December 2011 Blog Posts (11)

Arrived in Florida late last night.  We are getting an early start on loading up the boat and doing a number of chores.  We have to rig the cockpit covers, put up another solar panel, check engine oil, battery water, fuel transfer pump fuse, paint depth markers on anchor chain, replace the mizzen topping lift line (Marina will be going up the mast for that), get propane tanks filled, check the raw water impeller, go to Wallmart for food, and whatever we can…

Marina and I spent the evening working on charting our trip North from Florida.  We plot the a course up the ICW (Intercoastal Waterway) for each day determining things like, two or more possible anchorages for a night’s stay (because we are not sure how much progress we will make each day partly from a lack of experience with the vessel as well as other unknowns like currents, weather, bridge opening delays, etc. because we don’t want to get caught trying to find a place drop the hook in…

It's been just two years since we completed our transatlantic trip for charity and at last we can show you the final result. This is a picture of the of the well that was built in Malawi, Africa with your funds. YOU BUILT THIS WELL by supporting Sail For Water with your donations, your messages and your encouragement. And because of that, the 166 people…

Golly I hate being sick. Not that anyone does although in my business I've met quite a few who yearn for their next ailment. Be that as it may, having a stuffed head, annoying throat, and sneezy, stuffy nose makes me want to curl up in bed. No it doesn't. It makes me want to search for the perfect remedy. For years I took Zicam at the first sign of a cold. Well, this year, the cold one after consuming a bottle of Zicam over 3 days. But, does it dampen my appreciation for meeting another nice…

About five years ago two friends and I decided to enter a mini triathalon at Walt Disney World. Voraciously we'd bike, swim, and walk on a regular basis for several months leading up to the event. It was the weekly walks on the beach with Sherry that made me turn my dream into a reality. Both of us talked incessantly about cruising around the world. She wanted a mate, I wanted to go solo.

Lo and behold by summer's end she found her perfect mate while I struggled with a loving husband…

Finally, I am seriously studying for the ham license. So far it seems pretty simple. Words I've heard forever about amps, volts, and meters are beginning to have meaning. Should get the technician test taken in a few weeks, then I have to take the next level one which will require another 20 hours of learning. Not bad though I'll have to quell my test taking anxiety.

Had respected sailing friends Dave and Sherry McCampbell do an overview of SPRAY. It was encouraging to have them bring…

We went and did it.  We are now the excited owners of a 37 foot sailing Ketch.  We have a couple of odds and ends to wrap up in the morning such as insurance and USCG documentation then back to the boat to button it up for a couple of weeks until we get back down to sail her back to New Bern, NC.  There is a strorage shed full of boat gear that came with the purchase that needs to be transfered back onboard, so we will most likely head back south a day early to get…

Marina and I spent the day looking over the boat in more detail.  Yesterday we did sea trials, so that took up much of the time.  So we really dug in deep, looking in every nook and cranny, tracing hoses, electric cables, trying to ID everything we could.  The learing curve is very steep right now.  Some of the systems we need to understand before we bring it home are, engine, DC power production and storage, anchoring gear, fresh water, and propane/stove set up. …

Another chapter in my aging life closed yesterday about 2 pm when I seemingly nice gentleman bought my six year old Sunfish. It felt nice returning from the regatta knowing I could tend to other things besides washing the boat, fixing up little do dads and getting her ready for the next race. I grew tired of dragging her off the hill at the yacht club. I grew tired of sailing upwind with no competition within 100 yards after rounding the first mark. Well, certainly after the leeward mark the…

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Heading down to Stuart, FL to look over a Northern 37 Ketch.  The recent Survey looks very good, so if Marina likes the boat, we'll buy it.  Then it will become hectic; insurance, slip rental, collecting up what boat stuff I still have, renting a car, drive back to FL and then get the boat ready to sail her home the first of January.