Disclaimer.....I'm shitz disturbing here in hopes of getting reaction.
In the early day of this site, great banters went on about the virtues of small boats.
The benefits of sailing small (as well as living small)
Connie, Lynx, CJ, Craig (Faith), myself and may others posted of our travel's
Where's the banter?
Where are the pictures of others out cruising?
Where's the PASSION????
end of rant....... :o
:'( sorry, Frank, my passion has six inches of snow on her, the marina has ice in most of the slips. My wife and I just finished clearing most of the snow and ice from the driveway, teen degree nights had turned the unshoveled snow from the last one into ice that could not be shoveled.
On a more positive note, some stitching repaired in the sails, batteries on charge to be ready when weather is warmer. Checked the motor last month, it is still willing to do its thing. The club canceled the first two races of the season due to snow storms.
MOST DEFINITELY SOAKING UP THE SUN IN YOUR PICTURES!
You seem to be the only one living the great life in the tropics! Do you have a spare berth for a poor snow covered sailor to warm up in paradise? It would be much better if I were squinting from the reflected sun off a white sand beach instead of snow!
As far as I am concerned, it's been a difficult few years. Many things in my life have kept me here, shore bound.
BUT
Movement is afoot (or afloat?)for Tehani and I to resume cruising, at least for a few months, come April. Hoping to cruise from here to Florida in time for the Florida 120 in May, then stick around for the BEER Cruise in June, then poke around eastward until I get tired , or just decide to come back-
or keep going ;)
At that time I plan to restart the "from Tehani, out cruising" thread
Oh- and Connie moved to the Bahamas, and got married.. NOT bad!!
Norman.....yep...a brutal winter!!!
I got these from home about 1 1/2 weeks ago
CJ...I know you'll be back when ya can
My thoughts tho are that "passion" seems lost...
Debates about small, simple etc
How small could you go....
Anti consumerism.....
Living simply....
And....others out cruising!!
Just trying to get activity going!!!! ;)
PS...I DO NOT WANT THIS TO BE A WEATHER THREAD!! :o ;D ;)
Well, W00dy and Ralay are out and aboard limited wifi
If you are talking Forum activity...anecdotally it seems to me that forum usage has dropped across the board. All the forums I follow have dropped precipitously over the past few years. Maybe it has something to do with sites like Facebook becoming mainstream. Maybe there is just an internet burnout. Maybe, well, who knows.
Stirring the pot, eh Frank?
Godot is right on regarding online traffic. People are moving their activity to other social media platforms. At work we call it following the shiny ball and it makes my "research" more difficult to find current pictures and information and discussion about topics of interest (read sailboats).
As for our household, we are just burnt out from work. All day long I stare at several monitors and do what amount to trying to herd cats. I am sorry to say that by the end of the day about all I can do is absorb whatever I see or read on a few, very select, forums. Commercial TV accounts for about 2 hrs. a week. This work gig is a gamble we took to get a home base set up and sock away some money. Our goal is to be cruising 2016. First with our Ariel so we can learn what we need, what we want, what we can do, and what we can do without. If it works, we can then make decisions based on our experience what to do with our Ta Chiao; keep her, modify her, sail her, or sell her.
The passion still burns here! I'm just busier than a cat covering $#!* trying to learn all the things one needs to know before taking the plunge. I don't even know what I don't know yet, and the list seems to get longer every week! Believe me when I say this, Frank, I thrive on posts like your current cruise here on SailFar. I wish there were more of us "out there" posting about life on a small cruiser, because in reality, I am the armchair sailor that devours those posts, blogs, vlogs (I'm not a facebook user as of yet) hoping to glean some nugget of information to add my manual.
If I had the chance to do it all over again, sure, I'd make different choices early on, but this is where we're at now and I am excited to have a plan, and a date, and a first mate that is as much onboard as I am to get lost on purpose.
Oh yea, living small. Three years ago when I first started reading about tiny houses I was beside myself. Finally there was proof that I was not crazy, and if I was, I would at least have company. Our next land based house will be size appropriate for living, not mindless consumerism.
