Hey folks. Woody and I left Boston last Friday to head south...somewhere...for the winter. We went out to Provincetown for the weekend and are in Onset, MA today, on the south side of the Cape Cod Canal. The weather has been warm and beautiful, but the wind has been poop. We've had 25kts out of the SW or nothing at all. We have a heavy boat that's not very weatherly and it's exasperating to have nothing but strong headwinds or totally glassy water.
When we're not travelling, it's always easy to say, "On the NEXT trip, we're not going to have a schedule and we're going to sail more!" The problem is that there's ALWAYS a schedule, even if it's not a personal schedule. The changing of the seasons presents a schedule. No one wants to be clobbered by hurricanes or winter storms. There's all the schedules that municipalities impose (48 hours here, 7 days there). There's the schedules the wind imposes. Most anchorages don't afford 360 degree protection. It's common to be chased out of an anchorages by shifts in the wind. It's also common to need to be somewhere when the current is flowing this way or that or when the sun is still up/in a certain orientation.
We've also been talking about the problems of avoiding the hordes of other boaters. Our north bound and south bound trips this year have been at the edges the normal season for New England sailing. If we had left earlier in the fall, we wouldn't feel the pressure of winter on our heels, but we'd have a very difficult time finding room to anchor. From NYC to Boston, almost every good nook is filled to the brim with moorings. The anchorages we've used have all only had room for a few transient boats to anchor outside the mooring fields. There's only room for us now, because the bulk of cruisers are already south.
Our intentions to be patient and go with the wind are complicated by all these factors even though our personal schedules are 100% empty until spring.
It's also frustrating to feel compelled to leave when the right wind arrives. I was very excited to rent a bicycle on Monday and ride the trails around Provincetown on Monday. But when we woke up, the wind seemed just northerly enough to sail. I felt compelled to take advantage of it. We skipped breakfast, jumped on deck, and put all the sails up. We were able to sail about 10nm before it died entirely and I was left angry that we gave up biscuits and gravy and a day of exploring for what turned out to be only 2 hours of wind.
These are my not-very-romantic ruminations about cruising life today. I've been thinking about why people often describe the sailing life as being "free." I think it has its charms, but freedom is rarely one I would use to describe my life while sailing. If anything, I think it's an exercise in accepting that I rarely get to be in control or have things on my own terms. It's about having the weather make most of my choices for me and needing to make the best of things. That seems like the opposite of what most people mean when they talk about freedom. Freedom is being able to point your car at the object of your desire in any weather at any time and just GO!
So that's my challenge this week - relinquishing my expectations. Being patient. Accepting that I'll just have to save some places I wanted to see for next time. Making my own fun. Accepting that I'm going to have to listen to the motor more than I want to.
Anyways. We're in Buzzard's Bay and planning to head through Long Island Sound, down the NJ Coast and up into the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays. If anyone on our path wants to meet up and gam, let us know! We're going to read up all our paperbacks at this rate and could use the company.
Once you hit the Chesapeake, I would love to see you guys again.
Great post Relay.....
Yep, the reality is there are many days where you feel vulnerable and out of control.
But.......
You know 😄😄
Sux some times eh Rach? But cruising is not always fantastic, EH? Beats the heck out of sitting on the couch watching sitcoms?
I seriously envy you two, and I've told you before. You guys are young, and living the dream. Enjoy
Well, we got up before dawn today to catch the current going down Buzzard's Bay. The current through the Cape Cod Canal is 5+kts with almost no slack time.
Today is one of those rare days we got EXACTLY what was forecast - a 90 degree East wind 15kts gusting 20. Perfect Westsail wind. It's warm and sunny to boot. It's rolly with lots of white caps out here but we're trucking right along. Will make Narragansett Bay tonight, though I think we're gonna go to Dutch harbor rather than Newport this time for better protection from the W/NW.
Tomorrow will have a fair (SE) wind but it's supposed to rain all day and have fog with terrible visibility. It's MIGHTY rocky and lobster potty around these parts, so we'll probably stay put. Then it's gonna go back to gusting W 30-35kts for the next 3 days. Gonna be slow going until we get to NYC and can turn South.
Considered going Block Island to Cape May, but even that is a stretch for our boat in a West wind. No one has ever accused us of pointing very high.
But today, at least, is awesome sailing, and Newport/Jamestown isn't a bad spot to be stuck. We'll just keep creeping along whenever the wind isn't blasting out of the west. We've got the heater to fire up during the cold spells. Woody is hoping to get stuck in Mystic next.
