Craig ??

[Frank]

Anyone heard from Craig? Hope he's havin fun on the delivery.

[s/v Faith]

Twas a dark and stormy night. ;)

 s/v Emerald Tide was a wonderful ship, and I am thankful to have sailed her.  To say she is different from my 'Faith' is something of an understatement, and while she is a fine example of her class I can say with no hesitation that I should not desire to 'jump ship'.

 The call came with a couple of disclaimers.  First, the owner was a new Sailor.  She had never sailed any boat before she purchased this boat and her first time on the water was during an afternoon sea trial that was apparently very brief.

 Anyone here who has known me for long knows that I am by no means a naysayer...  I have great passion against simple things that most people share... cruelty to animals, silicone sealant, boat brokers and mail order surveyors (and maybe Chinese anchors). ;)

 The boat had been owned at one time by a skilled Sailor and craftsman who did some pretty clever and well thought out modifications... then it went to the owner it was purchased from who was neither skilled nor clever.   :P  Sadly he was a member of a yacht club where he associated with a boat broker and a surveyor who were adept at making some of the details of the boats status difficult to discern.

  To quote that great philosopher Capt. Ron, "If it is going to happen, it will happen out there"... so after a quick check of her running gear and stowing of enough stores we cut the lines and sailed out of Tampa Bay.

  Her modified keel does not track like the fuller keels I favor, but she was predictable and responsive.  The steering was the wheel and cable design so common of these boats.  It was initially somewhat sloppy. but once the 2+ inches of play in the steering cable were removed it became considerably less so (the first of many, many, trips into the cockpit lockers I was to make)....

  Christmas dinner is being served so I shall post more shortly.

 

[s/v Faith]

I guess I rather dropped the ball on this one...  ;D

here are a couple random pictures.  Tampa Bay, sunshine bridge, and Municipal marina fuel dock;



and;




and;

[Shipscarver]

Is the, Tide, still in?  Have you been able to square her away to move out?

[s/v Faith]

Is the, Tide, still in?  Have you been able to square her away to move out?

Yes, she is laying on a mooring in Marathon.  The owner has been down to spend some quality time in the Keys, I intend to head down in a month or so to continue the delivery....

... might get around to finishing the disjointed thought I started in this post by then...  ::)


;D