go up Vallejo yacht club's narrow channel under sail...

And at night we were moving from green light to green light (the red lights were hard to distinguish) - was actually super easy to spot the channel. We didn't run aground once.

The First Night

I will let Nathan, the skipper, do a real race writeup (we decided to stay offshore and NOT go through the islands as we feared that we wouldn't have enough wind there. Turned out not to be the case) -

I will talk about some of the differences between Coastal Cup and Pac Cup and the experience of the first night.

It's a much shorter race but it is much more tiring than the Pac Cup!

Much more technical sailing between wind/waves

Very boring getting there...no wind...

Kanehoe is a nicer destination than Avalon...

Much wetter than the Pac Cup

We had nicer food since we didn't have to plan for very long :-)

We had much more space (the liferaft could stay outside, we had hammocks, etc...)

Everything was nice and tight out of the way (with new padeyes to make that easier)

During the first night, we had a bit of fun...I didn't get proper food on my second watch. We had between 15 and 25 knots of wind then with gusts around 30+. It was a ton of fun. However

It was very wet. Waves came crashing on the boat, spraying us constantly. At some point, water came rushing in from the bow and the entire deck was awash (I couldn't see the deck!) - whenever I would go down, dripping wet, I'd be careful not to make the settees too wet. The sleeping bag was pretty wet/humid. Getting up and getting ready for a watch meant slipping into cold and wet foulies...lovely.

Because we were new to the watch system, my body didn't adjust until my second or third watch (would have been good to actually start this earlier in the day maybe, right after the tacking back and forth out of the Bay) - and I lacked food/sugar during the night. We didn't even do complete watches as things kept happening requiring all hands on deck since we didn't have an autopilot. The person on watch couldn't leave the helm to fix things up

1. our spinnaker broke so we had to bring up another one on deck
2. the twing came undone three times and at some point the sheet had manage to get stuck over the boom and was threatening to saw its way through the main sail. I tried jibing/releasing the pressure, etc...and it kept getting stuck. Had to wake up Nathan to try to sort this out
3. we didn't rig the spinnaker net (BIG mistake), we had to undo a few wraps at times (especially in light air) - most of the times that did not require waking the other person up, we could drive our way out of a wrap (loads of practice doing this...)
4. At some point, Nathan jibed but the main wouldn't go over. This was of course in the middle of the night, I was on the foredeck for the jibe. Couldn't see a thing and I tried to feel my way through lines to figure out what was wrong. The outhaul had wrapped itself around the lifeline which looked like it was about to be ripped off. I fumbled for my knife and I cut the line - after freeing up the guy which was also stuck in the middle (that was a line that was too valuable to cut loose by mistake just because it was dark)
5. We woke up to jibe (we had to jibe at intervals that couldn't fit within a watch as opposed to the Pac Cup which was more friendly that way) - we did great jibing in heavy winds, no problem at all. Our jibes were much smoother than the Pac Cup's during squalls.
6. Close to the end of the night, I was so tired and needed food/energy that I suffered three round ups in a row (Nathan was below). Once you start this way it's a death spiral as even though getting out of them is easy (you release the sheet, wait for the boat to straighten up again and then sheet in again) - it's disruptive and tire you even more.
7. We spent the second day making sure that we could both get more sleep and recuperate. Our watch schedule was very errative. It depended on a lot on how we both felt. The goal as very clearly stated by Nathan was 'to be both in good shape for the 2nd night)
8. The lines got really tangled as we were trying to sort them out to put up the second spinnaker and I must have tangled them even more as I was operating under autopilot ;-) Got one finger a little burned in the process. Despite my cold wet tight sailing gloves (which would not dry since it was overcast the whole way)

No panic, nothing big broke, we both kept a cool head but we both were very tired at the end of that night as none of us had a full watch's worth of sleep...

When I was semi-rested, it was just awesome. Surfing down 25-30 knots of wind. At some point I remember saying to Nathan to please move away from the instruments as I couldn't see the speed. His reply was 'no hunting for you!!!' I managed to get to 15.4 knots a few times, we were doing probably 11-23 knots average and I was barely under 10 for an entire watch. I think that Nathan topped that but I can't remember his record speed.

During the Pac Cup, I had reached 16.2 knots but we rarely had so much wind in such a sustained manner. That was sooooo sooooo nice. I wished it stayed that way. I think that I was really bored with no wind in the morning because I was spoiled with some great wind and great surfing for 1.5 days beforehand.

Just for that, it was well worth it.

Coastal Cup Casualties

First, our transponder is NOT among the casualties.

Some of Nathan's pocket's content ended up under the floorboard but this is a temporary setback, we expect to recover fully from this.

My hand-held VHF went overboard (not sure when or how as it was in my pocket...)

My theoretically waterproof watch was not sealed properly and does not work so well anymore

We lost a rudder post pin and nearly lost the second one. Had to do a McGyver repair and I had to drive with my finger around the post for a while...

We already talked about the spinnaker

The small engine needs fixing (that was a by-product of the Coastal Cup preparation)

My sunglasses got seriously bent as I stepped or sat on them, I can't quite remember

My sleeping bag is losing its content. Once I came up on watch as if I had just spent the night in a chicken farm

One screw fitting the companionway hatch and one of the lee-cloths expired...

The cockpit got a very creative set of Red Vine decorations

On the plus side, one of the lifejacket that we thought was lost re-surfaced. It turns out that it had been swallowed by a spinnaker.

However, we left with two buckets. We arrived with two buckets. All is well.

Obituary

The Beethovens are sad to announce the passing of the faithful Pacific Cup Spinnaker. In lieu of flowers, please send some wind our way. The Spinnaker died a glorious death, at the hand of merciless gusts on the windy part of the Coastal Cup. It did so very elegantly, allowing us to bring the halyard down without having to climb up the mast. Very considerate sail.

It is buried in Alamitos Bay Yacht Club dumpster.

Alamitos Bay Yacht Club

Mix bag...
Drying things out...

The Club had a very active Junior program, playing with the Sabot (some SoCal version of the Optis) and lasers. A very RYC feel. And our peace was gone the minute the kids would arrive back at the dock 'get out of my way'! 'I was there first'! 'I can't stop * boom, noise of indestructible sabot hull against another one *'

We arrived on Sunday afternoon, stayed the whole of Monday and some of Tuesday - we flew back Tuesday night.

Sunday afternoon what we did was rinsing off some of our clothes, personal gear, etc...and grab a nice (read expensive) celebratory dinner at McKenna's.

Monday, we continued the cleaning up with sails rinsing, airing of sleeping bag, etc...

