I had talked with Rusty about sailing on the Scamp, he sold me 5 years ago. He was interested in seeing what I had accomplished in the restoration and additions. I tease him about selling me A Leaky Boat. I am surprised he hasn't replied with a wisecrack about the sanity of someone that would buy a leaky boat. I guess he's nicer than I am.
We had a great time. We were on the water a little after 11:00. I let him man the helm much of the day. We had 10-12mph winds with gusts, so I put the first reef in as the winds were expected to pick up with a chance of storms. He needed to leave around 4:30 so we planned to be back at the dock by 3:30-4:00. We sailed out to Goat Island on a port tack. When we were close to the island we switched to a starboard tack and headed over to the Jim Spence Islands. The water was bumpy from the long fetch the wind was blowing from.
We turned back as the Clouds were building fast. We were on the downwind run nearing goat island when high winds hit us as the rain started coming down. That wind front caused the Scamp to want to trip over the centerboard which I promptly raised. the boats behavior settled right down. We got soaked and cooled down which was actually welcomed. We both had on lightweight quick drying cloths and PFDs. We managed to sail out of the storm as it pasted. Then the wind dropped to near calm. We had about an hour to get back on schedule, so I started rowing. I rowed for about 20 minutes when the wind picked back up enough to sail back to the dock. It was the kind of day with good sailing and spiced with a bit of excitement that puts a smile on your face.
Today the forecast was with good wind again but a greater chance of bad weather at race time. Indeed, we sat under the patio while it rained with lighting this time, so we talked sailing and headed home during a short break in the weather. Some days you get to sail and some mother nature has other plans.
I didn't happen to take any photos on Friday but found this older photo of a reef in the lug sail on a windy day.
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Wonderful! I haven't sailed since October. My wife's breast cancer, my forearm injury, very busy church schedule (including 5 funerals this year).... Just haven't made it out. That 70th bd trip is still on hold. North Channel, Pensacola, nothing jelling right now. Still walking regularly. 3 miles three times a week. I added a weighted vest a month ago. It makes a difference. Some weight work twice a week.
Thanks for posting!
Doug, I was confused by your description:
Quote from: Doug SC on Jul 11, 2026, 07:33 PMThat wind front caused the Scamp to want to trip over the centerboard which I promptly raised. the boats behavior settled right down.
Guessing this apparently happens on a down wind run. Could you describe those characteristics a little more fully? How does it "trip" over its own centerboard? And why does raising the centerboard resolve the issue?
Still learning about this type of boat and it seems there are still significant gaps in my knowledge.
I intend to compete in this years Columbus Day Cruising Regatta and as the smallest boat in the fleet, I will need all the help I can GET!! :P
Thanks,
Charles Brennan
This puts it better than me explaining things.
"When sailing downwind with the board down, water catches on its front side as the boat rolls or yaws, generating a sudden lateral force. This acts like a brake, tripping the hull to windward and violently forcing the boat into an accidental jibe or a capsize."
When racing the flying Scot after we round the weather mark, we raise the centerboard and sheet the jib in and then raise the spinnaker. When I started taking part in the racing is when I learned about raising the board downwind. You would have thought my board would have been up, wouldn't you. It would have been around the mark but being focused on the storm...anyway that's my excuse.
The Scamp seemed fine with board down until it wasn't. As the storm hit us the wind and waves both rolled and yawed the boat and that is when I remembered the board was down, but it was only after the Scamp recovered itself that I got it up. I had not experienced this happening before. It was quick and violent and bless the Scamp for staying up as if nothing out of the ordinary. I have been hit by a storm before, but I wasn't sailing downwind when it happened.
I think most of the time sailing downwind you could get by with the board down. With a spinnaker up or in rough water and windy conditions I will have board up sailing downwind. I guess I should just get in the habit of raising it on downwind runs. Plus, you are faster downwind with it up. Then you have to remember to drop it when you change course. Don't ask how I know about that point.
Rusty didn't know about raising the board sailing downwind when this happened. When I explained why he said he was sure he would remember this from now on. I forgot to tell him you also have to remember to put it back down.
Yeah, if you don't put it back down you'll run right out through the marsh at the end. Don't ask my how I know :o