Circumnavigation Record Smashed!

The record for circumnavigating the globe again goes to a sailboat versus a powerboat. The 131 trimaran Banque Populaire skipper by Pascal Bidegorry of France broke the former record of 48 days to now 45 days, 13 hours... Check out the video!

Click here to see the article on this blog about all current fastest sailboat records.

2012 Agenda

In this Post: Sea Scouts; Hobie & Keelboats; Events; Sail & Paddle Fest; Lakes & Rivers; Water Fight

SEA SCOUTS

New for 2012 is the start of a new Sea Scout Ship (troop) call Inland NW Sea Scouts. I have been working with youth in sailing for some time now and it only made sense to take it to the next level. Actually the Boy Scouts Came to me with the idea and this just played into my thoughts already. The Sea Scouts is an arm of the Boy Scouts of America and is co-ed for kids ages 14-20. I like this fact as I can work with boys and girls. Also the BSA and SS are based on conservative Christian principles so if you do not lake prayer before and after activities then this ship (troop) may not be for you and your kids.

This ship (troop) will be focused on sailing, and also marine safety and water quality. The boats we will be using are my 33’ catamaran the Windwalker and Hobie Tandem Islands. Any boats donated to the group (if we agree to take the boat) that are not TI’s will be sold so we can purchase more TI’s and gear, etc. (we are looking at developing a Hobie 16 fleet). I already have about 10 kids in the group and they all want to do lots of trips and so the Hobie TI fits right in with what we want to do. I would like to see some racing going on but I think we will have to slowly work into that as again they want to get out and sail, and camp. We will use the Windwalker for long cruises, team building, etc.

We will have a minimum of 2 meetings a month and one activity (one activity can also serve as a meeting). We will offer meetings via online conferencing for those kids that live out in the country and still want to make the meetings.

Budget needs: 1. We need two ten foot rain gutters and associated supports/stands for rain gutter races; 2. Need a ships steering wheel and pedestal for meetings. 3. Need funding for uniforms; 4. Need funds to acquire 6 TI’s and long trailer to carry the boats. 5. Funding for gear, fuel for trips, camping fees, etc.  We already have one sponsor that I will be meeting with this month to see what he will be doing for the ship.

Let any youth you think would be interested know about this new ship (troop) and either have them email me at ss@funtosail.com or call 208-704-4454. See our Sea Scout web page at www.funtosail.com by clicking on Sea Scouts.

HOBIE FLEET & TRAILERABLE KEELBOAT FOCUS!

For 2012 I will be working hard to grow the Hobie Fleet and continue to do the same with the trailerable keelboat fleet. The focusing will be when it comes to Hobie's on the Hobie Tandem Island first, then Hobie 16, followed by the Wave. With the trailerable keelboats it will be no specific class of boats as in this group its a totally mixed bag of boats. I am when it comes to new boats trying to promote the Sage 17 (see link at menu near the top of this website) trailerable keelboat... its  built in America and is what I considered the best boat on the market. I am not a dealer for this boat nor do I make any money of this boat when one sells, its purely a love for this boat. Nothing comes close to the Sage 17, not Catalina, Hunter, or anyone keelboat manufacture.

I will continue to sell the Super Snark as an inexpensive way people to get into sailing. Great performing boat at a great price.

Here is the deal, year after year as I try to help grow sailing within the Inland NW the main thing I have learned is that sailing is strongest with the Hobie sailors and trailerable keelboaters. It's an Inland NW thing, Laser sailing, Optimist sailing, and other classes of sailboats are just not it within the Inland NW. I will say what is taking the sailing community by storm within the Inland NW is the Hobie Tandem Island.

Some may disagree with my analysis and if so then they can try to get it going. I sure will not discourage anyone from trying to get any segment of sailing going and will support them the best I can.

EVENTS – SAILING THE INLAND NW

Our group will be focused again on hitting some local sailing clubs activities and doing some trips. In regards to regattas we will attend the Deseret Regatta in May followed by the May Sail & Paddle Fest, and on from there… Take a look at the calendar/schedule on the www.funtosail.com website. Trips this year will include one to Horseshoe Lake, the Scablands to Soda Lake, Potholes Canal and Reservoir, etc.

