Kent Ranger Sailing Association News
Mark Kelsey, Commodore
4718 South 295th Place
Auburn, WA 98001-155618
Telephone 253-941-9938 / Internet socratesREMOVE4718ATyahooDOTcom
12 July 1998
Ahoy, sailors and crews! Greetings from your rumor-control officer.
As difficult as it is to get one's brain around it, this is inescapable: A large portion of our season is behind us. On the upside: The weather is warming up, even though we have already had our longest day. Some of us have begun developing our cruising tans (dark cheeks, white masks around the eyes), and have nearly fully regained our cockpit-lounging skills, including the rigging of umbrellas and tarps for relief from the hot sun. Some of us have new boats--requiring new skills--and some of us have just arrived. We are always happy to acquire new members, and are eager to meet them in person. Welcome!
Cruising Season 1998
| Date ________________________ | Event _______________________ | Organizer ___________________ |
| July 18 & 19 | West side of Bainbridge Island (Brownsville or Manzanita bay) | Phil Melberg & Linda Attaway (Quintessence) 206-284-2632 |
| "Official" Summer Cruise: | ||
| August 1 through 7 | Whidbey Island | Jerry Mingo (Pleiades) 360-385-7509 jerryREMOVEm@co.island.wa.us |
| August 8, Sunday | Rendezvous at Gig Harbor | |
| August 8 through 16 | South Puget Sound | Dick & Nan Rice (Gladness) 206-542-1990 NorwesREMOVERic@aol.com |
| September 5 - 7 (Labor Day) | Port Ludlow | Mark Kelsey 253-941-9938 socratesREMOVE4718ATyahooDOTcom |
| September 19 & 20 | Blakely Harbor | Tim Williams & Dorothy Raymore 206-298-9527 TimREMOVEWilliams@Prodigy.net |
Notes
Labor Day:
The Port Ludlow marina expects each skipper to call individually, which should be done very soon. As with last year, they seem both hesitant to promise to put us all together and eager to have us there. They expect us for two nights: Saturday & Sunday. Friday night, many of us will rendezvous for pizza in Kingston. This is always a good time as we take over the majority of the rear deck of a pizza joint. Saturday's breakfast could be taken on the beautiful patio of the Kingston Hotel. I'm working on that arrangement. It would be helpful if I could commit to a reliable number of attendees.
In summary:
3 weekend events remaining.
A distinct itinerary for each of the 2 weeks of the National Cruise.
Others as needed.
1998 National Cruise
This summer's Big Cruise will stay somewhat closer to home. To accommodate sailors who would very much like to join up with the cruising fleet but who just can't spare the time to get very far from their home waters, we are trying something new: Two distinct itineraries, one for each of the traditional two weeks of the Cruise. Week 1 will circumnavigate Whidbey Island; week 2 will explore the Sound south of the Tacoma Narrows.
Week 1 - Whidbey Island Circumnavigation
Here is what Cruise Captain Jerry Mingo (R-24 Pleiades) has provided.
Contact Jerry at 360-385-7509 or jerryREMOVEm@co.island.wa.us.
KENT RANGER SAILING ASSOCIATION - NATIONAL RENDEZVOUS
- WEEK I, August 1 - 7
This year's trip offers a taste of many different waterways. My skipper's log shows the weather during this period to be sunny and warm with five to 10 knot winds. Therefore, we certainly expect to be sailing with you in August!
CIRCUMWHIDBEY AT A GLANCE
SAT. AUG 1ST
Launch - several options, see detail
Overnight at Langley Small Boat Harbor.
SUN., AUG. 2nd
Coupeville for lunch 17.2 nmi.
Overnight at Oak Harbor Marina 4.7 nmi.
MON., AUG. 3rd
Cornet Bay Marina/Deception Pass State Park 19 nmi.
TUE., AUG. 4th
Port of Port Townsend Marina 22 nmi.
WED., AUG 5th
Mystery Bay, Marrowstone Island 5 nmi.
THR., AUG 6th
Port Ludlow 14.5 nmi.
FRIDAY, AUG. 7th
Return to launch or cruise south for week
2, South Puget Sound.
Details:
SAT. AUG 1ST
Launch - several options:
Port of Everett
9 nmi to Langley. The Port of Everett has
a 13 lane boat launch ($5.00), and a large parking lot for vehicles with
trailers (no additional charge). It is recommended that you provide a vehicle
license number and number of days parked to the marina office.