Adam...you are certainly correct. I used to search out every boat site, joined many, devour every boat spec, follow sailing blogs etc. Now I check in on 2 sites and that's it.
Capt Tony. Yep...life does get in the way BUT you have a date!! A goal to work towards! That's more than most. If it's for 2...the Ariel is a great boat!! Probably the nicest sailing offshore boat I've helmed. And faster than they should be too! Throw in shallow draft and its a great combo. I really like your idea...sail it, see what you need and only then "maybe" get something else. Or...ya just might realize what a great cruiser they are! Pretty boat too. I love stern shots of Ariels....what a great a#s ;)
The Ariel is slightly larger than Tehani and I've found her quite comfortable, even off offshore. Spent the better part of 2 1/2 years cruising on her. You are apt to find you don't NEED more.
And I visit only 3 sites regularly anymore.
I took the month of January off from social media. It was liberating but I'm back in it. I suppose I have a bit more control over my addiction to it.
I am leaving before August to the Bahamas (hopefully) from the Great Lakes. I'll at least make it to warmer water; depends on how long my money lasts. Whatever it is will be good enough. I think I'll get to the Bahamas the money will mostly affect how far and how long. See the Non Plan Plan http://bubbathepirate.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-non-plan-plan.html (http://bubbathepirate.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-non-plan-plan.html)
I will get passionate about minimalism and "Go small, Go Now" but I have no experience to make any bold statements yet. I plan to report specific cost information in addition to dispatches from my adventures. Sadly, I've been working on this for 8 years. Its hard work setting yourself up to be a bum. But I have the boat, most of what I need and am socking money away thru about June 15. Then its boat prep, sell my car and wave goodbye.
I do want to express that I appreciate this forum a great deal. I have learned a lot just lurking around. Many other forums seem to devolve into off topic political rants at the drop of a hat. I'm glad we dont suffer the same fools. I don't go to these others anymore unless I have googled something specific that has lead me there. Even then, off topic pollution often interferes with learning anything.
So thank you, all of y'all!
Bubba- I would strongly urge you to not attempt the Atlantic ICW with just a yuloh for propulsion. It can be done under sail i'm sure- Lin and Larry did it but heading north, not south, and they took a LONG time. I've run the Atlantic ICW 5 or 6 times now, and the engine is a real need at times, sad to say.
Just to add- here's what you'll be experiencing twice a day, from just south of the Chesapeake, to mid Florida. At times, 7-9 feet or more every 6 hours
On this same topic- I made a post awhile ago noting there had been zero action in over 3 days. Used to NEVER happen. And on the thursday night chats, apathy..A few show, but not like it was. That's a chance to talk one to one with fellow small boat folks. Why the zero interest??Oh, a FEW show up, but not many. Makes me wonder
All my passionate energy is being consumed trying to fix up the boat or make money to buy boat parts. :P
I kept a blog/newsletter for our family for many years about our projects and trips, which I finally abandoned this summer. Living aboard and traveling has become so routine for us that it's hard for me to remember why anyone else would want to read about it. I felt bored and self conscious that the content was so repetitive and stopped bothering. After all, it is pretty repetitive. Sail to new place. Buy groceries, ice. Get water, fuel. Go for walk. Read books. Take nap. Eat popcorn and watch movies. Sail to next place. Try to stay on top of maintenance and repairs. Pretty similar to the things everyone enjoys, but with more frequent changes of scenery. It only gets dramatic when we do something stupid! Likewise, the more we travel, the less I want to read other travelogues. I'm not so interested in reading about someone else going somewhere, I want to go!
Morbidly, I enjoy reading posts about people's problems and breakdowns the most. Everything is always waiting to break and I like to familiarize myself with all my potential future woes. I also like to see folks' projects and solutions to problems. Which is probably why most of my posts are in the boat bits and gear here section. I'm more likely to contribute to post about projects or nuts and bolts practical topics than to philosophical discussions. I'm not against philosophical banter or cruising logs in the least, they're just not my favorite part of sailing forums.
