Uncle Al's
Pictorial Pearls of Wisdom
 from the Midwinters
a potpourri of educational items suggested by the photos
By mid-afternoon, it was a bit warmer and the winds were a bit less fierce. Al mentioned to Marc that "a little run" might be in order: after all it was an onshore wind, we had a benign shore (no rocks, very few alligators), plus Scott and Dave were ready to give the rescue boat a bit of exercise. Encouraged by comments such as "Have you put your affairs in order?", "Whom should we contact?", etc. Marc and I put on the old jib and our worst spinnaker. If we were going to wipe out, we might as well not ruin our good sails!!
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Little did we know that Dave Moring was not only standing by with Scott Tillema in the rescue boat. He was also getting great pictures of a wonderful ride. Note how we're sitting well aft to keep the bow up.
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There are still some strong gusts around and Al makes sure he sits well aft so that Marc's going forward to douse the chute does not bury the bow too much!
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Of course, the whole effect will be spoiled if we screw up the landing. But Marc has it all under control.
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Sailing virtuoso that he is, Marc pushes out the boom, knowing the main will then act as a brake when ...
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... Al luffs up. Of course too much brake is no good, either, since then the boat won't coast up to the dock. Note how here, Marc has left us just enough speed to give Al good steerage way, while Al has left himself ample room to coast along the dock. Again, an empty dock makes it a lot easier!
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Lessons in approaching the dock, part 2: Note how Nick and Brian go close to the weeds so that they'll have lots of room in which to luff up along the dock if necessary - an especially wise move when you're not used to the boat.
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Brian assumes the textbook crew position, i.e. ready to fend off ...
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... with flexible knees. Denis Oldham (r) admires the technique. Note also Nick's wake which reflects the fact that he has just enough sail pulling to keep steerage way. A textbook landing: no fend off needed here as ...
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... Nick coasts to a halt with his bow less than a foot from the dock, where Brian hands the painter to Tony (r).
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The dock approach on this side of the T will be more challenging, what with ...
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... two boats taking up much of the room. To port or to starboard of the Scot? That is the question. Last minute plan changes by the skipper often make life difficult for ...
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... the crew!!
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But Dave did not let go of the painter, and, dutiful crew that he is, Dave pulls the C upwind until skipper Scott can just casually step "ashore".
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Joe and Brian De Brincat (1115) are pointing high but need to do something about the large backwind bubble in their main. Marc Bennett and Michele Parish (3854) are footing off for speed and Gale and Gary Shoemaker (4106) may have to foot off as well, if they want to keep Marc from taking their wind!
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Perhaps seeing better breeze off to the left, Marc tacks away. Note how the sheets are eased and will ...
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... come in slowly as the boat regains maximum speed.
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Note the visible wind patches on the water.
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Butch and Ellen wisely aim their spinnaker to leeward of Jim and Mike where they can't be luffed up.
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