July 1997

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Who’s the Crossest of them all?

Volume XXXVII; Number 3 — July 1997

In this issue: Mooredale Sailing Club Notices · Results · Fiber Glassing (page 11) · AGM (page 15)

The Albacore Advantage

A One-Design Boat

• no unnecessary expense of constant upgrades in design.

A Safe Boat

• large air-filled tanks give excellent buoyancy
• hull shape gives stability on the water
• self-rescue after an unexpected puff is easy

A Light and Manageable Boat

• tongue load of less than 100 lbs gives ready trailerability
• launching and retrieving are a breeze

A Comfortable Boat

• large, open cockpit
• benches on port and starboard sides

A Performance Boat

• seriously campaigned by major sailmakers
• planes in moderate winds
• buoyant heavy-air hull shape

Ideal for Junior Clubs

• 4 to 5 juniors will fit easily
• will stand up to heavy use

A Vibrant Class Association

• well organized and vital
• recognized by the International Sailing Federation
• strong fleets through Ontario, Canada, US, Great Britain, Ireland and Bermuda
• top notch competitive sailing
• junior programs in some areas

The Canadian Albacore Association

The Canadian Albacore Association is responsible for encouraging participation in and maintaining the integrity of the Albacore class in Canada.

P.O. Box 16 660, Eglinton Ave. East, Toronto, Ont. M4G 4G1

1996/1997 Executive

Shackles and Cringles is a quarterly publication of the Canadian Albacore Association. Deadlines for publication are January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15.

Notice of Race: Toronto Island Sailing Club — Open Albacore Regatta

Saturday, August 23th (Rain date August 24th)
Toronto Inner Harbour and Toronto Island

The regatta is open to all Albacore sailors who are 1997 members in good standing in the National Albacore Association.

Program of Events

Pre-registration by mail; see below registration form.

Entry fee is $50 per boat.

If you require boat launching, a city-side launching ramp is available at the RCYC parking lot at Queen’s Quay East South Side. Cost is $16 for the day; includes your vehicle and trailer. A map will be provided in your registration kit.

For further information call:
Christine Mehling, Race Director — (W) 416-867-7475, (H) 416-516-9963
Russ Stothers, Commodore — (H) 416-762-1783

(The printed issue includes a cut-out Registration Form — name of skipper, hull number, address, telephone and fax numbers, and Albacore sailing club.)

Please make cheques payable to TORONTO ISLAND SAILING CLUB. Registration form to be sent to Christine Mehling, 30 Hewitt Avenue, Toronto, ON M6R 1Y3. Your registration kit will be given to you on Friday August 22, or on the day of the regatta.

Peterborough Examiner Regatta

Peterborough, June 1, 1997

Midland Walwyn Regatta

Nepean, June 21–22, 1997

For Sale: Albacore 6657 (Jubilation)

English built composite (one of only two like it in Canada), mahogany deck, sea green fiberglass hull, Wiscott trailer with fitted pronto launching dolly, vinyl bottom travel cover, canvas parking cover, several suits of sails, racing equipped, excellent condition, lovingly cared for. Must be seen!

George W Roth, 519 746 1300 anytime.

Notice of Regatta: 1997 Mooredale Sailing Club Albacore Open Regatta

Saturday, August 9, 1997

1. Rules: This regatta will be governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), the rules of the Canadian Albacore Association and the sailing instructions.
2. Eligibility: All boats must be helmed by members of the Canadian Albacore Association or other national Albacore Association.
3. Schedule: 5 races are planned, with 4 to count if all 5 are sailed.
   • 9:00am to 10:00am — Registration in the Mooredale Clubhouse.
   • 10:00am — Skippers’ Meeting
   • 11:00am — Warning signal for Race 1. Races 2 to 5 to follow. Lunch time determined by the Race Committee.
   • 5:00pm — Refreshments on shore.
   • 6:00pm — Awards.
   • 7:00pm — Dinner.
   • 8:00pm — Party!
4. Registration: Pre-registration at C’est What? after the Friday Night Race Aug 8. Registration 9:00–10:00am on Saturday at Mooredale.
5. Entry Fee: $55.00 per boat, includes light breakfast, lunch, dinner and party with a band.
6. Scoring: The low-point scoring system, Appendix B2 section 2 will be used. If 5 races are sailed, 4 will count. Otherwise all races will count. 1 race will constitute a series.
7. Location: Races will be sailed in Toronto’s Outer Harbour.

