Albury Nationals 2008

Third, probably where I should have expected. But I won one race which was rewarding for a couple of reasons.
Hayden won with the new String like AUS30 and Christian was consistantly second with Steve Clark's Josie now AUS26. Both sailed higher to windward than the Log and that was the basic difference in performance. These were the only new rules boats while there were 4 nethercotts competeing as well. So many old hand canoe sailors decided not to race?
The winds were mod to light and variable. The RC had difficulty getting stable winds to set courses. But we did manage the full quota of races.
But the good points were that the stayed rig now has shown some performance to windward. Once there is enough pressure to be on the seat the mast bends enough to flatten the sail adequately to sail well upwind and high enough to have competitive VMG. In the one race I beat Hayden I was sailing slightly lower but faster and gettiing to new shifts before him, tacking and crossing, just. I could only do this in one race and at other times I found height suffered or I found hole in which I suffered worse that H and C.
But we had a good regatta with some close racing at times.
As for rig development I think there is still potential with the mono rig, I think rigging it with a tight forstay and a sail cut more conventionally with less luff curve would allow for better shape in light winds. Also the boom could be lowered to improve aspect ratio.
But appreciate that the existing and potential canoe sailors see the log as an oddity and much prefer the traditional sloop rig.
So the option of cutting the deck off and moving fin case and mast step remains.
At this stage I am unlikley to be racing canoes again for a long time so the boat will get stored unless some buyer appears. Iam prepared to assist with what ever developments a potential buyer wants to pursue.
Regardless we had a couple of race legs on the weekend which showed clearly that the three different hulls performed very similarly, so the Log is still a good basis for future canoe racing.

Still for sale

The BM regatta was a good outing and showed me again that this boat is a real goer and also a ball to sail in all weathers. It always attracts attention but to date no buyers.
If anyone races in a mixed fleet somehere, dinghies or even small cats this boat can mix it with anyone especially in the light. To illustrate I raced with the FDs all weekend, the best Maricat only beat me in the race when I capsized, I beat 3 of the 5 12ft skiffs in all races, even beat the Hobie Tiger in one light race, but they were well off pace.
Asking price is now $5500.
phil(at)moth(dot)asn(dot)au

Brass Monkey results

Only 5th this year but I had some good racing against Mike Chapmans FD. We finished even on the line with two each and I think I should have beeten him on yardstick with a slightly slower rating, but the results said otherwise and he finished 3rd. Beating most of the 12s over the line was rewarding.

The Log certainly went better upwind than before, the sail looked like a real sail and not a laser rag, thanks to the extra stiffness afforded by diamonds and a forestay. Some minor improvements before Albury but no major chop or sloop rig.

Nationals in October.

I have decided to sail the Log in its third SFS Brass Monkey regatta at the end of the month and also go again to Albury for what this year will be the IC Nationals over the October long weekend.

Since the BM will be the only test of the new stiffenned rig, sailing against any other boats, I will be making a serious assessment of its windward performance. If I consider that the improvement is not up to pace with my perception of the sloop rigged canoes' speed, I am planning a 4 week rebuild of the boat and rig to covert the Log to a sloop.

This will mean building a mast from available bits, moving the mast step back, adjusting the sheer line and fitting chainplates etc. Freeboard forward of the carriage will be lowered to appease the canoe people who feel my boat looks odd. I have Ben Gemmel lined up to build a new jib and trim the mainsail if the plan gets the nod.

Next update after the BM on Monday Sept 1.

Rig modifications.

The mast has had some much intended stiffening. I have added diamonds for some lateral support and will add a forestay to prevent excessive for and aft bend also. The Zip needed to be broken into three parts to make the sail removable for the rules but it never gets used anyway.
It will add complication and windage but if the sail is better behaved over a wider range of winds strengths then it will be worth it.
Likely first outing is the Squaddie Brass Monkey regatta or at least the Canoe Nationals in Albury in October.
Have spent the last month painting my big boat, 25ft Breakfast. Kept me busy.

No Sale

No deals this month, Kevin had a change of plan so the trip is off too.

Boat is again 100% available.

So if its still in my hands I will most likely sail it in October at the canoe Nationals in Albury. Its a nice place to sail and apart from Hayden and Alex, I must have the most recent local knowledge as I made the same trip the last two years.

Now should I actually sail the boat before then, its been a long time since McCrae.

If it continues to hang around the plan should be to convert to sloop rig. I have some ideas about removing some deck, relocating the fin case and adding some chain plates. No time before October but maybe later.

I have some interest in buying the Hollow Log.
I will have to drive half way to Adelaide next month to meet Kevin, but at least it would go to somewhere with a few other canoes sailing.
I hope they can get a good nucleus of a canoe fleet happening upon which the class can build.
Great ride, just needs some numbers.

Decision At Last

At Last the Canoe sailing Committee has made a decision and posted what they will submit to the Canoe federation.
It is an interesting decision. It is in effect to maintain 3 classes. It seems to me to be different to what we all voted for and in fact does not seem to have changed anything since McCrae. The WC organisers in Germany 2011 will still have to offer to run three WCs with medals going to who ever gets the requistie numbers.

