Small Craft Advisor

Issue No. 67

Great memories of our eight-day coastal cruise in June arrived in the mail today.  Like a bright spot of sailing sunshine on a cold winter day, there it was, the latest issue of "Small Craft Advisor" magazine addressed to SOS.  Inside issue No. 67 is a wonderful four-page article by Steve Earley about the longest and most varied day of our eight-day Tag-Team cruise aboard Spartina and Dawn Patrol.  Steve knows how to tell a good story.  The article is accompanied by six photos. One is a lovely photo (by Steve or Bruce on Spartina) of SandyBottom enjoying her turn at the helm of Dawn Patrol. 

While issue 67 is arriving by mail for subscribers, issue 66 is still on the news stands and on the magazine's website.

Previous posts on Steve Earley's Log of Spartina:

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The cover photo on Issue No. 67 is of a new John Welsford design, the SCAMP  (LOA 10'-12', Beam 4'-5'.)  The name is an acronym for Small Craft Advisor Magazine Project.   Several are being built.  Two are scheduled to race in the 2011 Everglades Challenge.   It's beyond me why the editors wanted to put their own SCAMP on the cover when they could have featured this fine photo by Steve Earley...

Hypothetical cover photo:  Did not happen

What a nice cover that would have been. The issue does include a version of this photo as a thumbnail in the table of contents.


Issue 63 cover photo:  Spartina and Bruce Hollingsworth
on 2009 cruise  [photo by Steve Earley]



Spartina's Skeeter-Beater Cruise in No. 63

Spartina recently graced the cover of issue 63 which contained another four-page article by Steve, entitled "Pamlico Sound in Spartina"...













 

Issue 46 cover photo:
The wa'apa sailing canoe "Fall"
[photo by SOS aboard the twin, "Rise"]

Origins of Dawn Patrol in No. 46

Dawn Patrol's origins can be traced back to issue 46 which featured an article by Randy Marshall about the 2007 Everglades Challenge (EC). New boats appeared in the article, including Graham Byrnes' EC22 Southern Skimmer crewed by Graham and Randy, and a pair of wa'apa sailing canoes, Rise and Fall.

Rise and Fall were built just-in-time for the EC by SOS and three of his friends when they were 20-year-old engineering students at NC State University (NCSU).Building in rented space, with support from family and friends, they were dumpster-diving for materials but cutting out parts in the NCSU student workshop on laser-guided / computer-controlled machines. Donations: epoxy from Duckworks, rudders from CrazyRussian, sails from Brian Weber, seats from DWSB, borrowed paddles, etc. SOS and Matt Hazard in Rise, and Mike Rhodes and Chris Hazard in Fall finished in 1st place in Class 5.

Rise and Fall in 2007 [by DWSB]

Graham Byrnes,  Matthew Layden,  Alan Stewart
aboard Southern Skimmer in 2007    [by DWSB]

Meanwhile Southern Skimmer was also built just-in-time for the 2007 EC and finished in 1st Place among all boats. After the race, Graham gave SOS, Wizard and me a ride on the new EC22 in Florida Bay off Key Largo. It was a beautiful experience and the idea "I want to build and sail one of these!" took root.

A few months later SOS successfully talked me into building a Core Sound 20 in time for the 2008 EC.   I had no choice for two reasons:   SandyBottom was helping him twist my arm,   and you cannot say "no" when your boat-building son wants to spend quality time with you building a boat you know you'll love building and sailing.   Yep, I know I'm a lucky guy.

Now another EC is just around the corner.  The Dawn Patrol, a pair of SCAMPs, and many other sailboats, sea kayaks, sailing kayaks and other innovative new designs will be gathered on Tampa Bay to take on the EC challenge.   And after that adventure in early March, Spring sailing is sure to follow.

A new issue of "Small Craft Advisor" helps warm and brighten a cold winter day.

--Paul