Sailing the Chesapeake

Tomorrow is the day. The crew of eight meet dockside and board Selene. The weather looks glum, but we care more about the wind in the forecast than the rain. All and all the forecast predicts showers and thunderstorms which means much of the day it will just be cloudy.
Here's the marine forecast for the weekend. Sandy Point is near Annapolis, North Beach is about forty miles south of Sandy Point.

THU NIGHT S WIND S 10 TO 15 KT. WAVES 2 FT. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.

FRI S WINDS 10 TO 15 KT WITH GUSTS TO 25 KT. WAVES 2 TO 3 FT. ACHANCE OF SHOWERS AND TSTMS.
FRI NIGHT S WIND S 15 TO 20 KT WITH GUSTS TO 25 KT. WAVES 3 FT. ACHANCE OF SHOWERS AND TSTMS.

SAT SW WINDS 10 TO 15 KT WITH GUSTS TO 20 KT... BECOMING NW IN THE AFTERNOON. WAVES 3 FT...SUBSIDING TO 1 FT IN THE AFTERNOON. SHOWERS LIKELY WITH A CHANCE OF TSTMS.
SAT NIGHT W WINDS 5 TO 10 KT. WAVES 1 FT. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND TSTMS.

SUN NW WINDS AROUND 5 KT. WAVES 1 FT. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS. MONSE WINDS 10 TO 15 KT. WAVES 1 FT. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS. WINDS AND WAVES HIGHER IN AND NEAR TSTMS.

Tanzer 22 Update

The boat went into the water last Saturday. No leaks.
The two batteries that came with the boat were dead. Another $60 purchase.

Of all the worries, the outboard motor was highest on the list. It's been in a garage for two years without running. At first, it was resisting my attempts to pull start. After some finagling, it started. You gotta believe. It ran very smoothly in forward, reverse and neutral. A 1975 two-cycle Evinrudes are collector items. After running for several minutes, I let it cool down twice and each time it started on the second pull. OTAY!
More running time is needed to convince me to trust this 34 year old.

I set the main sail which was in good condition. T22 - 125 is the ID. It has a nice sail cover. looking good so far.

Another trip to West Marine is in order to buy PFD's, Seat cushions, flares, A VHF radio, dock lines, spot light, etc.

The maiden voyage is still scheduled for May 9, 10. My son John will be the first mate.
It's about 45 miles to Cambridge. The safety valve destination will be Knapp's Narrows. it's about two thirds to Cambridge.

We think that we have a name for this fine vessel: "Recess" What do you think?
More pictures will be coming soon.

Ready to sail?

After spending two days working on the Tanzer, it's almost ready for the water.
The bottom paint is on and the gunwales are polished.
Next weekend, I hope to launch, check the outboard motor, and rigging.
Cross your fingers.

The maiden voyage will most likely be on Saturday, or Sunday, May 9 or 10.

John, Are you ready?

Oh Happy Day?

They say that there are two happy days in every boat owners life:


The day he buys the boat and the day he sells it.
Day one approaches: I've included some photographs of this fine craft.
I call them "before" pictures. If you squint your eyes, and imagine, you may have the same vision that I have. Free boat rides to all who don't laugh.


The boat is a Tanzer 22. It's a sailboat design that has a strong history as a racer/cruiser.
As long as it doesn't sink on the maiden voyage, I'll be happy.
Zoe thinks that I should paint it pink. Any other ideas?

As you can see the boat needs a name. Send your suggestions to George.
How's "Pinky" sound?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SPECIFICATIONS http://www.tanzer22.com/tpage.htm
L 0.A 22' 6"
L W.L19' 9"
Beam 7' 10"
SAIL AREAS

Main

• 112 sq. ft. Working jib 110 sq. ft.


• No. 1 Genoa 200 sq.ft.


• No. 2 genoa 162 sq.ft.


• Spinnaker (approx)375 sq. ft.
  

Draft

• Fin keel 3' 5"

Displacement

• Fin keel 2,900 lbs

Ballast

• Fin keel 1,250 lbs.

DESIGNER: Johann Tanzer

• Vertical clearance 31' 0"
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
• Review:

Anyone looking at boats in the 20 to 24 foot range should take a close look at the Tanzer 22. Over 2200 of these boats were built, and this boat is supported by a very active class association. In fact, anyone buying a Tanzer 22 will quickly discover that they are part of a network of owners who take a great deal of pride in their boats. All this means that many Tanzer 22s are being actively raced as a one-design or under PHRF. But this is also a boat that can take a small family out for a short cruise. It has a big cockpit and a flush deck which provides for lots of sunbathing space. Below there is more room than first meets the eye, despite the fact that the bulkhead which divides the v-berth from the main cabin gives the appearance of cramped quarters. On top of all this, the Tanzer 22 has gained a considerable reputation for seagoing capabilities. While this boat was available with a swing keel, most were built with the fin keel.

by Michael McGoldrick.

Bowling made easy

Bowling verses Golf:
Bowling's gotta be easier than golf. No weather, wind, water, rough, trees, or sand.
Every hole is different in golf. Long shots, shot shots, very short shots.
In bowling, there are always ten pins. The alleys are dead level. The distance is always the same.
Even pool requires more shot making and combinations. With the exception of making a wide split, it's a knock-'em down game.

OK, A hole-in-one verses a 300 game:
Hole-in-one's are made by golfers that get lucky.
It's a good shot that got lucky. The greenskeeper just happened to cut the hole in the right place. Tommorow, the same shot yields no celebration. Now, two hole-in-one's on the same day that's something special; but, it always a case of a very good golfer getting close and lucky. It's happened several times.

A 300 game requires luck and skill. There is always a strike in any good game that is a gift, just as many good pocket hits result in stingers. Ask my friend Steve. However, a 300 game requires the bowler to roll three consecutive strikes in the tenth frame. It doesn't just happen like a hole-in-one. You must make it happen. Scary stuff! Despite the tension, there are quite a few bowlers that have bowled 3- 300 games in a row. WOW!

In conclusion, making a putt on the 18th hole to win the match comes much closer to a 300 game as a personal challenge, just because 'you must make it happen.'

The following movie clip demonstrates the classic four-step approach.

It was a great season. One that I do not expect to repeat.