All Kinds of Junk

Søren's project cont...

2012-01-22T21:41:00.000-08:00

Søren Takes USA 114 Apart

2012-01-22T21:38:00.000-08:00

I went to check up on Søren and borrow his gudgen templet and discovered he had tore apart the interior of USA 114. Apparently, he didn't mean to. He just got started and woke up realizing the mess he'd started. After getting the boat ready for the SF Cup we all figured he was done and would sell it. But never happy with the results until they meet Danish standards is his M.O.
New hatch hole cut, raised and ready for installation was as always well thought out.... More pictures to follow.

Rock of Wave Organ Collision Repair

2012-01-22T18:10:00.001-08:00

The bottom of the keel took a beating. Phase 2 complete. The way the boats get put on the cradle we don't always have access to it to make repairs. Thankfully, we can hang the boat over the weekends for this sort of work.

Phase 2 of Aft Keel Fairing

2012-01-22T17:57:00.001-08:00

Drillin' Holes in the Boat

2012-01-22T14:33:00.000-08:00

So, somewhere along the line the rudders made in Denmark, now Germany, changed design and with the new design came the new style gudgens and a new location for the attachment points? Great. So, you either cut into your perfectly good new rudder or redrill two of the holes. After too much thought we opted to keep the lowest hole because it's below the water line and from that point the new rudder fits perfectly against the keel. The middle and top hole are easier to change and anything we do will be hardly seen when the rudder blocks the view so...
How to line up the holes? Well, once again I am humbled by the ever impressive talents of Søren Hansen. Of course he's had this problem before! Of course he's come up with a cleaver solution and for a six pack and awesome conversation he lent us his templet to line up and drill the holes. That was easy.

Thanks Søren.

It Curves to the Right?

2012-01-22T14:24:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I never noticed this. It might explain our problems on port tack. We'll be sorting this out for sure.

So That's What Happened

2012-01-14T18:17:00.001-08:00

There was that one time we were fending off Peter going downwind, cut it a little to close to the point where the wave organ is and we nailed that rock I thought was gone. We'll have to do a little grinding and filling here.

Rudder, Pintels and Gudgens

2012-01-14T18:14:00.000-08:00

So, the new rudder doesn't match up exactly. With the bottom pintil lined up it fits above the keel, but the other two pintils are off by about an inch. Guys have been telling me I'll have to cut the rudder up to make it fit and I'm trying to figure out why I shouldn't just plug the top two gudgeon holes and redrill them to fit the way the rudders are made? Seems like the right path, so that and the rest of the keel work are next.

The Keel is Back on

2012-01-14T18:07:00.001-08:00

Everything went according to plan. The new keelbolts are on and looks good. I even have the lift strap eyes on too so now i can hoist out... if i can find a lift that is capable. Now we go after the rust spots, fill, fair, prime and paint.

Keel Work Progress

2012-01-11T19:36:00.001-08:00

Looks like we're almost ready to put her back together.

Old Men in Beaver Cabin Trying to go Fast

2012-01-10T22:09:00.001-08:00

That's what the headline read on my trip to Sweden all those years ago. It was in Swedish, so that's what Bjorn told me it said. It was referring to our old fleet still competing after all these years with guys who were... Yeah, old. But the article went on to say that these old guys were no joke and if you think you're hot shit in whatever fleet you were in to go ahead and try to just jump in a folkboat and you will get your ass handed to you.

With all that said, this then is a picture of a folkboat building yard.

More Keel Droppin' Pictures

2012-01-10T21:53:00.000-08:00

Droppin' the Keel

2012-01-10T21:43:00.001-08:00

It's time...

... to drop the keel, really clean out the rust, rebed the keel, put in new keel bolts and really do a good job fairing the bottom. It makes sense now why we couldn't point with the top boats, look at all that drag! In retrospect, we had a great season with this liability of a keel. Somehow, with this shitty bottom we managed 2nd in everything and tied for 1st in the SF Cup. Obviously, the patchwork quick fixes didn't keep the rust at bay. No doubt this will be major work, but if I'm gonna keep this boat and maintain her resale value, this work has to be done. I'm not an expert at too many things, but I know when I'm over my head. If I had my father's knowledge, skill, tools, space, time and experience I'd take this task on myself. I have none of these things except for his observation skills. He was always talking about how things worked out for himself "partially by design." Over time, these words became for me, be observant. What it really means is pay attention to the details and look for things most overlook and when the opportunity presents itself be ready to capitalize on it. Then, you make it look like you're lucky when in fact you're really just good. Well, I've been watching Folkboats for decades now and I've listened to the stories and I've watched guys make mistakes. And all my fact gathering has lead me to the conclusion that this job would be best done by someone else, professionals, not me. I have too many things that take up all my time, things y'all might be familure with? You know; work, family. So, I've been planning for this inevitable event in this boat's life by planning ahead. It's also good to have a friend who owns a boatyard. Its way good to have a crew member who dives your bottom and works at the boatyard. And it's uber good that I've forged multiple relationships with the guys at the boatyard. From Brock to Tim the lift op, I believe I'm getting exactly what my folkboat needs at Svendsen's Boatyard. Is this a shameless plug? No. Do I think winter is the best time of year to have major work done to your boat at the yard? Yes. They aren't exactly super busy right now and that means the quality of their work should be at its best and that's part of my calculation in this move to get this done. Combine this with the new rudder, new jib and my regular crew making a serious commitment to win... I'm starting to like my chances this next season. Game on.

Winter Storage/Project List

2011-12-19T22:26:00.001-08:00

Decided I couldn't take watching Josephine take a beating in Gas House anymore and moved her down to Alameda.

Sean and Brock hooked me up with a cheaper slip, then Brock loaned me his outboard to make the delivery quick and easy. And thankfully he did, there was no wind and the wrong tides...

I was out of my sublet in March anyway. Plus, I have a big list of things to do this winter:

Cabin cleat repair

Install Two more cleats

Double end out haul

Hatch handle - silly thing just broke off. Anyone how to replace those cheap?

Back stay project

Phenolic on aft teak

Drop keel, rebed and replace keel bolts

Seal, paint attach new rudder

Paint mast - we're thinking camouflage?

Plus some other top secret James Bond kind of stuff...

sorry, no pictures today.

Too busy trying to sort out using an outboard. Seriously, first time ever using one on any boat I've ever owned. We only crashed once. No coffee was spilled.

Fwd: Maine Folkboat

2011-12-08T16:43:00.001-08:00

It's nice to have friends access to knowledge.

This is what I could find on that boat, with my interpretations above each table:

Baad
The boat was built in 1948 by the Børresen boat yard in Vejle. They are quite respectable boat builders.

Sejl nr. Bygget af Bygge år Plakette Bygge nr. Vægt Comment
37 Børresens Bådebyggeri, Vejle 1948
Baad navne
The name of the boat is Chica, this apparently has not been changed while it was in DK.

År Bådnavn
1947 Chica
Baad Ejere
Below a table of the various owners the boat has had in Denmark

År Ejer By Land
1948 Schött Poulsen 7100 Vejle DK
1956 Peter Ravn 7000 Fredericia DK
1958 P. J. Lundberg 8000 Århus DK
1961 J. Smedegaard Andersen 8000 Århus DK
1969 Ole Frölich ??? 5500 Middelfart DK
1972 Ib Lindquist København N DK
1979 B. Hyldegaard Pedersen 4773 Stensved DK
1983 Freddy S. Pedersen 2620 Albertslund DK
Kapsejladser
And the races the boat has raced. Looks like it was quite active under the first 2 owners, but then hasn't raced since.