Tuesday we rolled up the sail, took down the engine and the liferaft and unmounted the solar panel

Thursday, Load-a-Boat, the boat hauling company, took the mast down, put the boat on its trailer and set off for SF

Friday, the boat was delivered at the Saint Francis Yacht Club.

And Monday/Tuesday was spent sleeping, reading and playing around with the Internet. I think it took Nathan about 35 minutes (each!) to check us in w/ Jet Blue online. I finished all the Harry Potters!

French Riviera

Sailing to Long Beach post swim with beer that doesn't taste like beer, first celebratory drink on board since the Finish

Nathan took this picture while he was swimming (handy to have a waterproof camera) -

Catalina Island

Coastal Cup party!
Catalina Island from Elise's mooring point

Arriving at Avalon Bay

Weird island. No car, only two harbors (and in fact one of them is called Two Harbor and that's negligible, the only real place is Avalon. People get there by ferry (although I just noticed that it's got a tiny airport. Not sure how you get anywhere from the airport, but hey, it looks pretty modern)

The town is definitely for tourists. Loads of souvenir shops, ice-cream shops...we enjoyed a 'funnel cake' on the pier. Beaches (also in-harbor beaches) and anchorages around the island. Boats bubbling left right and center.

There is no dock per se. Each boat picks up a mooring buoy. We had to pay $25 for one night (they come catch you the minute you get in) and that did NOT include any amenities (we had to use public restrooms and pay $6 for a 10 min shower in town!) and it did NOT include the shoreboat (some kind of taxi boat) which was $4.50 ONE WAY. (so imagine, a trip to the bathroom costs you $9...) - we were careful about when to go inshore and when to come back...

We spent our time there napping, eating and reading...and attend the Coastal Cup party :)

View Larger Map

Our Coastal Cup setup

this had Nathan puzzled. 'This side up to the sky' cannot mean that it can be put on the ceiling (the velcro was on the other side of that)...yet, it wasn't super clear initially whether this was waterproof or not. Turned out to be fine.

Our transponder. SO much nicer than the Pac Cup ones! Slick, light, easy to store! (we put it on the stern, right under the tiller)

Our 'fix' - the rudder pin (helping attach the tiller to the rudder, there's a bunch of them but the key one was making a bid to freedom...We fixed that with some washers, duck tape and sail tie...)

Brand new engine for the times we need to motor for a while with a fuel intake!!! Bye bye the refueling every 45 minutes directly into the engine! This is heavier (and starts like a charm) so it won't be the engine that Elise will use to get to the start line at Bay event but definitely helpful for long distance motoring trips.

6.6 knots through the water...

Light air...

Light air for light air, might as well get comfortable. It's going to be a while...

Light air - BUT air... getting closer to the finish in the early hours of the morning

I think that this was the evening before we finished. During a short super light wind moment in-between wind black holes...We had the spinnaker ready to launch from the companionway hatch as we were switching back and forth between the #1 and the spinnaker depending on the direction and force of the wind. When it was feally really too light, the spinnaker could not be full and we put the #1 up.

Focused until the end, Elise's fearless Captain.

Discovering Catalina island, around 7AM morning of the Finish

Falling asleep
Twice we had no wind...twice trying to squeeze out the maximum out of thin air...literally...I was tired by then, and very bored under these conditions so not my most effective light air sailing technique. Nathan was much more focused than I was at that time. Not my '3-bridge-fiasco' thing.

Waterproof camera, cockpit knife and liferaft...

Dreary weather - the entire time...

Dolphins!!!!

Dolphin under water playing with the boat. They are SO fast!

Can you guess the dolphin just below the surface?

We saw a lot of sea life this trip - First, a huge orangy jelly fish decided to hang out by the boat (oh yes, careful if you rinse out the 'bucket' aka toilet at sea, don't scoop out a jelly fish)

Then we saw dolphins THREE TIMES during the trip. First, I saw some, they were playing around the boat, crossing in front of our bow, following us. They stayed a good 10 minutes with us. I called Nathan up and we took pictures. That way right before night time on the first evening.

A second time was the second day, as we were starting to sail back in. The third time was right by Catalina Island. A group of them each time, playing around the boat and with the boat each time.

At some point too, I see something that first made me think of a windsurfer. Given that we were over 10 miles offshore, I figured that it wouldn't be a windsurfer. Never mind, it was a whale (probably a grey one) that was saying 'hi' to us :-) We then had the full show (majestic tail, spouting like a Queen...) - we quickly checked to make sure that there wasn't a cub on the other side of the boat but it looked safe.

Emergency Rudder

This is a J24 rudder that Kit fitted for us. It's got a huge backing plate inside so the theory is that we can race with it. It is heavy - however, we chose to go for safe rather than the light_and_I_am_going_to_blow_into_a_thousand_pieces_the_moment_you_put_me_on alternative.

Swimming in the Ocean

Mermaid
Coooooooooooooooold



Between Santa Catalina Island and Long Beach

YouTube versions of these videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCvlwN4pBYQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Twx0m7zisFg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw9DP2NDp8s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty-jSMVlnts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1TsfhHUsRo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTw8pLIPwEs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXrllRes8tM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6Pyz2TytIE

">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMF80qmL3rE>

Arriving at Long Beach - Coastal Cup Video

Sailing to Long Beach - post swim

A little siesta...

Nat takes a swim in the Ocean - Costal Cup Video

Nathan takes a swim in the Ocean - Video

Sailing to Long Beach - delivery - Coastal Cup Video

Motoring out of Catalina Island (Avalon Harbor) - Video

Motoring to Avalon - Coastal Cup Video

Video of Coastal Cup just before the finish

We didn't take many pictures until it got much lighter (windwise...)

An old video of a Christmas sail (not sale) on Sceptre

With Gary

Boat's just back - and just a few more todos :-)

The mast is still down which is handy as we are going to run the anenometer for the instruments up the mast (and remove the aft pole on which they are standing right now)

The trailer got a little makeup in the process: pumped up tires and rewiring of the electrical stuff. Looking good. We feel that the rust battle with the trailer is probably a lost battle. The trailer will probably last another 3-4 years, after which, perhaps it might be better trying to change over to a galvanized one?

July is a big month for Elise! Nationals and LongPac!!!

