Guitar Surf

Changeup

Posted on 3 August 2009 | No responses

Been sailing on other boats for the last two weeks because Taylor has been out of town (his son got married in Hawaii). So I raced with Harry Krum (Fusee, Beneteau 38) in two Wet Wednesday races and with Mark Coleman (Wainui, Cal 48) in the Frenchy’s Rum Run. All races were fun; it’s great to sail with different people on different boats

Stuff in general

Posted on 26 July 2009 | No responses

Here it is almost August and I realize I need to post an update. I bought a new MacBook Pro which is taking some of my time to play with. The Apple store was able to “migrate” all of the data from my old MacBook, saving me hours of recovery work. The new computer is really cool.

The surf has been o.k. but nothing special due to shape problems. Most of the swells have been wind-driven, therefore bumpy. Right now there is a good-sized south swell running, but the shape is still lacking. Crowded conditions at Ventura Point.
Yesterday was the PCYC regatta #3. Maine Squeeze did well but Funatic, Angry Hillbillies and Perfect Balance were the boats that accepted the trophies that day.

July 11th was the Milt Ingram (no relationship). On this one I sailed with Fusee because Maine Squeeze was on a cruise to Catalina. Of course, the Wet Wednesdays continue.
Friend Dave Lochridge’s band played at CIYC on the 12th. They were really good and the audience loved their music.

Women like my iPhone

Posted on 9 July 2009 | No responses

Last night, after Wet Wednesday, I went to Channel Islands YC for a drink. I pulled out my iPhone and this is what happened! The women were dying to get their pictures taken. Actually, two of them have their own iPhones. Danica, Sandra, Nanette and Bunni, thanks!

Posted on 28 June 2009 | No responses

Been sailing on other boats for the last two weeks because Taylor has been out of town (his son got married in Hawaii). So I raced with Harry Krum (Fusee, Beneteau 38) in two Wet Wednesday races and with Mark Coleman (Wainui, Cal 48) in the Frenchy’s Rum Run. All races were fun; it’s great to sail with different people on different boats.
I’ve been having fun on my “new” board (9′4″ Becker), riding at Harbor and Stables. The waves have been fun lately, nothing big, but fair shape and good conditions. I changed the fin and then moved it back to accommodate my turning style.

Governor’s Cup

Posted on 15 June 2009 | No responses

Maine Squeeze sailed and received a third place trophy in VYC’s Governor’s Cup on Saturday in light conditions. Racing were the captain and admiral plus Dave T. Doug and Kaylin.
I’m waiting for some good waves so I can see how my “new” board works. I put a bigger fin on it and moved it forward.

Racing Update

Posted on 31 May 2009 | No responses

Since my last post the Wet Wednesday races have gotten into full swing, with three races completed. The first scheduled race on May 6 was called off because of sloppy conditions left over from a 4 day blow and small craft warnings. The next three races were held in more benign conditions. Maine Squeeze has consistently finished in the top three of the spinnaker A class. These races are always fun and short. The only problem is that the series is sponsored by the Anacapa Yacht Club, which has no home right now. The result is that the party after the race is held at the Lobster Trap restaurant. The atmosphere there is too stuffy.
Yesterday the Squeeze sailed the Around Anacapa race in great conditions; 10-15 knots of wind all day and small seas. Our average speed was 7 knots as we finished the course in around four hours. Taylor called for the number three jib at the start and we held that until we set the spinnaker after we reached the west end of the island. We ran with that same sail to the breakwater at Channel Islands Harbor, then set a bigger number one headsail which carried us to the finish. The party was at Channel Islands YC where I got these pictures:

Tallship Sailing

Posted on 23 May 2009 | No responses

It’ a May 23rd, and a warm sunny day. The schooner Bill of Rights will sail today and I will be on deck. IslandPackers is handling the passenger list and that means it’s free! At this moment I am waiting at a local dockside establishment and drinking vitamin C, the kind from Mexico.

After boarding passengers were given the safety instructions and were told they could help sail the boat or just relax. Guess which option I chose?

