GBCA Discussion Forum

Last Saturday Joan III won the Bay Cup 1. That was Maarten's last race as skipper on Joan III and the last time she brought a trofee home for Joan the owner.

Joan and I have sold our yacht after 6 years to Anna and Frank Michiels. Anna and Frank have sailed as crew with us many times. Frank was on the wheel at our start last week. We are sad to see good bye to this wonderful Alberg 37 but pleased that she will be in good hands.

We will continue to sail Galveston Bay and beyond but for a while this will be on other people's yachts.

Thank you all for many great moments on the water... especially those moments when we were on starboard tack or just finished ahead. Winning in the crowd sailing Galveston Bay and Gulf of Mexico is an honor because there are so many very good GBCA, HYC and LYC sailors to compete with.

Joan and Maarten

This is going to be the "all you ever wanted to know about not getting wet post".

The Spinlocks have a light incorporated as well as the crotch-straps. Do participate in a MOB drill and do it with nice weather when you can use a real person to practice on. The point it drives home is: "don't fall overboard". I am tempted to buy one of the small transponders that send out AIS signals but that requires the yacht you sail on having the receiver.

In the staying on board area: don't skimp on shoes/boots, make sure these are slip proof. Over time the anti slip profile wears off.

I hope we didn't scare you off with all this gear. Again May-October on the Bay you will only need light stuff. 

I did forget KO Sailing. Indeed a very good option as well.

Fact is that with all the areas where I sailed this has been both the hottest and the coldest place because we sail all year round. Gloves that keep your hands dry are definitely an omission in my earlier list.

If you read Hiscock "Cruising at Sea" from the 50s we are now spoiled for choice: he explains how to re-oil oilskins...!

It was indeed fall.
Congratulations to Osprey and crew. Sometimes it is showing up that wins the race and in this case well deserved. Gerhard I don't know how it was further south but in Shoreacres around 2pm there were regular gusts of 25mph on a steady 18-20.

After yesterday this seems an important question. There is no one right answer but this is what I have landed on for myself:

For serious weather and longer time e.g. Saturday and off shore I like Musto BR2. In my long time sailing in temperate climates (North Sea, Maine) and warmer (Galveston Bay, GoM) I am now on my second set. The old one I keep on the boat for guests and for the occasional time I get absolutely soaked and only a wetsuit would have kept me dry. Secret is to take the gear home, use clean water to get the salt off and dry well to avoid mildew. For trousers I do have a bib but prefer the normal trousers as these are easier to go to the head. Get a good pair of boots that you can wear with socks and are not too tight. I prefer the lower boots. To make this all work well you need to get the right layers underneath as well. Lots of choice there for different temperatures. Cotton and wool will make you wet inside the jacket so go for some of the modern materials.

Ok, that's for days like yesterday and a number of the icicle races, the harvest moon and heald regatta. I think that I take this outfit with me maybe 10 times a year in this area (always to Maine, SFO etc). Normally you won't need this and it may even be on the too warm side. I have a lighter Musto jacket, more windbreaker-weight and use the same trousers as above or sometimes just wear shorts and shoes most of the times. Not so bulky to pack and also good just as a windbreaker at the end of a nice day. If you want to go a bit more on the budget side I would start with a light combination with some good layers underneath for galveston bay day sailing and regattas rather than the heavy weather stuff. If you are going to crew and sit a lot on the rail get trousers that are strong in the bottom and maybe even slightly padded for obvious reasons.

Do not save on a good pfd (life vest) I have the spinlock vest which is very comfortable to wear. I would say that this is more important than spending money on the heavy weather gear unless you will be going off shore. While you buy that also get a tether because in the end it is better to stay on the boat than knowing you will float. Even though the water is never that cold it can take a while before you are picked up. On a budget then just go for the simpler pfd from mustang or any other brand that is coast guard approved (by the way the spinlock is european, they didn't go for the coastguard approval but they are better than most. To comply the skipper of the boat you sail on needs to have the approved ones for the full crew which he will have normally and if not I'd not your responsibility as crew member, IMHO).

Lastly go into the photo link of past races of gbca and look what people are wearing on bad days as well as on my website www.maartenvanhasselt.com.

Where to buy. Not much choice here. The largest store is Westmarine in Kemah and a little bit further out is Blackburn Marine. Most choice is westmarine and you can try stuff on and get some advice as some of their staff sail themselves and know what they are talking about. You can also buy on line once you know size etc. Don't buy too small as it will get in the way when moving around.

Welcome to sailing on the bay...I can guarantee you that you will mostly be wearing shorts, a polo, lots of sunscreen, a hat and very good sunglasses!

The most difficult decision to make as skipper is to sail or not to sail. It is even more difficult for the organizers of this prestigious event to reach a decision to not go ahead with the race. In the end someone has to make the call considering many inputs and opinions with 160+ boats and crews having prepared and lived towards this regatta for many weeks if not months.

Let's respect the decision of the organizers and be thankful that safety has been the overriding factor in their final judgement. After this disappointment LYC and Bay Access officials need the support of all experienced off-shore sailors. There is a Dutch saying: "The best skippers stand on-shore" meaning that second guessing and opining after the fact is easy. Let's not do that and support this decision and the committee as goods sportsmen and women.

There will be another Harvest Moon Regatta and we are looking forward to sail when all the conditions are right.

Maarten van Hasselt, Skipper Joan III.

Looking for a ride back early Sunday from PA to Houston 2 people (plus sailing gear) after the HMR. Also available if someone would want to bring a car out before the race starts.

now and here: http://www.regattanetwork.com/clubmgmt/applet_regatta_results.php?regatta_id=10071

The Houston Yacht Club wants to get people to sail. We have started a crew exchange. Skippers are HYC members. Crewing is open for members and non-members. If you are from time to time interested to crew please send an email to CrewXHYC@gmail.com with a descrition of your sailing skills: off-shore, foredeck, etc.

Did I miss the publication of the final results somehow?

Great pictures as usual: thank you for sharing those always it makes the day after the race good as well. Looking forward to the videos.

Have a look at the windward bound sailing camp at the Houston Yacht Club. My recommendation is to get some lessons in a small boat first to get a good feel for wind etc. On a larger boat you will learn to be good on the winch or good on the fore-deck but you miss the general sailing.

Indeed I looked at it from a HMR perspective or Heald race. And Mo4 means only 4 and not 3,2,1. HMPE not allowed in the case you mention. Reason is that HMPE requires careful splicing and is susceptable to chafe in the railing posts so for further off shore considered as too much risk. It is what it is and whether this makes sense vis a vis the risk of compromised SS wire is a long debate. Personally from a safety perspective I think that railings can never be trusted and lifelines and tethers are the only way to stay safe.

Don't see this race results posted yet. Seems everyone is hard at work

http://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/OSR2015AmendmentSheet12012015v2-%5B18222%5D.pdf

Gives the official answer. Still allowed though No "single braided" and "shall be protected from chafe" are the changes in the rule. Also your class may have different rules than ISAF.