We started out with 51 clicks (31 mph) as measured at the weather bouy. My regular crew were just casting off the dock when a neighbor showed up, with cold beer. Priorities first, then relaunch. My neighbor has never been on any sailboat, & expressed interest, so after a short briefing we cast off with 3.
Of course 30 mph in a Cat is an exciting ride, & we only had one harness. After 30 minutes or so of reaching across the bay, the neighbor asked about how we"did that one pontoon in the air thing."
Needless to say we were soon flying a hull. As gust pushed us way up, the neighbor panicked, let go of the shroud & grabbed a trap handle. Of course the bottom of the trap is only connected to a bungee, so he went rolling down the deck like a fat donut & into the drink. He did manage to hang onto his sunglasses & flip flops. A quick retrieve & we were on our way again.
A short while later, the logic of which escapes me, my crew was standing against the mast, while flying a hull,looking like Horatio at the Bridge. Neighbor, all 230 lbs of him moves from the flying hull to join him. As I'm yelling that's not a good idea, heading up & sheeting out we get gusted & go over. I surface & wonder why the bloody boat is turtling so quickly, only to discover neighbor clinging to the mast like a frightened animal. My crew is laughing so hard he's useless. I finally get people on the bows, the mast comes up & we right it, this time sans sunglasses & 1 flip flop.
Another 1/2 hr of ripping around we call it a day. Neighbor is bloody impressed, with the speed & excitement..."I never thought sailboats could be that much fun."
Next day wind has dropped to 20, gusting 30 mph. My crew shows up, wife also wants to go. Then #1 daughter & friend want to go. So we load 5 people (700 lb) & head out. Both young ladies are out on the wire & while not setting any records we are cooking right along. The ride is wet, incredibly wet, think someone in front of the boat with a hose, & another swamper throwing 5 gal buckets of water at you. Waves are coming over the front beam, off the hulls, hell, even up through the tramp. The rear of the hulls are level with the water line, Huge rooster tails are spraying out behind. Every tack is controlled chaos, thank god for the uncluttered tramp on the 5.7. At one point we stuffed the bows, right up to the beam, the boat slowed, but didn't feel like it wanted to go over. Eventually the girls decided they were drowning & would be drier if they just went swimming, so on the next pass by the docks they tandem backflipped off the upwind hull.
The next 2 days were more sedate, 10 mph, max gusts of about 12 calming to nothing in the evening
. A Macgregor, two Sunfish, & an Albacore were cruising the bay, so we joined them for a few laps.
I must say I was impressed at how well the 5.7 carried that weight through the chop, & how much speed it kept. With nothing on the tramp it makes the perfect party platform.
I tacked a flag to the upper batten ties for a few laps, then when the days sailing was finished hoisted the Colors to the masthead with the main halyard. It works great, just run the flags boltrope in the track, & tie a length of light line to act as a downhaul so you don't lose the halyard.
Tomorrow is your big day, hope the weather & wind co operate, & your boats hold up. When i flew domestic, I always admired how hard the USA celebrates July 4, the fireworks at dusk from 35,000' could be seen from horizon to horizon.
N 5.7 makes a pretty good flagpole at days end.
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Hobie 18 Magnum
Dart 15
Mystere 6.0XL Sold Was a handful solo
Nacra 5.7
Nacra 5.0
Bombardier Invitation (Now officially DEAD)
Various other Dock cluttering WaterCrap
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