Ã…r Kapsejlads nr udaf
1948 Jyllandsugen, Sønderborg Yacht Club`s Hovedsejlads 4
1949 Midsommer weekend, Juelsminde, søndag 3
1949 Kolding Sejlklubs Hovedsejlads 1
1950 Pinsestæven, Juelsminde, lørdag 2
1951 Midsommerstæven, Juelsminde, 10. juli 2
1956 Horsens Sejlklubs Efterårs-pointsejlads 1
1956 Neptuns Jubilæumssejlads, 2. dag 2
1956 Neptuns Jubilæumssejlads, 1. dag 3
1956 Landsstævne, Vejle-Kolding, K.D.Y.`s provinssejlads 2 28
1956 Landssævne, Vejle-Kolding Jubilæumssejlads 1 28
1957 Landsstævne, Lynæs, K.D.Y.`s provinssejlads 5 26
1957 Landsstævne, Lynæs, Isefjordklubbernes sejlads 6 26
1957 Middelfart Sejlklubs Hovedsejlads 1
1957 Kolding Sejlklubs stæven ved Løverodde 1
1957 Sejlerugen, Juelsminde 1. og 2. dag 1
1957 Landsstæven, Lynæs, Klassebådssejlads 11 26
1958 Kolding Sejlklubs sejlads 14. juni 3
1958 Kolding Sejlklubs sejlads 15. juni 2
1958 Landsstævne, Fredericia, J.S.U.`s Hovedsejlads 5 20
1958 Landsstævne, Fredericia Sejklubs Hovedsejlads 7 24
1958 Landsstævne, Fredericia, K.D.Y.`s provinssejlads 3 23
1958 Århusklubbernes Hovedsejlads 2. dag 1

The link to the database is:
http://base.folkebaadsdatabasen.dk/

If you want to search by sail number (Danish only) choose baad and type in the number

If you want to search by boat name choose Baadnavn and type in the boatname
If you want to search by owner (and see all the boats a particular sailor has owned) choose baadejer and type in the boatowner's name

Kapsejladser refers to races, but that one would be more tricky and less interesting for you

Take care,
Ditte

Thanks Ditte :)

År	Bådnavn
1947	Chica

År	Ejer	By	Land
1948	Schött Poulsen	7100 Vejle	DK
1956	Peter Ravn	7000 Fredericia	DK
1958	P. J. Lundberg	8000 Århus	DK
1961	J. Smedegaard Andersen	8000 Århus	DK
1969	Ole Frölich ???	5500 Middelfart	DK
1972	Ib Lindquist	København N	DK
1979	B. Hyldegaard Pedersen	4773 Stensved	DK
1983	Freddy S. Pedersen	2620 Albertslund	DK

Ã…r	Kapsejlads	nr	udaf
1948	Jyllandsugen, Sønderborg Yacht Club`s Hovedsejlads	4
1949	Midsommer weekend, Juelsminde, søndag	3
1949	Kolding Sejlklubs Hovedsejlads	1
1950	Pinsestæven, Juelsminde, lørdag	2
1951	Midsommerstæven, Juelsminde, 10. juli	2
1956	Horsens Sejlklubs Efterårs-pointsejlads	1
1956	Neptuns Jubilæumssejlads, 2. dag	2
1956	Neptuns Jubilæumssejlads, 1. dag	3
1956	Landsstævne, Vejle-Kolding, K.D.Y.`s provinssejlads	2	28
1956	Landssævne, Vejle-Kolding Jubilæumssejlads	1	28
1957	Landsstævne, Lynæs, K.D.Y.`s provinssejlads	5	26
1957	Landsstævne, Lynæs, Isefjordklubbernes sejlads	6	26
1957	Middelfart Sejlklubs Hovedsejlads	1
1957	Kolding Sejlklubs stæven ved Løverodde	1
1957	Sejlerugen, Juelsminde 1. og 2. dag	1
1957	Landsstæven, Lynæs, Klassebådssejlads	11	26
1958	Kolding Sejlklubs sejlads 14. juni	3
1958	Kolding Sejlklubs sejlads 15. juni	2
1958	Landsstævne, Fredericia, J.S.U.`s Hovedsejlads	5	20
1958	Landsstævne, Fredericia Sejklubs Hovedsejlads	7	24
1958	Landsstævne, Fredericia, K.D.Y.`s provinssejlads	3	23
1958	Århusklubbernes Hovedsejlads 2. dag	1

Danish Folkboat Turns up in Maine

2011-12-06T20:58:00.000-08:00

Ok kids, it's solve a mystery time. Here's the story:

Hi Eric,
I was trying to find some info on folkboats and stumbled onto your blog . I hope you can help. I recently rescued a folkboat from a local boatyard that was going to cut her up. She is in pretty good shape for her age. I hope to find out more from her past. I could not find any makings inside, but the mainsail # is dk f 37 also will attach a few pict.

Thanks ,
Jim
South Bristol Maine

Bonus points to the first responders!

Finally Got My Rudders

2011-10-30T19:13:00.000-07:00

I started the ordering process, no joke, July 7th with an email to Germany inquiring about rudders, gudgeons, rudder head and some plastic bow clips with the funny sideways screw holes... Just two weeks ago they finally arrived and now I have to exopy the trailing edge, prime, bottom paint, gel coat the head, then possibly recut the attachment point for a custom install because apparently they don't just fit my 1981 boat just right. Not sure this was worth it after shipping and importing costs. It is lighter though. I hope that proves to be a difference maker next season. Oh, and it's time to drop the keel, rebed and replace the keelbolts while I'm at it.

Voted Best Photo of team Josephine 2011...

2011-10-17T20:59:00.001-07:00

... by the whole team of Patrick Morgan, Kurt Hemmingsen and myself.

Peter Jeal Gets Rolled

2011-09-27T21:40:00.001-07:00

I saw this on the way back from bringing Josephine from the CYC. I didn't take the picture. Brock sent it out... Not sure who to give photo credit to?

More Pictures Than You Can Shake A Stick At

2011-09-26T16:13:00.000-07:00

http://cyc.org/category/image-galleries/2011-folkboats

Awards Dinner Hardware

2011-09-24T19:47:00.000-07:00

What an epic regatta.

2011-09-24T16:42:00.001-07:00

http://cyc.org/race/results/FolkStand.html

All I can say is wow. We did our best and ended in a three way tie for first. Hats off to Per Buch and crew for winning, we were 2nd and Mike Goebel takes 3rd. The last race was an incredible battle with places changing every leg.

...and I'm spent.

Good Luck Monkey, Per Buch, Ask Me! and the Fog Was Just Awesome Today

2011-09-23T21:53:00.001-07:00

http://cyc.org/race/results/FolkStand.html

Somehow we are leading the regatta. What a day... Two bullits to take the lead and go from irrelevant to relevant in one day. An amazingly beautiful fall day with thick fog making the foreigners a little nervous on the crossing to the city front this morning. Tankers?! What tankers? All I can say is we may not be the fastest boat, or the boat that can point the highest, but we made no mistakes today, nailed every lay line and got a little lucky too.

2 Firsts Today!!!!

2011-09-23T16:04:00.000-07:00

We're back.

Ok, You Do The Math

2011-09-23T10:17:00.000-07:00

Don't Slip Wilson!

2011-09-23T10:16:00.000-07:00

The Boats

2011-09-20T21:24:00.000-07:00

SF Cup

2011-09-20T21:23:00.000-07:00

I've Got To Keep All This In Perspective

2011-09-20T21:20:00.001-07:00

So, after race one it was close. We thought we were 2nd. We asked the RC, they said we were 2nd. I see the book at the club, it says we are 2nd, the the daily trophies are presented and we are 3rd. They "made a mistake". Blink, blink. Oh. That sucks, wait. Huh? What are all these eraser marks and arrows and... Whatever. I'm riding my bike to and from the regatta site all this week because for the first time I can and as I was riding home this evening I see Mt. Tam in all her glory looking awesome and I realize that all this racing stuff is gravy. Look at what I get to do and where I get to do it. The amazing blessing continues.

Uh, yeah...

