When I arrived at the marina I learned that none of the crew had shown. We knew we would be short our two experienced bowmen, but L--- and S--- hadn't said they wouldn't be coming. So it was just captain S--- and I. Being so shorthanded we decided to use the jib as opposed to the genoa so that it would be easier to handle without having hands on the bow. In spite of the prospect of running before the wind for most of the race we also decided against flying the spinnaker.
The motor still has issues, it was running but not well.
We got out of the marina. The race attendance was low, which was good since we had to auto pilot the tiller whenever we needed two hands. The wind was good. We got the main up and shortly after that the jib. We did a lot of tacking and jibing near the start line, I got in some really good practice trimming the fore.
Due to commercial presence, the race was delayed. Once over the line we were downwind across to the restaurants. The wind was light enough to force our hand regarding the spinnaker, so we got it prepped. As captain S--- worked at this I decided maybe it would be good for me to take the helm. He thought it was a good idea. For the remainder of the race I had the tiller and captain S--- got to do some pretty intense sailing. I made a couple landsman mistakes, losing track of the wind direction thus steering exactly the wrong direction.
We made the lone mark of the race and, returning, held a beam reach most of the way. Captain S--- attempted to fly the spinnaker as a genoa which worked for a while, but it became apparent it had to come down. That task was rough. I was anchored at the helm and wasn't much help. The sail kept catching the wind making it impossible for captain S--- to stow below. He fed it through the foot of the mains'l and the beam to help. As soon as it was near enough for me to catch I helped haul with one hand while the other stayed fixed on the tiller. After much backbreaking we got it below.
Then the wind got lively and we stayed really powered up for the remainder of the race. On the way back we did well and took a couple other boats.
After finishing we ran the motor enough to give us response and captain S--- lowered the sails in strapped them for cleanup and stowage when we got back in. The huge commercial starboard of us was hoisting anchor. That was really cool as it was thudding loudly and gushing water.
We had a humpback whale swimming with us, but it made its appearance way aft of where we were, so we didn't get to see it.
Once in we cleaned up our stowing of the sails got everything in ship shape. We weren't done until nearly 10:00pm. It was a great night of learning and practicing.
Weather: cool, overcast, shifty winds.
Time on the water: about 2.0 hours.
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Thursday, July 30, 2015
07.29.2015 - Bowline Knot Class
I arrived with a few minutes of cushion. We had a young guest on board and a full crew of 5, and captain S---. As we left the slip I wasn't sure what I would be working. T---, a crewman who I first met just a couple weeks ago tends to take over whatever tasks I'm doing (fortunately I am beginning to get on with him a bit, originally it was pretty rough). To my surprise, for the first time in my short experience, I was so busy I didn't see ANY of the race. I have no idea what we placed and don't even know exactly what the course was. L--- and I were working the foresail and had a few good moments, but we have a lot of work to do in working together so that we are a smoothly functioning machine.
The foresail took a pounding all night. Heading upwind from the start we were making good speed when suddenly the foresail broke free. We in the cockpit were at a loss, but knew we had to somehow end the beating the sail was taking. I had no thought of the race at hand, all that mattered was not letting the sail get jacked up. One of the bowmen, J--- grabbed the lazy sheet and ran it around to leeward and swapped sheets. Turns out the line hadn't broke, it was a bad knot. There's only one jack on the boat who doesn't know his bowline - but we all get to go to 'bowline school' when we get back to the slip.
Winds were strong throughout. We quickly learned we needed three turns on the winches. After rounding the first mark we headed downwind and were under the spinnaker when the bowmen learned this. T--- needed another round on the spinnaker sheet winch so J--- jumped to it, but we struggled getting enough slack to do it. J--- was tugging on the sheet and working it around when it tightened hard. To avoid losing his fingers J--- let go, but because he was tugging on the sheet, letting go sent him flying backward right into the starboard quarter lifeline. If those lifelines weren't there he would have gone over.
As we crossed the finish we were right in the middle of a tack under heavy winds. No one on board knows for sure if they blew the horn for us. We heard nothing over the noise, for all we know they just ignored us hehe.
Back at the slip it was bowline class. I know the basic knots well - I've been using them whenever possible in my free time or on our couple recent camping trips - but didn't want to come off that way to T--- yet I knew he needed help with it. I showed him the knot once (passing my bowline test) then walked him through it. But he never re-tied it without guidance so hopefully he practices it otherwise it'll be forgotten.
