the Weekly Whiffle
Wayfarer news of all kinds that's crossed Uncle Al's desk this week
Monday, November 12th, 2007
....
this Week in Wayfarers: 
* Why men are never depressed: a lovely item from Rebel sailor, Bruce Nowak
* anyone for some old sailing books? contact Tim France
* Kansas W, Pat Baldwin (W3473), to join growing pilgrimage to Rock Hall in 2008
* Thunder Bay checks in with summer memories and hopes of one more 2007 sail
* Midwinters NOR and Entry Form posted
* Colin Junkin discovers new Wayfarer group on facebook.com
* Ben Abbott adds corrections, etc. for floorboard fasteners trick
* what a deal for Gary Hirsch!!
* W864, Nick Seraphinoff, wonders about priorities
* Wayfarer 50th Anniversary Calendar goes to print - special treat for Weekly Whiffle readers
* those northern W's just keep on sailing!!
.......
Subject: Why men are never depressed: a lovely item from Rebel sailor, Bruce Nowak
----- Original Message -----
From: Bruce Nowak
Sent: Monday, November 05, 2007 7:13 AM
Subject: Why men are never Depressed

WHY MEN ARE NEVER DEPRESSED

 
Men Are Just Happier People , What do you expect from such simple creatures? Your last name stays put. The garage is all yours. Wedding plans take care of themselves. Chocolate is just another snack. You can be President. You can never be pregnant. You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park. You can wear NO shirt to a water park. Car mechanics tell you the truth. The world is your urinal. You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky. You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt. Same work, more pay. Wrinkles add character. A wedding dress is $5,000 but a tux rents for $100. People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them. The occasional well-rendered belch is practically expected. New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet. One mood all the time.
Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat. You know stuff about tanks. A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase. You can open all your own jars. You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness. If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.
Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack. Three pairs of shoes are more than enough. You almost never have strap problems in public. You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes. Everything on your face stays its original color. The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades! You only have to shave your face and neck.
You can play with toys all your life. Your belly usually hides your big hips. One wallet and one pair of shoes, one color for all seasons. You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look. You can "do" your nails with a pocket knife. You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.
You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.
No wonder men are happier.
..
Subject: anyone for some old sailing books? contact Tim France
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tim France" <tfrance_12@sympatico.ca>
To: "Al Schonborn" <uncle-al3854@cogeco.ca>
Sent: Friday, November 09, 2007 9:58 AM
Subject: Books

Hi Al:

Greetings - trust all is well at your house. Your boat will no doubt be put away in the garage until the Midwinters come around. Here, my golf clubs are sitting in  my garage waiting for one last game. You never know.

Am about to dispose of about a dozen books on sailing - mostly from the 60's and 70's - Stuart Walker, Howard Williams and others. My favourite is So you think You Know the Rules of Yacht Racing,  an eye-opening look into tactical effects of the NAYRU rules by James Lipscomb (1968). The sailing world, like a lot of other things, has changed a lot since the 70's so there is no strong interest for these books. I am passing this info to you in case you know someone who is interested - a far better use than the alternative of my pitching them...

Thanks.

Best wishes

Tim

phone: 519.823.2117   tfrance_12@sympatico.ca
----- Original Message -----
From: "Al Schonborn" <uncle-al3854@cogeco.ca>
To: "Tim France" <tfrance_12@sympatico.ca>
Sent: Friday, November 09, 2007 8:35 PM

Hi, Tim:

Right on all counts. Have put you down for two extra Calendars

Will post your books offer in Monday's Weekly Whiffle. Would it help to provide your phone number also?

Best to you and the family,

Uncle Al (W3854)

PS: Just thinking - it seems like forever ago (1998!) that you had to badger me to get into web work. I'm so glad you did!!!!


----- Original Message -----
From: "Tim France" <tfrance_12@sympatico.ca>
To: "Al Schonborn" <uncle-al3854@cogeco.ca>
Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2007 1:25 PM

Hi Al:

Yes, it would be helpful to put my phone number (519.823.2117) and email  address with the posting re: my books. Thanks. Among the books are 3 that are written about specific craft- one each on Sailboards, The Laser and the Sunfish. There are 5 offspring in our family so we sailed many different kinds of boats over the years! We still have my 1955 canvas-covered canoe that has been on many sailing excursions using sails & lee boards and then, after I wised up, large umbrellas. It is an interesting experience to get a canoe up on a plane - to start with one needs a strong following wind..