Port of Edmonds 425.774.0549
15 nmi to Langley. Sling launch ($15 rt)
Parking is available for $2 per day.
Mukilteo State Park 1.800.233.0321
7 nmi to Langley. Four lane launch, ample
parking at $3-5 per night. This day facility with launch is not recommended
for periods of wind and waves.
Langley, Whidbey Island
This option may be helpful for late arrivals
to the Puget Sound. The Langley Small Boat Harbor has a boat launch. Parking
arrangements have been made at the Island County Fairgrounds camping area,
a 10-15 minute walk from the marina and boat launch, each at the edge of
town.
Overnight at Langley Small Boat Harbor. 360.221.4246 or 221.5945
This small marina has a "Never say
full" policy, so there are no reservations. It is obvious that Harbormaster
Ben Reams was a famous royal puzzle master in a former lifetime. Rafting
is common here. Not only is it great fun to watch him work, but the City
of Langley, a five minute walk from the marina, is an absolute must in this
itinerary. There will be a cruise meeting at 5:30 pm, immediately followed
by dinner in Langley.
SUN., AUG. 2nd
Coupeville Wharf. 17.2 nmi. This leg will take us into the Penn Cove for lunch in the small scenic and historic town of Coupeville. ("War of the Roses" filmed here.) Lunch options are numerous, including my favorite, the Coupeville Harbor Store & Deli on the Coupeville Wharf (charts/references/gifts sold, too).
! There is a sand bar off Snatelum Point (before rounding
West into Penn Cove). Watch for and stay East of the buoy!
Oak Harbor. 4.7 nmi. Enjoy one of the finest transient docks around. On the dock itself are picnic tables, restrooms, phones and a pump out station. Elsewhere in the marina are showers, marine services/supplies and fuel. The fleet can meet here at Pot-Luck o'clock or dine in the City of Oak Harbor. While the City is okay, I love their transient dock! Reservations will be made in advance by the cruise captain.
MON., AUG. 3rd
Deception Pass Marina & Deception Pass
State Park. 19 nmi. These marinas are adjacent facilities. I prefer the
linear docks at the State Park, but the fleet may elect to moor at the privately
owned marina. We'll arrive here via Saratoga Passage, Strawberry Point,
and Skagit Bay. Currents around North Whidbey and Deception Pass begin to
dictate Leisure on this leg. The trip from Oak Harbor should be completed
before 7:15 pm (slack after ebb.) A leisurely departure from Oak Harbor
will allow time for additional day sailing in Skagit Bay, or exploration
of one of the premier state parks in Washington. Marine services/supplies,
fuel and showers are available at the marina. Showers and picnic tables
are located at the state park.
! Do not veer from the well marked entrance buoys into Deception Pass Marina. They look a water ski slalom course, but its not. The State Park is East, of the private marina, and just before the channel markers.
TUE., AUG. 4th
Port of Port Townsend Marina. 22 nmi. Via Deception Pass and Strait of Juan de Fuca. Leisure to raise its lovely head again! Depart Cornet Bay at 2:00 pm (flood into slack at 2:31 pm). Those 'up 'n at it' will have time for a cab or bus ride into the City of Anacortes, a Mariners Mecca. Others may want to stretch the legs on many miles of hiking trails and beaches in Deception Pass State Park.
Should weather hinder passage across the Admiralty Head, the fleet can hunker down inside Deception Pass with plenty to do, and may cancel one or more subsequent port of calls.
We part Whidbey Island on this leg not because of the lack of moorage/anchorage along the current swept western shore (save a possible raft on hook at the tiny Keystone Harbor), but rather because the historic Victorian Seaport, Port Townsend, is far more interesting. All nautical services are available here, and the Port of Port Townsend Marina is a 10 minute walk from great places to eat, a movie house, and lots of gaudy little antique and gift shops. Or maybe you just want to walk the docks, admire all the well kept wooden boats and rejoice that you don't own one.
While arrival at Port Townsend would be just prior to dark, the next day is leisurely enough to allow landlubbers to stroll the town or sailors to day sail. Be sure to stock up on supplies here.
WED., AUG 5th
Mystery Bay, Marrowstone Island. 5 nmi.
(This short day is optional in that, should the fleet be held up by weather,
side trips, etc, we may sail directly from Port Townsend to Port Ludlow.)
