As the title implys, this was my second outing with the outrigger kayak and sail. You'd think the second time set-up would move along briskly, but it still took unusually long. Like before, a drill was handy for last minute adjustments on the beta-tested akas and ama...
Today the weather was postcard perfect. A near cloudless blue sky, light wind and beaming sun. The water here at the ramp was actually slightly white capped and choppy. however, by the time the craft was actually launched, it had dissipated and more pleasant lake-like water was present. Reflecting on my last time here I wrongly assumed that this would provide those stronger winds once I ventured a hundred yards out. As it turns out the northerly winds were quite the disappointment. The upside is that the weather was so beautiful it buffered some of the frustration of being near stalled or crawling. It's not over till its over however and I hadn't yet begun, so entering the craft I situated myself and back paddled rudder facing away from the shore and began my jaunt.
As I swung around, the water was seen to be noticeably clearer than usual. The bottom sand and silt was seen to be speckled with an assortment of broken white clam shells and other similar type debris. Going into a little deeper water where the shallows disappeared a kind of sandy colored pea-green color was had. I could easily see the bottom of my ama and the leeboard in the down position was clearly seen as well. This isn't bad for New Haven Harbor. I held on the sheet and let the northerly winds fill my sail...
Along side the peninsula by about 150 yards I creepingly traced its coastline at a patience enduring 2.5mph.
I looked out at the people looking out at me and the time just moved along at a grass growing rate. I was where I wanted to be however and again, the weather aside from this was spot-on perfect. Occasionally I had some brief accelerations to over 4 mph. My hope rose and soon died with the dwindling wind. This wasnt despair but it was a little patience wearing. Through it all, it was enjoyable to watch the sandy peninsula unfold.
Cresting the peninsulas far eastern point and northerly sweeping appendage, I set a course just north of Light House Point that brought me from a reach to nearly a full run . Like before the 2.5mph cruise was abbreviated with moments of 5 mph or more. The to-be-refined rudder gurgled, the water sluiced around the ama and leeboard and headway was made. Then it hit 2.5mph again. I would have been doing no less than 3mph I imagine had I not reefed to 28 sq. ft. but the this trip was longer than last and headed fro more open water so I err'd on the side of caution. It proved wise as I learned later on. A curiosity the whole while out and back was on the eastern shore of the harbor that looked like a miniature Palisades on the Hudson of sheer rock face dropping off into water. Again it was miniature but quite captivating. I wanted to sail along it but the wind was costing so much time, it didn't make my budget. Beautiful sheer rusty brown glacial rock straight down into the harbor... maybe a hundred feet? Seventy five?
Finally passing Lighthouse Point was a pleasure - wind picked up a little bit out here too. Insects off this point were an odd swarm of over a dozen huge dragonfly. I mean fat bodied and the heck all over the place. It was a fast moving swarm. Along with them in the middle was a Monarch Butterfly and so many flys. I was 400 feet off shore and I can only guess the wind off the point possibly sent them out here much to their peril.
A rocky conglomeration of rust brown rocks at the point had a home in stone of similar colored rocks that made for a classy looking place. One of the nice out here. Other homes were typical beach-fare with the not-ready-for-prime-time-Newport-wannabe's interspersed. You could say the brown stone house was of that camp.
I actually had dreams of seeing the distant "lumps" of the Thimble Islands once I rounded the point about 500' out. Never happened. If it did, I couldn't tell, neither could my binoculars. I have a way of condensing distances when the mileage isn't known in hopes of making destinations that much more reachable - to my subconscious anyway.
I kept going east till I came to a long stretch of open sandy non public beach. Aircraft flew over head on the 36 heading I imagine - making sense with the northerly wind that brought me here. I let the craft come to a rather slow crawl - even below 2.5mph and just wondered what I would do now that I could not see the Thimbles. I began to turn around.
Heading back the most interesting thing happened. The wind followed with me causing a flying jibe in the process. I read the forecast that it would begin to blow from the east later in the day but this was great timing.
I made progress back now - and in excess of 2.5mph. In fact it was no less than 3.5 with frequent forays into the 5mph zone and above. I entertained thoughts of visiting the lighthouse on the breakwater but upcoming events made me so glad I did not...
Swinging around the lighthouse, the wind really picked up and soon was blowing up from the south - I was on a classic sail run - and again another flying jibe to accentuate its presence. I slowed down again now and then but the overall speed rating significantly climbed. As did that, so did the wave height. I never paddled or surfed in anything but steep 18" waves - now they were a good 30" or 2 1/2'. They were confused, odd shaped at times and arriving sometimes with a depth and peak that was a little mysterious as though a huge boat passed but hadn't. That's the freedom of the open Long Island sound whose fetch is fairly huge and changeable with that as well. I leaned out over my ama trying to keep it from lifting but when the wind snapped the other direction then it was a matter of keeping it from submarining. Indeed my amas bow buried up to the point that my akas attachment was acting as a breaking force to the overflowing water. I hated that and I pictured the ama burying too deep causing it to bury uncontrollably cartwheeling me around . It never happened but it was un-nerving.
Then the aka lashing came loose...
Port side forward of me the aka is winging up and down a few inches all on its own going with the flow of the water the ama sped over. I immediately headed due east/north for landfall and like magic a good wind sent me 5mph to cover the 800 feet or so to this land. along the way I began ratcheting the nylon lashing and very thank fully , it tightened up again - though it was in my thoughts the rest of the trip. I headed back out west into the steep confused chop blowing up from the south east. This was a trip I just wanted over with me on land or at least behind the peninsula to ease the burden on the lashing. As it turns out it was good all the way to the dock. That isn't to say I wasn't glad the moment I rounded the peninsula. I was too far north of it by mistake, but its effects were well felt and welcomed.
From there I did a slight beat to the ramp where other kayakers were exiting and getting ready to take their kayak with them. I decided to break off the landing momentarily and tacked around moored boats a thousand feet out till they were gone. I just didn't want the small talk. Today I had it at the hardware store with three different folks, at the landing with two more and one annoyingly so. I just wanted to land with out twenty dumb questions. I got that.
This was a profitable trip despite crawling wind almost the entire time out. Some things that need to be addressed are the following....
1. make a more secure aka lashing.
2. fix the rudder which has far too much play in it. When the water gets steep its just too much
non control to have it bobbing and slapping around needlessly.
3. Remember that in reefing a BSD sail there are buckles to flatten the reefed portion of sail that today
just hung and blew in the wind excessively. Id bet I lost a mph due to it.
4. Get something atop my mast to give me wind direction.
5. Make revised ama 5" deeper.
6. Put in a backrest that attaches tio the rear aka. the coaming is just pure pain after a while. I like to recline.
Its unnecessary and even awkward to lean forward as if paddling when sailing. I want a comfortable recline cushion.
This was enjoyable and rewarding even if the wind basically "snailed" at times.
Total mileage: 9.12miles
Peak Speed: 6.2mph
Average Speed: 3.5mph
Sunny with winds 4-8 knots and highly variable. Seas 1 to 2 1/2 feet. 75F.
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