Monday, May 19, 2008

Single handed sailing

What was it Mom always say about single handed sailing:

- "One hand for the ship, one hand for yourself?

- "Always wear your harness and clip into your lifeline? ...or was it:

-"Fly there instead and stay in a hotel". (actually, I think the only thing she did say was, "where do you stop at night?")

Well, even the great Chuck Handy can go overboard, and he just blogged about it.
Chuck is a circumnavigator and an itinerant (reknowned) boatbuilder who worked here on Cangarda among many, many other projects. Now, on Deviant he's on his way to the Marshall Islands (wherever they are). Clearly, I'm in no position to lecture anyone at any time on any subject, but for crissakes Chuck...at least wear sun block.
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For all the Cangarda blogee's out there, Chief Jordan raised steam this weekend. He fired up the boiler (by hand) and carefully got it up to ~100 psi...even turned over the main engine a half a revolution. Congratulations, Pete.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Brooks Dees' GP 26

On May 1st, Brooks launched Salt Peanuts next door at Bay Ship and Yacht. Right after launching, he sailed it off the dock:


Here's the video of the first sail in what looks like 10 -12 knots off Richmond (you can see Angel Island in the background). Salt Peanuts is a GP 26, a developmental class, which is gaining popularity in Europe. It's the first one in the US, and Brooks designed (and built) it.

Salt Peanuts is featured in this week's Sailing Anarchy, which would be worth a visit even if Brooks weren't the headline. Tri-Coastal homies know that Brooks worked here in the late 90's. He left to work for Jim Antrim. Now his day job is with BS&Y in Alameda. I don't make predictions (especially about the future!), but I'm hoping this is going to be his breakthrough boat.

Check out Brooks' site