iDuck is Home

Today was the day that I brought iDuck to Waterford to use as my dinghy. One of her duties will be to provide a platform for me to stand while I repair the hull of The Flatulence. But today, she was a fun sail in the marina. It’s been a year and a half since this little duck got to swim, and she is so happy now.

Sailing in this Waterford Harbor is not easy. There are two-story homes and condos on all sides of the marina. The wind, although it was blowing good today, was blocked by the buildings.  It was fun anyway. I sailed all the way to pier 1 and then back to my pier. iDuck always gets looks and a thumbs-up. There were several that stopped to watch me sail, and I’m sure I will hear comments later.

iDuck has a bright yellow balanced lug sail.  If any of you see me on the water, give me a holler and a wave.  I might not be able to wave back, because she requires both hands, one for the tiller and one for the sheet.  I’m sure she will be out and about on Clear Lake a lot.

Two Ducks and a Goose at Lake Bastrop

It's not often, actually it's rare, that I'm in the picture because I'm usually behind the camera. But, this last weekend I ended up on the other side a few times. Dave was in Duck Soup and I was in iDuck, we were sailing along and I saw that he was filming. I wanted to get my camera out and film him in Duck Soup, but I had both hands full and was busy staying right-side-up.

photos & video by Dave aka Super Dave and Kevin.

Dave also got Kevin in his goose.

Click the link below to see Super Dave in Duck Soup.

Super Dave! PunkSailor.com

The wind was blowing pretty good and the occasional wave made it an interesting sail. Just thought I would share these short videos that Dave and Kevin took.

Sailing Lizards

Dale and I took our PDRacer, iDuck and baby Goose, gOZling sailing on Lake Somerville. We store the boats under a tarp in the backyard. Two lizards had set up house in Dale's boat. When I saw them the day before, I warned them that they might want to stay home, because they might not like sailing. They did not heed my warning. Dale saw them in his boat (the blue one named gOZling) when we unloaded the boats at the lake.

We arrived around 10 am, and the wind was blowing pretty good, about 20 knots. We reefed all the way down, and later in the day when the wind got up a little more, it wasn't enough. The biggest problem we had, was getting launched. We had not sailed from this location before, and did not realize that it is shallow for a long ways from the shore. It wouldn't have been so bad, but the wind was high, and trying to blow us back to shore. My plan was to video while we where sailing. But in these little boats, with the wind gusting, I had the tiller in one hand and the sheet in the other. If I get distracted for just a second, I can end up in the brink. Didn't really want to go swimming yesterday. However, I did turn it over once, but it was in only 3 feet of water. My hair didn't get wet, but everything else did.

The lizards first sail was a rough one, but they made it back to shore safe and sound. The little one pictured above, decided to come out on deck and sun for a bit before returning home. The trailer was backed into the drive and left until this morning. The little lizard was still there. The larger one, had obviously found a new and safer home.

Texas 200 / Magnolia Beach

photograph by Tom Pamperin

Okay, I know, I haven't posted anything lately. Other projects have made it to the top of my "To Do List". But, I am back to working on the Paradox. My goal is to have it 3D by the end of November. We'll see.

But, there is something I have to share. Wooden Boat Magazine published an article on the Texas 200 that takes place on the Texas coast every June. Dale and I did not enter, but we drove to Magnolia Beach and met the boats as they all made it to the finish. We took iDuck, the PDRacer (with the yellow sail) that I built last spring, and sailed it in the bay. Today, we learned that iDuck, Dale and I are all in the two page picture above the article. Wow. I had heard there was a PDRacer in the picture, but never dreamed it was MINE!