Thom's Getaway "Babe" First Season Video's

Went to a nearby marina after launching. Had more weather helm today than the first outing. I didn't change anything that I know of, so I don't know what's going on there. My tacking continues to need improvement, but I eventually will get used to tacking so far around...I do think that, for me, it is best to leave the jib sheet cleated and use it to back the bow around before recleating on the other side. Spinnaker is a really nice addition, sure it isn't as exciting as a sprit mounted asymmetric, but us old guys sometimes just like to saunter downwind and have a beer. The traveler didn't move freely - does anyone grease theirs? Also, the boat just STOPS when you hit a 3 foot wave; any suggestions to avoid that scenario--normally I would fall off a little and power through, but it was pretty dramatic for a while. Short video follows, mostly of the spinnaker flying. BTW, If I were to do the spinnaker over, I'd probably make the foot only 13 ft and not 15 ft. BTW2: I put the url twice because I noticed some people seem to be able to embed their videos instead of just having the link, so I'm trying to figure out how to do that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDnr73G ... T5C0YL6uRg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDnr73Ghf80&list=UUKUwoGV9eRVRwT5C0YL6uRg

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R/Thom
SeaRail 19
Triak
BMW C600
Formerly Getaway with Custom Spinnakers
Formerly raced F24 Mk II

The first thing I think of with weather helm on these boats is that the rudders aren't fully locked down. I had to learn that through several trials when I first started sailing this boat...

Also, I notice as you're approaching that green can that your jib is mostly furled up, this could also be a source of weather helm.

Yah, I was thinking that the rudders might not have been fully down and locked into position. I didn't check when we were in Glen Cove and I shoulda. That last approach to the green can was a reach and the boat was pretty well balanced at that time, the weather helm was evident during the beat upwind. Thanks for the thoughts. I am probably over compensating, but I've moved the forestay down one notch to reduce a little rake and also loosened the shrouds one notch and moved the jib up the forestay about 3 inches...we'll see how it goes.

_________________
R/Thom
SeaRail 19
Triak
BMW C600
Formerly Getaway with Custom Spinnakers
Formerly raced F24 Mk II

It's amazing how much effect a small rudder kick can make on boat balance...

Embed the youtube video like this.




What you do is pull the video id number, which in your case is cDnr73Ghf80 and put between the youtube commands like such, only without the spaces in front and behind "youtube2"

There is a button in the post editor which will help you also.

[ youtube2 ]cDnr73Ghf80[/youtube2]

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www.thehobiewayoflife.com

Thanks. And I get the embed code by right click (Windows PC). Although when I do that I get a lot of other stuff besides the embed code...for example <iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/83hWlVxPETA?feature=player_profilepage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> IS there a better way to get the video ID?

_________________
R/Thom
SeaRail 19
Triak
BMW C600
Formerly Getaway with Custom Spinnakers
Formerly raced F24 Mk II

Was a good day. Current was against me going to weather-you'll see that on the GPS track. Boat hits 12 mph upwind briefly and 15.5 mph downwind. Weather helm was much reduced. For the first time, the motor actually still worked after an outing! Still working on finding the best sheeting point for the spinnaker.

_________________
R/Thom
SeaRail 19
Triak
BMW C600
Formerly Getaway with Custom Spinnakers
Formerly raced F24 Mk II

I did sail Babe today. Unfortunately, no video. The biggest issue I am having with the Sony Action Cam is the same issue I"m having with my outboard motor. UNRELIABLE. It seems that Sony managed to make it possible, likely even since I've done it more than once, to put the media in wrong. The motor is another issue. It started to get me out of the marina, but won't start now. Irritating.

_________________
R/Thom
SeaRail 19
Triak
BMW C600
Formerly Getaway with Custom Spinnakers
Formerly raced F24 Mk II

I was going to suggest learning how to sail without relying on the motor, but I just found the marina you sail out of and see that it would have been impossible to leave the marina due to the narrow channel and the wind on your nose. I've never had anything but trouble with outboards, even brand new ones...