Weather: warm, fair, heavy winds.
Time on the water: about 2.0 hours.
The foresail took a pounding all night. Heading upwind from the start we were making good speed when suddenly the foresail broke free. We in the cockpit were at a loss, but knew we had to somehow end the beating the sail was taking. I had no thought of the race at hand, all that mattered was not letting the sail get jacked up. One of the bowmen, J--- grabbed the lazy sheet and ran it around to leeward and swapped sheets. Turns out the line hadn't broke, it was a bad knot. There's only one jack on the boat who doesn't know his bowline - but we all get to go to 'bowline school' when we get back to the slip.
Winds were strong throughout. We quickly learned we needed three turns on the winches. After rounding the first mark we headed downwind and were under the spinnaker when the bowmen learned this. T--- needed another round on the spinnaker sheet winch so J--- jumped to it, but we struggled getting enough slack to do it. J--- was tugging on the sheet and working it around when it tightened hard. To avoid losing his fingers J--- let go, but because he was tugging on the sheet, letting go sent him flying backward right into the starboard quarter lifeline. If those lifelines weren't there he would have gone over.
As we crossed the finish we were right in the middle of a tack under heavy winds. No one on board knows for sure if they blew the horn for us. We heard nothing over the noise, for all we know they just ignored us hehe.
Back at the slip it was bowline class. I know the basic knots well - I've been using them whenever possible in my free time or on our couple recent camping trips - but didn't want to come off that way to T--- yet I knew he needed help with it. I showed him the knot once (passing my bowline test) then walked him through it. But he never re-tied it without guidance so hopefully he practices it otherwise it'll be forgotten.
Weather: warm, fair, heavy winds.
Time on the water: about 2.0 hours.
Monday, July 6, 2015
06.24.2015 - Docking Under Sail
I arrived for another Windseeker race. This time we were missing my fellow foresail trimmer so I was able to do all the work of trimming the foresail and helping out with the spinnaker. In this race we flew a much larger spinnaker. We were never positioned at the front of the race, but our work at the sails was good, we just ended up positioned in doldrums.
After the first turn we made our way back toward the big cargo ships. there was one tanker being rotated by tug and an enormous car carrier that remained hove-to the entire time. We passed aft of the tanker and shortly it was ready to go. It plowed rapidly through the remainder of boats sailing in the race, so that they had to yield to it.
We went aft of the car carrier, so got stuck in its lee. We creeped across the finish line, barely crawling.
Upon the race's end we proceeded to motor back to the marina but the motor died so we were compelled to come in under sail. This was the first time captain S--- had done this. It was great sailing and we came into our slip textbook.
As I was moving fenders I took a step and a line caught my Converse and threw it into the water. All I could do was watch as it slowly sunk, so I had to help clean up barefoot.
Weather: warm, fair, light winds.
Time on the water: about 1.5 hours.
After the first turn we made our way back toward the big cargo ships. there was one tanker being rotated by tug and an enormous car carrier that remained hove-to the entire time. We passed aft of the tanker and shortly it was ready to go. It plowed rapidly through the remainder of boats sailing in the race, so that they had to yield to it.
We went aft of the car carrier, so got stuck in its lee. We creeped across the finish line, barely crawling.
Upon the race's end we proceeded to motor back to the marina but the motor died so we were compelled to come in under sail. This was the first time captain S--- had done this. It was great sailing and we came into our slip textbook.
As I was moving fenders I took a step and a line caught my Converse and threw it into the water. All I could do was watch as it slowly sunk, so I had to help clean up barefoot.
Weather: warm, fair, light winds.
Time on the water: about 1.5 hours.
Thursday, June 18, 2015
06.17.2015 - First Windseeker Race
I arrived at the Tyee Marina in an attempt to be taken up as a novice crewman. I was picked up captain S---, on Dyno, a 1988 Soverel 33. The crew was fairly new to one another. I was the only greenhorn aboard her. She was a 34 foot keel boat fitted with a very large genoa.
The spinnaker we sailed under had been found in a garbage and was in great shape. It was their first time sailing under it. It was a short sail but perfect for the night's race. I helped man the forward sail sheets and helped in keeping the lines fair about the cockpit. The crew was great and Mr. S--- was patient.
