Blog entries - June 2009

The Log of "Dauntless" Entry 15

Administrator — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Saturday morning the sun rose over Blakely Island to a beautiful, but calm, morning. The only sound when I awoke were the sprinkler heads watering the spectacularly manicured hillside next to the marina. Today's trip would close the loop and bring us back to Anacortes and Cap Sante Boat Haven where the whole trip began some two weeks and somewhere around 200 miles ago. As always when sailing in the San Juans or Gulf Islands, the currents dictated our departure time. The previous evening's revRead More...

Blackwatch Fleet Entry 5

Administrator — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100

WOW!! What a neat event to attend!

The folks at the Oklahoma City Boat Club really know how to throw a party. I’m so glad that Pammie had me fly down, in spite of the fact that Saturday was our Eleven Year Anniversary. Hopefully, I’ll figure out some suitable way to make that up to her.

Four Blackwatch made the gathering. This was not terrible, but we had eight boats lined up a couple of months ago, that would have been trRead More...

The Log of "Dauntless" Entry 14

Administrator — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Checking in this afternoon from Blakely Island Marina Store. Last night at Roche Harbor we were docked at the farthest dock from the resort and the wireless signal was really poor. So, to get you up to date:

After our wet ride to Port Sydney on Wed, we spent the day exploring the town. Sydney is a delight and a spot that Jo and I surely want to return to. Larry showed me a "Boater's Exchange" store just up from the marina that was like diving into a treasure cRead More...

AAmerican Fiberglas 16' - water ballast system?

Paul Esterle — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Just got this question from the new owner of an American Fiberglass 16-foot daysailor...

I am hoping you can help me by answering my question or pointing me in the direction of someone who can. I recently purchased a 16’ 1975 American Fiberglass daysailer that has a water ballast system that I am not sure how to operate. The boat has a hole/plug in the lower transom and two hole/plugs in the cockpit. It would seem to me that I should open the plug in the transom and the Read More...

Capt'n Pauley - Checkin' In!

Paul Esterle — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Just a quick to to let you know. for reason known only to them, Josh and Craig have decided to let me post to the Small Craft Advisor blog.

Many of you know me as the Technical Editor of SCA. I've got a pretty good background with epoxy, polymer lumber and wood. I've a good understanding of the ABYC (American Boat and Yacht Coucil) regs and standards and have been acive in restoring and sailing small craft. I still own and sail Ternabout, my 1972 Matilda 20.

I'm a memRead More...

Blackwatch Fleet Entry 4

Administrator — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100

The truck may be dead, and my spirits were really low, but Pammie tells me, "You better go."

Sometimes, if you DO wait until the very last minute, things work out. Delta airlines, arriving in Oklahoma City at 10:05 Friday morning. Harry, Blackwatch #69, has offered to pick me up at the airport, and we'll get his mast stepped first thing.

The Log of "Dauntless" Entry 13

Administrator — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Checking in tonight from Port Sydney, Canada.

Yesterday we had a great day at Maple Bay Marina. The staff there made us feel so welcome. Right off the bat, Jesse at the fuel dock helped us out and told us how he'd been waiting for us to arrive. Then, after moving from the fuel dock to the slip, Carol, the Manager of the marina came down to the boat to meet us. As we walked up the dock and up to the restaurant area, they had even made a sign proclaiming "Welcome MoRead More...

Blackwatch Fleet Entry 3

Administrator — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Well... that's a year of my life I'll never get back.

First out of the chute, no brakes on the trailer, well, that's not exactly right, no brake LIGHTS on the truck, which means there is no electrical signal to the trailer brakes. The brakes all worked just fine, but I'm not driving 1060 miles manually engaging the trailer brakes, and then the small matter of lights might be a problem as well... Turned around and went back to the barn.

Checked everything IRead More...

The Log of "Dauntless" Entry 13

Administrator — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Checking in from Maple Bay Marina this afternoon. Looks like we've got somewhere around 120 nautical miles under the keels so far. Eight boats remain in the fleet, 3 M23s and 5 M17s. Everyone else has had to go back to reality already. Luckily, for the rest of us, we get to continue to play for a while longer.

Our sail from Ganges to Montague Harbor had some decent wind. It was a short sail but fun nonetheless.

Administrator — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Today is Sunday the 21st of June. It's hard to believe that this vacation is already half over but it is. Tonight finds us moored in Montague Harbor on Galliono Island, Canada.

On Friday we crossed the border and entered Canadian waters, clearing customs at Poet's Cove Marina on Bedwell Harbor. This is a NICE place.

Poet's Cove Hotel right behind the marina.

Administrator — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Dave Scobie in the M17 Sweet Pea zooming down Haro Straight.

We were pretty overpowered for a while and the tide rips we encountered were unexpectedly strong. At times we were sailing along at 5.5 to 6 knots with the dinghy surfing on a following swell and catching up with us, smacking the back of the boat before turning sideways and then being snapped back into line when the tow line went taught. WatRead More...

The Log of "Dauntless" Entry 10

Administrator — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Tonight Friday 6/19, we find ourselves in Poet's Cove Marina, Bedwell Harbor, South Pender Island, Canada. Good internet coverage today, so here's an update from the last couple of days:

After laying over at Friday Harbor we sailed to Garrison Bay on the West side of San Juan Island. We sailed over the top of San Juan Island between it and Speiden Island, then passing by Roche Harbor before motoring through Mosquito Pass and into Garrison Bay. The anchorage was beautiRead More...

The Log of "Dauntless" Entry 9

Administrator — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100

We spent two great days in Friday Harbor before moving on yesterday to Garrison Bay. Weather so far has been ideal with excellent sailing every day. Spent last night at anchor. There are 25 or so boats anchored up in here but plenty of room. Biggest lesson learned so far??? hmmmm. I think it's that there is no such thing as a dog that doesn't shed! hahaha. Put a 45-pound Golden Doodle puppy in a small space for days on end and you get HAIR. Besides that, though, and we couldn't haRead More...

Northumberland Straits Cruising

Administrator — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100

While on a recent holiday in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward
Island, I gathered some basic information that might make trip
planning easier for any trailer sailors who might want to sail the
Northumberland Straits area. This is more of the who and where type
help and I'll leave the wind, weather, tides and sail plans to you.
The two best places to start a cruise would be Pictou, on
the N.S. side, or Charlottetown on P.E.I., as they bRead More...

The Big Dipper

Administrator — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Fresh from Sam Devlin's drawing board we were sent these drawings of a new stretched Dipper optimized for fitting into a 20-foot container for shipping to Europe to cruise on the canals.

Click here to see his original smaller Dipper.—Eds.

The Log of "Dauntless" Entry 8

Administrator — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Dave Scobie of the M17 Sweat Pea took this video crossing the Rosario Straight.—Sean

The Log of "Dauntless" Entry 7

Administrator — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Bosun snoozin down below while crossing the Rosario Straight

Rick and Melanie Agrella sailing their beautifully restored M23 "Raven" off Cyprus Island

Sean n 'Jo crossing Rosario on a great 6+ and sometimes 7 knoRead More...

The Log of "Dauntless" Entry 6

Administrator — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100

The first day of the Montgomery San Juan/Gulf Islands cruise is in the books. We had a great sail from Anacortes to Blakely where we overnighted. Many of the boats reported holding boatspeeds of 7 knots while making the crossing of the Rosario Straight. It was an awesome sight as the majority of the fleet stayed pretty close together so at any one time you could see Montys everywhere. Blakely Island Marina is as picturesque as ever. Its groomed grounds are beautiful beyond description. This mRead More...