OHCC Albacore and Cross Dressing Regatta

a.k.a. July 4th in Canada — Toronto, July 5, 1997

Left: Race Committee Honchos, Bob Logue (L) and Jake Smythe. Right: American Visitors are (L to R): Rolf and Susan Zeisler, Joanna Byron, Suskin Mooney and Daphne Byron.

Winners

Left: Clockwise from bottom left: Lynn Shannon and Rick Clayton, Dave Harris, Abby MacInnes and Ken Clarke, Daphne Byron, Frank Loritz and Peter Epstein, Dave Harris. Right: Dave (you can’t say that, Kevin) Harris and Kevin (what the f*^$#! are you doing, Dave?) Smith.

Also in the winners’ circle:

Chris Gorton (see cover page) for best cross dresser and Liz Marin for not having hit anybody.

Tasteful Booty of etched Glass

St. Jamestown 30th Anniversary Regatta

July 19 to 20, 1997

Left: Lasers, too — Evelyn Simpson. Centre: John Cawthorne. Right: “… except that the blue flag shall be replaced by other flags.”

Notice Board

1. RRS L 5.1 is amended to include the word, “warm” before the word, “urine”.
2. For appropriate on-the-water dress, look at Norm Rubin, divide by 10 the number of items he wears, subtract the rubber boots and then wear one less T-shirt. You’ll be fine.

Tim Broughton won it. Laurie Harrison was ahead of him, though.

Learning Annex on the Water

Course Title: How to attract and retain a crew
Instructor: Professor Ken Clarke

Life in Hell

Adapted 1997 from Matt Groening.

1. “So, K. We’ve noticed that you killed the cats, but left in the obscure references to the letter, ‘h’ in RRS 27.9.”
2. “Yes. Never write out the amended rule because that forces them to read their rule book.”
3. “But, K.! We don’t hand out the instructions until half an hour before the skippers’ meeting. There’ll be no time.”
4. “Good. Then I’ll have plenty of opportunity to talk about Eileen, Betty, Sandra, Christine, Gail, Lori, Edith, Liz, Anna, Bob”
5. “Barb, Lucy, Janette, Cathy, Holly and all the women who’ve had the priviledge….”
6. “God! When does our agreement with the Digitally Challenged Hobbyists of America come to an end?”

Oh, is that how it works? Fiberglass Repairs

Another one in an irregular Series.

A major advantage of fiberglass boats is the ease of repairing dings, scratches and shark bites. You may not wish to take the time or spend the elbow grease to make your handiwork look like a professional job, but at $500 to $1,000 a pop your savings amount to something not too shabby in a very short time. If you are the captain of a fleet of 20 or so Albacores you’ll save $10,000 to $13,000 in a season on boat repairs alone. The worst outcome of your early attempts will be a localized uneven area and that, too, can be sanded and polished away.

Materials:

• 1 L epoxy (better adhesion to polyester resin), 1 tube of hardener
• 1 L acetone (the only solvent for liquid epoxy)
• 1 m by 1 m fiberglass cloth
• a roll of clear cellophane wrap (for masking; epoxy will not stick to it)
• angle grinder with 3” abrasive disk.
• 2 or 3 sheets each 80, 120, 220 wet/dry emery paper
• a good stock of empty ½ L yogurt, sour cream or margarine containers
• a good stock of wooden coffee stirring sticks or tongue depressors
• a 1 inch brush (bristles NOT plastic!)
• a 250 mL metal can with the top removed
• a good supply of well-fitting latex gloves (examination glove quality is good enough)
• a good supply of face masks
• a sanding block

NOTE: ALWAYS WORK IN A WELL-VENTILATED AREA. HAVE A QUICK ANSWER READY WHEN PEOPLE NEARBY COMPLAIN OF THE SMELL OF ACETONE OR EPOXY.