2011-09-20T21:13:00.001-07:00

Stuff happens on the race course... Rules get broken, boats do their turn(s) and there was a lot of boats making these extra turns in the second race today. We were first to the windward mark, but hit the off set. Nobody saw it, but we did our turn. The flood tide at the mark made several boats touch the mark... Welcome to SF Bay, where when you think you're making the mark, your not. Because we sail in a river!!!! But the pictures below are when epoxy and a screw are not enough to hold the chain plates in. Such a bummer, Chris from GBR was getting her going "faster than greesed weesle shit." I'd never heard that one before.

DEN 1130

2011-09-20T20:58:00.000-07:00

After today's racing, we headed back to the CYC and I had to take a few shots... Most proud of the first one. Even Svend Krumnacker in Germany will agree, sailing on the bay with the Golden Gate bridge in the back drop is always a winner. Anders and Benny say hi. Thanks for the Gujol Blå!

Ditte, Donald and Per Behind Us

2011-09-20T16:50:00.000-07:00

Practice Race results

2011-09-19T23:29:00.001-07:00

Opening Ceremonies

2011-09-18T22:58:00.000-07:00

SF Cup... Getting ready cont.

2011-09-18T22:54:00.000-07:00

SF Cup... getting ready

2011-09-18T22:52:00.000-07:00

MC Svend Svendsen

2011-09-18T18:56:00.000-07:00

SF Cup would not be kicked off with style without Svend setting the tone. After each country's national anthem the teams were introduced.
The Netherlands guys sang theirs the 2nd loudest after the USA, of course.

Don Wilson Sporting the Flensberg Tie

2011-09-18T18:53:00.001-07:00

SF Cup 2011... Game on!

2011-09-18T15:31:00.000-07:00

Opening ceremonies in half an hour... It's just not the same without Christoph ;(

SF Cup Schedule

2011-09-18T15:29:00.000-07:00

Hahahaha!

2011-09-18T15:28:00.000-07:00

I'd claim responsibility if I did it... I didn't do it, but I know who did!

Thanks Bill

2011-06-20T21:45:00.000-07:00

So yeah, my rudder head got snapped off, shit happens. But there are several races before the July break... what to do, what to do? When something like this happens you find out who your real friends are. Brock was the first to call and offer up his spare rudder. Bill D. called next and said he'd help me with a quick fix he had just done to his rudder. Then Søren calls after seeing my last blog post and offers yet another rudder solution. I made arrangements to meet Bill down at the boat this afternoon. Bill came prepared with pre-cut plywood, bolts, washers, screws and a plan. We flipped the boat around in the slip, slapped on some cheeks, hacked off the extra threaded bits, flipped the boat back around, done. It'll work until real repairs can be done or I buy a new one.
Thanks Bill for making this so quick and easy.

Great... now my rudder needs repair

2011-06-19T16:09:00.001-07:00

Details after the protest hearing.

Mark's Photo

2011-06-14T14:40:00.001-07:00

Who Built This Boat?

2011-05-30T12:23:00.001-07:00

US 45 is the boat in question. Richard Worsham in the Great Lakes area sent me these pictures with the hopes of finding out who built her. This boat has a deck step mast and once had an inboard motor. Richard is the third owner from his region, but that doesn't mean too much. The boat could have been in the Bay Area then shipped... weirder things have happened with these boats.
Does anyone recognize this boat? Bonus points to anyone with information about this boat's story.

Emergency Rudder Repair

2011-05-20T18:22:00.000-07:00

It's not fun having your rudder taken off. It's no fun here on the west coast of California when your options are a very costly repair bill or order a new one from Denmark. Us smart Folkboaters at least have the option to order one, but that takes time. Billy D. has a race tomorrow and needs a quick fix. So, a few pieced of plywood, an angled edge to prevent rubbing, a few bolts and nuts... Let's go racing. The good news is that from the cockpit you don't have to look at it.

They Named a Street After My Boat?

2011-05-16T16:17:00.000-07:00

The Crazy Creative & inspirational Mr Jeal

2011-05-12T10:03:00.000-07:00

Not even a tendon tearing skiing accident can stop Peter from competing in the sport he loves. Since he can use his hand he "robocopped" his hand by attaching a cleat to his cast. I don't think it's slowed him down one bit. He's been just as competitive as ever winning race two in super heavy conditions last Saturday.

Wednesday Before the Season Opener

2011-05-01T21:40:00.000-07:00

And Richard was working on his rails... they look good. And yes, he put his boat back together in time to be put back in, brought back to SF and make the first race on time, well done and looking good.

Hair Trigger

2011-04-30T21:45:00.000-07:00

I was getting the boat ready for racing and thinking about how to make things better. I thought back to a time when because of how long it took me to throw up the flag, I lost the protest. I've seen a design with a small tube and a thin line that let's you launch the flag emphatically... I'm too cheap to buy something like this, I'd rather make it out of stuff I already have. So, this "one time use" design popped into my head. It relies on a piece of tape, I'll probable upgrade to a Velcro of sorts, but this will work for the first day of the season.

I didn't need it today, if we could have managed better starts we may have actually challenged Team Wilson for the win, both races! We were at the pin end too soon the first start and barely cleared it, Wilson rode over the top of us and we tacked away. We botched the tack, had to tack back... it got ugly. We made good on a shift in the middle of the course while others floundered. Made 2 stupid tacks and rounded 3rd close behind Goebel, Wilson was gone. Mike went ddw in light air and we scooted out to the breeze and better current. We were catching the Knarrs, but the the wind shifted from a north to a west south west. It became a parade to the finish.
Second race we were over early, went back, gybed and went right when everyone else went left. It didn't kill us because we caught up to the group at the windward mark. Gybe set at the mark and scooted past three boats, caught Freddie just before the leeward mark. Tommy was still ahead of us, we rounded poorly and let Freddie get on our hip, but we pulled a head not pointing high, but going fast. Up the course we split from Tommy somehow and on our first cross we had to duck him. But that put us in great position on the next cross too close to the three boat circle to lee bow us... Wilson was gone. We defended second place to the finish. Then, the race back to the harbor Kurt drove Josephine and crushed Wilson!!! No points for that though.
Let's all have a moment of awww, that's too bad for Tommy who lost his jib halyard at the very end of race 2 (held off Peter for 3rd place) and had to go all the way back to the harbor on just a main in 20 knots and ebb lump.

Finishing Touch

2011-04-22T13:37:00.000-07:00

The cradle pad spots and keel where the boat rested are the last spots to be prepped and sprayed. After a second coat on a Friday the yard guys leave it hung over the weekend to let the paint fully harden before splashing her first thing on Monday. Boatyard curtesy, put your fenders on deck and your dock lines at the ready.
Picked up the new sails from Doyle, all set now :)

Midship Cleat

2011-04-22T11:03:00.000-07:00

I hate drillin' holes in the boat. For a guy who measures once and cuts twice this was really a struggle. There is nothing worse than holes drilled in the wrong place. Dad did the research for me when it comes to managing the heavy surge of a Folkboat in Gas House Cove. I had to do this to USA 105 when I had her at the end of gate 4 and I was hoping never to have to do this to Josephine, but this is preventative maintenance and would cost a boatload more if I put a spring line to the winch or hand rails. After much internal debate and good advice from Peter (mike's crew) I decided to go big and put seriously beefed up backing plates in place. Not even tsunami surge could budge this bad boy.

Catch Me if You Can

2011-04-21T19:29:00.000-07:00

I love the smell of fresh bottom paint... Maybe that's what's wrong with me... two coats sprayed, please, no burnishing. At a certain point of smoothness the return benefit doesn't make the loss of paint worth it. Thanks Tom Reed for the great advice. It enables guys like me to be lazy.