Congratulations, Al, on your web site. Every time I look, there are interesting changes and developments to be checked out. Your site is a boon to Canadian Wayfaring and I suspect of great interest to many international sailors. It is without a doubt a lot of work for you, but then, it keeps you out of trouble. And the news and information you post helps to keep the Wayfarer family together and is much appreciated. The beauty is, when in later years you begin to slow down a bit, you will then have the time and the joy of turning many of your pictures into digital art  - for example and for the hell of it, you could create a Christmas card showing Shades planing down Yonge St.

Best wishes

Tim
...
Subject: Kansas W, Pat Baldwin (W3473), to join growing pilgrimage to Rock Hall in 2008
----- Original Message -----
From: "pbaldwin"
To: "Al Schonborn" <uncle-al3854@cogeco.ca>
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 11:41 PM
Subject: Rock Hall US Nationals 6/21-22/08

Uncle Al,

 I suppose too early to actually sign up for this, but we do plan to be there.  I do have a question though - another member of our sailing club has another Canadian boat, an Albacore, and may be interested in sailing if there is an open regatta in addition to the Wayfarer class.  Can you let me know if that is possible.

Thanks,

Pat Baldwin and James Baldwin (number 1 son)
W-3473
Wayward Wayfarer


----- Original Message -----
From: "Al Schonborn" <uncle-al3854@cogeco.ca>
To: pat baldwin W3473
Cc: Rock Hall group 08
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2007 12:10 AM

That's great news, Pat! Makes my whole day - with 5 minutes left in it!! Have added you to our Rock Hall group mailing list for 2008 (copied). It'll be great to finally meet you, and you'll be able to feed Marc and me each a Dark 'n Stormy in its spiritual home if it turns out you like the spinnaker.

Nobody expects you to sign up until the day of the regatta but I have added you to my list of likelies at
http://www.wayfarer-canada.org/00coming.up/RockHall_promo.html.

I'm sure that Dyer (copied) and Chuck (copied) would welcome Albacores - may indeed have seen some in the past. Your friend might want to scare up another Albacore or two - I know there are some in that general area of the East Coast - so he'll have someone to race with? Failing that, if nobody minded, he could share our start since Albacores and W's are very even in the speed department. A couple of years back, we shared the line with three Windmills with whom we were also evenly matched and with whom we had a fine time. Or perhaps he could be put in with the (smaller fleet of) Windmills???

BTW, we are still awaiting confirmation that this regatta will be the 2008 US Nationals. But that's neither here nor there; what is sure is that we'll all have a great time!!

Best regards and good night,
 
Uncle Al (W3854)
...
Subject: Thunder Bay checks in with summer memories and hopes of one more 2007 sail<>
----- Original Message -----
From: HAILL Andrew -THUNDER BAY
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2007 12:22 PM
Subject: Whiffle N Bay pictures
 
Hi  Al
 
Noticed your update on the North Bay pictures.  How you remember those details months later is astounding.   
But there was a comment on Fred Black capsizing at the start.. as perhaps the reason for their DNF.  They may well have capsized (no idea, but don't think so) but the DNF was them breaking their rudder.  After passing the J5 turning mark I noticed Fred sailing way off in the completely wrong direction and not looking like they were having much fun.  The main and the jib were half down and they were struggling with both sails.  There wasn't another boat close or noticing so we turned around and chased them down.  Once within talking distance we could determine they were okay with the exception that they no longer had a rudder.  There wasn't much we could directly do but hang on a bit until a tail end boat (the safety boat possibly) shortly noticed the plight and came by to give them a tow home to their DNF.  I will say that as we turned upwind during this diversion that the reefed main I decided on after getting a bit anxious about the wind and weather during the tow was perfect for that condition... if only that race had been a close reach as anticipated instead of a broad one...
 
A suggestion... the Weekly Whiffle should perhaps get its own red title as the W newsletter ... not buried in the contact / info section on the left hand side .   Given all the work that goes into keeping the news presented it should in my opinion have more prominence so it gets better noticed.



And a question... how do you know when you have pushed the sailing season a little too long and maybe, just maybe should have put the boat away.?     Maybe when you can ski to your Wayfarer.   Photo taken this morning en route to work.   
There is  always hope for next week however.... and just one more.
 
cheers,

Andrew
W9657
 

----- Original Message -----
To: HAILL Andrew -THUNDER BAY
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2007 12:58 PM

Wow! Thanks, Andrew, for lots of great stuff. Especially the picture which I'll put on the front page this weekend or even later today - and into the coming Weekly Whiffle. I'll also work on your prominence suggestion. Doing the captions brings back snatches of memory as I look at the pictures: I had for instance forgotten that you and Jason teamed up for the CDR??? Will add your enlightening account of the Rusty Scupper Rudder Failure right now.
 
