(see photo here - http://arwenberg.com/artwork/355435.html)

This is from an email I sent to friends and family immediately following the Ottawa Skiff Grand Prix earlier in 2008. But I think it really captures my feelings about the I14, plus a fun event, so I am posting it here. Plus, this blog was looking pretty neglected (understatement.) So enjoy!


(June 8, 2008) So I had a pretty eventful weekend of sailing. Normally this regatta (Ottawa Skiff Grand Prix) is light air, but not this weekend. Yesterday it peaked at 28 knots gusting to 33. We were super keen. But about 2 min after the first start, we broke our mast. Right at the gooseneck where the lower shrouds attach. We had been going upwind, and i just pulled in on the mainsheet, and kkkkrrunch. Carbon fibre breaking is not a nice sound. Brent and i both fell backwards off our trapezes of course, but managed to scramble through the water back to the boat. There was lots of 'sailor talk' (i.e. swearing) going on, as it was such a dissappointment. But we got everything together and kind of sorted out, and finally a safety boat came over to tow us in. It took us a long time to get in, as there was a lot of other carnage on the water.

There were a few single handers (from a different fleet) having a really hard time, so we actually tied to a navigation buoy for a while, while our towboat went and helped a single hander (no rudder) first.

We were so disappointed, because you don't get wind like this very often, and we were so enjoying the sailing and the regatta. So we were thinking about how to repair the thing, and there was talk of carbon fibre and epoxy repairs, sleeves, etc. None of which are anything i was looking forward to doing or even assisting on. Until another boat from ottawa mentioned that he had a mast that was just like the one we broke, at home. Well then! So we (Brent actually) bought it from him, and away we go. But it is not like a laser, where you just plonk the thing in and go, because they call the International 14's a 'development fleet '.

Now, you must understand, that Development Fleet is code for "a-bunch-of-engineers-who-love-to-mess around-with-blocks-and-lines-and stainless and rivets-and-carbon fibre." So on this boat, there are three sets of shrouds, all with spectra high ratio purchase systems for adjustments, plus the spinnaker, jib and main halyards. Also we had a different boom vang system than the boat the new-to-us mast came from. I don't put myself in the engineer group(my standard line is 'i just drive'), but if we were going to be ready for today, i had to pitch in. So between rounds of Mount Gay, we slowly got the thing set up, we were done by about 11 last night. But it was good to go, and we got to go out sailing today.

Once you get a new mast, there's a lot of tuning that has to happen, and we didn't have much time for that. So we didn't do very well, but we had a super good time. (Great thing about these boats, you can be in last place but you are still having a great time (usually)). The wind piped up again, and we were often way overpowered. but it wasn't as much as yesterday, and it was up and down, so it was more manageable. There were still a few screaming reaches, which were just amazing. I am smiling just thinking about it.

I have to explain the feeling of sailing these boats on a reach. The reaches turn on almost like a switch. You get the spinnaker up while heading deep downwind, and then when you're ready, you head up, sheet in, and BOOM - lift off. It's as if you are driving the boat into the outside edge of, say, a giant magic energy cookie. You just want to take a little piece of it and be on your way. Not too much, or you'll go insane. But just a little piece.

Having caught a piece of that energy, you bear away as the boat starts to plane. The crew or both of you go out on the wire, right at the back quarter of the boat, and the boat literally 'takes off'. Suddenly you are flying, and laughing. And hoping that you don't wipe out. It's surprisingly not very wet, as you're up and away from the spray. And the tiller is very light. At one point i had my hand open on the extension, and the boat was perfectly balanced - we were going about 12 knots and i wasn't steering at all. It was a downwind finish, and i must say it is an unbelievable feeling to zoom by the committee boat going 13 knots in a boat that's only 14 feet long. Any pictures that come from that finish will show me with a huge, silly, grin. Anyway we got in at about 2:30 and it wasn't too much of a scramble to get me to the train station for 5, and i am on the train now. won't get into london until late tonight. And i have a ton of work to do, urgently, to be ready for the conference, plus other things (another proposal) i have due this week, and will probably be up a lot of tonight. But it was so worth it.