Mystery Bay is so named because of the disappearance of prohibition 'businessmen'
eluding the 'less humored' by ducking their small skiffs into the overhanging
vegetation along the bay's shores. Few services here, only beach and road
walks in this quiet rural bay. A long linear dock and some buoys are located
at the well protected Mystery Bay State Park. For those with dinghies, anchorage
lies at the end of the bay, next to the Nordland general store; and more
buoys are located at Fort Flaggler State Park, just inside Kilisut Harbor.
! The only way into Kilisut Harbor is at 023 degrees magnetic along the north end of Indian Island. Contrary to a northward observer's temptation, there are no shortcuts.
THR., AUG 6th
Port Ludlow. 14.5 nmi from Mystery Bay. Via Port Townsend Canal.
Currents this day allow a wide window to clear the PT Canal (flooding from 9 am to 6 pm.) While Port Ludlow is a favorite of many, and on the local Ranger Fleet's Labor Day calendar, we will also have a choice of traveling an additional 3 nmi into the Hood Canal to raft on buoy + anchor at the Kitsap Memorial State Park, another rural setting...I suspect Port Ludlow will be the fleet's call.
FRIDAY, AUG. 7th
Return to launch site or begin cruise south for week 2 in South Puget Sound.
Distances from Port Ludlow to launch sites:
Port of Everett 22 nmi
Mukilteo State Park 18
Edmonds 16
Langley 24
Week 2 - South Sound
Here are notes from Cruise Captain Dick Rice. Contact Dick at 206-542-1990. His computer has fallen and cannot get up, so his e-mail isn't working.
Monday 10 August (the first scheduled date)
Filucy Bay (Longbranch): There are BBQ facilities on the dock, but dockmaster Glenn Miller is in poor health and has not been able to say for certain that they are available for our use.
Tuesday & Wednesday 11 & 12
Jarrell Cove: Day-sailing to Allyn, etc. Apparently some of the waters around there are pretty thin at low tide, so check your charts and keep a good lookout.
Thursday 13
Percival Landing: nearby Olympia Oyster House for dinner.
Friday 14
Penrose Point state marine park.
Saturday 15
Head for home independently.
There you have it--our big Kent Ranger National Cruise. Bon Voyage!
Sightings
I have heard from Mel & Vickie Olson, owners of the Moses Lake "motel" boat Vickie II. They report that they got a couple of dinners for the use of their boat, but that it may still be the case that no Ranger 20 owner has managed to make any actual money from owning the boat. They were kind enough to send along some more promotional materials containing pix. Money or no money, it's still cool to see a Ranger in such circumstances. Thanks, Mel & Vicki
Two Ranger 20s are in photographs in a book about Idaho into which I chanced to glance during a recent bookstore trip: North Idaho's Lake Country, text and photography by George Wuerthner, America and World Geographic Publishing, 1995. (1) At what appears to be a private dock: Sky blue hull, named Jonstev (if I read it correctly) on Lake Pend Oreille by Kootenai Bay, East of Sand Point. (2) In marina near Sand Point on Lake Pend Oreille: tan or beige hull, no name. Both were unmistakably Ranger 20s, even if the name on the one was difficult to read.
Ward Staubitz (Querencia) reports a Ranger sighting back east:
I was bicycling along the Potomac River...south of Alexandria, VA. I dropped by a small marina and what did I find but a Ranger 20 sitting on a trailer in dry storage. It appears not to have been out this year. Next time when I that way, I'll drop by a copy of the newsletter and my card.
Great! We look forward to hearing more! Thanks, Ward.
In response to the first newsletter article on /sightings/, Bob Rose of Salem, OR (# 470) sent us a nice photo-postcard of an R-20, sail # 139, sailing in the late afternoon on Yaquina Bay. "I picked this up last summer in Newport. I was just a little surprised to see an R20 on a postcard." And now, so are we. Thanks, Bob.
Boat For Sale
1976 Ranger 20: 5 sails, including main, 155% genoa, working jib, storm jib; all very good condition. Spinnaker pole. Honda 7.5 h.p. twin OB with charging, on stainless bracket. Large Danforth anchor. Bow & stern rails with lifelines. Lights. Dodger, curtain, & tonneau. Good cushions. Hull color white with orange stripes. Trailer in excellent condition--never in salt water; in fresh water only 6 times. $4500.Brian Carnahan (360-568-5236 home; 360-568-9533 office).Lying at Hi-Seas Boat Sales, Everett (Tim @ 425-339-9469).
