Cal 2-27 Dura Mater
Excellent news about the Mile Buoy off Santa Cruz, Skip. And I am so glad someone was available to photograph Sally on her laser. It looks like Inverness is ready to go in this new season. Great place and lotsa kids willing to learn. How lucky they are that you are one of the grownups.Originally Posted by sleddog
cat whisperer
One of CBC's most innovative improvisations was also its most infamous and dangerous and had yachting and social media arguing for weeks over whether BULL GOOSE LOONEY, Howard's older, wood, El Toro, legally demolished Paul Larson's VESTAS SAILROCKET's World Speed Sailing Record for 500 meters of 65.45 knots
Unfortunately, BULL GOOSE LOONEY's average speed of 78.72 knots was never ratified by WSSRC as CBC learned revealing evidentiary names or photos of participants would have subjected our club to potentially heavy fines from the feds at the NPS for illegal BASE jumping and possibly littering in Yosemite National Park.
Here's how it went down.
Packed discretely in parts, on a full moon night, up the two mile Yosemite Falls Trail by an enthusiastic support crew wearing red “Downward Bound” tie-dyed-shirts, BULL GOOSE LOONEY and skipper were launched shortly after sunrise, 50 meters upstream from the brink of 739 meter, Yosemite Falls in Yosemite Valley, California.
By the time BGL went over the brink, she was already at 15 knots in the snow melt runoff. Check the WSSRC rules: Favorable current is disregarded in official Speed Record attempts, making this improbable venture possible for the free thinking team from CBC
At approximately 420 meters, BULL GOOSE LOONEY reached terminal velocity of 104 knots. The GPS attached to the skipper’s harness showed an average speed of 78.72 knots over 500 meters before our lady skipper bailed out with her Apex FLik canopy wing parachute 100 meters above Yosemite Falls base, where she landed in front of a surprised, but appreciative throng of early rising Japanese tourists.
The only part of BULL GOOSE LOONEY to survive the record attempt’s vertical ride down the iconic waterfall was the rudder, recovered a few hours later near Cathedral Beach, on the Merced River. This piece of sailing memorabilia now proudly hangs at the Harbor Cafe on 7th Ave.
If you weren't there, it didn't happen.
Last edited by sleddog; 04-01-2024 at 09:40 AM.
Silver Alert Moore 24
There are a lot of lines and details in this training setup. I would imagine the laser sailor is doomed to endless sailing (like the Flying Dutchman) until someone releases a few lines.
As for getting the chute up on Roxanne, I am currently flummoxed and looking for an inspiring thought.
Ants
m/v PACIFIC LOON
[QUOTE=sleddog;34506]More Improvisation:
When Double-Handing the Wylie-60 ROXANNE we experimented with an interesting spinnaker hoist method for the 1998 PacCup. It involved no effort on our part, no electric winch or motor, no block and tackle, no bungee or giant wheel. In fact, the method didn't cost anything and would two block the spinnaker halyard in seconds..
Anyone wanna guess our hands free technique?
[/QUOT]
Halyard tail overboard. Requires a long tail and/or adding something for added drag.
Tom P.
cat whisperer
[QUOTE=Dazzler;34513]DAZZLER wins the improvisation Quiz.
After the spinnaker halyard was attached to the head of ROXANNE's spinnaker inside its snuffer, the tail of the halyard (20' added as an extension) was chucked overboard. At the bitter end of the spinnaker halyard was rigged a 5 gallon mayonnaise bucket. Once overboard, the bucket, like a small sea anchor, would fill with water as the boat sailed forward, hoisting the spinny lickety split.
When the halyard and head of the spinny two blocked at the masthead, a velcro zip tie on the bucket handle would release the halyard tail, inverting the bucket, making it easy to pull back aboard. At 10 knots of boat speed, an average speed for ROXANNE in the Pac Cup, it took the bucket 4 seconds to hoist the spinnaker, and Bob's your uncle. And no, nothing was left in the wake.
Last edited by sleddog; 04-02-2024 at 07:41 AM.
20 - 49 posts
I've heard of people motoring in reverse in a calm to set the spinnaker, is that what you did?
cat whisperer
Yes! We would motor COCHISE in reverse in no wind, making 3 knots of apparent wind (AWS), enough to nicely fly a.75 oz. spinnaker. It also improved our steering abilities in reverse which came in handy over the years, especially getting out of tight spots.
Speaking of tight spots, the fastest I ever went in reverse was 8 knots on the famous Bill Lee 67' ULDB sled, MERLIN. The 1977 Transpac Race had an engine rule that you had to be able to motor at 5 knots for 50 nautical miles. Hayes McClellan, the inspector, flew up from LA specifically to make sure MERLIN fit the Transpac entry requirements which had never seen a big, custom, ultralight like MERLIN. (Except for RAGTIME)
MERLIN, with Dave Wahle as ship's bosun, had been warned and had everything exactly ready and laid out for Hayes, who could find nothing wrong in the USYRU Category 1 Equipment List requirements. In his stentorian voice, Hayes then said, "I want to see this boat motor at 5 knots!"
Dave Wahle knew this was coming. As well, it was early spring and Santa Cruz Harbor entrance was heavily shoaled, leaving MERLIN only a short runway to fulfill the engine speed requirement. Dave had the engine running in a blink, cast off one stern line, gunned MERLIN out of her slip, hit the throttle to max RPM, and had MERLIN racing down Santa Cruz Harbor at 8 knots. IN REVERSE!
Hayes McClellan's eyes got real big seeing this wildman, bearded hippie, garbage man at the helm of MERLIN going 8 knots backwards, especially as the shoaled entrance was coming up real fast. Dave Wahle said politely to Hayes, "better hold on tight," and spun the wheel. Hayes, a big, ex-collegiate rowing champion, about flew overboard off the stern as MERLIN pivoted 180, and ascended the Harbor once again at 8 knots, entering her slip stern first as pretty as you please.
The last anyone saw of MERLIN's inspector was Hayes McClellan running for his rent-a-car to get to the airport and out of the crazy land Santa Cruz once was.
Last edited by sleddog; 04-03-2024 at 09:22 PM.
Bigpink
OMG that is a hilarious story Sled !!!! I can SO picture that !!!!
100 - 199 posts
Was
Having been part of the 60s and 70s Santa Cruz Seen I am saddened by the word WAS in the last line of sled's Merlin story!
"crazy land Santa Cruz once was."
cat whisperer
At just under 12', Howard's Scamp PUFF would be a maxi yacht in the annual Bullship Race across the Golden Gate. Note: CBC's Port Captain Howard Spruit has seamlessly transferred his boatbuilding and sailing skills from a 60 knot dirtboat to his new and beloved 4 knot Scamp.
Here's Howard sailing PUFF yesterday on an idyllic spring day in the Pacific off Santa Cruz.
photo compliments of Rainer.
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