Charlie, how do you know the dream isn't living in a little self-built A frame on the beach? I think a lot of people have trouble seeing "the dream" anymore once it becomes their daily life. I think I big part of the definition of "the dream" is that it's a departure from "ordinary" life.
You've got to be careful living all the dreams too young. Soren Kierkegaard said, "Pleasure disappoints; possibility - never." ;) There might be more pleasure in working a 9-5 and anticipating the idealized version of what we're doing than doing it. I'll try to quit spoiling it. ;D
:) I suppose I live in the best of two worlds. My A-Frame at the beach, with my woodshop just outside, and my cruising boat ready to go when ever I decide to, for however long I decide:)
Oh, and getting stuck min Mystic would be kinda fun.
Best wishes for good winds
Edited to add- although, one is the loneliest numbers ;)
Where's that dock that Tehani's tied up to? I don't think I've ever been there.
Gated community half way between Port O'Connor and the Vic Barge canal. Honor system for boats- lovely clean bathrooms and showers and nobody around. Dollar a foot, fill out a form add a check or cash and drop into a lock box. It's right across the ICW from the cut to Army Hole. I've stayed in there several times and never seen a soul, except a few maintenance folks. Can't get in by car
Something on that fee- the form sails SAILBOATS $1.00 foot, POWER boats- $50.00.
We anchored in Dutch Harbor in Naragansett Bay last Thursday after my post. From Friday until today, it's blown 25-35 knots out of the W to NW. We would have loved to spend that time visiting Newport again, but the anchorage at Newport is open to the NW.
Dutch Harbor, like most of the good nooks between NYC and Boston has a mooring field that prevented us from anchoring close to shore/dinghy dockage. We were able to row ashore on Friday to meet Woody's grandparents on their way back from a road trip to Maine. After Friday, we were forced to tuck in tight behind Dutch Island as there was a gale warning all weekend.
Though it was impossible to go ashore in Jamestown/Newport without a dinghy motor, Dutch Island did offer us good protection and good holding. The island is quite tall and forested and has mud up to its rocky face. The island is owned by the state of RI and is covered in the ruins of a fort and a working lighthouse. We spent a rainy, blustery Saturday exploring in our foul weather gear and hiding in the fort ruins when the downpour became to intense.
Since Saturday morning, we've been confined to the boat. It's been gusting 25-35kts out of the W/NW for the past 5 days. On Monday, we sailed down to the mouth of Narragansett Bay. At Point Judith, the waves were exploding on the black rocks beneath the light house in a very New Englandy way and the tears were getting blown right out of my eyes. We hoped to anchor in the Harbor of Refuge and land the dinghy on the beach at Galilee, but it was too rough, even behind the breakwater. We motored into Point Judith Pond and anchored in another protected, but remote spot.
I wish I could say we've been doing a bunch of boat work, drawing, writing novels, etc. But mostly, we've been binge watching TV shows on the lap top and eating comfort food. ;D I've baked pumpkin bread and whole wheat bread and we've both been making soups in the pressure cooker.
We feel happy to be on a relatively spacious boat like Mona. I think we would have been losing our minds if we were still on the Aleutka with no room to even stand up. It's also nice to have a heavy boat. So far, conditions this fall have been very similar to conditions this spring - almost every day has a small craft advisory, if not a gale warning. We're getting only about one day a week of wind out of anything but the W/NW and it has been strong. Anyone who didn't want to go out when it's gusting at least 20kts would have a heck of a time getting anywhere. Our heater is also awesome. The low was in the mid 30's last night and I was getting too warm with the heater set to "1". I had to open all the dorades to cool off. Best idea Woody ever had. Speaking of Woody, it's very nice to have someone you can spend 5 days stuck in a boat with and not want to murder.
Today we motored a mile up to Wakefield, RI at the top of Point Judith Pond. The harbor here is also packed with moorings, but the slips at Ram Point Marina are only $1/ft, which is unheard of for this region. We decided it was well worth it to get fuel/water/groceries, do laundry, and take showers.
Tomorrow is our one allotted day of East wind this week, so we'll be trying to make the most of it. Woody wants to go to the library at Mystic Seaport, so our goal tomorrow is to get to Mystic, and hopefully find a place to anchor in the river. Tomorrow night, the wind is forecast to pick right back up to 35kts, so we'll probably spend the weekend there.
We're trying to be patient with our progress. Once we get to NYC, we'll be able to turn south and put all these W/NW winds to use.
Appreciate your posts, especially thoughts on day-to-day experiences, including dealing with the strong unfair winds, anchoring in those places in the late season, what an improvement the cabin heater has been, and so on.
Hope that you are enjoying the Mystic Seaport Museum and area.
