9/19/2024 sailing on Lake Erie from Geneva Ohio to Lorain Ohio 70 Miles Sailboat is a Watkins 27 the weather was 10 MPH North East winds. Started at 2:30 arrived at 11:30 am the next day (21 hours). Sailed for 55 miles until the wind dropped and my sailing speed was 1 mph. Decided to motor for the last 15 miles at 5 mph. Sailed sheet to tiller for 55 miles,18 hours with an average speed of about 3 MPH, with 2 course adjustments. 1st Course adjustment – Sailed 20 miles near Fairport Harbor then changed course for downtown Cleveland. 2nd Course adjustment – at about the 40 Mile mark I decided to skip Cleveland and continue to Loran. If I waited any longer I would not be able to clear Avon Point with just one course change. Some key points 1. First Balance your sailboat You know the boat is balanced because the tiller should be almost centered. 2. When you are sailing downwind attach the control line to the jib When you are going upwind attach the control line to the main sheet. Both downwind and upwind the control line is pulling the tiller to windward. This video only shows sailing downwind. 3. Make sure the control line does not rub against anything or it will not have a strong a pull on the tiller. On my sailboat I route the control from the jib sheet to a block on the same side as the jib sheet (leeward side) then across the cockpit to another block on the windward side then to the tiller. I use a 3rd block to make it easier to adjust but this is optional. Others run the control across the cabin top first. It does not matter just make sure it does not lose any power by rubbing against anything. 4. Once the control line is attached pull it tight until the jib sheet is a little slack then slaked the jib sheet a little more putting all of the load on the control line. 5. The bungee is always on the leeward side for both downwind or upwind sailing. The bungee should pull the tiller to the center (balance position) when the control line is slack. If the bungee pulls the tiller past the center (balance position) you will be over steering making a large S pattern and risking a uncontrolled gybe. Hope this helps

I went out for an evening sail on my Watkins 27 from Geneva State Park Marina Started at 5:30PM ended at 10:00 PM Set the boat to self steer using a simple bungee cord setup. The lake was empty so I went below and relaxed letting the sailboat sail itself. I love the way my Watkins 27 sails itself. You may notice I have a roller furling system but I am using a hanked on jib. Each sail hank it attached to a short piece of line wrapped around the Furling Foil. I have been sailing like this all year just wanted to play with my older sail.

This video explains how to find the true course 2 ways. 1. If you are given the ships compass course convert it to True Course 2. If you are given 2 locations on the chart you just need to measure the True Course

Friday June 13th 2020 a little night sailing. Sailed from 5 to about Midnight then slept in the boat in the slip. It started out 5 to 10 mph winds and by 8:00 it was more like 20-25 mph. The weather service was only predicting 10-15 mph. I heaved to cooked up my dinner, spaghettios and tea. Then sailed around a little and headed back to the slip.

I am getting ready for a 200 Mile solo sail on Lake Erie. But before going I need to test a few things. This video showed a sail from Geneva State Park OH to 21 miles north, 42 09.053N 81 06.078 W. 21 miles in about 5.5 hours without touching the tiller. You can see the self steering system is just a simple bungee cord. The conditions were 15-20 MPH and 3 foot waves. At the end of the video you can hear the coast guard issuing a Small Craft Advisory for all of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. It was strange because it was not that bad. Things I practiced during this trip.. 1. Self Steering - worked great the key is to balance the boat first. 2. Heaving too - worked great. 3. Cooking while under way - No problem I cooked 2 meals on this trip. meal 1 - Just some bean soup and tea. meal 2 - 2 eggs, span, tea and I even baked a muffin. 4. Sleeping 15 min at a time and checking for other vessels - hard to do but it worked. My boat is an old Alacrity 19 and she balances very well. I think I am ready for a 200 mile trip.

