April is going way too fast for me, and I find myself once again rushing around to get caught up on voyage preparation for the new launch date for the Bermuda voyage of 06/06/08. Last week Portland Yacht Services of Portland, Maine faxed me the survey of the mast and rigging work that needs to be completed. Below is a synopsis of those reports without the amounts I'm being charged. The reason I'm leaving off the prices, they seem a little too good to be true, and seem to fit my budget as if they were tailored for me. I don't want them to get in trouble if they did give me a bit of a break, so I'll just leave the figures omitted for now.
Here are the work orders I've signed for and paid for:
1. Stepping of the mast, launching, rig tuning.
2. The masthead sheaves will be disassembled, cleaned, lubricated, and given the proper corrosion protection. This is being done because one of them is frozen.
3. The spreader tips are being removed and having the rivets replaced.
4. Halyards: They will be building a new job halyard, main halyard, and spinaker halyard. They'll re-use two shackles and provide a new snap shackle for the spinnaker halyard. (Winchard HR snap shackle patent. 1/8 X 5/16 rope to wire halyard. Yale 5/16 uu w/yellow.)
5. Fabricating a new spreader brackets, spreaders, and tangs.
They were going to toggle the shrouds, but because they wantd to replace the whole rigging which they said was in decent shape, I've decided to wait on that one. In a year or two I'll design a new complete rigging system myself, as I've always been confident in my own skill in this department, and find it's the best way to know what it can take.
Anyway, so yes, there are some changes in the way the launch is going to go. After I leave my job at the end of May I'll be driving both my cats, Lava and Elvira, to Portland in my Ford Bronco. Then if the weather is going to be temperate, I'm going to lock them inside the boat with enough food and water to last three days. Then I'll be diving down to Virginia and taking a train back up to Maine. This way, when the voyage concludes, I'll have my very capable four-wheel-drive waiting for me to take any gear off the boat that I don't want to keep on board during storage.
Just had a quick looksee at your Myspace - that's a damned good looking boat!
Wishing you much better success than on your last effort Robin. I suspect this boat will be more up to the job, don't you?
Certainly do. Also, please kknow that this will be the most documented of my trips.. I've got three main cameras now: A DMC-FZ8 by Panasonic and Leica for still shots and video in a pinch. A GS-39 Panasonic which will be the work horse for video coverage.. and then my new Panasonic/Leica GS-320. Now I realize that you may see three Panasonic cameras and wonder if I'm partial to them, truthfully I'm not... I bought each one at different times and they blew away all of the other cameras that they were next to. Last month I bought a Canon ZR950 and wasa so mad as it was the most awful video camera I'd ever come across. Later that day I found the Panasonic GS-350 in Grand Island and have been pretty happy with it. I've not done too many videos with the 350, and truthfully I;m not sure how much better it is than my older GS-39, but maybe you can judge.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=cZfSwy6vy-k (http://youtube.com/watch?v=cZfSwy6vy-k)
This video above was recorded using the newer GS-320
This video below was one of a series I recently did with the GS-39.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ds6Aj7PcYWU (http://youtube.com/watch?v=ds6Aj7PcYWU)
Mid-may is upon us, and with the sounds of Stan Rogers "Barett's Privateers" setting the mood on this chilly Calgary night, I find myself on the final approach for the now INEVITABLE launch of my 1972 Nova Scotian built Paceship East Wind. I have signed a numerous work orders for not only the rigging repairs to the William Bligh, but also have scheduled and paid to have her mast stepped on the fourth, and the launch on the ninth. My train ticket from Newport News, Virginia for Saturday 7 June has been bought, paid for, and reserved for the trip back up to Portland, Maine. I'm looking at storage places for the Bronco down in Virginia but it's always possible I'll find someone who lives in the area to keep it at their house until the voyage is over.
My feelings this evening must be similar to that of a war weary soldier, who has heard that the enemy is signing an armistice, but still has to wait through the shelling for the last bit of metal rain to end. The William Bligh has been held hostage by circumstance, lies, and my own lack of self discipline: She is a victim of me being gone all the time because of my job, and unable to have attended to her for the last few months, beset by the discoveries of multiple breaks, missing items, and other things by the less than reputable broker whom sold the Paceship to me, and the fact that I could have saved thirty grand in the time that has gone by, but I have a problem saving money until the last minute. Even with all of this, I feel somewhat triumphant in that I have finally navigated by way around all of these obstacles, and will soon no doubt be sailing my way to Bermuda and down into warmer weather. I realize that there hasn't been the huge fanfare that seemed to overwhelm me back in January, but perhaps a June cruise is not as special on its surface as me risking my neck because I have truly nothing to lose in January. Speaking of which, I think the greatest fault in my own judgment was not expecting the ice and snow in Maine. I had never even been to Maine until I bought this vessel, and my only experience on the ocean in January was in Hawaii and off California, where it occasionally got "chilly." The thought of sliding off the decks and into the rolling sea because a layer of frozen spray had never entered my mind, and was my only true fear. Nevertheless, that fear, however justified, had no impact on my postponement of the voyage, which was truly a monetary issue to do with catastrophic cracks that were found in the spreader mounts.
Because June may seem like cake for the majority of cruisers, I intend to make it more of a voyage of exploration and discovery. No I'm not crazy, and no, I don't think it's the 1700s. Certainly we won't be searching for a westward route to the spicelands of Asia, or even seeking out unexplored territory to plant a royal Spanish flag in; what we'll be looking for is interesting sea life to do stories on, and recording and documenting weather phenomenon in the Sargasso Sea around Bermuda. We've probably all searched for sailing videos from ordinary cruisers online, and while we come across interesting snips from voyages, they're not very well produced, and don't really have any aim or focus. BY producing many short videos, like my Eco Observer series, I can keep the focus on particular things, and hold the attention or the easily distracted internet generation. Just like before, I will be highlighting failures or equipment and my own shortcomings, and hopefully, we'll all have a laugh and find what I am doing not only worthwhile, but inspiring, and a demonstration of what an ordinary man can do when he puts his mind to use in an effort to escape the proverbial rat race.
So whether you're with me or against me, you'll wish you came along.
Robin Scott Johnson
Skipper:
s/v William Bligh of Portland, Maine (Paceship East Wind)
s/v Hard Knots or Tempe, Arizona(Capital Yachts Newport 20)
Fair winds and following seas Robin. One can wish no more for you other than that and - Best of luck on your voyages .
Thanks, Charlie, I appreciate that!
Have a good trip.
Good luck, fair winds, and keep us posted.
Robin - Good news!
I think that crossing an ocean, you'll likely still find some adversity to enjoy ;) even if it is a warmer month! (And being warmer, it might just make that adversity much easier to handle, lol). I'm glad that things have worked out for you that you can shove off... in less than a month!
I'm sure you'll have a great trip, and keep us updated throughout. Fair winds!!!
Quote from: CapnK on May 11, 2008, 10:50:42 AM
Robin - Good news!
I think that crossing an ocean, you'll likely still find some adversity to enjoy ;) even if it is a warmer month! (And being warmer, it might just make that adversity much easier to handle, lol). I'm glad that things have worked out for you that you can shove off... in less than a month!
I'm sure you'll have a great trip, and keep us updated throughout. Fair winds!!!
Good point!
I have posted similar polls on some other sailing sites that I'm on, as well as a few other boards I go to that have nothing to do with sailing. As many of you know, the s/v William Bligh and I are sailing to Bermuda in June from Portland, Maine, and I had lacked a usable dinghy. After a year of searching, I finally let cost help me decide on a Zodiac model that could support the Evinrude 4 h.p. that I used to use on the s/v Hard Knots.
I IMMEDIATELY thought of Fletcher, even before I opened the post to read the poll ;D
Fletcher is winning... and you're the third person who's said that that was the first thing they thought of, even before they saw the choices.. LOL
I would most definately go with Fletcher
Did Bligh give the open boat/launch they sailed home in a name?
The Excitement Trigger
By Robin Scott Johnson
Reminiscing about the voyage preparations in December for the January launch of William Bligh, a single question was posed to me again and again: Are you excited? Up until recently, and back then when I was enquired to, I had to tell the person whom I was speaking to that I was in fact NOT excited. It seemed very routine, expensive, and inevitable that I would be miserable bouncing around on the icy North Atlantic Ocean in the dead of winter, all while fighting seasickness and the cold. Still, I pursued my passion of sailing until certain devastating circumstances forced me to postpone all voyage plans until June. Well, June is almost here, and I have just about everything I need now. My debilitating lack of ability to routinely save money has not gone away, although I was able to save like mad for the last six weeks and have a tidy sum that already has covered fuel cost estimates for the Bronco, all the Boatyard work, a new dinghy, boat registrations on both the newly acquired Zodiac and yacht, additional groceries, emergencies, extra gear, and the inevitable hauling charges at the board yard in Newport News, Virginia. It sure seems like I'm coming off as a bit of a braggart, but believe me, there is nothing that I have ever worked harder for than this voyage, and the distance I have to travel to get to the s/v William Bligh makes this an extremely costly venture indeed. This week too, I finally purchased a motorized dinghy, which will be christened with the name "Fletcher." The name was come to with the help of several message board elections among which are: Mongothetrucker.com, Cruiser.co.za, Sailfar.net, Paceship.org, and my friends on Myspace.com. This necessary purchase will give me greater latitude where I anchor and make it considerably easier to get to shore and ferry supplies back and forth.
