Clipper Snips
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Clipper Snips The magazine of the Trailer/Sailors Association Trailer/Sailors Association www.trailersailors.org Summer/Fall 2010 2 Presidents Column Mike Nelson Articles 12 Pizza On Your Boat Mike Nelson & Irene Clement 13 Sailabration 2010 John Clement 17 I’m Glad I’m a Moron Rebecca and Bob Bringle 21 De-Rigged & Ready to Go, But It’s Late Irene Clement 22 Ramp Report— Annapolis Maryland John Ulmer Cruises 3 Spring 2010 Cruise Bryan Childs & Bob Harris 6 Extended Cruising on a Small Boat Laurence Wright 25 What’s in a Name Larry Dale Other Stuff 11 Sailors Quiz Marjorie Whites 20 Tips and Tricks Diana Nelson T/SA Tee-shirts For T/SA Hats ($13US) T/SA Wear Flags ($16US), Temporarily unavailable contact: David Craigie at for sale [email protected] 1 challenge in upcoming years. Notes from the As of this date, I have received only 4 responses to my posting on our TrailSail discussion group about an President annual meeting. Those responders said they would Mike Nelson only attend a meeting if it were within an hour or two of their homes. No decision has yet been made, but if As I write this, another summer draws to a close, al- the interest level in an annual meeting remains low, it though the calendar says we still have some summer probably will not be held this year. left. I hope you all have had good sailing times. Webmaster Chris Holderness has suggested we move The 2010 North Channel cruise, as well as the Early our web site to a different technical platform. The Bird cruise the previous week, were both enjoyed by new platform would allow us to offer more online a number of boats. John Clement describes the main services, such as a directory, renewal notices via a- cruise in this issue. The Early Bird cruise will be mail, stream-lined new member processing, user- covered in the fall issue of Clipper Snips. contributed photo albums, and other features to be Cruise participation revealed over time. was lower this year, We think the transi- as many had to drop tion will be made by out due to health or the end of this year. other personal issues. A number of T/SA It is too soon to call board members are this a trend, but it is approaching the end likely that economic of their terms conditions have been (nominally 3 years). a factor the past two If you would like to cruising seasons. It is support our organiza- also interesting to tion, please contact me note that an increas- so we can discuss how ing number of boats you can help. I will are going off on their post specific openings own, joining the main on TrailSail in the cruise here and there coming months. for social contact. On a final note, we have been able to avoid a dues For some, sailing to a schedule and with a group is increase for the past several years, but, due to ever- fun; for others, sailing the wind or exploring new, increasing costs, we are now running under an annual usually smaller, anchorages is fun. deficit. It is very likely that the board will recom- With GPS, navigating the North Channel is less of a mend a dues increase for 2011, in an amount to be challenge. A few boaters were overheard to suggest determined. that we have a “no gps” and “no chart plotter” cruise—using only dead reckoning, taffrail log, com- pass, and charts to navigate. I remember that that’s Definition: - Course - how we did our first few cruises in the North Chan- nel, back when we went up there after Labor Day in order to avoid the crowds, heat, and bugs. It was fun, A charted direction a proud skipper although also a bit nerve-wracking, as so many is- plans to follow...until wind and current lands look alike. But such a cruise could be an inter- prove him wrong esting challenge, and serve as a reminder of what sail- ing used to be like. Maybe some will take up this 2 comfortable. Blue Max Heading down the Keys we stopped at John Penne- camp State Park. They have both mooring balls and 2010 Spring Cruise slips. It turns out that a slip is not much more expen- sive than a mooring ball. However, the slips were filled so we used a mooring ball. The next day, we motored out to Little Grecian Reef and did what turned out to be the best snorkeling of the cruise. The seas were totally calm so the visibility was perfect. The next day we headed back to Angelfish Creek. After a delightful sail downwind on the gulf side through the mangrove islands we stopped at the Up- per Keys Sailing Club which is located in Button- wood Sound about halfway along the bay. At $35 a night (inexpensive for the Keys) this was the only slip we used for the 34 days we were on the water. A great spot to stop because all the people in the club house were sailors . They had outdoor showers and bathrooms in the club house which was locked at night. Continuing SW, we tucked into a good anchorage just By: Bryan Childs/Bob Harris past Fiesta Key which has a KOA campground. We Blue Max, along with her captain and crew, always did not go ashore and in the late afternoon a number take a long spring sail to get away from the poor of sailboats anchored next to Blue Max. The next day weather in Michigan. For the last two years, Blue we crossed at Channel Five and headed back into the Max headed to the Bahamas in April and May when Atlantic and down to Marathon and Boot Key Harbor. the winds are slowing down. However, as it turned Now Boot Key Harbor is my favorite harbor. They out, the winds did not favor a Gulf Stream crossing, have about 200 mooring balls that are mostly filled so we sailed the Florida Keys. with beautiful sailboats (OK some not so beautiful Bob Harris of “Cold Pizza” and I launched at the ones but they still have character). They only charge South Dade Marina. The marina is not a fancy place $22 per night (less if you stay by the week or month) by any means but it is convenient for sailing the Keys which include showers, internet access, a gathering or heading to the Exumas. Also, the owner is a de- place with two TVs, and a pump out once a week. voted sailor and very helpful. After taking a day to The dinghy docks are included and you can find all set up and obtain provisions we launched and headed that you need in the town of Marathon. We borrowed north to Card Sound and anchored just north of the some bikes and rode SW on the old seven mile bridge bridge by the NW shore. I have come to the conclu- out to Pigeon Key. The wind was from the NE so we sion from sailing the Keys four times that one does had a downwind ride one way and a brutal ride back. not need to worry about finding acceptable anchor- We stayed a Boot Key Harbor for three nights and age. Just check your chart and if you are still con- headed SW and stopped at Newfound Harbor , head- cerned look for other sail boats. ing up the east channel. Well, it’s not really a harbor Next we headed north and passaged through Angel- just a sheltered spot. We motored past buoy R4 and fish Creek to the Atlantic. Now here is a secret about anchored in about 5 feet of water. the Keys: on the Atlantic side there is a reef that runs When in Boot Key Harbor, we learned that there was almost the entire length of the keys. The result is that an air show at the air force base on Boca Chica Key it reduces that wave action so us small boats can be which is the last key before getting to Key West. Bob 3 is a pilot (in fact, he has his own plane) and desired to mined that it would be an acceptable sail for the next see the action. We anchored next to the channel 55 miles to the Dry Tortugas. We had great sails all marker G “5B” just off the west end of the runway the way down the keys but the sail to the Dry Tortu- and we saw a lot of action, which ranged from wing gas was outstanding. Blue Max was doing 6 knots walkers, huge cargo planes, and the Blue Angles. Bob easily and surfing down waves at 8.4 knots. identified every plane and gave me all the history. The Dry Tortugas contains a national park with the Another interesting aspect of this place was all the massive fort called Fort Jefferson. The fort was built derelict boats. Some appeared abandoned , some for defensive purposes to control the shipping activity were sunk, and some had live-a-boards. None of around Florida and the expanding trade to the Missis- them were seaworthy. One large 40 foot rusted ketch sippi river. Its construction started in 1846 and con- had a couple that were naked all day. They had much sists of 16 million bricks and 450 cannons. It is an delight waving to the many jet skis and power boats incredible structure and I would suggest paying a that passed.