Sailing Casco Bay

[StevenBauer]

Mary and I took the skiff out today for our first sail of the season. What a day! I changed the rig from a sliding gunter to a regular gunter by adding a piece of sail track to the mast and a fitting from Bristol Bronze at the bottom of the (new) gunter. This setup lets you raise and lower the sail much easier than the old way.

Here is the skiff on the trailer:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid175/p32ca78dfc2383655fe098a8e637fe542/f36ec777.jpg

First things first - we had to sail around Chris's Victoria 'cause she's so cute:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid175/pc33da7fe78e1c0e7d5f33c5a1eab596b/f36ec7aa.jpg

Then we saw the steel cutter Francis about to cross tacks with a neat canoe-yawl:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid175/pf424d3804bc7439032af163d34704dc5/f36ec79b.jpg

Francis was a sight with topsail flying:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid175/p83598f5118e6cac78c1ef08872ec71b2/f36ec792.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid175/p117bef9d9db4aca5b60ae3b3a0fc10aa/f36ec783.jpg

The crew on the canoe-yawl were all smiles!

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid175/p29090d582e257e2ccf4401e94edcf266/f36ec77e.jpg

more...

[Thad]

Beautiful day!! and fun too!!!

[StevenBauer]

So we're watching Francis and the c-y and I look ahead to see the big Alden schooner Bagheera with a load of tourists heading right for us! Fortunately she missed us! Frances on the right and Fort Gorges on the left:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid175/p39797ec8f8dcbcddebd6ad8fdf84dcde/f36e660c.jpg

We saw this beauty on her mooring:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid175/p6be6cfb447f0ecf3afc6649d075507a9/f36e6617.jpg

And on our way out we saw the canoe-yawl running down through the mooring field:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid175/pd75315ae8df1b0fa06ce12a9037034bd/f36e6626.jpg

Mary has to work tomorrow but I might head out with the kids in the morning.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid175/pa8fdb6f7175bc4e9926b64c6a68b4190/f36ec7af.jpg

[John B]

I think we talked about Casco bay before didn't we Steven? The only American chart I own is Casco. It just looks fascinating as a cruising ground to me. Thanks for the pics.

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

Great photos Steven. :cool:

[StevenBauer]

I learned something important down at the launching ramp, too. The park ranger that was collecting the fees for the ramp said pointedly "She's under twelve feet long, right?" But I missed it completely. Says I, "Nope, fourteen feet". Ranger: "Too bad, under twelve feet is no charge". Then I got it. "And you don't have a tape measure, right?", and he smiles and says "Right". :D
So next time I can save the $5 launch fee. smile.gif

Steven

[HR]

Looks like it was a beautiful sailing day! Nice pics. Just think, one day "soon" that canoe yawl will be you in your Eun Mara!

Howard

[Hughman]

So fine. smile.gif

[StevenBauer]

Another thing I learned yesterday. There are still some nice people left in the world. About noon yesterday the only thing keeping us from heading down to the bay was the flat tire on the trailer. No worries, I have a spare. So after cutting the spare tire bracket off the trailer with a sawzall (a 'little' rust on the bolts) I proceed to mount the tire. Then I slipped with the wrench and broke off the valve stem. Whoosh, all the air rushes out of the tire. So now it's Sunday afternoon with two flat tires! We made a couple of calls and to our surprise VIP Auto is open! They're only a mile or so away so off I go. And here's the best part. They fixed both tires - no charge! :D Have a nice day they said. Thanks VIP Auto!

John, here's a site with some history info about Casco Bay. A very important place in WWII.
www.cascobay.com/history/bayww2/bayww2.htm (http://www.cascobay.com/history/bayww2/bayww2.htm)
If you click on the map you can get more info on some of the islands. Check out Little Chebeague, that's one of our favorite day trips.

Steven

[Hwyl]

As the self appointed policeman of correct clew attachment, I see I have my work cut out.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid175/p29090d582e257e2ccf4401e94edcf266/f36ec77e.jpg .

Just a few adjusments and these guys could be really sailing.

I sailed on Saturday, great day. I had to take Leah to NYLF camp at babson college yesterday (insert proud grin here). Today is a great sailing day, but I've got to play catch up at home (I'll be on the water every other day).

Hope to get up to see you sometime this week Steven

[ 07-04-2005, 11:59 AM: Message edited by: Hwyl ]

[John B]

I'm glad I didn't say anything then, being your specialised field an all. :D

Thanks for the link Steven.

[ 07-04-2005, 05:26 PM: Message edited by: John B ]

[Wild Wassa]

Originally posted by Hwyl:
"As the self appointed policeman of correct clew attachment, I see I have my work cut out."

A clew? ... something the crew has no concept of.

When Leon M wrote, a while back that, a visit from the varnish police was on the cards for one of the members, I've been too worried to open my mouth about varnish ... so clews are now out of the question as well.

It is good to hear that you guys are enjoying summer sailing ... kick boat.

Warren.

[ 07-04-2005, 05:53 PM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]

[Hwyl]

Originally posted by John B:
I'm glad I didn't say anything then, being your specialised field an all. :D

Jump right in John and Warren. The boom appears to be almost centred, the topping lift is tight, it's such a bad example that the clew outhaul has effectively become the sheet.

The boat would be so much more controllable if the setup was better.

[John B]

Don't mind me Hwyl. Just trying to be funny.Yes, you're 100 % right on the money as usual.
All he needs is a gasket around the boom too.And then the topping lift problem will go away.( Did I mention I am a founding member of the society for the prevention of cruelty to topping lifts)

He's having fun though eh.