The Edge, Sarah

[CapnK]

Cut-n-pased to save Sarah a lot of typing. :D

Hi Folks,

It's great to be back.

Since I sold The Edge two years ago I have been exploring the seas by cruise ships, OLD ferries, longtail boats and my dinghy. I took a quick peek at the Western Caribbean, the Medeterrean and South America (Chile, around the horn to Brazil). I've been to Thailand twice for a month at a time and recently returned from exploring little known parts of the southern Adaman Sea.

This last trip started in Phuket at the Ao Chalong Yacht Club. They have a great website. It appears to be upscale but it fulfilled my wildest dreams. All cruisers have to clear at Ao Chalong, a big town that caters to Scuba divers and sailors. The yacht club has been there for a long time and is seedy with lots of character(s) and very clean. Most of the members seem to be expats from Austrailia. I picked up some local knowledge and thought that I might catch a ride down to Langkawi, Melasia, with someone who had to take their boat out of Thailand at least every 6 months. I was too impatient to wait so I took a high speed ferry to Ko Lanta, then to Ko Lipe. Ko Lipe is just being discovered by tourism and it is an enchanting island with a few upscale resorts, a thriving native village. It has about a 200' hill with lots of coves and beautiful beaches. There are only foot paths. There are 100's of deserted islands in the Tarutoa National Park. I also stayed on Ko Bolun and at the park resort. Koh Bolun is difficult to get to (by an OLD, rotted out ferry that I loved) and sees few tourists. Longtail boats are used as taxis and that was fun. If you plan to travel by ferry/longtail boat down there, I suggest you take your expedition pack for lugguage. That worked well for me as I needed to wade and climb into longtail and the old ferry while carrying my stuff. I enjoyed seeing the local fisherman (and their families) living as sea gypsies.

I had to spend the last 2 summers back in Maine, taking care of my mother (nursing home), selling her house and closing her corporation.

I don't know what I am going to do next. I am currently skiing at Whistler and swimming at the local pool. I have a beautiful home located on a mountain just 1 mile from the head of Howe Sound, BC, and feel like a tiger in a cage.

I hope everyone is well and living their dream.

Fair Winds,
Sarah
formerly The Edge or Theedge

and

My travels, hmmm....they involve boats, planes, motorcycles, kayaks, canoes, river rafts, strong legs, good people (mostly) and the adreneline rush...in places from Alaska to Chile, from Thailand to Turkey...

My most difficult challenge sailing took place about 7 years ago when I and 2 other crew members delivered a J-130 from (just north of Puerto Vallarta) to San Diego during the wrong time of the year with no auto pilot.

Being a member of a crew of 3 on a 43? Beneteau from Isla Juvidad to Cienfuegos, the south shore of Cuba is a beer in itself. Being a single woman getting to and from there (and not speaking Spanish) was another happy adventure.

My biggest accomplishment sailing involved the 7 1/2 months I spent taking The Edge to the Bahamas alone.

The best time I have ever had sailing involved repositioning PDQ 35 from Norfolk to Annapolis.

I am ready for another beer. :beer:

Thanks for asking. I haven't talked about my travels in a long time and it is nice to reminiscence.

and

Koh Bolun is like no other island I have ever known. It is located in the Santun Province, one of those southern provinces you hear about in the news. I only met one person who spoke English while there. Wouldn't you know...he is an Italian and a retired military pilot. He, like most of the other visitors, spends several months each year vacationing there.

The only commercial transportation to Koh Bolun is by ferry from Pak Bara. Pak Bara is a commercial fishing port that is just being discovered by tourists who need to get to Tarutoa National Park. The people there are very confused by tourists and their needs. :roll: I only met one person who spoke a little broken English there. Most of the tourists are from Europe. I managed to travel by buying a ticket and keeping an eye on my back pack. I just followed it from longtail to ferry, ferry to ferry, ferry to dock or longtail. Often times, you would change ferries in the middle of a bay - did I mention that no one spoke English. I was delighted when someone pointed to my pack back and then to a ferry that looked like a modified fishing boat. It might have been the African Queen. While carrying my pack back, I had to walk an old plank (1X6) from the dock to the deck of the ferry. There were 5 other passengers. I was able to watch the fan belts whirl while seated by the engine. I had stepped back in time by 60 years, at least.

