Surprise's Log Day Sailer 11750

More rigging thoughts

Another thing I may consider doing is moving the traveller forward of the wooden seats. I should have done that in the first place, as it would move the weight of the traveller closer to the center of gravity, and it would make moving across the boat during tacks and jibes easier. It would also make it harder to bark my shins, which happened during one race.

One of the top finishers mentioned that the distance he pulls his jib inboard is 11-12 inches from the centerline. I need to check that setting on my boat and consider. We had good speed during the race and were pointing well, I lost places upon making errors, and fouling other boats.

Mental note: when approaching a starboard layline on port tack near the weather mark, and it is AT ALL doubtful that I can get in line without fouling someone, assume that I can't, and do not foul them. It will cost less to lose two-three boats as opposed to the 10-12+ boats I lost as a result of doing penalty turns. I need to look for an opening in the line much earlier thn I have and get over there so I'm the one on starboard and I'm the one that has right-of-way. Also, when I am on starboard tack coming to the mark, make sure I've got some margin for a header, especially if the wind is light.

Thoughts on the new centerboard

I'm going to declare the new centerboard a success.

I don't know how I can justify it, except that I feel the boat points a little higher, has perhaps a little less drag. She seems to move through the water better.

Is any of this scientific?
No.

Can I back it up with any evidence?
No, at least not yet.

The boat weighs the same as it has in the past, (591-592 lbs), which is 16-17 lbs heavy. Not much, when considering that some other boats of the vintage are over 600 lbs. The board is lighter than the old one, which puzzles me. I was also careful to get any water inside the air tanks sponged out before weighing.
The new board has certainly not hurt the performance of the boat, so at worst the new board is a wash. However, this frees up the old board for use in some of the other boats I'm working on, so it's a net gain, regardless.

For fun, I may try my hand at using my wood router to make a rudder for one of the other boats. I'm not sure what material I would use to build it. If I were really adventurous I might try Balsa wood covered by fiberglass.

Back from Nationals

We had a great time as usual, There's always so much to consider after these things. I'll post thoughts on what I learned in the coming days.

Our best finish was a 5th during the first day of racing. This was our best finish ever in a Nationals, and we were really excited. Our tune up races were pretty decent. We were 11th after the two tune ups, and 13th after the first day of racing, but we went downhill on the second and third days of racing and ended up 17th overall which is still okay. We did better than in the past and had a ball.
The regatta organizers had a photographer out there taking lots of great pictures. They gave each competitor a photo. I scanned mine in here, but unfortunately it doesn't do the original justice. The original is very clear.

Update:
To report the big picture: Dave Keran and Janette Zeman from California did a great job and won the NA championship. Jeff Bush with his father Brian crewing won the Junior Championship. Well sailed, all!

We will have the next North American Championship in Huntington Lake, California. I was there for the 2000 High Sierra as well as the NAC Regatta and it was just great. It's truly worth making the trip from anywhere in the country. All DS sailers MUST do go to this venue at least once in their lifetimes!

What else can I report? The folks at GRSA are wonderful. I heard comments from them before the regatta such as "Our lake is small" and "We may need two fleets because of the size of the lake" All nonsense. The venue was just wonderful, the people hospitable, it was all anyone could ask for. Thanks to the entire Regatta team and Bob Damon!

The weather was (at least to this coastal sailor) typical lake sailing - shifty, light, unpredictable.... those who sail in those conditions loved it. And actually, I did too! We got in four races on the first day, the winds were moderate, 5-10 probably. The second day the winds lightened up and we got in three races. On the third day we had very light winds and got in one shortened race.

I know there's more I could report, but I'll leave it for later or for the Day Sailer Quarterly newsletter.

Leaving for Nationals

The bags are packed, boat is ready... Off to Nationals!
I plan to write my thoughts down after each day and will post them after I get back...

June series race 3

The storms moved off in the afternoon leaving the wind gauges reading "Calm". Fortunately the winds came back in time for the races and we had 6-12 mph from the east, and moving to the south.

