Star went for her last sail for 2012 on Sunday December 2nd. A great ending to a great year for Star.
We sailed every month of the year thanks to Sue.
Now it was time to fix the broken stuff(can't do it during sailing season!), and make all the improvements that one dreams about while sailing. "Ya know if I just did this...."
The list would include a "new" traveler, rebuilt from one the yard had after chainsawing up a 34 footer. How is possible that no one wanted that boat?
The genoa is rotten along the out edge, which I fixed but for some reason still looks horrible. I'm either going to turn it into a Yankee, or a jib with the exact same dimensions as the blade jib I built and set both up on the head stay for running down wind with poles. Everyone knows that's the proper setup when in the South Pacific Trades!
A new removable stay set in between the windlass and the headstay, for a small storm jib I have. This will take the pressure off headstay, and jib when it's really blowing and the boat wants to shake itself to death in the gusts. You need something up forward to to help the boat stay head to wind on even tacking in a lot breeze. Just the main alone especially when reefed doesn't work.
Along with the new stay there will be a set of shrouds coming from the same connection point for the staysail stay at the mast down to the rail aft of the spreaders but not so far aft as to interfere with sailing downwind. I never have the main against the rig when downwind - I put too much time into that main to have it wear out on the spreaders etc.
The forward hatch's hold down was busted and the isn't any weatherstripping so I came up with a hold down that actually bolts the hatch down against a strip of closed cell gasket material that should
keep it water tight. Everyone knows how important it is to have sealed hatches when crossing oceans!
The cockpit locker needs the same business, since if the cockpit were to fill that's a huge opening to the innards of the boat. Can't have to much on the outside because its we're we stand and sit. Any kind of fittings will rip into you if the boat took a wave and the crew got thrown against them. What to do, What to do?
The wind vane self-steering will get a new blade for the oar part. The original was just for an experiment and ended up working great. It just goes to show how rough these things can be and still work. The new one will be fiberglass with a strip of stainless welded the the shaft inside the glass foil to make it strong. I will carry the old for back up. I also need to figure out a new counterweight system so I don't have to break down the Bimini each time.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
A Year Ago.....
It's 6:05 as I write this, a year ago I was probably in quite a state considering I was about to leave my home and family to explore the East Coast by water. A twenty six foot boat would become my home for possibly the next year, and maybe more - or maybe less. Who knew?
The important thing at the moment was to not think in terms of years or months but figuring out how to get thru the next few hours, loading the boat, getting off the dock before dark, but most important saying good bye to Sue.
I always promised myself during this whole process that I wouldn't in the very last hours and minutes be in a state of panic and disarray. A seemingly common occurrence amongst those who are about to to leave the safety of home and hearth, and venture into the unknown. Yet here I was, not concerned about toilet paper (really bad choice), or even a tooth brush, but instead fighting to get the dinghy's sail rig into an already full awning tube bag that would only fit on deck for the rest of the trip.
"Why are you taking that"asked Sue, in a way that a person would ask concerned about the sanity of said person. I couldn't answer I just new at that time it was really important.
I'd shoot a glance at Sue who calmly standing on the dock watching me in a frenzy jump from one task to another, had a look on her face that said slow down, there's no rush, what can I do? Here she was sending her husband off for possibly a year. We would meet in Stamford and she would help bring the boat thru New York to Staten Island. There was a plan to meet in Washington after I sailed up the Potomac, then again in Charleston S.C., and again in the Bahamas. But that was weeks, and months away.
It was getting dark and all I could think of was getting over to East harbor in Fishers Island. A place I would daydream about a thousand times in my head while planning the trip. This would be the official beginning of the adventure.
The packing or "throwing things down below" was at an end. It was time to leave. Its strange but since the time that the idea was hatched I never thought once that what I was doing was either wrong, or destined not to happen, it made it possible to just say goodbye to Sue as if I would see her the next day. This would happen thru out the trip, either saying goodbye or seeing each other again after months. It always felt as if only a small moment of time had passed since seeing each other last. I so wrapped up in my own little world, it wasn't till much later in the trip that I would recognize how truly lucky I was to have a place in this women's life.
