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Building Your Own Catamaran Sails
Scene: The sails on your catamaran looks (and pulls) like they have been trough both WWI and II. However you are seriously short on money, as the "admirals" priorities have your boat a long way down on the list (mortgages on the house, food, electricity and even gas are higher on the list, go figure..). So, what do you do? You gather all the creativity and initiative you normally pump into your sailing sessions, make a good deal on some sailcloth, keep on chanting "Navigare necesse est!" and build your own sails.
When we bought our current Tornado in 2001, a set of sails from year 2000 came with the boat. The Tornado class changed their sailplan after the 2000 Sidney Olympics, so these sails were a first generation cut. We used these sails both for training and competition until 2004, when we bought a well used asymmetric spinnaker from the Swedish Olympic Tornado team. Strangely enough, there was a huge difference in the power and speed this asymmetric developed compared with our 2000 asymmetric (I'm being ironic).
After this discovery, we began studying our main and jib with a critical eye. Compared to other T's, we were lacking both power and windward ability. A common problem with sails where the draft has moved aft. When hit by a gust, the boat wanted to heel instead of squirting forward, no matter how much we "massaged" the downhaul during gusts.Wanting to stay competitive with the fleet on the beat, it was time for some new sails. Besides, the old sails were literally falling apart. The luff tape on the main was so worn that hoisting and unhooking the main was a chore at every outing.
Local Catamaran Sailors Venture to Catalina Island
All who sailed or attempted to sail to Catalina Island this past weekend had a wonderful time.
From Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, we had 4 Inter 20's, a Prindle19, a Nacra 5.8, a C-class cat, a Warrior 29, a Tornado, and a Reynolds 33. The C-class cat opted out when it looked highly improbable that anyone would actually reach the island before dark-thrity. Chris on the Tornado also turned back, as he had planed to because he only had one sailing day available.
Solo sailors included Chris on his Tornado, Lee on his Inter 20, Alan on his Inter 20, and John on his Reynolds 33. Also Kelly single-handed from Newport Beach on a 30' Piver trimaran.
Those who had motors used them quite a bit and those who didn't were either towed at times or did lots of paddling. The one exception was Alan, who took a ride on the C-class cat Friday, then sailed himself over to the island on his Inter 20 on Saturday when he had wind for the whole trip. He may also have been the only one in the entire fleet to have landed when there was still some daylight.
The Marina Del Rey fleet that was to consist of a Viva 27, a Reynolds 21, and a Hobie 21, a Hunter 42, and a Choate 40 had no wind on Friday. The Hunter did not go. Geoff, on the Viva 27 motored all the way to Twin Harbors. Chris and Richard from the Choate made the crossing on an 18' Whaler with a 150 horsepower grinder. I presume that the Reynolds 21 didn't set sail. I spoke with Collin who sailed the Hobie 21 on Saturday and made it to approximately the shipping lanes and having not been to Twin Harbors before, opted to turn back to the coast where they made an emergency night landing for safety. They sailed back to Marina Del Rey on Sunday and it was a very long haul for them. They accepted a tow from a passer-by when they got close to the harbor. It took them 4 hours to get close to the harbor from Point Vicente.
From Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, we had 4 Inter 20's, a Prindle19, a Nacra 5.8, a C-class cat, a Warrior 29, a Tornado, and a Reynolds 33. The C-class cat opted out when it looked highly improbable that anyone would actually reach the island before dark-thrity. Chris on the Tornado also turned back, as he had planed to because he only had one sailing day available.
Solo sailors included Chris on his Tornado, Lee on his Inter 20, Alan on his Inter 20, and John on his Reynolds 33. Also Kelly single-handed from Newport Beach on a 30' Piver trimaran.
Those who had motors used them quite a bit and those who didn't were either towed at times or did lots of paddling. The one exception was Alan, who took a ride on the C-class cat Friday, then sailed himself over to the island on his Inter 20 on Saturday when he had wind for the whole trip. He may also have been the only one in the entire fleet to have landed when there was still some daylight.
The Marina Del Rey fleet that was to consist of a Viva 27, a Reynolds 21, and a Hobie 21, a Hunter 42, and a Choate 40 had no wind on Friday. The Hunter did not go. Geoff, on the Viva 27 motored all the way to Twin Harbors. Chris and Richard from the Choate made the crossing on an 18' Whaler with a 150 horsepower grinder. I presume that the Reynolds 21 didn't set sail. I spoke with Collin who sailed the Hobie 21 on Saturday and made it to approximately the shipping lanes and having not been to Twin Harbors before, opted to turn back to the coast where they made an emergency night landing for safety. They sailed back to Marina Del Rey on Sunday and it was a very long haul for them. They accepted a tow from a passer-by when they got close to the harbor. It took them 4 hours to get close to the harbor from Point Vicente.
Stuart Gummer and Gillian Power (GBR) Win the 2005 Aruba Heineken Catamaran Regatta
Aruba, November 11th 2005 On Friday, Stuart Gummer and Gillian Power (GBR) won officially the 15th Aruba Heineken Catamaran Regatta. Although the 2005 victory was already a fact, the British winners sailed the very last Aruba Bank Race as well and finished as first F18 in fourth position overall. Eduard Zanen and Mischa Heemskerk (NED) are second best this year, followed by Richard Allen and Simon Farren (GBR). Stuart Gummer carried a little camera on top of his cap during their champion’s race. Gummer: "That is fun. We have produced a lot of footage this week, which we will use for a report on the 15th Aruba Regatta." The end of the racing was a relief for Gummer: "I have been ill for the last two days, so I am happy that it is over now." Although it seemed to be an easy victory, it was obviously not that easy. Power: "We had to sail hard for it. Competing on handicap means that you never know how you did, until the prize giving in the evening." Last year, Gummer and Power had a terrible regatta, as their Spitfire crashed in a collision, so they had to make up for that and they did.
Big smile for runners up
"Every day, I have come off the boat with a big smile", said Mischa Heemskerk after the last race. "The conditions have been great and we enjoyed the sailing very much." He and his occasional skipper Eduard Zanen became second best. Heemskerk: "We are happy with the result, since we are the first Tornado and we know it is hard to beat the F18’s on handicap. We did well in comparison to other Tornado teams and so did Stuart and Gillian. They were very fast and sailed a good competition." Heemskerk will fly directly to Miami / USA for a training session on the olympic Tornado with his skipper Koen de Koning. They are aiming for the 2008 Olympic Games in Bejing. Marcus Lynch (GBR), crewing for James Power, has also aspirations for the Olympics in London in 2012. Back home, he will participate at the F18 Olympic Sailing Camp with Christopher Rashely.
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