Alacrity 19 Sailboat Electrical Wiring Diagram The parts 1. A/B/Off Battery Switch http://www.walmart.com/ip/SeaChoice-...-Lock/32738254 2. Power Post http://www.westmarine.com/buy/blue-s...09_273_004_010 3. Terminal Block http://www.homedepot.com/p/Gardner-B...-408/202522560 4. Common Bus bar http://www.gandermountain.com/modper...Screws&i=82359 5. Electrical Panel (mine has circuit breakers) http://www.walmart.com/ip/32738381?w...451351&veh=sem 6. Attwood 50 Amp Breaker http://www.walmart.com/ip/Attwood-50-Amp-Circuit-Breaker/16401755

4/09/2016 - We had a late snowfall and I decided to take my dog for a walk in the woods.

Here I am using my Sea Swing Stove to bake bread. I have used the system 3 times. I am cooking in my garage, the temp is about 36 deg f. Test01 - Banana Muffin Mix - Came out great I did coat the pan with oil Cooked on low heat with no thermometer. Cook time 30 mins Test02 - Chocolate chip Muffin Mix - Bottom 1/3 burned the top 2/3 was great. I did NOT coat the pan with oil Cooked on high heat with no thermometer. Cook time 30 mins Test03 - Bread Mix - Came out great just a little burn mark on the bottom I did coat the pan with oil Cooked on Medium heat with a thermometer Cook time 35 mins My Solo Cooking System 1. Sea Swing Stove Bracket 2. The Butterfly #2412 Brass Kerosene Pressure stove - $75 http://www.stpaulmercantile.com/index... 3. Stansport Solo Stainless Steel Cook Pot (3/4-Liter) $10 http://www.amazon.com/Stansport-Solo.... 4. 2 Stainless Steel Vegetable Steamers $2 each I took the wings off on one so I could use the base only as a 2nd spacer. 5. Small metal bucket from Home Depot to keep the heat in about $3.50

Celestial Navigation Noon Sight Example All you need are the following. 1. Sextant 2. Calculator 3. Watch 4. Nautical Almanac (http://navsoft.com/2014_Nautical_Almanac.pdf) The noon sight is the simplest way to get your position at sea.

Sea Swing Cooking - Pressure Cooker The Hawkins Stainless Steel 2 Ltr Model B25 fits the sea swing stove. I paid about $50 total from walmart online. http://www.hawkinscookers.com/1.1.8.hawkinsSS.asp

Simple stove built from a paint can.

My Solo Cooking System I bought a sailboat with a sea swing stove pot holder that is perfect for solo cooking. The Sea Swing did not come with a stove so I decided to buy a Kerosene stove that would fit The concept is to setup a double boiler system so you will have both a hot meal and hot water for tea. The other benefit is you meal will not burn if you leave the food cooking for a long time because you have to do a job on deck. The costs are 1. The Butterfly #2412 Brass Kerosene Pressure stove - $75 http://www.stpaulmercantile.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=80&products_id=216 2. Norpro KRONA 8 Cup Multi Pot - $25 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000E2PO7/...&hvptwo=&hvqmt 3. Stansport Solo Stainless Steel Cook Pot (3/4-Liter) $10 http://www.amazon.com/Stansport-Solo...stansport+solo 4. Stainless Steel Vegetable Steamer $8 I took off the wings so I would just have the base as a spacer. http://www.amazon.com/Norpro-175-Sta...3319275&sr=1-2

Taking my Alacrity off the trailer solo.

Taking my Alacrity off the trailer solo. The wood cross beams are 2x6x8 in the back and 2x6x10 in the front. The wood cross beams are sitting not nailed on the supports for easy storage.

Kingfisher 20 Sailboat

Kingfisher 20 Sailboat

Alacrity Sailboat Mask Rake is fixed but the standing rigging is short.

Alacrity Sailboat Mast Raising with counterweight One change from the video I did not attach the back stays until after the mast was up

Alacrity Sailboat Mast Raising with counterweight One change from the video I did not attach the back stays until after the mast was up

Alacrity Sailboat Mast rake