We took the sails off the furlers on Saturday. With very light wind it
was easy to flake the sails on deck and get them bagged. Now the long
wait for spring begins.
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Volvo Ocean Race!
I have been following the Volvo Ocean Race. My hometown favorite is
Puma, but they did some damage to their boat this leg, so they have
fallen behind. Here is the link if you want to follow along:
http://www.volvooceanrace.org/
Puma, but they did some damage to their boat this leg, so they have
fallen behind. Here is the link if you want to follow along:
http://www.volvooceanrace.org/
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Winterizing
It's that time of year again, and Silence is gradually being put away for the winter. She has antifreeze in all of her freshwater systems now. The sails are still up, with still a small hope of one last sail, but it's probably not meant to be. We will likely pull the sails down this weekend.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Cruising Cats
After sailing a 40 foot cruising cat for a week, here are a few
thoughts: the cat didn't perform any better than our cruising
monohull. In 15 knots of breeze we saw 7-8 knots on a beam reach. This
cat pointed better than expected, probably due to the largish keels on
each hull. However, the keels brought the draft to 4.5 feet. The
really great thing about the boat was the privacy and space afforded
by two pontoons. Anchoring is trickier in a cat, when the anchor rode
gets taught, the cat tends to spin and the chain ends up under the
boat. Our solution was to keep the chain slack until the bridle is
hooked on and taking the load.
thoughts: the cat didn't perform any better than our cruising
monohull. In 15 knots of breeze we saw 7-8 knots on a beam reach. This
cat pointed better than expected, probably due to the largish keels on
each hull. However, the keels brought the draft to 4.5 feet. The
really great thing about the boat was the privacy and space afforded
by two pontoons. Anchoring is trickier in a cat, when the anchor rode
gets taught, the cat tends to spin and the chain ends up under the
boat. Our solution was to keep the chain slack until the bridle is
hooked on and taking the load.
Ali in all, I prefer sailing a monohull, but for a cruise with friends
in the islands, the cat is a fine choice. It was fun learning how to
sail a new type of boat.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Delayed in Miami
We are still in Miami, our 5:30 flight has been delayed for mechanical
problems. The airline is being cagey about the prognosis.
problems. The airline is being cagey about the prognosis.
Snorkeling
Our best snorkeling sites were No Name Cay and Sandy Cay. We saw every
kind of reef fish that I have ever heard of. We also saw a 6 foot
Nurse shark and a ray. Lots of coral, and clear water. My favorite was
the Parrot Fish.
kind of reef fish that I have ever heard of. We also saw a 6 foot
Nurse shark and a ray. Lots of coral, and clear water. My favorite was
the Parrot Fish.
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Hopetown Today
After a week on the boat, we are back in Hopetown harbor. We will be
turning in the boat tomorrow, and then fly out of Marsh Harbour on
Monday. It's been a great week of sailing and snorkeling and visiting
with friends. We covered all the distance from Green Turtle Cay in the
north to Little Harbour in the south. We are relaxing this afternoon
at Dick and Libby's place, and we plan to all have dinner together
tonight. See you all soon.
turning in the boat tomorrow, and then fly out of Marsh Harbour on
Monday. It's been a great week of sailing and snorkeling and visiting
with friends. We covered all the distance from Green Turtle Cay in the
north to Little Harbour in the south. We are relaxing this afternoon
at Dick and Libby's place, and we plan to all have dinner together
tonight. See you all soon.
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Nippers!
Today we rented a boat and went through Man-O-War Cay, then on the
Guana Cay where we had lunch at Nipper's. (Power boats are fast!)
We had Conchy Burgers and fries, and a very potent frozen Nipper's
Juice. Then we swam off the beach, then raced a thunderstorm home. We
got wet from the storm, then did some snorkeling off Porgies Rock,
near Hopetown. There is a wrecked truck on the bottom which attracts
more fish than I have ever seen on a single dive before. Tomorrow we
will go back to Marsh Harbour and will pick up our Moorings charter
boat for the week. I don't know if I will have any internet access
after that, so this just might be our last entry for a bit...
Guana Cay where we had lunch at Nipper's. (Power boats are fast!)
We had Conchy Burgers and fries, and a very potent frozen Nipper's
Juice. Then we swam off the beach, then raced a thunderstorm home. We
got wet from the storm, then did some snorkeling off Porgies Rock,
near Hopetown. There is a wrecked truck on the bottom which attracts
more fish than I have ever seen on a single dive before. Tomorrow we
will go back to Marsh Harbour and will pick up our Moorings charter
boat for the week. I don't know if I will have any internet access
after that, so this just might be our last entry for a bit...
