Sailing on Inland Seas: 1st Annual Big Arm Messabout

The three boats of the messabout. (L-R) Esmerelda, Dragonfly, Desdemona

Well the first official function of the Western Montana Small Boat Association is in the books. And by any measure it was a great success. Three boats on the water, new people in boats, and camping to boot. When I started this idea of trying to get more small boaters together this is what I had in mind.
The event started for me on Friday, the 15th. With a newly repaired trailer the S/V Esmerelda was loaded, provisioned, and trailered up to Big Arm State Park. With me were The Mate and The Crew. The idea was for a late afternoon sail, then camping. Jim of Desdemona was already in the area and we camped behind him, spot B12. We had a lovely view of the lake and a good spot for our tent.

Our camp from the water. Jim was in the Airstream next to us.

The camp was made up and we got the boat ready to head out. We splashed, motored out a ways and the lake was like a millpond. No wind at all. It was rather disheartening as the forecast at that time was the possibility of thunderstorms and winds in the 9-12kt range. After we drifted for a bit The Crew spotted the end of the wind shadow and we were off! I got to try the newest additions to my boat, the tiller extension and the self steering rig.

Looking at S/V Desdemona and how Jim had set her up to single hand I made the decision that the ability to let go of the tiller was paramount. So the Typesetter knocked me up a version of the wooden cleat that Jim used and I purchased some bungee. Then came the nerve raking experience of drilling two holes in my boat and hoping that it worked. Well with some wind on the bow I cleated my mainsheet, let go of the tiller and Esmerelda plunged on. It was a wonderful feeling. The steering gear proved it self when tacking allowing me and my sometime suspect balance at times cross over the boat after a tack was completed. Following the tack I'd steady on the new course, set the tiller, cross over and resume my command. With Mate and Crew at the jib sheets the lake was ours.

Look ma! No hands!

We docked and hauled out, returning to camp where Jim had started a fire. The Mate and Crew were tired after the days sailing but Jim, his lovely wife, and two furry kids stayed up and talked about sailing and hoping for good winds in the morning. Eventually though it was time to turn in.
The next morning was promising. We got breakfast and got the boat set up. Then it was off to the ramp. And there sitting off the dock was S/V Dragonfly, a beautiful Caledonia Yawl skippered by Steve. Now Cal Yawls have always held a spot in my heart because it was the first big boat I sailed on in memory and that was the Luna at the Homebuilt Boat Show in Seattle. So to see one of her sisters on my home waters warmed my heart. Then Steve mentioned he'd read this blog and that floored me. It was going to be a good day!
My friends Koda, Jim, and Rose had made the drive from Missoula to attend and we outfitted them with life jackets and got them aboard. Koda and Jim with Steve on Dragonfly, Rose with Jim and his wife on Desdemona. And we set off!

Dragonfly

The winds started light then dropped away to nothing. Huge swaths of the lake were in wind shadow. The Mate was working on her understanding of right-of-way rules and having other boats in the water really helped. We tacked out to the east, sometimes under the "electric spanker". The sailing was good when we had wind and not so when we didn't. But we were messing about in boats and that made it worth it.

The Crew at the new extension. She's trying sitting out for the first time too. Go Flames!

Eventually we made our way back to the dock and Steve had to head for other things. Jim and I talked about what to do next and The Mate suggested we go back out. The wind, gone when we docked was rising so out we went. Esmerelda delighted in the wind, sailing flat and fast. Had we wanted to circumnavigate Cromwell Island we could have. But we had to get to dock and the voice in my head told me that was the better part of valor. And all at once the fun was gone. The wind predicted arrived a day late and by the time we got Esmerelda tied up she was rearing on her bowline like a caught trout. We were done for the day.
So all in all a great event. But before we go out again we have a laundry list of needed improvements. And those will come first.

Better set up of the hands free steering system. Right now it's cumbersome to attach and remove the bungee as needed.
Jib improvements: Downhaul system and brass hanks.
Switching to sail slugs on the mainsail. The bolt rope is about at the end of it's life and to finish the season slugs are the way to go.
Better cushions all around.
Trailer work, mainly remaking the bunks and installing waterproof LED lights.

I've also decided that we're The Herons. In Oregon there is a fabled race of small boat sailors, The Coots. I've always liked that name so in the finest traditions of the privateers I'm borrowing the idea. Also a group of Herons is called a siege so short of a proper messabout, we'll hold sieges. Dovetails well with my other medieval pursuits.
So all is well that ends well. Our next gathering is set for the 27th of June at Finley Point State Park. There might even be another Lido 14 in attendance! I know I'm looking forward to it!