For the Feeder race to Santa Cruz

1. Fix tiller/rudder connection
2. Move fairleads up one level (better angle with winches)
3. install new cup holders (at the back) - parts on order
4. put mast back up and tune up boat
5. run NKE instruments up the mast
6. fix small engine
7. fix tiller extension clip
8. install adjustable cars
9. Replace VHF (on order)
10. fix screw for port side lee cloth over settee (might need re-threading/bigger bolt)
11. fix sailing watch (seal didn't seem to be very tight...got water inside during the Coastal Cup)

For Nationals/Return from Nationals (the Nationals are in Santa Cruz this year)

1. Mount stereo + speakers
2. Find a way to secure new engine

For LongPac (Double-Handed, it is an SSS race)

1. Move bilge pump outlet from cockpit drain to true throughull
2. Motor mount: weep, waterproof, strengthen
3. Calibrate/test NKE autopilot
4. Connect up spare autopilot
5. Cleanup wires in nav table
6. check and fix moisture levels in rudder
7. Install external halyard
8. install setup for laptop (car charger already purchased)
9. first aid kit
10. mount offshore lifeline (to remove post race)
11. mount and test solar panel (to remove post race)
12. install emergency rudder mount (to remove post race)
13. fix screw for port side settee lee cloth
14. rent liferaft
15. Get charts (on order)
16. Get personal VHF with GPS (on order)
17. MOB practice
18. Emergency drills
19. Rent sat phone with data port
20. Qualifying sail (40 miles DH)
21. Find a way to secure emergency rudder
22. Provisioning list + shopping
23. Register EPIRB for that race
24. Fit water bladder (+ 6 gallon water jug)
25. Make deviation card for compass

ASAP but not linked to any particular event

1. fix gelcoat chips
2. wooden work
3. leak oil on settees

Coastal Cup 2009 - Pictures 1

Purchased from Lyons Imaging (www.lyonsimaging.com)

Right after the gate - it was going to be overcast the whole way

Hi everyone -
Sailing under the gate, right by the South Tower

Some wave action

Tule Fog, the other DH Express 27 (had a different PHRF certificate though, so a different rating), they did very well (came in 3rd) - nice job guys!

Coastal Cup Results

http://www.encinal.org/pageResource/coastalcup/2009/docs/CC2009OA.HTM

More updates

Will chat more after the race - today so far (and a bit of yesterday)

Between Kit, Nathan and Nat -

• installed dodger
• stowed and secured everything away
• packed spinnakers - rigged sock to borrowed shy kite
• picked up new engine
• filled out gas tanks + set up new gas tanks (external fitting)
• filled out stowage plans for emergency items and heavy items
• Counted batteries and got right amount for our needs
• Modified mount of emergency rudder to make it easier to fit it in
• put some pad eyes inside the boat so we can secure gas tanks, flare box and spare tool box to the floorboard instead of having them fly around the cabin
• removed some unwanted items to make space and lighten things up a bit
• figured out where to put and how to mount the liferaft
• finalized shopping list
• started to do some shopping
• printed light list
• bought banding tool
• tightened up lifelines (we can use stock lifelines for this event, so we didn't have to replace our Bay lifeline with the higher/heavier/back breaking Pac Cup ones
• Checked that batteries were still charging OK w/ solar panel. Everything looks fine
• Accidently found a lifejacjet that was thought to be lost. It had been swallowed by a spinnaker

And even though we have tuned the rigging, not sure if the mast looks right so Nathan is doing some research on that and we'll see if we want to change stuff around.

Final modifications are happening as we speak (Kit is at the boat), I am about to do some more shopping and Nathan will go to the skipper's meeting tonight and print out the stowage plans on laminated/waterproof paper.

Before I do this, I am actually finishing off a few things for work.

for tomorrow

Between Nathan, Kit and myself

• Emergency rudder: modify so it is easier to put on at sea
• Try new engine
• Fill up new gas tank
• Move cup holders aft to leave space for liferaft in the cockpit
• Add padeye in the cockpit to tie liferaft down
• Seal old cup holder holes
• Tie down ability for emergency rudder inside the boat
• Clean up terminal block
• Buy spare bulbs for front spare nav lights
• bolt big batteries again
• Charge up batteries
• Install MOB pole
• Provisioning
• Skipper meeting
• Stowage charge (emergency equipment and heavy equipment) laminated
• Pack!
• Sleep!
• Put shy kite (should now be delivered) w/ sock
• Stow everything away on the boat, including food if possible

and I am sure that I am forgetting a thing or two

Tracking Elise's progress during the Coastal Cup

You can check out

http://onltr.magnatrax.net/no.php?fid=10342

We should have that same ugly heavy transponder we had for the Pac Cup

We see much more clearly inside the boat this time around - no big liferaft inside the cabin (will fit outside in the cockpit most likely), not as much food and water, no need for a big 6 gallon water jug in the middle, no need for water bladders, no need for a big SSB near the nav table, loads more ways to hang up stuff (I added two hammocks for our gear and this kind of things)

There should be space in the port quarterberth to have some sails in there (hesitating to put the #2 and #3 up on deck again. They will be soaked after 10 minutes. Apparently there might be a weight advantage so still pondering the question).

Anyway, things will look much cleaner and spacious inside (or rather as spacious as it can be)

apparently there is only one other 27 footer and we are only two boats below 30 feet in this year's Coastal Cup.

Another quick update

thanks Kit!

• figured out a way to mount the liferaft
• hole to run solar panel wire
• winch holder starboard side now screwed down in place (yes Nick, it's done!)
• anchor (we need to take the big one for this race, we took it to the boat this weekend) tied down

More coming soon - still in a hurry because we wanted to do the Ditch Run - but we should be OK :-) all the MUST DO items are completed or very near completion.

Really quick update

Bullet point as our time is becoming short ;-)

Over the past four days or so

• inspected everything
• tallied all equipment and brought over to boat
• borrowed a shy kite and arranged for shipping
• arranged for boat tow back
• arranged for YC to stay over at in Long Beach after delivery from Catalina
• mounted/tested solar panel
• tested/diagnosed the problem deck level light
• got relevant charts
• got 2009 nav books
• bought a new outboard engine with external fuel tank (and the fuel tank) after Nathan declared our current one as pretty unhappy...
• Booked some plane tickets
• Tried the repaired spinnaker
• Put in a new spin halyard and tried in (sailing)
• Tried the sock with the newly repaired spinnaker
• Tried emergency rudder and designed a way to steer it
• Started to put things away in the right places...
• Put together provisioning list
• Picked up the liferaft
• Other stuff I am sure I am forgetting

And work is continuing...by proxy over the next couple of days

New photos Delta Ditch Run 2009

Juan driving in gusty winds (while Nat was trying to get some sleep...)

Not sure where that was.

Not sure where that was either!
We motored all night long - then stopped at Vallejo for breakfast and to drop off Heather who had to take the ferry back to the city to make an appointment. If you think I look stupid on this picture (was the 5-7AM shift), don't think outloud please.

Wind and sun in their sails...

