It's been a few weeks since the Everglades Challenge fiasco and I've had time to nurse my ego back from the brink.  I really blew it and have only myself to blame.

Basically stupid rigging mistakes caused my DNF.  Here is a list:

1. I broke the rudder downhaul twice.  It broke because I used plastic half-loop connectors instead of steel.  What was I thinking????
2. The main sheet got itself so twisted that it became virtually impossible to adjust the sail.
3. Due to number 2 (I think) the sheet was jumping out of the cleat at inappropriate times. 
4. The main sail set perfectly for running and reaching, but I could not get it to set properly for beating.
5. The screecher worked well for running and very broad reaching, but did not work well as the wind moved forward.  I really needed a jib for beating into the wind.  By the second day if was all head winds.
6. I didn't like the reefing setup.  It worked, but I guess I've been spoiled by more user friendly systems.
7. I didn't like setting and striking the screecher.  It was a pain in the a-- and kind of dangerous for a single hander.  Again, I'm just spoiled.
8. The cockpit drain holes let in more water than they let out.

So what worked right?

I was very happy with the overall design of the hulls.  The vaka (center hull) and the amas (outboard hulls) exceeded my expectations.  She surfed well on all wave sizes I encountered.  She was very easy to control and had good balance.  There was no tendancy to bury the bow when surfing.  Of course I didn't have any huge waves on this trip, but I think she would handle them just fine. 

On the first day I got off the beach well after most of the fleet.  Don't get me wrong.  I didn't have any trouble what so ever launching, I just wanted to wait until most kayaks and canoes were out of the way.  Also DaveOnCudjoe launched right in front of me and I had to wait until he got out of the way (no problem -- I wasn't in a hurry).  Anyway, by the time I got going the fleet was well ahead by varying amounts.  Most of the class 4 boats had about twice my sail area up.  Even so I began to catch up and passed several boats.  My skinny hulls were so easy to push that my speed was better than most.  Of course, Lumpy and Bumpy along with FrontalLobotomy were much faster and I never saw them.

My overall speed on the first leg was really good.  Even with my late start I got down to Placida by about 8PM.  I didn't get into CP1 until the next day at 11:00 AM, but that is another story.  My passage to CP2 was also pretty fast considering I left CP1 about 2:30 PM (the long delay in leaving is yet anther story).  But I had passed many in the fleet when I arrived at CP2.  The second leg was mostly beating so even with the issues I had by that time she was doing pretty good.

She was easy to steer and the simple Tiller Tamer I was using was able to hold her on course for long periods of time. 

The amas had plenty of floatation which meant I did not have to reef when the wind came up.  With my Dreamcatcher and BOSS or any monohull I would have had to reef in some of the conditions I encountered.  In fact, I did reef her for a bit but then realized that I didn't need to and took it out.

She was very comfortable the whole trip.  Especially after I figured out a nice backrest.  It was like being in a recliner the whole trip.

Another thing I did was redesigned the entire aka (cross beam) system.  The original system looked great and worked but it took too long to setup.  Also, changing the configuration for CP1 would have been very difficult for one person.  So the I spent the last week before the race working with Brian and Eli at JSI building a new one using sliding aluminum tubing.  It far exceeded all expectations and worked great.  Getting in and out of CP1 was very easy and the time to get the boat off the trailer and into the water is now much reduced.  For a last minute change (literally) I couldn't have asked for a better result.

So what are the lessons learned?

• Use stainless steel half-loops instead of plastic for anything taking a load.
• Don't use swivel blocks for routing the main sheet.
• Use a flapper valve on the outside of the cockpit drain holes, and carry stopper plugs for each side.
• Consider changing the main sail.
• Add a roller furling head sail.
• Build in a nice backrest on both sides.
• If I was building hull number 2, I would build in the side benches right from the start.  The new aluminum cross beams allow the side benches to be permanant.
• Use the new aluminum cross beams.

        

 

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