Today I drove up to Vancouver, British Columbia and then down back into Washington, where I gazed at all of the sailboats in Lake Union, their masts lazily swinging with the Space Needle and the rest of the Seattle skyline behind them...it was easy for me to look, as traffic was moving at two miles per hour just prior to rush hour! As I watched, multiple ideas and a stead-fast realization began to culminate in my brain as I daydreamed about a couple of posters I'd seen in the Boise Stage Stop: two posters of gorgeous Moorea Island, French Polynesia; a sailboat in a turquoise blue cove, the vessel fully decked out for cruising, with the beautiful dark and lush green volcanic mountains in the close background, as it was a narrow shot. I got on the telephone with a friend of mine in Arizona who also sails and told him that for the first time ever, I was excited about the solo voyage to Bermuda, in that it would be the first step in getting my life going again in the direction I wanted it to go. Sure Bermuda will be beautiful, but it's no South Pacific paradise, and I truly think that that is where I want to end up with this whole sailing venture. I'm more of a people-person than I used to be, so it's not solitude I seek, but I am looking to be a part of all those pictures I used to look at in shark books when I was a little kid... beautiful coral reefs, sandy beaches, palm trees, brilliant sunshine, and natures monsters like the sharks causing me my only stress. I think I can deal with a shark, or at least avoid becoming a meal, and if not, then I doubt my regret would last very long!
Elvira Garcia and Lavapai Martin (Elvira and Lava) are near me right now. Elvira, snuggled up next to me, purring as usual, and Lava, passed out having his dream-induced spasms while laying flat on his Superscratcher. These cats will have a good time after they get over their initial sea sickness. When living in Avalon Harbour, Santa Catalina Island, Lava really enjoyed his freedom, being able to have access to the outside world via the decks. He seemed very happy with the fresh air and watching the boats, fish, and the birds. Elvira has never been sailing, although she really took a liking to the William Bligh, and looked so content as she watched me work on the sink and various electrical systems, I have no doubt that she will make a fine sailing cat. The problem with Elvira is her small size, as she is too petite for a feline life preserver. There will of course then be special emphasis on training her to use a ladder to climb back on board when she's fallen overboard in a harbor or anchorage. I learned that Lava has zero problem climbing up a metal swim ladder on the stern of Hard Knots, so I assume that he'll be able to manage with the removable one which I'll be using on board the Bligh. Lava never liked being thrown overboard, but I think the trick was to push him when he wasn't looking in my direction, this way the grudge would pass within a few minutes. Elvira isn't as strong as Lava, in fact she is pathetically weak, so if the ladder doesn't work then I'll have to go the "hanging carpet" route, which I find a little unsightly in a harbour.
So yes, wow, I am excited as the big day finally approaches. It does help my mind-set being better prepared financially, and I am positive that this will be a successful voyage. Of course I will strive to keep everyone abreast of my progress. The first leg to Boston will be posted before I leave Bean Town, there will possibly be an update from Nantucket and/or Martha's Vineyard. Then upon reaching Bermuda I'll get online and post more video, pictures, and updates.. and let everyone know the final itinerary before setting sail to Virginia. It is my greatest hope that everyone will continue to follow the voyage and keep your collective fingers crossed for me.
Robin Scott Johnson
s/v William Bligh
Falmouth, Maine
let us know when you'll be in the boston area, since several of us live around here. :)
There's another East Wind owner there too.. I'll be using his mooring and he'll keep his boat at the yacht club. It should be around the 10th or 11th of June, but I'll keep you posted.
Quote from: AdriftAtSea on May 21, 2008, 07:44:39 PM
let us know when you'll be in the boston area, since several of us live around here. :)
Lava the Cat's New Amazing Trick
By Robin Scott Johnson
Lava the cat has always been considered highly intelligent by everyone who meets him. Since he was a kitten, he has always been able to figure out how to work door knobs, open cabinets, strategically open the tops of cat food bags to allow himself and Elvira to eat, climbing ladders to get into sailboats, and a myriad of other not so extraordinary, but impressive feats that prove he has a basic understanding for physics and the way things work. So yesterday I was going back and forth, moving things from the Kenworth to the Bronco, and at some point lost my keys. This was not an emergency situation, as they were either on the ground, in between the front seat and console of the Bronco, or somewhere in the Kenworth. I looked all over the ground, and couldn't find them. Then I checked the Bronco thoroughly, no luck there either. So I went back and climbed up into the Kenworth and sat in the driver's seat, looking at Lava who was sitting on the dash board looking at me. I wasn't really thinking about it seriously as a command or order, but I locked eyes with Lava and said, "Lava, Where are my keys?" Then I looked around the seat and couldn't find them.. they were really lost! A few seconds after I spoke to Lava, however, he jumped into the sleeper.. I didn't watch him, but all of a sudden, I started hearing my keys jingling. Turning around, I saw Lava, batting at the covers on my bed, drawing them back slightly as he batted my keys which were then revealed! It took me a moment to realize that Lava had heard and understood the command and found my keys. I was literally dumbfounded and speechless as I grabbed my keys and petted him and rewarded my cat with a treat. Worried that nobody would believe me, I mentioned it to a couple of my friends who had no trouble accepting the amazing feat of Lava the cat.
I think it was the tuna flavoured keytag that did it.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/P1030202.jpg)
Some lady I didn't know at the brew-house I frequent here in Kearney took this... so I apologize for the quality... didn't feel right asking her to take more.
Robin
Next... send us a picture of it flying over the yellow pratique flag in St Georges, please
Surely I will! I'm sure it won't be difficult to find a WiFi signal in this day and age, even in Bermuda!
Robin
Very cool... :) I second Norm's suggestion. :)
Looks like I need to change my home port.. Nebraska let me register s/v William Bligh here... the new registration expires Dec 31,2010..
Robin
So I arrived in Portland after a grueling 1750 mile drive, which I made having left at 8am Thursday, and arriving at the s/v William Bligh at 2am Saturday morning. It was rainy... I was halfway wired from too much caffeine, and dead tired but unable to sleep. An hour and a half earlier I had been pulled over by a Massachusetts State Trooper who had either seen me weaving around on the 495 in Boxboro as he claimed, or was suspicious of an out of state Ford Bronco tooling along at 54 mph at midnight with cars wizzing by it in the all of the lanes to its left.
"License and Registration." The trooper began, in a very cold manner.. it seems they're not as cordial when you're driving four-wheeler as opposed to my usual eighteen wheeled Kenworth. Not only didn't he ask for insurance, I didn't ask why he'd pulled me over. I was just hoping he would not want to look over the single shot New England Firearms 12 gauge, in its case and original wrapper in the cargo area. Some of you who followed my last voyage will note that I don't have the "arsenal" as some described it, as I did during my Pacific voyages... but since I know what's going to happen in Bermuda with it (The boat won't clear because of the cats, so it will sit in Powder hole... and the flare guns and the shot gun may be confiscated and returned upon my departure, according to the guy on the phone I talked to.).. and since New England has tighter gun laws.. I thought I'd carry the least offensive thing that I could still have fun with.. Very few shells too.. a box of bird shot and 5 single-shot slugs for the odd shark that might spot Lava and not leave the boat alone until he has a feline feast.. but I digress to the events of Friday evening....
He disappeared to his patrol car with my credentials, and when he came back he fired off:
"Where are you coming from tonight?"
"Nebraska."
Where are you going?"
"Portland, Maine."
"Are you a little tired? You were weaving around a bit back there."
"Perhaps, it's been a long day."
"Where was the last place you stopped?"
"New York, just prior to the Mass Pike to fuel."
"Where are you going after Portland?"
"Bermuda."
"Huh?"
"My sailboat's in Portland.. I'm sailing her there."
"Is this your current address, in Nebraska?"
"Yes."
"Are you from Maine originally?"
"No."
"Where are you from?"
"England."
"England?"
"Yes..."
"How long did you live there?"
"Not long."
"Where did you live before Nebraska?"
"Arizona."
"So you've lived all over."
"Yeah."
"Ok.. I'll be right back." The trooper said as he went back to his car. A few minutes later, he returned. "Are you awake now?" He asked.
