Seascape for Mary

It's Coby's Mom's birthday -- and she collects seascapes. So we are resuming uploading.

Here's to you, Mary. Happy Birthday!

Interior of Snookums

This is how Snookums looked below decks at the end of a month at sea.

Climax of Sunset - last night out

7/10/2009

Video of sunset off Oahu -- Coby's last night before landfall. He decided to head out to sea, in order to thread through the coral reefs in daylight. He reported how difficult it was to see the lights recede as he turned away. I saw this sunset from another angle. It was exciting to know that he was so close, and hard to wait until another day (except it gave me time to find him leis).

Later in the night, a wind so strong it woke me rose up, along with a wall of rain. Coby said that it literally hit him - he could feel the edge of the wind as it slammed into his shoulder. Perhaps his roughest and scariest ride was that last night, so very close. I awoke many times, knowing that we were in the same storm system. In the morning, it was clear and beautiful. Very early, he made the turn towards land.

Snookums Sailing today

Coby is sailing Snookums to the leeward side of Oahu, about a 50 mile journey. He is accompanied by John, Al's son, who is a wonderful sailor and knows the area well.

Safety systems, innovations, etc.

Coby has read for years about sailing. The last two, he was focused on nothing but. He consulted with many wise people, and tried out many systems. Being the inventive soul he is, some are things he created. Mostly, he tried to create a boat that could avoid what caused many adventures (read disasters). Below is what he decided on and installed in Snookums. Soon I will post the page of evaluations and corrections. Most of what he decided worked wonderfully - he never had a drop in the bilge -- but there are a few things he would do differently.

This is all for sailors. If any of you landlubbers are curious, ask and we will translate. You can get a sense of his deep preparation, and why I had such confidence in him. He wrote this all before he left.

Note: most of these systems are things I've read about, heard about, thought about, invented, and was happy with in the river. Reviews to follow after offshore trip.

SAFETY SYSTEMS

Piracy

I'm not going anywhere that there are any reported pirates. That's mostly the horn of Africa, and the Straits of Malacca between Indonesia and Malaysia. Of course, there are robbers everywhere, more where there are more poor people. Lots more on land than at sea.

I'm not carrying guns – just like on land, there are a few cases where having one was effective but far more that resulted in more death, not less. The piracy cases I've read about ended up with dead sailors who brandished or fired a gun, and live sailors who put up with being robbed. Even in Somalia, the most dangerous area, the pirates are unlikely to kill sailors, for fear of retribution.

Coby overboard

Got lots of systems to have this not happen:

– Lifelines of course – steel cable "railings" around the sides of the boat.

- A harness, with tether, that I wear all the time I'm on deck. The tether is connected to jacklines, that I clip into before I step on deck. The jacklines are ½ inch lines that run bow to stern on either side, fastened to the toe rail. They run on the outside of the shrouds and everything else, so that if I fall off the bow, my tether slides on the jacklines, and I float to the stern. I have a quick-release rope ladder on either side at the stern so I grab that and climb back aboard (I also have foot–loops at the bow hanging over to climb up)

-- I have two 4' tethers, so I can clip on forward of the shroud before unclipping aft. The second tether is also handy for clipping around the mast while reefing. When on the foredeck, I clip into both jacklines, and can move between the mast and bowsprit, but not far enough sideways to fall overboard. Handy for doing my Qi Gong practice on the foredeck.

(the old school, no harness method)

I also tow 200' of line with a small buoy at the end, knotted every 18." Which is my "last chance" safety system, if something goes wrong with my harness, and I fall, and don’t catch myself on the lifelines, and don't grab the side of the boat or the "footrope" and don't grab the rope ladder at the back, I still have rescue system. Grabbing the line will release a snap shackle, disengaging my wind vane self'-steering. That should let Snookums round up into the wind, and I’ll pull myself back aboard. Haven't checked how this affects my speed, but then I'm not in a hurry.

I've tried all these systems in the Columbia River – they work great. Hope I never need them again!

One last safety item – never be afraid to crawl, not walk, when it's rough.

Katja post script: Larry, Coby and I sprinkled sand and paint in three layers to make a non-skid surface for Coby. He reported feeling like a gecko – good grip.

Drinking water\

• 30 gal. stainless steel tank, with manual hand pump faucet, in the non-engine compartment.

• PUR 35 manual watermaker 1.3 gal/hr

• PUR 06 backpacker watermaker 1 pint/hr.

* Reverse- osmosis watermakers have a membrane so fine that water molecules can pass through, but not the salt. Fresh water from seawater. Pretty cool. However they do recommend not using the 06 during the day in the tropics – you sweat more than you make!

