First Splash

[Citroen/Dave]

It finally happened!  

Last Friday in Central Virginia, we had snow and temperatures in the upper 20's.  Yesterday, 5 days later, it hit 89.  I saw the 80's coming and after consulting a wind forcast decided to go for it.  As forcasted there was almost no wind in the morning, gust to 5mph predicted.  It took two hours to rig and launch the first time.  With no wind, we tied off and went to lunch.  Later with the local power boaters wondering what we were doing in dead air, we powered out raising the attention of a pair of ducks.  They watched as I raised my new jenny and old main.  The ducks challenged us to a drag race.  Not only did they keep up with us but they circled us! as Noel enticed them with some crackers we had for snacks.  Thus encouraged they continued to race us as the PREDICTED wind picked up.  Finally, we out paced them. Within an hour the afternoon predicted 5 gusts to 20 arrived and off we went, loosing sight of the ducks.  

I am very pleased to report the following:

1. The initial stability is phenomenal. Last year, I had risked a repremand at the Washington Marina by stepping a board a CP16 when some one left a security gate unlocked.  I later concluded that the tide was out and that the keel was stuck in the mud.  Wrong conclusion.  With a flat bottom and the 450 lbs of concrete, a CP16 has a very high initial stability.

2. My CP16/2 came with a new jenny and an Ida rudder. I tuned the rig forward.  I experienced no stalling at low wind conditions and as the wind picked up the pointing was not a disappointment. We had a slight weather helm; tiller feel was light.

3. Relative speed, me versus the ducks and later crossing Smith Mountain Lake with gust at probably 15mph, was not a disappointment.  I am thinking of re naming "Slow Dancing", "Dancing".

4.  With Noel at the helm, we hit the strongest gusts.  She, a recently retired non-sailer, found the experience non threatening.  She held her own, did not round up, and enjoyed the experience.  The CP16/2 felt like a 25 foot full keel boat and did not scare her, (or me).  She is ready to go again and has asked me to make Burges style floor board to convert the cockpit to a queen sized camping bed!

Is this success or what? Thanks to the brilliance of the designers and the quality of the construction, we have our retirement boat!

Dave

[Tim Gardner]

Congrats Dave!   I wanted to go out yesterday sooo bad, but alas, Freakin' Frustrating Form 1040 prevented me from sailing.  Although I did do a fair amount of "Sea Story" telling.

Where did you put in? Kings Point Pub?  Where did you go, Craddock Creek area?  Did you get to sail down at the foot of Smith Mountain?

TG

[mikew]

Dave, Great to hear about your Compac. I enjoy my 1983 Cp-16 too, it is my second Compac 16 after owning my first one 32 years ago.
After awhile you should be able to get that rigging time down- I mostly single-hand and am able to rig the boat in about 25 min. Enjoy.

Mike

[skip1930]

" We had a slight weather helm; tiller feel was light. "

The tiller feels light because the IdaSailor rudder is slightly balanced, having a bit of rudder ahead of the pivot.

It was a great sail wasn't it.

skip.

[crazycarl]

"I am thinking of re naming "Slow Dancing", "Dancing"."

How about Dancing with Waves?

[Citroen/Dave]

Tim,

We paid our $5 at Lake Haven Marina only to discover chains across the ramps.  We moved down to Mitchell's Marina (renamed by the new owner to ?) and paid $10.  Both marinas are protected from SW winds.  What a great day!  We were happy to sail over just to the Mountain and early return to pack up as I sprained my knee in all the excitement.

5. I discovered no water from the scuppers; I think I can place a second battery in the aft compartment with the unexpected 'extra' floation.  We both sat at the aft end just to test reserve floation.

Mike,

I can't believe it took me so many years to discover the CP16.  I previously owned a Phillip Rhodes, Picnic 17 that failed to provide the final stability of a CP16.  It was a keel centerboarder with a very narrow flat bottom that was flaired at the deck.  It had a high initial stability.  It was potentially very fast but final stability was an unknown and feared item.

Skip,

My first sailing boat was a fiberglass canoe built near Sandford, Florida.  I discovered the plant while bicycling home to Orland from Stetson U. in DeLand.  I helped the manufacturer develop a sail rig.  I made asymmetric lee boards that created lift to weather and a vertical kick up rudder very similar to the Ida.  It had a thicker cross section than the Ida and a similar leading edge forward of the pivot axis, almost balanced with a slight weather helm.  I regularly got the canoe to plane.  I once sailed around the miniature off shore racing fleet twice and returned to Old Hillsboro Bay.

Carol,

"Dancing with Waves" it is!!!   Thanks for the idea.  I hope I am not infringing.

Best regards,
Dave