"Yeah, thanks."
"OK, I'm going to give you a warning, you drive carefully to Portland."
There was oddly no paper warning, it was a verbal.. so I carefully restarted the Bronco and merged back onto the 495, grateful that that had all gone smoothly.
When I arrived at the boat it was raining, dreary, and I was not in a good mood. I took the ladder out of the back of the Bronco and set it up behind the Paceship East Wind. Then I removed the bungees and ropes that held on a tarp over the cockpit which had been put there to keep the Winter snow out in case I returned earlier... I hadn't, this was the first I'd seen of my boat in nearly six months, and I was dreading what I thought I would find inside. I suspected that not only was the melted bilge ice still there, but so would be additional inches of rain. I hoped it wasn't too deep. Climbing the ladder I scaled the stern pulpet and entered the cockpit, fiddling with my keys to then unlock the companionway. When I slid the companionway hatch open, I was relieved not not see any water, just that familiar musty smell that anyone who owns a boat has enjoyed before. Down the four steps and down into the salon, I pulled the steps and looked back behind the batteries in the vacant engine compartment.. the bilge water was still there all right, but no higher than it had been when I had left her in January, although then it had been ice. I connected the leads to the batteries and with careful resolve, I turned the master switch, which activated the switchboard. The lights inside the boat flickered on... next I reached out and flicked the bilge pump switch, which I fully expected NOT to work, as it had been fully encased in ice previously.. but in fact I heard the bilge pump awaken and gurgle slightly.. then the swish and splash of water shooting out of the back of the transom and onto the pavement below.
Clearing out some things from the v-berth, I made myself a place to stretch out for the night.. I didn't plan to sleep very long, but just wanted to rest my eyes. Before doing this though, I walked out to the cockpit and pulled the ladder up onto the boat.. before returning inside the Bligh. The rain began again, as it had briefly stopped, but this time it was heavier. I closed the hatches and went up to the v-berth and lay down, closed my eyes, trying to get comfortable--trying to fight the effects of 12 pieces of Jolt gum and two bottles of NOS which I'd chewed and drank during my long journey. It seemed like moments later, but I opened my eyes to find it very blue inside the boat and shining in through the windows.. dawn was approaching. Had I slept? I hadn't felt it... but as I lay in my berth, under an old blanket I realized that I did feel a little better, so I must have slept.
I left the boat and drove over to Becky's for eggs and sausage... the returned to the boat yard where the manager had shown up to work. He greeted me asked me if I wanted to stay on the boat while I was in Portland. My answer was slightly evasive, as I have been to too many places where this wasn't allowed... but I think he knew what I meant or was doing when I replied..."I'm... not sure."... as he quickly said, "You can if you want!"
After explaining my proposed itinerary to leave the cats in the boat over the weekend of the 7th and the 8th and launch on Monday the 9th.. he suggested we try and put the boat in the water on the 2nd or 3rd.. so that the cats would get used to the boat.. and that I'd know it was going to stay floating.. then on Thursday night I could drive down to Newport News, Virginia... returning by train and arriving at 2am Sunday the 8th... and I could leave that day if I wanted to, rather than waiting until Monday. He gave me a parking permit and a key to the rest rooms after I came around to his idea as being the better one..
Anyway... I'm still dead tired.. it's pouring down rain... and I've got a list of projects and organizational items I have to attend to, but I should have time to do it tomorrow and at least finish up Monday.. today, it's "Iron Man" at the Falmouth Cinema.
Robin
thank you Robin for sharing that arrival at your boat knowing how tired you must be. You will be very busy the next days so enjoy your week-end and your movie !
So tired I made some typoes, some of which, I fixed.
Hey Robin! Glad to hear that you finally made it to Portland. You must have left Kearney befor the storm last Thursday night. Homes and businesses were destroyed by tornadoes. I live in Des Moines, Iowa now but originally from Grand Island, Nebraska. Went to school at Kearney State College before it became part of the University of Nebraska. I'll be watching for your posts on your voyage. Marc
Yeah, funny you should mention the storms in Kearney, actually a tornado, as my dispatcher called me Friday and told me that it had happened a few days after I'd called him to ask what to to do if one came around and I was in my truck... LOL
Robiun
Dictated but not read... LOL
Sunday 1 June 2008
I finally got a full night of sleep aboard s/v William Bligh, though I still set the alarm to wake me after eight hours. Then I set about getting some work done. I mounted the EPIRB so that nothing would hit it, but so that it was in a place I could get to it easily if I needed to. Next I began preparing the cabin for keeping the cats, which included making sure that there were no sharp objects anyplace that might come into contact with them. In addition, I had to block off four access holes under the berths so that the cats couldn't either go underneath the v-berth or through the quarter berths to access the cockpit.
Sail Organization:
On the voyage I only intend to use a Main, Jib, Stormjib, and Genny. The boat has two mains, two gennies, a jib, stormjib, and a spinnaker. So to avoid confusion and streamline the task of changing sails, I thought I'd have a look at them. Out of the two main sails, only one of them is heavily reinforced and has reefing points, the other is a very light cruising main, both of them have the East Wind logo on them though, which surprised me. So of the two mains I'll be using the one I can reef, although both sails appeared to be in excellent condition. The genny I took out of the boat happened to be the one that wasn't reefable, but I have decided that I'll use that one first if the winds prove light during any part of the trip... The jib is in excellent condition, and so that'll be in the quick bag, and the storm jib also seems to be in great shape. So for the quick sail bag, I have the storm jib, working jib, and the genny. The cruising main will be kept on the boom, which I have a sail cover for.
Yesterday evening, I took the cover off the Honda 9.9 and inspected it inside the boat... as a novice with outboards I can only say that the oil was very, very clean on the dip stick like that in your car the day they service the motor, and it all seemed to be in tact. I'm not sure of what else I can check on it, and I didn't try and start it, and won't until it's on its mount.
Had dinner Saturday night at a nice little Indian restaurant located in a back alley off the waterfront in Portland... paid a little more for the request of Chicken Vindaloo, which wasn't on the menu.
I know this is a little erratic time-frame wise.. but that's more or less the frame of mind I'm in right now.. jumping forward to tomorrow, my boat may be launched!
Here are some pictures.. the captions are ABOVE each one.
Here's a new shot of the port bow with the new Nebraska registration number... also the danforth anchor hangs from the stern pulpet, and is also held against the nose plate with a commercial bungee cord.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/WilliamBlighwithanchor.jpg)
Elvira cat up in the v-berth.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/ElvirainV-berth.jpg)
Lava and Elvira in the v-berth.\
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/LavaandElvirainV-berth.jpg)
The two Main sails.. the nicer cruising one on the left, the light one on the right.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/TwoEWMainscruisingLandlightR.jpg)
The East Wind logo that appears on both mains.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/EastWindLogoCrusiingSail.jpg)
The Storm Jib, left, and the working jib, right.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/StormJibandWorkingJib.jpg)
The unreefable genny.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/UnreefableGenny.jpg)
Like I said, I also have another genny which stayed on the boat and that is reefable, and there is also a lovely blue spinnaker, but they're not pictured because as I said, I left them on board.
Blog for Monday 2nd of June & Tuesday 3rd of June.
Monday
TY-Champagne
Finn-Rum-Advice
Happy birthday to Aiona, first off. My friend in Texas who I've sailed with aboard her boat had a birthday today, and also shared in the good news of the day... and what a day it was!
I awoke around 4:30am to the sounds of Lava attempting to tear into the bag of catfood that I keep in the starboardside cupboard, and so I had to get up to feed Lava and Elvira breakfast.. once I was up, I was up. My preliminary plans were to shower and then get started on some of the other projects including replenishing some of the liquid stores I'd exhausted, such as Newcastle Brown Ale and Coca Cola. I planned to stop by a pharmacy at Wal-Mart in Falmouth and buy a bottle of Dramamine, before going back to their sporting goods department and buying a couple more seven gallon H2O containers to replace the two that I destroyed last night when they fell overboard and onto the hard ground as I intended to lift them over my head... I feel very weak, so perhaps Muscular Dystrophy is starting... I've had a hard time of late in that regard, but perhaps it's all in my head.
After my shower I drove up to a little city park that overlooks the Bay from the top of a hill, I think it's named after a little Fort that looks like it's Civil War era, kind of like the one you see when you're crossing over to Maryland's Eastern shore via the Bridge out of Annapolis.. I'm pretty sure that's a Civil War fort too. So anyway, a few gulls were flying around, and one landed on the bonnet of my Bronco, and the peculiar thing is, he only had one foot! He stayed there for quite a while, eating the bread that I through to him, and it almost seemed like he wanted the position of being the only friend I have in Portland.. but soon he flew off... turned my XM to 202 and listened to O&A for a little while.. they were broadcasting from Boston and it occurred to me that it was only an hour away, and that I could go down and maybe watch the show, too much to do though...and an hour later I then drove back down to Portland Yacht Services and took a walk out to the statute of XXGeorge XXCleeves, who came over from England in the late 1600s and founded the city. There is a bench behind him that faces the harbour, and I took a pew and began to think about the voyage ahead of me.