I admire your enthusiasm - SHADES is already well packed away (last weekend): mast hanging alongside the garage and trailer wheels blocked off the ground - everything set for the Midwinters, where I look forward to seeing you.
 
Well, back to work - if W captions can be called work!!
 
Best regards and crossed fingers for you to get one more sail in!
 
Uncle Al (W3854)
...
Subject: Midwinters NOR and Entry Form posted
----- Original Message -----
To: Dotty Murto
Cc: Marc Bennett 
Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2007 10:25 AM
Subject: about Wayfarer Midwinter Regatta

Hi, Dotty:
 
Misfiled this but have finally unearthed it without having to bug you for a re-send. Used the material - with corrected deadline dates!!! - to create a separate NOR (Notice of Race) and Entry Form (PDF) as in past years which are now posted.
 
I have also attached same in hopes you will vet them and let me know any corrections that may be needed. To the Entry Form, I have added a line in which they are asked to indicate the crew name which helps me when it comes to posting results.
 
Have further attached a completed Entry Form for me and Marc.
 
Barely above freezing here this morning!! Lucky you!!!
 
Best regards,
 
Uncle Al (W3854)
...
Subject: Colin Junkin discovers new Wayfarer group on facebook.com
----- Original Message -----
From: colin junkin
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 8:21 AM
Subject: facebook

hi al

i found this on facebook it's a group for  Wayfarer Sailors of the World
 
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2401782536
----- Original Message -----
To: colin junkin
Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2007 9:43 PM

Thanks, Colin. Have checked it out and signed up but won't have much time to spend there, I'm afraid. Feeding my own site keeps me plenty busy.
 
Best regards,
 
Uncle Al (W3854)
...
Subject: Ben Abbott adds corrections, etc. for floorboard fasteners trick<>
-----Original Message-----
From: Ben Abbott
Sent: November 3, 2007 6:04 PM
To: uncle-al3854@cogeco.ca
Cc: Ruth & Jamie Abbott
Subject: confirmation of floorboard fastener details
I would say you might want a slightly thinner piece of Lexan, closer to 1/8", otherwise it gets too hard to bend to install and remove.  For width anywhere between 1-1/2 and 2" is fine, if it gets too wide it might be easier for it to get caught on something.  Oh, many hardware stores carry Lexan, including Home Depot, but you have to get a full sheet there, which may cost you $30-50
 
Ben
.
Subject: what a deal for Gary Hirsch!!
----- Original Message -----
From: Gary Hirsch
Sent: Monday, October 29, 2007 3:42 PM
Subject: Main Sail

Uncle Al,


 
Can this be fixed or would it work as is?  Any opinions?
 
Gary (W1321)


----- Original Message -----
Cc: Gary Hirsch W1321
Sent: Monday, October 29, 2007 10:03 PM

Hi, Heider:
 
One of our new Wayfarers in Michigan sent this pic of a main he may buy. I would assume this could be repaired easily enough? Could he do it himself? If so, how? Could he sew the two disconnected pieces to the luff tape and then gently burn away the fuzz in the gap? Or should he go to the nearest sailmaker and get it done?
 
Thanks,
 
Uncle Al (W3854)
 
PS to Gary: Heider Funck is our ace Wayfarer sailmaker in North America. Luckily for us, he's right in Toronto.


----- Original Message -----
From: Gary Hirsch
Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2007 5:00 PM

Uncle Al,
 
I got a reply from Heider and bought the main for $100.  I think it will work out well as the pictures show very little use.  I found out 442 belonged to Alan Hallwood in Ontario.  Do/did you know him?  I got the sail from someone who said he got it as part of an estate sale, I think.
 
Heider thought that the damage was workable without professional repair – he mentioned duct tape – the universal fix.  I love it.
 
Gary (W1321)






----- Original Message -----
To: Gary Hirsch (W1321)
Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2007 10:45 PM

Hi, Gary:
 
Wow! What a deal!! The main looks virtually new!! Alan sails with us up here, though he sold W442, I believe, and now has a much newer glass boat.
 
Duct tape sounds cute but if you're ever near a loft, I'd get the thing re-sewed.
 
