Video - Big Food goes for a sail

[Yeadon]

A couple weekends ago, I sailed my lapstrake peapod Big Food south from Kingston to Shilshole. Winds were from the north, 18-20.

In otherwords, we had a lovely two hour run downwind.

Here's a very short video of the sail. (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6942314555211247900&ei=loSjSaiVFqqIqQP1vcSFAg&q=big+food&hl=en&st=week)

I think the sounds are my favorite part.

[Michael Beckman]

Looks like a ride. I love sailing to a destination.

[pcford]

Real nice Tim!

You can get a mic cover (sometimes called a blimp...those furry things you maybe have seen) which could cut down the wind noise.

[James McMullen]

Nice ride! My brother lives in Kingston. How did you do the shuttle?

[Yeadon]

The day before, there was zero wind, so we rowed there from Shilshole. It's about 9.5 miles each way. That night, we stayed on Zulu with a handful of people. (Luxury item ... wood stove.) The next day, we put in a reef and flew on home.

Hvalsoe was on the trip in his boat, too, but he slept on his boat in near freezing weather. (Hard to believe, but he's currently laid up sick.)

When we left Kingston, I basically pointed Big Food downwind and ran. I think Hvalsoe made a beeline due east for Edmonds, then wandered south. If he'd stuck around, he probably would have ended up in the video, too.

[David G]

Lovely. Thanks for sharing.

[Lew Barrett]

No whitecaps! I expected big, big seas after our tete a tete! Nice ride though.

[Yeadon]

Yeah, fish stories are the best ...

[Jay Greer]

Glad to see you chose a warm day! Cool Video!
Jay

[pcford]

Best times I have had in a boat were in a small boat.

(well....there was that time in North Carolina...but that's another story.)

[Eric Hvalsoe]

As Tim indicated, the convoy consisted of Zulu (that Zulu), Big Food and my 16. I thought Kingston would make a nice overnight destination rather than pointing south from Shilshole. There was little wind Saturday, my rowing partner John and I averaged 3.5 knots to Point Wells, took a long lunch break, dug in for the pull across to Appletree Cove and sailed for a few minutes off the mouth of the harbor.

Yes, once settled in, I had a cosy sleep on the floorboards of the 16 in subfreezing temperatures. I set up the sprit yard as a boom tent. What the hell, I camp in the snow. Currently layed up at home - perhaps due to some other factors which I won't go into.

Sunday - Tim and Big Food shoved off from Zulu, with Noah again as crew. I shoved off single handed. With a reef in I had 60 or 65 sq ft. There was a fresh breeze which continued to pick up, initially I chose a rolicking easy beat/close reach, straight towards Edmonds. Two thirds of the way across wind and seas seemed to be increasing, with regular whitecaps. I thought it prudent to reverse course, and broad reached back towards Kingston, sliding down along the west shore towards Point Jefferson, where I tacked again for the east shore above Carkeek. My goal was to sail on a broad reach rather than directly downwind.

Out in the middle things were pretty damn dramatic, more so than what Tim's video indicates. I remember plenty of foamy tops.
The 16 is very much capable of settlling on her butt lines and surfing like a scalded dog. I did not have a GPS. I could guess what speeds I achieved but you probably would not believe me. The boat surfed for exended bursts, a couple as long as five or six seconds. Not recommended for the faint of heart.

Upon approaching the east shore above Meadow Point, I brailed, took a pee, and dropped the sprit yard. I proceeded towards the Shilshole breakwater in a liesurely fashion under scandalized sail.

This was the third severe winter workout for the boat in recent weeks. I call it exploring the margins. Big Food has had her workouts too. I'm giving my boat a rest, she deserves a break.

Eric

[Yeadon]

Upon approaching the east shore above Meadow Point, I brailed, took a pee, and dropped the sprit yard. I proceeded towards the Shilshole breakwater in a liesurely fashion under scandalized sail.

Eric

It's a lot fun to read this aloud in a pirate voice.

[pcford]

It's a lot fun to read this aloud in a pirate voice.

that's the way eric would say it, after all.

[Eric Hvalsoe]

Arrrrrr Matey!