Put this date on your calendar -- Saturday, January 14th  ACMC Annual Meeting at the Anacortes Library from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

Already, we are planning 2012.  Priorities include:

El Toro Sailboat classes in the Spring
Small Boat Messabouts  at SeaFarer Memorial Park from May to September
Restore & sail  Mecca to Port Townsend Wooden Boat Show in September

The year will begin with a field trip to Center For Wooden Boat at Cama Beach on Saturday, March 31st.  Once again, we will return to CWB - Cobweb Saturday to help Andrew Washburn & the CWB crew get ready for the new year.  Good company.  Plus, it's a great place to gather.

In April, the boat tent at Emerald Marine Carpentry is reserved for ACMC members to work on their small boats, tenders, El Toro's, etc.,  in preparation for the beginning of the boating season -- May 1st!     
 
In May, we will also return to the Cap Sante Boat Haven to partner with TSCA - Puget Sound to host a Small Boat & Traditional Messabout during the Anacortes Waterfront Festival.  Last year, we launched some 11 small boats & provided a free lunch to 23 rowers & small boat sailors.  Note, we plan to launch our new ACMC El Toro sailboat at the festival.this small boat messabout -- during the Anacortes Waterfront Festival.

The El Toro classes are scheduled for February, March, and April.

Over the Fourth of July weekend, we are invited to the Center For Wooden Boat  Festival in Seattle.  The festival this year has great potential;  because, work is nearly completed on a new public marine park with a wonderful, model boat pond, the new MOI building is almost finished, and, of course, the CWB facilitie has undergone major changes.
  
So, that's what is happening over the next six months.  Please come to the Annual Meeting planned for Saturday, January 14th.  We will elect officers for 2012, share with you changes to the ACMC  web site, and plan activities & events for the new year.  We want to hear what you would like to do in the new year, too.

See you there!  Agenda is posted on the Home Page.

   

Good news for those sailors who want to build the popular El Toro Sailboat.  We are putting together two El Toro boat building classes scheduled for February and March.  Plus, ACMC will host a Saturday lunch & talk on the history, building, etc., of this popular little boat.  The lunch & talk is free.  

So, here is exactly what we are working on right now:

Saturday, February 18th - Introducing the El Toro Sailboat.  FREE lunch, talk etc...
Monday, February 27th -  Building The El Toro Sailboat Together...
Monday, March 19th -   Build Your Own El Toro Sailboat...

Obviously, the Saturday lunch & talk is to promote the El Toro.   The history of this little boat is interesting.  The El Toro was first built by local boat builders Don & Fred Smith in their shop on Samish Island.   It was based on the MacGregor Sabot plans which appeared in the Rudder Magazine in 1939.  Initially, it was intended as a tender,  racer, and a simple sailing pram to teach sailing to children and parents alike.  Along the way, it has become a recognized class of over 11,000 one-design yachts.

The second class (beginning Monday, February 27th 2012) is for those folks who may someday wish to build an El Toro or improve their basic boat building skills.  Note, Donn Wilson told me recently he built his first El Toro in his house using only hand tools.  Anyway, building the El Toro togethe promises to be a whole lot of fun.

If you wish to build an El Toro yourself, here is your opportunity.   We will share experience,  building supplies, building templates, and jig;  you provide the plywood, lumber, and of course, the labor .  Essentially, you will build your very own El Toro -- this is a very affordable way to build the El Toro!

See now you have it.  It's a great opportunity.  And, the price is right.  If you are interested in these classes, please contact us through the e-mail.  If possible, we would like to begin enrolling participants ASAP. 

Pete Culler once wrote:  However you built it, a proper lofting job is essential.  I know of nothing better to get a craft off to a good start, be she a skiff or a sawn-frame vessel.   Pete is not alone in his appreciation of the lofting process.  In fact, the popular boatwright Greg Rossel agrees with him.

