Spinnaker Shop

LETTERS

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Precision Technical Sewing, Inc. Making fabric work on land and sea since 1979

PHOTO GERI CONSER

Offshore Canvas is our specialty!

wasn't going to be subject to any waves while up the San Blas Estuary. ⇑⇓UPHILL OR DOWNHILL — WHICH IS BEST? Maybe it’s a 20/20 hindsight kind of thing, but the initial ‘Lectronic report on what was believed to be Bellavia running aground did look like an act of careening. How else would one explain the slope of the beach in the background and the tidy decks? But that’s not what I’m writing about. I have what might be a stupid question. Assuming one has a choice over a seaward or landward careening, which is the best? Bu’Kwiis seems to favor washing the ports. Why is that? Craig Moyle Concordia Carmichael Craig — We suppose there could be a number of reasons, but when you careen the boat 'downhill', more of the bottom is exposed, which would make it possible to get to the prop easier and longer.

Explore how to make your next passage safer and more enjoyable - whether you’re crossing an ocean, racing or just cruising SF Bay. Susan, Sylvia and Sally can advise you on the perfect sewn solution based on a zillion (combined) years of off-shore sailing, sailmaking and canvas fabrication for both sail and power pleasures. All enclosures and full interiors - both power and sail.

Your Off-Shore Canvas Experts Customized safety, comfort, useability, including: Spinnaker nets, jack lines, lee cloths, locker covers, fabric partitions, cushions, sheet bags, protective covers, dodgers, roller furling covers, pipe berths, Victory flags. Sewn solutions for all your boat needs.

All sail and canvas repairs & recuts 921 E CHARLESTON RD, PALO ALTO, CA 94303

650-858-1544 or 888-411-4787 For specific sewn solutions for YOUR sailing, please see our website at

www.spinnakershop.com Page 66 •

Latitude 38

• April, 2007

⇑⇓IT ALLOWS US TO WORK IN RELATIVE COMFORT In the December issue there was a letter that asked if it was possible to heave to with just a main up. You responded that typically a foresail is backed to maintain balance. Having been caught out on the open ocean several times in winds between 45 and 60 knots, we've been able to heave to without having a headsail set. Our Pacific Seacraft 40 has both a roller furling jib and staysail, and we've found that, in high winds, the furled headsails provide sufficient pressure to offset either the triple-reefed main or trysail. That being said, if someone is thinking of going offshore, the best thing they can do is go out and practice heaving to in varying wind and sea conditions to find out what works for their boat. By the way, when things are getting boisterous at sea, we frequently heave to prior to going forward just to stop the seas from breaking over us. This allows us to work in relative comfort and safety. Becky Swan & Chris Goode Bonne Idée, Pacific Seacraft 40 San Francisco Becky and Chris — The feedback from your firsthand experience is much appreciated. ⇑⇓FIRST THINGS FIRST We are planning to do the '08 Ha-Ha with friends from Europe. Do you know the dates yet? Ed Evanish Planet Earth Ed — The Ha-Ha folks don't come out of hibernation until May 1, but before crashing for the winter, they announced that the dates for the Ha-Ha 14 would be October 28 through November 10 this year. Although Ha-Ha Honcho Lauren Spindler hasn't made an announcement yet, based on past history, we'd expect Ha-Ha 15 to be from October 26 through November 8, 2008. ⇑⇓YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR LENNON In his response to a letter by John Haste of the San Diegobased Perry 52 catamaran Little Wing, the editor said that he didn't think that John Lennon was responsible for the