Then a man came up who worked for PYS and asked me if I was "Mr." Johnson, a title I'm not used to. I told him I was anyway, and then he asked if I'd like to launch today. He went on to explain that they'd do it right away if I was ready, frankly, I wasn't, but I told him I was, and went off to make sure that fenders were hanging over the side of my boat, and dock lines were laid about the decks in strategic places, although I had no idea which side of the boat would be dockside. In preparation for having the mast put up, I inserted all of the pins into the turnbuckles and chainplates that are on deck, whch is eight, since there are two stays and six shrouds.
A few moments after I was finished getting the boat ready, they backed an old Ford cabover towing a hydraulic boat lift up to the bow of s/v William Bligh. I climbed down and took some picture as they picked the sailboat up off its stands and moved it to the boat ramp. Would she float, leak like a sieve, or would she be fine? I had no way of knowing since I'd never had the boat in the water before. The hydraulic lifts lowered and William Bligh bobbed up and down slightly in the harbour in the small waves, before a small motorboat tugged it away and around to the dock where she would have her mast stepped via a 15 ton crane. As I was walking down the dock to the place where s/v Bligh was going to be tied to, a man walked up to me and handed me a half a bottle of Champagne. He introduced himself as Ty, and he had just launched his Choy Lee 33 ketch, and was also waiting to have his masts stepped. He told me to pour the Champagne on the bow of the William Bligh, and was very complimentary of the way that the East Wind looked, saying "she has really beautiful lines."
I talked with Ty on and off, but soon he left to attend to his masts, as the riggers were preparing to begin the step work on his. My eyes went to the Honda 9.9 Four stroke, which is mounted to the transom of my boat. I connected the fuel line and the cut off switch, and squeezed the pump from the fuel tank to prime the line. Then I stood up at the aft end of the cockpit and gave the flywheel a turn by pulling its cord. Nothing. I pulled the choke out, and tried again, and it the motor whirred to life, even as I turned the throttle down slightly. A few minutes later I pushed the choke back in and was amazed that the little outboard ran so smoothly after such neglect for a what I imagine must be a couple of years. A man walking by that worked for PYS commented that as far as he was concerned, the Hondas were the Cadillacs of outboards. I turned the motorbike style throttle down to zero and it actually hesitated, like it didn't want to turn off.
Lava was looking a little ill at this point, and I was already getting the prevoyage naseau myself. West Marine had sold me some ginger gum which I had a couple of pieces of.. I'm not sure if it worked, or I just got used to the rolling motion of the endless wakes of Irving oil tankers, container ships, ferries, tugs, and motorboats that were going by like a parade, but I stopped feeling sick at some point, even below decks. Lava, as I mentioned, had started getting that glazed over look that he gets before he starts vomiting, which is something I've had to deal with since I first took him sailing on a lake in Arizona, five years ago, but it's something he gets over in a day or two. Elvira, on the other hand, looked just fine, although she slept most of the day up in the v-berth.
It took all morning for Ty's boat to have its masts stepped and her rig tuned, and then it was our turn. It didn't take them as long with my boat, not only for the fact that my boat only has one mast, but the decision I'd made earlier that morning by placing all the pins where they needed go. After the mast was up, the riggers did a static tune, which honestly, I just had them do for my own piece of mind, as it's the same kind of tuning I do on my own anyway. They said they don't measure in pounds unless the boat is going off to race or the owner specifically asks them to, regardless, everything was so slack that it saved me some work doing it all myself. After the riggers were finished I put the boom on, tied one end to the topping lift, and installed the mainsheet control on her traveler.
Dinner tonight is somewhat celebrartory, as it'll be our first night in the water, albeit tied to the dock. So it's dinner at Becky's Diner on Hobson's Wharf: Italian Baked Haddock with tomatoes, basil, and olive oil, that was served with a salad, baked potato, and corn on the cob.
Tuesday:
Tuesday began as a beautiful Summer morning. William Bligh rode the waves in the harbor while tied to the dock with ease. I had been awoken one time, a few hours earlier, when the cat litter box tipped upright after a large wave, possibly and most likely a wake from some ship coming in from Casco Bay caused.
After my morning shower I returned to the boat and disconnected and partially disassembled the goose-neck and gave her a proper inspection. Next I put the main sail up and replaced the missing baton in its sheath. Lastly I sat on the deck trying to fish out the trim line, which was stuck in the lowest section of the main, but as I sat in the Sun, I realized that my sunburn from yesterday was really not taking the morning light well.
Lava kept me company on deck and was very good for most of the morning, remaining on the deck and trying to scare some of the dogs that went by with their masters. Lava will meow at the approach and presence of a new person, mainly for attention, but also to let me know that somebody is around that might be a threat... at least this is my theory. Around 9:30 he decided to jump off the boat, however, and I had to chase him up into the boatyard and carry him back to the dock. I sat him down and he obediently returned to the sailboat, so I assume now he knows which one is ours... funny how quick both Lava and Elvira figured out what their new home was, and have both taken to it very quickly. Lava was then confined to the V-berth, which has a locking door, and which I refer to as, "The jail" when Lava is forced to stay in there. Elvira is more trust-worthy in that she won't run off, and hates to leave her living quarters, so I've never had to chase her down.
It was around 10am when I was told I'd have to move to one of the slips, as they needed the dock space to put up some more masts. I started the Honda motor in preparation, and after letting her warm up, put her into forward gear. She produced a nice wash, and so I tried the reverse gear, which promptly knocked out the motor. I was annoyed, though she restarted on my first pull again. Again I tried reverse, and she died again. One of the PYS men came around in their little tug, and I told him that I was having issues with the motor, and that I'd likely need help getting her over to the slip, as I have yet to know how tight a turn William Bligh's rudder will turn the boat. He tied onto the sailboat and towed her over to the new slip, where I secured her. After he I tried the reverse gear again, as I had left the Honda idling. She kicked back and up for some reason, but didn't die.. Unfortunately, I noticed that the reason she'd kicked up, and remained up was because wooden outboard mount was broken. If you looked down on it from above, you would see a long crack running side to side, and an exposed support bolt. This was a heartbreaking turn of events, and I really didn't know what to do, although I was glad that I'd tied a very large cable through the handle and up through one of the stern cleats. In the event that the mount had failed completely, it would have not slipped underwater. Still, I was mad... so I locked everything up and headed to Falmouth for the day to think, and see "Iron Man", which I didn't get to see the previous Saturday.
By the time I arrived up and parked at the Regal cinema along Route 1 in Falmouth, I knew that I'd better call Portland Yacht Services and let them know what had happened earlier regarding the motor. The manager said that he'd send someone down to take a look.
"Iron Man" was excellent, and I really enjoyed the time that I had to NOT think about my current problems. I'd checked my bank account and I'd had a pretty good pay cheque desposited, so I was okay I thought.
When I got back to the marina I had intended to immediately install the Zodiac and get the Evinrude 4 Horse up and running, the motor that I knew would be very temperamental after a couple of years of not running. Before doing this, however, I stopped by the office and got a shock that the work to fix the mount would be nearly three-hundred dollars, and that didn't include removal and reinstallation of the motor, which the manager suggest I try to do myself. Despite my mal-feelings at that moment toward the guy who had sold me the boat a year before, I was again grateful that the problem had been discovered prior to departure. So I signed the work order and departed for the boat, grabbing a dock boy on the way down to help. The motor is heavy, some say over a hundred pounds, but it's more awkward than anything else, and is well clear of the transom. I tied a large rope to the front handle and led it up over the stern pulpet, and back to a tacking winch and cleat. I then made a smaller rope that acted as a handle, but that was about two feet long, so I wouldn't have to bend down as far. I grabbed the hold on the back of the motor, and the little rope on the front, and had the dock boy pull the larger winched rope as I lifted the motor straight up, this way if I dropped it, or slipped and went into the drink, the dockboy would still have the motor at the end of the other rope, and could simply cleat it. All went smoothly with my plan, and we lay the outboard down in the cockpit.
I was still rather depressed, and didn't want to do the Zodiac, even though I knew it had to be done on this or the next day at the latest. Inside the cabin I finished wiring up the VHF.
"Vessel Bligh requesting Radio Check on One-Six."
I waited about ten seconds, not knowing if anyone had heard me. Then... from gosh knows where came a reply, "Vessel Bligh, we hear you loud and clear."
