Last week I returned to my old stomping grounds off Harwichport / Chatham to see how the boat would strut her stuff in a little breeze. I was able to sail out to the whistle, bell, and back in no time as well as do the three harbor cruise. Issues with the way I rigged the boat crop up gradually as the wind increases.
1. There was no way to cleat the mainsheet in without using two hands as I had failed to put a fairlead in just ahead of the clam cleats, leading to a poor lead to the cleat and too much work on the part of the skipper. Easily solved with trading out the fairleads from the rudder head for the uphaul, and the one I put on the sprit.
2. The mizzen sheet kept getting hung up on the motor, necessitating the use of a paddle to keep pushing it off the motor cowl. I added a ring on a bungee cord to the sprit and ran the sheet up through it. As the sheet tries to move outboard, the shock cord tensions and brings it inboard, thus avoiding the motor! When the sheet is tensioned, the ring moves out to allow for trim.
12 miles under the keel in a nice breeze. Looking forward to the next sail.
September 8th -
Great sail in Pleasant Bay today with another retired educator. We sailed out of Areys Pond (small fee for the ramp, but they put it in and retrieve it!). Owner, Tony Davis, and his crew run one of the best sailboat yards on Cape Cod. They specialize in Cape Cod Catboats, and have a special place on Areys Pond. It is a first class establishment.
Throughout the day, we sailed through some very skinny water only grounding out a couple of times. Lifting the board and backing the main allowed us to carry on.
The ring on the shock cord worked wonderfully! No hang ups on any of the stern fittings or motor. No stress sailing. I do need to change the clam cleats for the main to cam cleats for a more positive grip on the mainsheet. Next project!
We sailed upwind for about 2 hours, measuring 9 miles of tacking, and got as far as the entrance to Ryders Cove in Chatham before heading home. ON the way back, we took some great shortcuts that can only be done in a boat that draws 7". We sailed full blast of the eel grass, sand bars, and clam flats making short work of the trip home (40 minutes). After derigging, headed home. At times we had little wind, other times, gusts to 18kts. I cant say enough about this boat. Wish we had some pictures under way, but were too busy gabbing, eating, and just enjoying the day.
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