Preparing the Damaged Area

1. Remove all of the damaged material. Use a grinder to cut down to solid laminate or a saw to enlarge a hole to solid undamaged laminate. While you’re removing the damaged material, try to maintain a circular or oval shape. Grind a bevel around the edge of the repair area to create a bonding region for the patch that will keep the patch flush with the skin’s surface. A minimum 12-to-1 bevel is required to assure the transfer of loads across the repair area (Figure 1). For example, if you are left with a hole through a 1/4” (6mm)-thick laminate, the outer edge of the bevel will extend 3” (75mm) from the inside edge of the hole.
2. Remove all dust.
3. Pour some acetone into a small metal can and liberally apply acetone to the ground area, using the bristle brush. If you were cheap and went for a plastic brush then it will begin to dissolve at this point.

Figure 1: Grind a minimum 12 to 1 bevel around the edge of the excavated hole, whether the damage extends partially or completely through the skin.

Laminating the Repair Patch

The new skin must be laminated to approximately the same thickness to assure the strength of the original skin. Multiple layers of lightweight cloth will develop the same or greater strength than a single layer of heavy cloth.

1. Cut an appropriate number of pieces of fiberglass fabric the same shape as the hole. The first piece should match the outside edge of the bevel, with subsequent pieces gradually getting smaller. The final layer should match the inside edge of the bevel at the hole. The combined thickness of the layers should be slightly thinner than the original panel to allow for shaping and fairing.
2. Mix the epoxy resin and hardener in a plastic container, using a wooden mixing stick. (A cm of resin in the bottom of a 250 mL yogurt container will require about 10 drops of hardener).
3. Shake and wipe the acetone from the bristle brush and use it to apply a layer of epoxy to the beveled edge of the hole.
4. Lay the largest piece of glass fabric in position on the repair area. Use the epoxy-soaked brush to permeate the cloth and remove trapped air. (The brush technique is the one great secret I learned from a fiber-glassing course. Before that I used to soak the cloth in the epoxy mixture and then apply the soaked cloth. Try this only if your life is a happy one and requires a frustration.)
5. Repeat the process for each layer of fabric until you have bonded the smallest piece in place last, centered over the hole. By bonding the patch into place in a large-to-small-piece sequence, you will eliminate the possibility of sanding through any of the cloth layers when fairing the surface.
6. Remove excess epoxy from the surrounding areas with an acetone-soaked rag. This is much easier than sanding it away after it has set.
7. Allow the patch to cure thoroughly (about 24 hours, depending on the ambient temperature). A trick for testing progress without getting fingerprints on your work is to keep some of the mixture in the plastic container with the stirring stick.
8. Sand to remove any high spots and prepare for gelcoating.

Gelcoating

Materials:

• ½ L gelcoat and 1 tube of hardener
• acetone
• ½ L cabosil filler
• 2 or 3 sheets each 220, 400 and 600 wet/dry emery paper
• a ½ L yogurt, sour cream or margarine container
• a wooden stirring stick
• a 250 mL metal can for acetone
• a 30 cm by 30 cm piece of arborite counter top to serve as a gelcoat palette
• a plastic trowel to apply gelcoat
• latex gloves

1. Pour some acetone into a small metal can and liberally apply acetone to the sanded area, using the bristle brush.
2. Pour some gelcoat into a plastic container. Add colouring agent to match your hull colour. (This is an art beyond rocket science. The best way to get good results is to introduce a painter into your life and use masses of bribery.)
3. Add cabosil filler to create a thick, spreadable paste that has the consistency of warm-day margarine. Transfer the paste to the arborite palette and add the required drops of hardener. Gelcoat uses the same hardener as epoxy resin, but I find that about 30% more hardener is required for gelcoat than for an equivalent volume of epoxy resin.
4. Use the plastic spatula to “work” the gelcoat/cabosil/hardener mixture. If you need some help with the technique, watch a good drywaller work the compound on their big trowel.
5. Apply the gelcoat mixture. Press hard on the first layer so that gelcoat is forced into all the little nooks. Apply the next strokes with less force. Now leave it alone and don’t fuss at it.
6. Fresh gelcoat is a magnet that will attract probing fingers from everywhere. Keep a hatchet ready for the first 12 hours.
7. Use acetone to clean up your tools and your clothing. If your wear polyester, don’t try acetone.
8. After about 24 hours the gelcoat is ready for the hard work of dry and wet sanding with finer and finer grades of emery paper. Don’t be cheap and try to use sandpaper. You will only regret it. The quality of the finish is directly proportional to the time and effort you spend on this phase. I’ve tried the Tom Sawyer approach. It doesn’t work.

