sailFar blogs

It was a dream that over many years turned to an obsession. I would look forward to going to sleep and not want to wake up. Dreams of seas, and adventures in far off lands. Cultures and people to find. It was the one true freedom.

With the passion inside me, the last few years had been dedicated to the persuit. Saving, scraping, and more dreaming. Constant browsing of boat sales, sometimes the same sites, 3 and 4 times a day. Then, it happened. One day, of all unlikely places I came across a cryptic ad, talking about an Albin Vega. No pictures, little detail. Just a name and a number.

Well, I was down in Galveston looking at boats (while Ike wasn't very friendly, it did help out prospective buyers), and recalled this ad. The first 3 I looked at didn't speak to me. What did I have to lose by checking out this large unkown? I made the call ...

As soon as I could see her from the parking lot, I got that feeling. It was the same feeling I get when I dream of my passion. It was like a storm causing the waves inside me to build! On this calm day, as I walked towards her, I couldn't hear the person talking to me. All I could hear was the blowing of the wind, the crashing of the waves. Around me, all was screne, yet inside was a fury. Standing in front of her, all I could do was stare.

Aquila talked to me all right! Visions flashed in my head, all my dreams laid out before me in a blinding picture show! When I stepped aboard her, I had to be sure I wasn't still on the dock. Solid, and firm, a fire shot threw my feet to my head. She promised me the world, if I was willing to treat her like the proud lady she was.

So with that, I purchased Aquila. A 1967 Albin Vega (Hull #176). She was showing her age. Not that the previous owner let her go, but like a race horse that had been stabled too long. She wanted to feel the wind in her sails, and the water racing under her keel. How soon it would come!

The marina she was in was getting demolished, and I had a very short time table to get her moved. Taking a week off work I worked on her 14 hours a day. Finding a new home proved the most difficult. My dreams of living on board her, while still a very real possibility, were slightly dashed when there were no openings up near Houston.

Freeport it is! I found a marina. Now it was up to her. Did this lady have the 36.5 nm in her? With no time to waste, the decision was made.

On Sat Nov 1st, with the rising of the sun, we motored out of the marina. Sails at the ready, we made our way into the channel.

Thats when she showed her true colors. The skipper, foolishly thought he could cut across the part of the bay towards the channel. He even tried this at low tide. Drawing only 3'10" no problems right? Well a sandbar put the skipper in his place. Aquila, begrudgingly let it occure. However, with the poise and dignity of a lady, the skipper was able to remove her from the sandbar and make his way to the channel.

Needless to say, we learned alot about each other. Down the ICW towards Freeport, the channel markers, most gone, they continued. Quite a few more times sandbars were found, and each time Aquila brushed them off as a mere annoyance. In the afternoon, she got her reward. 6 knots of wind right from the beam. Her sails filled, she kicked over to 15 degrees and started to move! There was no groaning of rigging, no gear being shot across the cabin or cockpit. Only the loud scream of "Freedom!"

That day, the GPS showed 6 knots through the water! I found it hard to believe, considering the reef growing on her hull, but the way she was moving, I couldn't be sure.

Now, in her new home in Freeport, and winter work list together, I will be paying my dues. Follow along as her restoration takes place! This grand lady will be the "Belle of the Ball" once more!

It was early Sunday when I woke up via the alarm. I let LZ sleep as long as possible. She was still sick from yesterday. She had started getting a fever later in the evening and feeling sick. I let her sleep while I prepared for an early cast off. There was a light wind blowing I was feeling hopeful about making it home under sail. This was the first morning I had not done my Zazen since starting the practice. I wanted to get going on time more so with LZ under the weather, so I just set about the tasks at hand to cast off. Now I had several things to think about, getting home before the lowest tide point, having enough wind not to use the motor, the motor not dying when I needed it if I had to use it, having enough enough gas, getting in late an leaving early I only had the gas on hand at least 4 gal. That meant 4 hours of motoring, other than that no pressure... Yoshi :-)

