Introductions / How did you find sailFar.net?

[phil416]

Hi David; Yes that would be myself.  I was rafted up on D dock along with several French boats.  My mural ( a Colorado Flag) is also on D dock.  Originally this voyage was to be one year, but I fell in love with Portugal and the Azores.  On Oct 5 2008 Deep Blue returned to Pria da Vitoria from Sines (cinch or sin itch) on the mainland.  My wife and I spent June touring the central 5 islands.  Deep Blue wintered over at Pria, while I returned to Colorado.

[phil416]

     Sorry I hit the wrong button.  I do not have a web or a blog, as I am nearly computer illiterate.  I hope you toured the central islands as they are a premo cruising ground.   Yes the central Chesapeake is a great place to find neglected Good Old Boats.   Phil

[Captain Smollett]

     Sorry I hit the wrong button.  I do not have a web or a blog, as I am nearly computer illiterate. 

Hi Phil,

If you would like to post all your stories here on sailfar, you can start a thread on the Small Boat, Long Distances board; then, CapnK can put a link on the main sailfar home page, and that can be your "blog."

It's as easy as posting messages, and we can help you with posting pictures if you want to add some.

Count me among those who'd like to hear more about your travels.  Your path is one I've contemplated many times, and I do have my sights set on the Azores and mainland Portugal.  Aside from US coastal cruising, that's my #1 destination, with hope to end up from there in Ireland.  Learning to sail to someday voyage to Ireland was what got me motivated to buy my first boat.

[Tim]

Count me among those who'd like to hear more about your travels.

Me too!

[maxiSwede]

     Sorry I hit the wrong button.  I do not have a web or a blog, as I am nearly computer illiterate. 

Hi Phil,

If you would like to post all your stories here on sailfar, you can start a thread on the Small Boat, Long Distances board; then, CapnK can put a link on the main sailfar home page, and that can be your "blog."

It's as easy as posting messages, and we can help you with posting pictures if you want to add some.

Count me among those who'd like to hear more about your travels.  Your path is one I've contemplated many times, and I do have my sights set on the Azores and mainland Portugal.  Aside from US coastal cruising, that's my #1 destination, with hope to end up from there in Ireland.  Learning to sail to someday voyage to Ireland was what got me motivated to buy my first boat.

We really enjooyed Portugal, esp. the Algarve (south) coast. Many of the atlantic harbours are very dangerous to approach in anything but settled conditions though. Every year, at least one yacht is rolled-dismasted-wrecked when to crew steers for the 'safety' when it gets rough offshore. The only way to deal with heavy weather along this shallow coast is to stay off-shore and ride it out. The surf and breaking waves are not easily estimated when sailing downwind toward the ports. Quite a few of them just close down in gales, but 2-3 are considered 'all-weather ports' ata least for commercial shipping.

Entering Leixoes (Porto) two years ago in 10-15 knots and 4 meter swells the roar from the breakwaters was quite impessive and certainly instructive.

No way I would like to take a closer look...  ;)

The predominant Northerlies (AKA the Portuguese trades) is not fun either.

I would recommend going to Ireland first, then head south (downhill) to Portugal which is on the logical route for crossing the Atlantic East to west anyway... 

[phil416]

    Maxiswede;  I agree with your assessment of the Portuguese coast.  I received timely advice from another Swedish sailor and chose the Port of Sines.  A much better and cheaper stop. Of the Northern ports Povoa de Varzim seemed the best, but I did not enter there from seaward.  I did not much care for the Algarve too built up.   As for the Atlantic crossing I attemted exactly what you recomended. and ended up bailing out for the Azores.  Always leave yourself options.   There is ample reason that the Azores have become the crossroads of the Atlantic.   Phil

[maxiSwede]

    Maxiswede;  I agree with your assessment of the Portuguese coast.  I received timely advice from another Swedish sailor and chose the Port of Sines.  A much better and cheaper stop. Of the Northern ports Povoa de Varzim seemed the best, but I did not enter there from seaward.  I did not much care for the Algarve too built up.   As for the Atlantic crossing I attemted exactly what you recomended. and ended up bailing out for the Azores.  Always leave yourself options.   There is ample reason that the Azores have become the crossroads of the Atlantic.   Phil

Sines was a charming and non-touristic town. Rolly in the anchorage. we stayed in Leixoes (far from charming-dirty commercial port) too crouch a passing front system and to explore Porto a city WELL worth the effort..