There are about 5 "resorts" and a native village. During my routine predawn walk. I noticed that the villagers seemed quite angry with me. Later that morning, when I ran into the Italian and mentioned this to him, he told me that they are Muslum and we are considered to be infidels. I thought it might have more to do with "Thong" and his buddies who camped out in hamocks by the beach. I noticed that they watched intently as the longtails would beach and offload goods. After the goods had been carried to the only merchant, they would come by and barter. Twice, I heard (understood) "vacationers" complain to the merchant that the price of coconuts was too high and that they were free in the trees. She suggested that they climb the trees and get them. ;-). I had anticipated meeting fellow cruisers at the Bulon Marina Resort. There was no marina, gas, dock or boats - just another beautiful beach.

Bulon is one of two islands in the archipelago that have Government approval to be inhabited. The other is Ko Lipe. For a unique experience, I recommend you see it. By the way, take a flashlight. The generators MAY run from 7 PM to midnight. I would have enjoyed it more if I weren't alone - darn.

Along with this pic from Dave/Auspicious:



and a post about it:

Hi Dave,

That picture was taken 5 years ago while I was cruising the Abacos with The Edge. The Edge is off to the side. SAILING REALLY DOES AGREE WITH ME. :flirt:

A simple little dinghy has turned into an adventure in itself.

I'll tell you about it with my next beer. I have to go work out :( on the cross country skiing machine and the pool now.

[Frank]

and here I figured you had taken off with an Argentinian Polo player.Hope all is well. 

[CapnK]

Doh!

Guess what I forgot?

Welcome back, Sarah!!!! and Grog to ya'! ;D

Glad to hear from you about your adventures and all that. For a time, we had no idea how or whether you were doing, so it is good to sea that all is well. :)

[Auspicious]

Grog for Sarah.

She is the one who got me thinking about small boats again.

[gltea]

Hi Dave,

      .....Thinking about small boats again......and how is that working for you?

[Auspicious]

Hi Dave,

      .....Thinking about small boats again......and how is that working for you?

Well I'm keeping my 40 footer, that's for sure! <grin> I've been racing a J/22 and keeping my eyes out for a sailing dinghy that's small enough for the foredeck of Auspicious and big enough to go camping in while gunkholing little creeks. Dunno.

[gltea]

Hi Dave,

     I am very happy with my 10' Walker Bay RID dinghy.  It is 5' wide, which makes it roomy and stable.  It is so versatile with sailing/rowing, motoring options.  Flotation tubes can be added for additional stability and safety.  It also fits in my van so I can travel and splash to my heart's content.  Empty weight is 126 pounds.  I love to row so I kill two birds with one stone - exercise and being on the water.

     I have discovered that poking around in various nooks and crannies then pulling in to a nice little inn for the night is pretty nice.

     Give it some thought....Have I ever steered you wrong?

     

[Auspicious]

Thanks Sarah. I know there are a couple of Walker Bay RIDs around. I'll keep my eye out for owners (it's a might chilly these days and people are hunkered down) and borrow one for a row and perhaps a sail.

A WB10 with a little canvas dodger and some kind of removable platform at seat level to spread a sleeping bag on might be interesting.

Just what I need - another project. Today is project day incidentally, fortunately all below where it is warm.

[gltea]

Hi Dave,

    That was my thought.  Someone has suggested rigging a hammock, but I don't know.  I am only 5'1".  I have it made.  If I remember correctly, you are about 6'4".
;)
     I don't have the flotation tubes installed as it is more difficult to row that way.

     Have a good time sailing with WindRose Monday.  It sounds like he could use some of your cheerfulness.