I set things up to cast off, checked, planned, rechecked, re-planned, double checked, finally I was off. I slipped out quietly from the dock under full sails, like a moon shadow on the water. I ghosted out into the Estuary and slowly slipped away up the river toward Jack London square. About 15 min into the sail the winds got weird. So I fired up the motor. I figured I could run for 1 hour out of the Estuary with no problem even if it quit early once past jack London the winds are usually better and I could sail. The motor held and I easily motored out of the Estuary into the Bay. I was going with the tide so that helped the foggy early morning ride.

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Once into the bay I had a fairly good sail, slow but moving until I got close to the Bay Bridge. Bridges are always the problem seems like. Today was no different, the winds were light to the point of not being there, also I was against the current at this point. yuk! after drifting, sailing and making little to no head way, even losing some at some points I again fired the motor up. I did this several times for as short a period as possible. I'm thinking this is great, NOT!! I'm here in the place that gets bragged on by the local as great winds, yet when I need them there is next to nothing! The bay gods must hate me. Finally around the slot as hoped for there was wind, not great wind, but wind enough to move me at 2 sometimes 3 knots. whooohoooo!

Finally I am near the Richmond bridge. From past experience, this area sucks for wind in the morning. Today was no difference, we ghosted along, on almost glass like water. The GPS read .5 knots, .4 knots, once in a while a flash of speed at 1.0 knots. ETA at home port via GPS was 1:00am, not good. Again I took the chance and used the motor to get us under the bridge, then cut it. We had the tide pushing us at that point and a small bit of wind. We blazed along at 1.5 knots!!

I practiced patience and rode it out for the next 1-2 hours. We inched along. It was another form of zen practice. I did not do meditation that morning but this was it as we floated, drifted along. Seemed more like the current carried us than the wind pushing. This went on for seems like forever...finally there was a breath of wind, and we went up to 2 knots... for a while. Then more motoring. So far things were holding and running fine, other than the wind for which I said multiple prayers. The good part of this, as there is some sadness in joy, a Zen master told me. With that thought, there is also in some joy in sadness. Nothing purely one or the other, symbolized by the Yin Yang symbol. Here the good is, the ride was so calm, LZ being sick was able to sleep and get some rest.

Little by little, slowly slowly, I approached Point Pinole which is about 1/2 to the Vallejo bridge. From there it is another 3 hours or so with fair wind sailing or 2.5 motoring with going with the tide, which I would be for a while but not once pass the bridge about that time it would change. However most of the time there is decent wind due to the tunnel effect of the mountains and the heating up of inland drawing in the cooler Bay air. Finally we reach near Point Pinole and my prayers were answered. There were winds, we started slowly with 2 kt speed, then 2.5. We were able to sail past the Point Pinole Pier at 3 knots. I was delighted, so much I had a glass of wine, chip and salsa to celebrate. My only meal of the day. I did not know how long it would last but for the moment it was great! We moved closer to home and less time motoring if that was needed. It turned out it was not needed. Whoohooo! Slowly our speed picked up with the wind I was able to hold a broadreach for the next few hours at 3. to 3.5 knts. Now we were sailing...

Things little by little got better as we closed in on the bridge. This time I was able to sail under the bridge, with a full wing on wing configuration one point. COOL! We were making good time. hitting 3-4 knots of speed in places with still no gybe for the last several hours. Sweet!

Once under the Vallejo bridge and past, I did several gybes with the increased wind. I opted for a deep broad reach rather than a wing on wing I had had enough stress for the day. Finally we reached Benica we were in home waters and bearing down on home port with sails full and had not used the motor for the last 3 or 4 hours. We were in good shape and near the end of the trip. Waaaaaahoooo! Yata!.

