What is the "doubler" the Tybee guys were talking about. If I do some distance races uni, like RTI, some help with the spin would be useful.

I'm considering an extra set of port hole covers, drilled and tapped to allow a drinking tube to 1 gallon water bottles.

equipment list: vhf, gps, cell phone, food, anchor/rode, lights, safety tether. . .


Anything else you guys can think of?

A doubler is simply finishing off your spi sheets with a stopper knot on the sail clew. Pull the knot and attach/tie/cleat it near the sheet block: voila, 2:1 on the spi sheet.

Don't forget to detach/untie/uncleat before jibing/dousing, and plan to lengthen your spi sheet a little bit.

I think cleats for the spin sheets would be more better than doublers

I want to add an open cleat to the shroud adjuster plates, it'd be really nice if the holes lined up, but I'm doubtful. I think thats a good spot to do it without having to put another hole in the hull. As is right now I have a cleat on the hull for the mast rotation and I've been sticking it in there, but the cleat is kinda small for the size of line, and there is a small wire fairlead in the way. I don't think it'd hold in bigger wind.

The Master Unirig whatshisname uses them on his boat. I agree though, I wouldn't want to mount any new cleats on the hulls. It would require a lot of staring at the boat to figure out the best place for them
pete... use a camel-back for water. no offense, but the idea of extra ports in the hulls for a gallon of water is about the silliest thing I have heard of in a while

For the RTI I had a VHF in my PFD pocket. Cliff bars and a ton of water bottles in the tramp pocket (the blade's pocket might not be big enough). I wouldn't carry an anchor. A cell phone could be stored in the hull in appropriate water tight container. You could also have a little LED flashlight in your PFD pocket also which you could use at night- if you are concerned that another boat is nearby then shine it on the sail and it will light up. If there is little wind you could shine it up there all the time. A foretrex on your wrist. I always have a little safety hook/knife and whistle attached to my PFD also.

Not an extra port. An extra set of port covers, that allows a drinking tube to attach to water bottle stored in the hull. These would be used only when distance racing. At other times the original covers would be used.

I don't want to wear a camel back for 12 hours. Particularly if I'm trying to right/reboard with no help immediately available.

The best system I've seen for water is riveting a bicycle bottle holder somewhere on a beam. Either the rear beam where it's out of the way, the base of the mast if you have an internal downhaul, or on the boom (this is MarkP boat, I know because he used duct tape to fix it .

Another option is to keep the bottle inside the rear beam, with bungees to keep it in place, works on my 5.2 but not on the Stealth where the beams are closed.

Pete when I was in Miami I did LOTS of distance sailing uni-rigged. Let me tell you, after the first hour you start talking to yourself. Its not a lot of fun, keep that in mind.

As as water tubes etc, instead of adding another leaking point to your hulls and you do not want to carry a camelback maybe you can attach it to the center forward section of the trampoline.

If you are serious about distance racing maybe you should try a few smaller races before jumping into 50+ mile races.

Its kinda scary flipping in six foot seas in open ocean by yourself, been there done that and I really do not care for it anymore.

I hear you! I was thinking RTI, Hiram's Haul, and Gilligan's.

Also, I was talking to a couple of guys at GYC. Maybe a weekender down to Cayo Costa. That's the south side of Boca Grande Pass.

I can't remember the name of the company, but there is a place that makes waterbottle holders that screw into 4" ports. Holds a tall waterbottle. When not racing, use the regular port cover. I'll see if I can find the link. About $30 each though.

Here is the link. Its for a 5" port.

http://www.intensitysails.com/bottleport.html

Good deal! Thanks.

How's it going? Surely there are a couple of "adventures" you'd like to share! No matter what, I can guarantee a chorus of "been there, done that" from this crowd!

Wise words Robi.
Long distance solo beach cat sailing isn't a walk in the park! But I do hope you will achieve your goals and compete soon in whatever you wish to accomplish.
If it wasn't for adventurers America wouldn't be named after a Welsh man (Ap Meric)

I sailed solo at RTI this year on my F17 and I seriously under estemated the difficulty of this race. I only completed 75 miles and dropped out with my GPS telling me I had 35 miles to go. I told myself I would never do anything that stupid again but the next day I realized some things I had done wrong and I will definately be there next year and will finish the race. One thing I didn't pace myself for 100 miles, I sailed really hard for the first 25 miles or so and really wore myself out. Another thing to remember is anything you need to get to (food, GPS, water) make sure you can get to it with one hand. A dry bag is good for backup supplies but try opening and closing one in 4ft seas with one hand. Maybe you could park and get to something but I wasn't going to try I also though about beaching and eating something but didn't. One thing is for sure it put our little 12 to 14 mile distance races down here in Ocean Springs into perspective, they will no doubt seem really short to me for now on.

Good point Andrew

I hope to see you next year, but have no qualms about dropping out.

Have you tried a camel-bak Pete? They really aren't bad if you get one with comfortable straps. I've worn one for some really long periods riding motorcycles in the dunes, and on long trips, and I've always been glad I had it. I'd still keep some water in the hulls though.

I'm not sure I'd want to do 100 miles, or more importantly spend 10 hours on the boat by myself.

I did Ruff Riders one year and the second day was a 90 mile reach. I DID not tack ONE time. It was puffy so NO cleating. I wore threw the gloves to raw hands and my arm hurt so much one could not move it. You have better get in GOOD shape before a long race. AND it was in the old butt bucket days. I talked like a girl on the way home in the van LOL LOL ROTGL

Doug

Pete, I did RTI this year on the blade. It was a great ride. A few weeks prior to the race my crew had to back out so I considered doing it solo, but Bob Florence (who has done RTI many times on his stock H17 solo) volunteered to join me and I had a great trip. I think I could probably do it solo, but my thought is the first time on a long race crew takes the worry out and lets you figure out what the deal is. As for supplies we over packed but we did the course realatively quick.
The camelback is great, does not add that much weight (1.5 liters of water) and makes it so much more convient to get the water when busy in waves and wind.

Definelty come and do RTI with us next year.

Jody

It's on my calendar, but that's a long way away. I will be up for Juana's in September, good party!