I think it is a bad decision. People still do not know which boats to build because they have no idea which will get the numbers. I think the result will be that the status quo continues, UK will build ACs, US will build DCs and everyone else will wait and see and build nothing. The class with be fragmented and in most of the world effectively dormant.

I expect that Germany will see similar numbers to McCrae, a few UK ACs, a few US and UK DCs and a bunch of european IC. I can not see any group getting 3 continents and 6 nations.

Hayden will have a difficult choice about defending his world title. He was planning to build a DC, so may have to choose which boat to send in 3 years time, based on if he gets an indication of which fleets would have the numbers. I bet there will be pressure to send the IC as they will get 6 euro nations and will be desperate for another continent. He could also make the 3rd DC continent but I can not see the DC getting 6 nations under this regeim.

Meanwhile I have some interest in the Log from Queensland. I hope we can reach agreement.

Phil S

Anyone want a Log?

If there is anyone out there in Canoe world with a remote interest in sailing a boat like the Hollow Log I would like to hear from you.

The boat is presently under a cover in my back yard and with the present international rule change impass my interest in sailing it or developing it further has passed below zero.

It will only deteriorate in condition where it is now, so hopefully someone else can offer it some care and attention.

It is a fantastic boat to sail and if you are near Sydney and want a fun boat to sail by yourself or in some sort of mixed fleet it should provide a lot of fun.I would even be prepared to part with the hull only as a minimum but its probably better to take the seat, carriage and rudder at least. The rig, fin and trolley I might be able to reuse one day on something else.

So if there is really anyone out there with some interest please contact me, have a viewing and make an offer.

phil at moth dot asn dot au will find me.

The Development Canoe decision drags on.

The International Canoe membership has now voted on the adoption of the development rule with Aust, UK, US, Canada, NZ and Poland strongly in favour, Germany 50/50 and Sweden against. The vote was about 75 -78% depending on whether it is tallied by popular numbers, countries, or via the association's quota system. It needed only 60% I think.

But before implimentation it requires also a 100% vote form the Association's Sailing Committee, then submission to the International Canoe Federation. (No ISAF here this class is adminstered by the canoeists because it has existed since before ISAF or IYRU)

There seems to be some problem getting an email, phone or skype meeting of the committeee and also some reluctance for a 100% agreement, so the tension builds and those of us with boats or intending to build new ones, hang in the balance and steam in frustration.

I think it might be a language thing. All of the enthusiasm, forum debate, and building has been in the english speeking countries and those without english as their dominant language seem to have missed out on what has been happening. They do not have the enthusiasm for change.

The Sailing (Dinghy) Anarchy forum thread on Development canoes has topped 12000 hits this year, people are building new boats now (unless they have stopped awaithing a decision). The ball is rolling, but the ball will stop rolling if the sailing committee can not agree 100%. The new bubble of enthusiasm will burst, and I fear the whole IC class and its history might collapse with it.

I have threatened to burn the Log, but an alternative might be to cut enough off the length and sail to make a nice gentle moth for my daughter Kate who has again shown some interest in sailing. At least it will be easier to store.

Here are some photos of the 1/4 scale model of Log Mk2 which I am building for Bill's tow tank.

This is the ply seamed together but still spread out flat, Bow this end.

And this is it 5 minutes later with bow folded together and taped and a single tie amidships to pull the gunwales into design width.

The voting by the world's Canoe sailors is in progress. The only results I have heard so far is that 100% of the Aust and NZ vote has been positive for the DC rule to replace the Nethercott one design rule. We are a minor part of the canoe world, and although we expect the US to be similarly enthusiastic, it is the big numbers in the UK which hold the key to change. We will find out in just a few weeks when the numbers are tallied.

But the enthusiasm from most of the canoe contacts is a bit contageous. There is a healthy discussion on Sailing Anarchy about DC design and Steve Clark in US is building some 1/4 scale models by the HL method for tank testing. I will endeavour to send a HL model over to be included.

And this enthusiasm is getting me in the mood to build a new canoe. I have decided that remodelling the Log for sloop rig, moving mast, fin case, seat rails and lowering the freeboard all add up to more work that starting from scratch. So I am again looking at selling it off to someone keen to try canoe sailing.

$5500 will take it off my hands and give you a fantastic ride. It has some development left in it and I am sure a younger person can get more from it than I could. Any Takers?

More info and contact on http://www.intcanoe.org/forum2/viewtopic.php?t=711

Canoes vote for development + Future of the Hollow Log?

The details are almost complete for the canoe sailors of the world to vote shortly on whether the development rules will replace the one design (Nethercott hull) rules for future international competition.

The DC fleet at McCrae made a good impression apparently and there seems to be a stong momentum to pass the proposal.

