6/30/08 wsurf duralite 6.2 Noank, Ct.

[chipr]

I guess I must be an old throwback sort of guy, since I started my season on an old Wind Surfer Duralite
with the standard 6.5 sail, today. The blue noodle mast flexed swell when I pumped it with the rubber
coated alu booms across some powerboat chop outside the channel and rode it out to Ram Island before
the duck louie jibe back toward shore. I had to tighten that nifty twin side outhaul as everything
stretched a little after being in the salty again. Man, kneeling on the deck and pumping the mast and
boom really gives one the sense of being right on the water.
I've sailed the last two Wednesday Nite," Mystic River Mudheads.org" beer can races on a Martin 234, an
open stern with retractable outriggers mounted with foot straps for four. The carbon rig has deck
mounted stainless 1/4 supports for this stayed carbon sail and rig and wow it is a hoot to sail.
I got to drive both races and flipping the twelve foot long hiking stick away and running for the other
sides helm takes a little getting used to. I made sure to never dip the outriggers in but trying to keep
a rig like this under the assymetrical chute can be a challenge.
We finished the first week just as a huge T-cell formed onshore and came barreling at us boiling lofty
menacing purple clouds whose edges were fringed with snapping lightning bolts that sounded eerily
closer and closer. The breeze piped up from the 10-15 kts. to a snarly 25 with roiling seas rolling right
through our open transom, the hair on the back of my neck started to tingle as the lightening neared
and the breeze grew gusty. As we passed the turning bouy at the harbor entrance I hollered that
it was time to head up and douse the sails. Once secure I swung her off the wind and put the
hammer down on the outboard heading for the mooring outside the breakwater at Enders Island.
Just as we spun for the mooring pennant, the heavens released the torrential rain that finally caught
and drenched us in it's cleansing and cooling wetness. Hope to see you on the water back there around
the 17th, I may get to drive my first Sheilds in match races next week after the beer can races.
Carvon
Chipr

[Ralph Morrison]

Sounds like you had a good time. I still enjoy sailing on the occasions I get to do it. Especially on the salty. Was it the scare from the lightning or just sailing around Mystic that made your vocabulary go all flowerey like that? One other question, when you said you 'made sure to never dip the outriggers in', were you still talking about sailing?

[chipr]

Sorry about the delay on the reply, way busy
in the village of Noank. Weather, long board simplicity
and home waters were the impetus for the "Flowery"
tone of my missive.
The Martin 234 has 2 hiking platforms
with foot straps and netting that slide out of the center hull
on stainless track. They project about 4 feet off the outer
rail of the hull and are only 3 feet above the waterline.
The issues that this creates are turning too fast and hard
and heeling beyond about 40 degrees which stalls the hull
and causes her to head up. This boat can even capsize
due to the sail power and swell, one just frees the main sheet
and hoops on the bulb keel and she straightens up.
All in all, a fine trip home with lots of long boarding,
back porch hanging out and small boat sailing.