Messages

Just checking back in with the Forums....The Singlehanded Sailing Society's first race of the season is coming up on the 26th of Jan....Is anyone else in the Ariel contingent planning on racing? I'm excited about the upcoming season....Hope all is well with everyone....

EBB...
Thanks for your kind words on the Dodger...I am very pleased with how it turned out and I also think it suits the Alberg Lines. It has really transformed the way I live on and sail this boat. I especially like the angle of the two forward windows because it allows me to stand below in the Companionway...look up....and see what is going on with my sails while I am underway. It also makes for a dry ride....More pics to come....

Here are a few pics from our most recent adventure...these pics were taken early on before the wind starting kicking up. It is amazing how the long period ground swell doesn't read very well on these pics...We were beating out the Main Channel and there were breakers on the North & South Bar...I had the full main up with a 140% clipping along between 5.5-6.0 knots. Monitor Windvane Steering...Life is good! As the wind picked up...we reefed in the Main still flying the 140%...Reefed Main and a 90%...and finally a Double Reefed Main and the 90%. I look forward to the next adventure...The last picture in this sequence is my buddy's boat...a Valient 32...Makes you wonder what Che was looking like from his perspective. More pics to come....

Pictures to come....Had a great sail this past weekend out on the ocean. Pretty crazy conditions with 12-14 ft seas and winds ranging anywhere from 15-25 Knots gusting 30 at times. Che handled the conditions wonderfully. We beat out about 30 miles and then had a wonderful broad reach back in. I had no idea how well these boats surf!!! We averaged 7.5 knots on the ride back in...and it was a wild ride...as I mentioned the GPS was showing a consistent 7.5 knots but with a double reefed main + working Jib....we were coming off some waves at 10...11 knots...with our max speed topping out at 13.6knots!!!! These little boats are right at home in the big stuff....and with the Dodger + Weather cloth additions to my boat...It was a rather dry ride...Pics to come...

Had a great time sailing in the Singlehanded Sailing Society Vallejo 1+2 Race...Che made it up and made it back....Resting in Vallejo...Also noticed a fellow Ariel won their division in the East Bay Estuary Race....A Boat Named CAT WALK...Does anybody know the owner? The Boat? If the weather works out...planning on a weekend trip up to Drake's Bay...Should be fun...

Hi Kyle...
We have experienced some gusty winds this summer here in the Bay Area...and I have noticed that when I am underway and need to reef...I simply hove-to....everything mellows out...and it gives me all the time I need to put a reef in the Main...once the reef is in....I simply tack the jib over and continue on my way...My main is set up with Jiffy reefing and it has worked well...Just a thought...enjoy...

Adam

Have Ariel's circumnavigated?

Go Che Go!!!!

A friend captured a few shots out on the water...

Che heading under the Golden Gate....

Bill,
Buddy Boats are always welcome....Any takers? I'm thinking about starting the Alberg Buddy Boat Association (ABBA)...the only prerequisites would be owning an Alberg designed sailboat of your choice, having the desire to voyage in these beautiful boats, and not liking the song "Dancing Queen". Look out for ABBA in the near future....Carl would have dug it!!!:D

Thanks for your comments EBB. Che is indeed coming along....The Galley is really comfortable...the Monitor windvane continues to amaze me....I managed to scrap together a decent inventory of sails....the dodger keeps me warm and dry....and we will be heading down to Half Moon Bay for a little shake down run next weekend. I stopped by your boat the other day, after an all you can eat Indian Restaurant stop, but it was all boarded up. I did notice the Triton a few spaces down from you....as well as that cute wooden boat a few spaces down from the Triton...Any idea what sort of boat that is? More pics to come....

My 5500 pound El Toro....

Tim...
I am also glad to have scored my Ariel...They are wonderfully stout little boats that love to be sailed. Thanks for running the comparison numbers and putting them up on this site. I also feel like the Ariels rank right up there with the Cape Dory 25, Contessa 26, Bristol 27, etc. and other solid pocket/bluewater cruisers. Good luck with your launch and enjoy....

Propane Location For Now...More pics to come...I will be installing my newly acquired LED Tri Color sometime this week...I've decided on going with Handheld GPS Units and a small little Hummingbird Puck Depthfinder for my navigation and depthsounding set up.....See you all soon...