Thanks, CharlieJ for reading the blog. I am slightly less enthusiastic about the yuloh since writing that. I have to figure out something as the 40 year old Volvo has not cooperated. I am going one way or another; by hook or by crook; heck or highwater; etc. It is likely that I will breakdown and use an outboard for the trip south and then decide if I can live without it at some point.
Thanks again.
Since Jarle sailed a Vega to the antarctic and later three young swedes, with no sailing experience, sailed one around the world in 2005-07 the Vega has become a popular choice for young swedes who "Go small, go now". If nothing else Matt Rutherford's circumnavigation of the Americas proved that the boat is much more then the coastal cruiser with family livability it was intended as.
All these attempts, successful or otherwise, have exposed both the strengths and weaknesses of the Vega and I will gladly help you with any information I can If it would be helpful?
One common problem is that if the boat is cheap it has the original Albin O21/22 petrol engine or if you are lucky an equally old diesel. Either way the design, with the propeller behind the small rudder, causes poor steering under power and none at all in reverse. It is not uncommon in Sweden to "modify" the Vega by hanging on an auxiliary rudder on the stern, taken from another boat (often Maxi 77) or home built. This also removes the tiller from the cockpit giving it much more space.
I understand you are a "trucker" so you probably know what your diesel is about. I would suggest that you reinforce the stern and put an outboard bracket on it. This way you are ready to hang an outboard on there without second thought whether you keep the diesel in the boat or rip it out completely.
Another problem with the old Vegas is that they tend to leak terribly in the joint between hull and deck. This is usually found at the first offshore gale but is easily fixed with an abundance of "gue".
Something that has happened more then once is that the fore stay breaks. The weak point seems to be the attachment to the deck which fails due to 40 years of stress fatigue. I suggest that you reinforce this by welding or replacing.
Quote from: ralay on March 09, 2015, 01:04:32 AM
, It only gets dramatic when we do something stupid!
Yep....you either watch the entertainment or you ARE the entertainment ;)
we've all been there.... :o
Ayep ;D
I recall a time on Tehani when we had guests aboard. Backed out of the slip and the engine had almost zero power. Couldn't get the boat to move at all and we drifted into a dock piling. Finally one of the dock watchers called over to say- "Charlie-your prop is not in the water"
At that point I realized that my crew ,AND the guest couple were standing way up in the bow. Thus lifting the stern . She IS just 25 feet ;D
Once they moved aft, I had control again, but not before putting on a "how NOT to undock"show for the marina :o :o
When you combine Charlie's undocking tale with Seahusky's spot on 'no steerage in reverse' with a Vega, you can easily imagine that I would was dockside entertainment last more than once last summer.
Luckily, I was working part time and sailed during the week more often than on the weekend. So the crowds were thin. I'm sneaky like that.
Quote from: Bubba the Pirate on March 09, 2015, 01:31:55 PM
When you combine Charlie's undocking tale with Seahusky's spot on 'no steerage in reverse' with a Vega, you can easily imagine that I would was dockside entertainment last more than once last summer.
Luckily, I was working part time and sailed during the week more often than on the weekend. So the crowds were thin. I'm sneaky like that.
The trick, which applies to most long keeled boats, is to hold the tiller firmly (as if it had any function) and pretend that wherever you end up was exactly where you intended to go.
;D Well, not exactly Tehani will back up. To port ;) You have to convince her to back the other way.
Trick is to center the rudder, get some way on, then throttle back and THEN turn. Of course, she's outboard powered, but the engine is in a well, and locked into position, so it's like an inboard, excerpt the prop is behind the rudder
Quote from: SeaHusky on March 09, 2015, 04:59:35 PM
The trick, which applies to most long keeled boats, is to hold the tiller firmly (as if it had any function) and pretend that wherever you end up was exactly where you intended to go.