SAIL & PADDLE FEST

This year I will not be in the Spokane Boat Show as last year it was a waste of my time with so few people going to the show. Honestly if you are a sailor are you going to go to this show, for most people the answer is no. I have tried to work with the boat show to make sailing a bigger part of the show along with kayaking but they our power boat people and do not see the value in non-motorized boating, or it seems that way. Actually several years in a row I had to go to the show entrance to tell the officials that there are sailboats in the show as they kept telling people there are no sailboats in the show. This and other items have made it easy for me to go a new direction. So this year I am making the May 12th Sail & Paddle Fest my big show. I am asking our club members this year to bring your Hobies (sailboat or kayak), Super Snark, or a trailer-able keelboat to the show. I would love to have some AI’s, TI’s, Hobie 16’s, and a slew of keelboats at this year’s show. This is a great way to get those that have never sailed into that sport we love. Coeur d’Alene Kayaks, a paddle board business, and other businesses will be attending. Also I may have a new Sage 17 at the show :)

LAKES & RIVERS

I am really excited to now have www.boatingtheinlandnw.com greatly improved! What is boatingtheinlandnw.com you ask? Its a site where you can got to find how to access particular lakes and rivers within the Inland NW, and much more. It is much easier to navigate than it was in the past and I have about 120 maps that will be loaded onto this site shortly… That is right over a 100 maps! The website has been a labor of love for me as there is not a single map I have seen of the Inland NW lakes (ones I did not make) that do not have some type of error(s). Every single map has launches in the wrong places, etc. What I found is all the map makers share the same wrong info. When I tried to help them correct it they would say “we already printed the map and can not change it.” Guess that its true but they do off and on make new maps and still print the wrong info. So what I have done is actually visited every single site that are on my maps to make sure they are correct. It has taken me 3 years thus far to create what I now have on the website (there is a lot more I have that I have yet to post). This year I am hoping to finish the eastern WA. section of the site but I think it will take me though 2013 to do it. Then after I get this done I will work on N.W. Montana. Of course after it’s all finished it will never be truly finished as agencies, etc. will improve launches, add or close sites, and I will have to keep up with all of these changes.

So please visit www.boatingtheinlandnw.com and use it, its free! Use it and tell me what you like and do not like about the site and I will do all I can to the make it better. Let as many people know about it as possible. If you or anyone you know would like to advertise on this site please email me with the request at info@boatingtheinlandnw.com .

Here in the next few weeks I will be adding Google earth maps besides the 120 printable maps… so stay tuned.

WATER FIGHT

I am continuing my campaign to show people the truth about bottled water and why we need to significantly reduce our consumption of such a product. Can you imagine 20 years ago someone saying they were going to sell bottled water when you could get the same water right out of your faucet? Everyone would have laughed at that person! Today millions of people waste their hard earned money on water that is no better than what comes out of their faucet (in most cases). If you really want to drink clean water and improve your health at the same time then check out my Water Fight page at leadersinvitality.blogspot.com . Wouldn’t it also be nice to go for a sail and not see bottles floating in our lakes and rivers, and Oceans? If you combined all the bottles floating around in the environment it would be the size of Texas and 150 ft thick. Lets wake up to the fact we were shammed into drinking bottled water. I use to drink bottled water like many other people and now I am amazed I ever fell it.

Also I take my sport bottle on all my trips sailing and have clean water no matter where I go. To learn more email me at info@funtosail.com or give me a call, or visit leadersinvitality.blogspot.com
END

I pray this year I will see more of you at our activities as 2011 was a bit disappointing. I know many of you have told me you plan to attend our activities this year and I am holding to that, ha, ha.

I sure hope you had an awesome Christmas! I hope this year is great year for all of us. I assure you one thing this year’s election will be the most important one to ever take place! So get out and vote!

Fair winds,

Miles Moore
funtosail.com
http://www.funtosail.com
Leaders in Vitality
http://www.leadersinvitality.com
208-704-4454

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

December 2011 Ice Sailing

If it can't be a new toy, have it be primo conditions to play with one you've already got! Perseverance pays! This high pressure ridge has been parked over the Pacific NW for 3 weeks now, bringing ice building temps, overcast skies, no precipitation, lots of freezing fog, and ZERO wind. Which is hard on an iceboat junkie, to have the shallow lakes frozen, free of snow, and no opportunity to pull the trigger. This early ice season is often short to non existent, killed by anything more than a couple of inches of snow, often for months, until the spring melt/refreeze cycle again offers up clear ice. 

