Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard cruise

[Allure2sail]

Hi:
Just completed an eight day trip to Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard. Boat ran well and fun was had at every port. Itinerary was meeting first (12 boats) at Sakonnet, RI, then on to New Bedford, Ma, then to Marion, Ma, next Woods Hole, MA, over to Vineyard Haven, Cuttyhunk Island then Westport, MA for a lobster bake. I really hated to go home to Swansea, MA but all in all it was a great journey. Pictures coming, more idea for projects to cruise more comfortably. No fog, one small rain shower, wind was a little light but can not do anything about that. Picture posted is off of Nachon Island (part of the Elizabethan Island chain, just north of Martha's Vineyard and Buzzards Bay).

[bmiller]

That is what it's all about. And I still think your 27 is one of the finest on the water, love the extra portlights.

[Allure2sail]

Thank you Bill. I'm curious, what are you sailing now? If my memory seres me correct you sold your ComPac. I am thinking of moving up next year. Maybe I'll have a two for one sale, LOL, need to get the parts boat out of my driveway. Got another trip coming up this month to Point Judith, RI and on to Block Island for two or three days. I've been tying to use the new windlass more this year. Made a snubber line for it recently, it works good and also takes the load off the head stay. I try to use just the chain (90 feet) to anchor, the windlass sometimes has a hard time transitioning from chain to line. With a 22 pound Danforth and the amount of chain out there I sleep much better when on the hook.
Allure and I thank you for the compliment
Bruce

[bmiller]

Sadly yes we did sell Pooka, thought it was time to move up. Wrong! Right now the only watercraft I own is a canoe. Not much for amenities but the maintenance is pretty simple.

[Billy]

I heard that a windlass should only be used to un-hook an anchor from the bottom. Not so much for pulling the anchor all the way up to the boat.

At least that is what my ASA BBC104 instructor told me.

And the load on the forestay is distributed all the way up the mast and down the back stay. And some is even distributed to the shrouds as well. I wouldn't worry so much about the loads the anchor puts on the sprit. The loads from 20-30 knot winds are much more.

[Allure2sail]

Hi Bill:
I think that if you look at the forces put into the headstay by anchoring off the bow sprite and its roller, is even worse when the anchor rode is all chain (which has no give at all) it is just asking for a rigging failure to take place. That is what a snubber line prevents by making the rode pull on the cleat instead of the head stay which is held together with swedge fittings. The snubber line once its hook grabs a link of the chain is pulled on and cleated off thus putting some slack in the chain coming over the bow sprit.
At least that's my opinion.......
Bruce