0600- Got up and had breakfast. Today I was taking Little
Squirt all the way to the opening to Gander Lake. Why so early you
may ask. Well that is what time Original Squirt woke up. When she
wants up everyone gets up, and since I was planning on getting up at
0700 it was not a big deal anyway. Original Squirt is now 13 months
old and utterly adorable. She was upset when she realized I was
getting ready to leave. Somehow they know, but I have a secret
weapon. I put BLUE’S CLUES on and she scurried over to the TV
and didn’t even look at me when I kissed her head to leave.
0808- Reached the dock and prepared to leave. Battery level
is 12.86v. Winds are very light. Except for once when the main got
wrapped around the sail when I was setting up I had few problems.
Took down the mast untangled the line and launched at 0843. However
there was no wind and I had to proceed on engine alone.
0853-
A very light wind has picked up. I had been running one engine with
the sail up, the daggerboard down, and steering with the rudder. It
was a simple matter to just tilt up the engine, and proceed under
sail alone. However by 0902 when I was passing the little island that
is my first marker the wind had faded to the point it could not move
the boat so I put the trolling motor back in the water and proceeded
at pwr level 3. I seem to be moving slightly faster then the motor
alone should be moving me at this level. I believe the sail is still
providing a little extra push.
When I set up the motor the
fact that there is no safety on it concerned me. What I mean is that
if you let go of the engine it does not shut off. I solo most of the
time and the thought of falling overboard and having the boat leave
without me is scary. What I did was to take a alligator clip and use
it to attaché one the wires to the engine wire. I then wrapped
a loop of cord loosely around the spot where they joined. The other
end of this cord when around my wrist. Should I fall over boat or
have any other kind of emergency I would yank on the cord and the
alligator clip would be pulled loose and the engine would cut out. It
seems that although this is a great system for making the engine stop
it is not so good for making it go. The connector get dirty and
unless you position things just right the engine will not run. As a
result it keeps cutting out from the loose connection. It is very
annoying.
0905- I am once again sailing without the engine. If
I’m getting anything out of this trip it is lots of practice
tilting the engine out of the water with one hand while holding the
main and rudder with the other.
0914- I am passing Glenwood
park which is my second marker. I believe this is the best time I
have ever made reaching this spot. Usually I will take a break here,
but I don’t need a break yet so I continued on.
0923- No
wind again. Engine is back down and running on level 3. I have
decided not to take down the sail or the rudder, or lift the
daggerboard. I would only be wasting time as I would have to stop to
do it, and then I would have to put it all up again if the wind picks
up.
0926- Slight wind. I set engine to level 2 in order to
maintain the same speed. I need to conserve the battery. I have a
long way to go.
1120- Reached Opening to the main part of
Gander Lake. This is a major achievement for me since I have never
been able to reach this goal before. I had reached here last year
using a gas engine I had borrowed but that was not the same. Besides
the gas engine failed on the way back and I had to row most of the
way back. I decided to continue on down Gander Lake towards Gander. I
had some ridiculous idea I might make Little Harbour which is half
way down the lake. Gander Lake is huge.
1205- I saw a little
beach with some cabins on it. I looked nice with a little dock. I
decided to stop there for lunch. The dock was a wreck so I pulled the
Little Squirt ashore.
1216- Checked the Battery. The voltage
was 12.53V. 12.6 is 100%. I had lunch and checked the voltage again
at 1236. The voltage was 12.55V. I attribute the increase to the
solar cell. Name a gas engine that refills itself whenever it is not
being used. I took a picture before I left.
Picture
of Spot where I stopped for lunch.
1245- Launched and
setup up the sailing rig. I decided to continue down Gander
Lake.
1309- I let the Little Squirt get to close to the shore.
The Daggerboard hit the bottom several times. There was no damage,
but I decided that this was mother natures way of telling me that
enough was enough. It was time to head back. There was still little
to no wind. I was running off a combination of the sail and the
engine at level 3.