Take care,
 
Uncle Al (W3854)
.
Subject: W864, Nick Seraphinoff, wonders about priorities
----- Original Message -----
From: Nick
Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2007 7:33 PM
Subject: Dear Abby

Hi Al
  
Here is a copy of a letter I wrote to Dear Abby and her response to me. I think she was a little hard on me. What do you think?
   
Dear Abby
  
I am just sure my wife Mary has a boyfriend. We have a guy named Mark who works for us as a handyman and we pay him $12.00 per hour for his services. He paints, prunes, mows, cleans the yard, repairs anything that is broken on the house and does a myriad of other jobs for Mary. Also I am certain his job doesn't end with simple handyman work, if you catch my drift.
 
There lies the problem! My hobbies include sailing, golfing, skeet shooting, skiing, pheasant hunting, goose and duck hunting and a trip to South America to shoot doves once a year. I worry day and night about this thing with Mark. What if 12 dollars isn't enough to keep him around? Do you think I should raise it to 16 dollars an hour?
                           
Anxiously Awaiting Your Reply
                             
Nick in Detroit
  

Nick
 
You have the most screwed up set of priorities I have ever heard of. Mary should throw you out, move Mark in and divorce you! When it is final you should be living in a $7000 trailer in some 50-year-old trailer park - without enough money to even play shuffleboard.
                                       
Abigail Van Buren
....
Subject: W 50th Anniversary Calendar goes to print - special treat for Weekly Whiffle readers
----- Original Message -----
From: Ray Scragg
To: 'TM Graefe' ; 'Poul Ammentorp' ; 'Al Schonborn' ; 'Jan Katgerman'
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2007 6:56 PM
Subject: Wayfarer 2008 25th anniversary calendar (draft copy low resolution)

Hi again,
 
Here is what I think is the final version...
If all OK I will generate the pdf files for the printers.
Thanks for all your input and support .

Getting late again so cheerio.
 
Ray

... and now for your special treat: click here to see the complete low res. draft copy
...
Subject: those northern W's just keep on sailing!!
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, November 11, 2007 5:15 AM
Subject: Ken Jensen's 2007 sailing log not done just yet!
 
Just back home from a nice W1348 singlehanded trip in more-than-needed wind - for using full sails.  On the wind, coming back in, I used mini or flat reef for the main + hard-set kicker, and full genoa.  Off the wind nearly too warm with all the clothes,  but on the wind just right - we all know the cooling from sailing into a headwind!

The OAT +4° Celsius, water probably warmer. No other sails were seen, but as a big surprise there was a BIG Trimaran!  Without sails but with some assistance to the engine from the aerofoil mast - the largest I have ever seen *in natura* on such a vessel.  I got even more baffled when coming close enough to see a small Italian ensign flying from an aft stay. Must be something terribly wrong with the GPS since she/he definitely belongs in the Mediterranean!
 
Actually, coming down to the harbour, I had started to get 'cold' feet about going out. The NW wind here like in many other places is tricky, and we had storm force winds on our West Coast yesterday.  Some years back in a north-wester on the fjord here, 'flying' a *Wild Mustang Stallion planing ride* in gale force, 26-28 knots, we were screaming through spray and foam, having only visibility straight up towards zenith.  My crew was too small, too inexperinced and too scared, and the joy didn't last: the hard-kickered boom grabbed the water, and you know the rest !
 
Back to the 'cold' feet that soon got warmer. Coming down to the harbour, I looked out - standard first thing to scan the fjord - and saw something whitish on the windward side of a small rock skerry that ought not be there?  Maybe a small stranded dinghy blown out during the night by the very hard wind?  So go investigate became my self-ordered task.
 
The normally smooth running vital actions - to get ready and going - do not run so smoothly in low temperatures, the sailor being heavily dressed under stiffening oilskins, boots and all, and the wind punch has density to it, mind you, when it hits!  Re. observing/seeing: some of us have experienced (old people know!) that you see something - and then it's nothing!  When I got out there, it was *bloody* - pardon my 'French' - ice crystals frozen white during the night, onto the vertical rockface from the strong, very NW-windy spray!  But then I saw a very tall mast and below that the Italian misguided Trimaran!  A nice sail it was - getting home warm and dry.  And then you know, dear W-friends, the nourishment afterwards is really tasty, solid as well as liquid, and you develop nerves like steel wires!   Ken,W1348 "Maitken"
.....
Subject: