JPOR Moved to September

JPOR is officially postponed until September due to large surf this weekend.

We are tentatively planning the following dates for September.

Rudder Club - Jacksonville - will remain Sept. 1-2
Eustis - Lake Eustis - will move to Sept. 15-16
JPOR - Cape Canaveral - will move to Sept. 29-30

Brian

Those who spent the night at Jetty Park got to hear/feel the 35+ mph winds. In the morning we saw this (see photo)

As I heard one competitor say "We may be able to cobble together one sailable Blade F16 from all the broken ones."

The Blade F16 in the middle was originally on it's side still attached to it's trailer.

I have more photos for the owners of these boats if they want them for insurance purposes just drop me a line.

B~
TheMightyHobie18 White Hare

Here's a picture of the surf.

B~
TheMightyHobie18 White Hare

When we left the beach on Friday night, it was blowing maybe 15 out of the east. The storm was forcast to go up the gulf, (the opposite side of the state) and the wind was forcast to swap around to the south, then west, 20 knots. There was some talk that maybe only 15 knots and rain. Obviously wrong. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Not a good thing to wake up too. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> How many boats were damaged? It would make me sick to see our Blade like that. Hope the insurance companies get the guys back sailing soon.

Fortunately, the race management had required proof of insurance for the event...at least one of those boat owners who's boat is shown maimed in that picture had gotten insurance within days of the event for that purpose.

For all you regatta organizers out there, this was the first year in a long time we insisted that you at least have personnal liability insurance and present proof of such.

As Jake mentioned, one skipper got his boat insured the day before the regatta, which saved him the cost of a new starboard hull.

Although it may seem like it might have a negative effect on the regatta, the vast majority of skippers were happy that insurance was required and being checked. A number of people had let their policy lapse and took care of it before the event.

All (and this is not having a go at you) but I find it very surprising that in the land of the law-suit that you do not have to have 3rd party cover.

To take part in any event in the UK (and I assume the rest of the EU) you must have 3rd party cover (most insist on 2million GBP).

Two boats were damaged. There is a more extensive discussion regarding Blades on the F16 forum: "JPOR"

That is some nasty stuff you posted. Sad to see the carnage. Glad that competitors had insurance (first party - for boat damage).

I guess sand anchors were either not applied or not effective? Those wing masts can generate quite a bit of force even by themselves....

I've been to at least two regattas where the weather turned foul and damaged a few boats. I always kept two "redneck insurance policies" (screw-type sand anchors) and tied the boat down just in case.

Of course, it still doesn't prevent boats hitting the anchored boat....

It certainly would not be unreasonable for the race committee to require all boats to be tied down when unattended...what good does it do to secure your cat if others upwind can fly into yours. As cheap as the screw anchors are… and as easily available as they are… it seems like only common sense to require them, since common sense is no longer so "common".

Regards,
Bob

One of the boats had an anchor tied to the center. That anchor was a shorter type, and pulled out.

The discussions on the beach were that multiple anchors, of the longer type, are needed with two in front and two aft, with lines over the hulls between each set.

Keeping the boat secured to the trailer may not be enough, as one boat flipped with trailer attached.

I think that is an extreme measure. Remember that the boats with masts down, and secured to their trailers, didn't move at all. Those included a Taipan, H-16, and A cat.

My boat flipped while attached to the trailer, but the mast was up.

True, I was referring to the boats with mast up, especially the wing masts.

I would suggest a sand anchor for a trap line on each side.
If the mast starts to go... you are doomed.

Standard A cat stakes, per the Bristol guys, are on on each side of the boat at the front beam with a tie down over the obat. Plus a stake forward and out for your trap lines.

Pete:

Tried to call you a few times. How bad was boat hurt? I got to see a Blade up close and on the race course this weekend at our Wayward Winds Regatta. He got third out of 13 on open class with a 8 year old crew. I got 9th on 4.3. Had equipment problems on Sat.

Doug

No damage to my boat except some minor cosmetics. I am gonna add a sail box, just for ballast.

Its so easy to take masts down these days...why not do it?
After tying down, turn the mast 90 degrees and secure it that way: CHances of capsize sideways are less if the skinny cross-section is presented to the wind than the broad side of a wingmast.
This way the boat might get lifted on its long axis but much less likely.
Other sand-dwellers bury two 4 foot 2x4s instead of cheap Chinese dog anchors meant for nothing more than a somewhat active Chihuahua.

Its so easy to take masts down these days...why not do it?

Or if you are stubborn, after tying down, turn the mast 90 degrees and secure it that way: Chances of capsize sideways are much less if the skinny cross-section is presented to the wind than the broad side of a wingmast.
This way the boat might get lifted on its long axis but much less likely.
Other sand-dwellers bury two 4 foot 2x4s instead of cheap Chinese dog anchors meant for nothing more than a somewhat active Chihuahua.

I agree. Especially since putting down 4 proper anchors is more work than you might think and getting them back out is just as bad.

I know I'm paranoid about beach access. The thought of abandoned anchors causing complaints after the event is not very comforting.

Dropping the mast and securing to a "ballasted" trailer is the best option, IMO.

If somone were to put to put down a long screw anchor in between the boats could you not tie a trap line from each boat to it cutting down on the amount of screws to set also set one on the exterior side of the first and last boat. What is normal here is to set the anchors under the bridle centre....."400 lb boat and hold the carbon fibre please".

You guys are not the problem! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Those of us on the lighter end of the scale are.

If "someone" puts down anchors, will that same "someone" remove them? And, whom will that "someone" be?

You were probably too busy to notice, but an A cat, lashed to its trailer, mast down was undisturbed by all the drama.