Stephanie and Heather looking like they are working hard trimming. And Nathan looking like he's not working hard at all driving

The Delta and the Ditch

And the run
Another bridge we had to pass...

Up we look and downwind we go

One of the three bridges we went under, actually four I think if we count Richmond Bridge right at the beginning.

Nasty looking water color

Nat is driving, Heather is trimming and Stephanie is not sure about what she is doing.

Was Nathan trying to catch other Express 27s BEHIND us?

Getting ready for the start

Downwind start so interestinly right before the start, boats were pretty far away from the line. Spinnakers were not allowed at the start, they went up shortly after though!

Always good to check the competition - see what kind of color assortment they have picked on their boat or check if they have a new line of sails that would look cool on Elise.

Nat and Nat...well, an Elise, also on the picture.

Still roaming around before the start

Courtesy of Juan!

Photos from Delta Ditch Run 2009 - take 2

Purchased from Erik Simonson: http://www.h2oshots.com/

The first one is amazing. Will do a writeup, but might be coming at the same time as the Coastal Cup one!

Nice and warm on the river.

Weird to see spinnakers looming up near land

Getting ready for Coastal Cup

Next Wednesday, we will be on the start line for Coastal Cup, this year to Catalina Island, off LA. Should be GREAT. What I like about this race is that it is pretty technical and it looks like it has a very wide range of wind speeds + directions. So it should be fabulous.

Of course, my main motivation for doing it is that I can't wait to be surfing again.

Anyway, the good news is that a lot of what is required for Coastal Cup was also required for the Pac Cup so the work we have to do is mainly around logistics and getting the boat actually ready. Not a small feat in itself!

We took care of

- buying some charts

- insurance

- booking space in Long Beach

- buying a plane ticket back home

- Book vacation time

• mail order charts
• order adjustable car system
• NKE: where do you recommend to put the wind instruments
• buy J24 spinnaker as shy kite (see Peter's comment. your thoughts? perhaps ask your Dad?)
• reclaim spinnaker pole from Kames
• bring loos gauge next to the boat
• organize boat pickup
• organize a place to keep the boat until pickup date
• provisioning list + planning
• mail in waiver and registration form
• booked satellite phone
• got liferaft (this time in a hard case)

And Kit is helping us with the heavy-lifting jobs

• Install the emergency rudder
• Install stereo and loud speakers
• Make a couple of changes to we can strap down gas cans
• fix sensor of autopilot
• overhaul winches
• fix fairlead to winch angle

We still have to

• go food shopping, write down menus and stuff ziplog bags
• Replace spin halyard with new one already delivered to the boat (thanks Argo Yacht Rigging)
• Install external halyard
• borrow medical kit
• pick up the patch (well, I do)
• tally up all gear to make sure everything is still there
• carry all the offshore gear to the boat
• figure where to stow everything
• try the new spin halyard
• try cross sheeting (we have turning blocks not permanently fixed as we don't know yet what works best but we will be able to do that, attaching them to the toe rail)
• try emergency rudder

It looks like, thanks to Steve from the e27 fleet, we will be able to borrow a shy kite - so we will try this too. Exciting!!

and I am sure that I am forgetting a few things. Anyway, should be fun!

Delta Ditch Run - picture at the Finish

Which means that we did finish.

Photos courtesy of Richard. Thank you so much for being at the finish right at the time Elise was sailing by!!

Docked at Stockton Sailing Club. The crew: Heather, Nathan, Stephanie, Nat and Juan.

Looking for a place to dock among the other 300 boats that had just finished, maneuvring under sail in a dying breeze (as the Club is sheltered)

Heading for the dock right after the finish. Kite down and getting ready with fenders and dock lines.

Elise crossing the Finish line in Stockton.  ~ 9 hours after the start according to Stephanie

Another Picture from Vallejo 2009

Just before the start of Day 2. Nathan at the helm, Nat and JF, right in front of Vallejo YC. Thank you Marianne and Jerry!

Elise is grounded for the Elite Keel

Not enough crew :(

Doing the Pacific Cup is great - but it has some undesirable side effects...

Elise hosted Nat's Birthday - Group 2

Night time?
Oh, Ok. Sun's risen.

Everyone is smiling

Group 2 was festive and sporty - Spinnaker was up and we went underneath the Golden Gate bridge!

Elise hosted Nat's birthday - Group 1

Three groups benefited from her hospitality. A lunch group and two sailing groups.

The first sailing group had cheese, crackers on a tray and opened bottles of wine

Hmmm...this little Rose was...how could I say this...succulent. Really.

Action shot

It's OK, they are still friends...

Captain Mo at the helm

Amy!!! Check out the ultra cool sunglasses.

You will note the delicate touch of yellow and blue as Nat and Amy are color-coordinated

Nat during the safety brief 'if something or someone falls in the water, we need someone to point at the object or human and never lose sight of it or them. Then we can decide as a team whether it is worth turning around to go get it'

Luanne immediately following this 'if my hat falls in, we're turning around. Just so things are clear'

 And what about that hat?

Vallejo Day 2

Before we got lost in the fog - 'I think it's a ship'

'Wait, no it's Alcatraz'

Hello Jerry!


Hi Torben!
Hi Mark! The Sarcoma Cup regatta chair

Preparing for the start

Vallejo Day 1

Sailing == Sport???

In the background, you may see the horrendous tentacles of the Mud Monster

WOW - the Mud Monster has just erupted from the water!!! It's big.

Pretty grey looking day...

'Oh funny, I can see some smoke coming out of the Spinnaker bag'

"Hi - I am the genius of the spinnaker bag. You just launched the spinnaker and you have brought me to this world. I can grant you a wish.'

'Oh really? Dear Genius of the Spinnaker Bag, help us beat the Mud Monster'

And we lived happily ever after...

Maintenance Update

Elise has a new tiller cover...

Bright blue.

The Mud Monster

Vallejo Day 1

Beautiful day on the water. A weird port start (we were on starboard along the line and already beating hard, normally, you go along a start line on a reach and then you harden up when you're ready to cross. Not so in that race) - a so so but OK first leg (we had a #1 up, it was a bit gusty but we felt that the first leg to the turning buoy was very short and worth it) - good boat speed on one tack, some inexplicable slowness of the other tack, but overall mid fleet rounding and ready to take up the fleet on the downwind. Definitely much more experienced in downwind driving and Elise is at her best with the spinnaker up!

Also fun to hear the committee boat say on the radio to the J105 fleet 'be nice today please, we don't really want to have a total recall...'

Our start was an hour or so after the first warning, there were some 200+ boats registered for the event. Massive fleet!

