Last Sail, for a while, on "Bright Star"

[Jay Greer]

Last Saturday, Oct 18, the wind in S. CA was snotting up a bit with a local Santana blowing almost enough to take a reef in "Bright Star's" main. After having a lunch of bratwurst and sourkraut, accompanied by a German Oktoberfest band and good German beer at BYC. We took off from the dock and roared out to sea under jib main and mizzen. It was a magnificent sail! Anyone who thinks an H28 is tender, slow or won't go to weather, has never sailed the boat as it was designed to be! We sat, dry in the cockpit, had more beer and surfed away at nearly eight knots in bursts! The lee rail never buried.
Returning to Newport Harbor, we had the bay to ourselves as most of the local boats were weather bound. As we swept by the shore of Balboa Island, we were surprised to hear a round of applause from the beach. What better tribute could be given to Mr. Herreshoff's enduring H28 design? Sorry, there was no camera aboard. Just a great memory for us!
Winter cover is on and we are back to Port Townsend where we are restoring "Red Witch".
Jay

[Jay Greer]

We arrived back in Port Townsend last night Oct 25th and, as I write I am looking at at red and gold autum leaves on the cherry tree behind the shop that houses "Red Witch". A bald eagle circles in a thermal above the shop and all is quiet. What a contrast to the hurry up world of Southern California!
Jay

[Larks]

No photos needed Jay, you paint a very nice picture

[Sailor]

No photos needed? Baloney, we do however understand that one cannot always have a camera with them. Too bad, cause I for one would love to see photos of the picture you just painted us.

[Jay Greer]

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8ce07b3127ccec5211aa5ea5b00000040O00QYsmrNy5bsQ e3nwg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/
This morning I walked into the shop where "Red Witch" has been, patiently, waiting for the touch of my hands. Now is the time to, finally, let the restoration begin!
Jay

[Larks]

Looks like a great set up Jay, nice place to work.

[Jay Greer]

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8ce06b3127ccec5220318532200000040O00QYsmrNy5bsQ e3nwg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/
Thanks Larks,
The shop is my "Done Movin Shop". I intentionaly designed it to look like the first shop I worked in as a kid. There is a pit under the boat that allows for rudder removal and access to inverted building of boats. When it is done and the Witch is back in the water, we will build more boats here. A fifty foot spar bench is going in next on the right side.
Jay

[bott]

That is one beautifully functional looking shop you have there.

Is that hypalon fairing I see in Red Witch's rudder gap? 6-meter eater indeed. :cool: I love stealing all the little glances I can from her when you post pictures. Thanks for it all!

[Jay Greer]

The rudder fairing is phosphor bronze. We also had it on the 5.5 "Gosling" when we were campaining her. It does seem to make a difference. The rudder shape was a result of tank testing on the 5.5 sloop, "Antiope" done at the Steven's Tank. The full size hull was tested and it was found that a certain amount of hydrodynamic lift to weather was accomplished by having the greatest area at the bottom at 1.5 deg. of weather helm dialed in.
Jay