Conch
Yesterday we went to lunch (by boat, of course) at the Sea Spray
resort, down near the south end of the island. We at fried conch for
the first time. The taste is very similar to calimari, very tasty.
Later we motored up to the north end to see if we could find some
conch near the beach. We didn't have any success with the conch, but
we did find the skeleton of a sea biscuit which was in good shape, so
we collected it. We also stopped by the Hopetown museum to see some of
the local history. We were a little rushed to get to lunch, so I hope
to get back and look at some of their books on the local Bahamian
sailing craft.Today we plan to take a boat up to Johnny's Cay for some
snorkeling.
resort, down near the south end of the island. We at fried conch for
the first time. The taste is very similar to calimari, very tasty.
Later we motored up to the north end to see if we could find some
conch near the beach. We didn't have any success with the conch, but
we did find the skeleton of a sea biscuit which was in good shape, so
we collected it. We also stopped by the Hopetown museum to see some of
the local history. We were a little rushed to get to lunch, so I hope
to get back and look at some of their books on the local Bahamian
sailing craft.Today we plan to take a boat up to Johnny's Cay for some
snorkeling.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Lighthouse
Today we took the dinghy to the other side of the harbor to the
Hopetown Lighthouse. The view from the top was excellent! This
lighthouse is one of the last that still uses kerosene for
illumination, and is hand-wound using a descending weight attached to
a clock like mechanism. It's nice to see old, simple technology still
working and doing something useful. This afternoon we are relaxing,
and we plan to have several of Dick and Libby's friends over for
dinner. Tomorrow, maybe a little more snorkeling...
Hopetown Lighthouse. The view from the top was excellent! This
lighthouse is one of the last that still uses kerosene for
illumination, and is hand-wound using a descending weight attached to
a clock like mechanism. It's nice to see old, simple technology still
working and doing something useful. This afternoon we are relaxing,
and we plan to have several of Dick and Libby's friends over for
dinner. Tomorrow, maybe a little more snorkeling...
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Bicycling
Today we rented bikes for $10 (which might be more than these bikes
were worth!), and pedaled our way to the south end of the island.
There we swam at Tahiti Beach, and waded in tidal pools where we saw
urchins, a 6 pointed starfish, several small conch, and an enormous
hermit crab. We skirted thunderstorms on the way back, but found
enough time for ice cream at the Snack Shack. Tonight, we are off to
dinner with some of Dick and Libby's friends at a local watering hole.
were worth!), and pedaled our way to the south end of the island.
There we swam at Tahiti Beach, and waded in tidal pools where we saw
urchins, a 6 pointed starfish, several small conch, and an enormous
hermit crab. We skirted thunderstorms on the way back, but found
enough time for ice cream at the Snack Shack. Tonight, we are off to
dinner with some of Dick and Libby's friends at a local watering hole.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Snorkeling and Bingo
Yesterday we went out to a reef next to Man-o-War Cay, and saw coral,
lot's of fish, including yellowtail and maybe baby baracuda, and lot's
of others that we couldn't identify. In the evening we went to Captain
Jack's for Bingo night. Suzan won the first round and made $50, then I
won the next two rounds at about $150 each! After picking up the check
we still cleared a couple of hundred dollars... Today we are going to
work on Dick's balky outboard, take a walk, and then see what we feel
like doing next...
lot's of fish, including yellowtail and maybe baby baracuda, and lot's
of others that we couldn't identify. In the evening we went to Captain
Jack's for Bingo night. Suzan won the first round and made $50, then I
won the next two rounds at about $150 each! After picking up the check
we still cleared a couple of hundred dollars... Today we are going to
work on Dick's balky outboard, take a walk, and then see what we feel
like doing next...
Monday, July 28, 2008
Hopetown!
We arrived safely in Hopetown yesterday, and we are enjoying warm
(hot) conditions. Light wind today, but it's cool in the shade. Dick
and Libby's house is a beautiful island home, right on the water. We
get into town by using the dinghy from their dock. We are planning to
go out for a little snorkeling this afternoon.
(hot) conditions. Light wind today, but it's cool in the shade. Dick
and Libby's house is a beautiful island home, right on the water. We
get into town by using the dinghy from their dock. We are planning to
go out for a little snorkeling this afternoon.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Miami
We arrived in Miami with a bang; one of the tires blew on landing. Not
a big problem, but a small delay. We are sitting on the tarmac now in
a turboprop, waiting for some weather to clear. Marsh Harbor is the
next stop.
a big problem, but a small delay. We are sitting on the tarmac now in
a turboprop, waiting for some weather to clear. Marsh Harbor is the
next stop.