Kisses, Tracy.

Historic small craft make waves in Abacos

It is no surprise that Bahamas' Abaco Islands provide the perfect conditions for a hot Christmas holiday. Beautiful beaches, friendly people, and an excellent rum punch.

Now before you punish me by spamming my inbox, know that I was actually working on your behalf. Oh yes! As I sipped my drink and watched the sun setting gently down behind diamond encrusted waters, I was looking around for other reasons why you, should visit this place. One can only take so much of the sand and sun.

Fortunately, the richness of small sailing craft here is truly remarkable. There are many intriguing designs, once you can see past the triple decker sport fish boats. Here are just three that I saw in just 9 days in the Abacos. I'm certain there are many more.

Abaco Dinghies, built by Winer Malone

This boat pulled up to a long shallow beach where we had stopped to search for shells. It is one of the last made by Mr. Winer Malone, a well-known boat builder from nearby Hope Town on Elbow Cay. He builds these coveted boats without power tools of any sort, entirely by hand, in the traditional manner. Sadly, he is no longer taking orders for these boats, which makes this one even more special.

Mr. Malone's work sails around the Abacos, but designs and models can also be seen in detail in the Wyannie Malone Museum in Hope Town.





The Bahamian Racing Sloop
Abaco RAGE is a high-powered Bahamian racing vessel, geared to win the annual National Family Island Regatta, which is THE major Bahamian sporting event held in George Town, Exuma, each April.

Here again, tradition is King. Says one website "Strict rules govern the races. Competing boats must be designed, built, owned, skippered and primarily crewed by Bahamians. Overall length must be 28 feet, three inches or less. Sails must be canvas with a single mast. Hull and mast must be wood. No vertical transoms. No bowsprits. No spreaders or aluminum spars. No winches. No wind or speed instruments or tell-tales. No bending masts."

The Rage holds a crew of 9 minimum and 15 maximum. Drawing 4.5ft. and carrying a mast of 60 ft. and boom of 34ft. long, she cruises along at high speeds with up to 1000lbs of extra weight.

The boats start from anchored, raising their massive mainsail at the gun. While sailing upwind or reaching, the crew are perched out on heavy "Pry boards" to help the vessel counter the heeling force of its massive sail area. At each tack five or more crew must slide into the middle of the boat, pull in the pry board from one side, push it out the other side, and wedge it into the new lee side. All this while the huge main is flogging just overhead. Yikes.


Herreshoff BONUS!
During a fun regatta on December 26th I got an extra treat - to race alongside Louise, a Herreshoff designed Buzzards Bay 25, designed in 1914 and launched in 2002. This boat is not designed or even built in the Bahamas, but it doesn't matter when you see her rip up the race course. The legendary Herreshoff brothers designed and built sleek and fast racers for the elite of their day, and the designs live on. For me seeing a Herreshoff design is like seeing royalty - and it has nothing to do with who is holding the tiller.

Pleased to report that Louise placed in the medals (2nd or 3rd) for this race, being very well sailed in the medium-light conditions.

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Sitting back, I thought about how each board in these wooden boats was shaped and secured with the careful hand of a knowing craftsman. As they grace the waters around the Bahamas, it is as if the very wood itself is steeped in rich history.

Which got me to thinking about my own need to steep....
Shall it be another Rum Punch or a Piña Colada this time?
So difficult to choose....

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Further Reading, beyond links embedded in the text:

"Bahamian Sailing Craft " by William R. Johnson Jr , published by White Sound Press, first print 1973, reprinted 2000.

"Winer Malone and the Abaco Dinghy" as told to Edward Collins. Copyright 2005.

For more on the Regatta, visit page 45 of http://www.southwindssailing.com/pdfs/southwindsoctober2006.pdf


Many thanks to Summer Tilt, the Wabi Sabi 'Leftovers' , and the Hope Town Sailing Club.