Association Forum - Outfoxed by a C25 in the anchorage in Block Island

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Outfoxed by a C25 in the anchorage in Block Island

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

Member Avatar

USA
1771 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/09/2008 : 08:13:13

OK, a change of plans. Rather than go inside Long Island Sound, we decided to run as planned to Block Island and hang left for a run into Newport. 200 NM to Block and 22 to Newport. With good conditions SV Lysistrata can do 150 mile days, so sure enough 31 hours later we were off of Block Island. Dense fog was predicted - the Admirals pet fear

- so we decided to pull into BlockHead Island for the night. (We dragged there once with our C25 into a beautiful Hans Christian. Lot's of stinkpotters, New Yorkers - read Yankee fans, GO SOX, and just nasty showers, poor anchorage, hence my BlockHead Island nickname).

So as we are entering a familiar boat is right in front of us in the channel sailing in under Main alone.... Yeppers, it was a C25 - anyone here?

This was Saturday night. Anyhow, we passed the fellow and we waved and I shouted "Nice Boat" which probably freaked the guy out.

When was the last time someone on a bluewater boat said nice boat to you? I woulda freaked out too if it had happened to me.

Anyhow, we turned to port and headed into the anchorage and started scouting out spots. It was blowing 20 knots and we were not happy about that as Lysistrata swings almost as rudely as our C25 in heavy wind. She just wants to go sailing.

We pick our spot and discuss tactics, I go up and prepared to drop our hook while my wife is putting us in the right spot. Just as we are about to come to a stop and drop, I see the C25 directly in our path. I radio my wife - we use walkie talkies, marraige savers - and we consider our options. The C25 was still under sail and less than 15 yards from our intended position he suddenly runs forward and drops a hook! Mind you the main was still up!

We circle around looking for another spot, when I spot the C25 kinda dragging into another boat anchored with rode only. They got close, but I had my own problems so I just did not watch. We pick our second spot and drop only to observe the C25 re-drop upwind from us, not far. Some fellows on the first boat that he had gotten close to had jumped into their dink and boarded the C25 and assisted him redrop. Granted we too were trying to drop in anything less than 25 feet of water.

We hauled the hook and tried again in another spot only to find that the hook wouldn't set. Hauled the hook up to find a big beach towel wrapped on the hook - a 35lb. CQR. By this time we have had enough and the radio crackled with my wife saying, "I've got $35 bucks burning a hole in my pocket for a ball."

We picked up a ball, took the launch to shore for dinner at the Oar House. Woke up with the sun and since we had hailed the Harbor Master at 19:45 with no response, we decided to go without paying as there was nobody to pay.

File under, all is well that ends well.

Sten

DPO C25 #3220 "Zephyr", SR, FK
SV Lysistrata - C&C 39 - Newport RI

Edited by - on

Stardog
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
319 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2008 : 10:40:59

Hey Sten,

I picked up a trick that I use to keep my boat from swimming at anchor when it's windy. Maybe you already do this? I snub my anchor, pay out the proper scope, then run the rode to the stern and cleat it there. The boat hangs nearly in a straight line to the wind, almost no lateral movement. This isn't a good idea if there are sizable waves as your cockpit will be quite wet and the waves slapping the stern may keep you up all night.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2008 : 22:01:27

Sorry I missed ya--especially if you stopped in The Pond... You lucked out with the ball--the weekend traffic must have just left, and others were probably looking at the doppler and staying home that night--it was pretty exciting in much of CT!

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2008 : 13:01:56

actually Dave, I think the marine world is a bit sick... Way too many empty balls this year... we had about a hundred balls to pick from... The wife is off to Kansas for five weeks - Renzo now is the time - so I will undoubtedly solo in the sound. Will keep you posted.

sten

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2008 : 13:06:50

Stardog... that is an interesting suggestion, but with all 10 mm chain - bigger than 3/8ths, we are not gonna do it. Use a riding sail instead. Also, wanna freak out you harbor mates? Anchor backwards!

sten

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1520 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2008 : 13:14:40

My 2 pals and I stayed on my friend's C-25 at the Newport Yachting Center Friday night and then headed out past Seal Rock to sail back up to his marina in East Greenwich on Sunday, but the soutwest 10 kt breeze made the turn around Conamicut Island too long and tedious, so we never did "bump into you" on your run into Newport Saturday.

What a beautiful sight zig-zagging up the Narragansett Bay on successive broad reaches with sailing scenery like I've never seen before. Several 50 to 80 ft schooners sailing every which way, a dozen or so 30-50 ft sloops heading out to sea or up the bay.

As we got north past the Newport Bridge we saw a sloop with a dirty-looking gray colored gennaker with a black panther head. This boat came from behind us moving at about 10-18 kt (fast), passed ahead of us, rounded a red can, dropped the spin, hoisted the big jib, and shot back down the bay close hauled towards the bridge with 6 crew on the windward rail. The Puma Volvo 70 boat is faster than the C-25 SR/FK, I must say.

A green and yellow and white gennaker, then 5 or more Volvo 70's with big red and white and other colors of sails came up on dead runs under gennakers. And a few puny 40 or 50 ft boats, too.

We were off their line on our broad reach, luckily. What a sight. Wow! Sorry, no pictures - dead camera battery.

Sten, you may have seen them coming back into Newport after their little race!

Happy sailing.

Correction - Friday night in Newport, not Saturday night.
Those impressive boats were racing on Saturday afternoon.

Edited by - JohnP on 06/11/2008 07:38:37

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2008 : 15:14:39

will you guys please stop trying to bump into me! i'll be here all summer... feel free to stop by. I am in the anchorage - where else? near the Ida Rose yacht club... raft up if you want... we'll hold ya!

sten

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2008 : 17:21:37

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redviking
 ...I am in the anchorage - where else? near the Ida Rose yacht club...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Do you mean Ida Lewis YC?

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2008 : 19:10:21

yes I do... ooops...

sten

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1608 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2008 : 23:05:24

where are you going to winter?

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1520 Posts

Response Posted - 06/11/2008 : 07:58:44

Sten,
I promise not to chase you to try to collide!!! Honest.

But it's fun to come upon another familiar boat out on the water, whether it's in the Chesapeake Bay on my boat or in the Narragansett Bay on my friend's boat.

Newport, RI is a beautiful port. Hope you enjoy the summer there.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 06/11/2008 : 08:33:12

Quote: "where are you going to winter?"

It's nearly official. The Admiral has signed on for one more year!

- So it'll be back to Florida and then further south for next summers hurricane season... provided I refill the cruising kitty a bit this summer....

Newport is a great spot... I love all of Narragansett Bay really, but the parade of boats that pass by Lysistrata each day is truly remarkable... Puma practices daily, the newport to bermuda race is a week and a half away, so there is a flurry of activity... Life is good.

sten

Edited by - on

SEAN
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
772 Posts

Response Posted - 06/11/2008 : 14:04:09

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">freak out you harbor mates? Anchor backwards!

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1608 Posts

Response Posted - 06/11/2008 : 18:27:00

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Quote: "where are you going to winter?"

It's nearly official. The Admiral has signed on for one more year! - So it'll be back to Florida and then further south for next summers hurricane season... provided I refill the cruising kitty a bit this summer....<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

we're trying to line up Lime Keyes rental for December.

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.