• Materials for a solar still – a pan of seawater with a cup in the middle, covered in clear plastic, with a weight in the middle of the plastic. Seawater evaporates into fresh water vapor, condenses on the plastic, runs down the underside of the plastic and drips into the cup. Not recommended for choppy seas – hence the watermakers.

• I have a raincatcher tarp, made by my friend Adele – 3'x4' vinyl with grommets, that I hang in the cockpit to catch rain. ¾" through hull fitting in the middle, with a hose long enough to reach my tank fill (or give myself a bath!)

• I've read after a rain, when it's calm, the fresh water floats on top for a while – hope to scoop some soon.

Rough Weather safety systems (Coby spend much effort helping Snookums take care of him)

• First, all the safety harness & tether systems I'll be wearing all the time.

• A set of knee pads when lots of crawling around is required (low center of gravity, less windage) My pads are flat on the bottom and soft rubber for more stability.

• A willingness to heave-to, and wait out the storm, rather than najub gnire iels and more danger.

• A drogue, to slow me down if I do have to run with the storm.

• Heavy storm jib, and a heavy storm trysail on a separate track at the mast. The track goes about halfway up the mast to a block, so I can use a dedicated halyard. I plan to keep the trysail packed & on the track – perhaps the jib hanked on as well.

• 4" window in my top hatchboard so I can see the windvane etc. without opening up.

• Manual bilge pump in the cabin so I can pump without opening up

• Lots of different seasickness medications

• I built one large lower hatch board – as big as the lower two originals. This stays in all the time, so if the cockpit floods my hatch is the highest edge not the lowest. Deadbolts on all hatchboards to keep them in. Stairs built into lower hatchboard.

• I cut 2"x7" scuppers through the stern, filling between the double-hull with fiberglass. ¼" EPDM rubber flaps on the outside to keep out following seas (and I hope they will!) These plus the 1 ½" cockpit drains should empty it quickly. (heavy-duty hose, and bronze fittings & through hulls for the cockpit drains.

• Got rid of all through-hulls but the cockpit and bilge drain (and these are above the waterline--barely). I've got a shoots-through-the-hull depth sounder, and will get my speed from GPS, or watching the foam go past & estimating speed by that. No more sink. drain-a-bucket in the sink. No head. No holes.

• Inside the cabin, netting covering all shelves & galley stuff (milk crates full of dishes (non breakable). Netting tied on at the bottom, hooked into cuphooks at the top. Cuphooks underneath the overhang far enough not to be a hazard.

• All locker tops, including icebox, fastened down with brass dogs – 1" x 3" x 1/8" thick oval strips, drilled at one end for the bolt, that rotate overtop the lid. Similar teak dogs for the galley drawers and door.

• I'll sleep in the starboard settee. Adele made me a lee cloth – 2'x 3', to keep from rolling out—clipped to padeyes below shelves. Also a seatbelt – airline type from Dan's Classic Auto- to keep me in bed even if I roll over. My head is aft on the settee, so that it's my feet that hit the bulkhead if I zoom down a wave.

• Petzl mountaineering helmet – I tend to bang my noggin a lot anyway, and 6' Coby in 5'11" cabin could be uncomfortable in a rough sea. Also, a concussion is a common injury in knockdowns, etc.

• All my Rubbermaid tubs and 3 ½ gal buckets (w. Gamma lid screw-tops) are tied or strapped down. I drill many 5/16 holes in the V-berth insert, and use ¼ line for attachment loops.

• 406 EPIRB w. GPS – Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon – goes on manually, or automatically when very wet. In my ditchbag.

• Plastimo 4-man offshore life raft.

• submersible VHF Radio w/GPS – ditch bag.

• red flares, white flare, rocket flares, orange smoke, orange dye, whistle, signaling mirror – ditch bag

• pre-made (by my friend Larry) ¼ " plywood porthole covers, w. crossbar attached. One oval of plywood larger than the port, one smaller (to center it) Fits through the port sideways from inside, crossbar tightened w/attached 1/4" line. Similar cover for forward hatch.

• Katja my beloved (& my friend Holly Jo) covered my ceiling in ¼ cork, w/ additional pieces to cover bolts, padeyes, etc. I had removed the original vinyl/foam to inspect the mast support. Cork is better for insulation, resists mildew, no toxic smoke if it burns – and it floats!

• Full face respirator w. universal filters, to give me extra time below decks to fight a fire. Most boats burn because people are forced to the topsides by smoke and are unable to fight the fire.

