bold and underline added by me...I did not know this! It would be fantastic if the boat was restored!
It sounds like you are having a great old time of it......which is *exactly* the idea, yes?
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5/18/12
We rafted this afternoon to JZERRO, Russell Brown's 36' proa. JZERRO is one of the most interesting boats I've seen in a lifetime of sailing. Russell has put a lot of thought into his little ship. http://www.wingo.com/proa/brown/jzerrophotos.html
JZERRO "tacks" by reversing direction, always keeping the ama to windward. There is a headstay and jib at either end of the boat, and a rudder/daggerboard also. The ama has a tank for 55 gallons of water ballast. She is one fast cookie. But very comfortable. Russell has cruised JZERRO to Mexico and the S. Pacific.
After our raft up with JZERRO, we returned to the Deer Harbor docks. Some crusty mariner was looking to pick a fight and insinuated WILDFLOWER was a piece of junk and should be "returned to the manufacturer." "How could any self respecting boat builder use such old, outdated equipment?", he asked.
I attempted to tell him the story of the boat and her donated and recycled gear. But he would have none of it. "Junk!" "It must have taken them years to build your boat." "Look, they used lashings on the headstay!" "New boat?" "You got screwed."
I chuckled at his ignorance, and went below. All in a day.
Saturday's Yellow Island Wood Boat Regatta was much fun. Before the skipper's meeting, we got to tour the local Deer Harbor Boat Yard, which is full of treasures from the past, including the miniature tugboat LI'L TOOT, that was won some years ago on the game show "Let's Make a Deal." Two friendly goats, Tom and Jerry, lord over the boat yard, and keep the blackberry vines to a manageable level.
The obvious pride of Cat and Mike, the yard's owners, is their 1934, Luders designed and built, 6 meter CHALLENGE. What a beauty. (see photos)
It was sunny and warm for the race. Winds were light, 2-5 knots. Despite our generous PHRF of 225, our little cat wasn't competitive, and we finished 9 of 9. CHALLENGE won. The Blanchard 26 STARFIRE was second. And the lovely and well sailed Manual Campos 34 VITO DUMAS was third
But we'll be back for the next edition after Labor Day, hopefully with a masthead 155% genoa.
Photos of the Yellow Island Regatta can be found at http://gallery.me.com/christhomerson#100474
Anacortes, WA, with its maritime tradition and proximity to the San Juan Islands, is a second homeport for WILDFLOWER. Close at hand to Cap Sante Marina is Safeway, West Marine, Farmer's Market, and businesses that support the local fleet of sailors, fishermen, and the many visitors that use this small town as a stepping off point for sailing the Salish Sea and beyond.
I first visited Anacortes in 1986 with the old WILDFLOWER, enroute to Vancouver's Expo86 World's Fair. Back then, you could walk down the center of Commercial Avenue, and only encounter an occasional car. Today, things are decidedly more upscale, with property values to match. WILDFLOWER is moored in the midst of the cruising boat of choice for these waters: "trawlers" in the 45-65' range, listed for $500K to $2mil. Nordic "Tugs", Grand Banks, Nordhavens, Diesel Ducks. You name them, they are here. With many for sale. Sailboats are far fewer.
Antithesis to West Marine lies just up the street in an old brick building. Anacortes Marine Hardware and Supply is the oldest marine hardware store on the West Coast, in continuous operation since 1913. Part museum, most anything marine can be found if you look hard enough. Need a brass diving helmet? No problem! Also to be discovered are two fluffy and friendly inhouse cats that sleep in their fleece beds next to the register and wood burning stove, but are ready at moments notice to guide you through the back rooms of obscure boat parts. In exchange for a scratch, of course. http://bitterendblog.com/?p=1715
Had dinner last night with Hank Thor, a local sailor and supporter of SSS. Hank has a fascinating history, and raced his first Transpac in 1953. Besides sailing his Espirit 37 FREJYA, he builds airplanes, skis, is an architect and is a wealth
of information. Of interest to me is the fact that in the early 50's, Hank drew the plans for the 19' Malibu Outrigger, the first beach cat multihull on the West Coast. In 1949, Warren Seaman and other locals were using this outrigger to surf waves off Santa Monica. It was only when a unique sailing rig was later added, that the Malibu Outrigger came into its own as an inexpensive way to go fast. Hank reported over 10,000 plans were sold, many to Europe. http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/03/.../outrigger.htm
Attachment 142Attachment 143Attachment 144Attachment 1456/3/12
Stuart Island, in the San Juans, marks the most NW corner of the continental U.S. To be more exact, Turn Pt. Lighthouse on the NW corner of Stuart is as far as you can go. Canada is visible three miles away, and Canadian waters begin just offshore. Big ships round Turn Pt. light close aboard, as do orcas and porps. Eagles soar overhead.
It is a nice two mile hike from Prevost Harbor to Turn Pt, through a quiet fir forest, disturbed only by a jackhammer woodpecker. Just past the community school (enrollment:2) is the airfield. "Field" is the correct term, as regular mowing needs to be done to take off. Past the cows, the airfield is so narrow and short that it must take a significant amount of courage to want to land here (see photo.)
