[C320-list] Whisker pole set up

[Chris Burti]

You can set the number of degrees that the AP will tack. Set it about 5
degrees more than you would manually tack with a deckhand. Put the windward
sheet on the winch and take the leeward sheet out of the tailer. Punch
<tack> and act like a deckhand...free the leeward sheet as you pass through
the eye of the wind and take up the sheet on the new leeward winch. When she
powers up, punch the 10 degree dodge button to windward and adjust the sheet
as she comes up. Make your fine adjustments and reset the AP to sail to the
wind on that point of sail.

On Wed, Jul 14, 2010 at 1:22 PM, Amirault Family - S&B <
amiraults at sympatico.ca> wrote:

> 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
>



-- 
Chris Burti Farmville, NC