Dear Capt. Noah,
 
A couple of weekends ago I was on a boat with my husband who is not a sailor and doubts my sailing prowess.  He is constantly messing with things and asking me questions about what they do. He noticed that the backstay had a block and pulley system attached to it and the last boat we were on did not.  Not wanting to look foolish and confirm his suspicions that I don't know everything, I told him what was obvious from looking at the thing that it was used to adjust the backstay.  At that moment, one of the big noise polluters came roaring by and kept him from asking why would you want to do that.  Before he remembers and asks me, why would you want to adjust the backstay? 
 
Sally Salty
 
Dear Sally,
 
First, you should have yelled at him not to touch anything.  Then you should have told him that it was the emergency mast removal system.  Just pull on the line attached to the backstay and the mast falls off. Then you should have grabbed the line and pulled. That will teach him to doubt you.
 
Just kidding.  What you had on the boat was an adjustable backstay.  You were right when said that it adjusts the backstay.  More specifically, it adjusts the tension on the backstay, which in turn affects mast bend, and the tension of the forestay.  The 'why' is that by changing the bend in the mast or the tautness of the forestay you can improve sail trim and performance.
 
Now for the question you did not ask: When would you adjust the backstay?  Going upwind in higher winds, you want to flatten the sails as much as possible.  To do this, tighten the backstay.  This will bend the top of the mast backward and the middle of the mast forward, which in turn will flatten the mainsail.  As the top of the mast comes aft it will also tighten up the forestay (not so much on a fractionally rigged boat).  This will stretch the luff of the foresail giving it a flatter shape.  In lighter winds, you will want less tension to get a fuller shape in the sails.  Going downwind, you want a fuller shape so less tension is the way for your downwind points of sail.
 
Next time you and the hubby are out and heading upwind, tighten up the backstay, look him in the eye and say, "There now, isn't that better.  Now peel me a grape."
 
The answer to last month's question of how many oceans are there is "one."  According to NOAA, all of the named oceans are interconnected, forming one mass.  The names given to these separate oceanic masses are Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic and Southern / Antarctic. 
 
For next time: Who or what is the Green Flash?
 
Safe Sailing,
Capt. Noah T'all

Shallow Thought by Honez
 
The summer cruising season is almost upon us and it is time to start picking your crew for your summer getaway to trade winds, secluded anchorages and exotic rum drinking.  The destination is the easy part, just throw a dart at a chart of the Caribbean, Chesapeake or the Keys and there you go. 
 
You need to take a little more care in picking a shipmate.  Remember the boat is only 40 or 50 feet long.  That will be as far away as you can get.  So how do you pick a shipmate?  The best thing to do is spend a little time with your prospective crewmate before you go.  There is an old saying that you can learn everything you need to know about a person in just one round of golf.  Golf is a game that is designed to bring out the worst in a person.  Lying, cheating and being mean to little children will be reveled on the golf course.  As an example, I tend to make it clear to all within hearing that I would rather be somewhere else like on the lake in a sailboat while I fight the snakes for my ball in the woods.
 
Another excellent method of evaluating a potential crewmate is to give them a bag of Gummy Bears and watch how they dispose of them.   Do they just pop them in their mouth with no thought or consideration?  Do separate them into little groups and eat one group at time?  Do they devour the little bruin one limb at time?  Do they hold the hapless gumster over their gaping maw and listen to its pitiable screams before dropping it in or do they just bite off the head and "get 'er done"?  Anyway, you get the point.  This is a quick and easy way to spot a fellow traveler or a very scary dude or dudette.
 
Better yet:  A day on the lake will also go a long way in determining whether a person is your perfect match for fun and adventure.  Let me preface this next bit by saying that we are all individuals and special in our own little unique ways.  Some of the things that I look for (your requirements may vary) are:

_/)  Did the individual bring enough beer for themselves and me? 
_/)  Did the person bring enough snacks for themselves and me?
_/)  Does the person laugh at my jokes? 
_/)  Are they offended by my Salty Sailor talk? 
_/)  Do they take their turn steering the boat while I work on my tan? 

_/)  Can they navigate? (Very handy while I nap on the way to anchorage.)

_/)  Are they around when it is time to flake the sails and clean the boat while I scout out where the best rum drinks are for the rest of the crew? (Don't thank me, it's an honor to do my part.) 
_/)  Finally, do they get the sun set?  Sun set is that special time on a boat when each person on board has his or her own communion with the day.  In kindergarten, we used to call this quite time.
 
The very best place to locate your potential pool of shipmates is on the docks and boats of LSA.  The club has wide and varied group of individuals who will be sure to make the perfect crewmate on your next cruise.  So come on down the to dock, put your crew together and get going.  I'll be the one telling jokes to the gummy bears and watching to see which ones laugh.

 

 

2009 Spring & Summer Regatta Series     

Break open your new 2009 calendars and circle these dates !!  The warm weather is just around the corner and the Spring & Summer Regatta Series will be here before you know it !  Come to one or all of the races/cookouts ... whatever your schedule/family will allow.

 

Race 1 --- Completed

Race 2 --- Completed

Race 3 --- Saturday April 18

Race 4 --- Sunday April 26

 

Race 1 --- Saturday May 16

Race 2 --- Sunday May 31

Race 3 --- Saturday June 20

Race 4 --- Sunday June 28

 

Please call the dock for reservations (770) 614-5724.  Food & soft drink fee of $20  BYOB

 

 

Capri 22 Match Racing

Sunday, April 19 -- 2:00 pm til 6:00 pm

Sunday, May 17 -- 3:00 pm til 8:00 pm

Sunday, June 21 -- 3:00 pm til 8:00 pm

 
 

The results after the first race of the new match racing series are:
 
The Flying Scotts, captained by Bill Harding have 2 points, and the Slum Dogs, captained by Val Gonzales have 1 point. In Match Racing you only score if you win a race; high score wins the Series.
 
We are looking at putting together a third team to be captained by Hal Schlenger. If you are interested please e-mail Kurt at laniersail@mindspring.com.

 

Please join Michael Blanchard for a three hour adventure into the Art of Flying a Spinnaker.  We will review the tools and techniques necessary to use a spinnaker safely, followed by a test drive. 

 

Beware, this clinic is rated WTMF (way too much fun !) and is meant for the crazy at heart !!

 

The price is FREE to our club members.  Please call the dock for reservations (770) 614-5724.

 

 

Friday Night Overnight / Camp Out

Look for These Future Clinics
Understanding the Weather
Bareboat Management Tips

Sail Making & Repairs

Celestial Navigation

Sailing with Clowns  :-)

 

Lanier Sailing Academy and The Passport Sailing Club has organized a six day fantasy sailing trip onboard the 135 year old schooner "Stephen Tabor".  We'll be sailing from our homeport of Rockland exploring the picturesque coast of Maine and participating in the Rockland Windjammer Parade.

  

Where: The Coast of Maine

 

When: July 12 thru 18

 

Cost: 

Boat and meals: $937; typical airfare: $350

 

Extras: The Rockland Windjammer Parade, experience old style sailing, participate as crew or just hang out, gourmet food, sight seeing ashore, cool summer evenings and a few surprises.  

 

To discuss the details or register, please call Cindy or Matt at(770) 945-8810.  Also, feel free to log onto the schooner Stephen Tabor's website: www.stephentaber.com for more dream material.

 

Just another fun activity from The Passport Sailing Club.