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| January 2006 |
Is This the Famous "Whale Boat"?
Hi. My name is Craig Patton and I'm restoring a Valiant 40 that is rumored to be the "Whale Boat". Among Valiant lore is the story of a whale holding and making love to a V40 for many hours. The Valiant folks tell the story to extol the strength of the hull or it's beautiful shape. Anyway, my Valiant 40 is in Boulder, Colorado. I had it transported here from Maryland a couple of months ago. The former owner told me this whale tale, but was unable to produce the article he had saved. I've just heard from him and he said it was in the August 1985 issue of 48 North. The article is titled "A Whale of a Tale". My boat, V40-151, s/v Papillion, original owner was H. Klingermaier, after restoration will become s/v While I Can. Anyway, I am wondering if I can get a copy of the article, or maybe even the issue. Can you help with that? I've attached a photo of the boat facing west, toward the foothills of the Continental Divide. Thanks, Craig Patton Looks like that's the comely Valiant that attracted the ardour of the lovesick whale. I called Bruce Hedrick, who was skippering the boat on the delivery to St. Thomas, where it was to be put into charter. The boat's name was Papillon and the other details you provided definitely point to it being the "whale boat". We've sent you a copy of the story. Stan Dabney of Atlantic Offshore Yachts is supposed to be the man who knows the history of all the Valiants, so if you contact him he may be able to fill in some of the time between St. Thomas and Colorado. Should be interesting. Thanks Boat Insurance Agency and Priemier On August 31, our boat Out & About was destroyed by fire in the Gig Harbor marina. The boat was insured with Premier Marine through the Boat Insurance Agency in Seattle, Washington. We, my wife and I, would like all those who worked so hard at the Boat Insurance Agency in Seattle, and Marc Aller, the surveyor, to know how much we appreciated the complete follow through - keeping us informed, and answering all our questions and the prompt settlement along with the personal care. Working with all of you certainly made this loss much easier to handle. You really showed a caring attitude. Thank You, John and Shirley Paquet Beginning to Build the Bahama Thanks for running my letter in last month's issue, I did get a response from someone with the information I needed to begin construction. Thanks a lot! Tony Orchard Vernonia, OR Terrific. Now that empty hull and deck can turn into your sailboat. Montgomery Sailboat Owners Link Just a quick note to invite you to visit my new site. Over 100 pages and almost 700 photos and stories of trailerable sailboats. I hope you like the site enough to mention it in your publication in an upcoming issue. Thanks Bill Lamica Nice site. It's under Clubs: Montgomery Sailboat Owners Group. There are quite an amazing number of links on our non-commercial links page, some of which aren't valid anymore. We're trying to cut out the duds but could use some help. If anyone finds a site isn't active anymore, let us know so we can zap it off the lists. Our Traditional Christmas Sail 
Always enjoyed your Magazine. This has inspired my poem so thought I'd send you a copy. Happy holidays. Gina Marion Hunter 280 6 year liveaboard Shilshole How is this, our traditional Christmas eve? I asked my boating buddy, Steve. I recall only doing it once, and that was last year. Not a great memory, getting hit by a deer. Actually a ship with the Rudolph name Like a ghost, out of the fog it came. It fooled me too, that orb of red Not Rudolph's nose, but a bowlight instead. Well, believing in Rudolph is embarrassing to say So is getting awash by a big ship and tossed into the bay. Some quick thinking mariners saved us then. It's not foggy now, that won't happen again. Lets just put all of that in the past And start our Christmas eve sail at last. But Steve said, "I got you a gift." I said, "Me too." "Open yours first." he said. I said, "No, you." "Wow, a nice warm scarf." said Steve "Good to use on this a cold Christmas eve." With a quizzical look he asked, "You knit that yourself?" Self-consciously I said, "It was made by an elf." For me a tidal chart 2006, that'll keep me afloat. "That's a great gift." said Steve. "Since you have a boat." Finally we were under way That glorious, moonlit night on the bay Merry and singing a Christmas song, We were delusional, thinking nothing could go wrong. A JOLT! Certainly nothing good could come from it Shook our boat hard, real hard. What did I hit? A boat, a log... Oh! NO! The shore, what bad luck Wouldn't you know it, we were really stuck. Oh goodness, how did I get in this fix? I thought I had consulted tide chart 2005, but, alas it was 2006. Well, if we got to where we wanted to go, We'd be watching a wonderful Christmas show, and then enjoying a yummy turkey meal, Instead of basking on this rock, like your friendly harbor seal Since we're stuck in this embarrassing way Steve, give me that warm scarf is all I can say. When the tide will flood, we'll get off of this rock quickly as possible we'll tie up to a dock. So we can send you good cheer Merry Christmas, and Happy Happy New Year. Traditionally speaking that is. What is this crap about metres? What is this crap about metres? This is the US is it not? We use feet, miles, inches, and gallons still? i.e."current thrusts the 200-metre depths of Georgia Strait and Boundary Pass over a reef lying barely 30 metres below the surface." "At 30 kilometres from Sidney, getting to Narvaez Bay presents little navigational challenge." Bluebill Verdi Chaco Canyon, N.M. Well BB, I suggest if you're going to sail in the Northwest you need to broaden your horizons. The San Juan and Gulf Islands share a lot of nice water which makes sailing very nice, but also feature a lot of rocks and reefs that can make sailing very bad should you plant your keel on one. The articles you site are about places in Canada and Canadian charts are in metres, so best learn the system.
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