Sailing: A School Creative Writing Project

[It is the time of year for school conferences with the kids' teachers. We brought home a folder of "I's" work from her teacher. Included in the folder was this creative writing assignment. We asked "I" if she wanted to post it as is, and she asked that any spelling mistakes be changed as it was done in class. So here it is. Enjoy. ~ the proud parents]

Sailing

A School Creative Writing Project

by "I"

     I amble onto the deck, almost slipping because of the salty sea spray. My family and I are sailing home from a three week vacation in the San Juans.
    I walk toward the bowsprit,* in my blue and black life jacket which is on top of my thick brown coat.
  

2011: Haul Out Over Spring Break

During the school term's Spring Break in 2011, we hauled out to see what we had. One of our friends had dived on MERGANSER the previous June/July and commented that other than some muscles/barnacles on the bottom, she looked really good - and so did the zincs. But now it was time!

Welsh Marine, in Blaine, WA did the haul out. We were quite happy with service we received, and grateful to our friends Richard and Nan for allowing us to stay with them for a few days while we finished things up.

First we needed to remove the back stays so we can get the travel lift near enough. We weren't sure if the back bar of the travel lift would clear the back stays while still allowing us to get the lifting straps where we wanted them. You can see the straps in the water.

Next we wrapped MERGANSER around and back, so she is just above the straps, and the straps are just where we want them. Mind you the tide is falling during all this.

See the tiller and rudder start to go over? We just made it, with a little help from soft mud!

And up she rises!

This is our first look at her underwater profile. Just what we expected, and she doesn't look too bad considering we aren't sure when her last haul out was.

Taking a closer look at how things are put together. Just near the strap you can see the "divers special" zinc plate. At first we thought there were tubs running from it to the prop and shaft. While MERGANSER was in the water we couldn't figure it out. Once out the water it became apparent these weren't tubes but straps, and was the bonding system, as there is really no way to put a zinc caller on the prop shaft.

The guys broke for lunch, and our crew did, too. The kids were there for everything, and the yard was very impressed with them. Way to go, kids! Impressing people once again!

When we came back from lunch, they had pressure washed MERGANSER, set her on stands and had even started painting her bottom. These guys move. Next to her is a Westsail 32 (blue bottom). The undersides are similar but each a different design.

Here are some close ups of the freshly painted and new zincs bottom.

Prop and bonding.

Forefoot

One of my projects was replacing a through hull valve. So I climbed aboard with the ladder here. By the way, our cat was excited to see me and she stayed aboard the entire haul out, no problem.

The painting is done as this point, and is just setting up.

Good views of the under-body of MEGANSER. The Westsail 32 is still next to her (to starboard).

To port is a fin-keeled sailboat. Teacha L is inspecting the work.

One of the things that impressed us was that Mr. Walsh was willing to return after dinner to launch us so that we would catch the right tide and avoid another day in the yard. He's a really nice guy!

Here is how the straps connect for those of you who may be wondering.

And down she goes.

Almost there.

MERGANSER back in her element.

We don't have any pictures of Mr. Walsh and Rev J balancing on the boomkin re-attaching the backstays. There is always some humor if one is looking for it, and if one is willing to be a little self-effacing. But no one got wet, nor did we drop a tool overboard (knock on wood).

Teacher L and Rev. J took MERGANSER across the entrance to her slip before returning to our hospitable hosts. It felt like she flew! A good clean bottom sure makes a difference!

Spreaders: Another Coat of Varnish

Taking care of projects while this beautiful weather lasts .... The rest of you maybe raking leaves, but we're ...

Notice the gantline (4 block purchase) so that J. can pull himself up the mast. Hard to see the other safety lines to keep him there. The box is holding the varnish, gloves, sandpaper etc.

And a bit of creativity worked to hold him out from the mast. J. attached a carabiner to the upper shroud. Tied a line to it, ran it outside the lower shroud, around him once in a loop, then over to the other upper shroud (staying outside the lower shroud) to another carabiner. This allowed him to pull himself out from the mast, while not having to hold onto the freshly varnished spreader.

Now if only J. can remember how he rigged this up for the next time ...

Gato Verde Sunset Cruise

Written by J.

I found it incredibly ironic when I won the grand prize for the Adult Summer Reading Program at the Whatcom County Library: a sunset cruise for two on the Gato Verde (a Ecologically friendly [green] Cat[amaran]). As last summer ended, we found that we only had a few weeks to redeem the cruise, but were too busy on our end of things to take the time. Luckily it was good through this summer, too. We had a great time. Pictures follow.

The Certificate came with a brochure giving details of GATO VERDE. She is likely the only charter boat on the West Coast with an Electric Diesel hybrid engine (much like what you would find in a Prius, save a diesel rather than gasoline engine). When there is any wind, she sails. During our trip, we backed out of the slip and into the wind to raise the mainsail, fell off into the wind, before he turned the electric engine to "neutral" or "off," and unfurled the jib a bit. We sailed out across the Bellingham Bay for about an hour, then turned back toward shore and more sheltered water. At that point, Captain Todd roller furled the jib and we motor sailed around while the sunset. When we were leaving, Captain Todd mentioned to us that we used a small number of kilowats (a week later, neither of us can remember the figure. What we do remember is being shocked at how little the amount was).

 Here is Captain Todd at the helm while we were leaving the slip. GATO VERDE's home port is at the Ferry Terminal in Bellingham. As the following photos show.

 When Captain Todd went forward to raise the mainsail, I asked if he could use any help. The three of us had chatted on the dock prior to departure. He was curious about where we had gotten the certificate, and we had also explained that we lived aboard our Dreadnought 32 - a lead mine. I was expecting to be asked to pull on the halyard. Nope. He turned off the autopilot and put me at the helm!

What fun! I was there for about an hour or so. I'm not used to steering with a wheel, nor by instruments (you couldn't feel the wind back aft so depended on the wind direction finder - perfect setup for a charter boat, not so much for steering by the wind across your cheek).

There were nine of us guests in total, and of the other seven, only a child had any experience sailing. Needless to say, they were all surprised to see me helming away. It was great fun.


We sailed out into Bellingham Bay for about an hour before turning around and sailing back towards Boulevard Park and the lee of Fairhaven.

It was somewhat disconcerting at first to feel and hear the slapping of the waves between the hulls as they hit the upper deck. On our boat, that means we've hit something. And GATO VERDE had a more sharper "snap" like a sports car while MERGANSER rolls along like a large 1970's Chrysler New Yorker.

Fun to sail, none-the-less, as we were doing an easy 8+ knots in a 12-15 knot breeze with only the jib rolled out 3/4 or so. Captain Todd said we could push things, but for the comfort of the other guests, he was going more for comfort rather than speed.

And the sun starts to set ...

Some cheesy self-portraits while holding the camera at arms length.

Thanks to one of the guests for taking this photo.

Off Boulevard Park.

 

Thanks for the wonderful sunset cruise and the support of our local libraries.
Fair winds, Capt'n Todd and GATO VERDE!