Track will be posted when I return from North Americans

Weather today

000 FZUS54 KHGX 161215 AAA CWFHGX

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
715 AM CDT WED JUN 16 2004

UPPER TEXAS COASTAL WATERS FROM HIGH ISLAND TO THE MATAGORDA SHIP
CHANNEL OUT 60 NAUTICAL MILES INCLUDING GALVESTON AND MATAGORDA BAYS

GMZ300-161530-
SYNOPSIS FOR HIGH ISLAND TO THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL OUT 60
NAUTICAL MILES INCLUDING MATAGORDA AND GALVESTON BAYS
715 AM CDT WED JUN 16 2004

.SYNOPSIS...AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM LINGERING OVER THE
UPPER TEXAS COAST WILL LEAD TO SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
THROUGH THE DAY. TROUGH HANGS OVER AREA UNTIL EARLY TOMORROW MORNING.
EASTERN HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD BACK IN TOMORROW AFTERNOON THROUGH
THE WEEKEND.

$$

GMZ330-335-161530-
GALVESTON BAY-
MATAGORDA BAY-
715 AM CDT WED JUN 16 2004

...SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION THIS MORNING...

.TODAY...SOUTH WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS THIS MORNING DECREASING TO 10 TO
15 KNOTS THIS AFTERNOON. CHOPPY BAY WATERS BECOMING SLIGHTLY CHOPPY.
WINDS HIGHER AND BAY WATERS ROUGH IN AND NEAR NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS.
.TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT...SOUTH WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS.
BAY WATERS SLIGHTLY CHOPPY. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS.
.FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY...SOUTH WINDS AROUND 10 KNOTS. BAY WATERS
SMOOTH TO SLIGHTLY CHOPPY. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS.

Test sail and practice

Took the boat out on Sunday after finishing the work on her.
We sailed almost to Dollar point, rounded a mark and set the spinnaker. Off the wind we found ourselves surfing down some waves. We jibed and sailed in to Dickinson bay and practiced jibing a few times. We beat back to the pier at the house had lunch and relaxed. We took the boat out again about two hours later, set the 'chute, jibed some more, beat back up, and returned to the ramp.

We seemed to have solved the problem with the board kicking up when sailing large.

Boat ready for NACs

Spent the weekend fixing and finishing up things for the North Americans in Richmond, Virginia next week. Specifically the work we finished was:

• sanded the the trailing edge of the new centerboard to a nice and sharply squared off edge. No humming observed since then.
• wet-sanded the centerboard again, removed burrs developed during last Wednesday's race when the board was pushed down hard and the leading edge smacked into the forward edge of the centerboard trunk.
• installed a piece of linoleum tile cut to the right size to shim up the centerboard head near the pivot pin to stop the tendancy for the board to self-raise when not beating.
• replaced elvstrom bailer gasket. The bailer is now in great shape with no leaks.
• cleaned up the interior of the boat; it hasn't looked so clean in years.
• replaced the worn carpet on the forward trailer bunk.
• put in a small rubber and neoprene bumper in the forward edge of the centerboard trunk to keep the board from banging into the front of the centerboard trunk when it is lowered and damaging the board.
• repaired the broken teak storage rail, cleaned and oiled the teak.
• marked the places on the centerboard trunk corresponding to where the board is in the "up" and "down" positions, and also placed another mark reading "too far" for when the board is hyperextended.
• installed mud flaps on the trailer.
• scrubbed the boat cover.
• put more grease into the bearing buddies on the trailer hubs.