"Thank you, Bligh Clear and Out."
Wow, I had actually accomplished something. I took the transducer out of it's box and began looking at it, but there is still somethingI can't figure out as to its installation, perhaps how to measure the angle that it wants down inside the bilge...
I finally decided to walk back up to the Bronco at low tide and grab the Zodiac and some other gear that I wanted to move down to the boat. The reason I mention the tide is that Portland has some pretty severe tides... and I'm going to estimate that the gangplank down to the dock at low tide probably goes up or down at least 10+ feet on average, making the control of a dock cart very precarious when you're trying to move 200+ lbs of gear down it when the harbour is that low.
When I finally reached the William Bligh I was drenched in sweat, as it had become very, very muggy. My sunburn stung, and so did my eyes as the perspiration leaked down from my soaked beanie. I left the boxed Zodiac in its box on the dock and went inside and opened up the hatches and sat in the shade in the salon, cursing, and feeling very unhappy. Lava didn't help as he kept jumping up through the front hatch and then, after sitting on one gunwale or another would jump to the dock and begin the long walk to the gangway. I eventually just started throwing water at him when he jumped up and through the hatch, to the extent that all I had to do was lift a water bottle up and he'd return down below.
The Sun went away a few times behind clouds, but every time I came out to even think about assembling the dinghy, it would emerge and my skin would burn.
Around 7pm I finally outside and assembled the dinghy, using corn starch on the floor boards, which seemed to slip in just fine. I had just applied the Nebraska registration stickers and was about to put the license number on the bench, when it began to rain heavily. A dock worker helped me carry the Zodiac to the dinghy dock, where she is still tied up, until tomorrow, when Fletcher will have her first maiden voyage around the harbour. As for Bligh, well she'll just have to wait until the motor mount is fixed, which is a real shame.
Here are some pictured from Mon and Tue, all of them have the description above the link or image. Sorry there are no pix of Fletcher yet, but I will post them soon.
The one footed sea gull.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/Onefootedseagull.jpg)
Ford Cabover pulling hydraulic lift.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/PYSCabovertowingWilliamBligh.jpg)
Launch (3) of the William Bligh
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/Launch3.jpg)
She floats! (It floats with reeves behind... and toggle best bligh)
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/Itfloats.jpg)
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/tuggingbestbligh.jpg)
Christening 1 and 2
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/Christining1.jpg)
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/Christining2.jpg)
Ty, on Port side of his Choy Lee 33, helping with his vessel's mizzen step.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/Tyonportsideofhisboathelpingwiththe.jpg)
The motor works!
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/Themotorrunsgreat.jpg)
A Loony under the mast.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/Aloonyunderthemast.jpg)
The mast is up!
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/Maststep3.jpg)
Just as an FYI, if your mast base fits into the mast step, put the Loonie in plastic, as any saltwater getting into the mast will cause it to turn the mast step into a battery. Coins tend to be made of fairly noble metals, and the baser metals used in mast steps, like Aluminum, tend to suffer for it.
Yeah thanks..
Here are some more pix..
The broken motor Mount..
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/BrokenMount1.jpg)
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/BrokenMount2.jpg)
Lava on deck in the rain.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/P1030284.jpg)
Fletcher the Zodiac.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/Fletcherstarboard.jpg)
Two pretty tame ground hogs that came out when I walked by.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/GroundHog2.jpg)
A bottle of Antiguan rum from the skipper of the schooner Lion's Keeper.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/P1030287.jpg)
Maine Narrow Gauge Railway.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/MaineNarrowGaugeRR.jpg)
Ah settled on the name Fletcher for the dink, I see. Good choice. :)
It won the polls I posted... although I am thinking of referring to it as, "Fletch." just for short.
Robin
If they charge you anywhere NEAR 300 to fix that motor mount, they'd better kiss you afterwards cause they are sure screwing you.
There''s about 15 bucks worth of materials there. The wood and two long bolts, or better, one piece of stainless all-thread sawn in half and four nuts. The wood doesn't HAVE to be teak ya know. Even if you had to buy a long drill bit it shouldn't take 30 minutes to an hour replace. And the whole mount slides off so you can work on it on the dock.
$300 is a bit ridiculous for the repair. It is as Charlie said.... $15-20 in materials and maybe an hour if you're clueless
Quote from: CharlieJ on June 04, 2008, 02:28:57 PM
If they charge you anywhere NEAR 300 to fix that motor mount, they'd better kiss you afterwards cause they are sure screwing you.
There''s about 15 bucks worth of materials there. The wood and two long bolts, or better, one piece of stainless all-thread sawn in half and four nuts. The wood doesn't HAVE to be teak ya know. Even if you had to buy a long drill bit it shouldn't take 30 minutes to an hour replace. And the whole mount slides off so you can work on it on the dock.
That motor mount broke because it was poorly designed. Drill holes in the metal bracket so you can mount bolts through the wood fore and aft instead of using screws in the side. A cut off piece of 2x6 fir would probably be close to what you need.
They're completely rebuilding me a new mount, not just the parts that were broken. They're also giving me a free slip for the time that I'm here.. so that counts for something.
Lava somehow managed to jump from the galley up and over the companionway, and make his way to the foredeck without brushing against me today... I only noticed I captured him in this picture later in the evening.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/Grundensandlavaescape.jpg)
Dude, didn't you know cats can teleport?
It goes with their ability to see things on a blank wall that we cannot see...you know, whatever it is that they stare at for hours at a time.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/Lavaishungry.jpg)
It's a mess... Those wires won't be there.. you know.. the ones you see hanging there.. They aren't connected to the mast yet.. I've been too busy.
Here is a full blog for Thu 5th to Tue 10th.
Pictures at the end...
I left Portland on Thursday afternoon, the motor mount not only having not been fixed, but additional repairs to it were being tallied against us. I made sure the boat was dry and locked up with the cats inside, and gave them four bowls of water and enough food that they didn't like to last until sometime on Saturday... I figured they'd be okay until I got back that night... little did I know that things with AMTRAK would not go as planned.
Lastly I drove over to the Irving on Commercial Street and filled up 20 gallons of gas in jerry cans, which I then drove back and lashed to the deck on the bow. Because of the high cost of gasoline, this makes it a tempting target for thieves or people who might be desperate. In hind site, maybe I should have just marked the jerry cans, "condensed milk" or something crazy... I didn't though, instead I ran a chain all through their handles and chained through the lifelines and a couple of cleats... I also locked them to themselves with a rather beefy padlock. On the voyage I don't intend to move them, rather pump each one on deck into another jerry can for the fuel transfer to the main tank.. that's if I even need fuel on the voyage, which I'm hoping I don't exceed the base tanks 6 gallon capacity. Let me put it this way, I prefer to sail not only for the reason that I love doing it, but for environmental reasons and that now indeed fuel is gold... and I should learn to conserve the stuff. I have a couple more projects to do on Sunday when I get back, chiefly the new port and starboard navigational lights need to be installed, but the transducer for the depth sounder can't go in, as the only part of the bilge where the angle of slope was under five percent, and that wasn't over the keel, was in the aft section by the batteries. Unfortunately, the fiberglass here looks like it has a lot of coatings of paint and epoxy resin that is a bit too bumpy. The transducer is supposed to be mounted on a ring-base that has a slight slope, where the bottom, that needs to be flush with the hull, is affixed, then filled with mineral oil.. then the transducer sits on the ring and is tightened to it with screws... there has to be a watertight seal around the base.. and obviously with the bumpy resin and paint, I will have to figure out something else down the road...
So my drive down to Virginia began around 3pm.. I managed to avoid all major traffic james... and used my Bronco to assert itself when driving through New York City, as some people had trouble understanding what my blinker indicated. It's fun to have a rumbling V8 that really makes the car fly when you step on it. Plus I'm seeing a lot of little cars in NYC... after the George Washington Bridge, I found people backed off.
Later, on the Jersey Turnpike near east of Trenton's latitude, I once again got pulled over by a State Trooper who I had seen pass me earlier, then park to watch for speeders, and then re-emerge to pull me over. He was a lot nicer than the Massachusetts Statey, but gave me a written warning.. My theory is now that I was pulled over merely for driving 55 in a 65, late at night, with out of state plates... I really wasn't weaving around or overly tired.. Before I was let go by this officer, he made me drive into the service plaza to get a cup of coffee..
As I got into Maryland, I started feeling the trip begin to drain me. Originally, I had planned to sleep in, so that I would be able to easily stay awake, but like the previous days before, had awoken at 5:30AM.. then departed that afternoon.
