[C320-list] Whisker pole set up

[Amirault Family - S&B]

Alan:

As Warren wrote "I use the stanchion-mounted holders from Forespar for
storage. The pole is out of the way and so far hasn't interfered with
anything." That does not mean that nothing has interfered with it. 

I clearly recall a brisk-winded race night last year, practicing
short-handed tacks and gibes (some of the crew was out of town) in advance
of the first gun. At the tack, late haul-in of the leeward jib sheet had
resulted in some flogging of the jib and additional play-out of the windward
sheet. As we quickly tacked again the now leeward sheet jammed. From the
wheel I saw that the sheet had become wrapped around the pole while it sat
in the brackets (port side) at the same time that the crew on the starboard
side came to the conclusion that the solution to the problem lay in the
judicious application of winch handle. I vocalized the problem the same
moment that extra winch freed up the sheet from the pole and the pole from
the brackets. We were able to watch the pole fly into the air tumbling end
over end.

The pole entered the water only seconds before it was joined by crewman. The
fellow jumped from the leeward seat to the windward seat, to the windward
coaming and then dove over the side. He had seen that this 650$ Cdn
three-section pole had gone under and then bobbed to the surface. He later
stated that there was no guarantee that the pole would continue to float on
its own for the time needed to retrieve it. 

This situation also granted us the opportunity for our first practice(?) of
MOB drill as he had elected to abandon the boat while we were accelerating
to 6.5 knots. I won't bore all with the MOB experience other than to remark
that before we were able to return to him he twice had to raise the pole
above his head and wave it to draw the attention of other racing skippers to
the fact that there may be more in the water to avoid than other boats
jockeying for pre-gun position. Interestingly, even skippers specifically
made aware that he was in their way saw their only obligation to be a course
change to avoid collision. Apparently if you brung 'im YOU save 'im. 

Our sails were down and we were just getting our man back in the boat when
the race started.  In no position to get a start and with a third of the
crew soaking wet we stored the pole, skipped the race and headed in. I
bought him beer and dinner at the club which we ate while watching the race
in the distance.  

Thus if you use the brackets, poor tacking procedure can result in loss of
the pole.

On an unrelated note; in this my fourth year of ownership I took Bear out
alone last Thursday afternoon for the first time as I felt I was ready to
become an adult sailor; and the wind was finally from the south, or onto my
finger - allowing for easier single handed slip in-and-out.  This was a
main-only excursion allowing me to fully attend to my first use of the auto
pilot. Those unaware of Canadians' generally staid approach to sex would
assume I utilize horse shoes for butt plugs as I set the auto pilot first to
keep Bear into the wind to raise the main and then again to keep her into
the wind as I went forward to sort out jammed reef lines when I shook out
the reef left over from the previous weeks' race; only to discover with the
failure of my first actual auto tack that I had never engaged the clutch and
so the pilot was actually doing nothing. I have no idea why the boat kept
pointed into the wind but am certainly grateful it did. After this first
failed tack, the second failure was caused by engaging the clutch and then
immediately tacking in the same direction as the previous request resulting
in no course change 'cause the pilot thinks you're an idiot (dead on). The
third attempt failed as being near beam reach on making the request the
course change left me almost in irons. But the FOURTH attempt was the charm
as I made it a point to be close hauled before making the request. So I
spent two hours mostly at 4.5 knots tacking for no apparent reason like a
mad man while growing comfortable with the process. 

I will soon be doing another solo adventure where I intend to deploy the jib
as well. I have a question. Is the procedure to set the pilot and tack from
ahead of the wheel, set the jib as I expect I need it and then at the wheel
adjust course to match the jib set; or use the pilot, guesstimate the jib
set, return to the wheel and set the pilot to the desired actual course and
then fine tune the jib set (and the main as necessary)?

This has been a banner summer for discovery as it was only this year that I
became aware that the 12 volt reefer works and that shore power will heat
hot water. Life on board just keeps getting better. 

Brian Amirault
797 Waltzing Bear, too