Old Skipper

We had an opportunity to enjoy dinner with Roger and Michele - owners of the Farrier 27 Trimaran that I used to crew on. We were trying to get a sail in - especially since he got some new sails, but as you saw in the previous post, the air was light. I learned a lot about jib and reacher sail management from this guy. I look forward to the next time we meet Roger! I'll have to fly back for one of the long races!

Mast Down

Roger, Stan and I dropped the mast today on Roger's boat. He's taking it to Mobile, AL to get the transome fixed and to get some other "go-fasts" finished up on it.

After 18 months of being crew aboard, it was neat to finish off the way I started -

I first noticed Roger's boat parked at the Long Beach Yacht Club and when one of the first Hurricanes pulled through during our stay here, he dropped the mast and pulled the boat to higher ground.

When he brought it back to the club, I asked if I could help and that was that.

Several races and trips out to the barrier islands later and it's time for the Velasco's to move on to the next spot.

Thanks for all the good times Roger!!!

Ship Island Sail

Roger called up yesterday and with a promising forecast (10-15 from 1200-1500, 15-20 from 1500-1700), I got to help break-in the new standing rigging he put up on his F-28.

The wind was howling for most of the trip - close reaching on the outbound run getting 17.1 mph.

Spent about an hour out at Ship Island right by the pier. Nice facilities, but everything was closed (off season???).

The run back was a broad reach (started out as a beam) and we would get swell pushing from the port stern quarter. Made for a quick run back hitting a max downwind speed of 17.9 mph.

The anemometer at Gulfport never recorded a gust past 20 mph while we were out on the water - real efficient sailing.