Once outside the Marina, I tried to setup to sail in to the Marina, I thought that would be cool since I left Alameda that way. However my approach was wrong and the wind was strong enough that I needed make several maneuvers to re-set myself up for a sail in. It was not worth the hassle . I fired up the motor and we motored in the the slip, where after a quick thank you God prayer _/|\_ . I put s/v Zen to bed. it was 5:30 pm. We had been traveling since 6:30 am. It was a l-o-n-g day. I ached here and there and I was looking forward to dinner having not eaten all day except for chips and salsa.

This trip marked the 1 yr anniversary of my meeting the Islander group. I attended the gathering last year via land yacht since I had to work. We joined them as members later that year after attending a couple of other functions of theirs. Interestingly LZ met her new best friend via the group. She was visiting here from Japan with her boyfriend when we met them at the same place we just came from. She is also from Osaka and these days they spend several late nights chatting via Skype since her friend has returned to Japan. I have met many nice folks there with the group, but none in the realm of a best friend, acquaintances is a better word. Never the less it is nice to do boat stuff with them and everyone is nice and sometimes go out of their way to be helpful. Maybe one day I'll get a bud out of it.

Overall the trip was a success, also stressful, relaxing, tiring, fun. LZ got a better taste of sailing under different conditions and a taste of being sea sick. The Dodger worked out well and was a blessing, the transmission repair and adjustment I did worked great. I made the decision I would invest in a outboard motor to hang off the stern. It would be worth it for the peace of mind of a backup, and use for a dingy. I heard several other stories of folks with engine problem, including one other couple who had problems getting to the event. Even with the very high likely hood of us giving up our condo and moving over to the Bay, most likly Alameda Island, it would be a good thing to have a back up motor, even if we did not have to make the day long tiring, beating battles to the Bay. All in all, perhaps more so since we are back, safe and in the time planned it was a worthwhile trip on several levels of experience...Yata!

It was a cloudy chilly morning in Alameda. I awoke fairly early and did a small bit of zazen in the quiet of the morning, whilst LZ slept. Afterward I went out to the clubhouse to check out things.

There was a marine flea market in the parking lot that day. So I walked around checking out things. A few interesting items, but nothing I wanted to buy, except a 33lb bruce anchor, someone was already buying. No matter I was not there to buy anything that cost that much. If I had found a bracket for the dodger or a bronze cleat I would have picked that up. I ran into Brad who I always see at these events. He had a I29 at one time and I just missed buying a full cockpit enclosure from him. I did end up buying some time later the current dodger I fashioned on the boat now. Which by the way was great having, otherwise we would have had some very wet moments on our trip down to Alameda.

There was also breakfast being sold there in the parking lot. Which I scouted out for LZ, before heading back to the boat. Once I got my big camera and her out of the bunk we headed back to the Parking lot for breakfast and another look around since a few new people had setup shop in the lot.

The rest of the morning after breakfast was spent doing this and that. I took some pictures. I had Mimosas with visitors of one boat.

I setup a sun shade from the Ecoflag banner to promote Eco awareness. I chatted a bit with the other boaters and new arrivals.

I sat on in the cockpit and checked on email, while LZ worked on her photo album. We brought along two laptops. But I did not bring my trusty Mac, just another PC, since I had no extensive plans to do real work other than to check, facebook and email. I also took a nap feeling the warmth of the sun once it came out.

At 1:30 after helping with the docking of another arrival, we went to the clubhouse to listen to a talk about islanders, from a guy who once had the largest islander dealer in Texas. He had nothing but good things to say about the boats and the builders. He did say which was news to many of us there is that, the Islander corp did not fold due to the luxury tax problem of year ago, but due to embezzlement but a very smart woman who was the Comptroller of the company.He said about the 29's as they were before his dealership time. :-(

After the lecture a fun race was organized. There were few takers, other than Big John who always races. I was asked but said, nooo. Then I was asked if I would crew I said sure. The boat I was on ended up having four people. However there was no main sail and only a jib on the boat. Hmmm ok, So I said I'll be the photographer. Sweet! Oh, also we were on the smallest boat a I-28. I small boat with only a jib and a full crew.