1341- Stopped to take a picture of Gander
Lake. This lake is a treasure, which is taken for granted by the
locals and ignored by everyone else. It is a real shame. I checked
the voltage while I was stopped. It read at 12.35V. I also called the
wife to let her know that I would be late getting back due to the
lack of wind. The trolling motor is a agonizingly slow way of getting
around. I was lucky to get through. There are few spots where I sail
where a cell phone will work due to lack of signal.
Picture
of 3-in-1 sailing. View from Cockpit
1404- Replaced the
traveler with a small piece of rope I had. I tied it off to a cleat
on the back of the boat. I was hoping the extra tension on the sail
would improve its efficiency in the slight wind.
1429- Still
running at Lvl 2 on the engine. The sail is helping but not a lot. I
am getting worried about the battery. I could stop and recharge, but
that would take a very long time.
1437- I have reached the
entrance to the outflow of Gander Lake which is the area I usually
sail in. I took a picture of the entrance and checked the voltage. It
is now 12.28v. It is occasionally very sunny but mainly overcast. The
more sun I get the more the solar cell will pour into the battery so
I am very grateful to see it. There is now no wind at all.
Picture
of opening which leads to Gander Lake Outflow
1455-
Voltage is 12.24v which is slightly over 50% of the battery capacity.
I have pulled up the daggerboard and removed the rudder to decrease
drag. I can still steer using the engine instead of the rudder. I
have left the sail up in the hope that the very slight breeze that is
blowing will assist the engine. At least the current leading to the
Gander river is going the same direction I am. Every little bit
helps. The sun is now steadily bright. I have discovered that my sail
is too heavy too maintain a proper shape in this light wind. I have
found that by sitting on the leeward side instead of the windward
side I can tilt the boat so that gravity puts the sail in the proper
shape. The engine is still periodically cutting out due to my
homemade safety.
1517- I have made a decision. I need a
cushion for these long trips. Sitting on the wooden floor for so long
is starting to get uncomfortable.
1519- Voltage is now 12.16.
I have been running at lvl 3 since leaving the main part of Gander
Lake. I tried to phone home but there is no service. As long as the
engine is running it is using more power then the solar cell can
provide. I desperately need a breeze so the battery can recharge
some. I have a stowaway aboard since a was ashore for lunch. There is
a grasshopper hanging on to the front part of the boat. I hope he
hangs around till I reach dock or he will certainly drown. I am a
long way from shore for sure a little guy.
1527- Sun very
bright. Still no wind.
1536- Checked voltage. Now at 12.13. I
am very worried.
1538- I have sighted the water tower in
Glenwood. It is still a very long ways away, but at least I can see
some sign of home port. Still very sunny. Still no wind.
1549-
Voltage is now 12.10v.
1603- Voltage is now 12.05, but there
is a slight breeze. I have just enough wind to take up the engine and
move under sail alone. I desperately need to give the battery a
chance to recharge a little.
1638- Arrived at dock. The wind
had failed again just a little ways from the dock so I took the sail
down and pulled the rudder and daggerboard. However I felt I was
close enough to go for it on engine alone. I saw my stowaway still
clinging to the front of the boat. He wasn’t moving so I don’t
know if he made it or not. I had may hands full and when I looked
again he was gone. Either blown away by the wind or the grasshopper
had cooked in the sun. Or perhaps he had just hopped away.
0945-
Next day. I checked the voltage. I don’t know how much voltage
I had when I reached dock, but with a little charging from the
afternoon and the mourning it was now at 12.19v. I disconnected the
solar charger and recharged with the plug in battery charger. It is
much faster.
LESSIONS
LEARNED
1. My safety on the trolling motor is crap. I need to
improve it or get rid of it. 2. The line for the main has to be
replaced. It is ordinary rope and is does not move through the
pulleys when it is wet. Braided line would work much better. 3. I
need a quick way of disconnecting the line that I tie to the trolling
motor to prevent it from getting lost if it falls over board. It is a
pain when moving the engine.