Another few weeks in Caiscais to see Lisbon and some old towns around.

Algarve has lots of 'developments' resorts, and man-made ports/marinas but there are a few very nice little anchorages in between them. We spent a winter at anchor there. It turned out to be the worst winter they had in 60 odd years, with several gales, including a name storm.

The Azores still remain on the list of unvisited highly interesting places. We met a nice old man, a librarian in Algarve who originally came from the Azores. I still got a letter he wrote for us to show his relatives on one of the islands when we may arrive there some day.

Looking forward to read your stories and good to have you onboard!  ;D

[Daryl]

I found Sailfar through the trailersailer forum site. I sail a 1977 Sirius 21 at Pelican Lake in Manitoba, Canada. We have a great yacht club with about 35-40 boats at the marina. The season here is from about May to October. This is our 3rd year sailing and we went out 34 times last year. I have 2 younger kids that like riding an old wind-surf board that I drag behind us. My 8 year old son and I have been out to sleep on the hook a few times.
I look forward to another source of fun & wisdom and to share a few stories and pictures of my own.

Daryl

[Oldrig]

Welcome aboard, Daryl.

Feel free to pump our brains and share your wisdom.

Best,

--Joe

[w1651]

Hi I just joined. i am looking for good sound info on traveling and seeing the world. I am starting on a retrofit on my 1972 Conyplex Contest 33 monohull. I need to completely redo a few systems but it will get done by my shove off date of Jan 2016.
If not then they will get done on the trip. But i need to learn and understand the life first and get to know the proper procedures of checking in, and out. Learn the best routes and time of year to go. And the latest shipping lanes etc....
I found sailfar by way of a referal from another person that has also circumnavigated the world twice.

[oded kishony]

I recently read John Vigor's "Small Boat to Freedom" which I greatly enjoyed. I thought it evoked a clear sense of what it's like to do long distance voyaging.

BTW Mr. Vigor writes a very informative and entertaining blog which can be found here:

http://www.johnvigor.com/Blog.html

[phil416]

1651;  Welcome aboard;  You are on the right track because you have a fine boat.  The refit process will aquaint you with all the important info you need regarding spares, tools etc.  If possible sail your vessel all you can to identify all those systems that need improvement.  Enjoy the experience and all the wonderful characters you will meet on the waterfront. Phil

[bristol27]

Hi Everyone!

My name is Andrew and I'm rebuilding a 1976 Bristol 27 in preparation for a long term circumnavigation.  I've never built boats nor done much sailing, but I have a dream and I'm working hard to achieve it.

I've been rebuilding the boat for about 2 years and have another 1 year or more to go.  If you'd like to see the progress on things, you can do so at this URL - www.bristol27.com

I hope to ask questions about projects on this site and get inspiration on future sailing plans while I finish up the innumberable amount of projects left to complete.

I stumbled across Sailfar awhile back and am happy to now have an account to talk with everyone!

[Jim_ME]

Hi Andrew, and welcome aboard. Circumnavigation on a 27-foot sailboat--you can't get a much more ambitious goal than that. (Far [far] beyond any of my own humble plans for the foreseeable future.)

As you may already know, there are many Alberg owners (and other boats of similar design) on here [so you will have much interest in what you are doing with the boat].

I've briefly looked at your website and am impressed with the extent of the work you are doing, and the presentation of it. I'm looking forward to reading it thoroughly, and following your progress on the boat--and then your voyaging.

Fair winds,
Jim

[jotruk]

Welcome aboard and I really like what your doing to your boat. you will be well acquainted when you finally splash the boat. I worked with a guy on his boat to get it ready for a cruise only to find out that at the last minute that he had made an other list of things to get done that would have taken about another year to complete. What I am trying to say is that there comes a time when you just have to say that enough varnishing and repairing and just go.

[bristol27]

Thanks for the replies Jim and Jotruk. 

The website has gone through a number of changes as I mature in my understanding of sailboat repair.  After last winter, I did about 5 months of straight research and re-ordered things accordingly.  At this point, I think it's organized in a way that future boat repairers will get a lot of utility from the photos, research and documentation.

