measurements

I am bidding on a big job. This is fun, I get to think about fabric, bolt rope, hardware, what kind of sailing and what kind of boat this big job will be.

Not so fun.....measuring. Measuring bad. I have screwed up. Twice. I do feel that in 23+ years that isn't bad but still so humiliating. Once with someone who swore they could give me good measurements, but would never discuss tack angles. Yuck. Once the owner told me the sailplan hadn't changed. The damn boat was right there, but I believed him. MY FAULT should have measured regardless.

The bottom line. If your sailmaker is local have them measure the boat. If not, hire a rigger or fly them to the boat. It will be worth it, they could find all kind of things you wouldn't have thought to tell them. Like that funky gooseneck you have. If you provide measurements be ready for a recut.

Fairwinds and Following Seas,
Heidi

This week I am thinking about gaff sails. I have a customer who was wondering if lashing, hoops or slides were better for his gaff main and mizzen. Good question.

Slides are tough because they keep the sail very close to the mast and I have found that the throat will then need to be fiddled with(making the slide farther from the mast) and sometimes this is true with the tack as well.

Lashing can fall on itself and tangle. Its cheap and easy to install, but often a pain when in regular use.

My favorite! HOOPS! They are expensive. They break. You may still may have to fiddle with them, but less likely to. When using hoops put a couple of extras on the mast to sit at the gooseneck to have if one ever breaks. I haven't had one break on my 11 year old gaff cutter. Now one will.

Fairwinds and following seas!
Heidi

Picton Castle

Very sad news for the family of the 25 year old woman who was lost overboard the Picton Castle. The ship was southeast of Cape Cod. A freak wave washed over the deck. Being in the Gulf Stream the hope of survival is longer.

The Picton Castle is a wonderful ship, an able ship and I know that they have put their all into finding this young woman. The ship and the coast guard are searching.

My prayers are with her and her family.

Maritime Heritage Center Plans in Michigan

Bay City Michigan may get a maritime museum a la Mystic Seaport. Today's Bay City Times reports on the concept as presented to city commissioners.

Bay City may anchor its vacant Uptown at RiversEdge site with a Maritime Heritage Center that builds on the success of recent tall ships festivals held here.

Supporters of the idea include officials from Bay City, Dow Corning Corp., the Bay Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and Bay Future, a local public-private economic development group.

The proponents presented their concept, patterned after an attraction at Mystic Seaport, Conn., to city commissioners at a Finance and Policy Committee meeting on Monday.

Uptown at RiversEdge site could harbor a Maritime Heritage Center

Related Tags: tall, ship, maritime, museum

Lady Washington Leaving Monterey

Heidi --- I just saw this article this evening. The tall ship Lady Washington was a big hit in Monterey; nice photo of her sailing in.

Dear readers, Heidi is very reticent to blow her own horn, but I'm not shy. I want to goad her into telling us more about the Lady. Heidi is intimately acquainted with the Lady, having made many of her sails.

Hundreds of young children tromped across its decks during the past two weeks. Tourists snapped countless photos of its billowing sails. Now, the Lady Washington is sailing away. The historic tall ship is scheduled to leave Monterey Harbor early today after making its annual stop at Fisherman's Wharf. It was docked in Monterey since Nov. 16, during a voyage from Alaska to San Diego. The ship has appeared in the films "Pirates of the Caribbean -- Curse of the Black Pearl" and "Star Trek -- Generations," but it is employed most of the time for educational programs.

Monterey County Herald | 11/28/2006 | THE LADY MAKES A BIG IMPRESSION

Heidi, tell us about the Lady Washington's sails!

KW Kerr

Related Tags: tall, ship, square, sail, rigger, Lady, Washington

Running Rigging

Yuck! I am washing the running rigging for my gaff cutter. This is all 3 strand Dacron line. Everything is dingy, salty and stiff. What I do is soak the line in Ivory snow and then dry in the sun.

As each piece of line is dried I will end for end it and resplice. You can get alot of life from your running rigging this way and it is safer.

This is a thankless job, but someone has to do it.

Fair Winds and Following Seas,
Heidi

Related Tags: sailmaker, sailmaking, rigging, rope, splice

Thanks

It is Thanksgiving morning. I am thankful this morning, I don't have to go to the sail loft. My family and friends are mostly healthy and happy, we are warm and dry.

What are you thankful for?