The schooner is gaff rigged, meaning the fore and main masts have a spar on the top of the sail as well as one on the bottom (boom).
As we motored slowly out of the harbor, I took pictures of some of the rigging and equipment.

The mainsail, foresail, staysail, jibtop and yankee were set in that order, and it took quite a while to get everything up and flying. The sails are old and heavy, requiring at least three strong people to hoist.
We sailed on a port tack toward Ventura. Even though there was 10-12 knots of breeze, the ship seemed slow (probably due to improper trim). Then we tacked over to the other board, which took about 3 minutes. Now on a beam reach, the ship was definately not trimmed because the sails were still close hauled (trimmed in too far). When we reached Hueneme, the skipper called for another tack but didn’t have enough speed and went into irons (the boat can’t complete the tacking maneuver), so he called for the main to be backed (pushed toward the wind), then build speed and completed the tack.

The136 ft. Bill of Rights was built at the Harvey Gamage Yard in South Bristol, ME in 1971. She is a passenger vessel and currently looking for volunteers to help with maintenance and crewing.

Sacred Boards

Posted on 18 May 2009 | No responses

Leigh and I went to this surfboard tradeshow on May 17. Dave Royster put us on to it. There were hundred of new and collectible boards of all shapes and sizes. Longboards of traditional designs, made of balsa wood, were displayed with short wave rockets fashioned of epoxy.

Wet suits, fins and other gear were also shown.

There were seminars on design, shape and decoration. Attendees watched as Jerry Lopez shaped a board in a mock up shaping room.

Leigh wants a new Robert August. Who doesn’t?

San Diego Yachting Cup

Posted on 17 May 2009 | No responses

Maine Squeeze is at the San Diego Yacht Club for the Yachting Cup Regatta May 2 and 3. Updates will be posted as events unfold.

UPDATE

After three races ok Saturday, the Squeeze is 7-7-6. Stategem broke a shroud in the last race and had to DNF. The conditions were almost perfect, with winds in the 8-15 knot range and little swell. A NW current did figure into the navigation as did the abundent kelp.
The crew sailed Maine Squeeze very well and made no big errors, but the competetion made better sail choices and had more experience with regatta racing.

On Sunday we had a little more wind, but the results were the same. Our crew didn’t attend the awards ceremony, and most of the crew wanted to get back home, so they left. Mike and I went to Miguel’s Mexican Restaurant for some yummy food, then turned in early because we wanted to leave early for the delivery back to Channel Islands. After getting underway at 4 a.m., we set a course for Catalina, which we reached at 4 p.m.. We got fuel and had a burger before continuing on to Two Harbors. We stayed there the next day due to gale force conditions and left at 3:30 a.m. for Channel Islands Harbor, reaching it after a bumpy ride across the channel in 9 1/2 hours.

Ensenada

Posted on 17 May 2009 | No responses

After an uneventful trip down to Newport Beach, Taylor, Warns, Doug and I left Maine Squeeze on a mooring while we had great and inexpensive burgers at Newport Landing. The next day we transfered the Squeeze, 5150 and Moonshadow to the guest dock at BYC. Ernie came up from Oceanside for a visit; later Fusee showed up with Harry, Larry and Randy. Our crew joined them for dinner at BCYC, then drinks and jokes on Fusee.

Maine Squeeze sailed the 125 mile course in 19 hours and 27 minutes to be the first Schock 35 to finish and win a second place trophy in PHRF E class. Skipper Mike Taylor sparked the crew to top performance during his fastest “tequila derby” yet. Admiral Cherri experienced her first Ensenada Race, driving, trimming and feeding the crew. Bill Brayton also steered and trimmed Maine Squeeze to max performance while Tina Roberson kept the “strings” in perfect tune. Foredeck man Bruce McKenzie was in top form especially during sail hoists, douses and spinnaker tubes, and Curt Ingram played the sail controls like a fine guitar. The crew enjoys victory! Mike with the Schock 35 perpetual trophy

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