• Two ABC dry chemical fire extinguishers on port bulkhead forward side, one at galley near companionway. One halon-type at galley. (I have a bulkhead at forward end of galley, as wide as galley).

• Earplugs, and also earmuff style hearing protectors. I read that one of the most debilitating parts of a storm is the noise – can scream at 130 decibels.

Comfort, Convenience

*Single burner SVEA kerosene cooker, on a SeaSwing mounted above icebox on port bulkhead (most Flickas don't have this bulkhead – don't know mine's history but I like it).

* backup kerosene stove – Dragonfly International

* milk crate in the hole where the old stove was – leaves enough room at the front for a Thermos bottle and Nalgene bottle & water spray bottle and fire extinguisher.

* bucket in the sink for dishes. I plan to use seawater for most things

• smaller milk crate for more dishes, etc, to port of 1st milk crate

• clear square Nalgene lexan bottles in various sizes for spices, oil, vinegar, etc.

* backup kero anchor light

* masthead LED nav (navigation) lights & anchor light

• LED bulbs in all original nav lights

• all LED cabin lights – 3 in overhead, one flexible map light. These switch red or white.

• 3 ½ gal food grade plastic buckets with Gamma screw on lids. Waterproof, airtight. 25 lbs of Quinoa, whole wheat flour, spaghetti, oats, nuts.

* The same type bucket & lid for my head – with enzymes to break down waste. Only for use in port – bucket and chuck it offshore. River rafters use these.

• Extra bar in sides of pulpit, added with dodger type fittings, so I can't fall through.

• Rubbermaid tubs in port ¼ berth

• too many cans of food in most lockers

• boat came with original main, 2 sets of reef points, full batten main with 2 sets of reef points, storm trysail (separate track), storm jib, 100w.1 set reef points, 135, 150, asymmetrical spinnaker. Mostly new.

• I put in twin headstays for flying 2 jibs. I like it, but won't know if it’s a good idea till later. More versatile, but more complex and possibly won't point as high.

• Aries standard windvane (big for a Flicka, but oh so salty.)

• Lowered my traveler to an extra tube halfway down the pulpit – the original was interfering with my backstay.

• Boomkicker to hold the boom up without a topping lift – more idiot proof and I like that.

Anchors

• 35# CQR

• Fortress, rated for 28-32' boat.

• 15 # CQR, for kedge

• small fortress for Dinghy

• 300' 5/16 high test chain, stowed in the bilge when it was clearly too heavy in the bow. May change my mind, but still like it for the storm rode

• 50' chain w/250' ½ inch nylon rode

• 10' chain with 250' ½ inch nylon rode

• small grapnel hook

Dinghy

• Innova 2 – man inflatable sea kayak

(open – no skirts), w/ 3 paddles, & a round 4' sail

• lots of fishing gear – I know very little –

(2) 6' rods w. 30 # line, 80# leaders lots of tuna jigs, smaller jigs for baitfish & reef fish. 300 yards handlne, 1 gaff, I spear, big landing net, little net (for flying fish?)

• plankton net – one leg of panty hose (same mesh as the $80. nets) w/wire loop at the big end, collection bottle at the small. Tow behind boat, at night when there's much more plankton. Eat with or without Tabasco. Haven't tried this yet- hope it’ll be my super food – Dr. Alain Bombard survived for some months on it, as an experiment, catching phytoplankton (plants) and zooplankton (critters). Yum?

Journal

• for waterproof journal, bought a roll of Tyvek at Home Depot – 3'x 165. Cut into 3 pieces, which I'll use as scrolls.

Power

• (2) AGM jet ski batteries, strapped into starboard shelf.

• All LED lighting all backup equipment (GSP, VHF, flashlights, headlamps, kayak nav. lights) are hand-held, AA batteries.

• I have a holder for eight AA's so I can power the entire system back through the cig. lighter.

• Two folding (not flexible) solar panels – they go from big wallet size to 16x20 – 12 watts each.

• One Windstream bicycle pedal generator – 65 watts.

• Lots of rechargeable AA, lots of NiCads.

• Tiny backpacker solar panel for ditch bag – to recharge VHF, SAT. phone, etc.

Engine

Have an old Johnson 8 Sailmaster outboard. Built a shelf, w/lid in aft of cockpit, to hold two 3 gallon gas tanks. Shelf 5" above sole, so my scuppers will drain unobstructed ( added scuppers – rear of cockpit). Fiddles built into shelf lid.

