Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Spinnaker Peel Inside Hoist From The Bow Gal on a Farr 52

Spinnacker peel on Zamazaan Farr 52

Sailing on a yacht with a symmetrical spinnaker requires the foredeck team, mast, and pit crew to work together perfectly like a well tuned orchestra.

When this post was written in 2017, Zamazaan (Farr 52) attached their Sheets to the Afterguy. Once we updated our rigging a few years ago, we now attach Afterguys to our Sheets. Please keep this update in mind (updated 2022).

A spinnaker peel involves keeping the old kite up so that speed of the boat never suffers, halyard management (inside vs outside hoist), and the bagged new spinnaker on deck. Foredeck team rigs new spinnaker on the same side as the current kite for inside hoist.

Once the tactician calls for a spinnaker peel, the foredeck team asses if the halyards are clear for hoist. In the photo above, we decided to call for an inside hoist and need to clear the starboard halyard. That requires the bow person, in this case me, to climb out the spinnaker pole with the new halyard and bring it around the tip of the pole.

Spinnacker peel on Zamazaan Farr 52
Bringing the new starboard halyard around the tip of the pole and the topping lift (inside old kite). This maneuver is required to not cross the halyards during hoist or douse.
To do this:
- Climb out the pole with the halyard attached to your work belt.
- Once at the tip of the pole, bring yourself and the halyard around the topping lift (inside the kite).
- Climb back down the pole and hand the new halyard to the mid-bow person to manage. Mid bow also handles changing sheets and afterguy for the clew of the new kite.

Spinnacker peel on Zamazaan Farr 52

Unlike a bare-headed change where you would take one kite down before hoisting the other, a peel involves keeping one kite up to keep speed of boat. While the mid-bow person is working on the halyard and changing sheets for the new kite, the bow person attaches the tack of the new spinnaker to harness with a carabiner. Making sure the new kite tack is brought around the forestay before attaching it to the climbing belt.

Next, take the jib halyard and secure it to the climbing harness for safety. Using the climbing anchor attached to your harness, clip on to the foreguy.

Before we go on any further, lets recap:
- New kite brought around the forestay
- The tack of new kite is clipped to climbing belt by carabiner
- Jib halyard attached to climbing harness
- Climbing anchor attached to foreguy

Make direct eye contact with the pit crew who is "on belay" and say, "belay on". Do not start climbing the foreguy until the pit crew is ready to belay. While climbing, keep in communication with crew by saying more tension or give slack.

"Belaying" refers to a variety of techniques used to keep tension on a climbing rope so that in case of mishap, a climber does not fall very far before being stopped by the rope." Spinnacker peel on Zamazaan Farr 52

Once at the tip of the pole, attach the climbing anchor to the pole. The anchor holds the bow person in place while performing the next few maneuver.





Spinnacker peel on Zamazaan Farr 52

Spinnaker peel linked shackles (or handcuffs) are a permanent fixture on the bow persons belt. Take the linked shackles off your belt and attach one side to the afterguy 'D ring' and the other side to the tack of the old kite.
It's now safe to detach the old tack from the afterguy. The linked shackles will hold the old tack in place while working on the new kite. Remove the new tack from the carabiner on the climbing belt and attach it to the afterguy. Once this is complete, update the crew by yelling, "MADE!".

Spinnacker peel on Zamazaan Farr 52

In the above photo you can see the new kite (red) attached to the climbing belt. Note: Attach the new kite to the proper side of your climbing belt.

Spinnacker peel on Zamazaan Farr 52

Here the new spinnaker (red) is hoisted by the mast and pit crew. The bow person remains on the pole during hoist and ready to spike the old tack (blue and white) away.

Spinnacker peel on Zamazaan Farr 52

The crew boss with give the call to "spike" the old tack (blue and white), releasing the kite from the pole. It's imperative to spike away to old tack and not the new kite. To do this, find the linked shackles and spike the tack away. Then remove the linked shackle from the afterguy and reattach it you the climbing belt.

Spinnacker peel on Zamazaan Farr 52

Bow person remains on the pole while dousing the old kite. The new kite (red) waits for trimming.