Last week, Vernon Lauridsen did an excellent job in making sense of this now ancient  science.  The class was full...twenty students.  Most of the people who attended his two-day session were experienced.   For some old timers, Vernon confirmed the basic principle underlying the lofting process; for the new people,  he carefully explained why lofting & the taking of lines is essential to boat building.  He walked them through the process, taking the time to demonstrate each step, beginning with the table of offsets and how the offset points come together in the profile, half breath, and body boat plans.        

This is not an easy task.  Lofting is a boat building skill that allows the builder to take a three dimensional object and place it on a two dimensional surface...like paper.  It's especially important to building a round bottom boat.  From the lofting table comes not only the station molds but also the shape of the transom,  the layout of the rabbit line, and the pattern of the stems.  This is only the beginning.   I think the real treat in the class came when Vernon used a knife to slice a simple household potato to demonstrate how the profile & buttock lines and the half breath & water lines are illustrated in the boat plans. 

Finally, Vernon teamed with Jerry Schutzler on the last night to tie together the lofting process and how it is essential to building a half model or full model.  Jerry has built several models including the 7 ft., Bluenose a Nova Scotia cod schooner.   He also built the Wawona half model which is on display at the Maritime Hertiage Museum in Anacortes.  For those students who would like to learn how to build a boat model, this part of the class was a real learning experience.  Perhaps, our next lofting class can explore the whole subject of making models to scale!    

To  quote Greg Rossel:  Give lofting a try.  It won't change the world as we know it, but you might just end up looking at boat building in a whole new light.          

ACMC boat building classes are on the web site.  Please go to the Education page & Class button to learn more about these classes.  Note, the lofting & lines two day classes (evening only) begins Monday & Tuesday, November 28th & 29th.

Also, I hope you are thinking about ACMC activities for 2012.  Of course, ACMC is looking for volunteers;  it can only happen with your help.  There is a whole lot of things to do next year...including more classes, workshops, etc., rowing & sailing boats at Cap Santa Boat Haven, or perhaps,  we can do a monthly messabout from April through September at the new small boat facility at Sea Farer Memorial Park.  If we have a volunteer or two, we can also restore a 19 ft.,  Mackinaw Boat for those ACMC crew members who would  like to explore the Cascade Marine Trail next year.  Field trips are popular, too.  We can take a  trip to CWB - Cama Beach Cobweb Saturday in late March or a trip to the Wooden Boat School in Port Haddlock.  These trips are always fun.

And, oh yes, we have been invited back to the Anacortes Arts Festival...old guys making paddle boats with power tools is always a favorite.

Think about it. 

Three classes are now planned for this winter -- beginning Monday, November 28th.  ACMC classes include:

1.  Lofting & Taking Lines - Instructor Vernon Lauridsen
2.  Introduction to  Small Boats & Traditonal Small Craft - Instructor Lyndon Greene
3.  Building the El Toro Sailing Boat - Group Leader - Lyndon Greene 

A big "thank you" to James McMullen (Emerald Marine Carpentry) and Owen Huffaker (Pelican Builder) who have graciously agreed to support our these projects - guest speaker, etc.  This year, our focus continues to be on the amateur boat builder who would like to learn more about small boats or traditonal small craft, and perhaps, how to build a boat themselves!

For more information, please go to the Education button and the Class pull-down screen.  If you wish more information aboutr our classes, please contact us viva the web site or call Lyndon Greene (360) 299-9075.  

 

I know.  I promised to say something about the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival...and honestly, once again, I was blown away.  It is not only the largest wooden boat festival in the Pacific Northwest, but it is also the only place you are going to see 200 plus wooden boats sailing on the water in the traditional sail-by last day of the festival.

As Boatwright Jay Smith said to me...and I'm paraphasing here:  so many  beautiful wooden boats sailing in Port Townsend Bay is something you will never see anywhere else on the West Coast.  And, you know, he is right!