Downwind was going OK - it was very tactical. We spotted some positive current close to shore (Great White was smoking past us by being the inside boat there) so we shot for that. There was a really close contest between various E27, the fleet kind of got together around that area.

Elise was caught in a duel with Xena (the inside boat, going in to get current relief) when the Mud Monster attacked. It launched its net at Elise even though we were not yet the boat furthest inland with that kind of draft and gently but firmly attached itself to the keel. Elise fought fiercely to try to loosen up the tight grip of the Mud Monster. To no avail.

Unfortunately, encounters with Mud Monster, even though they are rare, have a very dramatic effect on boat speed and eventual race results. 

Elise then decided to save its energy and gather its troops and brain power to devise a plan to beat the Beast. It first involved trying to fly the kite high to try to use brute wind force to escape. That did not work so well. We tried kite surfing (Nathan's idea), eg fly the spinnaker backwards with no pole, like a kite surf. Our attempts at looking Hawaiian-cool made me gain 1 pound of muscle weight on both arms as I was the acting pole but did not lift Elise off the cruel emprise of the Mud Monster, the offspring of the Dragon of the Depths of San Pablo Bay. 

Note that the Mud Monster is normally contained by an invisible magical field installed by the Wizard Diving and designated by channel markers. Unfortunately, undercurrent movements by the Dark Forces of Evil Bay Floors managed to gradually encroach upon the Land of the Free.

The Spinnaker, our fierce stallion, had to be put down. The Genoa, our Magic Wand, was flown.

This genoa, tightly trimmed, with a loose main, managed to turn the boat around and direct her away from the ugly arms of the Mud Monster. With our weight on the leeward side, Elise managed to crawl out of reach of the evil and slimy obstacle and run to freedom, some 20 minutes after it was first made prisoner.

We nearly caught up to the last Express 27 finishing only a couple of minutes after that boat, despite a 20+ min delay.

The second day was less eventful - after so much messing around with the main in heavy-ish breeze, my hand was full of blisters! I still need more practice upwind to maintain good boat speed. We had hit and miss luck with current on that day, seeing three boats slip right by us because of that.

But, as Roger the Great put it, we BEAT the Mud Monster.

Vallejo Race Pictures #3

Another perspective on the pack

And on the duel...

Photos from Erik Simonson (www.h2oshots.com)

Vallejo Race Pictures #2

A duel: Elise Vs Xena

A parade of 27-footers. The fact that the yellow hull is a Santa Cruz, and not an Express was probably not apparent to most people...
elise is leading the pack.

Express 27s are all close together!

Sailing or Circus?
'Hey, stay with the boat, will ya?'
Cool thing about this picture is that we can see his tummy :-)


All photos by Lyons Imaging (www.lyonsimaging.com)

Vallejo Race 2009 pictures

Getting ready for Tarzan stunt

Mini-Transat - interestingly, these boats can go across the Atlantic just fine but they are not allowed to participate in the Pac Cup. Elise, on the other hand, is fine for the Pacific Cup but is not allowed to participate in the Bermuda race/some races across the Atlantic.

Go figure...

Photos by Lyons Imaging (www.lyonsimaging.com)

Racy Pictures

Peter Lyons (http://www.lyonsimaging.com/) did a shooting on a really cool racing boat.

The lady wears high heels ;-)

Cool video - from Peter Lyons

New bottle opener

I know that all of you were eagerly waiting on this update - yes Elise has a new bottle opener. It will make its debut during the Vallejo race.

The police is still investigating the cause of the sudden death of the previous one and hasn't ruled out suicide. The poor thing was up against wine so often...

Resin Regatta Day Two (Apr 19) and Summary

Day two went much better for us. We were shorthanded again (3) and DFL'd but felt much better about it- a very nice day and good chance to practice/train up.

Light-medium, #1 weather, and not enough oomph downwind to take off: the fleet mostly sailed pretty deep. Courses, as for Saturday, were windward-leewards with gates at the leeward end. We had good upwind speed, with a little trouble pointing at times (not surprising given how short of weight we were). Downwind speed was very good. Maneuvers (tacking, gybes, sets) need a little further practice but it's the beginning of the season, and Elise is still transitioning from doublehanded ocean racing to the 2009 E27 round-the-buoys circuit.

Thanks to both groups (different crews Sat and Sun) and also to Tom+Peggy from Opa- always friendly+helpful and even loaned us a crewman on Saturday. Hopefully Eric wasn't too traumatized.

Anyway, we don't have to hope for better luck next time because it's just about guaranteed.

Resin Regatta Day 1 (Apr 18)

Ever have a day when nothing goes right?

How about:

outboard stuck below cockpit (mounting bolts frozen). Neither pliers nor "persuader" accomplishes anything but bending the handles. Resolved with a corrosion-dissolving product, time, and jiggling.

changing jibs (#1->#3) takes longer than expected, late for first start

bad douse, kite a drenched, twisted pile at end of race (change to new kite because there's no time to pack)

small tear in jib, growing (fix with sail tape). late for second start.

very slow douse at last leeward mark. blow up new kite.

struggle across finish line, within 20 minute time limit (get horn, salvage some margin of dignity, sail for home)

catch life jacket release in mainsheet, set off (inflatable jacket)

try to open beer for rest of crew. bottle opener disintegrates in hand.

(posting from boat, please forgive spelling issues.)

***

(side note: boat next to us at dock broke tiller bolt and a few other things today- haven't talked to anyone else)

Double-Handed Farallones 2009

We did not finish the race. After getting up at some ungodly hour in the morning, and getting to the boat around 6:30AM, we managed to be late for the start (had to get a tow to get out of the harbor, no wind). We crossed the line a minute or so after the gun went off. 

We caught up to the other Expresses though. A lot of them went a little South and we stayed North. Initially there was still some ebbing current which pushed us along nicely but it very quickly turn to a flood. We were happy with our choice of #1 given the light winds, and getting lighter and lighter...and lighter...and lighter...

We spent hours trying to go past the point, waving at friends as we were drifting past them. And again. And again. And again as we were periodically crossing the same boats' path...

After we finally managed to creep around the poin, still fighting a flood, we could only head North, to Point Reyes, because the minute we tried to tack to lay the island, we would get no wind. At 2PM, we did the math and realized that we would not finish the race before midnight...

And the buoy observations (Lightship) were still quoting 10 knots, so it looked like there wouldn't be a lot of wind for quite a while.

Turns out that after a big gap (1/3 of the way to the island), there was plenty of wind...how frustrating. 

We were so much looking forward to the downwind leg. After mucho excitment during the Pac Cup surfing waves, zooming along under spinnaker, we take very possible opportunity to get but a glimpse of this!