Look forward to hearing more about your cruise,
and wishing you fairer winds! :)
Mystic was awesome. There's a tiny area to anchor north of the last can. We were the only boat, so we squeezed Mona in. We were sitting in the mud at low tide, but it was so sheltered, it didn't matter. There was no real wave action even when it was blowing 30. There's a dinghy dock at the Seaport and a very pretty cemetery that I landed the dinghy on one day. It was so enclosed and protected that we felt free to row around all three days.
The Seaport was awesome. Admission is good for two days, so we went twice. Woody spent most of the first day in the research library while I went to a bunch of demonstrations and activities (rope making, cask making, whaling, nav instruments, etc.). Well worth $26, in my opinion. Dockage, on the other hand is insane. It's another example of a place it would be very hard to visit cheaply in season. It would have cost $400 to stay at the marina for 3 days vs $0 in our mud hole. I also walked to the hardware store and got a 100' tape measure so we could send in our mainsail measuremets. We tried to do it with a halyard but even the Dacron lines stretch to much for precise measurements.
Today we've got a NNW wind 15-20 and are beating along the CT coast. It's sunny an cold. Only little white horses this close to the coast. With the current, we're making 7.5kts in the gusts with a reef in the main. That's pretty good for the likes of us. We're heading somewhere or another on the CT side of Long Is Sound, probably roughly around New Haven.
Tomorrow is supposed to be 5kt East wind. If it's anything like the light East wind we had on the way to Mystic, we'll probably have to motor or stay put. I fixed our spinnaker, but it won't do any good if the apparent wind can't decide if it's ahead of us or behind. Maybe we can reach over to the NY side? We'll see.
Anyways, we're enjoying our second day of sailing wind since we left. Woo! We're supposed to get some on Friday too. It was so warm yesterday (70F) I could take a shower in the cockpit. Being clean and having a little wind will do a lot for your disposition.
Rachel, I always enjoy your posts, and look forward to the possibility of meeting you and Woody as you pass through the Chesapeake on your way to sunnier and warmer ports.
I agree with your comments to CJ further back about the "dream" being an elusive goal. My dreams have changed with the years, and the realities that I have lived, very different from the dream, have been very good. Yes, "9 to 5" can be a dream to enjoy (I have not had a real 9 to 5, but got close just before retiring). Many days brought challenges that I could not have even imagined the day before. The pride in attacking a problem on unfamiliar equipment, reading and understanding the manual, and restoring it to service leaves a very deep satisfaction.
One of the best moto's here is "Happiness is being satisfied with what you have".
The real secret is keeping the sun shining inside, and sharing it with those around you, and you seem to do that well. Yes, you do complain about the wind and weather, as it constrains your life and activities, but blend that in with the things that are right, such as Woody is someone who does not inspire murder in 5 days confined together. Cheers to both of you!
Send me a PM, and I will send my phone # and email so you can get in touch with me when you are close, and we will find a way to get together. A combined meeting with Godot would be fine too.
As the sailing farewell goes, Fair winds, and following seas!
Anchored in Throgg's Neck in the Bronx, at the start of the East River. Sailed all day Monday to Sachem Head, I think. Then sailed all day Tuesday to Stratford, CT. Monday we had pretty strong winds. One of those days where the depth sounder starts reading the distance to the surface of the water during the gusts. Joking to Woody to lean over and scrape some of the waterline while we were showing so much of it. Tuesday we had a forecast for E 5kt. They were more N and we were able to put up our (newly repaired) asymmetrical spinnaker and ghost along on a reach. We spent a lot of the day going 2-3 kts but it was so pleasant, no one cared. We set up the autopilot and worked on jobs on deck (polishing the stainless, lashing, etc.). Had to motor into the Housitonic River as ebb current was 2+kts. As usual, only boat at anchor.
Spent 2 days of SW wind doing errands. Got groceries, did laundry, ate Chinese food - the wonders of civilization. Fall colors are in full swing.
Today we had just about a perfect day. Pulled up the anchor and shot down the river on the last of the ebb. As we got to the sound, current switched and we rode the flood west. It was honking out of the NW this morning. We were beating hard with a reef and the staysail, heeling over good in the gusts and catching a little wake up spray to the face. We were able to point pretty well (for a WS) in the strong wind and run right along the CT coast at 5-6kts SOW and more SOG. The wind died back to around 15kt later in the day and we could put up the jib and keep on trucking. Our timing was such that we could have gone right on through heck Gate, but we decided to stay on this side and visit the museum at the SUNY Maritime College, which is right off our stern. We've got friends who won't be back to town til Sunday, so we're killing some time.
