Florida Keys by Sail

Papillion-

On standing rigging on a sailboat, I prefer to use cotter pins rather than circular ring-dings on clevis pins. It's too easy for a rope to catch on a ring-ding, and pull it out of round and enable it to slip out of the clevis pin.

We always have used ring-dings on down-riggable rigging in dinghies, but not on the mast, especially.

A loose, flapping halyard or sheet (rope) can quickly set you up for a dismasting.

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
A great adventure and a great read. Thanks for sharing. Glad all turned out well. It's pretty clear your handling of the situation had a lot to do with that.

Greg
 
Thank you Joe and Greg for the votes of confidence but when I mess up I don’t hesitate to stand up and take responsibility for my ignorance.

1. Should have inspected all rigging daily. (As Dr. Bob suggested)
2. Should not have left port until I had a better weather window.
3. Should have taken the Bridge Tenders words to heart.
4. Should reefed the main sooner. Might have helped or might have put me further out to sea before the same event happened.
5. Should have gone with my gut and used cotter pins instead of ring-a-dingy's as Joe suggested.
6. The one thing I know I did right was “read” about others perals at sea and learn from them how to deal with events. I had spent many hours online, and with my nose buried in books since I took up sailing. I do believe that knowledge can save your butt when all else fails. Remembering not to panic. There will be plenty of time to panic later if you don’t panic now. Panic kills.
 
Mike, Glad that you and Judy and all are alright. thanks for sharing the trip. Long time sailer, enjoy reading about it now, and running the C-Dory. I do love the panic approach you recommend:
I do believe that knowledge can save your butt when all else fails. Remembering not to panic. There will be plenty of time to panic later if you don’t panic now. Panic kills.
Click to expand...

I had a good friend who was an outdoors experience college instructor and he had a saying about "... not letting the last thing you ever do be panic." That is hazardous to your health.

Thought that GPS track was going to be as picture of the rigging, post "Ping" thing.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Mike,
Thanks for writing about your adventure, Toni and I had an identical boat to yours but I was the only one who enjoyed it, hence our return to power boating. Glad everything worked out, Toni says hello.
 
Thanks Russ,
I am glade you enjoyed the post. It's my first sailboat and I am already thinking "Bigger" is better. So is Judy. We have both enjoyed the Macgregor and since our C-Dory 22 Angler and the Mac both enjoy the same trailer, we are ready for either kind of boating. With gas prices falling we will be putting more hours on the dory this winter. When you have a two stroke motor gas prices do matter. Now if I could just add some leeboards and a sail to the Angler I would be in business.
:D Hi back at you Toni :D
 
Harvey said
Thought that GPS track was going to be as picture of the rigging, post "Ping" thing.
Click to expand...

The "Ping" thing was gone and only the ringy-ding that was suppose to hold it in was left to take a picture. When the cravice pin popped out that made the "Ping" sound.

Thanks for the comments.
 
Speaking of the attention-getting and unwanted "ping!" on sailboats, I'm reminded of an old dirty trick that has been used in sailing races when the action is hot and boats are in very close proximity.

I know of a few captions who would have a crewman ready with 4-5 split rings or clevis pins in his hand and at an opportune moment he would toss them up onto the rival's mainsail. When one or more would slide down the main and "ping" on the deck or cabin-top, all attention would switch from the competition as the crew got ready to protect themselves from falling rigging!

Nick
"Valkyrie"
 
Valkyrie":yousclex said:
Speaking of the attention-getting and unwanted "ping!" on sailboats, I'm reminded of an old dirty trick that has been used in sailing races when the action is hot and boats are in very close proximity.

I know of a few captions who would have a crewman ready with 4-5 split rings or clevis pins in his hand and at an opportune moment he would toss them up onto the rival's mainsail. When one or more would slide down the main and "ping" on the deck or cabin-top, all attention would switch from the competition as the crew got ready to protect themselves from falling rigging!

Nick
"Valkyrie"
Click to expand...

I've never heard of it being done ON THE COURSE, but we used to joke (only) about doing it at the dock!

Definitely an item from the Devil's Bag of Dirty Tricks! :twisted:

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Mike

Know far less about sailing boats then the motor driven kind and that's not all that much, but I do know your absolutely right on about the not panicking part. Every time something bad happens whether your own fault or not and you don't panic it tends to install confidence in your future ability to cope. Even more than your adventure being an enjoyable read its one more lesson pointing out keeping a clear head in or to prevent a bad situation getting worse is the best safety device we have aboard the boat with us.

Jay
 
One other thought for either circular rings or cotter pins, on sail boats, we always taped over them with rigging tape. This way, if it was a ring (which we very rarely used), or a cotter pin, then a line would not get tangled in them. It is almost like the strands of rope love to catch the rings and cotter pin ends and deform them--such as a flopping jib sheet. It is entirely possiable that the circle ring was OK when you started, and that a jib sheet snagged it when the wind piped up, especially if you tacked.
 
Mike and Judy,

Looks and sounds like you guys had an exciting adventure. The photos are quite nice and evoke pleasant memories of times we spent on the same waters aboard our sailboat Vamoose and on Wanderer. They also remind us of the fun time we shared with you in Naples. You'll have to come to Marathon when we're there. We expect to arrive there before Christmas without Wanderer this year but with a room for visitors.