We plotted our start position and our course for a while. As start time approached we found ourselves in a position we weren't intending but had a good start, crossing the mark seconds after the start. We were in second place approaching the first turn but struggled a bit with the hoisting of the spinnaker and fell into fifth place. Once set the spinnaker handled smartly and we pulled up to fourth.
We had good heeling along the final stretch and finished fourth.
I failed to trim the genoa in a timely manner and got a stern talking to about it. I thought we were foul at the bow and let it luff more than I should have.
Upon our arrival back we made the boat ready for docking and I was invited back for future races!
Time on the water, about 1.5 hours.
The spinnaker we sailed under had been found in a garbage and was in great shape. It was their first time sailing under it. It was a short sail but perfect for the night's race. I helped man the forward sail sheets and helped in keeping the lines fair about the cockpit. The crew was great and Mr. S--- was patient.
We plotted our start position and our course for a while. As start time approached we found ourselves in a position we weren't intending but had a good start, crossing the mark seconds after the start. We were in second place approaching the first turn but struggled a bit with the hoisting of the spinnaker and fell into fifth place. Once set the spinnaker handled smartly and we pulled up to fourth.
We had good heeling along the final stretch and finished fourth.
I failed to trim the genoa in a timely manner and got a stern talking to about it. I thought we were foul at the bow and let it luff more than I should have.
Upon our arrival back we made the boat ready for docking and I was invited back for future races!
Time on the water, about 1.5 hours.
06.14.2015 - ASA 101 Class 02
Alyssa and I attended the second part of our 101 course. We again met at the Tyee Marina and were under a different instructor. He was a good teacher and reviewed our knot work on the boat. This time out we were on a 25 foot racing rigged keel boat called the Spire. We sailed well out into the bay.
Where the Puyallup river meets the sound we encountered a stark line where the brackish water met the ocean's salt water, turning from muddy brown to dark blue. Crossing back later we found that the motor toiled more the moment we crossed back into brackish waters.
We had fair wind and drilled heading up and falling away, further honing our trimming abilities. We went over right of way rules, safety and MOB drills.
Then the wind died off and we were in the doldrums and had to return under power.
We encountered curious seals who swam right up to the boat.
Near the marina the wind picked up and we got some good sailing in, heeling nicely in the racing boat but one of our fellow students wasn't too keen on it and kept easing out the main until the instructor let him know the boat was liking it. That same student lost his cool under pressure and went from laid back to jumpy and edgy for the rest of the trip.
Time on the water, about five hours.
Where the Puyallup river meets the sound we encountered a stark line where the brackish water met the ocean's salt water, turning from muddy brown to dark blue. Crossing back later we found that the motor toiled more the moment we crossed back into brackish waters.
We had fair wind and drilled heading up and falling away, further honing our trimming abilities. We went over right of way rules, safety and MOB drills.
Then the wind died off and we were in the doldrums and had to return under power.
We encountered curious seals who swam right up to the boat.
Near the marina the wind picked up and we got some good sailing in, heeling nicely in the racing boat but one of our fellow students wasn't too keen on it and kept easing out the main until the instructor let him know the boat was liking it. That same student lost his cool under pressure and went from laid back to jumpy and edgy for the rest of the trip.
Time on the water, about five hours.
06.13.2015 - ASA 101 Class 01
Alyssa and I headed to the Tyee Marina for our first lesson in sailing. It was the first time I had ever been aboard a sailboat. We went aboard a 25 foot keel boat called the Cyzygy. We covered basic knots that would be needed during the trip went over the characteristics of the boat. I had the first trick at the helm and as soon as we left the slip and started the motor I found the tiller unresponsive in spite of the fact that we were moving forward. We jostled another boat then found that the tiller had been flipped backward somehow.
Upon leaving the marina we encountered light northerly winds worked on tacking and handling the sheets for the upwind points of sail. After tacking and jibing around the bay a bit we fell into doldrums and motored in for lunch.
After docking and exiting again without incident we encountered light to no wind but were able to exercise 360 turns around the points of sail. We executed figure eight man overboard MOB drills before returning to our slip for the day.
Time on the water, about five hours.
Upon leaving the marina we encountered light northerly winds worked on tacking and handling the sheets for the upwind points of sail. After tacking and jibing around the bay a bit we fell into doldrums and motored in for lunch.
After docking and exiting again without incident we encountered light to no wind but were able to exercise 360 turns around the points of sail. We executed figure eight man overboard MOB drills before returning to our slip for the day.
Time on the water, about five hours.
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