Turn Pt Lighthouse is being restored by the BLM, and will feature an interpretative center for the few who make the hike to this historic location. In a glade by the light is the U.S. most northwestern public restroom, a beautiful cedar outhouse. This is no Ranger Rick porta-potty. You open the door and see somebody cares. Inside is a bath rug, sink with mirror and towels, hatrack, art, lace curtains. The whole enchilada. Well done, BLM.
As WILDFLOWER left Stuart Island for Canadian waters, we passed an old friend: the Mull 42 IMPROBABLE. Back in the day (1971) she was revolutionary red hulled flyer, with linked titanium winches, lenticular rod rigging that could be tacked, and a 7' Kauri tiller that took three to pull on a spinnaker reach. We cut our teeth on Dave Allen's IMPROBABLE. Commodore, Ron Holland, Dave Wahle, Kim Desenberg, Billy Barton, Tom Wylie, and a whole host of SF Bay area sailors. IMPROBABLE is now owned by Len Schwab, Bruce's dad. And 40 years later is still capable of turning heads.
Attachment 146Attachment 147Attachment 148After a quick crossing of Haro Straits, WILDFLOWER arrived in her first foreign port: Tsehum Harbor, Sidney, BC, Canada. The bay was full of occupied moorings, with no room to anchor. We took a slip at the only game in town: the upscale Van Isle Marina. "Fleur' looked decidely incongruous amongst the fleet of big power boats, 50-120 feet. My neighbor, a 100 footer, has two power cords, each the size of my wrist.
There's a whole subculture here servicing this fleet: mechanics, cooks, electricians, and especially boat detailers. The economic downturn doesn't appear to have hit this sector.
Yesterday we took WILDFLOWER on a harbor cruise to Canoe Cove, next harbor north from Tsehum. Few big power yachts there, and plenty of history. GLADIMARUS was there, along with the beautiful KATIE FORD. Oily George and his bucket of linseed oil was there with SURF SCOTER. But what really caught my eye was the black 70' CARLOTTA (1899). Her 20' oak sprit was retracted. No engine. No winches. Her oars were ready. And the 8' tiller. CARLOTTA must displace 50 tons or more. You obviously don't sail CARLOTTA with kids.
I'm thoroughly amused by the guy who thinks that you got screwed by the sale of your boat.
I think you should go buy an oversized shore power cable, just to fit in...:D
6/7/12
WILDFLOWER has temporarily left the land of "Loonies" and "Twonies," which are Canada's $1 and $2 dollar coins. You need a handful of these for a hot shower or laundry at the marina. Canada was more expensive than expected, about 30% more than U.S. due to value of dollar and 12% tax on everything.
Rain chased us back across Haro Straits. With a fair (ebb) tide of 3 knots and a port tack reach, we hauled the mail to Roche Harbor, where armed customs officers welcomed us back to the U.S. with a bunch of intrusive questions. What, are they not going to let me back in the country if I don't have a cell phone? That seemed to be a concern.
The Hotel Haro at Roche Harbor has an old tradition of the lowering of colors at sunset, which comes about 9:30 p.m. at this latitude (48-38 N). Part tradition, part Disneyland, the flags were struck to the report of cannon fire and the theme from Bridge Over the River Kwai. I whistled along.
Our sail to Friday Harbor was in a puffy SW wind and smooth water. I tucked in a reef just before a healthy gust came off the hills, and we scooted along at 11 knots for a short time. The tide was again fair. Until just before Friday Harbor when we hit the incoming flood at Pt. Caution.. In the space of one boat length the tide went from 2 knots ebb to 5.5 knots flood. We were stopped dead in our tracks, and it took the OB at full throttle to make crawling headway along shore.
I anchored in the low rent section just north of Friday Harbor marina. There is quite an assortment of liveaboard contraptions here. The local beach front property owners are not happy with their view of the "fleet." Soon after anchoring, I took the binos, aimed them at the sun, and focused the beam on the hatch board. Sure enough, there was the black dot of Venus transiting the face of the sun.
Wed. morning was a -3.0' low tide. Just before WF took the ground, I pulled anchor from three feet of water and motored over to the Marina dock. $20 for the night seemed good value for a secure berth with an incoming late season front and strong SE winds forecast.
6/10/12
Friday Harbor is the hub of the American San Juan Islands. It is about the same size as Belvedere/Tiburon coves. In this area, ferries, float planes, and super yachts come and go with frequency. The waterfront scene is ever changing during the summer season. http://www.islandcam.com/fridayhrbr.html
Nearby is the schooner SPIKE AFRICA. She was designed and built in 1972 by Bob Sloan as a working schooner, and used to carry race boat gear to and from Mexico and Hawaii races, as well as appearing in many films and TV shows.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...nt_id=12734344
After Bob Sloan died, SPIKE AFRICA, languished in the tropical sun of Kauai and fell on hard times. But new owners here in Friday Harbor have totally restored her from keel to truck. Geeez she looks good and stirs the sailor's soul.
The author and conservationist Ernie Gann lived near Friday Harbor. His aviation and sea stories are epics and a great read. I recommend his autobiography SONG Of the SIRENS, particularly to anyone with schooner in their blood.