Monday, July 21, 2008
July Wind
The breeze on Saturday was blowing 20 knots. We went out for a sunset
sail and headed across the Bay, close hauled into the south wind.
After a picnic in Lake Ogleton we sailed downwind, back to the harbor
for the 8:30 bridge opening.
sail and headed across the Bay, close hauled into the south wind.
After a picnic in Lake Ogleton we sailed downwind, back to the harbor
for the 8:30 bridge opening.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Hobie Cat!
My friend Jim bought a Hobie Cat 18 this week, so we were eager to
spend some time sailing it. We entered a catamaran race last night,
down on the West River. The winds were light and eventually failed
altogether, so we ended up paddling about a mile to get back to the
ramp. It was a DNF for us, but we got the boat working properly and
got some good practice. Now we are looking for a good 15 knot day!
spend some time sailing it. We entered a catamaran race last night,
down on the West River. The winds were light and eventually failed
altogether, so we ended up paddling about a mile to get back to the
ramp. It was a DNF for us, but we got the boat working properly and
got some good practice. Now we are looking for a good 15 knot day!
Monday, July 14, 2008
Daysail
We went out for a quick daysail yesterday. It was blowing 20+ knots,
so we elected to reef as we headed across the Bay on starboard, up to
the Bay Bridge. Coming home was an easy downwind run.
so we elected to reef as we headed across the Bay on starboard, up to
the Bay Bridge. Coming home was an easy downwind run.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Memorial Day Weekend
We enjoyed fine weather this weekend, as we sailed on Saturday to Broad Creek off the Magothy, to meet our friends aboard Mainiak. We had 10-15 knots from the north coming out of the Severn, but the breeze faded within an hour, and we motored through the bridge, and into the Magothy. We noticed that there were very few power boats out this weekend, so perhaps the fuel prices are really keeping people at the docks. It felt more like a weekday on the Bay than a big holiday weekend.
On Sunday, we sailed out of the Magothy on a close hauled course, a single tack right through the entrance gate of the river, but once outside in the Bay, the wind faded, and so we motored south to the Rhode River. We hoped to position ourselves for a downwind run on Monday. Our friends aboard Cinnamon rafted up with us and we enjoyed a fine meal at sunset.
On Monday morning, the winds were strong from the south, 15 knots and more. The forecast was for gusts to 25 later in the afternoon. We enjoyed a sleigh ride downwind, running along at 8+ knots of boatspeed, all the way to Tolly Point. Near 1AH we gybed over to port, and made our way into the harbor. The run from the Rhode took less than two hours.
On Sunday, we sailed out of the Magothy on a close hauled course, a single tack right through the entrance gate of the river, but once outside in the Bay, the wind faded, and so we motored south to the Rhode River. We hoped to position ourselves for a downwind run on Monday. Our friends aboard Cinnamon rafted up with us and we enjoyed a fine meal at sunset.
On Monday morning, the winds were strong from the south, 15 knots and more. The forecast was for gusts to 25 later in the afternoon. We enjoyed a sleigh ride downwind, running along at 8+ knots of boatspeed, all the way to Tolly Point. Near 1AH we gybed over to port, and made our way into the harbor. The run from the Rhode took less than two hours.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Spring
Last weekend, I started the engine and generator, and everything is running fine. I was hoping to have crew this weekend, and to go out and hoist the sails. Unfortunately, all of my crew went awol, and I had to content myself with swabbing the decks. At least she'll be clean for her maiden voyage of the season.
I had some trouble today finding the big oil filter that is used for the engine. (It's a Fram PH977A, a tall boy.) I did a google query, and found it on Amazon. It seems odd to buy oil filters from a bookstore...
I also ordered some PoliPrep, the stripper for Poliglow. This year we are stripping and starting over, after about 8 years. Poliglow has been great for us, and I highly recommend it if you have a chalky, oxidized hull. So many people in the boat yard stop and ask about what we are doing, that I should get a commission for selling this stuff.
I had some trouble today finding the big oil filter that is used for the engine. (It's a Fram PH977A, a tall boy.) I did a google query, and found it on Amazon. It seems odd to buy oil filters from a bookstore...
I also ordered some PoliPrep, the stripper for Poliglow. This year we are stripping and starting over, after about 8 years. Poliglow has been great for us, and I highly recommend it if you have a chalky, oxidized hull. So many people in the boat yard stop and ask about what we are doing, that I should get a commission for selling this stuff.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Spring
Well, the vernal equinox has passed, and April 15th is coming up. This can only mean one thing: it's time to get the boat ready to sail! If the weather is good, I plan to go over this weekend and start the engine, and bend on the sails.
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