Pleasant Bay and a simple rig adjustment

Last week I returned to my old stomping grounds off Harwichport / Chatham to see how the boat would strut her stuff in a little breeze.  I was able to sail out to the whistle, bell, and back in no time as well as do the three harbor cruise.

Issues with the way I rigged the boat crop up gradually as the wind increases.
1.  There was no way to cleat the mainsheet in without using two hands as I had failed to put a fairlead in just ahead of the clam cleats, leading to a poor lead to the cleat and too much work on the part of the skipper.  Easily solved with trading out the fairleads from the rudder head for the uphaul, and the one I put on the sprit.

2.  The mizzen sheet kept getting hung up on the motor, necessitating the use of a paddle to keep pushing it off the motor cowl.  I added a ring on a bungee cord to the sprit and ran the sheet up through it.  As the sheet tries to move outboard, the shock cord tensions and brings it inboard, thus avoiding the motor!  When the sheet is tensioned, the ring moves out to allow for trim.

12 miles under the keel in a nice breeze.  Looking forward to the next sail.  

September 8th - 

Great sail in Pleasant Bay today with another retired educator.  We sailed out of Areys Pond (small fee for the ramp, but they put it in and retrieve it!).  Owner, Tony Davis, and his crew run one of the best sailboat yards on Cape Cod.  They specialize in Cape Cod Catboats, and have a special place on Areys Pond.  It is a first class establishment.  

Throughout the day, we sailed through some very skinny water only grounding out a couple of times.  Lifting the board and backing the main allowed us to carry on.  

The ring on the shock cord worked wonderfully!  No hang ups on any of the stern fittings or motor.  No stress sailing.  I do need to change the clam cleats for the main to cam cleats for a more positive grip on the mainsheet.  Next project!  

We sailed upwind for about 2 hours, measuring 9 miles of tacking, and got as far as the entrance to Ryders Cove in Chatham before heading home.  ON the way back, we took some great shortcuts that can only be done in a boat that draws 7".  We sailed full blast of the eel grass, sand bars, and clam flats making short work of the trip home (40 minutes).  After derigging, headed home.  At times we had little wind, other times, gusts to 18kts.  I cant say enough about this boat.  Wish we had some pictures under way, but were too busy gabbing, eating, and just enjoying the day.  

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Sailing report Buzzards Bay !

Arrived in Wareham at the local ramp and put Blue J in for her first romp in Buzzards Bay.  My daughter and I went out in about 30 minutes of rigging/launching and spent three hours on the bay prior to the weather closing in on us.  Sorry, no photos.  My phone was in the waterproof lock box, and the crew left hers at home.

This boat sails well in a 3-12kt NNW.  We were able to point within 90 degrees which is quite respectable.  It takes very little wind to move her along, and if we were not on a time table, would have left the motor at home. But, due to severe thunderstorms forecast, we opted to have an escape option.

A few little projects are cropping up after 3 sails.  One is to move the sheeting arrangement for the mizzen around.  I am not fond of reaching behind to trim the mizzen, and it fouls the motor and rudder.  Standard end boom sheeting off a loop from the tiller might work.  or moving the cleat to the mast.  As a temporary solution, I am going to try attaching a fiberglass driveway stake to the motor cowl and point it down the shaft of the motor.  This should keep the line from snagging the knob on the Tohatsu that is used to tighten the motor so that it stays once you let go of the motors tiller.

Switching out the clam cleats on the coaming for cam cleats on the seat are also to be investigated.  Drink holders are a must as well.  We need places to put the water bottles down.

When I started this project, my demands were:

1.  It is to be a sailboat to replace the 1969 Enterprise Sailing Dinghy that is too tough on my back and knees.  Additionally, winter storm Snowmageddon 2015 did a lot of damage to the Enterprise hull.  Yes.  This was dead spot on!   

2.  Able to carry a few guests but not too many!  3 is perfect, 4 a crowd, but doable in up to a moderate breeze.  

3.  Can be built in a single car garage.  Yes,  but barely.  I did move it outdoors to attach hardware, and finish the coaming / deck.  I got tired of moving stuff around it, and banging my head on the ceiling beams. 

4.  Sails well and can handle Buzzards Bay and Nantucket Sound.  So far, so good.  We have only had up to 12 kt breezes under full sail, which moves the boat very well without too much panic from the crew.  I think 15 and above will require one reef.  

5.  Easily launched and rigged in 15 minutes so as to encourage using the boat.  So far, 30 minutes for a rookie,  I know I can get this to 20 minutes with practice.  

6.  Not too expensive.  (ok, not too cheap.  This snowballed a little as I went for more expensive stuff, could have lived without the motor).  It is the finish work that is expensive.  I spent way too much on water based polyurethane, motors, and stuff I could have lived without.  The aluminum masts built in sections work very well and are economical.  

I think this is as close as I am going to get to perfection here.  It is a great boat.  

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Sail report Buzzards Bay day 2

August 21

Took the boat back to Wareham.  It was a glorious day with winds 10-15 kts and crystal clear skies.

We sailed out to the middle of Buzzards Bay and then went back to the sand spit for lunch.

I cant say enough of how well this boat sails and the ease of launch and retrieval.

Lunch on the sand spit.  It doesnt get any better than this.

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