Here mast and pit crew bring the lazy guy between the boom and the foot of the main sail for a letterbox douse.





Spinnacker peel on Zamazaan Farr 52

Letterbox douse the old spinnaker and new kite is made.

Letterbox douse is used when sailing during heavy weather or sailing with a large symmetrical kite. Take the lazy guy from leeward on the old kite and run it between the boom and the foot of the main sail. When the douse is called, the pit blows the halyard several feet and the bow person spikes the shackle of the tack on the old kite. The sewer person takes the foot of the spinnaker and hauls it down the companionway. Making sure to gather all the foot of the sail before pulling the head down.

Spinnacker peel on Zamazaan Farr 52

Last, the bow person is lowered to the deck and the foredeck crew detaches old spin gear, re-runs lines, and repacks kite.







I will gather more information regarding changing sheets and afterguy, pit crew and mast.





Tuesday, March 22, 2022

SailGP Practice Day on the San Francisco Bay - Vidoes

Sail Grand Prix #sailgp with $1 million top prize!



For better quality, open in youtube. Pixle 5a phone







My little Tiktok video. No need to download the app, just select the white Play Arrow. Let me know what you think about the music selection.

@louisapickering #sailgp #california #sanfrancisco #goldengatebridge #crew #yachting F50 #sailing #catamaran ♬ Astronaut In The Ocean - Masked Wolf




















PXL_20220321_213339101



PXL_20220321_214656638.MP



SailGP









Saturday, December 19, 2020

Entwined Whimsical Wonderland of Lights By Charles Gadeken

Photo credit Jonathan Condit
Photo credit Jonathan Condit

Entwined
* by San Francisco artist Charles Gadeken, will honor Golden Gate Park’s 150th Anniversary.
* Lights will turn off at 8:30 p.m.
* The installation runs from Dec. 10 through Feb. 28
* Peacock Meadow is located by the Conservatory of Flowers and a short walk from the SkyStar Observation Wheel.
* #ENTWINEDSF

Photo credit Jonathan Condit
Photo credit Jonathan Condit

"The Entwined installation creates a whimsical wonderland where visitors can explore paths and sit under a grove of three entwined sculptural trees while practicing social distancing. The trees range from 12 to 20 feet tall with illuminated canopies as large as 30 feet, filling the meadow with changing light. Sculptures comprised of 2,000 LED lights cluster into small flowering bushes at varying heights, further filling the green space with peaks and valleys of radiating light. The variety of lighting effects are inspired by nature and build a sense of awe: Raindrops on the pavement, lighting and thunderstorms, wind blowing tall grass and flowers, and ripples on a pond."
Read more at SF Park and Rec.


Conversations with Charles on a Monday night.


Video By LouLou Pickles

On this cold, but clean Monday night, Charles the artist was at the meadow Tree-j'ing the lights. He's not normally there, so this was extra special. Tone´ got to ask him several questions and even coined the term "tree-j'ing". Tree-j'ing is what Charles was doing with the lights. #treejing like DJ'ing

If you have a YouTube account, please subscribe to my channel @ LouLou Pickels ! I only need 500 more subscribers before I can start making money off my videos again. Currently I only have 56 (ouch). Bummer!








This is Jonathan.
The artist behind these photos!
Thanks for lugging all your gear to the meadow.
Photo credit Jonathan Condit
Photo credit Jonathan Condit






Photo credit Jonathan Condit
Photo credit Jonathan Condit

Exploring by bike is a great way to see the park and get some exercise. We arrived at 6PM to the lovely surprise of a live Jazz band.

Video By LouLou Pickles
I love seeing all the cyclists ride by in the background. So Burning man!

Photo credit Jonathan Condit
Photo credit Jonathan Condit

Charles Gadeken is an industrial artist working in the Bay Area for over 25 years. His monumental interactive public artworks reimagine the world “post-nature” and include commissions from Burning Man, Insomniac Events, Coachella, Absolut Vodka, the Cities of Palo Alto, San Francisco, and Reno.

