The Don't Call it Breezy Point for Nothing!

Had a very educational sail this weekend. As the winds were gusting at around 25, we ran with the storm jib, and got an excellent lesson in leeway as we tried to pass a rock reef (eventually had to wear around and make another pass.) Practiced shifting the crew's weight around during strong gusts. By hiking over the edge of the boat, I was able to shift the weight enough to even it out and take a lot of the strain off the tiller.

With its island and rock reefs, Pelican Lake really is a great lake to learn sailing, and particularly to learn piloting (the art of navigating obstacles and shallows.) We would not be learning as much about piloting on a "blue water sailing" sort of lake like Mille Lacs, though we'd likely have to content with heavier winds and taller waves.

High Winds

Well, not really high. Likely around 8-11 mph steady with gusts of up to 20 Saturday. Reefed the main and gave the storm jib a try. Gave a very interesting look to the Springtide as it's not really a jib at all, but more of a small trysail with about 1/4 the regular jib's power. Made managing the boat through the gusts possible if not entirely comfortable. Returned to port with a rather sore tiller arm.

One of the Few Saturdays we've Gotten out this Year

Amazed at Amanda's sailing ability. Though nervous at first, she motored out, took the helm once I raised the sails, steered a close-hauled course around the Western edge of Gooseberry Island, and ran us back in with the wind on her quarter as the thunderheads rolled in. Docked for the first time with no problem.

Saw numerous seagulls, three or four loons, and several terns.

Beautiful day for a sail

Wind was mostly abeam (falling on the side of the ship; what they used to call a soldier's tack,) all the way to Gooseberry, falling slightly on the corner just as we rounded its rocky Eastern edge. Spotted two loons, countless seagulls, and a Bald Eagle being chased by what appeard to be a small flock of blackbirds.

Though there were magnificent storms almost all day Saturday, today the weather was mostly sunny with a few white cumulus ruminating across the sky like fat white heifers.

The Stopper Knot

A simple, attractive knot useful anywhere you don't want a rope to slip through a cleat or eyelet.

There are a variety of ways to tie it. Here's a good, illustrated one.

A bowline knot, secured with an overhand knot.

Winging It

Goosewinging it (please ignore the unflemished bowline on deck)

First time we've ever gotten the Springtide to run goosewinged for any period of time (5-10 minutes before the wind shifted and we got an accidental jibe). They call it 'goosewinged' because the jib hangs off one side of the vessel and the main over the other, makes the sails (in some historical sailor's opinion) look like the wings of a goose coming in for a landing.

Why would you want to goosewing? Well, compare your average fore-and-aft rigged vessel (your average sailboat) to your old-timey square-rigger (think Master and Commander or Pirates of the Carribean). The purpose of your standard square-rigger's rectangular sails was to harness the pushing power of the wind. The purpose of your fore-and-aft rigged triangular sail is to generate lift (like a wing), pulling you along the water. This gives fore-and-aft riggers the power to sail close to (into) the wind.

Think of it like a knife (meant to cut) compared to a ladel (meant to scoop.)

While the fore-and-aft rigger (most square-riggers carried at least some triangular sails), can sail into the wind, the moment you head downwind you abandon wind-generated lift for wind-generated push, something triangles don't harness quite as well as square sails do. This is especially difficult as the mainsail generally blocks at least some of the wind from the jib.

This is where goosewinging comes in. By pushing one sail off the starboard beam and another off the larboard, you maximize the available sail area, helping the boat run a bit more smoothly downwind. Best thing you can do downwind unless you have a spinnaker (large jib-like sail) on hand.

Hot and humid this weekend. Loads of threatening clouds, but not a drop of rain this morning. Flocks of Canadian Geese seen on the lake, along with a few Cormorants.