Sailing report from Montana
Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 2:08 pm
Conditions were favorable for the first couple of months of winter as long as you had a craft that ran on ice. The hard freeze came well before the snow this year and I was hoping to learn of some ice sailing events as I know there are craft in the area. Did not learn of any sailing events but I did read a interesting newspaper article about a couple of folks in the Flathead Valley (NW Mt) that managed to ice skate miles (nine?) down a frozen river.
Back to the report, warmed up quite a bit today as the state was blanketed with heavy snow over the last two days. Once the snow started falling, the temperature rose gradually from the low of -30 degrees C it had been maintaining for the last week to about zero currently. A pleasant change for me I must say.
Frayed Knot sits comfortably on the side lawn where I decided she would winter and allow me the opportunity to do some maintenance. She seems content under the deep blanket of new snow but she will get restless soon.
I did complete the desired trailer work this fall, the new paint and surge break controller defiantly improve the overall "on the hard" look. I also manage to rewire the mast and am searching for a replacement mast light to finish that task.
I have also located all the required stepping hardware and plan to practice once its not to cold to freeze my hands on cold metal. In the past I have always had ample help at the marina and used their raising system. This season a friend has extended the use of his dock to me and I want to master solo stepping long before I reach the launch.
I look forward to the coming season and to try some new techniques I have read about - has anyone mastered heaving to on a C22?
Last but not lease - I think the members would enjoy seeing this add for a 34' Able. I did call and the boat was getting a survey on Thursday with a long list of next in lines potential buyers - I'm sure it sold. I understand that in addition to the shallow fixed keel, there is some type of swing keel
mechanism on the boat.
http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1987/Ab ... vf7LrWYbIU
Should the link not work, just search for the Able in Ensenada Mexico.
Back to the report, warmed up quite a bit today as the state was blanketed with heavy snow over the last two days. Once the snow started falling, the temperature rose gradually from the low of -30 degrees C it had been maintaining for the last week to about zero currently. A pleasant change for me I must say.
Frayed Knot sits comfortably on the side lawn where I decided she would winter and allow me the opportunity to do some maintenance. She seems content under the deep blanket of new snow but she will get restless soon.
I did complete the desired trailer work this fall, the new paint and surge break controller defiantly improve the overall "on the hard" look. I also manage to rewire the mast and am searching for a replacement mast light to finish that task.
I have also located all the required stepping hardware and plan to practice once its not to cold to freeze my hands on cold metal. In the past I have always had ample help at the marina and used their raising system. This season a friend has extended the use of his dock to me and I want to master solo stepping long before I reach the launch.
I look forward to the coming season and to try some new techniques I have read about - has anyone mastered heaving to on a C22?
Last but not lease - I think the members would enjoy seeing this add for a 34' Able. I did call and the boat was getting a survey on Thursday with a long list of next in lines potential buyers - I'm sure it sold. I understand that in addition to the shallow fixed keel, there is some type of swing keel
mechanism on the boat.
http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1987/Ab ... vf7LrWYbIU
Should the link not work, just search for the Able in Ensenada Mexico.