3M Scotchloks, is my Love so Wrong?
Some ideas on dealing with the very small gauge wires that are used on many new electronics. From Ben at Panbo. In October I promised to eventually discuss the 3M Scotchlok IDC connectors I used to tap into Gizmo's engine gauge wires in order to install an Actisense EMU-1 Engine Monitoring Unit. Given that two experienced commenters already strongly dismissed these connectors for boat use, I did more research and testing. Tentative conclusion: while 3M does indeed state that Scotchloks like those tiny UY butt connectors above are meant only for 22-26 gauge solid copper conducter wires, they still seem like [...]
Heavy Air Racing Techniques
Shipwrights Regatta is coming up. Here's a post we could have used last year from Dobbs Davis on Destination One Design. Sydney Hobart Line Honors winning WILD OATS finishes under double reef and small jib. Racing in heavy air can be exhilarating or intimidating, depending on how well the boat and the crew are set up to deal with the conditions. Unlike light-air racing, where the challenge is mostly mental, sailing in the breeze can be physically demanding, with static and dynamic loads on running and standing rigging regularly reaching dangerous levels even aboard small boats. Combine this [...]
Foiling In 4 Knots
Post from pressure-drop.us The boys at Phillipe Kahn’s Pegasus Racing, not to be confused with the similarly named Port Townsend outfit, have upped their game in the foiling arena, modifying an F-20 Catamaran into a sweet flying machine. “Flying MotionX Catamaran, Magic carpet, like riding champagne powder on a snowboard or skis. Highly recommended! It’s a carbon F20 expanded to foiling by Pete Melvin. This is a custom project, not a production boat. Far from it. An amazing experience. Not a simple retrofit kit.” “50% more powerful than a F18 Phantom, longer, and 25% lighter. All carbon. Pete Melvin design. [...]
BERNARD MOITESSIER: What Really Happened to Joshua
From Charles Doane's blog Wave Train. Interesting side note from the comments following the post, after Moitessier lost JOSHUA on the beach in Cabo, she was brought back to Port Townsend for several years. Anyone have any stories on that to share? Bernard Moitessier is remembered primarily for his famous 1968-69 Golden Globe voyage, in which he blew off a chance to win the first non-stop singlehanded round-the-world race and kept on sailing halfway around the world again to Tahiti to "save his soul." But he is also remembered for wrecking not one, but three different boats during the course [...]
South Pacific Dreams
A little cold and grey for you? Watch this...
Boat Winter Checklist
Post by Beth Leonard on the Boat US Seaworthy blog. Good chafe protection can prevent shredded lines. Fight the winter blues by paying your boat a visit and making sure all is well. Whether it's stored on the hard or in the water, you may just forestall some spring problems. The Walk-Around, If Your Boat's In The Water Take a close look at the waterline. Is there a change? If the boat looks lower on its lines than the last time you saw it, or if it's down at the bow or the stern, check for water in [...]
And Now, Something Completely Different
This video was from the 36th annual Cividale Castlemont Hillclimb. The driver is Liber Federico, at the helm of the Gloria C8F, an open wheel racer with power from a motorcycle engine. Turn up the sound, hit wide screen and watch the video (actual run footage starts at 3:00 mark). Great parking lot at the end of the run. Thanks, Owen.
When You Capsize, The Sails Keep the Sharks Away…
Thanks, Piper, for sending this along. Commonwealth Film Unit made this compelling video of the Sydney 18s in 1967. It went on to win at Cannes Film Festival later that year.
Jefferson County Moorage Tenants Meeting
Bertram Levy sent this along ... Thursday Dec 12th 2013 7:00 PM Port Townsend Yacht Club 2503 Washington Street With new Port Commissioners, we have an opportunity for a new dialogue on Port policy. Your attendance is vital for this meeting so we can represent you accurately and with the strength that comes from consensus. There are a number of important issues to discuss including proposed fee increases, the scheduling of C/D dock repairs, and are Port's strategic choices fair to mortgage tenants? You can learn more about these issues and the JMTU take on them at their web site.