You're not setting the choke when you try to start it on the return, are you?

This is your marina here, right? And you're launching from the boat ramp at the east end?

https://goo.gl/maps/yizj5

(Does anybody know how to embed a google map here?)

Due to many years experience and frustration with small gasoline outboard motors in my youth, I bought a Torqeedo electric outboard. It's pretty much 100% reliable. At worst, if I shift from forward to reverse too quickly while the prop is windmilling, I get an error message. Turn off, turn on (5 seconds or so) and away I go!

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Yet another Bob!
"Firefly" - 2012 Hobie Getaway with wings and spinnaker
"Sparky" - 1978 Sunfish (OK, it's not a Hobie, but it's a fun little craft)
Too many canoes and kayaks

Third installment. Starting to have more fun with the boat. Went out in ebb current and wind was 5 to 15. Ebb current of about 2 kts helped tack angles to weather (about 85 degrees). Still looking for optimum spot for sheeting the symmetric spin. Secondary power (outboard) continues to be the biggest failure...may have to buy a different motor. This time the pull cord broke on the motor so we had to paddle the quarter mile out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlOtq5V-yQg

_________________
R/Thom
SeaRail 19
Triak
BMW C600
Formerly Getaway with Custom Spinnakers
Formerly raced F24 Mk II

Fourth Installment...first time I single hand. Now that I have a reliable motor (Honda 2.3), more things become possible. Raising the mast went flawlessly. The last couple feet it sways a lot more than it does at first. I think that's when the lines stop wrapping around the seat support...no biggie, though. Motor doesn't have a reverse, but it does swivel 360, so I did use it to back out of the launch ramp before turning it around and motoring up the fairway. I stopped at the windward end of the fairway and hoisted mainsail...that darn hook at the top of the mast is a PITA, but I finally got it hooked. Sailed out easily, sailed about 2 miles to weather (light breeze, couple big gusts...traveled down because with only me on the high side, it tried to lift that one ama more than I was comfortable with right now. I did hoist the spin and flew it for about a nanosecond (current was with me downwind). Hoist was not easy by myself and boat wanted to round up which isn't the right thing to do when trying to hoist a big spinnaker for going downwind. I'm almost done finding the right spots to sheet from. I think I have the optimum spot determined. I also have to remove the premeasured spot for the guy because it is too short when you want to sheet from that side (see video). I think one more outing and I'll install the eyes. After snuffing I let the boat go into irons with mainsail and no jib. Then I dropped the mainsail and motored back to marina. Lowering mast was easy EXCEPT I needed help to get it started. I asked a passerbye to uncrank while I guided down. All in all, a good first single hand experience.

_________________
R/Thom
SeaRail 19
Triak
BMW C600
Formerly Getaway with Custom Spinnakers
Formerly raced F24 Mk II

Fifth installment. Went to mothball fleet and back. One gybe and one tack...that's a nice sail. Wind was medium. Hove to for lunch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tuo9FBUxqiQ

_________________
R/Thom
SeaRail 19
Triak
BMW C600
Formerly Getaway with Custom Spinnakers
Formerly raced F24 Mk II

Took three on the boat. Lost about 15 % performance. Getting the hang of most things. Blew a few tacks but was able to back down instead of doing 270s. Didn't have to paddle or use motor since used different launch ramp.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYIVBOn_V8E

_________________
R/Thom
SeaRail 19
Triak
BMW C600
Formerly Getaway with Custom Spinnakers
Formerly raced F24 Mk II

Yesterday there were two plastic boats sharing the water. My neighbor's Windrider and my Getaway. His Windrider doesn't have the bowsprit nor the screacher. The Portsmouth ratings for the two boats indicates that the Windrider SHOULD be faster, but yesterday, that wasn't the case. BTW, I have a lot of squeaking from my mast ball. Do any of you grease yours?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2ZS-hwjblU

_________________
R/Thom
SeaRail 19
Triak
BMW C600
Formerly Getaway with Custom Spinnakers
Formerly raced F24 Mk II