I haven't been paying attention to miles, but I'd say we're probably halfway to the Chesapeake. We'll probably get there in 2-3 jumps. One down the Jersey Coast and one up DE Bay. Hoping to meet my family in DE for Thanksgiving, so we've got 3 weeks.
great tales Ralay.
Was great having you on the chat last night. Hope you can do it next Thursday also. Tell James hello for me
Those lazy days waiting out winds can be kinda nice. Catch up on tasks, read n be lazy.
Enjoy the journey!
Thanks for letting us follow along!
Spent 4 days in various spots in NYC visiting friends. Got to take a daylight tip down the East River and NY Harbor. Quite a bit more scenic than our last bleary eyed trip at 3am. There was plenty of roiling water and heavy traffic, but not too bad. Ship traffic in Galveston is much worse. But NYC has a million tugs, ferries, water taxis, and tows going willy nilly. Pretty easy to navigate with AIS to tell you the names of vessels. Would be harder without. Calling "ferry in NY Harbor" sure wouldn't narrow it down.
Stopped in Great Kills, Staten Island for fuel/water. Very protected, but stuffed with empty moorings. We helped ourselves to one to wait a few days for weather. Didn't go ashore except for a walk in the park. Would be very difficult to find a spot to anchor.
We hoped for a solid weather window to get us all the way to Cape May, but none was forthcoming. We were getting forecasts for days with 25kt NW winds (OK) but then W/SW winds with gusts up to 30-35. We decided to make a day run to Barnegat Inlet and I called ahead for local knowledge.
We were supposed to have 25 kt NW winds, but wound up with more like 10-15. Needed to motor sail a few hours to make it in before dark. It was a good call. The inlet was pretty sketchy. It's uncharted and only has a few movable buoys. The jetties are partially submerged and had big waterfall breakers on them. BoatUS and our fried told us the middle of the channel shoals and to hug the jetty all the way in. We didn't have any problem following those directions in daylight, but it would have been really nerve wracking at night hearing those breakers on the submerged jetty and not being able to see the unit cans/nuns. We anchored next to two other cruising boats.
In the morning we again had a forecast for NW winds, gusting 25-30. All three boats got under way and headed out. The wind was still out of the SW. The big ketch motored straight into it. The 35ft sloop looked like they were struggling to figure out how to reduce sail enough while beating. They're roller furling didn't seem up to the task. They quickly fell way off and disappeared over the horizon. We reefed our main down and put up our staysail and Yankee jib and went leaping and crashing straight down the coast. We had to shut all the seacocks to keep the drains from spouting, but the boat did great. The harder the wind blew, the higher we pointed. Around noon we overtook a little sloop (Cape Dory?) It's sails were furled and it was motoring while getting tossed around. Mona blasted by in a dead straight line at about 6.5kts throwing big clouds of mist as she hit the wave tops. It was pretty awesome. If it had been a race, we won. We wouldn't have made Cape May until after dark, so we came in at Absecon/Atlantic City around 2pm and took victory bucket baths. BoatUS towed in another sailboat at dusk.
I suppose we should have kept going as today we're back to high pressure and light wind. Oh well. It was really howling last night and we were happy to be inside with the heater on.
We'll spend the weekend in Cape May then head up DE Bay to spend Thanksgiving with family.
Great update!
Sounds like heavy placement was nice on the windy day 😄
Have fun
Keep the updates coming.....and a pic or 2
That is more a cruising update than some of the previous! Reefed main, staysail, and yankee should have been a fine appearance as you blasted by the competition in your "race"! When the wind pipes up, a big heavy vessel shines, especially if the crew know how to sail her!
Putting in before dark is a much more pleasant way to go, hopping down a coast. Your description of entering the harbor between a jetty with breaking waves, and invisible buoys, is exactly why I love to be in before dark. Leaving in the dark as OK, as you have ample opportunity to assay the situation, and an exactly known starting point.
Soon, you will be with family for the holidays, and around the corner into the Chesapeake Bay. Plenty early for Thanksgiving, and seeing all the friends and relatives. In spite of the weather you are making a great many NM toward your wintering port, whatever you choose this year.
Norman
I too, thank you for the updates. Very enjoyable reading!
Coming in big ship inlets is not so bad at night. There are plenty that are 40' deep and lit like a runway. But, yeah, best not to mess with shallow/poorly lit ones. Also comforting to talk to cruising friend/BoatUS first. If it had been dark, I think we'd have continued on rather than try to fumble in.
Yes, I have a backlog of photos and video clips. Just need a day to sit in a coffee shop and upload them.
