New Boat 4 Sled

[Eyrie]

Very cool "speed" effect Jonathan. It really did feel like we were going that fast, especially when Yacca was barreling towards us on port. Gulp!!

[sleddog]

Coming at ya.

[Dazzler]

This picture of MAYAN is so cool and special, but not just for the beauty and grace. The art of sail making (fabrication/construction) is an almost dying art. There are VERY few sailmakers who actually fabricate locally the sails they design. Notably, all those sails on MAYAN were designed by one of our local sailmakers and I suspect most, if not all, were made locally. Go David H.!

[Eyrie]

I just happen to be working at the Ullman loft in Santa Cruz when David and Alex did the panel layout for the gaff sail. And I happened to take some pictures...

basic shape of the sail staked out with awls and string


starting at the foot, rolling out the Dacron fabric


close-up of overlap at joining seam for camber


finished panel layout looking up from foot


finished panel layout looking down from the head peak


Unfortunately, I wasn't around when Alex drew in the actual seam camber and taped the panels together before sewing. And all the rest of the finishing work....!

[AntsUiga]

Thanks for documenting the sail making maestros in action!

Ants

[Dazzler]

I just happen to be working at the Ullman loft in Santa Cruz when David and Alex did the panel layout for the gaff sail. And I happened to take some pictures...

Eyrie,
THANK YOU for sharing these photos and providing a small glimpse into the art of sailmaking. I suspect very few understand the challenges around making a three dimensional shape from what is essentially a two dimensional material. For me, your photos bring back long forgotten memories of crawling around on my knees on the loft floor.

Best,

[Philpott]

Thanks, Synthia! Those are very cool photos. With the cost of real estate in coastal areas, I wonder for how much longer sail lofts, which require large spaces, will be located near the sailboats and sailbors who need them?

[sleddog]

Though they are not in residence, it's about to get interesting at Hurricane Ian Cat 4, Ground Zero at my brother's condo, a 3 story cement building on the ocean beach at Boca Grande, FLA. They've got "hurricane windows," not sure what that means...the family car is wedged between 100 golf carts on the second floor parking lot. Boca Grande can get water coming from all sides as it's a narrow island with Charlotte Harbor to the East and the Gulf to the West.

Brief update from my bro about their condo in Boca Grande, 10 miles north of Ground Zero "Missing some outside siding and the roof is in the front courtyard. Likely water damage inside. Many boats displaced at docks and marinas and bridges blown out. With no power, water, or phone service in the area, tough to get information or anything done."

[MillyB]

WOW Sled ! I know that whole area is a huge mess, but very distressful news about your bro. It is going to take a long time for this area to rebuild.

[sleddog]

Sat/Sun 10/1-10/2

Bender/Oko Series, Day 3 and 4 at Inverness. Wind light and puffy from S to SE, even SW at times. Saturday was marine layer all day. Sunday was beautiful, clear, and warm. 6x110's negotiated puffs, lulls, and the wild card of the day: occasional clumps of floating eel grass.

Bren and Eric sailed consistently well, passing us on the last leg of each race. At one point faceplanting us with a tight cover. They bit on our first false tack, but wised up and wouldn't let us pass on the next two (false) tacks. Close racing.

The second race was a downwind spinnaker start and we built as modest lead, only to be caught by LADY BUG bringing up a puff from astern and inshore. We moved to cover, and at the last moment Bren swung LADY BUG from abeam to weather to take our stern. With the mark only 200 yards ahead, and LADY BUG now overlapped off our starboard quarter, some friendly "discussion" ensued as to proper course and windward boat keeping clear.

All in a day of close racing of 110's on the 75 degree, clear waters of Tomales Bay. Congrats to Eric and Bren winning the Bender/Oko Series on their red LADY BUG, a tough combo to beat..And congrats to Milly B on BIG PINK for finishing the 3 weekend Series in second. I would be remiss not to mention 19 year old Emma Spoorer on OREMUS almost picked off LADY BUG at the finish of Saturday's first race..

PS: In the Open Class, there were a diverse group of boats including a Hobie 20, Laser, Snipe, DaySailor, and Johnson 18 racing under the Portsmouth Handicap Rule. If you are looking for a fun place to sail with beautiful scenery and nearly zero traffic from power boats, consider Inverness Yacht Club on Tomales Bay. You might even run into Philpott wandering the waterfront....