Last Year's National Cruise
Some may think that the following account should have been published nearer the time it was received, i.e., quite a long time ago. They would be correct. Thanks to Phil & Ann for reminding us how much fun it can be to read these cruise accounts.
San Juan Island Cruise
For some the cruise started several days before the rest of us arrive at Cap Sante Marina. This years cruise was planned by Jack, Bobbie & Steve and they were unable to attend and sadly missed. They passed the leadership onto Tom Jr.
Sat. July 26, 1997
Phil and Ann finally get everything but the kitchen sink and sofa on Lille (putting the waterline pretty low) John & Julie are getting their bimini for Double Eagle installed and Karen Peterson's Flicka is already at Anacortes. The crews, mates and captains arrive through out the day. An impromptu potluck is held at the at the Cap Sante dock and a few went out to dinner to celebrate, Julie, being another year wiser. Cake and birthday wishes were enjoyed later on Double Eagle. Mark & Cindy arrive to enjoy the cruise ambiance and wish us a good voyage. As Ann was returning to her boat carrying her treasured box wine, two men and their dog named Ruthie walked by and the dog was sniffing the wine and his master yelled out, "Ruthie, stop that, we don't drink box wine." Larry & Cheri on the Cheryl Lynn, Mike & Sue on Terra Tomah, Rob & Bennie on Clipper, Dick Rice on Gladness, Doug on Silver Bullet, and Mike & Kit on E-Z (who are dealing with a temperamental motor) are all anxious to set out in the morning.
Sunday, July 27
A few of the boats head out to their secret crab catching locations and the rest start through the Swinomish Slough with what is considered favorable current ( more to be said about current predictions). We arrive at La Conner and are glad to see Jeff, Cyndy & Annie aboard Felicity at dockside. We walk to town and this gives everyone a huge appetite for the delicious potluck with fresh crab furnished from the crew of the Terra Tomah. We were glad they didn't stop at just one. The crab was fresh and delicious and we were happy Mike & Kit drove over to join us. They were still waiting for their motor to be repaired.
Monday, July 28
Up for breakfast and another stroll to town before everyone heads out for Hope Island. Some leave earlier trying to catch the favorable currents. (Once again those elusive currents.) The sailors find a good breeze after they leave the channel. Larry and Cheri arrive and furnish crab for a delicious potluck on shore. After a campfire and a few stories everyone heads to their boats. The seas got rough and this night is referred to by all as "Sleepless in Hope Island".
Tuesday, July 29
Some boats must leave for Mackaye Harbor as early as 5:40 am to catch slack tide at Deception Pass. Motoring the seas are rough. Larry & Cheri are the first to encounter the unexpected. Phil & Ann are sailing and Doug is motoring when they spot white caps on the horizon. The current is pushing them right into it. The rogue wave, as Doug called it, caught us with just enough time to get the headsail down and life jackets on. Doug is airborne for ten feet and manages to stay dry (something to be said about packing lite) but the crew of Lille Baaden went through the wave taking on water everywhere. The sun was out and once at anchor they dried every thing out.
Dick and John & Julie and the others luckily passed the waves. Good planning on their part. Tim Williams and Dorothy arrived to join everybody in Mackaye harbor.
Wednesday July 30
Most of us had a restful night and once again some head out early to catch the favorable currents through Cattle Pass at slack tide. Doug and Phil busy sailing when they hear on the radio the Cheryl Lynn crew suggesting to Jeff that maybe they should pick another spot to stop not knowing there was no choice and Cindy's hand signal meant something? The Cheryl Lynn goes back to rescue the Terra Tomah as the rocks are getting to close for their comfort. Great rescue Larry and Cheri. After all that excitement every one was ready for a dinner out at the Deer Harbor Inn. Mike & Kit rejoin the cruise at Deer Harbor. We forget to extend best wishes to Rob & Bennie on their anniversary. That evening the group played Catch Phrase on the Cheryl Lynn and all had an enjoyable time laughing and trying to beat the timer.
Thursday July 31
We depart Deer Harbor by 10:30 am. We must be catching a later favorable current. Ya! Some of the group are going off in different directions. The weather has been great. Lille Baaden sees some Dall's Porpoises, but no whales Bobbie. We arrive at Fossil Bay on Sucia Island anchor out. We dingy ashore for a long walk and rock gathering..
