Trip Report, August 3, 2003, A Day Sail with Bobsprit and Julia

I left my marina for City Island around 2:OO PM with storm clouds
building out of the S/W and winds gusting to 20 kn. Arrived at City
Island at 3:00 PM, picked up a six pack of Corona and stopped at
Jimmy's Reef for some lunch. While sitting on the terrace I had a
panoramic view of the Sound, from the Throgs Neck to Matinicock Point.
The wind was gusting over 25 kn from the S/W, the sky was a deep blue
with storm clouds building in the west and there was a 3 to 4' short
chop with blowing whitecaps and an ebbing current. There were a dozen
or so sailboats visible with various sail configurations. Full main,
no jib; reefed main, reefed jib; jib alone, etc.

Upon finishing my lunch, I drove to Bob's yacht club to wait for his
arrival. While waiting, the wind picked up to such an extent that I
had to furl the deck umbrella I was sitting under and the storm clouds
began to cover 3/4 of the sky.

At the appointed hour Bob showed up with a young lady named Julia (
pronounced Hulia). He is (as self described) a "Grizzley Adams" ish
figure. After introductions, we proceeded to ALIEN.

ALIEN is a 1980 C&C 32. It looks like what you would expect a 1980
C&C 32 to look like. There is wear, there are dings, there are no
goddam winch handle holders. Bob has spent considerable time and
effort to improve the boat in the areas he deems important. Below
decks is clean and freshened, His entertainment system is first rate.
I have a small quibble that his concerns don't extend to deck gear
and instrumentation.

· The vang is not attached far enough down the boom to be of any use
and could actually damage it.
· The main sheet is undersized.
· The jib sheets are oversized.
· The traveler is next to impossible to use. In fact, we had to point
up to ease the strain enough to move it.
· There are no goddam winch handle holders.
· The cabin top and primary winches need servicing.
· The port aft stanchion base is busted.
· The depth sounder is inoperative.
· The wind instrument is inoperative.
· The compass cover is U/V welded in place.
· He lacks thimbles and shackles on his dock lines.

We singled up all lines and prepared to leave the slip. The wind was
on our starboard side and blowing hard. I expected Bob to back out
hard, put his stern to starboard, allow the wind to blow his nose down
and back down the fairway till he could turn around and bring the nose
through the wind. He did not. We backed out of the slip and cunningly
used the portside finger as a support / pivot and allowed the wind to
blow the stern down so we were facing forward down the fairway. I'm
sure a little rubbing compound will make everything right.

As Bob stated, we full hoisted the main, left the jib furled and began
to fly N/E. By this time, the storm clouds filled the sky and the wind
was gusting over 25 kn. We were running down wind with a sloppy set
due to an inadequate vang and traveler. We hit 7.5 kn and I was
impressed with the boats ability to track straight in a 4' following
sea. We hardened up and turned N/W and immediately slowed down to 4 kn
due to lack of a head sail. It was at this time, drawing close to R 4,
a flashing red 4 sec bell bouy, north of Hart Island, that we hit the
obstruction it was marking; "South Nonations ". Bob, being the
enthusiastic and exhuberant sailor that he is, immediately sent Julia
below to check the bilges; and with a positive report, broke out the
jib and off we went at 7.5 kn back to the marina.

In summation, I had a good time, in good company, in a markedly sea
kindly and seaworthy boat that needs some work and some goddam winch
handle holders.