Blowing Dogs off Chains....
Blowing Dogs off Chains....
Hey guys....went sailing again Sunday on Carbon Copy and had the hoot of all hoots ! Nice downwind sleigh ride to Boggy Bayou with the chute cranking and rooster tails flying. Visited with the Old Man and the Sea....Mr Franzen at his house for a cold beer and a dose of courage before we started the upwind trek home. Also borrowed some FW gear as the increasing velocity would be darn cold upwnd for ~8 miles. Headed back out into the bay from the realitive calm of the bayou into the teeth of the southwesterly as we watched first the dogs go flying by and then as the wind continued to build.....had to duck their chains that went by next. Headed upwind into a 3 foot chop and ~ 20+ knots double trapped and cranked in, max downhaul and the travellor 3 inches off center. All of a sudden BANG ....the five sixteenths "s" hook attaching the main blocks to the clew STAIGHTENED ITSELF OUT AND CAME OUT OF THE CLEWBOARD ! The main went wildly to the shrouds as we dunked into the 60degree water before we could get back on board. Limped to the beach and tried to play hurcules and re-bend it to no avail. Ending up taking the spare line bag and lacing the mainsheet blocks to the clew and getting after it again. It all held and we made it to a frosty bushwacker at the Club and watched our spectacular Florida sunsets to wind down the weekend with. Good preparation for Miami - key Largo race in 2 weeks. Time to see if we can keep Uncle Bill in our sights long enough to pick our way thru the reefs and give him a run for his money. Stay tuned !