Still - we were fortunate not to have any damage or drama. Remember, the sea can do anything it wants with your boat. Be humble and respectful and above all, prepared. This is what saved these two sailors' lives, and mine after XL got his by a whale.

Jim Antrim's View of Double-Handed Farallones

Interesting - from 1995

"The Double Handed Farallones Race has a history of rough weather and unfortunate accidents.  In 1982, eight people died when monohulls sank or went up on the rocks.  In 1984, a Stiletto capsized and one crew died of hypothermia.  Again in 1995 bad weather took its toll - a fishing boat capsized at Ocean Beach with the loss of a life, another boat capsized in Santa Cruz, a charter fishing boat suffered major structural damage in the ocean and had to be escorted in, and there were dismastings and other carnage in the race fleet.  Waves were breaking on both north and south bars outside the Golden Gate, and were big all day."

http://www.sfbama.org/fs/antrim950412.html

More photos from Double-Handed Farallones 2009

Clear Saturday morning...What a great way to spend time :)

Heading off to the Ocean...well, 6 hours later we were still roughly at Point Benita.

Elise is dressed up for offshore sailing...Attentive driver

David and Goliath

David and Goliath II

Photos purchased from Lyons Imaging (www.lyonsimaging.com)

Pictures from yesterday

Great White and Rachel, who will be doing Pac Cup 2010 Double-Handed.

A solitary Moore 24, dangerously close to breaking waves by the point...

It tooks use hours and hours to finally pass the point!

In the washing machine, a very large eddy of tormented waters, taking us back and forth in a circling motion...We spent a few hours in there, with basically no steerage, trying to avoid other boats with the same problem!

Elise is the tiny boat with the kevlar headsail!

More in the washing machine...

"Many thanks to Rich and Tom, and Stephen and Jennifer, for the photos. You can see more athttp://picasaweb.google.com/rnutball/DoubleHandedFarralones# andwww.flickr.com/photos/jenmck/sets/72157615962835417"

Near Disaster in 2009 Double-Handed Farallones

First-hand report from the Skipper of the boat that capsized yesterday, on Sailing Anarchy

"Yes we're both very glad we are ok. It was a very scary experience and I don't wish it on anyone. I was amazed when my buddy (Dave Wilhite) dove under the overturned boat to recover our VHF radio from a sheet bag. That's what saved our lives for sure.
I think I spent about an hour trying to stand on top of the boat leaning against the rudder talking to the coast guard on the VHF and holding a flashlight over my head.
To answer some of your questions -
The keel did fall off. We were going really fast down a very large wave with a reefed main and the jib. All of a sudden I had no helm and the boat turned 90 degrees (very weird thing to have happen when you are going fast and actually a little low - i didn't feel i was in danger of wiping out at that angle and speed at all, we had been doing it for hours). The boat turned 90 very quickly and the wave we were riding broke over us and rolled the boat. At the beginning of the roll we heard what sounded like a tree cracking and falling down. That would have been the keel falling clean off. We were left in the water, teathered to the jack lines under the boat. We ended up cutting our teathers so we didn't get dragged under.
About an hour later and lots of talking on the radio, 2 coast guard boats, a pilot boat and a helicopter all found us at the same time. They tossed us a line and I got my buddy off the boat as he was much colder than me due to the fact that he had been in the water the whole time while I was standing on the boat (though I think i got washed off the boat about 50 times). Then another coast guard boat told me to swim to them so I did.
Neither of us have any serious injuries, just lots of bruises and pretty sore bodies.
The coast guard did a great job of finding us and getting us to safety, lots of thanks go out to them.

-David Servais."

More at Norcal Sailing

http://www.norcalsailing.com/archives/Entries/2009/3/29_Capsize_and_Rescue_in_DH_Farallones.html

Dramatic Ending Crewed Lightship

A great illustration of what happened right before the line, we are past the gate at this point
(sorry for the spam, apparently the photos didn't make it to the blog the first time around

South Tower Demon (and actually I was grinding on the low side, unable to see the spinnaker, so the 'cross-sheeting' project is now going way up on the list of priorities. We could have had a 1st or 2nd with it!)

Mike (blue hull) creeping on us after our roundup, and after over 12 miles of downwind racing + some 6 minutes or so of upwind catchup at the weather mark

Byebye the line but not by much!

Still pretty satisfied with the result as more so than the actual result on paper, I feel that we have made a ton of progress over the last few months:
1) we had a great start
2) we had some great boat speed, particularly upwind (we were slowly gaining on El Raton when on similar courses)
3) we made one good informed tactical call by paying attention to wind and weather pattern (and one bad one but it was a really close call ;-))
4) really nice sail trim throughout the race EXCEPT for the last few hundred yards ;-)
5) we had very good weight management with a very active and focused crew despite our weight handicap (4 Vs 5 people)
6) we kept up with two of the top E27 sailors - in particular, this has been Mike's trademark race.7
) we didn't lose THE bucket

Certainly think that there is some winning material in there. And not getting a first this time makes us even hungrier :-)
Photos purchased from Erik Simonson (www.h2oshots.com)

Southern Approach...

Quoting Nathan

"we observed a growing cloud formation on the south side and decided that the NOAA-promised left shift was due. "

We also noticed and discussed a permanent wind shift to the West of more than 10 degrees, sloooooooooowly veering South. So we had a second indication that the predicted change in wind direction might be happening - favoring our side of the course.

And a quick plug...next Sunday morning is the annual BeatSarcoma Fun Run, in the Golden Gate Park. Walkers, runners, strollers, pet walkers and their pets...are all welcome. Free refreshments, free snacks, free massage comes with registration and a free wicking shirt to all finishers.

Cools prizes and medals for the elite runners - and a kid's category with kids-like prizes!

If you're looking for a nice leasurely walk, or a competitive running race, consider it! Registration is $25. (online or via mail, or at the event)

Details at: http://www.beatsarcoma.org/BeatSarcoma_Fun_Run_2009.html

+ Article the Examiner ran this Sunday http://www.sfexaminer.com/sports/Personal-Best-Running-for-life-and-sarcoma-41550612.html

Crewed Lightship 2009 (Mar 21)

Elise had a crew of four for the event: Nat, Nathan, Juan, and Mark M (special guest from Xena). The wind was #1 weather and a predicted adverse current both ways (flood on the way out, ebb on the way back).

While the event is scored for us as a class event, the context is an OYRA PHRF race. In the interest of getting north as early as possible, we started near the pin end (on stbd tack- the mixed fleet was dense enough to make a port tack start risky even though we wanted to get out to the right fast). Our start turned out to be pretty good after a few tense moments in the last 20 sec.