I felt myself falling asleep when I got into Virginia, and pulled into a very full rest area to take a quick nap. It seems with the high gas prices, a lot of people, including me, are skipping stays at hotels as we are trying to cut costs anyway we can.. I'd have to stay at a motel in Hampton or Newport News on Friday anyway...Stopping the Broco, I climbed into the passenger seat, grabbed a pillow, and was out.. for I think maybe 15 minutes, as I awoke drenched in sweat... I felt slightly better so I got back in the driver's seat and continued my journey. Not long after, however, traffic on I-95 came to a hault, as a major accident up ahead blocked nearly all the lanes. Everybody was getting over on the left shoulder in a very disorganized way to get around the firetrucks, police cars, and a hearse. Indeed the SUV that seems to have collided with an eighteen wheeler, had it's roof laying along side it, as it had been removed with what I suspect to have been a Maverick, a device which instead of spreading metal like the jaws of life, cuts it.
So I continued on my way, coming within 30 minutes of Hampton Roads, before stopping at yet another rest stop, where I did sleep for a couple of hours.
Newport News
Friday...
The first priority was finding the Amtrak station, which I did, down on Warrick Street. Then I looked for a hotel nearby, which was more of a challenge since there was a Minister's conference going on, so everybody was either booked or charging over 100 a night. Econo Lodge up on Mercury and Aberdeen charged me only 75, but it was a little more than a no-tell Motel.. and in hind-site, I probably should have looked for something in Hampton. Vehicle storage for the Bronco also proved problematic. Uncle Bob's said they had an outdoor spot for it, but when I got there the manager said they didn't, and that it would have to be stored inside at a cost of $150 a month, plus insurance, plus buying a lock, plus a 20 dollar admin fee. Explaining my circumstances to the manager she gave me half off everything for the first month, so it came out to a little over $75..
In Hampton, I met up with my sailmakers, Breton and Dan Winters on Queens Way. They seemed very happy to see me, and sold me some sail ties.. when they didn't have as many as I wanted, Breton went over to the sewing machine and made me a couple more. I like the fact that these guys are so nice, and was impressed that Dan could carry on a congenial conversation and still run around to different sides of a sail that was laying out on the loft floor and being made from fat sections of Dacron.
Before I left, Breton recommended a marina on the James River, and said they'd put in a good word for me. After I left there, I drove over to the James River and found the marina and talked to the manager about my plans.. he agreed to let me keep the boat there and gave me a pretty reasonable quote.
I then returned to Uncle Bob's storage, backed the Bronco into a garage, locked it.. then took a cab over to the motel. The heat was stifling, and it was so humid that there was a white haze everywhere. Fortunately, I'd left the AC in the room on before I'd left earlier that morning.
Saturday
A taxicab drove me quickly over to the Amtrak train station down on Warrick, and I arrived ten minutes before the doors of the office opened. When they did finally swing open I sat down in the lobby and waited for a while, as it got seriously filled up with travelers who were taking the same train. Leaving there, I walked outside to the platform and walked away from the mass of people, before sitting on some portable steps. A couple of other people stood there too.. and old black lady and her daughter. We all got to talking, and soon I learned that the daughter was also a manger of an Uncle Bob's, and was friends with the manager of the one where I was keeping my Bronco.
When the train finally arrived, I helped her with her large bag and she let me read a book that she'd bought on her trip to Israel that she'd just returned from. It was basically a picture book which showed various Biblical sites, quotes from the Bible, and secular stuff too to let you know what you were looking at. It was very interesting,... then the problems began with the train. It kept slowing down and stopping, and this happened again, and again, and again. Soon I realized that I was endanger of missing my connection in Boston.
When the train was just about to Penn Station in New York, its locomotive died completely, and we had to wait for a rescue engine to come and tow us into the station. The original plan was for it to then take us all the way to Boston, but they decided there in New York to switch engines.. and since it took two hours, it was obvious I was going to miss my connection on the Downeaster train to Portland. I called a conductor, who said her name was Margeret, and she told me she'd try and get ahold of a trainmaster... an hour later, however, it turns out she'd left the train and done nothing. My savior was a guy named Carney, who was also a conductor. He arranged for the Amtrak Station Chief in Boston to meet me and if necessary, provide a car for me to get to Portland in. When we arrived, however, the chief decided that a hotel would be arranged, and I'd simply get a train in the morning. We were about to head for the hotel when he got a call that the Downeaster had been delayed and was still at the North Station! He got me over to the other train and the North Station and I was the last one on... I arrived then in Portland around 3am.
Sunday:
It was 3am, and the marina was quiet, the harbour flat. I arrived at the boat and found that Lava and Elvira were highly annoyed with me for leaving them for a few days. I gave them some wet food as a treat, and went to bed.
The next morning, I found that the new motor mount was on.. and instead of being wood, it was a polycarbonite of some kind with stainless steel support screws, probably would outlast the boat... and certainly better than what had been on there previously.
Sometime on Sunday I rememered that it was my thirty-second birthday. Not a big deal or a special occasion when you're on your own and you don't know anybody in town. Later than evening I went up to a pub and had a Bitter ale and fish and chips, but I lost my appetite half-way through and went back to the Bligh and fell asleep. Monday I was supposed to leave anyway....
Monday:
Monday arrived to find a hot and muggy day with no wind to speak of... and since gas is so expensive I'm obliged to wait for a day when I can sail to Boston rather than motor there.
The good news was that the boatyard defered my bill until after the voyage and after I get back to work, this will help since I'm already over budget.
At the end of the day one of the dock boys, Kyle, used the crane to mount the motor on the back of the boat. I'm glad that's over with, now I can leave any time. After this a man let me borrow is Mercedes to get groceries and anything else I needed.. pretty nice, 300 Couple.. kind of run down, but very comfortable.
For dinner I walked down to Commerical Street and had dinner at an Irish Pub. Just a Cobb Salad and a pint of Guiness... then I walked back to the marina, to find a very heavy fog had set in, and no wind.
Tuesday
Today I was supposed to leave, but because of Thunderstorms that were quite severe on the coast, I was advised to wait until Wednesday.
This evening I also fixed the topping lift so it actually works like it's supposed to, rather than acting like a leash.
I plan to now leave after 5am in the morning.
The Portland Yacht Services Boat.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/PYScraft.jpg)
Bligh in her slip with her name on the back.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/Blighinslipnameonback.jpg)
The car I borrowed.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/Borrowedcar.jpg)
Happy Birthday to nobody.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/Birthday.jpg)
Lava peaking through hatch.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/Lavapeakingthroughfore-hatch.jpg)
Lava on backpack.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/Lavaonbackpack.jpg)
Lava outside in cockpit as seen from inside boat.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/Lavalowshotincockpit.jpg)
Fletcher with Registration and motor. On Sunday morning the motor
ran just fine, as I predicted it would on a nice warm day!
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/Fletcher.jpg)
Cleeves, founder of Portland from the 1600s.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/Cleeves.jpg)
Wooodworker fixing the cockpit combing on my boat.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/Woodworker.jpg)
Another shot of my boat in her slip.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/Tallmastblgh.jpg)
The first meal I cooked on board. Chicken Stew on a bagel!!
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/Chickenstewandbagels.jpg)
Good luck!
Chicken stew on a bagel - Love it! lol
Best of luck to the whole crew of the "Bligh"! I hope y'all have a speedy and fun voyage, with just enough excitement, and plenty of good sunsets. :)
Looking forward to hearing about the trip so far after that first landfall, and really so, for that second! ;D
It is difficult to express the disappointment I am feeling in my failure to plan for certain problems that I have encountered on the voyage that have lead me to postpone the voyage yet again until I get passed certain obstacles.
On Wednesday the Eleventh of June, at 0613, I shoved off from the docks at Portland Yacht Services. Morale wasn't the best, as it had been a very trying week, but at long last I was underway. The wind was very, very light, so almost immediately I unfurled the larger genoa and the full main. Even with this amount of cloth catching the wind, I was unable to exceed two pathetic knots without the assistance of the Honda outboard on low power, which was enough to push me up to 5.5 knots easily.
As my sailboat passed Cushing Island to port, and headed out of the channel into the rolling grey Atlantic Ocean, we were met by a parade of six foot rollers that were very shortly spaced. I was highly impressed with the way the Paceship East Wind handled them at an angle, as she seemed to so casually yawl and pitch almost in a slow determination to make the ride as smooth and comfortable as possible. This must be due to the lovely long keel, narrow beam, and decent ballast, as she performed several times better than my little Newport had off California.
This was about as good as it got, for just a time earlier, I'd noticed that while Lava was not happy, Elvira was yowling and vomiting nearly continuously: On the v-berth, in the salon, on the companionway steps, on the starboard quarter-berth, it was a vomit-fest, and she soon retreated into a hole and curled up and refused to move. Then it became time according to my rhumbline to turn from Southeast to South for my next waypoint which was my Boston approach where I'd turn back to the west and enter Boston Harbour... but the wind was blowing at pretty much magnetic north, and it was so light that I was having trouble sailing very close to it. If I'd had less of a time constraint, it occurred to me that it would have in fact been easier to sail to Portugal! I wanted to kill the motor asI'd never planned to run it so long, but the Honda wwas still helping us along in the doldrums that were stifling our progress. So I turned the boat SSE and as close to the wind as I dared, giving the sails some wind, while continuing to run the motor.
