Caya Costa trip with WCTSS Oct 2016

Launched from Eldred's Marin in Placida FL. That was my first time to solo rig and sail the boat. Great place to go on this coast is Caya Costa state park. On the NE corner of that island is Pelican Bay with a nice anchoring lagoon protected from the Charlotte Harbor waves by a 30 ft wide peninsula. Dual anchors, one on the bow out to the lagoon and the other on the stern to shore in about 8 inches of water.

Took a bit longer to rig, being cautious to mind every detail. The wind forecast was NE 10-15 so I did not think to ring the gennaker. Motored out into the ICW and raised the main to sail out the inlet between Gasparilla and Boca Grande islands with the outgoing tide. Found the air to be lighter that predicted, probably slacking from an afternoon Gulf shore counter breeze. The south reach down the Boca Grande coast was very pleasant averaging about 7-8 kts on flat water. At the Boca Grande inlet, the tide still outgoing was out with 2 ft chop so the put-put was cranked up to get through the pass. I killed the motor and continued south on the ICW to Caya Costa. Then dropped the main and motored into the lagoon for anchorage. About 2 hours on the water from the marina to anchorage. Probably could of used that gennaker in the lighter air.

First time out on an overnight, thought sleeping on the v-birth would be the way to go, go my back pack pad and bivy. Sometime during the night, woke up feeling cramped and a bit stuffy inside. The wind now from the E at 10+, the sky clear and with a full moon, move the pad and bivy to the starboard tramp and slept under the twilight canopy. Very pleasant. Set up same sleeping system for the next night as well.

After coffee and breakfast, a couple of guys wanted to go out on the tri. Great! Had one very experienced sailor on the helm and me and another guy as crew. Gave me a better perspective to observe the boats behavior. As coxswain, I gave direction as to where we should sail. Then as a crew, I raised the gennaker for some reaching fun, as the winds died down to about 5+. The boat performed well except for one really annoying problem with the rudder down haul line. That line is cleated with a racing jam cleat that will release if bottoming out or release at 8+ sometimes. Even with the set screw torqued, just when you’re having fun on a big puff, boing there goes the cleat, heavy rudder action and the boat goes to weather.

I installed a Davis tiller tamer. One positive benefit is that the tiller tamer chassis now can be a cleat point for that pesky rudder downhaul. The down haul cleat still can release, but down totally loose that line and the rudder will go to only 80%, steerage is heavy but much more manageable, until the clear and down haul is reset.

On the return trip, the air had picked up quite a bit, 15+ maybe, lots of white caps on the harbor. Before leaving the lagoon, reef the main. This was the first time reefing. Didn’t look pretty but worked well. I got the sail with two reef points. There are large grommets at the tack and the clew with two smaller grommets in the sail. Have now added two reef lines for the sail grommets. But what I did on this trip was grab the tack reef grommet with the Cunningham hook, and reworked the outhaul line to the clew reef grommet and thread the included reef line through all grommets, clew forward and cinch up the foot. It worked. But the reefing method needs improvement to get complete quicker better.

Going through Boca Grande pass, flood tide and apposing wind made for some interesting 2 ft chop. Did not use the motor, but had that rudder downhaul cinched tight and breezed right through on broad reach. The reefed main made all the difference for my reach up the coast. For the most part was averaging 9-10, peaked at 11.5, and was able to comfortably trim for a very slight weather helm. Was back up in the ICW in about 90 minutes. Found out that this boat has a deep humming going on from the drop keel, close hulled when speed reaches 8 to 9 kts. Some sailors say that humming is the boat getting into its groove. I have to understand that a bit deeper. More research is required.

Dropping the main, I find that this process works for me. Heave unto in a starboard tack, then drop and roll the main to port and get the main into the cabin rolled up the best I can. I am going to run a topping lift line to assist with the boom/main roll up (and out when going up). While out of the breeze in the cabin, try and tighten the sail roll. Then sail to the marina on the jib and motor.