The important thing at the moment was to not think in terms of years or months but figuring out how to get thru the next few hours, loading the boat, getting off the dock before dark, but most important saying good bye to Sue.
I always promised myself during this whole process that I wouldn't in the very last hours and minutes be in a state of panic and disarray. A seemingly common occurrence amongst those who are about to to leave the safety of home and hearth, and venture into the unknown. Yet here I was, not concerned about toilet paper (really bad choice), or even a tooth brush, but instead fighting to get the dinghy's sail rig into an already full awning tube bag that would only fit on deck for the rest of the trip.
"Why are you taking that"asked Sue, in a way that a person would ask concerned about the sanity of said person. I couldn't answer I just new at that time it was really important.
I'd shoot a glance at Sue who calmly standing on the dock watching me in a frenzy jump from one task to another, had a look on her face that said slow down, there's no rush, what can I do? Here she was sending her husband off for possibly a year. We would meet in Stamford and she would help bring the boat thru New York to Staten Island. There was a plan to meet in Washington after I sailed up the Potomac, then again in Charleston S.C., and again in the Bahamas. But that was weeks, and months away.
It was getting dark and all I could think of was getting over to East harbor in Fishers Island. A place I would daydream about a thousand times in my head while planning the trip. This would be the official beginning of the adventure.
The packing or "throwing things down below" was at an end. It was time to leave. Its strange but since the time that the idea was hatched I never thought once that what I was doing was either wrong, or destined not to happen, it made it possible to just say goodbye to Sue as if I would see her the next day. This would happen thru out the trip, either saying goodbye or seeing each other again after months. It always felt as if only a small moment of time had passed since seeing each other last. I so wrapped up in my own little world, it wasn't till much later in the trip that I would recognize how truly lucky I was to have a place in this women's life.
Friday, September 14, 2012
All bundled up and ready for home
Poor Star, sitting all forlorn by herself in a strange harbor and stranger boatyard, with no one to keep her company.
For the last 6 months the boat never really failed me, the engine always started, the rig stayed in the boat no matter how hard I tried to shake it out of her. In most weather conditions she tracked well, even though the owner snapped off the centerboard (a vital piece for direction stability) the second night out.
And now I left her in the hands of others that may not have the same sense of - well - connection to her that I do. But she's going to come up to New England and have a life up here, between berths in Mystic and Marblehead her cruising ground will extend from the Connecticut shore to the top of Maine and maybe beyond.
We traveled together from Mystic to Dinner Key, and then back up to Titusville, where she now sits waiting for for her ride. From September 14th to March 23rd, not bad for a 27' ft boat with an eight horsepower engine.
Snippets of the trip keep popping up in my head, I suppose thats going to happen for a long time. I do wish I kept a better journal or blog but after a long day the last thing I wanted to do was email an update on an iPhone keyboard with the boat rocking and rolling.
I'll keep updating the blog as I remember things, I have more pictures from the trip on the iPhone to transfer. Oddly enough I have more time now to spend on the Blog.
This is so much easier on the computer.
For the last 6 months the boat never really failed me, the engine always started, the rig stayed in the boat no matter how hard I tried to shake it out of her. In most weather conditions she tracked well, even though the owner snapped off the centerboard (a vital piece for direction stability) the second night out.
And now I left her in the hands of others that may not have the same sense of - well - connection to her that I do. But she's going to come up to New England and have a life up here, between berths in Mystic and Marblehead her cruising ground will extend from the Connecticut shore to the top of Maine and maybe beyond.
We traveled together from Mystic to Dinner Key, and then back up to Titusville, where she now sits waiting for for her ride. From September 14th to March 23rd, not bad for a 27' ft boat with an eight horsepower engine.
Snippets of the trip keep popping up in my head, I suppose thats going to happen for a long time. I do wish I kept a better journal or blog but after a long day the last thing I wanted to do was email an update on an iPhone keyboard with the boat rocking and rolling.
I'll keep updating the blog as I remember things, I have more pictures from the trip on the iPhone to transfer. Oddly enough I have more time now to spend on the Blog.