Hooking up the autopilot as a fog began to envelope us suddenly, I found that it needed to be recalibrated, and was stuck at 258 degrees! I put it in calibration mode and let it try and steer the boat, but even after doing numerous clockwise circles, it failed to register... this was an awful turn of events, as I really rely on the unit to allow me to attend to other tasks. Meanwhile, the fog grew worse, and the ocean flatter, and the wind eventually died completely. I throttled up a little, worrying about the amount of fuel we'd been burning, but was unable to attend to anything while the autopilot refused to cooperate. The GPS showed that I was about eighteen miles southeast of Cape Elizabeth, and I was growing a little sea sick, which for me is usually brought on by stress rather than the boat's motion. I took a few snapshots of the fog, and made a decision that without help, a new autopilot, and Elvira off the boat, I would not be able to proceed to Boston, let alone Bermuda. It wouldn't have taken me too much longer than the four hours or so that I'd sailed to turn back towards land and reach Portsmouth, New Hampshire, but I knew I'd be dealing with a new boat yard, new people who didn't know me, and I really couldn't afford to be ripped off again or treated badly. It was enough of a let down by a lot of people whom I've counted on in the past the week before, so I swung the bow around and turned back towards the Cushing Channel and back on to Portland.
When I got within Cell phone range of shore, I called up Portland Yacht Services, who promptly asked me where I was and at what time I had left that morning, before finally asking me an ETA. They thanked me for the call, and asked me to hail them on VHF channel 9 when I was fifteen minutes or so out. On the way back the wind picked up a lot from the south making my return running a good deal smoother and shorter.
So I returned, and felt very, very bad about it. Elvira acted as though she was dead, and refused to look up and acknowledge her name when we got in...she won't be doing the voyage. The staff at PYS, however, have kept checking on me this week and been the only friends I've had in this heartless city an state. They've inspired me to try again, and given me some suggestions as to what to do when I come back, but they sincerely, obviously, and with no ambiguity, want me to succeed in getting the boat to Bermuda and having a safe and enjoyable time.
Today was Friday.. they've hauled the boat out of the water and it now sits on the hard, mast up, rigging ready, awaiting for my next attempt. I've been told that some people didn't want me to get far or to do the trip at all, which hasn't been helpful. One phone call on Sunday the 8th, alone in this awful city, preparing to face the sea was a real eye opener. Most of you who know me and didn't call will never hear from me again, as I don't need anymore of your endless pessimism or Monday-morning quarterbacking. What I really want to say to you can't be said, as innocent eyes may be reading this.
Thanks to:
Portland Yacht Services
58 Fore Street in Portland, Maine for being the only ones in New England that stood up for me when it counted... Especially Tim for talking some sense into me Thursday night aboard the 65' schooner Lion's Whelp... that's the main reason I'll be trying again sooner rather than later.
Thanks Jay for supporting me on Paceship.org and giving people some hope that they can do extraordinary things when they put their minds to it and sacrifice, albeit, a great deal..
The same for Sarah and Bruce and Deena and Mongo and I guess Brian too.... It means a lot.
Robin
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u304/Robinsvoyage/bowwakestarboardside.jpg)
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On a lighter note.. watch Lava..
http://youtube.com/watch?v=XmbVYBxhbds (http://youtube.com/watch?v=XmbVYBxhbds)
I'm going to dare to make a suggestion ... I won't be offended if you don't take it.
I feel one of your biggest obstacles is time. You always seem to be hard pressed to make a departure, or an arrival. I humbly suggest that next time you try and save enough money for an extra 4-6 weeks at a minimum. Oh, and try and get a chance to do some sailing before taking of on the next attempt. It would be good to find out what else needs work in a less stressful environment.
And one last suggestion, be vague about your departure date. That way you won't feel as much pressure to leave at a certain time. If you leave two weeks later than intended, it doesn't matter. You can always tell everyone that was your plan all along!
You're right, and that's one thing Tim the launch manager told me over beers on board the schooner Lion's Whelp.. that I should have been "connecting" with the people that worked at PYS, that they were there to help me succeed and any one of them would have gone out with me every day to get the boat ready..
It also occured to me that besides time, there are financial responsibilities which I could find away around if I just planned properly... so thanks, we'll try again in August.
Robin
Hey Robin, a few platitudes for you. Even though they sound trite and maybe cliche, they do carry some truth.
Glad to hear you are not giving up. Enjoy. :)
"That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger."
"No battle plan survives first contact with the enemy." (Thanks CapnK)
"Success is going from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm." --Winston Churchill
"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time." --Thomas Edison
"Success consists of getting up just one more time than you fall." --Oliver Goldsmith
"I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game-winning shot... and I missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that's precisely why I succeed." --Michael Jordan
"There is no failure except in no longer trying." --Elbert Hubbard
"A man is not finished when he is defeated. He's finished when when he quits." --Richard Nixon
"What we call failure is not the falling down, but the staying down." --Mary Pickford
"Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes." --Oscar Wilde
"Fall seven times, Stand up eight." Japanese Proverb
"A bend in the road is not the end of the road unless you fail to make the turn." --Unknown
love those motivational quotes....good stuff. also, i agree with the idea of having a relaxed scheduled without fixed destinations. i always forget that the wind and waves are going to have the final say on my plans, and then end up getting way to stressed. one other thing i'd recommend is that you get the boat set up for sheet-to-tiller steering. hang in there.
Robin -
I'll relate a story I heard. Any errors in it are mine, and it could be told better I'm sure :), but the gist of it goes...
Legend has it that when Edison was striving towards making a working light bulb*, but as yet unsuccessful, he was interviewed by a reporter. At that point in time, he had tried some 9,000 different ways to make the lightbulb work, without anything in the way of long-term success.
The reporter asked Edison if he felt like a failure for having tried so many times without success, and should just give up.
Perplexed, Edison replied, "I didn't fail 9,000 times. I've found 9,000 ways how not to create a lightbulb..."
;D
Now *that's* my kind of attitude. :)
-----------------------------
***(Lots of people were trying the same thing; the downfall of most was a filament which lasted for a reasonable length of time. After over 10,000 attempts, Edison finally invented a light bulb that lit, and stayed lit..)
Grog to you, godot, Smollett, and vinegarj for not being quitters. :)
Quote from: CapnK on June 13, 2008, 03:29:33 PM
Legend has it that when Edison was striving towards making a working light bulb*, but as yet unsuccessful, he was interviewed by a reporter. At that point in time, he had tried some 9,000 different ways to make the lightbulb work, without anything in the way of long-term success.
The reporter asked Edison if he felt like a failure for having tried so many times without success, and should just give up.
Perplexed, Edison replied, "I didn't fail 9,000 times. I've found 9,000 ways how not to create a lightbulb..."
Very cool, Kurt.
Here are some more inspiring famous "failures:"
- Beethoven's music teacher once told him that as a composer, he was hopeless.
- Charles Darwin's father told him he would amount to nothing and would be a disgrace to himself and his family.
- Walt Disney was fired by the editor of a newspaper because he, Disney, had "no good ideas"
- When Thomas Edison was a boy his teacher told him he was too stupid to learn anything.
- Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.
- The artist Whistler failed chemistry, failed at West Point and failed at engineering before turning his hand to art.
Grog to yah for having the spirit to give it a try. Many a journey ends up elsewhere than originally planned.
Every time I have had a setback I looked at it and found something that I did/omitted that others who was successful did not. Most of the time I left out something. Major learning curve on cruising.
I suggest that you plan a coastal cruise to work out the sea trials and commissioning for your boat, crew and you.
>Beethoven's music teacher once told him that as a composer, he was hopeless.<
BTW one of Beethoven't teachers was the infamous Solieri, patron saint of the Mediocre and the deluded self confessed murderer of Amadeus Mozart
Oded Kishony
How is Elvirah doing?
Quote from: oded kishony on June 13, 2008, 10:49:53 PM
>Beethoven's music teacher once told him that as a composer, he was hopeless.<
BTW one of Beethoven't teachers was the infamous Solieri, patron saint of the Mediocre and the deluded self confessed murderer of Amadeus Mozart
Oded Kishony
Oh, that was interesting. I didn´t know Beethoven too came from Vienna
>Oh, that was interesting. I didn´t know Beethoven too came from Vienna<
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beethoven#The_move_to_Vienna
~OK
Today I'm regretting not just dealing with it.