[/quote]
Very nice!! Grog
Quote from: CharlieJ on March 09, 2015, 05:48:50 PM
Trick is to center the rudder, get some way on, then throttle back and THEN turn. Of course, she's outboard powered, but the engine is in a well, and locked into position, so it's like an inboard, excerpt the prop is behind the rudder
Prop behind the rudder is exactly the Vega's problem as well. Small boat designer compromise. My slip was the last one down a fairway. I didn't have much room to glide backward. Behind me was a couple barges as seawall, not so nice to run into. (wonderful working man's marina BTW)
Personally, if it wasn't for having two kids at home still in high school, I'd be off. Maybe not full time but off as I see fit, especially after this winter. At 60 my goal is to get thru the next couple of years & after that be a boat bum whenever the sprit moves me. I read some of Todd's blog, I like it. If he makes this happen & keeps blogging the motto will change from go now, go small to eat when you're hungry, work when your broke. Funny, I lived my life like that in my mid 20's. Living in a tent & fly fishing my way across the rocky mountains for 3 years. In retrospect, guess a boat's no different.
"eat when you're hungry, work when your broke"
I'll grog to that.
Quote from: misfits on March 10, 2015, 10:15:23 PM
Personally, if it wasn't for having two kids at home still in high school,
As soon as the kids graduate leave the next day. Why because life can get in the way.
Quote from: Grime on March 12, 2015, 09:20:22 AM
Quote from: misfits on March 10, 2015, 10:15:23 PM
Personally, if it wasn't for having two kids at home still in high school,
As soon as the kids graduate leave the next day. Why because life can get in the way.
yup & it's called college :'(
Oh I didn't realize that you were going to college. If its the kids soon or later you have to wean them. Better sooner you might not have later. ;)
Update on the passion:
I will not be leaving on my boat until Spring 2016.
I will be helping Alex Dorsey move his Westsail 42(not a Sailfar boat) from NY to Panama. Be back in the States in September or so.
I stand to gain a windfall of experience. I can't be more excited!
this is a great thread! that has been on my mind too. I think it is true that Fb has taken many peoples internet browsing time. BUT!, I think those with a larger than average passion (for anything) are finding that they are really better served with a more focused and more personal site like sailFar.
because I don't say it often enough, let me say thank you to all who contribute here! I have absorbed much from so many of you. and I would probably have become a big boat owner who would have looked back and kept wondering why he so much missed his smaller, more simple boat - if it had not been for reading some of your posts, which were echoing silent thoughts in my very inexperienced mind.
I intend to post a little more about my sailing here in the very near future. Please know it is because I wish for you to also step it up! I would enjoy reading almost anything about your boat and adventures! Thanks again!
A couple days ago I happened to be reading an AARP magazine article interview of Bob Dylan, and when I came upon this answer, thought about this thread...
Q: A lot of your newer songs deal with aging. You once said that people don't retire, they fade away, they run out of steam. And now you're 73, you're a great-grandfather.
Bob Dylan: Look, you get older. Passion is a young man's game. Young people can be passionate. Older people gotta be more wise. I mean, you're around awhile, you leave certain things to the young. Don't try to act like you're young. You could really hurt yourself.
Here's the full interview...
http://www.aarp.org/entertainment/style-trends/info-2015/bob-dylan-aarp-magazine.2.html
I'm thinking that whether a cruising sailor or songwriter, there are similar aspects to passion. Charlie and Dylan are about the same age, and was telling me that his physical strength was not as strong as it had been. CJ, you were talking about how you used to lift a 5-gal jug of water from the dinghy bottom to the dock with one hand, but now you use both...
Charlie, you've told about how your Meridian 25 Tehani and smaller open boat tri, Traveler, these two boats are about all that you (with your considerable boatbuilding talent) can take on and maintain well, and still do some cruising. That statement, philosophy, and knowledge of your limits, means more to me now than when you said it.
My thoughts are that passion can get crowded out by too much complexity in one's life, too many distractions. Feel that this may be what has happened to me. Trying to do too many things, and losing focus.
I was talking to my neighbor, who was a farmer much of his life, about my situation and lack of energy (passion).
