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NormMessinger
06-13-2002, 02:02 PM
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid22/p411b3fa76c695d9b3ccb0d53c0b305b7/fda995df.jpg

We pulled Prairie Islander to Lewis and Clark Lake near Yankton South Dakota last Thursday and rented a slip in the Marina in anticipation of three days of sailing on a big lake along with other wooden boats, mostly Stevenson's Projects design as this was their announced gathering. It was an interesting trip up Interstate 29. With a significant tail wind the Ford sailed along at about 15 miles per gallon of gas. Ten is usual pulling the boat. That was nice until it came time to squeezing into the slip between the high dollar tonage with a >20 mph tail wind. Phyllis was convinced there was not enough space but after a significant display of nervousness we eased in without touching anything but Prairie Islander's fenders. Three feet to spare between us and the go fast stink potter next door.

We settled in for the night with a halyard banging an aluminum mast a couple of boats over. As the evening wore on the wind came up. Twice I crawled out to rearrange the fenders and to add more spring lines. Sleep did not come easy. About midnight there was a terrible crash. In my dream state I saw the mast come through the cabin top. Turned out the boat lurched just a Phyllis was attempting to seat herself and landed beside the portapotty. Later a breaker crashed throught the foredeck into the cabin but that turned out to be only a flotation cushion that I had propped up behind my head falling on my forehead.

The wind subsided before dawn but returned before we crawled out of the bunks. Igor, the National Weather Service's automatic voice forecast another windy day so we stayed ashore.

By Friday evening all of our new friends blew in with a Caladonia Yawl and two Weekenders. Phyllis had anticipated such an event and had prepared with two of the best jug wines from The Winery in Omaha.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid22/p6cb537e6f72e5509dbdbb5327fd76374/fda99564.jpg
Even if the wind had not subsided Saturday morning enough for us to get out on the lake for a couple of hours this evening would have made the trip worth while.

But we did get out. For pictures of our boats see: http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4291743155 and http://www.paxtonconsulting.com/yankton2002.html .

The Caladonia Yawl with one reef and the Weekenders were slightly faster then Prairie Islander. The GPS showed our speed to be as much as 6.3 mph but they were alway just a little faster. But no matter, that just made for more photo ops as they passed by.

http://www.paxtonconsulting.com/yankton20022_files/y200206.jpg

We are looking forward to next year.

--Norm

[ 06-13-2002, 03:04 PM: Message edited by: NormMessinger ]

Alan D. Hyde
06-13-2002, 02:18 PM
Well done, Norm.

A little w i d e, though...

Alan

Donn
06-13-2002, 02:45 PM
Very nice...get some earplugs next time. Would the lake have allowed you to overnight on the hook off of one of those nice sandy beaches?

Ian McColgin
06-13-2002, 03:06 PM
It's an odd phenomenon, but unfrapped flapping hallyards chafe through very rapidly if they are in my earshot . . .

Nicholas Carey
06-13-2002, 03:17 PM
Originally posted by Ian McColgin:
It's an odd phenomenon, but unfrapped flapping hallyards chafe through very rapidly if they are in my earshot . . .Sometimes they come loose and wind up at the masthead, too. Very odd. :rolleyes:

John B
06-13-2002, 03:35 PM
It's a world wide phenomenon to be sure.
It just shows you. Very important to frap.

Sounds like good fun Norm.
6.3 knots! weekenders going faster.! ? looking at the hulls I think you have a greater speed potential than them.

[ 06-13-2002, 04:38 PM: Message edited by: John B ]

NormMessinger
06-13-2002, 04:09 PM
That's 6.3 statute miles per hour rather than knots and I'd like to think it was the sailor and not the boat. And, I must admit the fact that "crew" squeeks when the rail gets within a foot or so of the water had nothing to do with it. Gonna have to rig the tops'l one of these days.

Anchoring off the windward shore would have been an option. The wind didn't veer or back a point for three days.

Question: What are the chances that we pull to Puget Sound then set in a marina cause we don't like the weather? We'd best get more experience before we risk that.

--Norm
--

Donn
06-13-2002, 04:15 PM
"Question: What are the chances that we pull to Puget Sound then set in a marina cause we don't like the weather? We'd best get more experience before we risk that."

From my limited experience on Puget Sound, all in powered fishing boats, there are very few 3-day stretches when you don't dislike at least some of the weather.

Dave Hadfield
06-13-2002, 06:33 PM
Looks like fun Norm! As for waiting out the weather, there's always something to fix or improve or read.

That quarter shot of her looks very nice. Was it on all points of sail that you were passed? Just looking at the rig, I'd say that both foresails sag a bit and would pull harder when close hauled if you could tighten the halyard of the jib and the stay of the staysail, but I see you have no backstays. You might consider trying a temporary backstay as a test, running to the windward aft cleat, hauled tight with a tackle, but of course this means remembering to remove it before tacking or jibing -- one more thing to do.

On a long tack it might be something to consider.

Scott Rosen
06-14-2002, 04:49 AM
Real nice, Norm. Sounds like a great time. You're off to a good start with your cruising. Your slip, though, had enough room for a battleship. Three feet is a massive amount of room. If you go renting slips in your travels, you'll find that six inches is usually the best you can do.

cs
06-14-2002, 09:02 AM
Sounds like ya'll had a good time even though the wind was a little to stiff. Saw on another board that Konrad was upset because his truck wouldn't start and thus he didn't make the event. I would have loved to been there and seen your boat in person, but I made some kinda pledge a long time ago about going back to any place that ended in Dakota. ;)

Norm I would like to hear some of the construction details of your boat (i.e. type of construction).

Chad

John R Smith
06-14-2002, 09:49 AM
Great report, Norm. Looks like you had a lot of fun.

Keep 'em coming smile.gif

John

NormMessinger
06-14-2002, 04:50 PM
Right, though weatherunderground.com is better, I think. None are worth a hoot three or more days out. This front moved slowly south across the area, stalled and came back as a warm front. Four days of strong southerly winds. I was sure if we bailed out Saturday afternoon the wind would quit and those we left behind would have a great day Sunday. Didn't work.

--Norm

Donn
06-14-2002, 04:59 PM
Norm...next time you're watching weather, try the Ohio State University Weather Gopher:

http://twister.sbs.ohio-state.edu/main.html

Another good way to watch weather and sea state along the coast is by monitoring noaa's buoys:

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/Northwest.shtml

NormMessinger
06-14-2002, 06:13 PM
I'd have to dust off my pilot SEL license to understand that stuff Donn.

KOMA 132352Z 31013KT 10SM SCT090 22/07 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP147 T02220072 10233 20200 55004

KOMA 140052Z 32010KT 10SM FEW065 21/08 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP151 T02110078

KOMA 140152Z 31009KT 10SM CLR 19/08 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP153 T01890078

KOMA 140252Z 29007KT 10SM CLR 17/08 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP155 T01670083 51007

KOMA 140352Z 29008KT 10SM CLR 17/08 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP157 T01670083
smile.gif

Thing I like about the weatherunderground is the NEXRAD display in real time, -5 min. max.

Pictures work better for me than text designed for teletype written in all caps. We've come a longe way since Isaac's Storm, you'd think.

--Norm

Donn
06-14-2002, 06:21 PM
Yeah, but unless you grow mushrooms, or go spelunking, why do you need the weather underground? It doesn't really change much.