I think you did the right thing regarding your sick crew. I would have done the same.
My Latest movie is a music video I made where I perform on guitar Johnny Cash's rendition of the Trent Reznor classic "Hurt." I spent some time using effects and compiling images and video from my long recovery, which today hit the three month mark. A little feedback would be appreciated. Thanks.
The video will fill you in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTX3QPkXfIo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTX3QPkXfIo)
I understand the pain and sarrow of having to wait for what you really want. Just let this be a temporary setback and keep your eyes on the horizon.
Hi Robin,
Remember the scene from "Master and Commander" where Dr. Maturin performs a trepan operation on the old sailor...the one that had "HOLD FAST" tattooed on his fingers? Well, he survived and so will you :D ;D :D (I know, it's just a movie). Just remember, when you get down in your cups and feel like giving up, just think about having your sundowner from the cockpit of YOUR vessel while looking at a beautiful sunset. Then you'll know it was worth waiting for.
Fair winds and full sails,
Pappy Jack
P.S. Now I'm going to look up your video.
Going to be trying again with the help of my friend Brian.. who did a lot of work on my other sailboat the Hard Knots out in California.
This will just be a sail from Portland,Maine to Virginia. Not sure at this time where we're going to put in, but most likely at a boat yard in Newport News up the James River a bit.
Brian Call doing some work on the custom masthead on the Hard Knots, which I designed... but Brian built, and it turned out to be a very successful setup on a 20' sailboat.
(http://members.cox.net/newport20centre/assets/images/hard_knots_with_brian_and_masthead.jpg)
The William Bligh in her slip in Portland last June.. she will be relaunched in May for a voyage to Virginia.
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...and preparing to sail in JUne of 2009... yes. again. I still have form of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder when climbing ladders, I may well have to find another line of work. Even when I close my eyes and think back to that day on the 1st of August when my left hand touched the top off the load of lumber, nearly 13 feet up, and I heard the bang, and I felt myself falling, and my right leg hitting the trailer penultimately before the impact on the ground where my first thoughts were that I was paralized and that my life as I knew it was over... I go into a haze for a minute and my bloodpressure elevates tremendously. I remained in a hotel in Nebraska, 900 miles away from my home in Nashville from the end of August when I was transported by my company from Washington where I'd had an awful time, all alone. I'd given upon the crutches the second day, as I was tired of having doors slammed in my face and not being able to carry anything. What made it tough was my two cats that were with me... anyway.. got back to driving just prior to Thanksgiving... but it's been tough since the economy has slowed down and my mileage not only isn't what it was, but I'm not doing Canadian runs which pay 50 percent more as I can't kneel down on my right knee. I suppose I should explain that the calamity split my right fibula up below the knee, and caused some of the cartlidge to tear at the knee joint... The pain from that has mostly passed, although occasionally it flares up again. The last bit that hasn't gone at all is the nerve damage which makes me right leg numb at the top of my shin from a nerve that was pinched. It doesn't show when I walk, but when I kneel down on it... it feels like a tight leather banding is around it, and it doesn't feel like I'm kneeling on my own knee. It's very troubling....
Still, my boat is up in Portland and I owe the boatyard around 2 grand for work they did, storage, and interest.. I haven't paid a penny on it, and I'm now waiting for my electronic tax returns to come in in Feb so I can take care of that. My friend Brian is going to sail with me in JUne.. the plan now is just to get the boat the heck out of Maine where it's so expensive and the winters are so brutal. We're going to leave our trucks in Virginia and Amtrak it or Fly up to Portland and bring her down.. it'll be not only helpful with Brian's help, who is also a sailor, but it won't be possible without his help.
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Antioch, I cashed and burned skiing and had knee surgery as a result. The post thing was kind of intense for a while, but it got better over time. Hopefully your memories of the event will do the same.
Best of luck mate,
Robin,
Last year I offered to put you up for a night or two if you end up in the Baltimore area. I thought I'd mention that that offer still stands (even if there are two of you). Of course the offer is subject, as Jack Aubrey would say, to the needs of the service. Or in this case, subject to the whims of work and wife. ::)
Oh, the offer is generally open to any Sailfar-er who finds themselves in the Baltimore area in need of a shower or a night ashore.
Adam,
How close are you to the inner harbor? I was there two years ago. Any good marina's you would recommend? The one in inner harbor was a little on the expensive side. :D
I used to keep my boat on the Patapsco River, a few miles on the other side of the Key Bridge. It's probably a good day of sailing from where I am now (or about 15 minutes drive from my house).
I don't know much about marinas. However, if you want to stay in Inner Harbor on the cheap, just pull up to one of the city docks (they may call them something different). I don't remember how expensive it is supposed to be as I was never able to find anyone to pay; but it is significantly cheaper than the commercial marinas. You can tie up at many of the wharfs as well (I'm not sure the legality of this; but I've seen it done many times. I think it is the same fee as the docks... if you can find the dock master). Very convenient to Inner Harbor. No security, though.
Best of luck on the recovery from another truck driving sailor.
Well, I haven't earned that quite yet, she is still on the hard. Refit should be done and her keel should be wet before the Fourth of July <-- [reaching for wood to knock]
Good luck in June as well.
Todd
Quote from: Godot on January 14, 2009, 04:25:00 PM
Robin,
Last year I offered to put you up for a night or two if you end up in the Baltimore area. I thought I'd mention that that offer still stands (even if there are two of you). Of course the offer is subject, as Jack Aubrey would say, to the needs of the service. Or in this case, subject to the whims of work and wife. ::)
Oh, the offer is generally open to any Sailfar-er who finds themselves in the Baltimore area in need of a shower or a night ashore.
Hey thanks! Aren't you on my Myspace or Facebook?
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In Portland, Maine on Wednesday night.. tonight I'm in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.. tomorrow I'll be headed up to Newfoundland for a fun weekend of crossing the island to get to St. Johns.
Yup. Both.
Beautiful winter pictures!
Thanks for sharing. Just above freezing temp. here and humid and windy....Brrrr. Some REAL winter, even just on photos, are NICE ;)
Gearing up for the 2009 try.. the leg.. my God, may never be healed 100 percent, but I'm fit enough (fitter than I was in 2008 for sure) to proceed at the end of May.
Robin
Good to see you stick to it Robin. How are the cats? Will just Lava be coming with you this time?
Well I'm broke... lots of money spent fixing the car.. getting the Evinrud into like new condition..but I've got a month to go before the voyage.. I need to save all I can to make it a success.. the good news is my pal Brian is coming along to help, and since he's got some experience sailing with me before, it'll be sure to be a good time.... this time.
The s/v WBligh wil be launched... I've gotta do some tinkering with her electrical system which I had a big hand in modifying, and then we'll take on fuel and water... Brian will fix the trim line on the cruising main.. install the new tiller he made, and we'll sail off... we plan to take two weeks to get from Portland to Virginia Beach.. wish us luck. Lots of pix and video can be expected.
Good luck and fair winds.
Fair winds and following seas!
Fair winds and following seas. Looking farward to the pics and vids
Fair Winds, and looking forward to the updates!
Todd
The best of it all! ;D
GO BIG RED!!!
Quote from: newt on March 28, 2009, 10:06:10 PM
Good to see you stick to it Robin. How are the cats? Will just Lava be coming with you this time?
Lava will.. but Elvira won't. My friend Brian who I used to sail off SOuthern California with is coming along. I've scheduled the Bligh's launch for the 28th. This voyage will be successful with the help.
Robin
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Lava's "Emergency" PFD.. it restricts his movements more than the yellow Sport model which he likes a lot more.
:)
My God, Nebraska is so far from Portland. While last year was a piece of cake in the huge and comfortable Ford Bronco, with its massive comfy seats, ample stretching room, and CRUISE CONTROL, it cost me over $1600 in gas at last Summer's prices... and rattled her to bits. This year I decided to drive my old Mark 1 Montero (branded as an 88 Dodge Raider), which I just spent a fortune restoring.. it, however, does not have cruise control, is half the Bronco's size, and is stick shift... but she is only costing me $400 round trip to drive cross country... so that's a plus at least, however my right heal is KILLING ME from all the constant pressure on the throttle. I took an extremely hot bath this evening at the Holiday Inn Express (just west of Jamestown, New York) in hopes that it would... alleviate some of my pain... well we'll see.
So we should be leaving the hotel by 2200, a mere two hours from now. I'm letting my crew-mate Brian sleep another hour or so... having slept a VERY restful four or so earlier myself. I want to be in Portland by 0900 tomorrow so we can begin getting her ready for sea next week. Currently I have a checklist of around thirty items that need attention before she's launched into the not-always peaceful Casco Bay.
It's also worth noting that our average mpg in the Raider is 21.88 miles to the gallon.