"You can only do so much." he said.
So it seems to me that not only does the boat need to be smallish, simple, and affordable, but the rest of ones life needs to be as well. Maybe simplify life and clear away the unnecessary, like a farmer does to till a bit of earth bare, and give that passion seed space to grow in...?
As the deep snow is now beginning to melt, I hope that I can remember to make this a season of letting go of some activities, some boats, to be better able to take care of--and enjoy--fewer things.
"Less is more." as one famous architect put it.
Nicely said Jim
But this is scary - DYLAN is younger than I am!!!!!!! OUCH!! ;) ;)
Missed you chatting last night. Missed EVERYONE really ::)
OK.....I've dropped several "hints" through out. Needn't be big...a 22. 23, 25 or 26 will do!! Follow your "passion"....get over here. In the early days of this site...many would have "climbed aboard" with passion!!!! Where are you's ???? I miss the "small is simple...is OK.." chatter!!!! Is every one just dreaming....or does everyone realize the ONLY ONE holding them back is.....them selves!!!!
The Abacos are SO easy!!! They are safe!!! No locking dingy's or OB's ....no begging....just a ton of islands....remote OR with activities...Your choice !!! Where is the "I can DO this" chatter?????
PS.....I've crossed the stream...during "winter winds" .....in a 20, a 22, a 23, a 25, a 26, a 27 and bigger. It is EASILY done!!!!!
LIVE YOUR DREAMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Quote from: Frank on March 21, 2015, 12:37:49 AM
I miss the "small is simple...is OK.." chatter! Is every one just dreaming....or does everyone realize the ONLY ONE holding them back is.....them selves!
The Abacos are SO easy!
I'm completely on board with the small boat is okay. Just posted a lovely Meridian in SellFar. You sure DO make it look easy, Frank. Have a local friend that plans to buy my Snapdragon 26 and get it setup on a trailer to head South next winter. I've got a Westerly 22 that I'd like to restore and also setup on a tandem trailer, so that I can do the same. Will be a lot of work (though nowhere near what Charlie did with
Tehani), and then there is the tow vehicle, the cost of the trip down, keeping the winter open from work, if possible, since I'm not retired yet, etc. The cost will be considerable, and many of the costs of the house will continue to need to be paid.
It does look beautiful there in the Bahamas, and we have you to thank for sharing your experiences with your inspiring
Allure to the Abacos :) thread.
Personally, I'm not at all worried about making the trip itself. The trip is easy. My boat is certainly capable of it. It will be better off when I finish a few more repairs (33 years accumulates some wear and tear). The girlfriend and my family know that I'll be doing this.
The scary part is financial. I'm not quite ready to pull the plug on a steady income. Getting there. Not there yet. There a just a few debts to finish paying off (getting oh, so close). And a little bit of bank account padding.
And I think I might thru-hike the Appalachian Trail first.
Quote from: Godot on March 22, 2015, 08:55:08 AM
The scary part is financial. I'm not quite ready to pull the plug on a steady income.
Exactly. I do think that it is a real advantage to be retired, so that you have both the freedom to go wherever you want, and the retirement check gets deposited anyway. Also to have enough financial wherewithal to be able to bear the costs comfortably....including the costs of other things that continue even when one is off cruising.
There are of course exceptions, even those SailFarers who live aboard and let go of (or do not accumulate) all that other land stuff that must be paid for in addition to the cruising kitty. I believe that there is an advantage to be younger, so you have had less time to let all this land stuff build up...
I don't necessarily agree (with Dylan) that passion is only a young person's game, but with the responsibilities and clutter that comes from many years on land, one does have to be more wise to keep everything going.
Another songwriter wrote "Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose..." When I was younger, I had less to lose, so it was easier to be more free... ;)
Passion is the perfect word for this thread because it is based on a Latin word for suffering. Not exactly what Frank meant, perhaps, but it really is a part of the scenario. In order to actually cut the docklines, for more than a couple weeks, you must make the trip & your boat more important than anything else in your life. This will involve making sacrifices (suffering) in the workaday world you are trying to leave.
