further adventures of Louise Michel

[bladedancer]

                                                                                                            Boot Key Harbor, jan 17

      I hadn't planned to come to Marathon, or anywhere in the  Florida Keys for that matter. I thought that by now I'd be in Marsh Harbor.  Not sure if I lost my nerve, but after four back to back cold fronts, and talking to other SBLD cruisers,  I began to have second thoughts about trying to cross to the Abacos in December. It didn't help that the little Tohatsu, which has worked perfectly for two years and which ran day after day, sometimes for ten hours non stop, down the ICW, began to cut out....and of course at the most inopportune moments. I think the motor is fine and the problem is the installation - the poor thing is suffocating on its own exhaust. And the design ? if it didn't have such a skinny ass it wouldn't squat so much. But then Alberg didn't design the Ariel as a cruising boat  Problem is where else do you put all that stuff? 

Everyone says  Pearson Ariels are great sea going boats and I'm sure they are. Not sure anyone has actually sailed around the world in one, maybe someone out there knows. All I know is I was not relishing the prospect of fourteen hours of hand steering and being drenched by waves over the bow or over the side which is what seemed likely unless conditions for crossing the Gulf Stream were perfect. And, assuming I/we got across safely, the weather would be much the same, but with fewer all weather anchorages and still  being pinned down by cold fronts for half the week.  Maybe it's that I am older, or maybe global warming really has altered the climate, but I don't remember cruising in the PNW, even going around Vancouver Island, being this hard.

 I thought of going to Cuba instead, getting round to the south west coast, and hopefully  more sheltered cruising, but Daniel didn't want to do that. The prospect of going solo, in this boat, was just too daunting. So, Daniel went back to North Carolina and I came on down to the Keys. I spent Christmas and New Year in No Name Harbor... thinking at times  that I was in Cuba...then moved on to Key Largo and now Boot Key Harbor.
 
I miss Daniel. He and I discovered boating together when he was just a kid.  I remember us being  towed back to port when an early season gale ripped our makeshift blue tarp sail to shreds, sleeping on the beach wrapped in a sail because the wind was too strong to get home. Then, as we became more proficient, and our boats got bigger ? 26' instead of 16',  and with motors - we began to spend summers cruising together in the San Juan Islands and up and down  Georgia Strait.

I'm also enjoying having the boat to myself. For one person as a liveaboard it's plenty big enough.  I'm also enjoying being 'at loose ends'. Even though we took our time the trip down the ICW was a slog.  I'm quite content to just be here, on a mooring, taking care of chores, visiting with other liveaboards and watching the sun rise and set. My FM radio quit and to get internet means a long paddle to the marina. Not having these easy distractions means more time for introspection.... some of which is good and leads to valuable insights, lessons in humility and acceptance and so on. But mostly it's the same old nonsense that's been rattling around in my head for years. I probably need professional help but psychiatrists are even more expensive than boats....

My partner Madeline will be joining me in a few weeks for two months. By then hopefully the worst of the winter storms should be over.  Current plan is to cross to Bimini and then on to the Exumas. Beyond that I'm  not making any plans. I still want to go to the western caribbean in april/may [Jamaica, Honduras, Belize] but that depends on finding someone to go with me.

[Captain Smollett]

And the design ? if it didn't have such a skinny ass it wouldn't squat so much. But then Alberg didn't design the Ariel as a cruising boat  Problem is where else do you put all that stuff? 

Everyone says  Pearson Ariels are great sea going boats and I'm sure they are. Not sure anyone has actually sailed around the world in one, maybe someone out there knows. 

Wow, thanks for taking the time to write that and post.  It is great to hear from you and about your trip so far and your plans.

I do have a question: Is there something specific about the Ariel that gives you pause about her seaworthiness?

They have crossed oceans.  I know there are first hand accounts of crossings on the Ariel forum (or there used to be).  Eric "starcrest" here was one such "long distance" cruiser aboard an Ariel.  I don't think he ever posted his whole account here, but I think he did on the Ariel forum.

In any case, please keep us up to date as you can.

[CharlieJ]

The Ariel is very similar to our Meridian and we share the same problem. She squats by the stern.

Reason is- almost all of her storage capacity is under the cockpit or aft. Engine, fuel , under cockpit storage combined with a fine hull. Plus us there too. Tehani is probably worse because of the 7 foot beam opposed to 8 in the Ariel.

We load 80 feet of chain in the bow and try to keep the bow water tank full. Helps but still lower aft. If we really want speed under power, Laura sends me to the bow

But seaworthy? Bet your buns she is! We've had her in some rough stuff and never worried a bit.

She would be ideal as a single hander, but we spent a quite nice year aboard as a couple.
And look forward to more. In fact neither of us desire a larger boat.

[bladedancer]

Maybe I'm talking more about seakindliness and suitability as a cruising boat rather than seaworthiness. For sure most boats can take more than their crew.  My previous boats, both 26 footers, one a shallow draft, hard chine, centerboard yawl, the other a whaleboat with a ? keel, had somewhat more freeboard and more flared, higher bows. This meant less waves coming over the side into the cockpit and less spray over the bows. They were also higher in the stern which made me feel more secure. Both heeled about 15% when close hauled: on the Ariel it's more like 20-25%. I understand why Alberg designed the boat this way but it makes it much less comfortable if you have to do it for any length of time. The short waterline also means it's relatively slow downwind.
The boats Alberg designed for Pearson all have gorgeous rear ends. But quite apart from the problem of where to put all your cruising gear if not in the stern I do think a fuller stern would mean not having to reef so soon and, if it were higher, would make for a prettier sheer.

[jmwoodring]

Bladedancer, I've been having some of the same issues with my boat. The designer meant to have a lot of the weight up in the bow. Unfortunately, it's not convenient and the cockpit lazarettes offer much easier access. I've been doing my best to think about ways to get weight forward, but have had minimal success. Having a 60lb outboard, fuel and water tank aft makes it hard on proper trim.

[jmwoodring]

BTW, where is your boat anchored in Boot Key? We're going to be hauling out on the other end of the island soon, but it would be neat to meet up. Give me a call if you'd like. 3-6-1-2-3-5-1-3-3-4

[jmwoodring]

Hey Bladedancer
Rachel and I took a ride around the east end of the harbor today and I think that we found your pretty, colorful boat. It takes panache to step outside the traditional "blue and white" that most boats sport and I think your boat looks great and unique. Awesome job.

[hearsejr]

 common tell us the colors! lol. I was thinking of doing a bright orange scheme on my boat one day..lol.

[JWalker]

its easy to add weight to the bow....a few more blonds in bikinis! 

maybe a redhead.......

[bladedancer]

Blondes, brunettes sounds good. Could repaint boat to match bikinis. Perhaps they'd like to sail with me to western caribbean...see my my post in SB/LD section.

[jmwoodring]

That's the best suggestion I've heard yet! Grog to you JWalker!

[JWalker]

Be very careful adding brunettes to use as ballast.....

As everyone knows....the head of a blond weighs less than a comparable brunette...due to the excessive o2 contained inside.

With a brunette you really have to get it right....but blonds you can add and subtract until you have it right 

[Frank]

You guys have it ALL wrong.Blondes-Brunettes..... Look up Bruce Springsteen's "Redheaded women" song on youtube. Having once dated one...nothing more I could add
Side benifit could be an appropriate marker or running light? 

[jmwoodring]

Best of luck to you Mikael. We look forward to meeting you again and will be following you here on SailFar. Perhaps we'll even see you in the Bahamas, though I hope you can find crew to make it to Honduras after all.