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Petaluma or Bust

As any sailor knows, approaching a bridge with a relatively low — but doable — clearance can really get your blood pumping. Even if the chart indicates you’ll have 20 feet of clear air between the top of your mast and the bridge, from deck level it always looks like you’re headed straight for a dismasting. So imagine the cojones it takes to plan a trip under a bridge with 70 feet of clearance (at mean high water) when your mast sticks up 71 feet! That’s just what Laurie Chaikin and her crew did last month when they took a trip to Petaluma on her Leopard 45 Charleette II.

Approaching a 70-ft bridge on a boat with a 71-ft mast can give you a good cardio workout.

© Laurie Chaikin

"After careful study of tides and discussions with other boats and the harbormaster, we decided to attempt the trip," explains Laurie. "My first mate, Ron Taillon, and I measured from the tip of the mast (including the light and windmeter) to water level: 71 feet. We filled the water tanks — 256 gallons gave us three extra inches — invited a few heavy guests, and motorsailed to the mouth of the river, arriving at low tide.

No matter the actual clearance, the illusion you’re going to hit is always strong.

© Laurie Chaikin

"Once we neared the bridge, we ‘put on the brakes’ and literally inched forward. The crew posted astern watched with binoculars to make sure we didn’t hit. Everyone had already been informed that we’d abort and head elsewhere if it didn’t seem safe, but we made it under with five feet to spare. Afterward, I required some medicinal alcohol!"

Though it looks as if Charleete’s mast is skimming the girders, there was about five feet of air up there.

© Laurie Chaikin

But the crew of Charleette couldn’t relax quite yet. They still had two more 70-ft obstacles to navigate: an overhead cable and another bridge. And all of this was being done at low tide, so the possibility of running aground was very real. "With a 4.5-ft draft, though, I wasn’t so concerned," said Laurie. As it turned out, Charleette navigated the obstacle course perfectly, and her crew were able to finally breathe again once tied up in the turning basin.

"Overall, it was a worthwhile, successful adventure full of learning — boating skills, problem solving, maneuvering — as well as going to new places close to home," reflects Laurie. "Would I do it again? Yes, but not until my heart rate slows back down, which could take a few months!"

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Are you in the ‘zone’ yet? If so, make sure you’re in the right zone, or it will also be ‘tow time’.
If docks could talk, this one would tell us about the hundreds of international cruisers who once took respite at the Pedro Miguel Boat Club.
name: Zechariah Kjaer-Olsen email: [email protected] message: i just had a look at one of your articles on the murder of my father Bo Kjaer-olsen—- More on Panama Murder
July 16, 2010 – Pedregal, Panama—-http://www.