Friday August 1
It is a sunny beautiful morning. 'Gladness"
departs to go fishing. Dick reports no fish for dinner. Next, Lillie underway
to go with the "flow", that current thing again. Doug, Dick, Phil
& Ann arrive at the Olga dock and listen to a "sea salts"
stories before heading for a great lunch. As we depart Olga the newly named
Fleet Mechanic and crew aboard the Terra Tomah and Jeff, Cyndy and Annie
on Felicity arrive to head up to a great lunch. We arrive at Blakely Island
Marina to see Tom Ashley and Tom Jr. at the dock. They had serious motor
problems coming from Allyn to join the cruise. A clean out of the coolers
produced a potluck for the evening. Some of the boats will be heading out
tomorrow and others working their way back home. Our hats are off to the
"crabbers" for furnishing the delicious fresh crab and to all
that made this a most memorable cruise despite the occasional motor, wave,
current and "M" problems.
It used to be that on the cruises the R-20 compared their changes and add-ons. Now we truly enjoy the larger boat tours. What space & luxury a few more feet provide. What a joy it is that no matter what the size or shape of the boat we have a great time together.
Hope to see everyone next year.
--The San Juan '97 Cruisers.
These cruising logs probably should be the main focus of this newsletter. In the past we have had lots of them, but the last couple of years or so have produced rather few. (I admit to my share of guilt.) Let's return to our former practice of having the sailors who volunteer to organize cruises & rendezvous take responsibility for producing & delivering the copy for the advance notices and for collecting and submitting log entries of their events, so that this newsletter will have something interesting in it. I, in turn, will promise to be more scrupulous about getting them published in a timely fashion so that you won't feel as though you have wasted your efforts.
Recent Events
May 9 & 10, Poulsbo
Very nice turnout for this early-season rendezvous. We spent our time as we always do, walking around town, visiting the bakeries, peeking into antique stores, visiting the bakeries, browsing book shops, and eating good food.Dinner was tasty Scandinavian fare in the back room of Sheila's, where their eyes widened when we stopped in only a couple of hours before dinner time to ask if nearly twenty of us could dine there that very evening. However, they accommodated us very well indeed, with good food and smooth, attentive service. We should go back there, and on the next occasion we should be more generous with our advance notice.
May 23 - 25 (Memorial Day holiday), Gig Harbor
Steve Metz (Keptie) again hosted the crowd in his home, where he gave his big bar-b-que kettle a workout and stuffed us full of truly fine burgers, some of which had cheese on them and none of which was small. There were lots of other tasty treats there as well, potluck-style; the only complaints I heard centered more on "too much" than on "not enough." Among the evening's highlights was Ron Snyder & Cathy Taggett's (Condesa) video of canaling in Wales, which was an interesting view of a very different sort of thing to do with a boat. Another video presentation contained lots of cool projects for upgrading the cruising boat inside and out.It was a fine evening. Thanks, Steve.
June 13 & 14, "backside" of Blake Island
Ron Snyder and Cathy Taggett (Condesa, an R-26) , having anchored there many times, suggested that we might like to try rafting up at anchor on the west side of Blake Island. We did try it, and we sort of liked it. Somewhat lumpy, actually, but with care we prevented ourselves from having any of the sorts of dangers I had experienced during my earlier weekend near there.
There is another danger, however, and it isn't small: One might dinghy away from the boat while the wind are current are running in the same direction and be unable to row back up the hill. I was careless enough to let two things get away from me on separate occasions during the same day, and the resulting alarums exposed me to considerable ridicule (in addition to the normal "background" level of ridicule, that is). The first scramble occurred when I dropped my dinghy painter. The second, not much later, occurred when one of my fenders dropped off its whip and streaked off toward a rendezvous of its own. With 5+ knots of wind and an equal amount of current, in no time these objects were just dots rapidly falling astern. The upshot of all this is that because of wind and current at least one rescuer needed rescuing by the motorized dinghy Steve carries with Keptie. My thanks to everyone who participated in my being able to take home everything I arrived with.
Because of wind & current, we didn't dare make a single raft of the six boats there, so the group was divided into three parts that, for the same reasons, didn't get to spend as much time together as we would have liked: Snyder & Taggett were rafted with Ernie Seevers & Mary Perkins (R-26 Mary Victoria) downhill from us (i.e., downwind and downstream as the current flows out of the north end of Colvos Passage); Linda Attaway & Phil Melberg (Quintessence) and Lee Kinnaman (Pennele$$) were rafted against Ruby's two beams; Steve Metz, Lee McMaster, and Dave Knutsen were on their own on board Keptie, a few boatlengths uphill from us.