Jotruk - you're totally right that there's just a time to get up and go, but unfortunately at this time, I will have to wait until the boat floats before I can even begin to have those thoughts :)

Jim - I'm happy to hear about other Alberg owners on this site.  I'm not sure where best to start a thread to meet some of them, but I imagine it will happen naturally.

[Oldrig]

Welcome aboard.

The Bristol 27 is a fine boat--I almost bought one, but backed off because the 4-foot draft would have restricted my sailing or forced me to give up my mooring permit and rent a mooring.

I finally bought a Cape Dory 25D (another Alberg design), because--among other things--she draws 6 inches less.

You'll find plenty of boating knowledge on this board and plenty of interesting discussions.

Best of luck with your project.

--Joe

[moisez]

Ahoy,
My name is Jack Harrill.  I live in Maine and have three sailboats.  We have a Dawson 26 ketch, an old Mac 22 (under total refit) and a Tanzer 16 that we use up on the lake near where we live.  Our previous boat was a Westerly 28 and it was a nice boat although expensive to keep in our area.  The Dawson is a swing keel boat that can be kept on a trailer so is much more wallet kindly for storage and such.  My oldest son and I brought the Westerly from the Chesapeake to Maine a few years ago but after working hard to pay for the winter storage, etc. decided to part company with it. 

The Dawson is new to us being purchased last year before the snow flew.  We did a little on it over the winter but have worked pretty hard this summer and hope to have her in the water in the next few weeks.  We hope to get most of September and October on the water in order to make plans for changing anything that needs attention before setting off for the Florida Keys.  That is the trip that we are planning now.  I won't have to do the national registration if we keep her in the US.  After that, who knows.  The Mac is a project boat for my son.  He wanted to get up to speed on doing frp work and other things so this seemed like the perfect boat.  It needed everything!  The Tanzer is a nice, solid little boat that is really handy to run up to the lake and put in.  It is a good learning/fun boat.

I am not sure exactly how I came on sailFar.  Most sailors have at least a few "fly but the seat of your pants" genes in them.  That makes them pretty good at thinking on their feet and somewhat creative (at least when necessary).  I am pretty certain that the link was in one of the other sites and I thought that the concept driving this site was closer to what we were doing than any other I had seen.  I was born during Hurricane Hazel in Lumberton, NC.  My father said that it was in sight of water and perhaps that is what caused the hurricane lol.  I have always loved the water.  When we came round the point at Cape May onto the open ocean under full sail we had the dolphins run with us for hours.  That only has to happen once to make you want to spend lots more time going somewhere in your boat!

Well, that is more than enough.  Time to go explore the site.
For new friends and old, fair winds!
Jack

[CharlieJ]

I'm curious about the " national registration" are you referring to documentation?

You don't have to be documented to go out of the country. Tehani only has Texas registration- no problems either in Canada, Mexico or the Bahamas.

It might be nice, but it isn't required. Tehani for example is too small to document.

[vistastang]

My name is Marcus White. I live in Pasadena MD very close to the Chesapeake Bay. I have had a dream of owning a sailboat for about the last 20 years after I went out on my Brother in Laws (Richard) C&C 33. I remember my last time out on it (Or any other sailboat for that matter). We entered the bay from one river while a larger boat was entering from another branch at the same time. We were side by side about 100 feet apart. I asked Richard if we could keep up with her and he said most likely not because our "opponent" had more sail area then we did but he said we'll give it a try. Not sure what the wind speed was but I remember it was "windy". With my assistance :) we started trimming the sails for speed and the C&C really took off.  She was heeled over almost to the side rail and I mean we we were flying. It was so thrilling. We not only kept up but actually pulled away from the other boat. I'm told that C&C's are fast boats. Well if that wasn't enough, the women (not to be sexist) came up from down below with hot BLT's and cold bears out of the refrigerator!!! Well that was it I was hooked. Unfortunately the C&C's been up on stands ever since needing a replacement engine. So all I've had since were memories and dreams. Well even poor souls like myself get thrown a bone every once in awhile it appears. A boat came up for sale and it was a deal I just couldn't pass up so I'm taking possession of my 1969 Coronado 25 at the end of the month. Yahoo!!! Now I'll just need to find a Club to join and boats to race (as long as they aren't C&C's). Oh, and some beer....and bacon. Look forward to perhaps meeting some of you fine folks on the water some day.