Racing my C34 and upgrade status

[noworries]

I started racing with our yacht club and am having a lot of fun learning how to REALLY trim my sails.  My technical skills advance every race.  Of course then we start to see new issues with our boat.

The traveler clam cleats were toast.  I had spares on the boat so replaced them.
Went over to catalina for the rendezvous and had the bolt that holds the gear shifter shear off.  Replaced both of them and carry spares now.

At the rendezvous I bought some cool stuff from Garhauer. 
1) New rail mounted cleat.  I have no midship cleat, but I have an outside rail, so putting this on the rail gives me a midship cleat!
2) Cunningham - bought a rig for a cunningham, which will have multiple other uses (preventer, handy billy, emergency main sheet)
3) EZ-Glide Genoa system - installing that on Saturday
After the rendezvous I got home... found some more stuff to order.
Found the latch on the anchor locker (one of those perko chrome plated zinc POS) had crumbled.  Ordered a Stainless Steel replacement.
The line on the traveler was pretty far gone, so ordered a replacement (100' of 5/16" line from cajun)
Upgrade the traveler - I asked Garhauer about an upgrade for the traveler.  They have one it's $275.  Since I'm putting new line on it might as well just do it right the first time.  Right now somebody has to grab the boom and pull to assist whoever is adjusting it.
The UV cover on my genoa was shredding, so I removed it and tried washing the sail (won't try that again!)
Feathering prop - a kiwi is on the way, I'm way over propped and want to put less stress on my engine/tranny (and sail faster!)

Still need a new genoa and maybe an asym or drifter... hoping to find something at Minneys, otherwise it will be ordered from national.

My wallet is definitely a lot lighter!

We must have made a good impression at the Catalina Rendezvous, they put our picture on the newsletter... too bad that didn't come with a discount code for Garhauer though!

catyacht by No Worries 29, on Flickr

[Ron Hill]

No : A couple of other racing items you need to think about are a ridged boom vang and a back stay adjuster.

A few other stainless things are hinges for the anchor well and port side lazerette.
 
A few $$ thoughts !!

[scotty]

NoWorries, always more stuff for the Boat Bucks!  Hey, which is your picture?  By the way, I also started racing with a bunch of Catalinas on Tuesday nights here in Santa Cruz.  Boy, I really had my eyes opened about how lax I have gotten on trimming sails for effective speed.  It's pretty causual racing, but a lot of fun.  Anyone in Santa Cruz is welcome to join in.

[noworries]

I'm the guy on the top left (w/ my fiance)

You know I came across the rigid boom vang when reading about the traveler upgrade but I dunno... I think I'm going to wait and see how she sails with these upgrades first.

I haven't had issues with the hinges yet, except for the port lazarette.  The pin on one of the hinges likes to slide out... but I took the time last weekend to hammer it in pretty good so I'm hoping it stays. 

Actually another upgrade I might look at is the hinge/prop for doors... like the nav table, reefer, and port lazarette.  That way I can prop them open easily.

[Craig Illman]

If you would have gone for the rigid vang first, you could have used the old vang for a cunningham with just the addition of the hook.