Captain Bill and I went head-to-head for a bit and had a few
friendly words. Sailboats ruled the bay today, and this confirmed
my preference for sailing on weekdays. I'm lucky that I'm able to
do so, and really lucky to get a weekend day off as well.
Captain Bill is sailing under jib alone? What's with that? Is he just slowing down so Bay Rhumb can keep up with him?
ReplyDeleteI was, and he furled most of his main so we could sail next to each other. I often sail under jib alone when I'm by myself and it's blowing more than 10-12 knots. I had a lure out for bluefish also, and when I hook one, it's easier just to feather up with the jib while I reel it in and unhook it.
DeleteMulti-tasking Easternors make better seamen than Westernors. I get it. I can't even single-hand my yot.
Deletehow do you know they make better seamen?
DeleteGood on you, Baydog.
ReplyDeleteEnough of this macho nonsense about 'not really sailing' unless you've got both sails up.
Single handing in a boat that's not well set up for it (most wheel-steering family cruisers, today) is much easier with just one sail to manage.
If you're not racing, why not enjoy the day and just play with your boat?
I'll bet a blogger could do a whole series of posts about just playing with boats.
Mega-Truth here. I miss the play. So much.
DeleteI admit that it's a pain in the ass to trim the main when you're behind the wheel. When tacking, I don't even touch the mainsheet, just the jib. Sometimes I wish I had a tiller instead. Poor me.
DeleteSoon after we got our boat, I rerigged the mainsheet with just this in mind.
DeleteInstead of running the sheet forward to the mast, through turning blocks, back to the companionway through a rope clutch, and to a winch, I installed a fiddle block with a cam cleat (like many racing dinghies use) right at the coachroof traveller, with the sheet leading aft into the cockpit from there.
You can then lead the sheet straight back to the helm and, if the cam cleat is at the right angle, you can cleat the sheet or uncleat it with a flick of the wrist while still behind the wheel. With all the friction you lose from running through half as many blocks, you don't really need the winch any more.
Sometimes I wish I had a tiller instead too.
ReplyDeleteWait.
What's an instead?
Skip, they've invented THE WHEEL. Try to keep up.
Delete