IMG_20201214_182140

"Once upon a time, Peacock Meadow at Golden Gate Park was home to the colorful showy birds during the late 1890s when the creatures dwelled within an iron-fenced enclosure. The peacocks are no longer a feature of the park, but this patch of grass is still a favorite amongst locals. In the past, the meadow has served as the location for a multitude of events, including yoga retreats, running competitions, and volleyball tournaments."



Share your photos with #GGP150 #Entwined and tag @sfparksalliance @sfrecpark @gadeken_art

Photo credit Jonathan Condit
Photo credit Jonathan Condit








https://www.youtube.com/user/LouLouPickels

Photo credit Jonathan Condit
Photo credit Jonathan Condit

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

For Coffee Lovers Holiday Shopping Guide 2019

Cavalli cafe North Beach
Photo: Cavalli Cafe 1441 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94133


This shopping season avoid big chain stores and think/buy small, mom and pop shops to help local businesses and organizations effectively spread the pro local / independent business message during the holidays... and year round! "Going local with your spending by supporting locally owned, independent businesses causes a "multiplier effect" that keeps more money re-circulating in our community. "

It feels good to support your friends and community, builds relationships and community cohesiveness, and there are perks to shopping small as well. Some of them are:


- Unique gifts - selling their own handmade products, offering yoga and other workshops, getting to know your merchants

- Better, more personalized customer service - small-business employees may have more knowledge of the products and services they’re selling

- Supporting your community - friends business, and puts money into the local economy, residents with roots in the community are involved in key development decisions that shape our lives and local environment.

- Better for the environment. Merchandise is not traveling thousands of miles by ship or train to reach your home. Local businesses consume less land, carry more locally-made products, locate closer to residents and create less traffic and air pollution.

- Small Businesses Create Jobs! "it’s the small businesses that drive our economic growth in the United States. When small businesses thrive, we see more job creation and a booming economy. In fact, small businesses have created over 66% of all new jobs since 1995. They’ve added over 8 million jobs since 1990 — meanwhile, big businesses have actually eliminated around 4 million. Small businesses are also helping to grow the ‘gig economy,’ utilizing contract and freelance workers to help address their needs." grasshopper.com

- Shape our character - Independent businesses help give your community its distinct personality.

Top Reasons to Buy Local, Eat Local, Go Local
American Independent Business Alliance

Below I've put together a list of my favorite drink in the world: Bean Juice! #coffee
I will list shops around the San Francisco Bay Area as well as Lake Tahoe Area! Please let me know if you'd like me to highlight your business! I'd love to support you!


Caffe, Roasting, Beans are the perfect gift for someone who loves being caffeinated!


1. Graffeo Coffee Roasting Company - North Beach, San Francisco
You know it when you taste it. Once you have, no other coffee will do

Shopping local for the holidays

735 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133
www.graffeo.com

Graffeo was founded in 1935 on the streets of San Francisco's Italian culinary capital, North Beach. Graffeo is one of North America's oldest artisan coffee roasters and remains a family-run company passed on down through generations.
 A cherished institution from the beginning, we started by hand roasting our select blend providing aficionados and the first European-style cafes' with rich, dark, fresh roasted coffee beans.

Shopping local for the holidays



2. Caffe Trieste - North Beach, San Francisco
If asked how he does it, “No big deal,” Papa Gianni would say. “Buy the best beans, roast them yourself, and brew each cup like it’s for you.”

shop local

601 Vallejo St, San Francisco
caffetrieste.com/shop

"Our historic caffe location at 601 Vallejo Street (North Beach-San Francisco) was the first espresso coffee house established on the West Coast (1956). “Papa Gianni” Giotta and his family single-handedly launched the Espresso movement as we know it. The Caffe has become famous across the world for its combination of essences: Old Italy, Bohemian poets, art and music, and excellent Espresso."