And, yes, we were a bit proud of the boat and ourselves. Hank on sails are a lot of work, but it's nice to have a lot of choices, all of which can be set well. (Triple reef main, reefable staysail, Yankee, genoa, asymmetrical spinnaker, storm jib). Obviously also nice that there's two of us. There's probably a good chance that the boats we saw motoring were single handers and nobody can blame them for not wanting to move around deck in that weather without anyone watching them and helping with the sheets/helm.
We're actually doing pretty well right now with genoa and full main. Our forecast tailwind has definitely turned to headwind. Woody's at the helm and we're on our ear, but almost to the inlet at Cape May. Wish I could say I thought we'd be able to sail up DE Bay, but I think a calm is the best we can hope for. Strong easterlies are in very short supply.
Pics
http://imgur.com/a/6zISV
Very nice, thanks. Especially liked the shot of Mona at anchor-ya'll have her looking lovely
:) Great pictures! I think that is the first picture of Mona that I have seen, very impressive boat! You take fine care of her. That relaxed run under spinnaker is definitely the way to cruise.
Thanks for sharing with us. I am no longer tough enough for the kind of sailing that the two of you are doing, pounding through the ocean in cold weather.
Just a week and a half to Thanksgiving, and togetherness with family. A different world and atmosphere, I am sure that you will enjoy the change! We are also sharing with family, a traditional meal with dishes brought by each part of the family.
See the two of you soon in the Chesapeake Bay!
Appreciate your cool photos. But, so far, have only been able to view up to JW and the giant block... Will try again tomorrow and hope to see the rest... :)
Update: Enjoyed all the photos today, after enabling cookies. :)
Couple of short little video clips. Password is Mona. These have been the extremes of our sailing conditions, although the water always looks flat on film. I'd mute your speakers unless you want to hear windtunnel noise.
https://vimeo.com/191690440
https://vimeo.com/191691635
great video looking farward to the next one
Links to video say I need a password ???
she gave it to you - Mona :)
Spent 3 or 4 days in Cape May, waiting for the currents and tides to clock. We had a full moon and big tides. We needed a low tide to get under the 55' bridges in the Cape May Canal, a fair current in Delaware Bay (ebb currents were up to 3kts), and fair/no wind.
We went and had vegan waffles and spent a lot of time at the library. I pulled out my folding bike and rode down to the state park and lighthouse on Cape May point. This spring we met a fellow who had just bought a boat he was trying to bring north. He said DE Bay kicked his butt, but he was determined to head out early the next morning into 25kt headwinds. We gave up trying to dissuade him. The next morning, we saw his boat all dried out on the beach. He'd drug anchor in the middle of the night. At high tide, he got towed into the marina and vowed to come back for the boat later. Well...it's still in the same slip. So I suppose it's going to join the ranks of lonely boats owned by folks who discovered cruising isn't quite what they imagined. We also met a French-Canadian couple who were travelling south on a home-built plywood boat they'd just splashed. They hadn't put the mast on yet, but they seemed pretty happy to be underway after a 7 year build.
After 4 days, the currents and tides had adjusted such that we could get under the bridges and have a fair current as long as we got moving at 5am. We double checked our mast measurements, so I elected just not to look up as I steered her under. No sense in scaring the poop out of myself. We had plenty of depth as well.
It was pretty rough coming out into DE Bay even though the forecast was for 5-10kts of W wind. We were splashing all around and dipping the bowsprit down into the wave crests. It was awfully slow going even with a fair current. It laid down later in the morning as the wind died and the bay narrowed. We made it all the way to Reedy Point, where we anchored behind a jetty with a sweeping panoramic view of the nuclear power plant on the Jersey side. We rowed ashore to a boat ramp to stretch our legs. We saw a flapping Confederate flag in the first 15 minutes, so I guess we've made it south according to somebody.
We waited for a fair current into the C and D canal the next day and took the boat in at Chesapeake City, MD. There've got a very protected little bleb off the main channel where boats are allowed to anchor for 3 days in the very, very small anchorage. The fall color here in Delaware/MD is pretty spectacular. We also visited a small, free museum on the history of the canal. We stuck Mona in a marina for their very reasonable off-season rates, so we can go on a visiting spree in Delaware. We're lazing about at my Grandma's house eating ice cream and doing endless laundry. The weather has been unseasonably warm and beautiful (70 degrees today), although a cold front is moving in as we speak.