The National Weather Service promises that a weak low pressure system will show up Christmas day to nudge the ridge eastward. After a fine family breakfast, and furious present opening on the part of the grand kids, a quick check with NWS proclaims that it's begun. Now this form of sailing is another wind sport requiring repeated leaps of faith. I leave home in deep fog and dead calm, solely on the promise that there'll be breeze when I get to the lake in an hour and a half. I'm desperately watching flags and roadside weeds as I cross the rolling wheatlands, for any sign of the element that I need. As I approach the lake it starts to sprinkle, but I break into a monster grin. I can see the the trailing edge of the cloud bank, and it's blowin'! As I finish rigging, the sun busts free, and I bask in the first sunshine in three plus weeks! 

I launch into 15 plus, gusting over 20, enough to overpower the boat with the big 5 meter sail on. A bit of a handful for my season opener.  I scream around close to put in, to get dialed in on ice I know, and then slowly expand my range as I get comfortable with the power. I walked this playground two weeks ago, when it had just gotten thick enough, and it's been below 32 since then, but ice is worthy of deep respect, with pressure ridges that form and heal, and springs that can thin the ice depth, it's an ever changing surface.  But careful inspection reveals a solid surface, and I start to let her run free. The wind has moderated some, so now I'm working on building speed. With so little friction, this machine feeds on apparent wind.  There's this great little dance to power her up after a tack, sheet out to increase the sail's draft, bear away to gain speed, the boat accelerates, allowing the main to be sheeted in as I head up. Bear away again for another burst of acceleration, and a corresponding carve back to windward as the main comes in some more. Repeat until the boom's just leeward of my helmet, the main's as flat as my protesting sheet hand will tolerate, and the speed is exhilarating!  Done properly, it's a graceful wiggle, yielding yet another big smirk. 

A similar maneuver cranks her up after a jibe, sheet out to get the boom up over my helmet, head up for power, carve down, sheet in, head up for more, and bear away again till fully turned on. Then straighten her out right there on the edge of that pressure, and hold on! 40 knots of boat speed in 15 knots of breeze with the big sail. It only increases as the wind speeds rise and the sails get smaller (less aerodynamic drag, the limiting factor for top end speed). 

The days are mighty short this time of year, and sadly the sun finally finds the horizon, and with that, the wind drops. I head for the launch with every intention of shutting her down. But as she glides to a halt, the pressure builds again, and I can't quit! I know! The warning signs are very clear! I last another 10 minutes till the rapidly dropping temperature and fading light send me in. I pack up by headlamp, and make the drive home with a monster smile, and deep gratitude to the big man for the beautifully tailored gift. 

Dave Farmer of Tum Tum, WA.

Ice Sailing Sprague Lake, WA. 2011



First light reveals the clear skies that were predicted.  I spent the weekend tuning up the little iceboat, gathering up the pieces that were scattered since its last incarnation as a dirt boat. Grinding the runners, and fussing for that perfect alignment. It's been mostly below freezing for the last week and a half, nighttime temps in the sub 20s. Might just be enough to make the shallow lakes usable.

The boat's on the trailer, hooked up and ready to roll. Brilliant blue above, all vegetation flocked with bright white hoar frost from the successive nights of freezing fog. It's an hour and a quarter drive southwest across the Palouse wheatfields and channeled scablands, to Sprague Lake.  I've never yet caught early season ice, it usually snows soon after it forms, and I've had to wait for the spring thaws to get this machine running.  But here's a chance!  I'm trying hard to keep my expectations low, I'm just going to check on the ice, I tell myself. Just a morning tour in the countryside.

Just beyond Reardan I drive out of this precious sunshine, back into the fog bank that fills these river valleys and coulees on these early winter morns. Not good though, the fog will fend off the 6 to 8 mph winds the weather service is promising me. The flag hangs limply in the Edwall city park as I motor through. That's ok, it's easier to stick to my scouting plan if the wind's not pleading with me.

The lake slides into view, whoa, there's open water at the northeast end. Ok, well it's shallower at the SE end.  At the put in, the ice appears to be about 3" thick. And GLASS!  With these amazing 2" tall hoar frost 'Christmas trees' that have formed off any tiny imperfection on the ice surface. I don the spiked ice boots, and I'm off to survey the landscape. The crystal clear ice reveals it's thickness with every crack, and I search out any surface distortions in my proposed sailing route. I spook  a coyote off the island, and off  to the southeast I perceive a blurry(or furry) post sticking up a foot and a half out of the ice, this new ice. Bears investigation.  I get within 50' and it launches skyward, a magestic horned owl. Good that I travelled this way, another 200 yards further is open water, the size of a swimming pool. Must be a spring.