Halyards

All halyards at mast. Tried cockpit controls – too much back and forth when reefing or hanking on new headsails. Two winches on mast, turning blocks at base of mast (single hander plate with attachment holes), stopper knots in all halyards. Jiffy reefing with hooks at forward end of boom, reefing lines on port side of boom. Separate cleats for each reefing line. As simple as I can get it. My friend Dave King gave me two pieces of line, to tie off clew cringle for extended reefing, so as not to chafe reefing lines. Hope I still like my system after being off shore.

Coby has comment to insert here.

• Six oval bronze opening ports

• Lewmar ocean hatch – ½ inch acrylic

• ¼ line in a loop, led forward, to steer from foredeck when attached to tiller.

• Bungee cords and lines made up, to lash the tiller and absorb shock if I back down a wave.

• Shock cord with snap hooks on each end to attach to both sides of the pushpit and hold the tiller in place.

• Plastimo compass that reads on both side of the bulk head.

• Bronze padeyes in overhead to hang lines, fruit hammocks, foulies on.

• Shelf liners made of 1/8 " or ¼ " plywood, for spare materials without using space.

• Twelve inch round buoy, so I can swim a kedge anchor out.

• 6' x 12" x 3/4 " plywood, on edge in port quarterberth to retain Rubbermaid tubs and be spare rudder, etc.

• Original hatchboards, just in case.

• Three spare windvanes, plus one larger and one smaller vane.

• Small (1/16" ?) stainless Tig welding rod for repairs and to use at turnbuckles instead of cotter pins.

• Lots of Gorilla duct tape.

• Lots of hand tools, and lots of WD40.

• Lots of spare screws, bolts, shackles, pins, etc.

• Various goops – 5200 Marine Goop, Epoxy, Antiseize, etc.

• No alcohol – affects my judgment way too much.

• 6/4 wetsuit with hood, gloves, booties—possible survival suit.

• 3/2 wetsuit, 2 pairs fins, 2 snorkels, 2 masks.

• 5 gallons kerosene, 1 gallon alcohol, 6 gallons gasoline (gas in cockpit).

• 200' spare 3/8 line for halyards, sheets, etc.

• Lots of 3/16 or ¼ inch line, 3 or 4 feet long, hung by girth hitches on lifelines, to keep handy for lashing, etc.

• Hawsepipes sealed with modeling clay on the bronze cap, plus duct tape, plus line from inside.

• Shore power inlet sealed with modeling clay and duct tape.

• Bronze manual windlass, just aft of bowsprit, for chain or line. 800 lb. capacity. A little bulky and in the way, but maybe well worth that if I need to kedge off a reef, or raise anchor with a stuck anchor or a bum shoulder.

• High sensitivity barometer, so I can really see a drop or rise.

• Sangean AM/FM/Shortwave SW/SSB receiver

• Grundig AM/FM/Shortwave SW/SSB receiver.

• Two backup Cobra GPS wrapped in lots of tinfoil for supposedly lightning pulse protection.

• One Garmin 76XCS GPS with Blue Chart chips of most of Pacific, East Australia, New Zealand.

• US charts from Oregon to Hawaii (new) New British Admiralty Charts of Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, etc, large and small scale, $1600. worth.

• Two Davis Mark 25 plastic sextant, tables and almanacs to go with (I need practice)

• Fourteen-foot aluminum and fiberglass rafting oar that breaks down into 2 pieces. Oarlock mounted on transom at starboard. Sculling only -- couldn't figure a good way for rowing from the side. Can do maybe a knot right now. Needs practice. Allowing the flex of the oar to work for you on the backstroke is important. Like a fish's tail, and not like a lever.

• 3'x 5' canvas, for shade etc. No dodger, I can't bear looking through plastic (hope that doesn’t mean I get to look through lots of water!

video of albatross at sea

Coby took a video of the albatross that came to rest on his rail one morning at dawn. It arrived very bedraggled. After about an hour, looking like a new bird, it flew off. 

It didn't exhibit any nervousness around Coby - only six feet away, with head and shoulders showing from the companionway. It did fly off once he came on deck. It is available in HD if you can figure out how.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLWVDuhThXY

TransPac Race & Snookums for Sale

Pictures  by our landlord in Kane'ohe, Uncle Dan, of our reunion. He and his wife had us over for a lovely BBQ. The Kane'ohe Yacht Club is very hospitable, and absolutely lovely!

Finally had enough energy to go over to Waikiki and visit the TransPac boats. One took just over five days from LA! Felt very good to have people who I considered to be real sailors shake my hand when they heard of my voyage. 

Listed the boat for sale today. Felt a little sad and very right.