San Diego: fire; amazing bargain; three things about climate

        Clark, whose boat is on the next dock east of GANNET, was aboard when the fire broke out a few weeks ago and took the above photo for which I thank him.  That’s GANNET on the lower right hand side of the photo.

        The fire was intense and quick.  

       

The power boat has some blisters and windows cracked by the heat.  The wind was from the prevailing northwest.  Had it been from the south, the damage probably would have been much greater.  A classic Kettenburg 50 sailboat is tied there with an expansive canvas cover that would have easily ignited.

        As far as I know the cause of the fire has not been established, but is presumed electrical.

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        When I was out here earlier this year I met Dan, a young Australian who recently completed 4 ½ years as a submariner in the Australian Navy.  He had just bought what was my first dream boat, a 33’ Le Comte Medalist, and commented that I was one of the few he had met who had ever heard of Medalists.

        My memory was faulty in that I thought I had desired a Medalist when I was studying ads in YACHTING magazine while I was in high school; but the boats weren’t built until 1961, so I was in college.

        Dan paused while dinghying past GANNET last week and offered to come back and go up the mast to replace an unravelling piece of tape on the end of the starboard spreader.   He did and I am very appreciative.   He also invited me over to see his boat, which is at Seaforth Marina on the other side of Quivira Basin.

        Forgive any mess in these photos.  I walked over unannounced while Dan was working.

 

        Le Comte vessels were aimed at the upper end of the market and have a reputation for being very well built.  Designed by Bill Tripp, I thought they were pretty boats fifty years ago, and I think they are pretty boats now.

        Dan says the engine and electronics are in good shape, and caring for such things is what he did in the Navy, so he knows. 

        He has replaced the standing rigging and a chainplate, and is making some other refinements, but as you can see basically COYOTE is in fine condition.

        Dan gave me permission to disclose that he paid $6,000 for the boat, which makes it the most amazing bargain I’ve come across in fifty years.

        I wish him a fine voyage.

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        Three articles about climate caught my attention this morning.

        I noted that the land we saw from the Southwest Chief was dry and empty.  

        The winds in the Southern Ocean near Antarctica are at a thousand year high.  I don’t know what to make of this.  Possibly the winds in the 40s and 50s are less.

        Don’t buy ocean front property, other than a boat.  

        Sailors are the wave of the future.