The Giotta Family’s famous Saturday afternoon concert takes place monthly (go to Music and Events pages for more information). The Caffe serves hundreds of thousands of cups of coffee per year, and along with its sister locations, the Caffes serve millions of cups per year. Caffe website here: Trieste

shopping local for the holidays



3. Caffe Roma North Beach, San Francisco

CLOSED
Updated Dec 2020
For three generations the Azzollini family of Turin and Rome, Italy, has skillfully blended and roasted premium coffee beans for the most discriminating palates. It is with the same pride and care that our family now brings you the distinctive flavors of both the North and the South of Italy.

shopping local for the holidays
526 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133
Welcome To Caffe Roma

Let us roast a fresh batch of outstanding Caffe Roma coffee for you and send it to your door, satisfaction guaranteed. To order via UPS, simply use the order form, call us at 800-296-ROMA (7662), or fax us at (415) 431-8855.

Founded in 1989 by Anthony and Sergio Azzollini, Caffe Roma is built on the experience of three generations of the Azzollini family. Father Sergio came to San Francisco from Italy over 40 years ago to open the first coffeehouse on Columbus Avenue in 1977.

shopping local for the holidays



4. Verve Coffee Roast
The term "Streetlevel" encapsulates everything we do in order to share our coffees with our community. Inspired by neighborhood "street level" cafes of Europe, where community members meet every morning to discuss elements of life over espresso and cappuccinos, the life that happens within our cafes vibrates with a similar energy.

verve

816 41st Ave, Santa Cruz, CA
vervecoffee.com

Verve came to be through the serendipitous union of surf, sweat and a love of life and living. In 2007, founders Ryan and Colby built and opened the first Verve cafe on 41st Ave in Santa Cruz, California. Today, Verve has locations in cities from Los Angeles to San Francisco to Tokyo, but our roots remain planted in Santa Cruz, where we roast our coffee on vintage roasters and enjoy the endless surf of the rugged California coast.



5. Pacific Crest Coffee Company
"Pacific Crest Coffee Company is a bean-to-cup coffee business. We aim to highlight the unique coffee flavor characteristics attributed to its origin, how the coffee fruit was removed from its seed and other agricultural processing factors, how it was roasted, and how it was brewed. We take our role in coffee’s value chain seriously, honoring the care given by those that precede us with roasting that showcases their hard work and produces an excellent cup of coffee." Read more

Truckee Coffee

10736 Pioneer Trail, Suite 13, Truckee, CA, 96161
Call: (530)536-5135 | Email: coffee@pacificcrestcoffee.com


6. Coffee Bar - Truckee
Coffeebar works with local farms to source organically grown produce and eggs. In turn, Coffeebar produces compost and then donates it back to the farms to create a full circle.

Truckee Coffee

10120 Jibboom St Suite #101
coffeebar.com

At Coffeebar we like to have fun with our coffee... just try a Caffe’ Marocchino! BUT, we take our beans seriously. We use organic, C1 Grade coffees. The C1/Specialty grade is the highest level of industry designation in the coffee business. There is not a higher grade of coffee available on the market.



7. Coffee Bodega
3231 Fillmore St. San Francisco, CA 94123
Jackson Bar window in Cow Hollow near Lombard St.

Last but not least, Coffee Bodega! Delicious coffee from small Costa Ricain farmers that roast what they pick. This gives the farmers more income versus selling green beans.

Hand-made in Costa Rica! This farm-to-table coffee "roasted and packed by small farmer cooperatives in its natural environment; a socially responsible approach that yield exceptional coffees that are produced in a sustainable way." Costa Rica Coffee Bodega

coffee

Why? "Coffee farmer cooperatives produce some of the most amazing coffees you’ll ever taste, they have the collective knowledge, experience and resources to produce truly exceptional coffees with the utmost respect for their land."

coffee

I'll even buy your first cup! Let's do coffee!

coffee


One of my fav song as a kid was singing this song and walking our dogs on the old train tracks in Daly City. The train tracks are no longer there, but the music about java lives on! Cheers!