Eight(!) years ago last week, I quit my last career job and bought a boat. My plan was to buy a boat that I could afford because it needed some work, then do the work and sail off. My blogs from summer 2007 are hilarious; I thought I was going to leave by the fall. I bought the wrong boat - too much project, not enough boat. However, I was too dumb and too involved to recognize the problem right away. I worked on that boat on and off for almost seven years before I gave up. I drove a truck, I worked in a hospital & a grocery store, and helped build wind turbine blades trying to find the right combination of part time or full time, money vs. time etc. And I abused the love of my family and friends couch surfing and eventually winding up in Mom & Dad's basement for the last few years; not always exactly comfortable for a fifty year old wannabe vagabond.
I was broke again but wiser and went back on the road, the most lucrative of the jobs for which I was qualified. In less than a year, I found my current boat, Bella - nearly turnkey for sailing off.
Further, because I have whittled my lifestyle to near vagabond status, paid off my bills and built up a cruising kitty, I have a great deal of flexibility. Just as I was ready to start my own trip this summer, I was granted the opportunity to help crew on a major boat delivery from upriver of NYC to Panama. My last day in this iteration as a truckdriver is this Thursday. I will be in New York the first week of April. This trip will be the equivalent of a Masters Degree in Vagabond Cruising.
Sometimes, passion doesn't show up because its on slow burn. I believe that to sustain a long term slow burn actually requires a lot of passion. I won't try to claim the mantle of passion before I've accomplished anything, but I do know there is passion out here. And we are in debt to Connie, Lynx, CJ, Craig (Faith), and Frank for showing us the way. I can only hope to contribute in some small way to this repository of advice and experience.
Peace and Fair winds,
Todd
PS: I can't wait to post pictures and tales of this adventure.
Yes....money is always an object to consider. That said, Jeff and his girlfriend live aboard their 28ft boat. Jeff plays guitar and sings, she does art work. While they are both doing what they love (a blessing!), neither provides what most would call a substantial income. Yet they save enough by living "simply" during summer to pay for their winters here (4-5mths). They choose to have less to cruise. There are many stories like this. Family, debt, partners, "life"... often gets in the way. It took me 18yrs longer than I hoped. I now wish I had started earlier.
Edit: I wanted to leave in 1984! Had a good, shallow draft 25fter, the "cruising guide south" with 'Walter Cronkite' on the cover (still have it) but that darn "life" thing.....
Left finally in 2002!
Now I see how easy it can be.......
Bubba- hopeful that I can revive "from Tehani, out cruising" very soon.. Hopefuily, starting next month, May at the latest.
Then it'll be your turn ;)
First let me say I love following this tread. Seeing what everybody is doing to get to the point of getting out there.
I have had a truck load of set backs on the dream. First I built a house for a friend then turned around down sized and built a small effiecent house for us. But hopefully I am back on track on the construction of our 28 Catketch. Every week I get something done towards the dream goal. I should be able to turn the hull over and start on the inside by the end of April. Last week I got most of the trailer ready to move the hull to our new boat building. This summer we will work towards getting heat in the building so boat work can be done thru the winters.
I am 58 now and need this boat finished when I am 62.
I have the passion that's what keeps me going.
Its really about knocking one thing at a time out of the way till you can throw the dock lines clear!
Scott
Thought I would post this short ramble here...
We have a ton of members. In years past up to 5 of us have been in Bahamas over winter.
At times I feel guilty for posting "cruising updates" as it often seems no one else is...
What is everyone doing?
Who's going where?
Is anyone else sailing to places not close to home?
I have met several young couples on small boats with even smaller budjets that are out "living it" this year....
Again...where's the passion???
Will be hanging around home waters this year
Have several projects on going. assisting in restoration of a Santana 21, teaching someone else to sail, agreed to do a session on wiring, filleting and taping at a wooden boat building show.