I was foolish enough to write in our newsletter that nothing has broken on this trip. The next day we realized our anchor light/tricolor isn't working. I finally made my first trip to the mast head. I'm not a fan of heights and haven't been willing to climb past the spreaders. Despite all my rubber legging, it wasn't so bad. I tried to narrow in on looking at the light and rigging and not look down or around. Woody had to tell me to look over my shoulder to catch the enormous container ship that was someone silently gliding right by us. There was a tiny strip of land protecting us from it's wake, so I was free to gawk. Even 50' up, it filled my field of view. I wasn't even anywhere close to the level of their deck. It also gave me a chance to have a good look around at the sea of orange and yellow trees and waving golden grasses. We need to run a new wire, so I couldn't really fix the problem, but it was worth a climb to investigate and take in the view.
Darned I miss east coast cruising!!!
Enjoyed your update. Was wondering whether you would head directly into the C&D Canal and where you would keep Mona while visiting relatives over Thanksgiving.
Poignant story of the fellow you met in the spring and found his boat still in the same slip as you pass back thRough...
It's been unseasonably warm here, too, but the forecast is also for colder weather ahead--even a chance of some rain with snow tomorrow (Sunday) night. Moved the trailer-sailer farther away from the road (and snowplow) and may put a cover on tomorrow.
Tonight I heard Van Morrison's new song, which seemed timely...
"Out in the Cold Again"...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Fw-S241ioI
Nice write up Ralay.
Sounds like you guys are doing it the right way.
Relaxed & waiting for a good window.
I always enjoy your write ups of the voyage!
Shallow bays are killer bad and should not be voluntarily experienced. Perfect plan, stay in shelter until all conditions are good, then enjoy the sail or motor.
About that new sailor who ignored your advice and entered the Delaware Bay, he may have felt that small waters should be safer than big, and if he could not do the bay, he was not brave enough to continue, bad logic, but common.
Like CharlieJ, I carry 4 anchors, 3 styles, 2 sizes, and if the one that is deployed seems to be dragging, I simply deploy another type, probably bigger one, and maybe more chain.
Which is your next port of call? I am looking forward to meeting both of you in Annapolis!
You've got it a little backwards. We met him going northbound in the spring. He'd had a lot of trouble in the small water he'd just come from (DE Bay), but was still really eager to leave the next morning to big water (offshore to NYC) even though we were supposed to get a strong cold front that night and he'd have to beat the whole way. We weren't sure if he really knew what he was signing himself up for and were trying to talk him into hanging out with us and waiting for fair wind. At least winding up dried out right in front of the USCG training station is about the safest stupid mistake you can make. It's very protected and sandy back there and the boat looks fine. It's got to be hard to buy a boat and have to bring it home single-handed. The learning curve is awfully steep and I can definitely see how someone might get overwhelmed and throw their hands up.
I guess we'll go to Annapolis next. It's too far to make it in one day, so we'll probably stop at whatever anchorage is handy. We haven't been to Rock Hall; maybe we'll stop there.
All you can do is offer advice...which you did. Ignorance may be bliss, but it can end dreams with boats. Good on you for trying!!
Happy travels.
Keep the updates coming....really enjoy reading them!
Have fun!!
Bringing a boat anywhere single hand for the first time can be nearly overwhelming. Hope he learns, and keeps going
Back on Mona after almost 2 weeks hanging out with TONS of our relatives. I've got no regrets putting the boat in a marina in Chesapeake City. We had several days of 45kt gusts and I would've spent all my time worrying about the boat had we left it at anchor.
We're heading down into the Chesapeake tomorrow, probably, with our next stop in Annapolis. I doubt our sail is ready, but we'll go have a dig in the junk bins at Bacon and visit Woody's grandparents again. If any of you Chesapeake sailfar'ers want to meet up, let's make it happen!
I hear Ya on the 45knots at anchor.
Yes..it can be done, but sure feels a lot better knowing your "home" is safely tied up while visiting.
Glad yawl had a good time.
Raylay- the fishing pier next to the marina logged 40 kt gusts yesterday morning with steady winds of 25. Then by afternoon was a 5 kt breeze.
Oh, and it's 80 degrees. Soon to change :)
Frank, I think I'm a little spoiled as a full time liveaboard. I'm so used to being on the boat everyday and keeping watch over it that I have a bit of a hard time leaving it to its own devices. It would probably be just fine, especially in some Chesapeake gunkhole. But the winter weekly rates were low enough, I paid a babysitter for peace of mind.
It also made it easy for lots of relatives to come and see the boat. We had my mom, 90-year-old Grandma, Dad, Stepmom, pregnant sister, brother-in-law, 2 brothers, and uncle on the boat on three different days. That's a lot of rowing in an 8 ft dinghy and I doubt my Grandma or sister would have been very good at climbing in and out of the dink these days. So marinas have their purposes.