There ended up being 4 boats in the race. surprisingly we ended up 3rd with the handy cap. WOW!. I did get some great shots, I think. If anyone reading this is interested in seeing more pictures from the weekend they are being posted on the islander 36 site open to anyone to view.

After the race it was social hour. We took out chips and dip up to the bar, with the other folks. The islander group put out some GREAT appetizers!!, we sat at the snack table and ended up so full it felt like we did not need dinner, which was being BBQ'd up as we sat ate and chated at the appetizer table. That was a good plan, we were right there and did nto have to keep getting up to get more, we just had to reach out :-)

Dinner was afterward. everyone had grilled hamburgers or chicken or hot dog. They made me a special Mahi Mahi fliet and I had a bid salad to go with that. Yum, a bit salty but good. there was a special cake for desert with the Islanders events shirt and poster done right on the top. It was impressive and good tasting , not too sweet.

Around 8:30 or night things broke up , some with upstairs to the bar, some went back to the boats as did we. I started to prep for the trip home, which had been creeping in and out of my thoughts all day. Wondering about the motor. I pumped out three buckets of water from the bilge, that will need to be my next project. I'm glad I did not chance to wait until we got back before emptying it.

I got everything in order for a early sail in the morning. I planned on leaving by 6:00am and sail as much as possible. The weather report called for 6 -7 mph winds, at all points through out the day. I thought I'd would be in good shape for a sail home since it was all downwind, except for the beat out of the Estuary. I figured I could motor the 1 hour out without any problem, once past Jack London the wind is generally strong enough for me to sail out, slow but I could get out under sail...that was the plan...

It was an adventure, more than I had hope for, less than my concerns!

Friday morning 10:30 am we set off. It would have been better to leave at 3:00 as I had thought, but we did not. As the forecast had called for decent winds, and we did not really need to be there by dinner, I figured hmmm ok, we'll do the 9:00 cast off. Which after doing this and that, turned to 10:30.`

Once we left the marina and reached Benica, the battle began. I planned on motor-sailing to the Vallejo Bridge, then sailing. It should be about 1- 1.5 hours. It took almost 3 hours of fighting the wind and current to make it to the bridge. Once there I could breathe a bit. Things calmed A LOT, by that time the current was slack, so we got under the bridge and out with less of a struggle.

Once on the other side of the bridge I was able to turnoff the motor and just sail. I thought, wow, was that worth it!!?!?! It would have been simpler to drive, not much fun so far, that was work. We able to sail now for about 1 hour, while I rested from the constant tacking and stress of the beating to the bridge. Then motor sail again for about 1 hours, as the wind was not really that good. After another hours the winds picked up nicely and we had a great sail up to the brothers islands , now I'm thinking yeah now this is what sailing is about, cool. At that point we started getting major chop once at the Brothers, it got to be slow going again, fight the chop, and the wind. I did not want to arrive at 11:00 pm to the Encinal YC in Alameda which was our destination. So again I fired up the motor and helped the sails, to get us past the bridge. The bridges always seem to be the point of difficulty!!

Once past that, things calm just a little, and we sailed again on a close reach for Treasure island and the Bay Bridge. LZ is starting to get a bit sea sick now from the chop. We are making good speed, about 4-5 knots, I figure to get there a bit sooner now, since it is near sunset. The boat is sailing well. not at all a bad motion for the wind and waves it was hitting. I fire the motor up and we are getting along close to 7 kts. The GPS says we will get there to the YC about 6:30, sweet! Around Berkely the motor says, Hmmm, I'll take a break here and stops!!! OH SNAP! Not again!! Ok, no panic, I have an extra coil, and we have plenty of wind. We can sail into the estuary. Once there and avoiding a large container ship, we slowly made our way down the Estuary under sail on a broad reach. I remembered the fueling dock at Jack London square and pulled in there. We the angle I was on, I had to use the dock to slow me down a bit as I could not see very well where we were, so even under just jib I needed to bump the dock to slow us. Later I found a nice long scratch there, Doh I forgot to drop the fenders, but it is only paint so, chisai koto, no biggie.

