Harken blocks: ratchet vs. ratchamatic

Harken has put together a nice video that explains the difference between a ratchet block and a ratchamatic block.

the main difference is that the ratchamatic blocks are load-sensing and have a “ratchet that instantly engages when a predetermined load is reached. When unloaded, the ratchet pawl seamlessly disengages to allow the sheet to run out instantly during mark roundings and jibes. The Ratchamatic allows lightly-loaded sheets to run freely in both directions for fingertip control” (source: Harken Q&A)

Sunfish sailors often use one of the following blocks for their mainsheet control:

• Harken 2135 (ratchet block)
• Harken 2625  (ratchamatic block)

I’ve traditionally used the 2135 (shown here on my mainsheet controls upgrade post), as it is usually cheaper, and the switch is usually easy enough to reach if I wanted to release the ratchet mechanism to allow the line to run freely. for a Sunfish sailor looking to race, the 2625 might be a better option as it will let the mainsheet out easier when your time spent changing tacks could make the difference in a race.

h/t: @harken

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500,000 pageviews & a giveaway

a couple weeks ago, the my2fish: Sunfish sailing blog passed 500,000 pageviews (all-time).

ONE [HALF] MILLION PAGEVIEWS!

it took a little under 4 years to reach 200,000, then a little over 1 year to get up to 300k, a little over 1.5 years to get to 400k, and then about 2.5 years to get the next 100k and get to the half a million mark. it is interesting (to me at least!), to watch the ebb and flow of the blog visitors.  with a mostly summer sport, it definitely slows down during the winter – and then picks up quite a bit as the weather warms up – peaking in that June/July/August time when sailing is a bit more relevant to most people’s lives.

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for those who have just found the blog – thanks for visiting, and I hope you stick around a while!

for those who have been following the blog for a long time – thanks for all the views, the comments, and the feedback over these last few years! 

I’ve had a lot of fun with the blogging, and I hope it’s been an interesting journey.

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similar to the 200k giveaway and 300k giveaway and 400k giveaway, I am having another cool gear giveaway to celebrate the 500,000 pageview milestone!  for this give-away, it will be a brass Captain’s Whistle, made by Oceanus Brass.  they currently have a Kickstarter campaign to fund a production run of the Captain’s Whistles and they’ve offered to give one to the lucky winner.

if you recall, they also recently provided me with one of their bow-shackle pens, so I guarantee the craftsmanship of the Captain’s Whistle will likewise be amazing!

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so here are the giveaway details, rules, etc.

• to enter the contest, you need to leave a comment on this blog post (you can enter your name as “anonymous”, or whatever you like really) – but I will eventually need an email to contact you if you are chosen as the winner!
• no other specific requirement for the comment itself, but I will moderate as need be!
• multiple comments do not equal multiple entries!
• after 2 weeks, I will randomly select one person that has commented – and will coordinate with Oceanus Brass to get the Captain’s Whistle shipped directly from them to the winner.

thanks again for visiting the blog! and let the commenting begin!

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full disclosure: the gift item for the give-away is a sponsored item provided by Oceanus Brass.

 

sailing art: Monet – The Riverbank at Petit-Gennevilliers

I like Monet.

The Riverbank at Petit-Gennevilliers, Sunset (1875)

Oil on canvas, 61 x 80 cm

sunfish alpa skip sailing [video]

here is a great video of a Sunfish clone in Italy called the Alpa Skip flying across the water:

 

the video was posted in the comments on my “photos” page, and I thought it was too good to leave there and should be published as a post.

here’s a little more information from his comments:

Alpa was an iconic shipyard in Italian yachting history. Under the leadership of Danilo Cattadori, [Alpa] has build beautiful yachts but also great dinghies such as Alpa 550, Alpa S. They build also a Sunfish clone named Alpa Skip that was robust but lighter than sunfish. It is a very good boat, so good that even if the Sunfish class is quite strong in Italy, Alpa Skip is today still more common. Alpa Skip is the typical 80′ and 90′ sailing school or family boat. Cheaper than Sunfish. Easier than Laser. Actually “Skip” is still produced by Paiardi shipyard (www.paiardi.com) that holds Alpa’s moulds.  Information are not so common, but you can refer to Alpa Historical Club: https://www.alpahistorical.org/alpa-skip.html

I know there are multiple Sunfish clones but I’ve never heard of this one.

always look on the bright side of life

 

how could you not have a big smile on your face if you’re sailing underneath a sail logo like this?!

pic found at the Sunfish Forum, posted by Breeze Bender, and used here w/ permission.

neither out far nor in deep

a poem by Robert Frost

The people along the sand
All turn and look one way.
They turn their back on the land.
They look at the sea all day.

As long as it takes to pass
A ship keeps raising its hull;
The wetter ground like glass
Reflects a standing gull.

The land may vary more;
But wherever the truth may be—
The water comes ashore,
And the people look at the sea.

They cannot look out far.
They cannot look in deep.
But when was that ever a bar
To any watch they keep?

how to rig a Sunfish [video]

here is an another video on how to rig, or set up, your Sunfish so that it is ready to sail.  this video was created by Carolina State Parks – it looks like Sunfish are available to use at Lake Norman Community Sailing.

they give the following steps:

• Securing the Drain Plugs
• Attaching the Rudder
• Attach and Hoist the Mainsail
• Rigging the Mainsheet
• Rigging the Daggerboard

I’ve posted other videos and various topics previously on how to rig your Sunfish.