While we were eating ice cream and doing puzzles at Grandma's, some super lucky sailboater got rescued out of the Bay by some powerboaters who just happened to see him in the water near his capsized (14') boat.
http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2016/11/21/watch-man-rescued-after-boat-capsizes-near-south-river/
It's crazy to hear people in the articles talking about how the weather came from nowhere. It seems easy to get caught by a summer thunderstorm, but the cold front was well forecast. We knew the day before when it was 70 and beautiful that it was going to go to poop. I guess folks expect the weather to deteriorate gradually rather than all at once? Or they don't look at the weather? Either way, good on that fella for having his lifejacket on and good on those powerboaters for keeping a sharp lookout. The water at Thomas Pt Light is 50 degrees right now. Brrrrrr.
I find the 5kts harder to believe the the 40kts, CJ. Too bad you can't bottle that Port Lavaca wind and export it.
Relay:
"Frank, I think I'm a little spoiled as a full time liveaboard. I'm so used to being on the boat everyday and keeping watch over it that I have a bit of a hard time leaving it to its own devices. "
That's why I said "your home" not "boat" 😄
I'm not "live aboard".....but 7-8 mths/yr my boat IS "home"
glad things worked out well and really glad grandma got aboard!!
Special times!! Treasure them....
Quote from: Frank on November 29, 2016, 10:06:17 PM
I'm not "live aboard".....but 7-8 mths/yr my boat IS "home"
I think we have to redefine the term "live aboard".
We've had rough, slow going since Chesapeake City. We needed to head W out of the Canal and then SW until the Bay opened up. We tried to leave before a front brought strong westerlies.
It was a warm(ish) rainy day with south wind. We needed to leave our slip in. Chesapeake City at high tide, so we backed out around 1100. As soon as we were in the canal, being swept along in the 2kt current, a boat hailed us to tell us the Canal was closed due to fog. The fog wasn't too bad where we were and we weren't thrilled about clawing our way back against the current as we had less than 5nm of canal left to go. As soon as we got out of the canal, the visibility dropped to less than 1/4nm. I know it was that bad because I could see all the cans great on the radar, whereas Woody (standing on the bowsprit with the air horn) couldn't see them until they were really close. Even then, only their tips stuck out above the blanket on the water. The radar returns were pretty great over nice still water, but you never know who else might be zipping around out there blind. We anchored as we had enough water outside the channel and watched the world disappear. Pretty soon we couldn't see anything farther away than the dinghy. The front showed up in the middle of the night in a series of little squalls. We woke up for each one and kept a watch to make sure we wouldn't drag towards the ship channel. We never budged. It's so nice to be back in the land of shallow water and thick mud.
The front blew all the warm air and fog away by the next morning. The next two days we had winds W15-20 G25 and went out with a single reef in the main, staysail, and Yankee. We couldn't quite make our course the first day and actually did some tacking rather than turning in. We made it into Still Pond after about 4h and eagerly tossed out the hook. The next day we were able to fall off a bit and flew down to Rock Hall beating and bashing. We were smashing hard up to the tiny entrance to Rock Hall Harbor when we heard "Sailboat approaching Rock Hall!" on the VHF. I went scrambling for the radio thinking they were going to tell uz something grave about our navigational situation. Instead, they just wanted to tell us how awesome we looked. Woody thinks it was some marina trying to suck up, but either way, it's a lot better than "I just wanted to tell you there's a big oyster reef in front of you!"
Rock Hall had a very empty free dock and and we were able to walk to town to get treats at the grocery store.
This morning, we had a forecast of NW 15 G25. I don't know where those 15kts were, cause I never saw em. We went out with just the staysail and a double reefed main. The waves were a lot bigger, especially where they could run all the way down the Patapsco before hitting us. Pretty much every wave had a white cap and the very tips of the white caps were leaping off. It sure looked angry and sounded angry, but really, the boat was happy with its little sails. I had to take some deep breaths to be able to assert that, but it was true. We plowed along to windward at at least 5kts and the boat was very well balanced and easy to steer. I shut all the sink drains, but we spent most of our time heeled 15 degrees. As long as one was sure to duck when one heard the characteristic sound of a bucket of water becoming airborne, maybe it could be considered fun? When I used to get frightened by the wind offshore, I'd put in earplugs and raise my hood. I'm a much more objective judge of conditions if I can't hear the loud howling. Same goes for the diesel engine. Everything seems calmer the second it's turned off.
