End of Season SAYC

Maybe size does matter.....

Sailing wing-to-wing on a downwind run during the last SAYC race of the fall season. Oct. 2008

SAYC

As the sailing season winds down here in NJ the SAYC hosted it's last regatta of the fall season. The winds remained out of the Northeast most of the day and were blowing 10 knts. This led the course organizers to set the course in a configuration creating a downwind run for a better part of the course. At the start and although not in the best position at the starting gate SaLin quickly demonstrated her ability to out power most of the other boats on a beam reach and sailed to the first pin with a small lead over the other race participants. Rounding the first pin and sailing downwind on a wing-to-wing sail configuration the smaller, lighter boats had the advantage causing a loose of two positions along the way. Rounding the second gate and tacking up wind SaLin and her crew once again demonstrated the ability to use this point of sail to our advantage. This put us in a windfall position to the northern most gate. Although not in a postion to overtake the first place boat, the Hallie-Luna, the end result was Hallie-Luna securing the victory and SaLin taking a respectable forth overall. Many thanks to the members of SYAC for their hospitality and hosting a great fall regatta season of open racing. Till the Spring!

Shelter Cove and TRYC

Departing from CIM on Friday night about 23:00 in a stiff 15 to 18 knt breeze we anchored at Shelter Cove for an early run to catch the Route 37's first opening at 7:00 in route to the Toms River Yacht Club by 8:00.
The morning brought chilly temps, 50's and a steady breeze out of the NE at about 10 to 12 knts. We made TRYC at 8:15.

Top of Mast

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Get your own

Okay, did I really need to go 52 feet up to the top of the mast?? Naaaa, but what the heck it was Fun!
The Windex had became misaligned and was not positioned correctly. So what should one do? Fix it! I made arrangements with a friend to assist in raising me up the mast using a Jim-Buoy Bosun's Chair Model 202. We used a spare halyard and the two speed cabin top winch to crank me up. At first the idea of being raised 52 feet in the air dangling by a thread seemed a little scary and it was until I got around the radar dome and up to the top. It was actually a very cool experience. The bosun’s chair is an excellent product, very safe and extremely comfortable. The built in harness provides a very secure feel. I would highly recommend this product.
Needless to say the view from atop was spectacular!

SAYC

Saturday's Shore Acres Yacht Club party at Silver Bay.
10 boats rafted for good food and cocktails.
What more needs to be said!...

Catalina C34 MKII Undersail

A C34 MKII undersail in OR. Not the SaLin
Video made by a Catalina dealer as a sales deminstration video....

Tropical Storm Hanna...

While preparing for the worst, stripping canvas and doubling up on dock lines, T.S. Hanna produced rain and a short period of 30 to 40 knt wind gusts with no damage and no tidal surge. Sunday turned out to be a great day with 10 to 15 knts out of the southwest. In fact, it was a great day for a regatta... Crewing on Hallie-Luna at the SAYC Fall Opener produced a second place finish overall.
Now its time to plan the next ocean trip on SaLin. A fall trip up the coast of NJ into the NY harbor and up the Hudson River as far north as Haverstraw, NY is in order prior to going on the hard for the winter. Stopping at various point along the way including the 79St. Boat Basin in Manhattan for a few cocktails is never a bad thing.
Details to come.....

79 St. Boat Basin, NYC

Bow of SaLin

Wet enough? SaLin, July 08'

Hallie-Luna 15knts.
Hallie-Luna 25 knts.

Hallie-Luna in 6 to 8 foot seas.

Local sailing friends Hal and Barb aboard their Catalina 30 MKIII s/v Hallie-Luna, July 08'

What started out as a typical off shore cruise from the Manasquan Inlet to the Barnegat Inlet turned interesting in a hurry. The weather forecast called for winds out of the southeast 10 to 15 knts. with seas 2 to 4 ft. Upon reaching a point 10 miles off the coast the wind started to build to 20 knts. and the seas started to build as well. Beating into the wind with ever building seas we reduced sail and headed south along the coast of NJ. By 13:00 the winds was averaging 25 to 30 knts. out of the southeast and the seas were building to 6 to 8 ft. It was a very wet trip even with a full dodger. Once we got into the "Groove" of things the sea state, boat and crew where fine and the trip turned out to be just another one of those days that adds to the excitement of ocean voyages.