Sailor Takes a Shine Even to the Varnishing Job

A fisherman in an inflatable boat, powered by a small outboard engine, trolled slowly by my little ship, Herald Bird, the other afternoon. I was happily applying a third coat of varnish to the Bird’s cabin and cockpit coaming.

I guess I didn’t look too happy because as he passed, while patting his “inner tube,” he said to me smugly, “I’ve got no maintenance on this thing.”

I was forced to agree to the obvious. I didn’t bother to tell him I was enjoying myself immensely. The day was warm and sunny; a gentle westerly breeze ruffled Newport Bay. I was alone, in comfortable old work clothes and at peace with myself and the world. I could talk aloud to myself, cuss when I felt like it, and nobody would look at me as if I was crazy.

Above all, I was making my beloved little sloop look beautiful, as well as protecting the integrity of her wood and joinery work.

I felt like calling after that fisherman the now time-worn, but blissful response of the Water Rat in “The Wind in the Willows”: “There is nothing--absolutely nothing--half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. . . . or with boats. . . . In or out of ‘em, it doesn’t matter.”

That says it all. If you don’t derive deep satisfaction from messing about in boats, then stay ashore. And leave the varnishing to others.

I was trying out a new technique of varnishing I’d read about. I had used No. 150 sandpaper on the old varnish, dusted and wiped a tack cloth over the surface before applying my first new coat. Now, I was spreading my third coat--without sanding in between coats. I realize this sounds likes heresy.

But it seems to be working. Maybe the finished product is not quite as glassy smooth as it would have been had I sanded between coats, but it’s a satisfactory job, with good depth of surface. Special emphasis, however, should be placed on a thorough dusting between coats with tack cloth or rag moistened with paint thinner.

Sailing Notes

--The State Dept. of Boating and Waterways has approved loans to improve the boat launching facilities at Huntington Harbour and Avalon Harbor. A $370,000 loan to the City of Huntington Beach for a period of 20 years will be used to pave parking areas, install boarding floats, dredge, light, landscape and irrigate the area. Avalon’s Pleasure Pier will be renovated, boat hoists replaced and additional dingy docks will be built. The $500,000 loan is for 30 years.

--Two of the three U.S. boats, all from California, were dismasted and sidelined during the 1985 Admiral’s Cup in England. High Roler of Newport Beach, Sidewinder of San Francisco and Sleeper of San Diego, were the U.S. entries. Eighteen nations competed in this year’s Fastnet Race, regarded as the unofficial world championship of yachting. Sleeper and Sidewinder were reported dismasted. The race was sailed in heavy gale force winds. The winner of the Fastnet on corrected time was Panda of Great Britain. High Roler finished in seventh place.

Sabot sailors, 125 of them in their 8-foot cat-rigged boats from throughout Southern California, have finished a four-day regatta for the Junior Sabot National Championships in Newport Harbor, sponsored by the Lido Isle Yacht Club. Gold Fleet winner was Jonathan Greening of Alamitos Bay Yacht Club. Silver Fleet first was Jeff Tighe of Capistrano Bay Yacht Club. Bronze Fleet First was Susan Minton of Newport Harbor Yacht Club. Iron Fleet winner was Chrissy D’Angelo of Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. The Gold Fleet winner was the top sailor. Others were in descending metallic value.

--Dana Point Yacht Club’s Series Race No. 5, a 28.5-mile race along the coast, was led in B Class by Blaine Rorick’s Lunasea and Jorge Morales’ Mucho Gusto. They were first and third places overall and were first and second in their class. Ron Dumas’ Sling Shot was second overall and first in A Class. DPYC’s Series Race No. 6 will be sailed Sept. 15.

--The Bill Ficker Match Race Series has been moved to the earlier dates of Sept. 6-8. The Ficker series is open to skippers having match-race race experience, except those flying the burgee of Long Beach Yacht Club, sponsor of the race. Also, Skippers must be members of yacht clubs affiliated with the U.S. Yacht Racing Union or a foreign national authority. Each skipper must provide a Catalina-38 yacht that conforms to the class rules.