New CYA Addresses on the Net

The CYA has installed new, individual e-mail addresses:

Hey, cheer up! Mikey’s got a winner.

Disconsolate that The Worlds’ was beyond your pocketbook?

Pissed off that The North Americans’ did not happen?

Hey, cheer up! Mikey’s got a winner. At the RHYC.

(Notice the H in that if you have an opinion on Royal Race Committees.)

Canadian Albacore Championships. Royal Hamilton Yacht Club. September 19 to 21.

See the last page, write your check, mail it and join us.

Something different. From the USAA Site: McNamara X Sails Tuning Guide

Getting the best out of your Albacore is a combination of correct organisation of equipment and then proper use of it when out on the water. In fact, now that the class is well into its fourth decade the “go fast” parameters are pretty well established revolving around the long, relatively heavy but easily driven hull; the short aspect ratio mainsail and its relationship to the foresail; the very deep centreplate and the ability to adjust the rig.

Mast Rake and Position

The height of the sailplan can vary according to the height of the boom above the sheerline (which, is basically the gunwale height when opposite the mast). The tolerance is 105mm although the trend in recent years has been to opt for the highest possible position. The following measurements are, therefore, based on a bottom black band height of 610mm above the sheerline.

Spreader Information for Proctor D and Superspars M7

Spreader Information for Proctor Sleeved D

Spreader Information for Proctor Stratos or Superspars M2

Jib Sheeting

Our sails are designed to give maximum performance when the leech at three quarter height is 10° “open” away from the centreline; at half height is parallel to the centreline and at quarter height is 10° “closed” towards to the centreline. To achieve this the line of the jib sheet, when extended through the clew and diagonally across the sail should meet the luff at the half height windtuft.

The fairlead track should be parallel to and as close as possible to the centreline with its centre at 8’ 0” from the transom and at least 10” from the inside face of the hull.

Adjusting Luff Tension

The tack of your new jib is adjustable so that the luff tension can be altered to suit the conditions. The problem is that as the wind rises and the rig tension increases, the luff wire stretches. This has the effect of tensioning the luff. As the flow is brought forward and the leech opens, pointing ability is lost. Therefore, after the rig has been organised for the day, check that the luff is tensioned properly by the following steps:

1. Make sure that the luff does not have a vertical crease. Ideally, there should be tiny horizontal wrinkles (approximately 25mm long) coming away from the luff.
2. See that there is about 5mm of movement in the luff tube (enclosing the luff wire). Check this by nipping the tube between thumb and forefinger approximately 1 metre up the luff. Then slide down the luff wire without allowing the cloth to escape upwards. The luff will be O.K. if the cloth moves down the wire/eye at the bottom by approximately 5–7mm.

Finally, make sure that the lashing is tied off correctly. If it comes undone during the race it will be disasterous! So cover your knots with PVC tape to make doubly sure!

M. McNamara
9 Camperdown Terrace, Exmouth, Devon X81EJ
Telephone: Exmouth (0395) 264907 Fax: (0395) 276156

Canadian Albacore Association: Notice of Annual General Meeting

Date: Saturday, September 20, 1997
Time: Immediately following dinner
Place: Royal Hamilton Yacht Club, Hamilton, Ontario

All members of the Canadian Albacore Association are urged to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Association. In their absence all Full Members of the Association may nominate a proxy, using the form attached. To be recognized, the form must be presented to the secretary prior to the beginning of the meeting.

Agenda

1. Notice of Meeting.
2. Establishment of a Quorum.
3. Collection of Proxies.
4. Minutes of Annual General Meeting, September 14, 1996
5. Reports of Officers
6. Election of Officers for 1997–1998.
7. Appointment of Auditor.
8. Other Business.
9. Adjournment.

