Derrick Thurman sailing with a "higher bar" in mind.

The yellow line on this Google Earth image represents the longest leg possible, by a keelboat, on navigable waters on Utah Lake.

This year, during the 2024 sailing season, Derrick Thurman, has set what is highly likely to be an unbreakable sailing record of laying down 1,503 nautical miles under his keel, as a solo sailor "extraordinaire", on Utah Lake.

As a rough gauge of what Derrick has accomplished, he has made epic transits, usually in heavy weather conditions, while punching through daunting waves and cold winds, the length of Utah Lake (north to south) 100 times. Of course, his actual headings would have been directed by the fastest point of sail to set a record like this, but try to imagine fitting in 100, 15 nm legs of sailing, in one season.

Congratulations Derrick on an amazing sailing accomplishment.  

Utah Lake Sailors 2024 Season

(compiled and edited by Derrick Thurman)

How Many People Have Sailed Around The World?

Who Knew?

Who is Kay Cotte?

Austrailian Sailing Hall of Fame Inductee.

The Best Race in the World

Only 9 months till start.

Christmas Gifting Ideas for your Sailor.

Utah Lake "October Sail Out" participants pulling into Pelican Bay Marina at Twilight.

You probably know our sailing season has been extended to November 14 (?) at Utah Lake State Park. After our October 18th "Sail Out" crossing to Pelican Bay (Saratoga Marina), the 6 hearty solo sailors (maybe more will show up after dark) who made the wet, wild and windy (24knts) crossing were happy to crawl into a warm sleeping bag for the night. Next morning temps inside my boat were 41 degrees. Early  morning stiff breezes out of the north, pushed us back to Provo at a very comfortable and quick clip.

Big time difference from August 2024 Sail Out.

Who is the largest employer of one legged pirates?

(see answer at bottom of page) 

Tom Cunliffe has some worthy ideas on winterizing your boat.

A simple trick I heard somewhere through the years about dehumidifying the inside of your boat during winter lay up:

Place a WalMart plastic colander inside an empty round plastic 1 gallon ice cream container and sprinkle in 1/2 container of Walmart "Driveway Heat" (ice melt), and place this simple, non-electric container in your boat and it will suck the condensation out of the air inside your boat. I've used different brands of ice melt, but this does not work. Has to be "Driveway Heat"

Plug up, or cover the open end of your mast, so birds won't build nests inside your hollow mast.

For gas engines, remove spark plugs and spray WD-40 inside cyliders and replace plugs. Dealerships say replace thermostat.

When is the last time you replaced your water impeller? Keep a maintenace history in your ships log book.

I have never had fuel related problems when using non-ethanol gas. No need for fuel additives like Sta-Bil, etc. But those additives don't hurt, I've just never needed them.

A good time to take off wood trim to re-varnish, re-finish.

Take care of your mast work when the mast is down. Look at sheaves in masthead. Clean mast slot so main will hoist easily in the spring.

Try to remember where your leaks came from and repair where possible.

Think about "bombing" your boat when temps begin to warm up and the spiders, wasps and crawly things start to wake up.

RV antifreeze in sumps and bilge.

Bring your "self inflating" PFD's inside. They have a "wafer" device that degrades when presented to moisture (condensation). Come spring, you may discover some of your self-inflateing PFD's have deployed without having actually gone in the water.

Place duct tape over thru hull openings, and any other openings where wasps may build nests.

I like bringing ships batteries inside during off season, to keep a trickle charge going.

Cover your boat where possible.

End of season items uncovered from deep recesses of our fleet.

If these belong to you, please make arrangements to swing by the Springville ranch to retrieve your long lost thermos. Call Louise to schedule a pick-up time. We are in an early spring cleaning jag. Un-claimed things are going to D.I. December 2.

Pirate employer answer:

I HOP!

When The Ship Comes In.

Bonneville School of Sailing
info@bonnevillesailing.com
801.636.5204