sailing

JPMteach26@aol.com
Wed, 7 Jul 1999 12:31:43 EDT


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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Hi Folks,

I left Ventura Harbor launch ramp under a reef cause it was already ripply in
the harbor and I knew I was gonna go out into the ocean. There wasn't really
much swell but with the wind up the way it was the spray was flying over the
outer breakwater. Once out there, the ocean was kinda choppy but the potter
is such a fine boat that it hardly noticed the chop or the spray. It pounded
more than usual coming down the back side of some wind waves. I stayed
pretty dry. Infact, a guy at the ramp with an inflatable (boat) was currious
about the boat and I boasted, "I won't even get wet out there today." I get
sick easy so I only went out about two miles, hove to, and drank a snapple.
Funny how you get all uppidy with the wind and seas and spray (still not
touching me), baot leaning over and then hove to and the world is peaceful
again.

My knot stick said I was going about 4 knots under the reef and that seemed
accurate enough. On the way back, with swell on the port quarter and almost
a beam reach the knot stick pegged often and 6 knots sliding down the swell
...however, I took that with a grain of salt. The boat was moving pretty
good though. I have not been pleased with how the potter has had a strong
tendency to swing beam-to the swell at the least bit of inattention. I did
notice that a higher wind speed, above the norm, (I hesitate to say gust
here) proceeds the swell, as if the swell is pushing it along. Hmmmm...

After safely in the harbor again I pottered around the a bit, got some
coffee, checked out the swimming (laying out) beach, and then headed back
toward the harbor side of the breakwater. My goal was to get close enough
that the spray would fly up over the rocks and onto my boat...just for fun.
While there, about twenty feet from the rocks I concluded I could not safely
get close enough with all the kelp and swirlying water near the rocks. Just
then I realized that this is the spot that Bernie turned turtle! For 5
tenths of a second I got scared and I pulled the tiller toward me to get
away...then I figured I was safe and was curious and threw the lead over the
side to see how deep it was there. The tide was in and the boat wouldn't
stop on command and the lead dragged but I figured there was a few to several
feet between me and the turtle.

So I left the kelp and since I was in the harbor I took the reef out and sat
on the rail to keep her level - being sure to pass by the laying-out beach
again. Approaching the ramp I raced in between two docks on a reach and
whipped the boat around, eased the sheets, coasted, walked forward (board
down - 135 lbs), and stepped onto the dock. Compliments from a lady walking
her dog, "You sure know how to sail that boat." AND from two guys in a
runabout, "Nice job. I thought you were gonna run it up on the ramp." Of
course I didn't tell em, but I'll tell you, it was my third landing of the
day there under the same conditions...they only saw the last and the best.

Thanks for letting me share a very nice afternoon.

John McCarter
P15 #1278
Ventura