|
SAILING LOG FOR APRIL 19, 2003
THE LAUNCH OF KAYNEE, TRITON #30
(OWNED BY JEFF MAHER)
PAGE 2 |
|
Jeff
started his rebuilt Atomic 4; it started right up, but was running too
rich, with a tendency to stall. After getting so used to my own
quiet waterlift exhaust system on Glissando, the cherry-bomb
exhaust note of the original jacketed copper exhaust seemed
intense. After running the engine for several minutes, with a
stall or two in there, we were ready to get out of the slip and into
some open water. The main and jib were ready to go, and it was
time to give Kaynee a chance to spread her wings.
 A
substantial current was running through the harbor past the bridge and the
slip we were in, which promised to make departure a little
interesting. However, with only minimal fending off of pilings, we
were soon free, and chugging down the channel, a determined skipper at
the helm. The engine stalled once more on the way out, but started
right up again without a problem.
|
|
 As
we rounded the breakwater, we raised the main with one reef tucked in,
since the wind was fairly strong out of the ENE. Outside the
breakwater, the notorious Buzzard's Bay chop was steep and high, and we
were soon covered with cold salt water. But boy, it felt great to
be out on the water! We motorsailed out a ways, then Jeff shut the
engine down. The silence was deafening.
No one made any moved to
go forward and raise the jib, and we continued under reefed main
alone, at a slow but comfortable pace. It took a moment or two for
the boat to build enough momentum for steerageway, but soon enough we
were enjoying a pleasant sail. The boat felt great.
Over the course of the
next hour or two (I lost track), we all took turns sailing the
boat. With only the main up, we held a course a bit off the wind
and enjoyed the easy, dry motion. Not being overly familiar with
the waters, none of us felt like striking out anywhere in particular, so
we sailed into, and then out of, Clark Cove, just south of New Bedford.
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 Before
long, though, we realized that we had to get in, so we tacked around and
headed back into Padanaram. Downwind, and with the waves behind
us, we enjoyed a great sail in past the breakwater before rounding up to
lower the main. With the engine running again, I discovered a peculiar
Triton trait that, having a diesel, I was unaware of: the
monstrous shift lever in the cockpit actually gets moved aft to shift
into forward gear! Interesting.
Jeff's mooring for the
season is on the inside portion of the harbor, which requires passing
through a swing bridge. The information he had indicated that the
bridge opened on the hour, so, with nearly 30 minutes to wait, we
motored in and picked up an empty mooring to wait. In typical
Triton (and full-keeled) fashion, with an opposing wind and tidal
current, the boat refused to swing properly on the mooring, and soon the
unfendered dinghy was threatening the shiny Awlgripped hull again.
Muttering under his breath like a crazy person, Jeff fought to fend the
boat off until, finally, we dropped properly back on the
mooring. |
|
 As
the hour approached, we dropped the mooring and motored closer to the
bridge in order to be there in time for the opening. As we neared
the bridge, however, and Jeff attempted to raise the bridge tender on
his VHF, it became painfully clear that the bridge was, at the moment,
unattended. As we motored in for a closer look, the harsh wording
of the posted sign became clear: bridge opens on the hour May 1
to October 31. It was April 19.
|
|
 Unsure
of how to proceed, and decidedly (and understandably) upset about this
unexpected turn of events, Jeff let the boat wander a bit while looking
over his shoulder at the bridge and pondering aloud. The tide was
quite low, and since I noticed some clammers knee deep in the water a
fair distance from shore, I called back to Jeff to not take the
boat in that direction. I don't know whether or not he heard me,
or if it registered, but suddenly, looking forward, I realized that the
bottom was coming into startling clarity. As I turned aft to tell
Jeff, he, still upset over the lack of fendering on the dinghy, was
again, saying, "hey, this dinghy just has a mind of its own--now
it's overtaking us." Of course, we were hard aground in the
mud.
|
|
 The
tide was incoming, but we decided to get a kedge off, since the wind was
tending to push us onto the mud. So, Jeff got in his dinghy and we fed
him the anchor, while he rowed out in the proper direction according to
our instructions. After three attempts to get the anchor to set,
none of which were successful--we kept winching the anchor right back to
the boat--we finally decided to secure the anchor line to a nearby
mooring buoy, and use that to kedge us off. Success! Soon,
we were afloat again, and we pulled ourselves to the buoy and picked up
the slimy pendants.
|
|
 With
the boat once again secure, Jeff got on a borrowed cell phone to try and
raise the bridge tender, using the numbers posted on the bridge
sign. The first number reached was the local police department,
who was apparently on vacation as there was no answer.
I could picture the
message: "Thank you for calling the South Dartmouth
police. Due to lack of interest, our offices are currently
closed. Our regular hours are Monday through Friday, 9 to 5.
Please do not commit an y crimes outside of our regular business
hours".
Finally, Jeff got hold of
some unhelpful soul, who informed him that he had to call the
harbormaster during business hours and arrange a bridge opening.
How convenient. With that news, it became painfully obvious that
Jeff, and Kaynee, would have to remain on the flimsy town mooring until
such time as the bridge could be opened. We finished putting the
boat away, and all rowed ashore, taking a few trips in the flexing
dinghy. |
|
|
|
It
was a successful launch and a great day! Jeff got Kaynee
through the bridge three days later, finally, and, as of this writing,
she is secure on her new mooring. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