I spent Friday and Sunday at the festival.  On Friday, Cary Tolman and I took the ferry at Keystone and headed for Port Townsend.  The walk from the ferry dock to the NW Maritime Center is only 10 minutes.  Plus, there are some interesting shops, book stores, cafes, etc., along Water Street.  The City of Port Townsend has done a good job in making this area a wonderful downtown park with easy access to the water.

My plan was to visit the boats on Friday.  Talk to the owners, etc., and spent enough time to take a close look at the many large and small boats in the harbor.  Really, you have your pick...like a kid in a candy store.  I spent the morning talking to people who converted an old fishing boat to a liveaboard; and I talked with boat builder Sam Delvin who did the same thing.  I also talked with several boatwrights like Jame McMullen and Tom Regan (Emerald Marine Carpentry & Grapeview Point Boat Works) who have built boats designed by Iain Oughtred such as the popular ness yawl or the much larger caledonia yawl.

On Sunday, ACMC member Carolyn Barney and I returned to the festival to see the sail-by.  Like I said earlier, this is something you don't want to miss.  On the ferry, we met four other ACMC members -- Patty & Veron Lauridsen and Nikki & Herb McMurtry.  Later, we had a beer with Patty & Vernon at Sirens (highly recommended) while we watched the sail-by; and, we had dinner with Nikki & Herb at Tim's place located on the festival site near the inner harbor.

While Patty & Carolyn visited the downtown shops, Vernon checked out the boats.  I attended several workshops.  The festival does a great job in holding several different workshops on various marine related topics.  Workshops are on everything from sailing to Alaska, small craft ventures in the San Juan Islands, and especially, British Columbia, backyard boat building projects, boat maintenance and serious boat repair.  For example, I attended four workshops -  these included varnishing, corrosion problems, recent innovations in electronic navigation, and my very favorite, taking your wooden boat to Alaska presented by Anacorte resident Mark Bunzel.  Note, you really get your money's worth at these workshops.  They more than make-up for the $15 entry fee to the festival or $20 festival three-day pass.

There is a whole lot of things I could say about the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival.  Like, don't miss it next year!  The Director of the festival is Kacy Conkite.  She has done a wonderful job for several years; but unfortunately, I hear through the grapevine she is moving on, etc., and this is her last year.  So,  I just want to say "thank you Kacy " for a wonderful festival and some great times - Lyndon       

Andrew Washburn at CWB - Cama Beach is to be congradulated.  He not only put together a wonder Small Boat Saturday event this past weekend; but also, he has done a great job with the CWB Cama Beach facility.

The Small Boat Saturday enjoyed fine weather, great workshops, and, of course, several small boats you could sail, row, or just sit there and stare at some beautiful small boats for the whole morning.   It was heaven if you are a small boat nut.  And, there were several nuts there!  I especially liked Glenn Woodbury with the Lamberson Skill and Rich Kolin who built Heidi and presented a very informative workshop on planes, sharping tools, and making oars.  Unfortunately, I did not stay for the other two workshops.  And, most likely, I missed something because there were plenty of people at the Dale McKinnon workshop featuring building the boat Bella.

It was a fun & interesting day.  CWB joined with the TSCA folks to sponsor the event.  And TSCA President Randy Jones was on hand to help sailors put their boat into the water.  You can see Randy on this web site in the Photo Gallery and elsewhere.  We have several pictures of him, his boat, and other TSCA members at the Annual ACMC Bowman Bay summer picnic.

Anyway, I encourage everyone to visit Andy at the CWB - Cama Beach facility.  If you like, you can stay overnight in one of the cabins (reservation through the state park people) or simply spend the day looking at the neat boats; and perhaps, you might like to rent a boat.  Andy and his team have done a wonderful job in making this former resort a haven for small boats...we really need to support them.

This is a plug for the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival.  And, why not!  It's the largest wooden boat festival on the West Coast.  More than 300 boats attend the festival.  And, there is something for everyone.