Boatyard Antics

2011-04-21T19:24:00.001-07:00

I'm not old. But I'm not young either. Knee surgury and tall guy back issues makes you rethink the stuff you do to save yourself from aches and pains. I saw Brock varnishing Per's mast and suggested he raise the mast somehow, but he declined my offer. Richard saw the value and allowed me a boatyard creative moment. We found a table, put it on saw horses and bogarted another saw horse to hang the mast from so at least most of the mast is at shoulder level. When I do my mast I always figure out a way to hang it so I'm not stooping all day. I hope no one needs a saw horse anytime soon.

How to Make A Tiller Extension

2011-04-21T18:54:00.000-07:00

In the last Wednesday evening race I lost my tiller extension... It mysteriously lost it's pin from the universal joint and my custom work fell overboard, much like my first iPhone. I bought a tiller extension for the next race, but I just never liked the way it felt compared to the T-bar arrangement. A coworker gave me the idea when I saw he was just throwing away a pair of ski poles. I was a universal joint and two screws away from having everything I'd need to make my own. So I did. I still had the other pole so, let's do it again. Only this time I'll make some improvements.
First, instead of cutting a smaller section of ski pole for the T part I used an .89 cent piece of plumbing and epoxied that into the tube. Second, I didn't tape off the holes at either end so it can breath. Whatever, $26 for the universal joint plus a piece of plumbing and some tape vs $100 for a new one? Yeah, I'm a cheap skate.

I'm Not the First

2011-04-19T19:06:00.000-07:00

I got tired of writing down all the item codes and relaying it to the clerk... I showed the clerk my phone and said, "Put me down for 20 feet of this."

Hauled Out 2011

2011-04-19T19:03:00.001-07:00

Werner, Goebel, and... That very last minute guy Keldsen. He showed up today with the family on a delivery day, only a week and half till the season opener. We'll see if the yard can accommodate him in time.

Per's Mast/Boom

2011-04-19T18:46:00.001-07:00

If I had a nickel for every time I heard some say, "In this economy...." Well, in this economy it's hard to sell a boat. So, to make Per's boat more appealing, Brock has volunteered some sweat equity into per's mast and boom in hopes that someone will pull the trigger and buy this boat. He took it down to wood, epoxy resin sealed it and is now timing the coats of varnish around the weather reports. Keep up the good work!

What's Wrong with this Picture?

2011-04-19T18:39:00.001-07:00

All comments welcome

Rust 3

2011-04-18T08:06:00.001-07:00

When I got the boat it had this soft caulking between the keel and the hull. People said it was common because of the temperature range the boats go through in Denmark. One day I'll have to remove the keel, clear out all that junk and epoxy the seem shut. But not this year.

Phase 3...

Rust 2

2011-04-18T07:39:00.000-07:00

Phase 2... Pictures in no particular order.

Rust

2011-04-18T07:35:00.001-07:00

At the last minute decided to haul out. Wouldn't you know it, keel rust issues. The problem with keeping your boat in seriously salty water year round becomes obvious when this happens. Thank goodness for better living through chemicals and a good friend like Brock. These are his pictures and while I was at work Brock started the process, otherwise I'd miss the start of the racing season.

As Luck Would Have It

2011-04-15T15:33:00.001-07:00

I had no plans on how to get back to SF, but sometimes it's best not to plan. As I'm putting away the boat I remember Brock lives in alameda, perhaps I could bum a ride and pay him back with drinks after Wednesday races this summer. What a great guy, he's home and says he'll be right down no problem... Sweet.
I finish stowing gear, lock up the boat, toss out some trash, drink some water and start on the second half of a sandwich and perfect timing Brock shows up as if right on que and takes me to BART. Thanks dude. I pull out the Bart ticket I always keep in my wallet and head up the stairs. I wait 30 seconds, my train shows up. All goes well, I get out at the embarcadero, go across the street, raise my hand and immediately get picked up by this suicidal Russian taxi driver who hauls ass across town and drops me off back at the marina and my car... Big tip for you bro. Zip home before 8pm in time to kiss Annika good night. For starting all this a 4pm, I set a personal record for efficiency and time management. Let this be the sign of good things to come.

Curse you container ships!

2011-04-15T15:19:00.001-07:00

The annual trip to Svendsen's was the fastest ever... SFMarina to the yard with big winds and favorable tide: 1 hour 40 minutes. I almost got Malachi crunched (urban dictionary that if you don't know what that means) by two container ships as I entered the estuary. It was blowing so hard I didn't use the whisker pole and I left the halyards attached. Guess I was either scared or lazy to leave the cockpit.

All Good Things...

2011-04-14T21:58:00.000-07:00

must come to an end. I got evicted from my most epic spots... sniff. But thanks to Mark S, I'm only over in the east harbor for the racing season. Sigh... Now I must contend with heavy surge and challenging landings. I was spoiled for a long time.

Minifolkboat racing, German style

2011-02-16T18:09:00.001-08:00

Subject: 1 Meter Folkeboot

Hi this is Christoph from Essen inGermany

I mounted a video camera on my 1meter RC Folkboat.

Here's the link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPwys4ThQmE

Greetings

Christoph Becker

Thank you GGYC

2010-09-29T22:18:00.001-07:00

By adding this dock behind your club you have inadvertently turned my end tie dock situation into a regular slip. I was mad as hell when I showed up and the piling was put in without so much as a curtesy note on my boat, but now I see the benefit.
I'm going to add a cleet to the underside of your dock and run a stern line out to your dock so this winter I can finally hold my boat off the dock! Thank you, GGYC, thank you.

When the Wood Gets Soft....

2010-09-22T21:17:00.000-07:00

... and this is a problem I had when I owned Nordic Belle (USA 105), All of a sudden you'll be sailing and the shrouds are all loose and you can't figure out why. Its hard to see from the deck, but once you become aware of this possibility it becomes something you check for all the time. It's half the reason I keep a pair of binoculars on board.
These series of pictures comes courtesy of Klaus Kahl of Germany.

The story goes like this - Klaus says that after a day of force 6-7 winds they came back to the dock with loose shrouds, looked up and saw why. The spreader mount fitting had moved almost 2 inches and well, that's not a problem you can ignore. They prepared wooden strips
ahead of time (Mass: approx. 600mm long, 85mm broad and 3-4mm
thickly), the thickness may not be to large, because they must be able
to be bent. The wood is north spruce which is slow to grow and is a stronger wood.
First the main fitting was dismantled. The bad wood is carved out and all of it must go.
It's important to poke around the wood of the mast at the fittings to check for softness and prevent this from becoming a more serious problem. Same thing can happen at the main halyard shive at the top, gooseneck track where the boom attaches to the mast, at the deck and the heel cup. This one was caught before the mast would have required a more skilled woodworker or worse, unfixable. One of the concerns is not making it too stiff and ruining the bend characteristics you want in a mast. Too stiff and you'll put more stress on a different part of the mast and you'll never get the trim characteristics you'll need to shape the main sail. Too bendy and another set of problems, so a lot of thought goes into the type of wood, size of the grains, how they are laid in. After the epoxy and clamps do their thing, the screw holes need to be bored out and plugged. You could use longer screws, but that isn't the smartest idea. That wood is more than likely bad there too and its best to replace it. Making sure the plugs are of a dry wood and the holes are dry too will prevent the same problem from occurring again.

In the end the job looks very well done and the mast is repaired for a relatively low cost. Better than shelling out the bucks for a new one! Don't forget to put the black bands in the right spot!!

Oh, that's hot.

2010-09-03T22:07:00.001-07:00

Brie with a heat gun... Definately hot.

...What?! Heat guns are hot!

You mean all this time....!?

2010-09-03T22:03:00.001-07:00

... the reason my backstay has been so bunged up and hard to use is because this one nut and bolt needed to get flipped? Now when the control line has tension on it it's not dragging over a sharp edged bolt and nut?!
I love it when the performance improvement don't cost a dime.