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Rolex Big Boat Series 2015

2015-09-23_01-29-27

About 3 days before Rolex Big Boat Series ( #RBBS15 ) started, I received a text message from a sailing friend asking if I could crew on an Express 37. I looked at my schedule and by the luck of the Irish (I'm not Irish, but I will take their luck) I had all four days off from work. The Express 37 has a dip pole jibe similar to Zamazaan (Farr 52) that I normally crew on, so why not! The Express 37 lost 3 of their normal crew and were in a pinch to find a bow person. I committed to work bow all 4 days.

2015-09-21_08-13-56

Escapade, the Express 37 I was on, heading to the start line on Thursday. Photo by AmyH who was sailing on J105 for Big Boat.

Day one we had 2 great races, lots of wind and some neck and neck racing on the bay. The current was an issue for us as we went outside the Golden Gate Bridge on the second race of the day and as winds picked up to 17 knots.

Race Result for the Rolex Big Boat Series 2015



Great video produced by Over SF of the Rolex Big Boat series day 1 -- Thursday September 17th, 2015. At around 0:55 seconds, you will see our blue hull boat sailing up wind past the marina greens. My next gift to myself is a drones.

Rolex Big Boat Series 2015

Thursday nights party was hosted by Rolex and, once again, we were not disappointed by their munchies! Lovely buffet table of smoked salmon and other finger foods for us hungry sailors.

Rolex hosted the gala for the Farr 40 Worlds 2014 and that was a culinary delight. Well done, Rolex!

Rolex Big Boat Series 2015

The real reason I sail...the free food! Just kidding, but what a lovely selection of dessert. We devoured the petite lime cream cheese and fruit tarts and fresh baked cookies.



Friday, Aug. 18, 2015, the Express 37 fleet (7 boats) had a Treasure Island start. The wind finally changed direction and filled in nicely with eight knots of breeze. After a short delay, race #3 was on with warm, mild wind. Race #4 was a different story as the breeze increased to 18 knots and the current was at max flood. Once again, we had some challenges under the Golden Gate Bridge because of the ripping incoming current. In the above video at 1:01, see our boat with the blue hull battle, tack for tack, with two other Express 37s in a massive flood near the north tower of the GG Bridge. Yacht racing at its finest in the San Francisco Bay.

Rolex Big Boat Series 2015

Friday nights party was hosted by Mount Gay Rum with a slew of food trucks parked in the grassy area east of the St. Francis Yacht Club: Bacon Bacon, Kara's Cupcakes, and some yummy El Sur Empanadas. We stayed at the party until the Mount Gay Rum was gone, the sun had set and the winds had once again died down. Fun night at #RBBS15




Rolex Big Boat Series 2015

Happy team with all smiles!

Hosted by St. Francis Yacht Club, this is the 51st year of the regatta in the San Francisco Bay. One of my highlights from this years regatta was seeing perhaps one of the most famous big boats in the world, Kialoa III, a Sparkman and Stephens designed boat.

"From the mid- to late-1970s and ’80s, the yacht accumulated more sailing trophies and records than just about any other campaign, including an elapsed time record in a downwind Sydney Hobart Race that was held for 21 years. She was recently bought by a syndicate of enthusiasts who formed the K3 Foundation to restore her and revisit many of the races that made the boat so legendary in ocean racing circles. (Kialoa III competed in the St. Francis Big Boat Series in 1976 and ’78.)"

Rolex Big Boat Series 2015

As temps reached 81 degrees on the city front Saturday, the wind was not in our favor. Once again we were put on wind postponement until about 2PM. As predicted, we got our late-afternoon westerly blowing about 6 to 10 knots. We competed in a painfully slow race #4 with inconsistent, mild wind and challenging current. From what I heard later that night at the club, this is not normal weather for #RBBS. Typically, this time of year, breeze is in the high teens or greater.


Rolex Big Boat Series 2015

Day 4 of Rolex Big Boat was a wash. With high temps in the 80ies and no breeze, the race was called about 12PM and we all went to the St. Francis Yacht Club to watch the 49ers vs. Stealers. In the photo above, see the J111 Madmen sitting in glass like waters around 11am on Sunday.

Rolex Big Boat Series 2015

At the end of the day, our boat didn't do very well. As a matter of fact, we took last in our fleet. However, we had fun, we didn't break anything and we left the regatta with good stories and new friendships.

