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Our Sailing Hideaway Blog and YouTube videos will remain active. Join the HideAways as we tell, through blog stories and videos, what life really is like on a small, 23' Com Pac sailboat. We'll show the joys, thrills and chills of the sailing life, but also what it takes to maintain a boat, trailer and truck. You are just as likely to learn how not to do something correctly as to do it right. That's important too! New! The Hideaways take to the road! Follow Traveling Hideaway: Winds of Wanderlust Transitioning from Sailing Hideaway to Traveling Hideaways as sailors learn to travel without heeling, well, not much, anyway. The Paint Wasters Society unlocks the art of paint squandering with sheer delight, free from the shackles of remorse or guilt. Trust me, a century down the line, nobody's going to bat an eyelash, so why not indulge in some paint splattering shenanigans today? Let's turn those pricey pigments into a canvas of laughter and joy.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Pine Island II

It’s only 17 miles from HideAways berth in Gulfport Fl to Pine Island near Apollo Beach according to our ancient GPS. The math is easy; distance divided by speed concludes the trip will take about 4 hours. Factor in the weather and wind speed and maybe add an hour or so for the safety factor and we find a mid afternoon arrival in the realm of some reality.




The HideAway carries her navigation table in a three ring binder containing large font course plans for various expected wind as well as tide and weather forecasts for the period. In addition each course has been plotted on a water proof paper chart with detailed notes. Her crew are equally well versed in the plans’ details and are prepared to take over navigation duties at a moments notice.



Despite passing St. Petersburg and anchoring fairly close to Apollo Beach there is little opportunity to replenish supplies of gas on this cruise. A refueling stop would add too much time to the trip therefore the HideAways carried nearly nine gallons of gas, should extended use of the motor be required. She returned with less than one gallon in her tank.



Sailing like a scalded cat across Boca Ciega Bay at 6 kn/GPS while pulling our East Port Pram brought large smiles to the HideAways. Seventeen other boats of the fleet sailing out of Boca Ciega Yacht Club stretched across the bay like a work of art Saturday morning. After a slight delay getting under Structure “C” the fleet proceeded along the ICW past St Pete Beach to the next drawbridge to the East with the inspired name of Structure “E” that separates Tierra Verde island from the mainland.



In the good old days each bridge raised on the twenties so a boat would have little delay making both bridges. Given the strong currents around “E” this was an important benefit. Then some Bozo from the State of Florida decided to put “E” on the halves in favor of the wealthy home owners on Tierra Verde. (We have the best government money can buy apparently.)

To be continued...

Sunday, February 27, 2011

A Pine Island Plan for Treasure

Somewhere in the vast wilderness of Tropical Western Florida lies a point in paradise code named Pine Island.  Local legend asserts the island formed not from discarded clam shells as many are, but from cast aluminum apparently in the shape of pine trees if the fable is to be believed. 

Always up for an adventure especially ones that involve sailing, legends and aluminum treasure, Gold is sooo heavy you know!  The HideAways mission is to seek out the truth of this local tale with gusto.

The Plan

Steal away in the darkness of a predawn day ahead of the other sailors on faster boats with the same gleam in their eyes, secure the vast aluminum treasure in Hideaway's hold of secrets and hide the treasure in South East North Dakota far to the west.

The Problem

Where the heck is this place?  The parable states it is in a  "Est toou airey"  where fire sticks are seen in the sky and the ground trembles with fear and no canoe returns from the forbidden shores of Pointy Glad.  Why can't legends be written in plain language?

A massive search of the known archives of the universe reveal no such place or island.  Nor is it named on any chart produced by the US Government. A conspiracy perhaps or just the usual negligence?

The Breakthrough

Late on a night with a ringed moon the capt received a communication from his shady past concerning a map buried in an old whiskey bottle long ago under a carrot tree at a local well known sailing establishment.

Now we all know you cannot just show up with a shovel in hand and start digging something up at a well known sailing establishment.

 A Deception Needed was Found!

"I know just the thing,  We'll build a huge brick patio and call it the Sea Breeze." The First Mate espoused "Nobody will suspect a thing!"

A carrot tree????

To be continued . . . .



Sunday, February 13, 2011

HideAway Has a Postage Stamp!

Yep - It's true the HideAways now have a real US postage stamp -- How cool is that?

I didn't know this was in the realm of possibility but it is.  Just follow the link to see it and make your own.

SV HideAway US Postage Stamp

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Sailing with a Loose Foot - Compac 23 - Update


SV HideAway - Compac 23

Most sailboats including the HideAway, a Compac 23, arrive from the factory with the main sail foot firmly installed in the boom.   Most have some sort of adjustment for the outhaul but in the real sailing world it is often slightly better than non-functional.

Last spring we freed HideAway from the bonds of the in-boom foot, attached a three part tackle to the clew and set out to explore the strange new world of the Loose Foot.

Well, the results are in and I won't bore you with the degrees of improved weather heading or knots gained except to say that our most favored sail, the 150 genny stayed bagged all summer.  For the first time in sixteen years we did not need it.




The immediate result of the loose foot
 is the taming of the weather helm beast that inhabits shallow draft fixed keel boats like the HideAway.  The second is a noticeable ability to point embarrassingly high for a boat of this nature and the third is the ability to leave the tiller for long periods of time with the rustic self steering unit consisting of a spring and some lines in charge.   The last was the ratio of wind speed to hull speed.  Consistently turning 5 knots in light air.



New Outhaul Adjustment HideAway - Compac 23

What We Have Learned So Far

As the apparent wind approaches 15kn the mainsail must be flattened bringing along with it a taste of weather helm.  As we approach 20 kn weather helm monster returns mollified somewhat by reefing.

Worse, the stock configuration of the outhaul adjustment is located at the rear of the boom. The real adventure begins standing on the transom without hindering the helmsperson and hanging onto the back stay while the boat heels to its 25 degree sweet spot.  Since the capt is not inclined to enjoy swimming with the sharks, yet nearly did so, a solution became a high priority.

You can throw a ring farther than a horseshoe

The issue of involuntarily leaving the boat has long been ignored on HideAway  

After some research and advice, the addition of a throw ring gave the HideAways a hint of peace of mind and something to hang onto when deployed swimming on a hot summer day. 

Adding a cleat on the boom just abaft the vang removed the thrill of hanging from the end of said boom in exciting sea conditions in favor of adjusting the outhaul from the secure cockpit.

A fact of life on a 23 foot sailboat, no matter how well designed, is scarcity of transom real estate what with the swim ladder, rudder and outboard.  The least objectionable space for the throw ring proved to be to port just above the outboard and apparently too close to the GPS antenna. The new throw ring had either confused the GPS or magnetic North had moved a significant distance East, and interestingly, South.  Another story for another day.

Perhaps a NACA12 rudder redesign should be the next project to tame the weather helm beast.   Stay tuned...