Will be sailing in the Texas 200 this year also
Right now involved in a 2 week project to build a pair of 15 foot sailboats, to be loaners in the Texas 200 for accepting donations for cancer research. All donated materials. Sails, hardware etc. We likely won't have them totally done in two weeks, but they'll just need finish works
Will be doing some sailing around here this summer in San Fran and Tomales Bays, having to stay close until I get my Mom moved down to my sister's.
An extended mountain bike trip at the end of July followed by a month of cruising the Inside Passage to the Broughtons in August and September.
The passion is there but somehow this retirement thing is keeping way too busy.
Looking forward to getting my boat in the water this year! Purchased this 1983 Com-Pac 23 last June and have been cleaning her up ever since. This is my chance to get back into the 'Passion' of sailing south one day after a 'No Boat' haitus. The admiral is on board with this plan though it might not be until our daughter completes college. Heck she almost had me talked into buying a Beneteau 311! O_O
So until that faithful day we will be sailing the Barnegat Bay, our local waters. The wife plans to learn how to sail this go around plus I need to relearn what I forgot. If a good deal comes along we'd like to find a boat with standing headroom. I was just looking at a 1967 Bristol/Sailstar 24, lots of boat in a nice small package. Thought I could refit this old girl while we sail the 23. Still working out the logistics on that idea. :)
Perhaps in a couple of years we'll start taking the boat south and berth her down on the Chesapeake and spend a few years sailing that fine piece of water. Ultimately the goal being the Keys and then the Bahamas! Though work, bills and college tuition may try to hold us down, we're riding the 'Passion Wave' as long as we can!
So here's to Fair Winds, Following Seas & Blue Skies!
Kevin & Lesa
.....and s/v Tetra :)
I'm having back surgery in a week so looks like my passion will not leave the driveway this year.
Frank, don't feel guilty posting your cruising adventures. I think several of us here enjoy your posts. I know I do!
Misfits....I fully understand 'life' gets in the way......
I wanted to leave in 1984...,,,it happened in 2002
Then in 2008, although 'here' and on a boat....I started building a cottage. Seemed a good idea at the time. I guess I'm a bit of a vagabond at heart and bored easily. Sold the cottage late last fall and finally 'freely cruising' the Abaco's again. Feels great.
I guess my point, for whatever my 2 cents are worth, is that there are 928 members here. In the past several posted pics and updates of their adventures. I guess I miss that........
Adventures need not be Rd da world, or crossing oceans.....adventures can be had close to home. Winds and storms come up in rivers, lakes, seas and oceans. Anchors drag the same everywhere. Batteries drain the same, boats need fixing while underway the same,
Same BS...different location.
It's the lack of actual adventure posts I question.....
I totally get the 'life' thing....
But surely out of 928 others are going somewhere.....
End of rant. :o :o
We have pulled out Pearson Ariel down to FL and are trying to finish her up so we can go sailing for a while. (until the money runs out :o) With any luck we will be in the water the end of this month. While it is getting late in the season, we are going for it. Keys, Bahamas, maybe even go north.
As far as adventure goes, I JUST found my password to get into the SF site a couple of minutes ago. That was kind of an ordeal in and of itself! Other than that it has just been an adventure every day in the boat yard. It's hot, dirty, inconvenient as #$!! living in a work zone/project (especially with your spouse*), our generator crapped out after a day and half of use, getting any kind of finish other than "non-skid" from all of the free dust blowing about is just about impossible, the water in the yard isn't drinkable, the no-see-ums TORTURED me for the first 4 weeks, and I don't think I have ever felt more alive since boot camp. The only thing I would change is the uncertainty of the weather as we get ready to skim coat our micro balloons and then prime and paint.
This has been a great experience for both the Mrs. and me from all perspectives such as; learning a new level of tolerance for each others needs, learning tidbits from boat builders, and circumnavigators, meeting people like Alex Dorsey and the Sailing UMA crew.
I have been posting some stuff on the Ariel Association's forum, primarily because there already is a thread over there on the craziness of Ariel 113 since we bought her. Also, in order for us to have internet access with the ability to post photos these days means we are either sitting in the marina office or at McDonald's which means we are not working on the boat.