What's not to love about Svendsen's

2010-09-03T21:47:00.001-07:00

You can vertually show up unannounced in the spring right before racing season, leave your boat ready to be pulled, and they do seem to drop everything for us folkboaters.
They have "Cherrybomb" soap in the bathroom and do a fine bottom prep and paint. I like to give myself two weeks in the yard so I get three full weekends before the season starts just in case something bad is discovered and needs attention. But, once that drama is averted, I like hanging out in the boat yard "working" on stuff, catching up with Roger Rapp, Soren, Timmy the lift op, Anna in the office, the various familure faces in the hood, Sean, and of course Svend. Seems every spring toward the end of March a bunch of us show up and do our annual maintenence. We should make it more official and start having "Haul out parties" in the yard.

Does it really matter?

2010-09-01T22:49:00.001-07:00

This last spring I was in such a hurry I forgot my measuring tape and I needed to get all my hardware off so Soren could do a little mast repair for me, it was cold, a storm was coming in and I kept thinking... Does it really matter if I don't put these things exactly back where I found them? Black bands yes, those matter, but hardware? Really? Why? So I did the next best thing I could think of... I took pictures of how far things were apart from each other relative to a constant point I knew wouldn't be affected by the mast work. I'm just going to go out a re-tune anyway. Ok, so I might be off by a milimeter here and there, whatever.

Have you ever had that moment...

2010-09-01T22:35:00.001-07:00

...when you realize you completely forgot which one was the port shroud and which one was the starboard? I've made all kinds of dumb mistakes over the years and a few of those mistakes more than once, but taking all the rigging and hardware off has become a little more routine. This last spring I needed Søren Hansen to scarf out a section of mast where i kept breaking goose neck tracks. After three breaks and several broken off screws in the mast I thought I'd just deal with it once and for all and put some new wood in there design a bullet proof goose neck track, slap it in there and be done with this. I love how easy it is to take all this stuff off... A screwdriver and two wrenches is really all you need. Maybe a hammer and plyers too.

Søren Hansen Scarffed my Mast 1

2010-09-01T22:23:00.001-07:00

It's a real joy to watch Søren Hansen work. He makes it look so easy. He'll just start chopping into your mast without hessitation. Seemingly not measuring anything and bam! It's done. I'm not sure there is anything more entertaining than a six pack on a Friday afternoon and talking world events with Søren. If you get a chance give it a try.

Søren Hansen Scarffed my Mast 2

2010-09-01T22:18:00.001-07:00

It's nice to have a space in the "Tiki hut" to epoxy seal, prime and paint the mast out of the rain. The deal with Søren is he does all the rough cuts, I do all the finishing sanding. Works for me.

Dear Mike, it's me, your bilge

2010-08-29T12:52:00.001-07:00

Dear Mike,

It's me, your bilge. I don't know what you've been doing, but you've been neglecting me. I'm not even sure you knew this, but there has been pounds of mud, sludge, screws, nuts, bolts and other nastiness I really can't identify in the bilge.

It's no wonder you're slow and can't beat Dave Wilson on a regular basis. Please clean me out and use a pressure washer and some bleach. It's really gross down here.

Oh that's good... Eat a little bilge sludge and kill yourself and then I'll never have a good owner... Or wait, go ahead, eat it. Anybody must be better at taking care of me.

No mike, that's not a keelbolt nut. You would have noticed when the boat would have capsized if the keel had come off. And what's with all the "weddings" you've been saying you've been at? Is this code for something naughty? Well, I hope this post finds you well mike, you've been missed this season, thanks for reading this... I'll be in the slip when you need me and please, varnish the rails? They look like hell and have been complaining regularly to me. I told them to write you, but they are afraid you'll get mad.

Sincerly,

Your dirty bilge

The Wednesday Evening Race and the Degnan Trophy

2010-08-26T14:06:00.001-07:00

The VHF broke, the traveller car got stuck and damaged, we missed hitting the windward mark in a flood tide by inches (Brock is my witness), on the first downwind leg I broke and lost the tiller extension, and on the final upwind leg the jib halyard broke... but we managed to make shift a tiller extention with a piece of rope and my crew Patrick saved our first place finish by grabbing the wire with his bare hands and held it down long enough for us to win the race and in so doing we also won the Degnan trophy... something my dad is going to be very proud of tomorow when I show up with the trophy. The trophy is awarded to the boat from all three fleets (IOD, Knarr, Folkboat) for the most/best finishes in relation to how many boats compete that race. It's a complicated scoring system that has been tweeked and revised every few years to account for the number of participating boats due in sone cases to a declining fleet and in other cases a resurgence.
It's a fair system and for years I've watched with envy the winners as they give their speaches in honor of Dr. George Degnan for whom the trophy is named. The doctor was a man who loved life. He enjoyed it to the fullest and was good sailor who would tell the most outragous stories parelleling sailing in strong winds and heavy seas with sex. The overt references to the pulsing, thrusting, gyrating movement of the boat made me, a boy of 10 years old the first time I heard him speak, know that he wasn't just talking about the race. He would ramble on and on and appear lost and confused as he fumble to remember what he wanted to say. And just when you thought he had completely lost it and you started to feel sorry for the older gentlemen seemingly hung out to dry embarassed in front of everyone.... He'd tie it all together with a punchline that killed. The room would errupt into laughter and the energy he created with his wit and storytelling would expand
out of the confines of the Golden Gate yacht club. He'd often open the bar with a ring of the bell and the party was on for the rest of the night. I am humbled, honored and forever changed now that my name has been added to the list of accomplished sailors on the trophy before me. Can't wait to show my dad who knew, respected and introduced me to the man all those years ago.

Wednesday Evening Race Video

2010-08-20T08:15:00.001-07:00

http://vimeo.com/14284247

Thanks Brock for making this video of a horrible start, but a happy ending.

No Folkboats were damaged in this accident

2010-08-16T12:59:00.001-07:00

I was asked to race in the San Francisco IKC's (International Knarr Championship) and witnessed this little oops that cost some guys their security deposit.

Now How Do I Get My Boat Out?

2010-08-16T12:52:00.001-07:00

My slip has been ruined forever. The Golden Gate Yacht Club has decided to put in a piling for a new dock off their deck making getting into and out of my slip less appealling. This unannounced barge was a shock as I pulled up. They left me just enough wiggle room to sneak out the back, but if a boat decided to tie up to the guest dock, I'd be screwed. Time to see the harbormaster.

Hey, Those aren't my boot prints!

2010-08-16T12:50:00.001-07:00

Eric

Uncool, huh?

2010-08-16T12:49:00.001-07:00

Ok, Folks... Game on! Let the Season Begin!

2010-03-21T14:59:00.000-07:00

I was kickin' it on the boat yesterday reviewing my to do list, and it's extensive... little Annika, who is not so little anymore, was cruising around the boat playing with the extra bits of line, screw drivers and shot glasses I have stashed in the navigation table when I realized that it was only one week away until I do my annual pilgrimage to Svendsen's for the usual bottom paint, hull buff and a week or two of daily work to the boat to make her ship shape and ready roll for the first day of racing which is fast approaching. I haven't been all that excited about sailing since it's been winter, but the Spring keel regatta where I did race committee and the annual Spring meeting got me all fired up! I've been studying all the pictures of top performing boats and scouring them for those minute details that could be the difference between, what? ... a few tenths of a knot? Crazy, but I think about every detail over and over again. How can we improve performance this year? I ain't tellin'. But I am taking some tips from Christoph, tid bits I overheard from Paul Cayard and several other top sailors who may have had loose lips from all those drinks I fed them. Doesn't matter how you get your information, it's weather or not you can incorporate what you've learned into the routine and make it stick. Regardless, I have few tricks up my sleeve and I can't wait for those critical moments to try them out.
While I was having all these powerful thoughts, little Annika found the viking helmet and sword from behind the stern and created a very awesome photo opp. Yes, the Viking Princess has inspired me!

