New Stemhead Fitting

I've fitted a new stemhead fitting on Providence.


Previously the forestay, jib halyard and a luff downhaul all went through the deck just behind the stem, down to a turning block in the cabin and were led back to highfield levers or blocks on the side of the centreboard case. This setup was great for fine adjustment when racing, but not so convenient for ease of rigging. Since I'm don't have much intention to race I thought I'd make some adjustments.


My changes were to fit the stemhead fitting and have the jib tack permanently attached to the roller furler. At the head of the jib I have a block so that I have a 2 part purchase on the jib halyard. This then runs down the outside of the mast to a jam cleat. When raising the mast I just need to lift it to vertical and then haul down on the jib halyard and cleat it off. The mast is then held in place while I attache the forestay. Then I tie an Alpine Butterfly knot below the cleat and attach it to the four part purchase (red line in the pic) mounted at the bottom of the mast. you can see the jib halyard at the top of this picture - its the blue line shackled to the top of the large double block. This gives me an 8x1 adjustment on the jib halyard.

This has also allowed me to rig up the roller furler, rig up an easy method of raising and lowering the mast single handed and clears the cabin of a lot of lines. I've also run the jib halyard outside of the mast so that I can fit some mast head bouyancy.

The roller furler works ok, but is a bit too small for the sail I have on there at the moment. I have yet to try it in anything other than a light wind and think it may well jam with the sail out if there is too much pressure on it.

Sunday 17th May 2009

Yet another quick sail on Matilda Bay in light winds (about 5 knots), this time with my sailing buddy Russ. The sailing was very peaceful and relaxing, but I think I have enough experience at light air sailing for now - come on weather! Let's have a nice 10-15 knots!

The trip was good in that it gave me another chance to practice setting up and launching the boat. With my recent modifications to the rig I'm capable of putting up the mast unaided and can be sailing within 20 minutes of arriving at the ramp.

For anyone interested in the rig modifications here is what I have done. Previously the forestay and jib halyard passed through the deck at the stem and ran through a block back to the side of the centreboard. OK for making fine adjustments when racing with a crew - but not so good when single handed cruising. So, I put on a new stem fitting and have run all the control lines on the outside of the mast. This will also allow me to fit mast head bouyancy. The jib halyard passes through a 2to1 block at the head of the sail and then down through a jam cleat. To raise the mast I just have to push it in to position and then haul down on the jib halyard (which is always in place). Then I tie a loop in the halyard below the cleat and shackle on a 4to1 purchase which allows me to really get some tension on it.

Not sure how it affects performance, but this set up has allowed me to:

• raise and lower the mast single handed
• use roller furling on the head sail
• insert mast head bouyancy
• clear the inside of the cabin of control lines

So - it works for me.

Collision! Man Overboard! .. and a short sail

Sunday 3rd May saw Providence's long awaited return to the water. Since the last sail I have ripped out a bathroom, laid a new concrete floor and started clearing the backyard in preparation for the pool. It looks like these renovations are going to have a big impact on my sailing.

This time I had a boat full of people - my wife and two kids and our friend's 7yo son who is mad keen on sailing. We launched from the usual ramp in Matilda Bay in very light NE winds at about 9.30. Sailing away from the ramp was a struggle in the conditions - there is a very narrow channel between the pens of the yacht club and the moorings (see the picture - the arrow indicates the wind, and the line is where we managed to steer). We were doing OK, just ghosting along squeaking past the moored boats - then a power boat steamed in and the wash pushed us on to a mooring. I was able to fend us off the moored boat, but the barnacles on the mooring buoy made a nice scratch on our bow.

After that little incident we were clear of the channel and had some more room to move so tacked out on to Melville water. This trip was just about getting out in the boat so we didn't really have a plan about going anywhere. We headed South towards Canning Bridge for a while on one long tack and only changed course slightly for an impromptu practice of our man-overboard routine. In this case it was a hat overboard, but this proved to be quite realistic. If one of the kids had gone over without a life jacket I think their hat would be all that would be visible, and they would probably float for about as long too. We managed to get back in time and fish it out - so that has added to my confidence a bit.

Not long after that we headed back to the beach and packed up. On the way back I gave the kids a go on the tiller to start getting them involved in managing the boat. Soon I will have a great crew.

And that was it - a short, sweet sail to keep everyone happy and foster the sense of enjoyment so that I might be able to get everyone out again some time soon.

Voyage to Magic Land

Sunday 7th March saw us out on the river again for an ad-hoc sail. I'd done a whip around the day before to see who wanted to come sailing. The final crew consisted of my 7yo daughter and my friend Leon. We got to the ramp at Matilda Bay at about 9.30, set up ant headed out at about 10ish. The wind was about 10-15knts NE and we reached out in to the middle of the river and then headed downstream on a run. We only had the main up at this stage as we were being lazy.

The intention was to get around to Freshwater Bay and pick up a vacant mooring buoy while we had brunch, however, brunch time came around before Freshy did so we pulled up on the beach on the Dalkieth foreshore. 7yo instantly decided that we had made landfall on a new land that needed a name - 'Magic Land' was chosen. We boiled the kettle and made a cup of tea, and ate our sandwiches and sticky buns. 7yo wandered off to find fairies and was able to find fairy Snowflake, who quickly became a member of the crew.

About then the wind started to die as it backed to the SW so we got back on the water before we became stranded. Getting off the beach was a bit tricky as we had left the board down a bit and it had wedged in the sand. There was a bit of a struggle to get it out of the hole it had dug itself and wobbling the boat from side to side showed a bit of movement in the case - which might explain some of the leaks. Eventually we got free and we beat across to Alfred Cove and back to Nedlands before the wind died to just a puff. Out came the Yuloh and we managed to move a few hundred meters, but it all seemed too hard, so we just drifted along for the next 2 hours trying to clear Pelican Point.

Around about 3pm the wind had moved all the way around to the SW and we started getting a few puffs that enabled us to get back to the ramp. We packed up (must get some velcro ties to make this process a bit quicker) and were home by 4.30. I pulled out the drain plugs and about 20 liters of water came out -so there is a winter task for me to get on to.

First Sail

Before I could go sailing I had a few things to take care of. I had changed the bearings in the trailer, found some drain plugs and tested that I knew how to rig her, and that all the rigging worked ok. But, after several weeks of preparation the time had finally come to get Providence wet for the first time under her new crew.

The day was absolutely perfect for a first sail - light winds in the morning building to a nice steady fresh wind in the afternoon. The water was still and the ramp wasn't too busy, so launching went without a problem. It was very pleasing to see my little ship bobbing at the end of the painter.

Soon we had the sails up and set off on to the Swan. The light winds may have been a bit too light and we struggled to make way, but this gave me a chance to get used to all the lines and to test the Yuloh (sculling oar) that was my alternative propulsion instead of an outboard.

Eventually we cleared Pelican Point and the wind picked up a bit. Then we really started to make some head way. My 3 year old daughter was a bit upset by the wash from the large stink boats and hid in the cabin, snuggled up on my wife's lap. My 7 year old was having a ball though and was happy watching the waves and the other boats. She also snapped a few pics of the occasion.

Before long we were across the river off the shore of Applecross. We thought about going ashore for a play at Heathcote, but thought that 3YO might not want to get back on board, so we kept sailing - heading back to the ramp. It was a nice shy run back across the river and then a bit of a beat in to Matilda Bay. A little way from the shore the wind died again and I had to whip out the yuloh to push us to shore.

All in all a very successful first trip.

How I Acquired Providence

I have only had Providence for about two months now. Previously I owned a Heron sailing dinghy which I had bought in a delapidated state for $100. I'd spent about a year fixing it up, but even before I had finished it I knew that it was going to be too small for me and my family - even for day sailing. What I really wanted was something like a Hartley TS16.

So, after a few attempts to fit the family in to the Heron, I reluctantly listed it for sale. The president of the Heron association assured me that there was a huge demand for Herons, so I expected the boat to sell quickly. I was going to take the proceeds and start saving the difference towards the price of a Hartley, but after 3 months I still had not had a single serious enquiry.

Then, out of the blue I got a call from a chap who was interested in the Heron. He was looking to downsize from his current boat. "Oh," I said, "what boat have you got now?". A Hartley TS16, and yes, he was going to sell it, and yes we could look at doing a swap. He said he'd be happy to bring it around that very evening for me to have a look at. I prepared my wife by telling her that this was exactly the sort of boat I wanted and we might have to find some extra cash from somewhere to be able to pay the difference - but when the guy arrived he was happy to do a straight swap - Hartley for Heron.

I didn't take much convincing - we signed the paperwork to transfer his trailer to me (mine was unlicenced so we didn't have to do that). Then he drove away with the Heron and left me with the Hartley.

And because of this lucky way I acquired the boat I have decided to rename her 'Providence'

Welcome

Hi, and welcome to the ships blog of my newly acquired Hartley TS16 - named Providence.

Here I will record all the trips that I make aboard this intrepid little as I explore the coastline, rivers and lakes of Western Australia.