It took us quite a while to get our tacks up to speed, and as a result we suffered a bit (particularly out until Land's End). As for the previous weekend (DH Lightship) starboard tack was better VMG but much of the fleet preferred to get north (especially until passing Bonita). At first, we were in the south with Ray (El Raton) and Mark L (Xena) but then Mark split off for the north. After passing the gate, we followed Ray into the rounded Baker Beach area, feeling some very helpful ebb. Because Ray had gone in earlier, he also met the beach earlier and had to come back out- at that point, we deliberately stayed a bit further left/south and enjoyed the current all the way out to Seal Rocks.

From there to about the last set of cans before the lightship, we split tacks mostly as the wind dictated. We were consistently able to maintain pace with El Raton (close crossings each time we split tacks, albeit with us behind). Out near the last set of cans, we observed a growing cloud formation on the south side and decided that the NOAA-promised left shift was due. Therefore, we went south for the last (bigger) split with the group. It panned out in both direction and velocity and we had a healthy lead over the fleet as we rounded the lightship.

The wind was greater than the previous weekend and we had a fantastic trip back to the gate. At first, the wind angle was very tight and we (plus other boats) were driven a bit to the north (on stbd tack) for lack of ability to point any higher without giving up and dropping to jib. Gradually the wind came around and we were able to point towards the South Tower. El Raton was closest and was working consistently to the right (eventually coming abeam of us at a considerable distance toward Seal Rocks). He was attempting a hard-south reentrance to the bay (to catch flood or at least relief from the ebb). The cost is a much greater distance sailed. We opted to continue more or less for the gate because we had lots of power and were blasting along fast enough to be less concerned about the current. Zipping around the beach in obviously favorably current, we weren't sure the extra distance was going to work out for him. Also taking a southerly track was Desperado.

We were satisfied with our approach up until about a hundred yards before the gate, when we hit a wall of adverse current and less wind. We watched Ray and Mike closing fast as we got to the gate. Immediately upon reentering the bay, we had a roundup which cost us Ray and Mike. We maintained the spinnaker as long as we could (rather than just go to jib and follow them in, we were hoping for a last minute lift because we were far enough behind them and far enough in front of the next boat back that we had nothing to lose by trying for the long shot).

It didn't work out, but we got to keep the 3rd. The big thing for us was the proof through close contact for many miles with people like Ray who really know how to work the boat that we're getting our trim, coordination, and balance worked out.

(overdue) Double-Handed Lightship, Mar 14 2009

Double Handed Lightship 2009

(crewed event from this past weekend to follow)

There were 7 E27's out for this event, a very good showing. The start was on an ebb strengthened by the recent heavy rainfall, with a switch midrace to a flood- ideal conditions for a gatecrasher.

Our division (one design) had the benefit of watching a few earlier starts to see how conditions were shaping up and what side of the course was beneficial. The breeze was borderline for jib selection, but given the offshore forecast the fleet consensus was #3's. There was one dissenter flying an oversized handkerchief- I admit to a bit of curiosity on how they were sheeting it.

1st Part of the Race - Clear the Gate

Very often, being a bit to the north will help out under these conditions, from both current and wind perspectives. The start was relatively balanced- wind not from center span of the bridge but not too far off. The fleet split a bit between onshore (cityfront side) and heading towards center channel or even farther north. There were a few boats that wavered back and forth, btu a few stuck hard north (notably Desperado, the ultimate winner). Results for dodging back to the cityfront were mixed. We were roughly in the middle, with a few dodges back toward the cityfront as the fleet shuffled around. When close to other boats, we showed good speed and occasional good pointing.

2nd Part of the Race - Gate to Lands End/Seal Rocks

Several boats dodged hard north along the shore. We recognized the north side as desirable, but couldn't bring ourselves to tack over when we were basically on layline for the mark. Our speed continued to be good against boats near us (Taz being closest and behind, Dianne reaonably close until she took the plunge north somewhere around Mile Rock).

About halfway from the Golden Gate to Land's End, our southerly course (not against the shore, but relative to the northerly boats in the fleet) seemed beneficial. By the time the group reached Bonita, a positional advantage to the north was apparent- probably mostly current related because Elise was quite powered up and we didn't see significantly greater wind towards the northern shore. We were still roughly even in distance to the mark, but often being a little to the north is a positional advantage.

3rd part of the Race - out to the Lightship

After clearing land, the current starts to spread out and you exit the wind-funnel effect near the bay entrance. We had reasonable speed but the north turned out to be where you needed to be. We were largely satisfied with our boatspeed and handling. Because of the setup of wind/waves, the two tacks were quite uneven in speed and optimal trim. There was plenty of wind, but not so much that we could "waste" it (the swells and wind waves were setting up to slow us down). We needed to stay a little more powered up in order to maintain momentum and not get sucked towards the wind. We weren't really close enough to the fleet to really compare notes on trim.

The Return

After rounding the ligthship, we were a little slow getting the kite up (result of a late morning getting to the boat) but were happy with the result. The return was just a fun trip- enough wind and waves to have fun. We came back in relatively straight and Nat kept her rolling very smoothly. If we'd checked in before the race, we apparently would have had a 3rd, but instead we got the famous consolation prize, "a nice day on the water".

Crewed Lightship 2009 Results

Elise was 3rd in the Express fleet and 3rd overall (that is in our PHRF division)...A bit disappointing since we were first to reach the weathermark. Full writeup will follow soon so we can look at that! Downwind, we had some very nice conditions to plane/surf. We got so lucky!

Isn't it amazing to see that all the Express 27 finished within ~ 5 minutes of each other after a 25+ mile race???

PC Express 27 - Fleet 07 Time on Time: TCF=650 / (550 + PHRF)

SAIL #	SKIPPER	BOAT MODEL	RATING	FINISH	ELAPSED	CORRECTED	PTS.	COMMENTS	YC
28050	Ray Lotto	El Raton	Express 27 ODR	129	14:34:59	4:34:59	4:23:14	**sr		STFYC
77539	Michael Bruzzone	Desperado	Express 27 ODR	129	14:35:45	4:35:45	4:23:58	**sr		SSS
101	Nathalie/Nathan Criou/Bossett	Elise	Express 27 ODR	129	14:39:00	4:39:00	4:27:05	**sr		STFYC
68	Mark Lowry	Xena	Express 27 ODR	129	14:41:33	4:41:33	4:29:32	**sr		RYC
11	Dan Pruzan	Wile E Coyote	Express 27 ODR	129	14:41:57	4:41:57	4:29:54	1		EYC

