the horse's mouth

Wreck On Wednesday.

I said, "neat," not "on the rocks!"
In case you folks have forgotten, this is "Safe Boating Week." 

Limit of Positive Stability.

Limit of Positive Stability or LPS is the angle from the vertical at which a boat will no longer stay upright but will capsize, becoming inverted, or turtled. It is also known as the Angle of Vanishing Stability or AVS. For example, if a boat with an LPS of 120 degrees rolls past this point, i.e. its mast is already at an angle of 30 degrees below the water, it will continue to roll and be completely upside down in the water. Most sailboats have lead or other heavy materials in their keel at the bottom of their hulls to keep them from capsizing.

Wednesday Wipeout.

Ah-oh, down she goes!
credit: Pascale Menguy Guittonneau
Semaine du Golfe 2013, jeudi 9 mai

One Of The Benefits Of Sailing A Modern Sport Boat.

Stability!

A competitive approach to sailing: above all, speed. Relatively small, overcanvassed and overpowered boats, suffering notorious lack of stability, dominate the contemporary racing scene. - C. A. Marchaj

Maybe I should rethink the whole spot boat thing and stick with my orginal idea of building an outrigger sailing canoe.

Wednesday Wipeout.

Even experienced sailors can screw up.

Before You Buy A Boat And Go Sailing...

I think you should learn how to sail. A bit of common sense also comes in handy if you want to venture out on the water. "See that thing staright ahead, it's called a beach."

But Joe, I've seen catamarans sail onto the beach in Florida.

Let's Play A Game Of Chicken! (Video)

How To Sail Through The Surf. (A Blast From The Past.)

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again....and again.....and again....and again. Oh for goodness sake, take a sailing class, old man!

Tillerman Tuesday. What Happens If You Sail A Boat With A Mast That Doesn't Have Stays?

...and it's really windy?

Via Sailing Anarchy.

Wednesday Wipeout. "Double Trouble."

T-bone stake, right through the heart.

All that open water, and out of nowhere this thing jumped in front of us and dismasted our boat!

Tillerman Tuesday. (Team NZ Damage Wingsail In Dramatic Incident.)

Is the Tillerman behind this mishap? He is madly promoting some old guy sailing contest in Newport.

More on the incident here.

Where Did I Park My Car?

I hope he used Ziebart.

Monday Morning Mishap.

This is not the way you want to start off a new week. 
Source: Nautiaula

Wrecks On Wednesday.

I think someone is line for a promotion after such a fantastic display of his navigation skills. Well done, sir! Mind you, the rangers are pissed that you didn't pay the entrance fee.

Fish On Fridays. Marlin 1 - Fishermen 0

Marlin sinks boat! Actually, the captain screwed up:  

"Not all the details are in, but apparently the captain began backing down on the huge fish, a common practice in big-game fishing when a fish is taking line. He puts the boat in reverse to chase the fish.

One commenter on Marlin Magazine's Facebook post who apparently had some knowledge of the incident said that the captain fell as he was backing down on the fish at full throttle. The boat took on too much water and, finally, there was no correcting the situation.

Marlin Magazine reported that the boat went to the bottom of the sea and everybody on board was rescued by the photo boat. And, of course, the fish got away. "

Those guys are going to have a hell of a fishing tale to tell. For some reason, I don't think the captain will be getting that many charters in the future.

Hat tip Tim Zimmerman | Quote from Wooden Boat Forum | Photos: Marlin Magazine

Wrecks On Wednesday.

If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times, this is not a hobie cat!
The Panagia F aground on Shipwreck Beach in Praia Santiago, Angola.

Source: Naval Architecture. Orginal photo from the Daily Mail.

Wednesday Wipeout.

It always pays to have a camera with you.
Brilliant sailing moments like the one above are preserved for eternity. Well done, chaps!

Via Tonio Burning.

Wednesday Wipeout.

Oops!

Via Scuttlebutt:
Day 1 at Etchells Australian Nationals: Raymond Smith’s St John’s Dance was well placed midway through the final downwind leg when the boat lost control on a wave, broached wildly and snapped the spinnaker pole. Now totally out of control, the spinnaker pulled the yacht down sideways, it filled with water and slowly, painfully slowly, sank to the bottom, leaving just the top half of the mast visible. All three crew emerged unscathed, but the yacht will spend the night on the bottom of Cockburn Sound, forcing a day’s rest on the crew, and effectively snuffing out any chance they had at the national title.

Wednesday Wipeout. Mommy, I Fall Down And Go Boom.

They say you should keep your eyes open when you are at the marina, you never know when you might trip on something. I'd say that's good advice.

Wednesday Wipeout! (Oracle Faw Down An' Go Boom)

"To be seaworthy, a vessel must be able to defend herself against the incursion and peril of the sea."- C. A. Marchaj.

Mr. Spithill, thanks for pushing the boat to the limit, your wages will be garnished starting with your next paycheck.

It's a good thing that Mr. Deep Pockets has money to throw around and can fund this endeavor.

hat tip to my lawn guy.