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Pompano
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Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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"Sitting on the Dock of the Bay"
(title change because it's a great song and it fits...)
I've had a couple sloops in Baja...not exactly a yacht, but hey, great for those bay siestas...zzzzz
...and always wanted to move up to a 2-masted schooner. Then I saw her in San Diego Bay. Nice lines...just want I want.
Finally got her! I was lucky to find her 'on the hard' and at a good price. Co-pilot calls first to check, then we're off to a golf course water
trap. There's nothing like sailing!
[Edited on 3-25-2014 by Pompano]
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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BeemerDan
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Location: Port Orchard Wa
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Is that a model of "America" of America's cup fame?
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Pompano
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Good eye, BeemerDan,
Model of the 139 foot 'America' that won the historic, Royal Yacht Squadron’s “100 Guinea Cup” race around the Isle of Wight in 1851. The trophy was
donated to the New York Yacht Club to be held as a challenge trophy, which came to be known as the America’s Cup.
Co-pilot has a call in for Dennis Conner to come join us at the pond to captain our 2-masted beaut, but no return calls as yet.... 
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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Leo
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Registered: 9-23-2004
Location: Todos Santos
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Mood: could be better
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Try some kiwi captain or crew, they might get you going even faster.
The grass is always greener....
and so, there is always a better spot in Baja
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Islandbuilder
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Posts: 555
Registered: 11-9-2011
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Pompano, your model and the (replica) schooner in the photo are of the same boat, the American's Cup victor, America.
And, I believe, it (the larger one) is owned by Conner and used for day sails in conjunction with the San Diego Maritime Museum
In other news, I hope to be Baja bound in the fall of 2014 with our 90 year old (built in 1924) power boat for a winters season in the SOC.
Our main engine is a 1923 Atlas Imperial, the oldest running Atlas known to exist.
[Edited on 3-20-2014 by Islandbuilder]
[Edited on 3-20-2014 by Islandbuilder]
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fishbuck
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I was a deckhand on the schooner Spike Africa during the schooner race of the America's Cup held in San Diego. We did sailing charters for the
America's Cup and then had fun at the schooner race which was in the bay. Worked as a deck hand for a few summers when I was on layoff from Boeing.
Santa Barbara to San Diego and all points in between. What fun!
Was 1st Mate on Argus out of Newport for a summer too. A Baltic trader donated to the Boy Scouts. A Square Rigger.
Also have sailed on the Californian a few times as a passenger and as a Docent (volunteer crew).
Love a big wooden schooner when there is a lot of wind. Nothing else compares.
Last I checked Spike Africa is here in Washington at Friday Harbor. Would love to sail on it again!
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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Islandbuilder
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fishbuck, The Spike is tied up right behind me!
We will be running day trips and overnights in the islands this summer on Westward, and running our other old classic, Catalyst, in SE Alaska for her
usual summer charter season.
If you're getting up this way, let me know!
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fishbuck
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Islandbuilder
fishbuck, The Spike is tied up right behind me!
We will be running day trips and overnights in the islands this summer on Westward, and running our other old classic, Catalyst, in SE Alaska for her
usual summer charter season.
If you're getting up this way, let me know! |
I'll make a special trip!
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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Islandbuilder
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| Quote: | Originally posted by fishbuck
| Quote: | Originally posted by Islandbuilder
fishbuck, The Spike is tied up right behind me!
We will be running day trips and overnights in the islands this summer on Westward, and running our other old classic, Catalyst, in SE Alaska for her
usual summer charter season.
If you're getting up this way, let me know! |
I'll make a special trip! |
It would be great to meet you! I'm leaving for Alaska on April 27th, but will be back for 4 weeks from mid-June through mid-July to get the other boat
started on its summer program before handing it off to another captain and returning to Alaska.
Busy busy!
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DavidT
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Sailing San Diego bay one evening we crossed paths with Dauntless, a 1930's staysail schooner.
One of the women on board asked what makes it a schooner, the owner of the boat told her a schooner has a big stick in the rear.
Immediately her boyfriend turned to her and said "See Honey, you're a schooner."
