Greetings again. I am delighted with the replies received re our post describing our small club down here in Kiwi-land. Ken mentioned that 'we have got it made' and I guess, if you call a 'private' lake with three platforms as a good starting point, then yes, it's not bad at all. However, one must say that a small lake surrounded by apartments and homes, a couple of hundred yards from the beach and sea-breezes is fine until one wants a breeze and those buildings do a great job of filtering out anything but a full screaming Northerly gale. There are many days when I am sure our members hold private prayer meetings for a good SW or NE blow, or even a prevailing westerly would be acceptable. I recently visited England and Setley Pond and their raised lake situation, with few obstructions around the edges, was a marvelous venue for sailing. We can but dream ... We have a purpose-built yacht (800 or 1.000mm) called the Kensington Class which is light weight and very suitable for our light airs. We are presently working on a project of building a Springer Tug to rescue our yachts from the other side of the lake. The lake-edge is sloping so when a boat goes ashore it does so invariably at right-angles to the shoreline. The keel then settles on the mud bottom and then gently the boat swings parallel to the shore and just sits there looking forlorn with it's mast-head amongst the lillies.. We envisage a Springer with a starboard extending arm (light weight) that would come along side, and parallel to, the yacht with the arm below the waterline. The arm would have a right-angle hook on the end. The idea is for the arm to slide just above and behind the keel-bulb and then the Springer would go outwards either forward or reverse, taking the keel upwards and outwards thus freeing it from the bottom. Once free, the wind would take over, the yacht would go on it's merry way and the tug would return to it's parking spot. Well, that's the theory anyway. We have downloaded Springer plans and we shall get going on a solution. Thanks John, for your input with the fishing line... Hmmm ?)
If anyone has done such a job we'd love to hear from you.
Thanks to all again for the welcome. This forum is active and interesting.
Dave