Sailing - Kincora

Stories and adventures sailing Kincora

  • Attention To Detail Is Needed For The Results

    You are out racing, feeling good, but you just can’t stay in the lead group.  What to do?  Well, we have all been there, and I will give one tip that I know the boats winning make a big part of their racing. To start with, take notes after every time you go sailing.  Write down what worked well, and what did not, what needs fixing or replacing.  Be honest with yourself, no sugar coating. Go through the steps why you were having problems.  And this is not only boat speed.  It can be boat handling, weather, crew personalities/skills, tactics,…

  • The Faster I Sail, The More I Relax, Part 2

    Here is my second story about my love for fast sailing.  This has a very different outcome. Both stories make me think of the Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000 Hour Rule. For more on this visit my last post intro, The Faster I Sail, The More I Relax, Part 1. OK, now my Second sailing story from 2012 In 2012 my friend Liz Baylis helped me secure a ride with Buzz Blackett who owns, California Condor a Class 40 designed by Jim Antrim.  Thank you Liz! After a great phone call with Buzz, I was offered a chance to sail on the…

  • The faster I sail, the more I relax

    I would like to share two stories about my love for fast sailing.  Each has a very different outcome, but both make me think of the Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers.  For me Malcolm’s rule has a different meaning.  Not you will Become world-class in any field in 10,000 hrs.  I do not agree with that point.  Millions work for 10,000 hrs at something. That does not mean they will be world class at it? No, it means hopefully they are competent at it.  To be world-class you need to have the passion, deep desire to constantly improve, learn from failure,…

  • How to Solar Power Your Boat

    Would you like to spend less on fuel charging your batteries? Not have to run a generator all the time while at anchor? Well there is a simple solution, add solar charging to your boat. With the right batteries, high quality solar panels and associated gear, you will have a safe efficient system. I recommend Ocean Planet Energy for their knowledge, and great product line. Need help with your DIY or group project on your boat. Go to my contact page. Enjoy this two part series on installing and wiring correctly to ABYC. See you soon, Paul

  • How to Retrofit a Bowsprit for A-Sails

    For racing or cruising owning a nice inventory of a-sails is a great way to improve performance, and ease sail handling. On my last two boats when I was looking for a sprit, I did the rough design work and then ran the numbers. Since we are all on a budget, it made more sense to buy one that was easy to install, and the tooling was built. So both times I went with TroGear and am happy I did. Their product is well designed, works well, and is a piece of cake to install. I do recommend you go…

  • Express 27 Singlehanded Sailing 2015

    Last Saturday we had a snowy cold January day. So I sat down and went through summer sailing footage from Kincora, my Express 27.  Always fun for me to go back through all the footage from the summer trekking. Each summer in late July and early August I take two weeks with my buddy John Manderson who owns an Olson 30, Kristianna.  We start in Jamestown, RI together and have a blast trekking through southern New England, then running up the coast to Blue Hill, Maine.  Each day we choose the best destination based on the weather and race each…

  • Kincora Deck Painting Problems

    Well, I have to eat my words from the last post. I thought one part Interlux Brightside would be fine for the smooth surface on the deck. It did not work for a few reasons.   Let me explain. I went back after the first coat of Brightside and the paint had a reaction with the gelcoat surface.  There were small air bubbles everywhere.  Gelcoat had been washed and wiped down prior and was sanded to 220 grit. But there were bubbles that popped up five min after the tip stroke. Until that five min it looked great. So I…

  • Express 27 deck repainting

    Crazy winter in Rhode Island. Great time to have a heated shop for the boats. Kincora still had her original gelcoat from 1986 which was showing its age.  So a visit to the Spa was needed to make her shine.  The non-skid was very slippery and the smooth color was in need of paint. . I stripped all the hardware off.  This is pretty easy by yourself on a boat this small.  A few tricks with fender washers being loaded up, and vise-grips, and all the hardware came off with ease.  Most of the hardware has barrel nuts so they…

Don`t copy text or photos!