[CapnK]

I've considered rigging my WB8 that way, for car cruisin'. Too bad the seats are not removable, for that. Maybe if you mounted them with wingnuts. :)

My WB is old school - maybe ~8 yrs old now, I don't recall. My bro-in-law bought a new WB10 last year, it's almost an entirely different boat.

[Auspicious]

From the pictures I was thinking of running wooden cleats down each side of the boat 1/2" below seat level and putting 1/2" plywood across from side to side so that you end up with a platform at seat top level. That also would give overnight storage for food and gear under you and maximize sleeping space. A fold down dodger with a single bow forward would be nice for when the spray is kicking and to keep drizzle off your face while you are sleeping.

All just fancy right now. I'm foolish enough to be going sailing tomorrow in the cold, but not on a little teeny boat. I'll wait for warmer weather.

[gltea]

Hi Dave,

     I have been thinking about the same thing.  I would want it to be in two sections so I could access the bow area separately.  What do you do with the plywood while sailing?  Perhaps a taught material could be used instead - like a canvas boat cover or tonu cover on a pick up bed? - with a zipper in the bow area for easy access. 

     I have hesitated talking to many people about this as they might put me away, hee hee haa haa :D

     I have considered having two or three dinghies in different parts of the world so I could be more mobile.  The Adaman Sea in southern Thailand would be nice.  I am considering visiting the Greek Isles again.  They may be an option. 

     Now there aren't too many people in my little town who I could discus this with. :)

[Auspicious]

You can always talk to me Sarah, and the other folks here are just as insane as I. <grin>

I was thinking about two pieces between the middle seat and the forward seat and two more pieces between the aft seat and the middle seat. Those should be small enough so that they could be stacked under the aft seat when not in use, or turned 90 degrees and tied to the turn of the bilge on one side or the other out of the way of rowing and sailing.

[CharlieJ]

At the BEER cruise in Florida two years ago, a guy did the entire cruise in an 8 foot dinghy named Nano.  He had the boat all rigged for cruising and kept up with many many bigger boats- he could cut across flats  ;D

Anyway- he had some thing like a Conestoga wagon set up as a cover and for sleeping, had a really neat arrangement. He had a canves cot like cover, with sewn sleeves on each side. He had notches in the bulkheads fore and aft. Slid his oars into the sleeves, propped them into the notches and went to bed, ABOVE the floor. Actually on the same level as the seas.

I have some pics of the boat but they are on another computer and I don't have time to fire it up right now. I'll post some later today. 

[gltea]

I'd like to see those pictures.  I think I might have a winter project coming up.

[Lynx]

When you are in the Abaco's we can talk. Just let me know where.

[gltea]

Hi Lynx,

     I hadn't PLANNED on returning to the Abacos.   Hmmmmm

     I guess Suzy Q could do it ;D

[Lynx]

I can understand. Planing on a easy summer. Doing the ICW to around Hudson river and trailering to Erie and then 1 to 2 months on the cannal and then south.  ::)

[gltea]

Lynx,

     When I took The Edge to the Bahamas, I left Vancouver in mid January and trailered her behind my pickup to Jacksonville.  From there it was the ICW to Lake Worth.  Three days later, I cleared at Green Turtle Key.

     Because there had been no new snow in Colorado for 2 weeks, I decided to take a short cut by Telluride to Durango.  I will never forget those hair pin turns which had 5 mph signs posted.  I forgot about clear ice and had visions of ending up thousands of feet below with The Edge up my hiney.  The entire length of my rig was 54'.  I wish you could have seen the looks on the faces of the oncoming traffic who's load consisted of skies.

     Once I passed the Continental Divide, I entertained myself (and many others) by asking gas station attendants "Is this the way to the Bahamas?) ;)

     Have you taken your Mac to the Abacos?

[gltea]

Hi Lynx,

     I just read your other thread about the Bahamas.  If you haven't left yet, please let me know.  There are things I would like to share with you about Macs.
Things such as auto pilots, senders, anchors, West End, beer, etc. etc. etc. 

    I had forgotten about all the fun I had.