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Sailing at Sugarloaf resumes this Sunday (29 July 2007)
The pumps have been running hot for the last few weeks and as of today (23 July) we are back up to ~40% capacity. This puts our launching area back onto the pebble beach (no mud – yea!!
)Sugarloaf’s Winter series will resume this Sunday – we run 2 short races back to back (first race starts at 1.30pm). Then it is fortnightly on Sundays from 29 July (till the end of August – Summer races start in September). We have a regular fleet of 10-12 Sabres from the club – Visitors are always welcome.
cheers
PHILL JOHNSTONE
***** SUGARLOAF UPDATE ************
Unfortunately, due to recent changes in conditions Sugarloaf Sailing Club has suspended all sailing activities.
Recent falls in the water level has changed the shoreline conditions in the launching area making it unsafe for launch and retrieval of all boats (sailing and rescue). The recently exposed area is particularly steep and combined with a slower drying rate (due to the cooler weather) makes the shore quite treacherous.
Sailing area is not a problem, just access to it. Alternative access points have been looked for but there are no suitable alternatives.
The Club anticipates that current and forecast rain may be sufficient to start filling the lake and that once on the “upward” cycle the shoreline conditions will be suitable to allow sailing to recommence.
The club will continue to monitor and review the situation very closely. At this stage sailing on 20 May and 3 June has been cancelled. A decision as to whether sailing will recommence on 17 June (A Sabre Winter Series date) will be made closer to the day. Please check the Sugarloaf website http://home.vicnet.net.au/~slsail/ for updates and notification of club opening.
I will post an update when circumstances change.
Sorry for any inconvenience – just another consequence of drought and climate change.
PHILL JOHNSTONE
The Sabre mast can be raised quite easily single handed, albeit with some practice!
I lay the mast along the top of the boat (front of the mast upwards) then attach the two shrouds to the boat. Standing alongside (for some reason I always stand on the port side), my left hand is at the lower end of the mast (probably just below the gooseneck) & holding the forestay to the front of the mast. My right hand is probably a metre up the mast & on the underside (rear) of the mast. The weight and balance of the mast is such that it does not take too much effort to lift it up to vertical, bringing it back far enough in the process so that the base of the mast drops neatly into the mast step (this is when you discover that various dangly bits want to find their way under the mast!). Once the base of the mast is in the mast step, the right hand pushes forward pulling the mast against the shrouds (so that it is upright and stable). My left hand then takes the forestay and applies enough tension to allow the right hand to leave its position. A step to the front of the boat, keeping the tension on the forestay so that the mast does not fall over, and I secure the forestay onto the front of the boat.
Hopefully you can make some sense of these notes! It does take some practice (I have few small dings where I have stuffed up) but once you get the hang of it becomes a fairly smooth process.
Bringing the mast down is effectively the reverse (untie the forestay, hold the tension in the forestay to stop the mast toppling, step to the right to come portside, right hand up the rear of the mast, allow the mast to drop back onto the right hand while steadying with the left).
Good luck!
Phill Johnstone
Excuse Me Two
Sabre 1511