Spring Keel Regatta March 6-7, 2010

2010-03-07T17:02:00.000-08:00

The first regatta of the season began this last weekend and started off like so many mid-winter events do... in postponement. So, what do you do when you're not in the regatta, but doing race committee while you wait? Practice tying knots, review race rules and talk smack about Larry Ellison now finally having the opportunity to redeem himself as a quality human being now that he's reached the top. Hey, What was that sound?
Something is wrong with this picture.
Oh, Snap! The hoist broke and this big chunk of metal slammed down on some poor dude's deck punching a hole through it. It's OK... no Folkboats were harmed in this accident. But a Moore 24 will be entering a boatyard near you soon. I recommend Svendesen's, but I'm biased. Speaking of which... I didn't race because I haven't had the bottom cleaned since the last weekend of the series last season and well... we'd be slow. I'm hauling out at the end of the month to have maximum bottom, new sails, repair status at full strength with all kinds of new tricks I've been working on all winter when the season starts for real. This regatta didn't count, it was just another way us Cali folks can say ha ha ha to all our Northern European and Scandinavian friends. :)
Brocks all set to go. Had Terry and Kimmi and son rotating crew jobs this weekend.
Upper 50's, low 60's and light winds by our standards made that serious flood a navigable challenge.
Bill Madison lead at the first mark and all the home.

I got to learn how to set and retrieve marks from a PRO... Jeff Zarwell.
For regatta results follow this link. http://www.stfyc.com
Day 2 had only one race with wind at 20 knots Peter wins the race and the regatta on a tie breaker. That sneaky Peter Jeal did it again. Cheeky fellow I say.

Spring Keel Race 1 Weather rounding

2010-03-07T15:13:00.000-08:00

First races of the season are always good for getting the rust off and the bugs out and... backwinding your jib at the windward mark. Can't say I've never done this, but look who's leading... Bill Madison! Don't call it a come back, he's been here for years and again showing the fleet his stern. First to the windward mark and first over all at the end of the race.

Scotty is up to his ears in Folkboat Restoration Projects

2009-12-29T22:47:00.000-08:00

Scotty in Vancouver is at it again working on Trio, his beloved Nordic Folkboat. This is the same guy who bought Per Buch's sails in 2007... look up that story in my archives.
From Scotty: The boat is in my front yard. My cover is too low but whatever. The plan... Dynel over Okoume plywood decks, teak cabin sides, teak kingplank, Teak rubbing strake toe rail cockpit combing cap... wood stove, v birth, yellow cedar headliner for the cabin top. 26 new frames, recaulk the garboard and all along the stem and sternpost. One day we WILL sail to sanfrancisco though not to race... definately more of a cruising folkboat... I also increased the scantlings of the deckbeams so I no longer measure... but the deck is bombproof. A bit daunting right now as I had no idea things where as bad as they where but actually am glad because now I get to make it the way I want it.

Will send you more pics with the progress. Launch date. July 2010.

Good luck to you Scotty, We'll have the docklines ready when you arrive.

My Quest to be more like Christoph cont...

2009-12-29T22:24:00.001-08:00

It turned out OK, but remember I'm a hack woodworker and it was more to keep my crew from getting splinters in their bums. Although I have been striving to be more like Christoph on the race course, I should have titled this My Quest to be less like Christoph... When we were in Flensberg for the Gold Cup Mike and I were spying on Chiquita, we got caught and when Torben came down to thwart our efforts he stepped on this very same spot and snapped the wood. When they shipped the boat over for the SF Cup I couldn't help but notice how they had not fixed this yet... Come on Torben, must I show how to do everything?!

My Quest to be more like Christoph cont..

2009-12-29T22:14:00.001-08:00

A little epoxy... Any excuse to fix up a batch, that stuff is just fun. Some clamps and tape and let it sit.

My Quest to be more like Christoph cont.

2009-12-29T22:11:00.001-08:00

I rummaged through my father in law's wood scrap pile and found a few pieces that might work and shaped it to fit in the space I created, all with just a hacksaw, dremmel and sandpaper.

My Quest to be more like Christoph

2009-12-29T22:04:00.001-08:00

I see why they started making those solid teak 'old man seats'... They break. This one cracked earlier in the season and I warned everyone getting on the boat all year thinking I'll patch it up later... Then eager beaver Sean Svendsen gets down to the boat early during the SF Cup to put the sails on and steps right through it. I see how he does it now, he brakes your boat then has you come into his boatyard and charges you an arm and a leg to fix it. I'm kidding... Sean doesn't read my blog anyway. So, I sanded down the rough parts and went looking for teak scraps.

Ditte Goes For A Hike on Tamalpias

2009-11-22T19:09:00.000-08:00

Ditte came to SF and either wanted to sail on the bay or go for a hike. Coincidentally it was the first race of our annual Mid Winter Series which I never do. But if Ditte is coming and wants to sail, who am I to say no to crew like her? Or maybe I would just crew for her! Whatever. She brought a bottle of this mentholated infused vodka... wow. I think I have found what goes in my flask next time I go snowboarding. (I'm almost out already, anybody coming over wanna bring me a bottle of this? I'll take you sailing)
Just in time, my crew Kurt Hemmingsen has made me appreciate the finer things in life and perhaps a bit too often. This was needed as we often toasted a bullet with a shot... it was a very good season too.
Anyway, we decided to take a hike on Tam as we have already done the sailing thing on the bay before, but taking my friends who have never been up on our local hill is a real joy for me. So, we got out our hiking boots and took a 2 hour loop we know around the scenic Mt.Tamalpias. Good times, good times... we saw a coyote and the usual squirrel, birds and babbling brooks... pretty good weather for November, huh? It was in the mid 60's with a light breeze... two days earlier it was in the mid 70's! Gotta love Cali in the Fall.

After the hike we went down to the club to watch the last legs of the race. At first we were quite pleased with our decision... no wind and the ebb was beginning to suck the boats out the gate. But then the wind kicked in for the last 30 minutes of the race and the boats were able to finish. It would have been fun to go sail, but I think in the end we made the right call.... mid winter sailing here is possible, just not always very much fun. It's either an anchor drill until the tide changes or blowing like stink and stormy. I don't think I'll ever develop the patients for light wind sailing.

Have You Ever Questioned The Strength of Your Chainplates?

2009-11-22T18:40:00.000-08:00

Well, most people don't, but this year the subject reared it's ugly head again. Chris Herrmann is a competent sailor or this would have been a dismasting.
When you hear that "pang!" sound and you can't understand why the boat seems weird it's probably too late and down comes the mast. It's one of those things that most guys think, oh it'll never happen to me... but eventually it is coming for us all. So much stress and tension is put on this part of the boat it's no wonder they occasionally fail.
The repair ain't cheap either. To pay someone to do it would cost a fortune, to do it yourself and do it wrong would cost even more, so pay someone skilled the first time and be done with it... shouldn't happen a second time. This same thing happened to USA 102 and all Svendsen built boats are vulnerable to this failure. It was on my mind ever day I owned USA 105 and I've posted blogs concerning my Andreasen built boat too.
It seems to me that once the metal is bent it loses it's strength at that bent point... and this repair only allows for that failure point again. I hope I'm wrong, but if I were to design this, the metal would be straighter and a support with something like G-10 would be epoxied into place first to allow the metal to be bolted into place, then glassed over.
We'll see how long this one holds.

