A night on the Scamp.

[Doug SC]

Bill and I wanted to do some work on our boats and camp at the sailing club overnight so we could get a bit of practices in before Sunday's Flying Scot Fleet Championship round of races. I took Bill out for a sail on the Scamp and at sunset docked on the club's courtesy dock for the night. Temps got down to 59F that night. We built a fire in the fire pit, followed both the Clemson and South Carolina college football games and talked about a variety of topics of mutual interest boats were at the top of that list. Bill is building a strip Canoe.

We headed to bed about 11 with Bill to his tent and me to the Scamp. This was my first test of the canvas tent I made for the Scamp. I refer to it as a floating puptent. Years of backpacking, canoe and kayak camping has me use to sleeping on the ground or in a hammock, so I am comfortable with the bedding arrangement that I used on the Scamp. I slept well and enjoyed the experience. It was cozy but with enough room to sit up.

They had predicted a 20% chance of rain during the night. I was disappointed when we didn't get that as I wanted to evaluate the waterproofness. I had soaked the canvass completely and dried it in the sun twice to hopefully take care of shrinkage. Once the tent cover was completed, I also used Dry Guy waterproofing. However, it was difficult to saturate the canvas when wetting it to dry in the sun.

Although, we didn't do well in the races on Sunday we had a great day of sailing in 10 to 13mph fairly steady lake winds. I came home exhausted but with a smile.

Ready to launch.
You cannot view this attachment.

Bill at the tiller.
You cannot view this attachment.

View from the cockpit over the top of the tent with the glow of Lexington and sailboats in their berths.
You cannot view this attachment.

Facing the stern in my bed for the night. I hang a Luci light from the tent pole. They are great camping lights.
You cannot view this attachment.

[Riley Smith]

Lots different w/o a centerboard. WITH it is sort of like sleeping with your AMISH betrothed. There's a BOARD between ya!

[Doug SC]

A couple more photos taken at sunset sailing back in for the night at the club.

You cannot view this attachment.

You cannot view this attachment.

 

[Riley Smith]

I've been threatening to get/make a cover for the catboat all these years and have never made it that far. Only a few times in her life would it have come in handy, as an overnight is unusual and I can usually plan around it. The ONLY thing I miss from watching TV is college ball and baseball...All that trash talking is a riot! A nice trip and thanks for the pics. I know it takes an effort to participate and I'm throwing slurs at the lazy ones. I'm currently scheming to go to the beach for a while. Thanksgiving is coming and we always go there for it. There's dock space so the rigging and unrigging are reduced. And besides, the fish are biting still. Right now, it's raining and maybe just maybe, we won't get TOO much off that Rafel or Roberto or whoever he is that has been sitting there for DAYS. It is no longer a hurricane and I can put the boat back in the water