This is so much easier on the computer.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Evening Revery
There is about a 15-18 knt breeze and a mild chop since its been coming from the east and now south. We have the fetch of the whole Bay.
The boat feels like it has life again, all that time in very calm placid waters of the ICW, very comfortable, but no movement. Boats are made to move.
Without shoes, or shirt I sip my wine and think that maybe now I have arrived. I realize I've said this before and might say it again, but it really is the tropics here. Tomorrow it's going to be 80, and Friday 85, which sounds wonderful, but I don't trust it. A front will come thru, yet I have no worries of weather for now, I'm connected to the earth with a huge screw that goes deep into the bays floor. Well not at least for another 12 or 13 days. Then Sue will come and we'll take off and go see the upper keys, maybe more if the weather is our friend.
I'm in Coconut Grove, part of Miami but far enough away that all you see of Miami is the skyline, which at night is very cool because of all the colors of lights they use on the buildings. Each to its own.
I'm at the moment listening to south Florida public radio their playing Gershwin. I sometimes think our public radio up north has forgotten its roots.
Time for a shirt, somehow in February this breeze still feels good. Above Gershwin I can hear a very unhappy 5-6 year old girl. I think I know which boat it is, I spoke with them on my way in to register for the mooring. They're waiting on crew to show up and then heading to Chub Cay in the Bahamas. Maybe their crew won't show, I'll help. I have time before Sue comes down.
I'm getting a cold, it will be over by the time Sue comes down. I probably got it in Fort Lauderdale, pushing too many pedestrian crossing buttons.
Fort Lauderdale I thought was very cool. If you truly believe in the" to each his or her own".
It was a place of show, whether it was the boats, and yachts. Or the cars, Mercedes, Rolls, Bentley, Lamborghini, Ferrari. The bikes, very loud and all custom. The private jets taking off from the airport, or the helicopters taking off from the back of the yachts.
This a land of great wealth and a huge ego. Why else would you own a 250' motor yacht that's easily three stories tall. Or a power sled that will do 80-90 mph, they shoot out of Miami into the bay and go right back in. Two miles away you can't believe the noise they make!!
I would give anything for me and Nate to go for a ride(it's a guy thing).
I took a walk today in town and went along a beautiful shaded street that led me to the outskirts. There was a small private school called The Ransome school. It has a long past according to the plaque out front and it's beginnings were from private school somewhere in New England. But at sometime the schools name was The Pine Knot. I got homesick for my children but just for a moment, nothing can always be the same.
The breeze is up and it's getting a little bumpier it's still wonderful. The skyline of Miami is in full view, I can't wait for Sue to come down, and see this.
All in all it's a good night for me and Star
Friday, February 17, 2012
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Vero Boardwalk
I'm eating a deluxe cheeseburger at Caseys which is theee place. It's like the Duchess used to be.
I'm going to continue my walk towards the bridge and take some pictures for arianna
Monday, February 6, 2012
Vero Beach Solitude
A nice morning, still a bit salty from the swim(on purpose) yesterday. The breeze was not quite on the nose as the day before so I could just squeeze the main to work. I needed to make Vero Beach because the guides said there really wasn't a place I between to anchor. It was true.
All day was lots of clouds some with light rain but nothing scary... Until about 5 miles out of Vero looking to the south the sky started looking darker and darker, and that was with the sunglasses off
So I first reefed the main, then it kept getting darker, so I took in the jib, and more darkness, then the main came down and was secured, darkness definitey coming my way.
Oh gee(not verbatim) I said forget this and pulled off the channel as far as I could and anchored. If I'm in somebody's way I'll figure it out then!
I waited and waited and it didn't come but what did come was a lot of breeze and some rain dead on the nose. No matter all the sails were stowed.
I set up the inside steering under the dodger, got the engine going and headed for beautiful Vero beach. How right I was!
Where I stayed the next three days was on a mooring in a small harbor with a marina and yacht club. People come in September tie up to dock a or a mooring and stay till April and then head back home. Not bad for about 350.00 a month It's a great place that has gobs of money but more about that later.
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