* There can not be enough praise for Carol and her support, help, passion, understanding, and tolerance AND her not only jumping in with both feet, but also pushing me outside my comfort zone and getting this crazy fun adventure on the road and going. My better half...
I'm in slow burn mode right now. Working too much but I have been making a little boat progress. I'll move the boat in the next month or so.
As soon as Capt. Tony said no-see-ums and undrinkable water, I knew right where he is because I've been hanging out here and will soon have my own boat here as well.
Cruising Life changes you. Once, just the sight of my boat in all her rotten glory got me all fired up. Nowadays, it's a bit harder to find that same feeling.
It's been quite a while, but I got a good dose of it again this morning. A late night wind shift meant our temporary anchorage in transit of Pamlico sound was not so "protected" anymore. Rather than lay in my wildly rocking berth until daylight, we hauled up the anchor at 0230 and got underway for Manteo, 45 to the north. After hours of blasting along at 7 knots, running and surfing with 15-20 kts on the quarter, I watched the sky in the east gradually lighten and the waves take shape all around me. Mona was steering herself and I lay on the bowsprit platform and watched her plow through the water in the morning sunlight.
(http://i.imgur.com/xbnyor1.jpg)
I guess I'm all fired up again.
Also, really tired from staying up all night ;)
Here's a link to a video: https://vid.me/kFr3
Watching the sun come up offshore after a night watch is awesome isn't it
Looking to do it again ;D
WOOdy.....
Thank you for that.......
Grog
Ya "get it" ;)
very enjoyable. thank you
Thanks for that Woody.
It's so soothing listening to a boat gliding thru the water being
propelled by the wind.
It does get weary living in a world filled with so much white noise.
Guess that's why I like sailboats.
Quote from: w00dy on April 04, 2016, 08:27:01 PM
...Mona was steering herself and I lay on the bowsprit platform and watched her plow through the water in the morning sunlight.
Beautiful photo, story, description...
Nice photo wOOdy tanks
Sure! I figured I would keep the one showing all my puke down the topsides to myself ;D
If you want to sell sailing, it's better to post the graceful baysailing videos and not the offshore, sleep-dep vomit fest. :P
Quote from: Frank on March 31, 2016, 10:05:28 PM
Adventures need not be Rd da world, or crossing oceans.....adventures can be had close to home. Winds and storms come up in rivers, lakes, seas and oceans. Anchors drag the same everywhere. Batteries drain the same, boats need fixing while underway the same,
Same BS...different location.
It's the lack of actual adventure posts I question.....
I totally get the 'life' thing....
But surely out of 928 others are going somewhere.....
End of rant. :o :o
Okay then ... new guy here ... I'll play!
Next month we're sailing our Catalina 22 across the "Florida Armpit" from Steinhatchee to Carrabelle and back. Should be about 75 miles each way, and our longest cruise yet. We've only been sailing a couple years, so it's definitely an adventure to
us.And we just bought a '79 Albin Vega! So the adventure has a lot of room to grow. :)
Nice sail- I've done it.
Ooh, the Vega. I've always wanted to sail on one of those, they have such a good rep. :)
Quote from: CapnK on May 26, 2016, 04:57:37 PM
Ooh, the Vega. I've always wanted to sail on one of those, they have such a good rep. :)
I wish I could tell you what they were like! LOL
But ours is still on the hard, 1300 miles away in Massachusetts. Gotta trailer her home to FL and drop a new engine in her ... but she's in pretty great shape otherwise. She was a great find, one of the last ever made, and she had a nice easy life on an inland lake for the first 30+ years of her life.
I had a '75 Vega and loved her. More than occasionally, I look at list of projects on my Westsail and pine for the days I was bombing around Lake Michigan aboard the Vega.
Hey, Bubba! Yeah, I've seen a few of your postings while digging around in the Albin Vega Yahoo group. Nice to make your acquaintance. :)