June Series Race 2

We had strong winds today, again. The centerboard seems to work fairly well, (it didn't snap off), and we were still able to point. However, it's bouyant and when we sail free the board has a tendancy to raise itself. The worst time it did that was before the start. We were sailing on a port tack reach and I intended to luff up, tack and sail toward the line on starboard. The board had come up and neither of us noticed it until I put the helm down and the boat replied with that sick mushy feeling. K got the board back down and I tacked, but I had lost the feeling for where the wind was coming from, and it had shifted far left. So I had inadvertently put the boat into irons, thinking we would be close hauled. As it was, on starboard tack we weren't even laying the starting line. I tacked back to port as soon as I could, but it was at the wrong end of the line. To add insult to injury, and we were also late.

We had a pretty good first leg, however, I think we were in phase and we made up some time on the others. We sailed to the left side of the course, and had a good lift on starboard tack near the shore. On the first run, we had trouble getting the chute flying properly. I took far too long to hoist. We need to work on our jibes. I went too far on one jibe at too high an angle on the first downwind, and that cost a lot of time.
The second upwind I think I chose the wrong side of the course to sail and was out of phase.

The boat with her recently cleaned bottom and wax job seemed to roll more while on a run, which I didn't expect and made me nervous. On the beats I think she slipped thought the water easier, but perhaps that was wishful thinking.

I was too nervous in this race, I was tentative in my decisions and actions. I was preoccupied with the centerboard and that coupled with other mistakes gave us a 4th place finish. Kathy and I need more time to practice before Nationals, so we're going to do that this weekend.

The roller on the trailer has made launching and retrieving much easier, however. I'm really happy with that.

I plan to take the board out again on Friday, I need to do some fine tuning on the trailing edge, which was emitting a low frequency hum. I also want to try placing some formica or linoleum tile near on the center of the centerboard pivot hole to see if I can minimize the tendency for it raise.

Overall I think the board is an improvement but it will take me a little time to get used to it. I think that it would have been nice to have some non race testing before taking it into competition. At least I get to try it before nationals.

Clear Lake Park winds via this site

Centerboard installed

More fiddling and futzing with the board yesterday, trying to get it in to the boat and retracting properly. With Kathy's patient help and proper sanding, we were able to coax the board to do that, but it would leave the wooden shims exposed to the water, so I had to seal them again with some epoxy. Kathy cleaned and waxed the hull while I applyed the resin and I was able to give some help after I finished that.

I got up earlier than normal this morning, after a fitful night filled with a disturbing dream of undergoing an abdominal operation in the hospital where I had too little anasthetic. I was dully aware of what was going on, but could feel the operation happening, and I could see everyone I know in the world watching it happen. - Perhaps I identify with this boat too much.

5:45 am to 6:45 am was spent doing a little more sanding, applying petroleum jelly to the head of the board as a lubricant, going without coffee or breakfast, and working up such a muck sweat in the thick warm humidity of a gulf coast summer morning that I found myself uttering some cursings and execrations when things didn't go as smoothy as I wanted. But eventually, the board did as she was supposed to, and is now finally installed.

Getting the boat back on the trailer was easier than I thought it would be. The winch strap is too short to reach the boat when she's entirely off the trailer, so I used a trick I learned from Dick Hoover. I took a length of line, tied one end to the winch hook, reeved it through the bow eye then made the other end fast to the winch mast on the trailer just below the winch. It multiplied the power by two and brought the boat easily to the end of the trailer, that Kathy stood on to get the tilt operating while I cranked the winch. Once the bow was on the roller, it was easy. I removed the extra line and attached the winch strap directly to the bow eye and we cranked her up into place.

And so, this evening comes the first real sea test. Will the board lower and raise easily? Will it snap under load on our first upwind beat? Will it render the boat as slow as molasses in winter, or will she sail against wind and tide? Or will there be no noticable change at all? How will the boat change in her character after having such a fundamental part replaced?

Tune in tomorrow.

Boat flippin' part deux

The process of getting a centerboard set up just so is frankly a pain. Yesterday I took the new board and found that it was a little too thick for it to retract completely. So I sanded the wooden shims down - took about 7-8 trips back and forth between the boat and the power supply for the sander before it would retract properly, but then it had too much play in it when it was down. So I placed a little bit of glass on the lower forward part of the centerboard head, hoping that it would keep the board from wiggling. It mostly worked except that now the board won't retract again, but instead of binding at 45 degrees like it did the first time, it's now about 5-10 degrees. So I have a little more sanding to do.