Of course, there are plenty of beautiful wooden boats to see and board.  Kids activity.  Several great booths to visit.  Live music in the evening and throughout the day.  Plus, free workshops on everything from cruising to Alaska, sail making, boat building, routine maintenance to electrical repair.

Myself, I always enjoy going the first day when the festival is less crowded.  It's a good time to board the boats and talk with their owners personally.  It's also a good time to take-in the many booths that exhibit a whole  lot of maritime stuff ;  for example, the guys at the Edensaw booth have plenty of time to talk about their wood stock, supplies, etc., and the boatwrights who exhibit the boats they built have plenty of time to talk to you.  Regardless if you come on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday everyone has a good time.

The festival cost $15 for a one day pass and $30 for a three day pass.  Please check out their great web site which includes a list of activities, events, special sailing programs, and their extensive Festival Guide.

Once again this year, ACMC is planning a field trip to Port Townsend on Friday, September 9th.  We will leave from Anacortes at 8:30 pm to take the 10 am ferry to Port Townsend.  We will return on either the 6:00 pm or 6:30 pm ferry returning to Coupeville.  Note, we will walk on the ferry -- rather than take a car on the ferry.  The festival is only a short distance from the ferry landing in Port Townsend.

If you would like to join us, please contact Lyndon 299-9075.
  

I really must get out to Bowman Bay more offten; what a beautiful place it is in late summer.  The ACMC Summer Picnic & TSCA Messabout was fun -- plenty of good company, lots of wonderful treats, boats on shore & in the water, and, once again, the weather was near perfect.

I think everyone had a good time.  It was overcast in the morning only to break-out into a beautiful sunny afternoon especially on the water.  Go to our Photo Gallery and see Pat S., rowing the Yankee Doodle, Randy & Joel getting ready to sail, and Zayna, Lyndon, Greg, Randy, and Tom at the table.

Ron Zuber and gang (Emily, Adam, and Megan) were rowing the Beach Peapod almost as soon as they arrived -- helping to launch her from the beach.  Joey & Cindy brought their  "recently launched" small craft from their home in Everrett; and Randy was on hand to launch is small craft, too.  Randy is the President of the Puget Sound Small Craft Assocation.  

Vernon and Patty brought their kayaks.  Tom brought his beautiful Yankee Doodle.  It has a rear-view mirror!  Garry and Zayna stopped-by just to say "hi" and visit with everyone.  John (Bame) stopped-in to say visit; regrettfully, Carolyn and I missed him because we were on the bay rowing the peapod around some really large boat.

Anyway, it was a fun day...plenty of friendly conversation, sharing, and wonderful friends.  See you soon.

At the end of the day, I think, everyone had plenty  
 

In the last blog, I noted the small park near the Guemes Ferry Landing is a great place to watch the boat traffic in the channel; well, it is also a great place to read a book.  May I suggest The Mauritius Command by Patrick O'Brian.

Many of you already know about the popular writer of maritime historical fiction, Patrick O'Brian.  His series about the adventures of Lucky Jack Aubrey and his companion Dr. Steve Maturn are read nationwide...if not worldwide!  The movie Master and Commander is somewhat patterned after another book in this series.  However, I would like to invite you to read his fourth book entitled The Mauritius Command.

Here O'Brian undertakes more than an exciting sea story about the British Navy in the early 19th Century.  Yes, the sea story with it's battles are included in the story-line.  In addition to the main story-line, however,  O'Brian makes a concious effort to develop his fictional characters in a manner that truly exposes their individual strength and weaknesses -- relative to what we now know of human interaction and human nature today.  Definitely, he places his characters firmly in a time of exploration -- not only ambitious governments exploring new continuents, etc., but also their efforts to dominate these new lands, their brazen contact with native peoples, slavery, small villages, including the early 19th Century naturalist who attempt to catalogue this new world.  Perhaps unwisely, they also attempt to project on to this world their own prejudices and beliefs.

In exposing this all-to-common practice, O'Brian is more like Meville than either Kent or Pope.  Good reading for a day at the beach...