New Gantry Construction, part 1

Yesterday I began building my new gantry. The objective is to incorporate a 5 degree forward cant and an improved splash down fairing. My model is the Mach2 gantry pictured in a recent post by Felix Schulte (see below.)



Even though I admire the socket-type attachment that Amac has designed, my new gantry will need to attach as my existing one; I do not plan on redesigning the rear rack saddles or the gantry attachment points.

I started with some fiberglass tubes and epoxied on a carbon sleeve. The wetted down sleeve is nicely drawn onto the base tube with some heat shrink tubing, activated with a heat gun. I chose the glass tube for flexibility and the reduced likelihood of catastrophic failure versus the stiffer (but more brittle) all carbon tube. Besides, an equivalent carbon tube is quite a bit more expensive. The sleeve provides a bit more strength and stiffness and nicely goes with the carbon look of the deck.

My existing gantry was used to create a form to duplicate the critical top angle of the gantry (critical because the new gantry had to fit in the space of the old one.) The pix below show the existing blue gantry and the form I built around it and the new tubes placed in the form. The timber brace is only temporary and will be removed once the joints are reinforced.





Once the top triangle was out of the jig, I placed the vertical tube with its five degree forward angle. Tomorrow I should build the lower diagonals. The mid line tension member (with its bottle screw course adjustment) will be placed a couple of days later. Lastly, I will build the fairing.



Stay tuned.



Boats to Build, Jimmy Buffett

It's time for a change
I'm tired of that same ol same
The same ol words the same ol lines
The same ol tricks and the same ol rhymes

Days precious days
Roll in and out like waves
I got boards to bend I got planks to nail
I got charts to make I got seas to sail

I'm gonna build me a boat
With these two hands
It'll be a fair curve
From a noble plan
Let the chips fall where they will
Cause I've got boats to build

Sails are just like wings
The wind can make em sing
Songs of life songs of hope
Songs to keep your dreams afloat
I'm gonna build me a boat
With these two hands
It'll be a fair curve
From a noble plan
Let the chips fall where they will
Cause I've got boats to build

Shores distant shores
There's where I'm headed for
Got the stars to guide my way
Sail into the light of day

I'm gonna build me a boat
With these two hands
It'll be a fair curve
From a noble plan
Let the chips fall where they will
Cause I've got boats to build.

First of Thirteen

As of today my name appears first in the list of thirteen registered competitors for the Gorge Worlds. Now if only Belcher, Babbage, Bachman, Boers, Belben, Becker, Boon, Adams, Anstead, Blazina, and Airey would register, I'd fall more comfortably back in the middle of the pack where I belong. I remember a piece from Stuart Walker about the psychology of the mid-fleeter and that they really feel uncomfortable in the front.

So com'on y'all and sign up! Get me back where I belong...



Back Where You Belong, .38 Special, G. O'Conner (1984)

I heard you're askin' how I'm feeling, I guess I'll play it day by day
I'm still around now, my heart is healing, but some things never gonna change
'Cause now I know love ain't easy to find I let you go, now I'm changing my mind

I know that love, it don't come easy, it took so long, it's been hard to find
So love, you must believe me, ain't gonna let it slip away I know I was wrong, I want you back where you belong Want you back where you belong, back where you belong

I played around now, I've done some dealin', I found that love should be with you
And so you're gone now, my head is reelin', don't wanna be with someone new
And so I go, with a feeling inside me, 'cause I know what I'm leaving behind

Want you back where you belong, back where you belong

I guess in time I stop and think it over, everything that we've been through
This heart of mine may never find another, it loves me just the way you do
Hey girl! I heard you're askin' how I'm feelin', I guess I'll play it day by day
I'm still around now, my heart is healin', but some things never gonna change
'Cause now I know love ain't easy to find I let you go, now I'm changing my mind

back where you belong, hey, hey

I know that love, it don't come easy, it took so long, it's been hard to find
And so love, you must believe me, ain't gonna let it slip away, baby

Mothlympians

Photo above by Jake Dewey

Just another couple of data points about interest in the Moth from the US perspective:

From today's Scuttlebutt, a piece from Anna Tunnicliffe about playing in Boston Harbor with the Puma crowd. And from issue #63 of e-Anarchy, a quote by Dave Ullman, "...My next class I would like to sail is the Moth. I would be interested to see if I can sail a class that is so challenging and fast at my age. It could be great fun."

So with Bora's comment about the US 49er sailors moving en-masse to Moths, it seems that we are heavy with sailing talent. I can only hope my enthusiasm allows me to brush shoulders with greatness, if only at the start...


Olympic Theme, John Williams

Distance is relative

Fred mentioned in this post that he traveled from Hyeres to Estonia and that is was like trailing from the east coast to the west coast in the US. While the trek was impressive (see below,) it isn't quite like traveling across the US.



For my trek to Oregon, I'll need to travel over 2900 miles one way. You do the math...



On another note, what's the groupthought about changing the max beam from 7'4" (7.3333') to 7' to accommodate a change in trailering laws? My thought is to leave things as is. Participation at regattas will have an added flair of excitement - can we make the trip without getting caught?

Lastly, remembering the snafu about sail number spacing at Weymouth, I'm inclined to remind folks that they are responsible to make sure that their equipment meets the measurement rules and not to rely on builders or sailmakers. Shades of Dr. Laura!






I can see for miles, by Pete Townshend (1967)

I know you've deceived me, now here's a surprise
I know that you have 'cause there's magic in my eyes

I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles
Oh yeah

If you think that I don't know about the little tricks you play
And never see you when deliberately you put things in my way

Well, here's a poke at you
You're gonna choke on it too
You're gonna lose that smile
Because all the while

I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles
Oh yeah

You took advantage of my trust in you when I was so far away
I saw you holding lots of other guys and now you've got the nerve to say

That you still want me
Well, that's as may be
But you gotta stand trial
Because all the while

I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles
Oh yeah

I know you've deceived me, now here's a surprise
I know that you have 'cause there's magic in my eyes

I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles
Oh yeah

The Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal are mine to see on clear days
You thought that I would need a crystal ball to see right through the haze

Well, here's a poke at you
You're gonna choke on it too
You're gonna lose that smile
Beacuse all the while

I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles
and miles and miles and miles and miles

I can see for miles and miles*

100 days and counting

The first race kicks off 100 days from today. Come join the fun. Don't worry about the flu -- by August it either will be a non-issue or we'll all be dead.



100 days, 100 nights, by Marc Silver.

100 days, 100 nights
To know a man's heart
100 days, 100 nights
To know a man's heart
And a little more
Before he knows his own

You know a man
Can play the part
Of a saint
Just so long
For a day comes
When his true, his true self unfolds

He maybe mellow
He maybe kind
Treat you good
All the time

But there's something just beyond what he's told

100 days, 100 nights
To know a man's heart
100 days, 100 nights
To know a man's heart
And a little more
Before he knows his own

Wait a minute
Maybe I need to slow it down just a little
Take my time

I had a man
Tell me things
Made me feel
Just like a queen
And I thought
He was the one
I would hold
Oh yes I did
But one day
I looked around
That old man
Was nowhere to be found
100 days for this heart to unfold

100 days, 100 nights
To know a man's heart
100 days, 100 nights
To know a man's heart
And a little more
Before he knows his own