But the UK is the strongest canoe country and they have a big fleet of spinnaker AC canoe people, who, while not treally affected by the outcome, may not necessarily endorse it. I hope they see the lighter narrower boats as a good move for canoe sailing which they may choose to follow later if they so decide.

Results should be available by about Easter.


Meanwhile no action on the Log. I will sort out something for the winter when it is much more attractive to sail than getting chest deep in water for Moth foiling. Plans are to fit some diamonds to the mast and see what the extra side ways stiffness does for windward performance. If that looks promising then to satisfy the class safety rules I need to get rid of the pocket luff so the sail can be lowered past the diamonds. This will be the time to extend the sail to the deck, gaining the missing 0.6sq m and improving aspect ratio, probably with some luff curve adjustments to suit.

Hayden has promised to come over to the coast for some competition so I should get a pretty good benchmark.

If I can not make that work the next step is to forsake the simplicity of the unstayed cat rig and follow the herd to a sloop rig. I have had some discussion with Clive from CST about his new NS14 masts (100mm wide wing mast) and I think this would make an excellent DC rig. And the sail makers would have a better chance of matching the mast bend.

But to fit the stayed sloop I will need to make major changes to the hull, move mast and fin case, widen deck at chainplates, and while I am at it, lengthen the seat tracks forward and lower the deck line aft. A major job which I would rather not do on this boat, when it would be simper to start with a new one.

So if anyone has an interest in buying the Hollow Log please get in touch. phil at moth dot asn dot au will get me.

Some photos fro McCrae are on the Aust IC web site.

McCrae Worlds

Back home at last after two weeks of sailing and a slow tourist trip home.
It was a good regatta with a lot of good friendships, good organisation and nice atmosphere. Winds were not always co-operative but the RC did very well.

The Hollow Log did well. As pre-empted upwind speed was not up to par, but I had a lot of fun passing boats downwind. I feel it was probbaly the fasted non spinnacker boat downhill out of the three fleets.

Streatching my memory the racing went something like this:

Preworlds with ICs, DCs, and ACs all in together. Mostly light winds. Fastest boat was Chris Maas but both Hayden (IC) and Steve (DC) won races. I lead one race which was canned whenthe wind departed. I do not remember the spinacker boats winning any races. The posted results are distorted by the failure of quite a few people to sign on. Steve won the series by always being up front.

We had only one work in 15kts and Steve won that race from Chris and I, after separating from the fleet in the earlier drift.

A few started the last race in about 30kts. I made the first tack with out a swim but was heading home when the RC called it off, All rescue boats were busy collecting disabled canoes downwind. Results are on http://www.regattamanager.com.au/icpreworlds/Results/Progress.html

My best result was the invitation with a 2nd in a light to moderate easterly.

For the start of the WC proper we had a nice southerly and I sneaked a 4th after battling Allister and Phil for a lap. Then the next race in similar winds the seat split and I struggled to shore. I repared it on the lay day but missed the consequential damage to the carrage. Next race was sailed hiking only part way out so as to make the distance, after which I rushed ashore for some quick epoxy repaires, Autoclaved in inside the Honda parked in the hot sun. Missed one race but made the third of the day.

The wind was back to the east like the preworlds where we had moderate easterlies which heavily favoured the right side near the beach. It often became a procession with no passing lanes upwind and I suffered badly. But this race Oliver and Allister decided they were behind enough to risk the left and passed 4 of us. Frustration

Next day was a big Northerly so no racing but it left a big chop for the following day which combined with a fading North Easterly made upwind difficult for me and downwind exciting as I surfed past many boats, sometimes with the sail flapping. Gybing became easy. Then the wind died completely and all racing was cancelled. With multiple heats on the last day we waited patiently all day for a big southerly to die, which never happened, so it was all over and I had two drops in a one drop series.
Results : http://www.regattamanager.com.au/icworlds/Results/Progress.html

8th of 13 was not as good as I hoped but the Log at least showed some signs of speed downwind. There were a lot of good boats and good sailors. Everyone else used familar and proven rigs and seat arangements. My boat wa sthe most original because I had no prehistory in the class and not many local Aust canoes to learn from.

It was probbaly not as bad as the scores show. We had several races where the top 6 boats would exchange places on almost every leg, I seemed to go from 2nd to 6th and back again often. If the races had finished downwind I would have been several places better off, but that is not how canoe racing works.

I will pack it up now and sail some moth races again. I have kept some notes on what I would like to chnage on both this boat or a later replacement. It is stil available for $6000 if someone wants an exciting drive.

I think the hull shape is good, but the unstayed rig might be suspect as it bends more as you go out on the seat. Diamonds are an option. I think the single sail has more left to develop. I want to explore this avenue before going to a sloop.

Well done Christian and Nichole for orgaisation, to McCrae for hospitality and great race management, to all the overseas canoe visitors for coming, to all the DC designers, builders and sailors for like minded company.

There is continuing discussion on DCs on both Saiing Anarchy and the IC forum:
http://www.sailinganarchy.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=65915
http://www.intcanoe.org/forum2/viewtopic.php?t=732