David
Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by fishbuck
I was a deckhand on the schooner Spike Africa |
When Bob Sloan owned her? That was a while back. I knew him in Newport Bch.
I saw on the San Diego news that there's a bar/restaurant in Old Town called Spike Africa.
I had never heard the story behind the name until I just looked it up.
Here'tis:
http://www.spikeafricas.com/the-story/spike-africa-the-story...
"YOU CAN'T LITTER ALUMINUM"
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fishbuck
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I didn't know Bob Sloan. I sailed with his wife, Monika. But of course, I know the story.
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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Capkcon
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Spikes daughter, Dana, was A.B. on the R/V Thomas G. Thompson awhile back at UW. Probably still there.
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ElCap
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And Spike's son Kit lives up that way in Port Townsend, and is also an accomplished sailor and shipwright.
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Pompano
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Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Good information on Spike Africa...I didn't know all those details. We've eaten at that restaurant in downtown San Diego, but never knew the history.
Great stuff about "The President of the Pacific."
I've sailed/cruised in Baja on the tri Meshack 38, cat Bright Wing 52, and a F-27 Super Fox with a skipper who had won the Two Man around Catalina
Race in that trailerable trimaran made by his company, Corsair Marine.. builder John Walton & designer Ian Farrier. Sadly, John died in 2005 in
an ultra-light airplane accident near his home in Wyoming.
[Edited on 3-26-2014 by Pompano]
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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Islandbuilder
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Kit works at Haven Marine in Port Townsend.
Old boat world is pretty small, isn't it?
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fishbuck
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Islandbuilder
Can you fill me in on how Spike Africa made it's way to Friday Harbor?
I'm guessing that Monika Sloan sold the boat after she remarried. She married a rich doctor from Newport that was a partner with her in the boat for a
while.
Then I heard it went to San Diego and worked for a bit. Not sure after that.
Was curious and found it online at Friday Harbor about a year or 2 ago.
Do you do day sailing with it now?
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
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Spike Africa - 'The President of the Pacific'
Found some photos & info of the man and boat for you...
Length on deck: 62 feet
Length sparred: 79 feet
Width of Beam: 15.5 feet
Draft: 8.5 feet
Engine: 150 HP Detroit Diesel 6-71
Hull Speed: 11 knots
Gross tonnage: 43 tons
Member Vessel: Pacific Northwest Schooner Association
Spike was built in 1977 in Costa Mesa, CA. Her designer, builder and original owner, Bob Sloan, was a prominent skipper, a shipwright and a leading
figure in the working boat industry of the Pacific Ocean. Bob designed her after the iconic freighting schooners of two hundred years ago that are
her forbearers and named her for his friend and mentor, Spike Africa, the self-proclaimed “President of the Pacific Ocean”.
She is the last coasting schooner with a proud history of carrying America’s goods across the world’s oceans. Her every detail combines beauty and
grace with sturdy seaworthiness.
She starred in the 1990 film "Joe vs. the Volcano", and has appeared in the television shows "Baywatch" and "Hotel", and numerous national
advertising campaigns.
'Spike Africa' has served as support boat for some of the most important 1970’s and 80’s yacht races, in addition to winning honors in her own racing
career. It appears she has been an active charter schooner in Friday Harbor in the San Juans since 2009. It must be a real pleasure to own and sail
such a classic and timeless vessel.
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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fishbuck
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As you can see from the photos the boat can carry alot of sail. It can be sailed fairly easily by 2 crew, captain and a deck hand. 3 is better.
Part of the lore is that Bob Sloan could sail the boat single handed. And that included raising the main and fore gaffsails.
He must have been a very strong man. Wooden ships and iron men as they say...
Trivia question. Does anyone know what the orange colored sail between the masts is called?
[Edited on 3-25-2014 by fishbuck]
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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| Quote: | Originally posted by fishbuck
.....
Trivia question. Does anyone know what the orange colored sail between the masts is called?
[Edited on 3-25-2014 by fishbuck] |
I'll hazard a guess....main top-gallant staysail?
Laundry?
[Edited on 3-25-2014 by Pompano]
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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