I replaced a black rubber roller on the trailer with a wider, clear roller as well as the black bow support with a new gray one, so hopefully black scuff marks on the hull will now be a thing of the past. While I was playing games with the centerboard, Kathy cleaned and wet sanded the hull. If I can get the centerboard working tonight and sand the surface to a smooth, non-paint-flaking consistency, I think I can use it tomorrow... I hope the performance is better than the original board.

Boat flippin', centerboard testing

I pulled Surprise off her trailer on Sunday with Kathy and Jim's help, and leaned her over against a tree in the front yard. I had hoped that I could shim up the centerboard trunk opening to reduce the drag created by an opening larger than class minimum, but after a dry-fitting test, it was apparent that the board would not pull in, probably because the centerboard trunk opening is not perfectly rectangular. It would be very time consuming to get it to work, so I've abandoned that notion and I'm simply going to shim up the centerboard head so it doesn't wobble in the trunk. I used the material I had intended to build up the trunk opening with as shims for the board.
I mixed up some marine-tex to filling some gouges on the hull and I'll clean and wet sand the hull. Another improvement I'll make while the boat is off the trailer is to install mud flaps to keep the hull from getting mud spattered on it. I also plan to replace some rollers and carpeting on the bunks.

I'm not happy with the paint I chose for the centerboard; it's too soft and , scuffs to easily. So I don't think I'll add any more, I'll just sand it down regardless of the looks and use it. Someday maybe I'll try another covering. I'll get the surface as smooth as I can and press.

June Series Race 1

A very fun race tonight, and mostly because we had the chance to socialize with Ken the Finn sailor afterwards. A really nice fellow, good sailor and someone who deserves to win more than I do. If we were sailing the same class of boat I expect he'd kick my butt. That's the bad thing about handicap fleets... I think there's significant error in the numbers.

We had a good start, probably 1/3 of the line from the committee boat on starboard tack. Joe in the Coronado 15 was below us and Ken in his Finn was above us. Just behind him was Dick in his Lido 14. At the start I heard a little bit of bumping and I glanced back to see the Lido bumping the transom of the Finn.

According to the post race chatter Ken hailed "Dude!" instead of the traditional "Protest!". Dick, always the corinthian, did his turn. Perhaps a change to the sailing instructions is in order to allow the hail of "Dude!" as well as the more standard hail in the event of a foul....

We fared well and finished 16 seconds corrected ahead of Ken. I have no doubt he's a better sailor and I think that the DS handicap is a little too lenient. But we did sail well, and were planing on the downwind legs with the chute up.
Near ther end of the race we found ourselves pinned between the Coronado and a J/24. The J/24 was starboard with her chute up, and we were on port. Joe was also on port and apparently another boat was to leeward of him, and even on starboard tack, making things very complicated. I was barely able to stay clear of both, only by strapping the 'chuteand hauling in the on the main and falling behind both of them. In a one-design race, I'd have been, well, screwed, (to use the parlance of our times). Clearly I need to study the rules for this situation and think about what is the right thing to do.

The first beat the wind was about 25-30 degrees lifted on starboard tack, and we finally got a knock after rounding the point. Even so, the wind stayed to the right and we ended up having to take our hitch near the end the the beat. We just barely tapped the mark and so had to do our penalty turn. We managed to make up our loss on the run. Joe in the coronado passed us going upwind, and we still had the wind 25 degrees lifted on starboard, until we got past the point. I had intended to do the same thing as on the first beat, but on the port tack we suddenly got a wind shift and made it to the starboard layline.

Legend:
Gray - pre/post race
Magenta - during the previous classes starts
Purple - Our starting sequence
Red - first beat
Blue - first run
Green - second beat
Black -second run

Here's the plot: