Phil Stevos Canoe Blog

2010 Nationals

2010-03-11T19:44:00.002+10:00

Well I have finished my Log sailing on a high note by winning the nationals at Adelaide sailing Club. The regatta was part of the Adelaide International Regatta and attracted 9 canoes.

Front Runner and defending champion Hayden won the first three races then got caught in a nasty squall and ended up wrecking his boat on the breakwater. He was still faster than the log upwind in the 15kts and big seas we had on day one some of which might have been due to me feeling very uncertain about the conditions and having a couple of swims on gybes. I came second twice then broke the boom trying to get a bit more vang from a new untried system.

I have a new sail again from Ben Gemmell this time from a stiffer cloth and full size. Its much better as it should be after what we both learned from mk 1.

The second day of teh regatta was lighter and off shore, meaning it got quite patchy at the windward mark. Kevin Knot lead at one top mark and Kyle Knot lead at another but the nethercotts were not in teh race downwind.

Ht 4 was a close match race between Log and Christian with Log just edging ahead in a finish mixed up by the committee moving the mark as we were about to finish. Ht 5 looked like being similar until Christian clipped my stern in a cross and put a hole in his boat, requireing a quick trip ashore. By heat 6 the attrition rate of canoes was so high only Frank and I completed the course.

Monday dawned wet and very windy from the SW and all canoe sailors decided we were staying ashore.The waves were even bigger that Saturday. Other classes rigged but after some delay the RC called off all racing and the regatta was over.

The Log is the new national Champion and its also sold. Jon Emmonson who sailed Lust Puppet at McCrae has bought the Log and will sail initially from Jervis Bay and later where ever the Navy send him.

Designing, building and sailing the canoe has been a very rewarding experience. I have met some amazing new friends in Aust and from overseas and will always remember the experience and the friendhips. I have promised the Aust Canoeists that I will be interested again when the worlds come back to Aust or even New Zealand.

More photos

2009-06-28T18:19:00.001+11:00

There are more Log photos from Toukley on http://www.flickr.com/photos/72192268@N00/sets/72157620664359294/

One Step Closer

2009-06-09T15:47:00.002+11:00

The IC nationals at Toukley in Winter? Well it was the best time for a lot of what seem like part time canoe sailors to get together. And despite three weeks of rain and excess or little wind before hand we ended up with almost perfect weather. The Champs were held as part of the Toukley SC annual winter regatta and they did a great job.
Ten ICs attended, half were new rules boats. One did not quite get finished in time and a couple of others could have benefitted from more time for little details.
The lead up weather meant I only had the one outing with the modified rig, but fortunately all worked pretty well and the boat showed a slight improvement in upwind performance without detracting from its great downwind speed.
But not good enough. Hayden has put more effort in and has vastly superior upwind speed to everyone. He always lead by at least a minute at the first windward mark and although I could get some back downwind I never really got close enough to threaten him. Alex Kalin was sailing Steve Clark's Josie and he had upwind speed over me in several races, but in all but two I was able to get past him downwind.
So I finished second.
We had a variety of wind strengths all from the W and NW. Some tricky shifts but all manageable. The heaviest race was the last when it blew up to 20 consistantly. And as only the canoes were left racing we had a clear go. A few drop outs made the track lonely but it was rewarding to get around well, making all the gybes.
I was happy with the boat and seemed to sail it pretty well. No capsizes until the final mark in the final race when a big gust came through, some say 25kt, as I was rounding from square to upwind. Despite windward heal, on the seat early and roundings gently I was blown over with the sheet loose and sail flapping, I thought it was a soft swim but the other three canoes left out there all went down in the same squall, even Hayden who was reaching to he shore after finishing nearby. So it must have been a good puff.
I think I can get a little more with some fine tuning of battens and cunningham system, not sure if I can get the cat rig up to Hayden's speed though? Its a long while between races to find out.

First time in 6 months

2009-05-14T17:54:00.003+11:00

First time on the canoe in 6 months.
Some short mixed fleet races at Balmoral. In the light stuff the IC was the fastest there. An old 49er sailed by old friend and NS competitor Rob gave some competition, but I managed to get past both times upwind.
The boat feels much better than before. Especially upwind where it was a bit lacking. The tight wires keep the leach well under control and the sail depth is much more reasonable and manageable.
Everything stayed put and I felt comfortable in the boat even though I only got half way out on the seat a couple of times.
Back again next saturday for another go with more wind forecast.

Bolt rope sail

2009-05-07T20:01:00.003+11:00

Just back from Ben, the sail now has a bolt rope to match the track attached to the mast last week.

Rigged it today and its a huge difference:

Still some adjustments to be made but its looking good.

Now for some practice in making the canoe go. Its been a while.

Another Nationals

2009-04-08T10:18:00.002+11:00

The class has moved the 2009 Nationals from Adelaide/easter to NSW in June, so I have incentive to get the canoe out again.

I have decided to get the sail modified to better match the added stiffness achieved with the staying added last year. The sail had had the luff curve reduced and will get a bolt rope. The mast gets a sail track and will be extended 120mm to make max height. (I measured along the mast when I built the boat while measurer Hayden measures vertically)

A few small mods to the carriage to improve tacking and I'll be ready to go again soon after the moth season ends on 25/4.

Even though I have alot of sorting to do on my new moth the prospect of winter sailing a moth is less tempting than the canoe. Knee deep water does not seem as cold as chest deep water.

It will be good to have another canoe regatta and it looks like we will have maybe 6 new rules boats racing plus several OD Nethercotts.

Albury Nationals 2008

2008-10-09T08:51:00.003+11:00

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

2008-09-04T14:32:00.002+11:00

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

2008-09-01T14:24:00.002+11:00

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.

2008-08-21T15:33:00.002+11:00

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.

2008-08-04T11:58:00.002+11:00

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

2008-07-08T22:14:00.002+11:00

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.

2008-06-12T22:20:00.002+11:00

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

2008-04-02T11:47:00.002+11:00

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?

2008-03-25T11:22:00.000+10:00

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.

2008-03-17T13:58:00.004+10:00

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.

2008-02-28T21:11:00.003+10:00

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.

2008-02-14T08:54:00.002+10:00

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?

2008-01-30T13:13:00.000+10:00

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

2008-01-13T09:14:00.000+10:00

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

2007-12-10T07:57:00.000+10:00

A good day at last. Saturday at StGeorge was a nice 10-15kt southerly. Seth came out to play and the moths were mostly disorganised or absent. Only Grant foiled and sailed away from us as usual.

Seth and I had a good work out. He has a slight edge to windward. I am either improved after some batten work since Hayden beat me upwind convincingly in October, or Hayden has improved since Seth raced him at Easter. Maybe its a bit of both.

My boat is still a lot faster downwind. I can run over Seth and then soak down way below and ahead of him. This was similar to what we found 16 months ago when the Log was new. Maybe its the weight difference, maybe its the narrower beam, maybe its the one big sail. We will find out at McCrae when I race the US DCs with sloop rig.

I got well ahead in the race and after a couple of laps I waited and we started together again. Same scenario, he got an edge at the top and I ran past him. We lined up together for a beam reach and I just managed to get through below him by a few boat lengths.

A good day, made all the tacks and gybes without swimming. Had a couple of lazy dips while trying to run by the lea to miss some traffic. Not taking it serious enough at the time.

Two weeks to go. A couple of solo sailing days practice then the big one.

2007-11-25T09:49:00.000+10:00

Carriage repairs were sucessfull. I gave it a pretty hard work out yesterday. Wind was solid 15 with some 25 gusts so it was also a test of my boat handling. That did not come up so well.

My excuse was the failure of my Ratchet block which meant I was physically wrecked after a couple of works and consequently spent a lot of time in the drink from bad tacks and gybes.

Only my pride damaged though.

I have listed the boat for sale on the IC Marketplace: http://www.intcanoe.org/forum2/viewforum.php?f=20

$A6500 after McCrae if you are interested.

2007-11-18T17:28:00.000+10:00

Another brief day's sailing. A good breeze and even another canoe to sail against as Seth finally got past his family commitments.

Unfortunatley my carriage failed again like it did in February so it did not last long.

But we did have 10 minutes of upwind sailing and at least I was on the pace with Seth, unlike when I sailed against Hayden last Month. Hopefully is this as a result of my work on the boat, battens, technique etc and not because Seth is out of form.

He also showed me some better ideas to improve my carriage and so this week I have some rebuilding to do.

It sure helps having some proven Canoes and canoe people about rather than winging it. Seth even bought Eric with him to add canoe heritage.

2007-11-11T08:48:00.000+10:00

I had a good outing yesterday at Balmoral. Due to continued lack of canoes I raced 10 moths at their first NSW interclub event.

A patchy 10-12 kt S-SE was ideal for me but not enough for most of the foiling moths. I lead for almost one lap until Dave Lister got enough to slip past, after which he went further ahead. No one else got close and in the end I lapped most of the fleet. They all seemed to be able to fly for most of the time but when they get light patches they park while the canoe just glides on. It was good to see such moth numbers with a few new faces.