I hooked up the new coil, I spent 40 some dollars for, which i did not have...and the motor did not start !!! Oh Snap!!! Now waht. I did not have my circuit light tester with me. Yuk. Ok, I pulled the lead wire from the coil and had LZ turn over the motor , I checked for spark... none. I popped the distributor cap and checked for spark at the points... none.

I tried to remember the the order of the spark development. Coil to distrib, or distrib to coil. Darn darn darn, I put the old coil back in the system, maybe I'm thinking the new coil is the wrong one that is why. The old has started in the past after about 2-3 hours of sitting. I though that moving it to a new location would have helped but it did not. I had not eaten all day I was hungry. I said to LZ let's eat and I'll think about what to do. I figured we would have to spend the night at the fuel dock, and many get help in the morning. Then I thought, I'll try this one more, turn the key and it fired right up. Ok!! We're out o here I said, we'll eat later. I raised the Club members on the radio, and told them I was coming in, I was only about 5 or 10 min away from the YC docks. They were there waiting for us. After finding out our dock spot, I did a parallel parking move in between two big Yachts, in the dark it is now close to 9:00pm. Several of the members helped with the dock lines and get us settled in before they all went off to bed. Yata, we made it. I said a silent prayer of thanks and we settled in for dinner and bed after a few welcomes and quick tales on what happened to those who met us. So ended day one, we had a good night sleep of sorts. Mine was trouble as I listened to the sound of the stuffing box leak drip, faster than it should into the bilge, in the quiet of the night, and creeping thoughts of the return trip home...

すごいむすがし !!!

I went in Sat. for my BK 2 instructor audit. I chose to take it on the weekend to get the sense of how things work on the weekend, the busy time. The sky was gray, however it was the normal Bay Area gray not the gray from the smoke of a thousand fires. It was cool and foggy. It was fairly busy but not as much as I was expecting.

I was a bit surprised when I walked in the office and asked for the instructor I was going to be with today and the guy replies, "oh, you're Zen right" whoa I thought, he must have read my blog, I forgot about that. The instructor staging room was crowded, with the instructors getting ready for the classes. We had a briefing from the lead instructor on the plan for the day. It was interesting to see how though separate we still functioned as a group.

Next it was down to the boats, after a quick pit stop for me. So we set off. The Bay was somewhat calm... somewhat... It did pickup soon, within a hour it was up to about 10 - 12 knots. Still fairly light for the Bay. So now the the training really began for me, once out...I was suffering!

The training was not like sailing training, that was there ofcourse. However it was Martial Spirit & Physical training that was the real challenge. Reminded me of the Kyudo/Zen retreat, only cold and wet this time. Sort of like meditating while sitting under a water fall, whilst someone is shaking you up and down.. ok, I'm being dramatic...somewhat :-) I had to sit/stand in the back with the instructor, since the were 5 of us on this small cockpit boat. The cockpit drains also let IN water as wella s out! So if I stood in the cockpit, I stood in water, soaking my feet with cold water. If I sat cross leg on the lazerete (sp) I was in the way! If I sat on the rail with my feet up, my bum got sore within minutes, from sitting on this little metal bar. If I stood there was only the small backstay to hold on to in order to stay upright and ON the boat. Rule number one for sailing , Stay on the boat! Not easy when the boat is bouncing and heeling. It was a challenge I really had to Ganbatte!!!! It was Shugyo renshu! Cold, wet, uncomfortable, I was really glad I thought to bring a sweat shirt and a wind breaker. I took it as long as possible with no windbreaker, I did not want to move around and disrupt the group. Finally I broke down and went below and got my jacket, it helped somewhat at least with the cold. I was SOO glad when it was lunch time. Hot soup, hot chocolate and food helped.