Make sure to post accounts and pictures of your next adventure. We'll be spending more time on C-Brats than we have been spending this year.

The year we had Vamoose in Marathon, we kept her at a private dock just behind the Cracked Conch Cafe. We never ate there. We'll be sure to check it out this year.

I don't remember if I ever mentioned our sailing to the Keys a few years back. Check out Dry Tortugas/24-25 Jan. Those pictures are not in 2Wander.com. Here is their address.

http://www.georgeberotti.com/Sailing/Sailing.htm
 
Santa has arrived early....he rerigged my Macgregor and made minor repairs to the boat that resulted when we were dismasted in the Keys. Judy is heading out for the great north (Ohio) on Christmas eve and I will be alone...with nothing to do but "Go Sailing"....predicted to be in the mid 70's and with light winds 8-10kts out of the southeast. Well some of us have all the luck...I am just glad it's me.
The_Cause_001.sized.jpg
 
Good to hear you've got the boat back, my friend... and just in time for a Christmas sail. Our holiday wishes to you, Judy, and the furry crew. Safe travels to Judy. I feel kinda bad that you two won't be together for Christmas, but intentionally going into the cold? :xnaughty Yeah, I know that's not for you. Joan will be making our "traditional" Christmas lasagna for the kids (Steph's favorite)... we'll raise a glass to you.

Warm wishes,
Jim & Joan
 
It's my first sailboat and I am already thinking "Bigger" is better
Click to expand...

Mike, I know you've had plenty of advice already from the sailors and ex-blow-boater C-Brats, but we can't help but pass on one more thought.

Bigger is not necessarily better - we sailed those Keys and the entire Loop (much of the time under sail) in a boat 6 feet shorter than yours - in a 20-foot Pacific Seacraft Flicka. We were comfortable, safe, and found we were frequently heading out when others were coming back in.

It's not the size of the boat, in our opinion, but the quality of construction. The Flicka is a tough little nut.

For instance - would you rather be in CD-22 under rough conditions or a bigger Bayliner? A no-brainer answer for us, since we've been in rough water on our 22 and watched a sinking Bayliner half again bigger require a tow back.

Thanks for sharing your adventure with us - we sure enjoyed the read, and were gripping the rail with you guys through that perilous night.
 
Jim & Joan:
Merry Christmas to you guys and I know you will enjoy the kids being there with you. You are right about my not going north this time of the year. I didn't learn much in school as a lad, but for some reason I did pay attention when it came to map reading...of all things. It didn't take much effort to figure out which way was south and further down you go the warmer it gets.

Bill & Ell:
Bigger is a relative term Bill. What I have my eye on at the moment is a 28 foot San Juan. It is very well built and very roomy for a 28'. It also has a deck stepped mast that will work real well for the loop. Best wishes to you both during this holiday season and get back down to Florida soon, we have lots of new birds I bet Ell hasn't seen yet.
 
Great to hear that the boat is back home--Bill touches on a subject which is important to me. The design of the boat, as well as the quality of the construction are important. If I was taking a small sailboat on a real adventure--there are only a couple of them I would choose. Certianly the Flicka, and some of the sisters from Pacific Sea Craft would be on the top of my list. Another boat would be the Francis 26 by Chuck Paine. Another really outstanding boat is the "Teak Lady" These were bult in Asia in the late 30's (Japan vs China) entirely, except the mast, which was spruce, out of Teak--copper riveted construcion. At least one sailed to Hawaii and there seems to be good evidence that one crossed the Pacific--these are only 18 feet long! One boat which caught my eye many years ago (as the C Dory did) is the Nor'east 27 by Lyle Hess. At least 4 of these have made a circumnavigation and there are over 160 Atlantic and Pacific Crossings!--Pretty impressive for a boat only 8'6" beam which is easily treailerable.


The San Juan 28 is a performance boat--and although capable of making the loop, it has several disadvantages. First is the fin keel--with a draft of 4' 6", and second the spade rudder. These are great for performance--and the boat has a PHRF handicap of 168, similar to a J 24, a Newport 33 and faster than a Catalina 30. Any boat can have a tabneracled mast--but the ease of taking the rig down is important. (I had a 45 footer with a 60 foot mast which a single person could take up and down in several minutes to allow passage under a 15 foot bridge. The other potentail weakness of this specific boat is the history of leaking hull to deck joints and chain plates. She is a light vessel, with 50% ballest to displacement ratio. (Yes I have raced on a San Juan 28) Because of the 10 foot beam, she has a very nice interior with more room than most boats that size.

For the loop, if I was doing it in a sailboat, I would more likely consider something like a Brewler Nimble or Kodiak. Not as fast, but a solid sailer with a pilot house. You have shoaler draft, probably an easier tabernicle system, and a long keel vessel, which may do you better in heavy weather. Despite Bill and El's sailing the majority of the way, most of the sailboats we see on the loop are motoring....Even in good sailing weather. Consider often narrow channels, locks, shoals etc.

Good luck and keep us all posted on the sailing adventures.
 
Back
Top