SFBFA Awards Dinner 2009

2009-11-22T14:10:00.001-08:00

Rick Wolf was a tremendous folkboat sailor whom the Wednesday evening series trophy is named. He brought the boat, USA 76, over in 1956 and raced her until his death aboard the boat. The boat was sold to Jerry Langkhammerer, then sold to Bill Madison. The boat is still active and took 2nd place in the single handed race... way to go Bill! The trophy came to be mine for one year when we won the series and I recieved it in less than polished condition.
It sat on the mantel in the condition I received it, but when the time came for me to bring it in I thought it deserved a little more respect. So I polished it up and brought it with me to the awards dinner to pass over to Dave Wilson who won the series on a tie breaker with Peter Jeal. Turns out the last race, had we not won it, Peter would have won the series. Hmmm... how do you choose the lesser of those two evils? Ok, they aren't evil, but we do seem to enjoy beating each other.
For most of the year I used the trophy as a candy bowl... I'm sure it's been used in other ways, but for me this seemed the most appropriate.
It was tough to give up... my dad started winning it in 1971, the year I was born and won it 6 straight years. He put sailing on hold for two years to build his own boat and won it again the next season 1979. In all, 13 times he won this series.
So far, I've got it once and I'm sure I'll win this one again. This year we had to settle for 3rd and 2nd place for the season. I did manage to win the single handed race again and a 2nd place at the SF Cup... all in all a good season.

SF Cup 2009 - the pictures and some of the stories

2009-11-04T19:42:00.000-08:00

Cassandra's photos:
http://sfcup2009.shutterfly.com/
Peter Lyons' photos
Race #1 and #2 - Race #5 - Race #7 -

Going into this regatta... I actually almost didn't want to enter it. The school year had started and I'd be missing three days of work in the 2nd week of school, not too cool. But, this is my sport, this is what I do and how could they not understand? I'd just tell them the truth and be OK with it. Nope, felt guilty the whole time. The kids I teach need stability, they need that presence everyday or they think you don't care, then the job gets really tough, like it wasn't tough enough before. I told the kids exactly what I was doing and many had no concept of sailing, let alone racing. They asked things such as... 'How do you start? Do the boats all line up on the start line, then go?' 'Do you get scared when the boat tips over?' 'How do you make the boat go without an engine?' ...Uh, right. When we have a few hours I'll get back to you all on those questions. But I told them I have a good chance of winning and I'd be back on Thursday and give them an update. I really didn't think they would care or remember why I wasn't there. Man, was I wrong.
The first two races went almost as I saw them in my dreams... Olympic Circle, Christoph leading, Wilson second and us third. And going into the regatta I felt like we were the 3rd best boat out there with a chance of winning the whole thing. The only difference in the first day results from my dreams was in the 2nd race when a bad leeward rounding by Wilson, a clearly boat end favored line and Tom Reed jr. changed everything. When Wilson went the wrong way and went really slow I felt like I had to capitalize right then and there thinking every point is going to matter in this regatta... so, I sat on him... hard, for probably too long. By the time we tacked and realized how skewed the finish line was it didn't matter. I was convinced we would be two, Wilson three and Christoph, well... gone and that I was battling Wilson for 2nd place in the regatta. Christoph was covering the two of us and somehow let Tommy in to win the race. Christoph got the two and we got the 3rd place, Wilson forth and we netted a double gain. We were 3rd around the leeward gate and third at the finish, no gain no loss. But Christoph got a 2 so we were one point closer to him and by putting Wilson in 4th (almost 5th or 6th, it was that close) we ended up tied with him for the day instead of two points behind. I won't go into the details, but Wilson wasn't happy with me when we got to the docks. But it was sound tactical racing and like I said, we were the 3rd best boat with a chance and this was a chink in the armor for both Christoph and Wilson... I'd do it again if I had to.
My favorite race was race 3... local knowledge was king on the city front and we needed it too. Medium winds, building Ebb on the shore, last of the flood outside in the middle of the bay. Was it too late to go out and chase it on the downwind? That was the guessing game at the windward mark. But leading up the windward mark on the first beat was my best move of the regatta. After a not so good start and being in about 6th maybe 7th on port approaching the lay line, I look around and notice all the boats ahead of us are Euro's and I did an insta-tack knowing they had no idea just how strong the ebb was actually pushing us up to the mark. Just like that we went to 3rd and really close behind the leaders. Christoph was ahead but going straight down wind directly into the current. We broke left and at the critical moment I restrained my urge to wave bye bye to Christoph (Torben really, as I really enjoy his competitive arrogance and we'd been... talking for some time even before the regatta). I still wasn't sure it was going to work out, but when I saw Tom Reed jr (with sr. on board) going the same hard line out to the current, I knew I had done the right thing. We were launched. Lead the whole way from then on and beat the 2nd place boat by 2:30... yes, we timed it. Two 3rd's and first?! We were so in this regatta and I really felt at that point we had a legit chance of winning the whole thing. The bummer of the story is Wilson. Lucky. Yeah, I said it. Lucky. HE was deep in that race, way back and on the second down wind went deep into shore and gambled. Got the wind pressure and went from damn near last to 3rd!
The next race, as so often was the case this year, Wilson had just that much more than us and beat us to the first crossing and the windward mark. He gained enough separation to not really be affected by us and was gone. Christoph was OCS, but then went home for the day? We were all baffled by this. With his skills, rocket ship of a boat and talented crew they could have salvaged a top 5 finish. The outside flood was gone at this point and hugging the shore was the next best strategy. Per Jorgensen was right on my ass all the way down the city front, we had no chance to break away, it was a parade. But we were 2nd and should have stayed there. At the leeward gate I made a gybe too early and let Per get past us. So, we ended up 3rd despite one of my own countrymen unnecessarily sitting on me for a bunch of the 2nd beat. Even with the screw up, it only cost one position and that would come back to haunt me later. Score at this point: Christoph 1,2,2,ocs. Wilson 2,4,3,1. Us 3,3,1,3.
Races #5 and #6 at Knox. I don't remember race #5, I just know we were 3rd, Wilson won and we held off Christoph. Race #6 I remember... the wind was fading at the leeward rounding and we were all bunching up. We had passed Per Jorgensen to take the lead and I was thinking right gate the whole way down. But Sean was adamant about left gate and I had him on board for just this type of moment where I needed to focus on making the boat go and for someone else to tell me what to do. It worked in that we stayed ahead of Christoph and Per Jorgensen who was becoming more and more of a threat, but Per Buch went right gate and beat us to the finish and not by much! Another point I'd love to have back because Wilson had a bad race and ended up 10th. Now things are interesting. We havent had a bad race and we have 15 point going into the last day no matter what we do on the course. With a throw out coming the worst we do is a 3rd. Wilson and Christoph don't have this luxury going into the last race, but the points are so close... here's how it broke down; We were tied with Christoph and if we were in the top 5 we had to be ahead of him to the finish. If we could sucker Wilson into 4th place or higher we'd win the regatta. Or if we were 1st, Wilson would have to be 3rd or he's win on all the possible tie breakers. That 2 I gave up to Per really hurt and the 1st I gave up to the other Per really, really hurt. Well, none of that mattered because we had a bad start, my fault. I was fighting for the boat end and so was everyone else. I should have been farther down the line like Brock who got launched and was leading the race for much of it. The race happened and we salvaged 4th place at the 2nd windward mark. Wilson had passed Christoph by staying high and doing the old Banana line to the gate (better pressure and on the last third of the run the current swings you down to the mark... local knowledge on the bay, nice move Wilson). The kicker to all this is the last leeward rounding. Right gate is favored and as Brock makes his rounding and punches up hard to protect, Christoph rides up his stern and hits him, then hits the mark! I can't believe my eyes. I had all but given up at this point and now we just have to sail clean while he does his turns and we get 3rd in the race and 2nd for the regatta. For some reason Brock goes left and when we cross at the finish line we nipped him by a hair to get 2nd in the race. But a mute point as one point at this point doesn't matter. Wilson wins by 2 points and earned it. I sailed the best I could with a two year old jib and that's how it ended.
When I got back to work every time I'd turn around I'd get asked by one of my students, How'd you do? I had to tell them 2nd place and they actually showed empathy... although one kid made mention that I was the first loser.
My sailing goals have not changed, I still want my name on all the trophies my father has his on and with that 2nd place I did something he had not. His best finish in the SF Cup was 3rd, so notch that one on the belt and keep on working toward that ever elusive season championship... then I can rest.
The 2009 SF CUP Results: http://cyc.org/race/results/folkboatstandings.html

Meet George in USA 116 - Emma

2009-11-02T20:29:00.000-08:00

The weather has been... awesome! 70+ degrees in the city and not super windy and it's November! So, me and the girls headed down to the boat to soak in what could be the last of the great weather. As we sat and enjoyed the tranquility, blazing around the point comes George in USA 116.
The very northerly wind made starboard the fun tack coming up the harbor and George made it look like he'd been doing it for years.
George just took over 116 and has been putting some serious time into her and it really shows.
He's all signed up for the midwinters and has crew too? He may be better than I thought and definitely the right guy for this boat.
He claimed to be, "whipping his crew into shape" for the first midwinter race coming up this next weekend. I had him out on my boat for the last races of the season on Oct 17th... hope I didn't give away too many secrets.