I return to my circumnavigation, and a ten minutes later I spot another open spot, similar in size, just off the island, with geese frollicking merrily. Still 3 to 4 inches of ice beneath me, both holes out of my path and easy to spot.  At the end of a couple of hours, I've completed my survey, and I'm comfortable with the ice. Now I just need wind!

And here's where the addiction rears it's ugly head. It's still foggy, but I think I see it thinning, and there, over there, the sun's breaking through, illuminating that hillside. There's a little breeze, 2.9 to 5.2 mph, according to my very precise annemometer..... 5 to 6 might work. I think it's building....... Might as well rig the boat, as long as I'm here..... By the time it's ready there might be enough..... Well at least all the parts are here.  She goes together quickly, and I push her off the shore towards open ice. Ahhh, she glides nicely!  Such a silky feeling. A tiny puff, I push, jump in, and sheet in. And trundle along smoothly, albeit slowly, until she eventually eases to a stop. Hop out, dance about a little(tunes, yes tunes, always), waiting for the next puff. I repeat this behaviour a few times, and finally decide to just lounge in the cockpit til the next attempt. Amazing, 25 degrees, and I'm dressed so well that I can take a little snooze here atop this frozen lake.  That's a comfortable boat!

A few more attempts, and I decide to pack it up. A bit of a skunk if sailing was the goal, but a fine day acclimating to this new season.  The boat is ready, the ice is here(almost), I just need some wind before it snows!

Dave Farmer of Tum Tum, WA.

Mitch Robinson... Lake Coeur d'Alene & Potholes Reservoir!

At dock at Lofts Bay landing, Lake Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Oct. 2011

To fellow sailors living in the Great Northwest, I was asked to share some of my sailing experiences about the area (to be exact sailing within the Inland NW). There are a number of great places to sail around this area but, unfortunately I have only had the opportunity to actually sail on two of the lakes so far. The lake I am most familiar with is Lake Coeur d' Alene in Idaho because I live about 10 miles down the lake, (south) of Interstate I-90. During the summer I boat to work, (sail if there is wind, motor if no wind) then after work boat up to Beauty Bay and spend the night anchored in the bay. There are 3 buoys in Beauty Bay to tie off to, so it makes for a nice protected place to spend the night. It usually does not get crowded until after the end of June. In the mornings after my coffee I sail until it's time to go back to work. Fortunately, this next year I will have more time to sail since I am now Retired.

Sailing from Lofts Bay to Carlin Bay, Lake Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Aug. 2011

I also had a nice sail recently from Carlin Bay, ( Coeur d' Alene Lake) over to Loff's Bay which is just slightly northwest across the lake from Carlin Bay. I plan to check out some of the places on this lake that I haven't had time to see now that I am retired.  Like going up the St. Joe and Coeur d' Alene rivers and checking out the wild life. When you have a sailboat that only draws 18" of draft you can go alot of places others can not. 

Sailing aboard my Compac 16 with Miles Moore on the Potholes Reservoir. The Hobie 17 sailor is Jeff Creim. Spring 2009.

Miles Moore and I had the good fortune to go to Pot Holes Reservoir in Washington awhile back and spend a couple of days sailing and camping out on my ComPac-16.  We had good wind and hit close to 6 knots one day which is real good for such a small mono hull.

Stay tuned as a follow up article is coming to show the before, in process of being restored, and after pictures.

If there is anyone interested in going sailing or boat camping lets get together and enjoy the great outdoors. Call me  208-689-9828 or leave a comment below... Happy Sailing, Mitch Robinson

Worlds Fastest Sailboats

I thought you all might like to see the officially recorded fastest speeds for sailboats. The debate about how fast sailboats can go and/or speed differences between monohulls and multihulls can sometimes be a ridiculously serious debate. It can be like talking about politics. So I think the best way to resolve this debate is to state facts, so here are the facts as supplied by the World Speed Sailing Records Council.