Lynn Shannon
Secretary, Canadian Albacore Association

Proxy

1. I ………… hereby appoint ………… as my proxy holder for the purpose of attending the Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Albacore Association for the year 1997.
2. I understand that I may direct how my proxy holder is to vote and I direct that my proxy holder may (circle A or B, and if choosing B, fill in how you limit the authority you are giving)—
   • A. vote in accordance with his or her discretion on any matter specified in the notice or which may properly come before the meeting, or
   • B. vote as follows in respect of each matter raised in the notice (identify each matter from the notice and then clearly note “FOR” or “AGAINST” following such reference):

Signature of member: ………… Date: …………
Please print name here: …………

Commodore’s Comments: Has anybody seen the Commodore?

It’s nice to be missed, and I wish I were out there with you. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending how you look at it, my work has consumed all of my time since last Christmas. Correspondingly, I have had to forgo essential boat repairs and sailing. In desperation to save some of the season, I took my boat to Patagonia in June, for the essential repairs. Sadly, my budget was quickly exhausted long before the work was complete and I now have the huge task of stripping and refinishing the hull inside and out myself. It’s pretty unlikely that WHIFF will see the water this season.

With a little more free time now, I’m happy to be relegated to the crew bank (hint, hint) where I hope to see the water and some of you again soon.

Most of you will have heard that Chris Gorton has departed for Florida and we all wish him much happiness and success. Chris was an active member of the executive and he will be sorely missed.

I hope that you are all planning to sail the Canadians at the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club, Sept. 19–21, 1997 and also to attend the Saturday night Annual General Meeting. There are some important positions becoming vacant and we would welcome some new ideas. Please let me know that you would like to help out on the Executive Committee next year.

Good Sailing.

Bob Stiff

The 1997 Canadian Albacore Championships, September 19–21: Notice of Race

These Championships will be governed by the ISAF Rules, the prescriptions of the Canadian Yachting Association when they apply, the rules of the Albacore Class, and such other rules as are applicable.

Organizing Authority: The Canadian Albacore Association
Club/Host Organization: Royal Hamilton Yacht Club, Hamilton Ontario
Advertising: This regatta is classified as a category A event.

Eligibility: The regatta is open to all Albacore sailors who are 1997 members in good standing of their National Albacore Association.

Schedule: Seven races are planned

Registration: Sailors are encouraged to register in advance to help organizers with planning (and to save $25!). Please complete the attached registration form and mail it with the registration fee to: CAA c/o Michael Leishman, 94 Harris Avenue, Toronto, ON M4C 1P6.

Entry Fee: $125 per boat if payment received/postmarked on or before September 5, 1997; $150 per boat if payment received after September 5, 1997. Please make cheque payable to: Canadian Albacore Association. The entry fee includes T-shirts, Sunday lunch on the water, keg receptions and dinner Saturday night.

Measurement: All boats must be accompanied by a valid measurement certificate and current buoyancy endorsement. All equipment is subject to measurement by the Chief Measurer or designate.

Safety: Boats must carry a 50 ft. tow line and a paddle. An approved PFD must be worn at all times.

Sailing Instructions: Will be available at registration

Scoring: The Low Point System, rule A2, will apply, modified so that each boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores with the worst score discarded if 5 or more races have been completed. Three completed races shall constitute a series.

Further Information: Reminder will be mailed August 15 or call Michael Leishman, Regatta Chairman at 416 504 0000 (work) or 416 406 7982 (pager) or 416 504 3787 (fax). The RHYC telephone number is 905 528 8464

(The printed issue includes an Entry Form — helm and crew names, addresses and telephone numbers, boat name and sail number.)

Entry fee enclosed $………… CDN. Please make cheque payable to: Canadian Albacore Association and send this completed entry form including the Waiver of Liability to: CAA c/o Michael Leishman, 94 Harris Avenue, Toronto, ON M4C 1P6.

Waiver of Liability: By participating in this regatta, I understand that I voluntarily assume and am knowledgeable of the risks of sailing and I undertake full responsibility for myself, my crew and boat. I agree to hold harmless and free of liability the Organizing Authority, the Club/Host, its members, employees, officers and individuals appointed as volunteers for the regatta for any damage, material or personal, suffered by me or my crew during the racing or otherwise.

Date: ………… Skipper’s Signature: …………