It was good meeting you, thanks for all your help. I'll try to get up your way in September.

Given that a tropical storm was on its way, I guess hindsight would have warranted taking the mast down or anchoring the boat.

In reality, who really sets ground anchors for EVERY regatta? I've only set them on regatta weekends that had high wind to start with (or a storm front forecast). Is it not at least probable that an evening thunderstorm (at least in FL) could produce enough wind to damage boats?

Bob,

Clarification please...one anchor point in between each boat (at shrouds?) AND one per boat centered under the bridle?
We're contemplating what exactly to do in our asphalt, mast up storage lot, already have the 4' helical anchors, permanent placement is under discussion with as many "plans" as cat owners.

Thanks,
John

What about the end of the JORP regatta a couple of years ago?..went from nice sailing weather to tropical storm force winds/rain/lightning in a matter of minutes. This is very common here in Florida. Pretty much the norm for the summer...If you want to play here you have to expect crazy weather.

Regards,
Bob

I think I was at that JPOR. Thanks to the various weather experts, they got us off the water about 30 minutes before the heavens opened up

I remember frantically setting up a sand anchor (the big kind) and tieing off to the striker. Not that anything would happen to my 400 pound boat (N20), but I tend to overreact sometimes.

I think someone's boat (Tiger?) actually flipped backward over the rudders...

We have mast up storage on our lake. We tie the boats down on the trailers. We tie the trailers to the ground. We have two anchors drivin in about 3 feet. The anchors are about 6-7 feet apart and in the center of the parking space. We've never had a problem with a properly tied down boat with this system. We've had plenty of really bad storms come through too.

Mike Hill

Makes sense, that would give the option to those who want to use chocks & dolly instead of trailers. If had used Bob's suggestion would be two per boat anyway (I think).

Speaking of storms, the No Frills at Lewisville had a squall come thru Sunday @ 8am. Three 20's and two 17's ended up on the other side of the lake pounded into the rocks, not to mention the flipped boats on shore, some on trailers and still hitched to vehicles. Tomorrow's forecast here is 25 knots gusting to 35, enough to make me nervous with no anchors yet.

Thanks for the comments Mike <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Stop by any "box store" (Home Depot, Lowes, Wal-Mart) and pick up a pair. The big ones come in a box of two for about $12 ? Mine were about 3 feet? long and had a big flat auger style end with an eye hook on the other.

If you can get that bad boy sunk in all the way to the eye, I doubt anything will pull it out. I'd get a 1/2 broom handle to use for leverage (put in the eye) to screw the thing into the dirt.

most boats here in Delray drop a block of a bucket of cement in the sand either right below the Dolphin striker or the V in the bridle wires you can do that with the long screws and a crowbar to twist them in. Now I think we had the same storms come through on the beach as you did up north you might have gotten the 50mph pop that we did not though. I have seen a P18-2 lift up and dan and watched the waves come in and pull a TheMightyHobie18 in half from the dolphin striker because it could not move in the wave surge. It is a tragedy when things like this happen those boats are to young to die ,it's always the young! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Speaking of "bad boys" we're renting one of these and tag team drilling all in one day

This is what the trailer rental outfits use to set their units in asphalt parking lots. Blows in a 4 foot anchor in about 5 seconds <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Several years ago, before we were aware of the easy to use and commercially available "sand anchors",
we had a problem with boats blowing around at one of our local lakes druing weekend regatta's.
One weekend in particular a mini twister went thru the fleet and several boats ended up in a pile.
After that, when the days sailing was done, not only did some of the guys drop their masts, they also added 5 to 10 gallons to each hull. given that water weighs about 8# per gallon, the thinking was that 10 gallons in a hull made it highly unlikely that the wind could lift the additional weight. Then in the morning everyone pulled the hull plugs and let the safety ballast run out onto the beach. I am not advocating this as a solution instead of a sand anchor, just offering it as an idea if you are desperate for a margin of safety and do not have a sand anchor available.
One other example, a couple of years later, I was trailering the boat between Laramie WY, and Medicine Bow WY, and we had a front quartering crosswind that was just brutal. My tow vehicle was rather narrow, and at one point I looked into the rear view mirror and the boat and trailer were flying a hull/wheel. Scared the bejeusus outta me, so after slowing down until everything was on the ground again, we stopped at the next gas station and added about 5 gallons per hull for the remainder of the trip. We didn't want to add too much weight for a couple of reasons one because of the slosh factor when changing speeds, two because of the load on the hulls where they were supported by the trailer, and three because of the load on the springs of the trailer itself. We also could have removed the trampoline, but, at the time, it just seemed like a lot less work to just add the water weight. Also, time was a consideration as it was late on a Sunday afternoon, we still had a long way to go, and Monday mornings came early after a weekend of racing.
Anyway, just thought I would share an emergency solution that has worked in the past. It is not a perfect solution for many reasons, but it could be used in a pinch.

Stephen
H-18

I screwed the sand anchors and tied my trailer/boat to them AND added about 5 gallons to each hull in preparation for hurricane Wilma. Boat/trailer didn't budge, despite 120 mph sustained (plus gusts) hitting it (we were near the eyewall).

I did orient the trailer in the estimated direction of wind, so the bows were pointed into the wind for the first 1/2 of the storm, and the sterns got it for the second (and stronger) 1/2 of the storm. I also removed the trampoline.

Thankfully, I parked it in an open lot, so there was little debris impact other than small/medium sticks and palm branches.

Having lived through that, I don't see any reason to sit through another hurricane listening to debris strike the house and screen enclosures self-destruct.