After lunch it was foul weather gear for sure! YOSHI Zen-san Ganbattemas! ! We headed out again the group needed to practice the MOB drills. Now the wind had picked up more with a fair amount of chop. It was a rough ride hanging on to the back rail now with the rail many times in the water. Finally I figured out if I rode the boat like a surf board, it was more bearable at times... I had said before, sailing is like life...Buddha said life is suffering...Sugoii ne! I was really living! :-) Everything is training, good, bad and uncomfortable. Anyway others survived... Watashi mo, Yosh!

A good idea came to me, there should be some type of attachable seat in on the stern. It could be attached and detached to the Stern Pulpit. It would not only make the instructors more comfortable, I could see other instructors struggling with standing and holding, or kneeling, or however they could work it. It would also be much safer for them to have a pulpit sit on. Well, At least I think so.

I see I will need to invest in some other sailing gear. Sailing Boots, maybe my own foul weather gear, nice I can get a discount. Tomorrow... it's the silk thermal underwear, slip-on boots, the holistic motion sickness salts, and foul weather jacket at least for sure for the morning sailing practice. Longer Zazen in the morning before heading down to the marina! YOSH!

Day II Aduit

もいよかた　おわい!

Sooo, I guess yu are wondering how it went the next day ne! Did Zen-kun survive, fall over board, snap...

The day started off somewhat the same. Well I planned better today and dressed better, thermo top, then the standard long sleeve stuff, (Doh, I just remembered I forgot my OCSC instructor shirt..)Yeah, dressing like it is winter basically. When I arrived, I decide on yet another plan of action. Instead of my comfortable suspender type PFD, I opted for the standard issue full vest at the club. I figured it would be another layer of warmth. It was a good plan and worked. For the morning it was perfect. In the afternoon I added the foul weather gear. It can be surprising how cool it gets on the Bay , when everywhere else is Hot. Then I can a cold wimp. I will need to invest in some high-tech fiber sailing clothes, I'm sure it will be a worthwhile investment.

Ok, so the morning sail, went well. The wind was fairly low so the ride was more comfortable. Not great but comfortable, it was a good day to be out. I was able to grab a few video shot, QUICKLY!! Mentally I was more ready this time , that helped. a couple hours later the wind was up again, but now I'm used to it. I'm like in the mind zone of "Fu" training now. Tai hen! This is how it is, deal with it, suck it up and carry on. Sort of like, "walk it off" in Football. I'm still thinking a small seat would be nice for my sore Bum though.

Ah , lunch time, and on the way to the dock, the outboard dies, again, like yesterday. We sailed in to the dock. Lunch was good, simple, but good. My group was at a table that was full so I sat with another. It is always a learning experience sitting and listening to the senior Instructors. The boats, the J24's there at the club have more things to deal with than just regular old cruising yachts, Cunningham, adjustable backstays, the like. Stuff I have not dealt with much. So it was good to listen to the why and whatfors they talk about. Good education.

After a short lecture on MOB approaches from my mentor for the day we get ready to head back out for the afternoon practice. We have a bit of a change, one of the students drops out , due to sickness. so now we are four, I feel back for him, but good for me...that means room. It is also good for the other students, they get more helm time. I put on full dress gear as the wind has picked up, the outboard once again fires up and we are off.

There is more motion and wetness sitting in the companion way, but at least I can brace myself when the rail is in the water. The afternoon, goes well, I pickup some good information from the instructor on MOB drills an how dealing with the current and waves on the Bay change some the the way things needs to be done. Night and day from doing it on the Estuary, under calm winds and seas. It was a good day of lessons. Once one goes through the classes here on the Bay, you have a good foundation to sail most pleasure places and some not so pleasurable moments and places.

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