SAIL #	SKIPPER	BOAT MODEL	RATING	FINISH	ELAPSED	CORRECTED	PTS.	COMMENTS	YC
28890	Pat Broderick	Nancy	Wyliecat 30 OB	129	14:50:05	4:50:05	4:37:42	1		SYC
28315	Jack/Charles/Kathy Bieda/Johnson/Pickup	Trial Run	Passport 40	138	14:56:47	4:56:47	4:40:23	2		BYC
6332	Walter George	Sagitta	Islander 28 SM	198	15:38:50	5:38:50	4:54:26	**sr		SYC
28743	Daniel Willey	Galaxsea	Custom Nauticat 43.5	180	15:41:41	5:41:41	5:04:14	3		SSS
2707	Robert Long	Mimicat	Hinckley 38	150	15:29:02	5:29:02	5:05:32	4		Carolina YC
8862	William Ross Enright	Melody	Scampi 30-2	174	15:44:56	5:44:56	5:09:41	5		SCYC
271	Matt Rowe	Terrapin	Sabre 34-1	150	DNF	:	:	**sr		SYC

And I am super happy to see that Rachel finished 2nd in the short-handed division! (they did the

 race double-handed)

Full preliminary results at: http://www.yra.org/OYRA/docs/Results/OYRA_Lightship1_2009_results.htm

A special race committee member at the weather mark

Sea Lion thinking: "huh oh...that looks big and it's headed right at my beach"

Sea Lion: 'I am outta here'

Sea Lion: 'yeepeee they're gone'

Photos purchased from Lyons Imaging (www.lyonsimaging.com)

More Crewed Lightship pictures

Elise rounding the mark

Elise a few seconds prior to rounding the mark.

Photos purchased from Lyons Imaging (www.lyonsimaging.com)

Cool video from Sapphire in Pac Cup 2008

Video from Crewed Lightship 2009

Crewed Lightship 2009

Mark is focusing really hard to try to spot the gate in the fog.

Juan trimming the spinnaker on the way back from the Lightship

Hands-on practice

I drove the upwind portion of the race and Nathan drove the downwind portion of the race (well after he had lunch so I did a little bit of it too) - surfing surfing surfing.

Weird photos

Maybe I should have left those in the digital void...

Double-Handed Lightship

huh oh...

Our proud Pac Cup spinnaker - has not yet gone down in flames...

We can see the gate way out there! That was the fastest lightship race ever

Competition (we were actually racing one design)

Spring Keel 2009

Capturing a moment of joy right after the race

Nathan is trying to compete with Zorro in the black clothing department

Nick and Jeanne, both benefiting from a bubbly fountain of youth...

Red and Black - Stendhal Nat

Hmmm - the following requirement for OYRA racing surprised me. The hand-held VHF can NOT be the hand-held device that's independent of the main radio and capable of receiving weather bulletins..

Two hand-held VHFs will work...or some device that can tune into a weather channel.

Need to race over to West Marine.

3.29

 Communications Equipment. EPFS (Electronic position-Fixing System) The following shall be provided:

• VHF two-way radio telephone permanently installed in accordance with regulations. ■____ (Antenna need not
  
• be installed at top of mast.)
  
• A hand-held marine VHF transceiver, water tight or with a waterproof cover. ■____
  
• Independent of a main radio transceiver a radio receiver capable of receiving weather bulletins. ■____
  
• EPFS (Electronic Position-Fixing System) e.g. GPS ■___
  

For those who care about boat maintenance

Elise now has a 12-V battery charger, so if we are in port, we do not depend on solar panels anymore...

Tools have to be replaced periodically as they tend to rust after a while...it was time to wave good-bye to our old needle nose pliers...

And I got some industrial size tube of clear silicone marine sealant in preparation for our 'seal up again the shrouds base' project for Sunday.

And we got a new drogue (the last one was torn to pieces after our man overboard pole slided into the water and was dragged for a short while during the Pac Cup - culprit: ocean swell)

Old Three-Bridge 2009 pictures

'Everything is well in the best possible world' p- Voltaire, also Roger's apparent doctrine.

Roger, trying to steer by 0.5 knots of wind and 2 knots of current

Inca Elise sailing into the Sun

Practice day in the rain with no wind

Nat busy setting up the engine...

...partnering with Adrian on gas

Puzzled crew thinking: wait a minute, this is a sailboat, I see no sail on the boat and they're setting up an engine. What kind of scam is that?

Old thanksgiving pictures

Cristin is all smile, driving like a pro (disclosure: she had sailed before)

Leaving Sam's for an out of the gate experience.

Random Shots

Rom realizes that he didn't need his sunglasses on that day

Nathan is trying to troubleshoot the autopilot, in port. As you can tell from the expression on his face, it wasn't looking so good.

Red Sky crew at the Corinthians Midwinters

Old Regatta Pro pictures

On a very rainy day...

Heather getting ready to sleep...

Nat does not have a drinking problem

Meditative Nathan peeking through the fog in search of land and Irish coffee

Heather already had her Antartica gear on

Possession Point

Nice video of Pacific Northwest sailing - thanks Joe for the pointer!

Norcal Writeup of the Double-Handed Lightship race

"If all ocean races were this quick, more people might do them. As it was forty-four boats raced Island Yacht Club’s Doublehanded Lightship Race - the first ocean race of the year - and all but one finished. The race out to the Lightship buoy and back, was so fast that the race committee, stationed at Golden Gate Yacht Club, had finishers coming in before noon. Read More..."

Looks like there were 8 E27s...Next time, we'll be sure to check in properly!!!

DNS result for Double-Handed Lightship

Per the SIs, any boat that does not check in and get a response via their on-board radio prior to the first gun is scored DNS.

I am not so interested in paper results as much as finding out how well we did compared to the other boats. Ultimately what matters to me is how well we've sailed, and what we can do to sail even better. The Island Yacht Club was kind enough to let us know what our ranking would have been had we checked in properly.

We would have placed 3rd in our division, after Dianne and Desperado.

Oh and Nick will be happy. We fixed the cup holder and the winch handle holder...which was thus far awkwardly hanging off a piece of string.

Double-Handed Lightship 2009 Photos

Elise riding a wave, going up...

And coming down. Nathan is doing a great job at 1) hiking out and 2) keeping his feet dry

She's nearly flying...20+ knots of wind the entire time!!!

Puff hitting, Waves and puffs required constant main trimming

Hobbie 33 broke a rudder. We sailed past them on our way back to the Bay but a boat was already circling around to help them out and a USCG vessel was on the way out.

Photos purchased from Lyons Imaging (www.lyonsimaging.com)

Another photo from the Spring Keel

Purchased from Erik Simonson (www.h2oshots.com)

You can see the effect of not so clean air...

More photos

Purchased from Erik Simonson: www.h2oshots.com