Getting into the slip without an engine? No problem. Again, George makes it look like he's been doing this for years... I'm officially not worried about this guy any more.

My dream of 20 boats on the line just got one closer.... sweet.

Dude, Where's My Rudder?

2009-10-30T20:57:00.000-07:00

Per and Christoph's boats were splashed and ready for transport to the regatta site and the German team of Robert, Micheal and Werner volunteered to help move boats. Originally I was going to sail Per's boat, Micheal would meet us, then drive us to SF so we could take my boat over in the same day... yes, a long day of sailing but with friends and I'm sure drinks galore.
Torben, being the resourceful professional that he is, arranged with Tom Reed to borrow his skif and tow Chiquita. Right place, right time = two Germans in Per's boat tag along for the ride while Micheal and I head back to SF and take my boat over, hopefully meeting everyone at the same place same time. As they were getting ready to tow the boats I said to Micheal, "10 bucks Chiquita is second in line in this tow."
All is going well, we arrive at the Corinthian in good time, a reach across the bay is always a quick ride... We pull up, dock the boat and someone says, "Did you see Per's rudder?" I look at the stern and blink twice... Dude, where's Per's rudder? It's on the dock. Why? WTF happened? At first I thought the whole rudder was gone which would have really sucked, because spare rudders that fit Andreasen built boats are hard to come by and making a new one or even fitting one takes serious time and is way easier with the boat out of the water... but, it was laying on the dock. How bad was the damage?
Tow lines carry a tremendous amount of pressure and somehow this one snapped the rudder head clean off, tiller and extension included... and they don't float apparently. This is bad. Per is trusting me to have his boat delivered and I left one thing out of my hands and sure enough.... ok, how can we fix this? I am forever greatful to Fred Andersen and Tom Reed sr. They took the rudder back to Tom's shop and "had fun fixin' stuff". They took two very large pieces of heavy wood and slapped them on. I'm sure it could have been shaved down a bit, but I'm sure the thinking was... no make it strong! So what if there is way too much weight in the back of this boat now! ... yes, it makes a difference.
OK, great. The rudder is on, now what? Well, I'm no dummy and I stock pile parts for just such and emergency. I ordered a new tiller from Erik Andreasen and had it shipped in Per's boat with a few other parts, but I'm not putting that new tiller on Per's boat. My old tiller on Josephine just got donated. But I made the tiller extension from a friend's ski pole. I'm not giving that up. Bill DuMoulin walks by as the discussion happens and offers up an old extension he had replaced and never liked. That was easy. Problem solved, moving on.

Lesson learned... be the last boat in the tow line whenever possible and if you have to me in the middle, manage the boat yourself and take no chances. A $500 repair and no money was exchanged, I love this fleet.

Ok, I took a break from the blog thing...

2009-10-30T20:49:00.000-07:00

... I'm back. Hard to believe we won the race from the picture above, that's probably going to be my favorite story.

Over the next few days I'll make the posts I should have made before, during and after the SF Cup.

I've been real busy, but now that the racing is over, Fall is here and time to hibernate a bit, sip some Gammel Dansk and write some.

Rødhaette is Unloaded

2009-08-31T08:37:00.000-07:00

Arrived a little late, but in time to get her ready for the SF Cup.
This time the wood was nailed in and laced with this gnarley Danish grease.

Oh.... so that's how you are supposed to do it. I love the drawing!
This sexy shot appeared from the back of the container... I snuck in and looked around to see how these boats are actually "tied down".
Opps, a broken spreader... we'll get that fixed ASAP.
Ok, put a rope here and there, unstuck a couple pieces of wood....
... and drag her on out, slowly. See Video for details.

Safe and sound in her cradle... we'll do a little work to the keel, got a bit scratched up in the unloading.

Decided to try this video thing...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-CZAYO5y_Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2UoPF12Uqo

... sorry to use same song twice. Couldn't figure out how to add 2nd song.

Is Mine Bigger Than Yours?

2009-08-27T21:09:00.000-07:00

The pole on the right is the John Mast pole that came with the boat. The one in the middle is one my father made and called his "high performance pole." I guess it's not the size of the pole, but the magic in it? And the one on the left in Wilson's big assed pole. Dave had joked about his pole being bigger than mine a little while back, but I didn't give too much thought... until now.

In the second race last Sunday, Wilson's crew dropped their pole in the water just in front of us before the leeward mark rounding. I saw it, hiked out over the side, snagged it and said, "Hey guys, I'm gonna need a little help with this." Patrick was stunned... said something to affect of 'Where did you get that?"

As I lifted it out of the water, one handed, it seemed to never end. And as it came to the surface it got really heavy too. I began thinking... was this the Wilson's big downwind secret? Did I just happen to stumble upon it? Now you'd think after seeing the boat behind you pick up your pole in 25 + knots that you might... oops blow the jib sheet and make it look like a mistake that you got passed. Seems like the nice thing to do, right? No such luck. Wilsons' covered us the whole way back to the finish line. Too bad there wasn't another lap around...
... then got to thinking, are there any class rules about the length of your pole? There is in the Knarr fleet which is what raised our suspicions. Turns out there is no length maximum and unfortunately... it's legal. Sure would make the final results of the season better for me.

The Wilson family are a class act. At last night's final Wednesday Evening race of the season, Don was gracious enough to bring over a very nice bottle of wine as a thank you...

Anytime Don... those things are expensive and I'm sure you'd do the same for me.

The Kid's Got Good Taste... and Talent Too!

2009-08-17T10:23:00.000-07:00

Dear Chris,

We were in San Francisco July 18th. My Friend was visiting from North Carolina. He is a part-time professional photographer. He took some amazing photo's of you guys which he will send along to you. We had no idea who you were. Just watching you guys sailing along from the shoreline at Marina Green. My son John is an artist. He is 10 years old. My friend sent along to us the photo's of you guys sailing. They were so impressive that my son John had to paint one of them. My son John is very well known globally as a young artist and receives comments from around the world on a daily basis for artwork that he does. He posted his painting ( originally called "Sailing" ) on his Flickr Gallery ( You can see his work by simply googling Artist John Woolley 4th grade. That will take you to his Gallery or you can click below ). After he posted the painting a guy from Europe saw it and commented on the fact that the boat was a Nordic Folk Boat. Well, out of interest I looked up Nordic Folk Boats. After some brief research I found NFIA and some other sites and pics and low and behold, there was your boat. My friends pictures are so incredible of your boat, better than every other picture I saw on the internet. At least in my opinion. He is very good. You will like them. Below though, enjoy my son John's painting of you guys out in the Bay July 18th sometime after 2pm. It's certainly a small world. Please confirm that you received this email. You have one beautiful boat Chris. Really beautiful. My son would be more than happy to send you a print of his painting if you would like one. I am sure my friend will be happy to send you a copy of his photos also. Best Regards, Dave Woolley for John Woolley

http://www.flickr.com/photos/backyardjournals/