Woody made the good point that he'd rather have the kind of steady high pressure winds we got today vs the unpredictable sort. It's a lot more nerve wracking to be putting up a spinnaker and then clawing it down when you see waterspouts than it is to just put up your tiny sails and bash steadily along. That's one of the things I like about our off-season sailing. Most of the times I've been most frightened have been in Florida and the Gulf during the summer, when it might go from dead calm to 50kts as some thunderstorm overtakes you at 0200. The cold weather is obviously a risk factor, but isn't so bad for short days in full foulies. We switch off and make tea before anyone's hands go stupid. At night, the heater is so warm we can sit in our underwear. Wouldn't want to be going round the clock offshore, but it's not bad for daysailing.
Also, every time I think we're badass, I see someone out in a much less substantial craft. Annapolis attracts extreme types, I suppose because I saw 3 sailing dinghies going out and one maniac kiteboarder waaaay over on the eastern shore. We're not impressing anyone over here.
Spa Creek is just as cramped as we remembered, but at least it's calm. The next several days are supposed to be relatively windless, so we'll be here hanging out with Woody's grandparents and hopefully some sailfar'ers. Anyone in the area, feel free to get in touch.
I stole Raylay's pic of Mona bashing to weather, because it's just super
great pic
Shirley and I had lunch with Rachel and Woody in Annapolis today, and had a most delightful visit.
A trip to Annapolis is never complete without a stop at Bacon Sails, and that was the first stop after picking them up at the dinghy dock, and after much browsing the immense array of goodies, they bought a few needed items for Mona, and I bought two books. The selection of books is not large, and most are on how to do some part of sailing, maintenance, or preparing to cruise. I picked out sailing stories, nonfiction, the sort that our library never has.
Our visit proved timely, as the propane tank went empty as they cooked supper last night, so a visit to refill that was part of the day.
Shirley passed on a trip out to Mona, and waited in the car, warmed by the sunshine, and took a look at one of my new books (she had a book of her own to read, but tried mine). It hooked her, and she is now reading it at home.
Mona is very pretty on the outside as we rowed up, and shows the care that they have given her.
I was pleasantly impressed with the stability of their dinghy with a propane cylinder, myself, James, and Rachel on board, as James rowed us out to Mona. James went first, I handed up the propane and then climbed carefully on deck. Rachel waited patiently with her box of leftovers from lunch, then demonstrated the advantage of youth and quickly came on board. I was jealous!
The first thing that caught my attention was the beautiful and strong laminated tiller that James had built to replace the old one that broke. Down below, Rachel started the tour, which included the electric distribution box which she built from scratch at Charlie Jones shop. It is hinged for easy access, and it pleased even this critical eye, inspecting electrical equipment was my career, and I have seen factory wiring that was not as well done.
Their Westsail is certainly well equipped and arranged for the type of sailing and livaboard life that they are enjoying, excellent galley, cabin heater, and water system for at anchor, and just a very small cockpit, so the space is down below for living.
I am anticipating their stories in the months ahead, remembering when I was young enough to tackle the challenges that go with living on a boat, and enjoying the unique advantages that go with it.
Thanks for having me as a guest!
Norman
Great couple huh? Two of my favs. See why I'm envious?
It was good to meet you and Shirley. Thanks again for lunch and the rides. We'll keep and eye out for Kruse'n on future trips past the Potomac.
that is a great pic! thanks for posting!
Couple of little video clips to go with that pic. It was a wet week.
Password = Mona
https://vimeo.com/194542258
https://vimeo.com/194540628
👍 👍
Great videos looked like it was cold that day
Thanks. Does my heart good. Can't wait to get my W32 out there again.
It has been in the 50's most days, though we have a good number of days in the 40's coming up. I think we're just going to sail over the the Eastern Shore and spend the winter on the Choptank. A free slip was offered and who are we to argue with free?
Keep S !!
Love to see both of you over here!!
77 today...
Well, if we go up to Maine next summer we'll have run out of US states to visit on the Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico. I guess that means it'll be time to go to some other countries. Maybe you'll see us next winter.
Are you still in Annapolis? I haven't had much chance to breath the past several weeks; but I'm planning on being in Annapolis for the SSCA lunch on Saturday. I'm trying to decide whether I'm going to sail up on Friday or drive on Saturday. Seeker is not heated at anchor and it's beginning to get rather chilly.
No, we left yesterday. We're going to spend the winter in St. Michaels, if you find yourself on the Eastern Shore for any reason.
St. Michaels is good. Maybe I'll catch you in the spring before you move on.
Last batch of pictures for this season.
http://imgur.com/a/p7dna
Great shots!!
Gotta love sailing with the fall colours!! (If a bit cold)
Nice shots. The guy on Irish Rover said hello
Beautiful photos. With your captions, they share your experiences so well.
Thank you, Rachel. :)