On our way home on Sunday, Cindy & I came across
and spoke with Ted Reynolds (# 65) and crew as they sailed around the island;
they had overnighted in the Blake Island Marina.
June 27 & 28, Dockton
One of the highlights of a Ranger fleet member's season would have been his or her attendance at one of the fine yard parties hosted by longtime members Bill & Carole Pedersen. Alas, the Pedersens no longer sail, and have substituted other activities for their participation in Fleet events.
However: On somehow learning that we were going to be nearby, they called and offered to invite us for one last shindig. Since I assumed that I would be relieved of duty and then shot, fined, keel-hauled, whipped, shunned, and finally forced to take up my duties again had I refused, I accepted with gratitude instead. The party, which featured a big pot of spicy chili after a buffet of too many appetizers to count, was yet another fine time among fine people. After dinner, as the outdoor air cooled, there was music and conversation before the fire in the living room. Bill & Carole's son Richard was again at hand, helping in the kitchen and moving among the guests filling glasses and sharing his own friendly warmth with us. Those who missed this gathering have really, finally, missed out on something wonderful.
[Altrice, Double Eagle, Felicity, Gladness, Keptie, Pennele$$, (Silver Bullet,) (Rugga Rugga,) Ruby, (Windward Pilgrim)]
Independence Day, Elliott Bay Marina
Steve Metz's Keptie with Lee McMaster aboard and Cindy & Mark Kelsey's Ruby were tied up near one another on K dock of the highly uppity Elliott Bay Marina again this year. E.B.M. tenants Tim Williams and Dorothy Raymore (Hip Hop) arrived back from their Desolation Sound trip, as did tenants Phil Melberg & Linda Attaway (Quintessence), accompanied by expatriot Ward Staubitz (Querencia), who had neglected to bring his boat. Mike & Kit Hopkinson (EZ) were around, too, enjoying their time-share privileges aboard Imagine (is that correct?) which is larger than twenty feet.
The fireworks were good again as we enjoyed the Elliott Bay barge's display (preceded by an odd helicopter-mounted knockoff of previous years' Mig Meteor shows) and the top few feet of the Lake Union show. Ruby hosted guests for the evening--immigrants from South Africa eager to understand this Independence Day thing. In am not certain that enlightenment was universal.
Unfortunately, a media 'copter stationed itself only a few hundred feet from the marina breakwater, remained there for the entire show, and pretty much deafened us. We heard angry reports of a similar situation at the Lake Union display. I'm for sending "Kill your television" bumper stickers to the local TV stations. A radio station may be involved as well. They should all be punished.
Sunday afternoon, Ruby and Quintessence rafted together at anchor in Blakely Harbor, Bainbridge Is., across from sparkling Seattle. When we arrived that afternoon, around thirty boats cluttered the place up, but nearly all of them departed late in the afternoon, so it was very quiet. Hip Hop arrived for dinner and evening conversation, then left pretty late so that Tim & Dorothy could be responsible citizens the next day. Phil & Linda and Cindy & I were happy to be free to remain for the night; Phil motored Linda around the corner to her work in Bainbridge (formerly Winslow) early the next morning, and Cindy & I remained until after noon the next day.
It was a nice weekend, but we have decided not to do Elliott Bay Marina again. It's pricy enough that not many want to spend that kind of money, their reservation system leaves something to be desired, parking is a bit awkward for those who want to come by car, and the inebriates and helicopters inject additional annoyance factors. We'll probably raft up at anchor in Blakely Harbor for the entire time, to watch fireworks from across the channel. Let me know what you think of that idea.
New Boats and Other News
Mike & Sue Barnard have moved up. Their new boat, the Universal Trawler 36 Orient, has not exactly debuted as yet, since its only presence at a Ranger function was on its anchor out in the middle of Gig Harbor.
Phil & Ann Rousseau have sold their R-20 in favor of a nice, big C&C 34. Her galley is even cinnamon-roll ready! Altrice made her debut at Dockton a few weeks ago. Research into the boat's name wasn't very fruitful; the nearest I could come, and I have no real faith in this, is that it may be Italian for "flight."