Rolex Big Boat Series 2015

It was a pleasure to see 3 of my friends yachts take first in their class and receive their hardware. These aren’t just any regatta trophies. These are Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner timepieces.

“Excellence is the rarest thing in the world,” said Bud’s owner/skipper Victor Wild, addressing hundreds of sailors from the stage at the Rolex Awards Ceremony. “We came here for that, and we found it."

Congrats to the Atlantic Perpetual Trophy awarded in the HPR class winner Peter Krueger, Double Trouble (no photo) and ORR C Wayne Koide, Encore (photo above).

Rolex Big Boat Series 2015

Congrats! Keefe Kilborne Trophy for the J/111 class Rob Theis, Aeolus.

Rolex Big Boat Series 2015

Check out all the photos here on my Flickr Account

Rolex Big Boat 2015



Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Homemade Energy Bar with Coconut Flour

Homemade Energy Bars #glutenfree

Coconut Flour with Dark Chocolate Energy Bars made fresh in your own home! These are great for a grab-and-go energy food. Easy to make and even better to eat!

Whether you use these healthy energy bars as a pre-workout snack or to refuel and recover post-workout, you'll be getting the nutrition your body needs without all the sugars, preservatives and other unknowns in the store purchased brands.

Why coconut oil ? Coconut oil can reduce your appetite helping you eat less without even trying. It boost metabolism and helps increase HDL (good) cholesterol levels. Healthy, real-food.  If you want to learn more, check out Coconut Research Center.

Homemade Energy Bars #glutenfree

Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cup granola
- 1 cup coconut flour (organic)
- 1 1/2 cup uncooked oats
- 1 cup coconut oil (yes, this will keep your bars moist)
- 1 cup hole hazelnuts (any nut you enjoy)
- 1 cup raw honey (local)
- 1 cup chopped pitted dates
- 1 cup raisin (soak for ten minutes in warm water)
- 3 eggs
- 3 or 4 tablespoons almond butter
- 3 tablespoons sunflower seed butter
- 3 tablespoons flax seed (whole)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- hand full or 2 of dark chocolate chips or break-up favorite chocolate bar into small pieces
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Other options:
- Dried figs
- Lemon rind / peel
- Organic rice pop or leftover cooked rice
- Any dry fruit
- Almond flour
- Any unsweetened cereal
- Crystallized ginger





Tools:
- Cookie sheet
- Parchment paper
- Big, strong spoon
- 2 Large mixing bowl
- Sharp knife


Homemade Energy Bars #glutenfree

Truth be known, I added most ingredients from my pantry that were going to expire or I only had a small portion left. You don't have to follow this recipe to the 'T', but add what you enjoy eating and what you have in your pantry. Cooking is about having fun and enjoying your food!

1. In a big bowl add the eggs, vanilla, honey, coconut oil, almond butter, and sunflower seed butter and mix with a blender or with a big wooden spoon. It will be lumpy. That's OK.

2. In the same bowl, mix in the raisins, dates, and hazelnuts

3. Using the other clean bowl, add all other dry ingredients: Cinnamon, coconut flour, granola, oats, flax seed, chocolate chips or smashed bar (I used Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Imported From Belgium one pound bar).

4. Add the dry mix to the wet batter and stir with the big wooden spoon.

5. Pre-heat oven to about 325 degrees, place the parchment paper on the cookie sheet.

6. Using your spoon, dump batter on parchment paper and press batter down to make a flat 1 inch thick, massive bar. Use your hands and spoon to flatten out bumpy areas. Your hands will get sticky. It's OK. Cook bar for about 30 to 35 minutes. Checking in on the bar after 25 minutes. You do not want to burn the edges.

7. Once cooked, take parchment paper and massive bar out of the oven and let cool for about 30 minutes. Once cold, place on cutting board and cut into fun size bars. You can freeze a few, gift a few to your co-workers, and enjoy the rest. These bars last up to 4 months in the freeze.

These are great with ice cream, too!


Homemade energy bar recipes right here -- Snappyliving.com