La's Laser Focus

La went sailing this morning (while I got groceries).  She was on a Laser!!!

Not sure what's going on with the helmet...

Wishful Thinking

And when we got back from the flats - look what was in the parking lot - a big Farrier Trimaran.

Owning one of these out here would be awesome - could get across the channels pretty quick with this (but it would be a beating going up wind with the swells as big as they can get.  It's nice to dream about those things anyways - back to reality (no boat for me).

International 14s

I've always loved these boats.  I've never sailed in one, but the lines, the sail plan, the performance - it all oozes fluid perfection!

These boats were out for a race yesterday - and even though the winds were ridiculously light, I bet they had a wonderful time!

Annapolis Fall Boat Show 2013

It's that time of year again!!! The Sailboat show is back in town! Where last year was a glance at what these boats are magnitude wise, our objective this year was to really get to know the nuances of these sailboats. La and I spent the better part of 13 hours taking in the multihulls in excruciating detail. I'll post separately on the three that really took our attention, but these random pictures are some of the others on display that caught my eye for various reasons. Especially the ocean rowing hull, the mini transat, the wooden sailing canoe, and the inflatable skiff (and you know I am a sucker for inflatable watercraft). There will be several posts from yesterday, so for those of you that couldn't make it to the show, grab some popcorn and get ready to read.

Outriggers V2

So the proas from yesterday were cool, but the paternal drive to ensure the kids have cool beach toys made me go back to the drawing board today.

I built the ones from yesterday with a old technique I used when I was a kid - cut the sides and the deck in sheets and tape them together. The ones I used to build were catamarans - about 16" in length (my Dad had access to longer sheets of styrofoam - today I save the foam trays from the fish we buy).

The fact that the buoyancy needed to be shifted forward on the proas prompted me to build new amas. I was just going to change out the amas, but layering the foam for the amas made me think that I could use the same technique on the hull - so I started building the hull(s). At the same time I resigned myself to build trimarans (and gave up on the outrigger/proa designs - for this run anyways).

The one in the middle has a vertical stack for the hull/vaka and the amas. The one in front has a horizontal bias for the vaka and amas. The one in the rear has vertical amas and a horizontal hull. The orientation refers to the way the sheets are taped together and the alignment to the water's surface.

The mast and the struts are bamboo skewers.

These were a blast to build and the kids enjoyed seeing the difference between yesterday's boats and today's.

Not bad for a rainy day project.

I kept the pen in for size reference. I actually like these smaller boats compared to the ones I used to make - easier to transport and store (and Noe says they are cute). How can you argue that?

We'll try to get out to the beach after school one day this week and race them!!!

Volvo Ocean Race

I poached this off the Sailing Anarchy site (gomen nasai) but I couldn't help it -

Maybe it's the 6+ years of post secondary education I had studying fluid flow, the ocean, pressure and energy transfer.

Maybe it's the 25+ years of being on, in, around water around this planet of ours.

Maybe it's the feeling of the wind in my face and the crispness of salty skin after a day of sailing.

I don't know what it specifically is but the lines on fast sailboat are so alluring and get me spun up...

Does that make me a pervert??? ;)

Sailing World's Boat of the Year

in the Dinghy class is in MY GARAGE!!!!

The Weta Trimaran was recognized by the judges for it's versatility, performance and value - and nearly took top honors and not just the dinghy class.

It's always reassuring to know you made a wise decision and other feel the same - not to mention it helps resale value and fleet growth.

The pictures are just a reminder (to me mostly) of how cool this watercraft really is...

I am hoping 2010 turns out to be a decent year for racing our boat here in the South.

HOO-YAH!!!!

HOOYAH

And the final post for tonight...

I got boat name stickers made!!!!

One for each side, placed high near the bows of the amas -

Check it out ;)

I had to pull the big Dakine sticker off the port ama - but the name didn't look good if I worked around the dakine sticker.

I love this boat!!!

And if you didn't already know, stickers make boats and boards go considerably faster so HOOYAH should top out somewhere between ludicrous speed and warp factor 7.

Picked up HOO-YAH this weekend

Here she is!!!

Her name is HOO-YAH!!!! (with four exclamation points - one for each of us).

Picked her up from the Richmond Yacht Club on Thursday - had to pick up the trailer from Pacific Trailers before we went to get the boat.

It's late so I'll write more tomorrow - just wanted to get the blog started!!!

HOO-YAH!!!!

Gulfport, Mississippi

And here is where we are moving to - Gulfport.

The beaches are wide and the wind is side-on shore.

The water is brown...

There was no surf to speak of - not even wind swell.

I'll have to transition back to kiting and distance SUPing and...

we'll have to get one of these to distract me (the Weta or a Hobie, still trying to decide)!!!

Also, the reference I made to knowing that 20 miles of paddling is reassuring - there are offshore islands that block the surf - I can either paddle to them and back or paddle to them, blow them up so the surf will come through (JUST KIDDING - if you were offended, I was just kidding).

Hawaiian Sailing Canoes

I don't know what it is about sailboats with multiple hulls - they are just so darn alluring...

I saw my first Hawaiian Sailing Canoe in person back in the summer of 2000. That had a profound effect on me that is still making me think I need two more kids (to fill the 6 man crew requirements of a full on canoe).

Back then I was hard into surfing bigger waves, kiting whenever the trades were willing and starting prone paddleboarding and the canoe crewing idea faded away quickly.

To this day I still feel drawn to these watercraft - knowing their place in history and their significance in human achievement - navigation of the Pacific and migration of sea-going humans across the vast open ocean. AWESOME!

The Weta is looking more and more like a done deal for Team Velasco...

More to follow -

Rough cutting and dragonskin carving done and Sailrocket

I spent another 2 hours blending in the hard angles left by the planer with dragonskin - made it through 60 grit screen as well. No pictures today - camera battery was dead. 120, 180 and 220 screens are next.

Then I'll make a template of the flat portion of the topdeck and transfer it to the bamboo veneer.

With the way things are currently going, the board should end up a 8'6"x28.5"x4.25" shreading machine.

Current paint scheme is going to take advantage of the blonde color of the bamboo - think California Avocado... Lots more to follow.

BUT - in light of having no Short SUP pictures today, may I direct your attention to www.sailrocket.com

These guys are duking it out with the kitesurfers and windsurfers for the fastest windpowered watercraft title. Checkout the other pictures on their site. In one of the recent (still on the magazine racks) sailing magazines, there was a sequence on the sailrocket getting airborne - I haven't been able to get more info on that though.

I don't know about you, but I must admit carbon fiber and fluid cutting foils always get my blood flowing (it's the engineer in me).

Epiphany

This is the Weta Trimaran

I think I know my future...

I need/want/lust for one of these -

The speed-thrill-and carrying capacity of a catamaran, the maneuverability of a monohull and the coolness factor of nothing else all in a package that you can trailer behind your truck and store in your garage (next to your surfboards ;)

I need a second job to keep up with my eyes and adrenal gland. Or I could just get a frontal lobotomy...


Image credits to the people at www.wetamarine.com

Mini Transat

Here is the other end of the sailboat spectrum I am trying to sell La on...

These are smaller single hull boats that are used to race across the Atlantic single-handedly. Pretty ambitious - but if we get one of these, it would be to fart around on and slaughter local yacht club fodder.

More likely a dream that will remain unfulfilled (we are really looking at a beach cat that we can store in the backyard), but with dual rudders, articulating keel, sleek, streamlined cockpit - how can you not like this boat???!!!

Maybe after I retire from my second career...

Photo credits to http://www.minitransat650.com/html/zero.html