ALL OUT TOP SPEED

Currently the all out top speed record (over 500 meters) is 51.36 knots, which is almost 60 mph (59.33 MPH). This record goes to the trimaran on foils called the l’Hydroptere. Currently this boat is sailed on protected waters away from big waves when hitting those speeds but the inventors of this boat are currently testing an Ocean going model that they say currently is living up to their expectations. So look for many ocean records to be broke shortly. Currently the kiteboard (not considered a boat or sailboat) is the fastest wind power craft at 55 knots, however I think the I’Hydroptere developed with a wing sail will surpass this record. The windsurfer (sailboard) is close at 49.09 knots (also not really considered a sailboat. Some call it a monohull sailboat, really?). Check out the I’Hydroptere video.

24 HOUR RECORD

The 131 trimaran Banque Populaire skipper by Pascal Bidegorry of France currently holds the fastest 24 hour record at 37.84 knots for 908.2 nautical miles. Check out the video!

CIRCUMNAVIGATION RECORD

Not only does the 131 foot Trimaran Banque Populaire skippered by Pascal Bidegorry have the 24 hour record but also has what some considered previously to be an impossible feat, that is to break 48 days sailing around the world. Banque Populaire set the Circumnavigation record at 45 days, 13 hours, 42 minutes, 53 seconds averaging 26.50 knots. Even more amazing is the closest a power boat could get to this record was 60 days with the jet boat Ady Gil. However this was not non stop as they had to stop 12 times to refuel. The USS Navy nuclear-powered submarine USS Triton also did it in 60 days… 2 hours faster and non stop totoally submerged. There is another project in the works to create a powerboat called Good Hart to break the record however it will not beat the sailboat record for non stop circumnavigation due to the fact they will make four stops. Check out the celebration video and click here to see the boat flying along... Banque Populaire

FASTEST AROUND A RACE COURSE



The fastest speeds around a race course go to the Americas Cup (AC) catamarans. The Americas Cup catamarans will be pushing the envelope of speed around a course, etc. The AC 45 foot catamarans are already recording 30+ knot speeds and in summer of 2012 these speeds will be pushed even higher when the new larger AC 72 catamarans hit the race course. Estimates for these new catamarans are average speeds of 30+ knots with short periods of 40+ knots. One thing for sure the Americas Cup has finally entered the modern era of high tech and high speed racing, the formula 1 level of racing on water. Watch videos here http://www.youtube.com/user/AmericasCup. Click here to learn about the technical aspects of the boat and how a 44' boat fits into a 40' container... AC45 specs.

SOME MONOHULL RECORDS

ALL OUT TOP SPEED

Top speed unofficially is 32.45 knots aboard the 140' Mari-Cha IV, sustained for short bursts. Since no monohull is hitting speeds of 40 knots or more the World Sailing Speed Record Council has no records of top speeds other than during monohulls record attempts at 24 hours or longer. Again some large high performance monohulls have hit over 30 knots for a very short time.

24 HOUR RECORD

2008, the 70 foot monohull Ericsson 4 skippered by Torben Grael average a speed of 24.85 Knots for a distance of 596.6 nautical miles. Check out the video!

FASTEST CIRCUMNAVIGATION

The 84 foot Foncia, skippered by Sables d’Olonne went around the world in 84 days at an average speed of 10.78 knots. Check out the video!

FASTEST MONOHULL

Some sailors think the 140 foot super monohull yacht Mari-Cha IV will become the world’s fastest ocean going monohull and it is living up to that goal. They say its potential top speed is 40 knots; however it has not come close to this yet, so far they have recorded 32.45 knots unofficially. When it was first built on their website for a short period they called it the worlds fastest sailboat but have since dropped that claim. On shorter distances they are recording 14+ knots averages and on WSSRC website, currently its longer distance averages are around 12.77 knots. Check out the video!

CONCLUSION: So there you have it the official records to establish the facts.

And just to get another debate going what top speed have you had your sailboat going? Make a comment below.

Hobie Co. indicated in the mid 70's of a H16 doing 26.2 mph, and officially advertised a speed of 25.9 mph in the early 80's. Check out the Hobie forum for speed info. A Hobie 21 was recorded going 32.5 knots (proof is posted) . Take a look at this video of a Hobie 16 doing 22.3 mph. I recorded the speed of 26 knots on my Reynolds 33 catamaran. I bet I have gone faster on this big cat but unfortunately I did not have a GPS with me.

An Olympic Tornado catamaran was recorded hitting 36 knots. And a Laser monohull was recorded doing 16.8 knots in a storm.

No matter what speed you are going its slicing silently across the water that makes it all so enjoyable.

LINK

www.sailingspeedrecords.com

By Miles Moore of funtosail.com