Cheri & Larry Crane (Cheryl Lynn) have spent the spring and summer in Alaska. The postcards look very good, and it sounds like the fishing has had its moments of glory, including one gigantic halibut. They appear to be making good use of their 41-footer.
Ward Staubitz (Querencia) returned briefly from self-imposed exile in the East to sail with Linda Attaway and Phil Melberg on a nice Catalina 28 in company with Tim Williams and Dorothy Raymore (Hip Hop) and Sheryl Dennis and Bobby Casalis (Loon) and Karen Peterson (Yarns) in Desolation Sound. The four boats didn't stay together much during their trip, but their independent reports on the area tend to agree that the area is beautiful.
Karen's Norwegian elkhound Dagmar suffered a fairly serious injury early in her Desolation trip. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
We have been provided with a couple of Fleet Yearbooks from the late 1970s. They contain fleet rosters, many nice photographs, even the names of distributors of the boats. They go into our archives. Thanks, Steve Metz!
Thanks to Richard Bolin (J'aime) (see elsewhere) we now have brochures for the Salt Lake City Ranger 20 and for the R-24 and R-26. Most of us have never seen descriptions of the larger Rangers, so these materials are pretty interesting. They also go into our archives. Thanks, Richard!
Later this month, Cindy & I will embark on a three-week trip to & among the Gulf Islands. We were there on First Step three years ago, and are most eager to experience some familiar and some new places from our slightly larger boat. We'll be out of touch between 22 July and about 11 August.
The World-Wide Web
I have begun work on a little Kent Ranger site on the Internet's big, colorful WWW. I'll see about getting the site "advertised" on other sailing-related sites such as those of our local magazines. The digerati (digital literati) know already that there are lots of places for sailors to virtually visit on the Web; I will neither try to compete with them nor bother reproducing other's work by including their links (beyond a very few basic ones). It'll just be a place where some useful stuff about the club and its activities will be posted. If the electronically-enabled will send me pix to post there, it could seem like a more interesting place. (I can scan molecular pix as well.)
I may or may not get anything more accomplished before departing on our trip (above); as yet it's just an empty space--bare walls, so to speak--so I won't publish the URL until I get some furnishings and paint in place.
Radios and Other Gear
Cindy and I have been getting some very good use out of our little headset radios. Setting and pulling up the anchor are much smoother and more non-unpleasant, quicker, safer, better, and more beautiful when the helmsman and foredeck crew can easily communicate without the interference of motor noise and without screaming or flinging hand signals. Clearer directions, more complete statements about intentions, and fewer misunderstandings improve the entire process and leave more time and energy for the activities that lie behind the decision to anchor: following eagles as they soar purposefully, strut the beach, and are chased unmercifully by gulls; contemplating Man's place in and outside of Nature; and best of all, watching others struggle with their anchoring.
Preliminary results of my experiments with those rubber-ring fake self-tailer thingies have been very positive: They seem to work as expected. I have put one onto my mast-mounted jib halyard winch, and have been using that to bring up my anchor. Since such a large amount of line is involved, tailing by hand was pretty much out of the question; with the Wincher in place, one simply grinds steadily and with relative ease a hundred feet or more of slick, wet line onto the deck, and then, when it's time to return forward to tend to the chain or to the anchor itself, one merely walks away from the winch, leaving the line secured by its contact with the rubber ring. What a pleasure!
These two devices complement one another, serving to make the entire anchoring experience much easier, safer, and less sweaty.
More Rangers have invested in FRS radios, too. Cindy and I hated the Motorola "inline" ear-bud/mic unit (not a matter of taste, but of very poor function), but some sailors have reported liking Motorola's boom-mic headset, which does support VOX (voice-activated transmit). Some other brands of boom-mic headset are compatible, too.
Some of the folks at West Marine are enthusiastic about the brand they carry.
Very inexpensive dry bags of pretty good quality and fairly good fit for the Motorola TalkAbout can be had from SportCo (Fife) or other places where they sell brand X camping gear. Sorry I don't recall the actual brand, but it's a commonly available one a step below Coleman and a fraction the price of actual marine gear.
I neglected to mention that FRS radios are not legal in Canada; a Canadian public-services or government agency of some sort uses those frequencies. This may not be a problem out in the sticks, but using the radios in town might constitute an unnecessary risk to the operator. The Canadians do know about these radios, and would therefore know what to look for in investigating interference.
