Flotsam & Jetsam

Your letters and such...

Regarding Dave Zeiger’s article Why We Sail Engine-Free, readr Edward Haile wrote:

This is so good it ought to be published hard bound gold stamped. Hats off to Dave Z. My own two cents, oft repeated, is: GOD INVENTED HELL. IT DIDN'T WORK. SO GOD INVENTED OUTBOARD MOTORS. AND THEY DON'T WORK EITHER.

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After our poll about most used knots, reader Tom Luque sent the following description of one of his favorites:

When boating alone and you find yourself wanting to pull out from a tight spot on the dock or the wind or current is against you you will be glad to learn how to use the “Getaway Hitch,” also known as the “Highwayman's hitch.” Beware, there are different versions on youtube that are not good to use. My video is here.

Using my reference photo, the left end is attached to the bow and the right end of the line extends into the cockpit.

When ready to leave, release the stern dock line while the engine is running lightly forward and the stern will swing away from the dock.

When the stern is in the right angle to clear obstacles, reverse the engine and pull the forward dock line to cause the slip knot to break apart, and you can pull in the bow line.

You have to test this breakaway hitch with different lines, because some are too stiff and won't release and some lines are too soft, and will fall apart too easy.

Don't be sloppy, firm up the hitch.

I have used this hitch for 12 years on my Potter 19 and larger sailboats.

Here is another version that is very good, but requires the release end to be short, which is ok, just tie a sheet bend to it to extend to the cockpit.

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Regarding Eric Miller’s article Chasing Diego, contributor David Peebles writes:

The Salish Sea—Puget Sound, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Strait of Georgia, plus parts of the outer coast of Vancouver Island—show many Spanish place names—islands, coves, points, etc. I tried to research the Spanish activities here, and ran into an obstacle: the Spanish government apparently regarded all reports of exploration as strategic, confidential information, and archived them. By tracing these names on a map or chart, you can figure out the extent of their explorations.

It was fortunate that George Vancouver and Quadra shared an anchorage at Friendly Cove on the outside of Vancouver Island and became friends. Later, they together explored inside, mainly in the Strait of Georgia, and beyond.

This is just a brief sketch, and many others were involved.

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On a mostly unrelated note, just for fun I’ve launched a podcast called American Miles. While the podcast isn’t about boats, they do make appearances. The first episode features an interview with Neal Moore who canoed across America (and who we interviewed here at SCA).

I would love it if some of you listened, followed, and left good reviews to help get it rolling. Thanks! —Josh

Here is the link at Spotify:

And here is the one for Apple Podcasts:

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