A nice confidence booster with no handling or apparent speed problems. The new gloss finish on the board and rudder might have helped too. Stils ome fiddling to do with battens.

2007-11-06T17:53:00.000+10:00

Seth is tied up with his family for another couple of weekends so no DC/IC tuning just yet.

Sailed the moth last weekend instead, at least I had a fleet to sail against. Its obvious that the moth is where I should be putting the effort once the Canoe Worlds is over. The young guys who have been out every week are now legs ahead of me.

I hope to get out on the canoe mid week for some more solo practice, but without any other canoes I have no idea how fast it is going. At least all the UK and US competition are without their boats while in transit.

So who wants a cheap DC after January?

2007-10-28T19:28:00.000+10:00

I have had a few sails against the moths at St George. I can sort of hang in with them upwind even if they are foiling, going higher and slower but getting there with the second level boats. But downwind they are twice as fast and I have to wait to be lapped to get another go at them.

Have been playing with battens a lot and have the sail looking much better than at Albury, when there were some hard items installed. I seem to have regained the lost light air speed and height and have found a way to get upwind more comfortably when the wind comes up.

Next Sunday Seth is coming for a sail, and since he is one of our top ICs I should get a better picture as to whether I have improved since racing Hayden.

Canoe Rendeveu Albury

2007-10-05T19:13:00.000+11:00

Visted Albury to race a few canoes including National Champ Hayden Virtue.

He won 4 out of 5 races with vastly superior upwind speed. I beat him only once with a downwind finish speed burst, and on only one other occasion got past him at a leeward mark.

But I was happy with my stage of development knowing that Hayden is the best in Aust and up there near the top of the world as well.

At least I managed 3 full races without swims in some challenging and gusty conditions, only relapsing once I got very cold and a little tired.

Speed improvements are needed to the LOG. We found that the similar rig on my former Moth, Chainsaw, improved dramatically with some diamonds to prevent side bend, so this will be my first experiment. I have to sort out the luff zip / unrig requirements, but first I will see if it makes the required difference.

Report on:
http://www.internationalcanoe.yachting.org.au/?page=32413

2007-09-19T11:33:00.000+11:00

Another sail last Saturday. Openning day at St George.
Had a race against 4 foiling moths. Stayed with Luka's Prowler (No 2 in Aust Nationals) up the first work but then downwind he shot through in pursuit of Dave's new boat who had blitzed us all from the start. Lea caught me at the first gybe but in the 10-12 kts he cold not get low enough on the downwind and I ran away never to see him again. Grant was back a bit further on Revelations, unable to figure what adjustments had changed over the winter as he was barely foiling.
On the last lap Bruce appeard late again with his monster and we sailed together for a while. We were even closer matched than last week, until he gets clumbsy and rolls it over.
Happy with another day without swims, despite some poor gybes.
Sail is back with Ben Gemmell this week for some repairs and fine tuning. He will get a look at it next week when the 12s come to St George for a visit.
Then its down to Albury to race the ICs again the following week.

2007-09-10T10:48:00.000+11:00

I had another sail of the canoe yesterday. We had 4 moths out from St George and Bruce's 16ft moth on steroids as well. It is like a scaled up moth with 3m wide wings from which he trapezes, 500mm wide hull and a giant 12msq single sail on a rotating wing mast, some weapon.

It was only light when we launched. The Hollow Log was much faster than the moths in sub foiling winds, but when Bruce came out he was marginally faster upwind in less than 10 kts. Neither of us were fully powered up, but were going upwind faster than everything else.

We sailed around to the River club who had an opening race for the 16s. By this time the wind was a touch over 10 and Luka was foiling his moth well. The three of us followed the 16s away from their start.

In two short laps Luka had caught and passed all the skiffs, Bruce and I had a close race just behind the slowest skiffs, gaining upwind and losing downwind. The Hollow Log proved faster upwind than Bruce, while he gained a little downwind. After two laps I waited for him and we did another lap in slightly less wind and we stayed closer together.

On the way home we both commented that it was good to have another boat of similar performance to tune and race against. At least until he finishes his new 16.

More time on the boat. No dramas, no swims, nice speed.

2007-09-03T23:27:00.000+11:00

I have has a query from Rhys in NZ with some interest in canoe building. My response is valid to anyone else who might be considering building from the Hollow Log design as posted on the Aust Canoe web site:

It has taken me along time to feel comfortable sailing my canoe. It is not an easy boat and I have made many mods to the sail, rig, seat and systems before reaching the point that I am comfortable to sail it in at least 20kts and reasonably smooth water.
I still need lots more practice before the idea of 25kts and waves is tempting, but we might get that at McCrae, so I will be working on it.I think I can handle a small boat OK. I have been sailing narrow moths for 5 years and manage to finish about 1/3 from the front in NSW and Aust fleets. I am 57 and a long skinny 85kg.
If all that sounds like you and your commitment, then I recommend building the boat at minimum width because the rewards when you get it right are very moth like.
If you want something easier you could try some of these options:
* simply increasing the width of the bottom pannel (and hence chine width )by 100mm
* increasing the prismatic coeff by making the ends blunter,
* lowering the freeboard and cockpit floor
* using the conventional sloop rig, but you would need to widen the gunwale beam at the mast to stay it. I doubt the sloop rig would be lighter but the short boom would make gybing much easier.

I would not change:
* the general hull shape and the way the stressed ply flows smoothly from bow to planing areas as nicely as a bow wave.
* much of the structure as I have proven it tough and strong enough. The foam BH are really forms for the carbon ring frames and also deck supports for heavy feet.
* fin, seat and cat rig mast positions. The boat tacks well and only gets into iroms when you centre the tiller halfway though a tack. And since I have got the sail to twist downwind there is no tendency to nose dive.

2007-08-26T22:48:00.000+11:00

Scott and Luka won the Harbour Marathon in appalling weather on a borrowed 49er.
A report on Scott's blog: http://scott.projectsomewhere.com/

Next outing for the canoe will be against my moth friends when the St George SC season starts on the 15th Sept.

Then the October long weekend at Albury when the canoes gather for a tune up and pre worlds measurement session. I note the water level has risen to be higher now than it was last October when we had only a few short races in very light winds.

Woollahra Marathon?

2007-08-19T15:33:00.000+11:00

Not for me.
Today its raining, cold and windy and I decided to stay at home and keep dry. Not sure if anyone else bothered.
There is a long warm summer ahead and that seems much more tempting.
Links to SFS results from last week:
http://www.sydneyflyingsquadron.com.au/bm/pr0701.htm

2007 SFS Brass Monkey Regatta

2007-08-13T09:51:00.000+11:00

Last year the rooster but this year the feather duster.

On Saturday we had a hot Sydney westerly in the lee of the North Sydney high rise. The weather station at Fort Denison next to the course recorded winds of 15-20 with gusts of 25, but everone sailing thought it was worse than that with lulls to 5 and shifts of 45 degrees.

I got to the first mark after a couple of sucessful tacks in touch with the leaders but fell over on the bear away and put my body through the sail. End of day for AUS21.

In our division the race was between a good NS14 an MG14 and a 30 year old pre wing wooden 18. I think the small boats came out on top because they were easier to handle in the conditions.

In the other divsion the F18 cat blitzed it finishing a lap ahead in one race. One 18 in training struggled around, and the 12s won the yardstick

I repaired the sail overnight and improved the mainsheet system to reduce friction. The wind also dropped to a 10kt southerly.

I lead the 3rd race till the last mark when the old 18 caught me and then they ran faster downwind to the finish. The last race was nearly as good but the 18 lead around every mark. I probably stayed within a minute or two but could not find the shifts to sneak past.

The F18 and the modern 18 won a race each. Yardstick to the 12 again.

It was very rewarding to sail out of the start higher and faster than the NSs, as I still consider them as a benchmark in windward performance. I also tried sailing angles downwind, with body weight just outside the boat, and was impressed that the old 18 did not make huge gains. With a couple of slow gybes (the have an old end for end pole) I was right with them at the bottom mark each time. Some good practice, and some refinement of the boat. No swims on Sunday and getting confidnet on the tacks and gybes with improved technique.

Next weekend is the Woolhra Harbour Marathon.

2007-08-07T20:28:00.000+11:00

Since last summer when Oliver Moore sailed the boat in the Australian Champs and placed 4th, (while I sailed in the concurrent Moth State Champs), the rig has been refined and now we can flatten the sail and independantly control twist. A great asset when gybing. And now my gybe success rate has increased alarmingly. Thanks to a lot of effort fromSail maker Ben Gemmell.

We sailed the Winter inParadise regatta a few weeks back and I managed plenty of safe downwinds and stayed unexpectedly close to the 12 ft skiffs and ahead of the cherubs in what was more like their type of course, upwind and straight downwind.

The plan is now to get as much seat time as possible up to the Canoe Worlds at McCrae in January 08. It will be hard though to not sneak out on my moth occasionally.

2007-08-07T20:20:00.000+11:00

I am a new Blogger, but the canoe is now a year old, and has had a fair bit of development since winning the SFS Brass Monkey regatta on yardstick one year ago.
Next weekend we get to try and defend that title but not without the challenge of a less generous yardstick.