Another piece of gear that we have been enjoying is the camp chair by Crazy Creek and other companies, sold in places such as REI. Essentially an adjustable chair without legs, it can make even hard and/or awkward cockpit or salon seating feel good--providing back support, multiple positions, and even a little padding. (Choose a brand and model that has full-length stays--battens--for best back support. Also: The tall version is worth the extra money.) Ruby's cockpit is now more comfortable both at moorings and under way, and I must assume that First Step's would have been, too. Large boats may benefit, as well.
That's a lot said about stuff--about things--but it fits with a philosophical approach to the world of man-made objects (the designed environment) that I call Rational Materialism. Example: For those who have no seats at all, caring very much about whether a particular seat is comfortable may seem like a sort of yuppie "materialistic" value. Nevertheless, in the context of having seating, a seat that is really comfortable is probably one that gives good support. Since good support staves off fatigue, and since fatigue can lead to bad decisions--dangerous decisions--a _more comfortable_ seat may be a _safer_ seat.
On the general subject of fatigue and the management thereof: John Hazen (Windward Pilgrim) is justifiably proud of the self-steering rig he designed and built and used to bring his Flicka and himself safely across the Pacific.P.K. Carr's trailering tip could make life better for those who like arriving at their cruising grounds at 65 m.p.h. Their articles are reproduced on separate pages. Thanks, guys!
Member Introductions
Here's a little something sent to us by "remote" member Richard S. Bolin of Beaufort, S.C; owner of the Ranger 20 J'aime.
Hello, Mark and all the other Ranger 20 folks!
This is a note in response to your messages telling me about the Ranger 20 owners, and will be a short introduction to J'aime, and the family.
J'aime (#356) was built in Utah in the late 70's, trailered to Norfolk, Va, by the original owner, who sailed her once, then traded her for a 34-footer. The second owner was Dr. John Bloom, an Air Force orthopedic surgeon, stationed at Langley Air Force Base. He gave her the name J'aime, because he, his wife, son, and daughter all had names beginning with "J". When he returned to private practice in New England, he sold J'aime to his operating room nurse, Carol Morton, in April, 1981. She kept her at the Langley AFB marina, until we bought J'aime from her when we moved from Mayport, Fla, to Virginia Beach, in 1987. We have since kept J'aime on the trailer. In 1988, we moved here (Beaufort, SC), and have sailed J'aime locally, on Lake Murray, near Columbia, SC, on Lake Lanier, near Atlanta, and in the Florida Keys.
J'aime is in reasonable condition, is sound, looks good, but not "polished". She has her original(?) main, working jib, 150, spinnaker, Calkins(?) trailer, and a 7.5 Evinrude. I originally did not like the name J'aime, thinking it was just a little bit too cute, but then realized the connection to my wife's and daughter's names, (Jill and Amy). And then I was stuck, it was fate, or something.
The family is: myself , Richard (Sam), electronics engineer (Ga.Tech '76), working civil service for the Navy; approaching "the big 50" in January; my wife, Jill, (a little younger), an RN at the local hospital, getting ready to graduate next month from the University of South Carolina with her BS in nursing; and daughter Amy, 20, a Junior at the College of Charleston, studying Media and Communication.
Regrettably, J'aime has spent most of her time the last three or four years on the trailer in the back yard, what with the new job, house building, and two people in college. But, we rediscovered her this summer, and Jill and I did a shake-down cruise at Lake Murray for a couple of days, and then, last month, put J'aime in the water for a few days here, daysailing her from anchor. Next cruising will probably be in April, when it gets warmer, (but before the lightning starts popping, ha).
I guess I have been long-winded enough by now. Does anybody know if the Calkins company still exists? Or have any suggestions for putting a galley/storage compartment in the area under the bridge deck??
Looking forward to getting to know you folks, Sam
I shall admit to having "sat on" this letter for longer than is absolutely necessary. Nevertheless, it's a pleasure to present it to our Puget Sound fleet and to solicit similar notes from Ranger owners we haven't yet met.
The End
That's most of the news as I understand it. Call Attaway & Melberg if you plan to do their rendezvous.
See you soon. Until then-- _Fair winds!_
Mark Kelsey Commodore, Kent Ranger Sailing Association Fleet roster
Enclosures: Windward Pilgrim's wind vane article
P.K. Carr's trailering mirror tip