Ted Duke suggested I post this to the lists, as it may be amusing if not
informative. There some lessons to be learned however.
Larry Samuels
Sea Eagle P19 545 SR
Lou. KY
Subj: RE: Short Rig!
Date: 5/2/2000 6:39:45 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: tduke@rockbridge.net (Ted Duke)
To: EagleLGS@aol.com, ryeg@vais.net
Larry,
Enjoyed your email. My first sail I motored out a quarter of a mile (at Belle
Haven-Rye knows the place) and lowered the keel and raised the sails. The
wind was blowing but I wasn't moving. Took me about 3 minutes to realize I
had about 2 ft of keel in the MUDFLATS. I raised the keel and motored to
where the other boats were sailing. Everyone waved and I am sure hid their
laughs.
On another early sail upon return to the ramp I was trying to back away from
the ramp because there was a boat hung up and blocking the pier. However, the
wind was stronger than my Johson 6 in reverse. The damage to my boat was
slight, and the black mark on his was negligible and he was most understanding
(although the lady who was with him and could have fended off, didn't and then
ragged me considerably).
Ran into a shoal marker in the dark on my first and last night sail. <bg> We
had intended to ba anchored prior to dark, but we had water in the gas and we
were late. Trying to go between two little islands I hit something and the
Potter stopped. My wife shined the light up front and said it was something
white and she said "it says OAL on it". I backed up and finally figured out
it said SHOAL. I had misread the chart in the dark. We motored back to the
inlet where the marina is and dropped anchor for the night.
Have rounded up a time or two, and had the rudder popoff (a bent retainer
which I had failed to fix) and lost total control in high (for me) winds.
That was an experience I would rather NOT repeat. The wind was trying to
drive us up on the ONLY ROCK WALL on the lake.
I agree that slips are great to get you sailing quickly, but there's nothing
like trying out a new place.
BTW we should conduct these conversations on the Potter list, because it's
definitely more interesting than the politically correct or incorrect posts
and other trivia we seem subjected to periodically.
Might I suggest you repost this to the list. Might be inspirational to some
new sailor or give a laugh to someone who never makes a mistake! Like Rye??
Ted Duke, Fairfield, Virginia
1990 WWP-19 #626 "The Duchess"
(short mast-long boom)
-----Original Message-----
From: EagleLGS@aol.com [mailto:EagleLGS@aol.com]
Sent: Sunday, April 30, 2000 23:58
To: tduke@rockbridge.net; ryeg@vais.net
Subject: Re: Short Rig!
HI Guys,
Thanks for the welcome to SR Potters. My boat is #545 (1989) and I am 67 so
we are both old timers. Two weeks ago I sailed on a 3000+ acre Taylorsville
Lake which is about 40 miles from Louisville. It was my first launch and went
OK. There was enough wind to sail a few miles and everything worked. The most
excitement was when I attempted to reverse (spin 4hp 180 degrees) when
approaching the trailer for retrieval. I gunned the motor to back away, the
kick-up rudder was up, but of course the water caught it and forced it around
(opposite to and away from the prop), the tiller tied to boost me over the
stern, and the rudder protruding to starboard missed the dock by 2 inches,
whew!!.
Yesterday I sailed on the Ohio River, which is where I obtained limited
experience on other cruisers last year. The launch was OK, winds 5-10mph
when there was a wind. There was a current always, and the wind was also
downstream. The river at Louisville is about a mile wide (there are locks at
Louisville) . I found my self pointing upstream with sails in reasonable
shape, a stern wake, but drifting downstream. Fired up the engine after and
hour or so to motor back up to ramp area. The wind was coming and going and
my sails were down. At one point a MacGregor 26 under sail over took me !
:-) At that point I knew this game is not as simple as reading the right
manuals and monitoring the"LISTS". Me and my lady friend Kathi (who thinks
she likes adventure) also experienced our first "round up" (she was on the
low side ;-) ). Another first was going aground (very lightly) . Furled the
genoa, lifted the dagger board (noting a lull in wind first) started motor
and backed off. Actually started motor first the lifted dagger board enough
to move. Then retreiveing was going badly until I got wet and then backed
the car closer to the water. What a difference 3 feet make.
Perhaps this stuff will bring a smile and remind you of your first trials. I
am sorry I waited so long to get into sailing but with luck I will continue
to enjoy the challenge. Takes me about 1.5 hours each to get in and out of
the water so sooner or later I may decide to get a slip. But for now I want
Sea Eagle where I can Potter putter with ease (in the garage). There is an
8000 acre Lake Patoka in southern Indiana (65 miles) which has good ramps and
marina and Cumberland Lake 63000 acres about 120 miles. I little futher is
Dale Hollow Lake also quiet large and then Kentucky Lake is gigantic but 200
miles.
Thanks again for writing, Look forward to corresponding more.
Larry
Sea Eagle P19 SR
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