All Blog Posts (984)

Well, this week-end's distraction was special so other than wiping down the sleeping quarters I didn't get much work done. Afterall, I was invited to sail on Sam Bradfield's latest hydrofoil design. The boat is only 18 feet long and really light. Unfortunately, the breeze died off by the time we got out. Having Mike McGarry, Sam's #1 skipper and the infamous tri designer Jim Brown on board was just too compelling to pass up. The bonus for the week-end was when my tris designer, John Marples,…

 …

It is funny how my blog is becoming a night time buddy. After all the craziness of life as a school counselor in a Title I public school, the disappointment of a phone call that doesn't come, and the realization that there is still so much I need to learn before setting out offshore, I actually feel content when deciding to check out the sea knots blogs. For the first time in months I scanned the many groups. Of course, the multihull group was my first visit. There hasn't been a post since…

The picture was taken by Marina from the top of the mizzen mast where she was installing the topping lift.

Friday, after we had secured everything below deck, removed hatch covers, and led lines to wenches, we got underway to do a bit of educational sailing.  We have not had the sails up since the sea trials and we needed some time to let the boat teach us how to sail…

Received an interesting e-mail from Joe F. with www.outrig.com  His theme had to do with a conversation years ago with John Marples (designer of my tri). The question was, "Why do we love these multihulls?" Consider that John Marples, along with Piver, and Jim Brown were forerunners in the trimaran world. What compelled them to follow a path less traveled? Afterall, the Europeans are blamed (or given credit) for introducing monohulls to the US. Tri lovers…

Going through some older files, I came across the little piece I wrote for Carolina Currents magazine a few years ago. It was the first time I was paid for writing ... though it wasn't all that much ;)  Anyway, I thought I'd share it, as it helps explain why I chose North Carolina as the place to stop and work.

Love at First Sail



 



     It had been a long day reaching the Beaufort Inlet from Wrightsville Beach. A naval exercise to go around, wind on the nose,…

Ay, forget the cake and that dern icing, too. Well, at least the literal kind. After convincing myself to learn to cook, I had two delicious, low calorie, high healthy soups; cabbage soup first, then french onion. The problem with the french onion is I topped it off with fresh french bread, devouring the whole thing in two days. I've learned every meal has to have one leftover. That was o.k. except I followed up these two SPRAY specialties with a new recipe for spaghetti sauce. Hm, yum, not…

Afterall, what good is having cake if you can't eat it? Geepers wheepers, It's not like I'm asking for a million bucks. Rather, I already have a decent boat. No, it's not the Queen Mary or even a Mahe 36 catamaran with all the amenities. It is a seemingly sturdy, tank looking barge of a trimaran. SPRAY is just what I was asking for a 35 foot tri with an inboard diesel. To be alone at sea, to sail into an unknown harbor inhaling through all my senses the wonderment of a totally foreign…

Isn't it amazing when new people come into your life? Well, not just any people, but ladies who sail their own boats inspire me. Regardless of its size, being in control of a sailboat is an awesome responsibility. The liability of possible harm coming to another person is real. The possibility of bring harm to oneself is real. The prospect of doing damage to another vessel is real. Sure the risks can be minimized based on skill and weather, but these two factors do not undermine the…

I spent the Thursday night on the boat again.  I brought along a small electric heater, thinking that it would be more efficient then the propane heater we used bringing the boat north from Florida.  My electricity at the dock is metered so I’ll watch my slip rental fees closely this month.  I tried using the DC to AC converter, but the heater seemed to draw more than the…

After three and a half years tied to the big yellow umbilical cord, barring disaster, it will be back to cruising this April. I had hoped to head south for the winter, but it takes a while to turn a floating apartment back into a cruising boat, as well as the skipper. So I opted to stay over for the winter and head north in the spring.

The plan, such as it is, is to bounce around Carolina for a few weeks and make sure boat and skipper are functioning properly. Then it's north to the…

It's an ongoing effort  as I can afford, I am upgrading the boat, for when I start my off shore adventures.

Today got the Auto Pilot in Place.  We put the compas in the bilge.  Ran wire down the pedestal, into Aft Berth,,,around engine to high spot in Bilge.  Made a change, and mounted the auto pilot in the old housing for the speed meter..it is a much better…

We got to the boat later than we had hoped, but we had a great time talking on the ride to the marina.  It took a bit of trying different ways to rig the boatswain chair so that I could hoist Marina up the mizzen mast to remove the topping lift.  At first I tried the winch on the mast, but it was too small.  Then we tried the port jib sheet winch, but the lead was too high…

At least the prevarication was only to myself. Indeed, I was tired today. The past 3 days had me on an emotional high as SPRAY took 2nd place to having any physical work being done. That's not entirely true as I did complete the stern castle window, have the helm lines adjusted, and the bottom cleaned. What I need to do right now is get off this blog and order the auto helm belts. Before that, I need to thank who  ever is in charge of Sea Knots for featuring my previous blog.

We got underway from Stuart, Florida a bit later than we had wished. A last minute problem with the propane system required some expert help be called. With a bit of assistance from the broker who sold us the boat and an email to the former owners, Ken and Becky Gunderson, who are in Thailand, we got a hold of a competent electrician. So about Noon we cast off and proceeded down the river towards the ICW. It was my first time to transit an opening bridge, so you can imagine I was…

Enough foolishness, it is time to get the to do list caught up. At least that was today's intention; to be honest it was on the back burner while I allowed other thoughts, hopes and dreams take a precendance. It is just so easy to get discouraged. Duh?

So, with a vengence I made a note to myself and pasted it in strategic places around the house. Get SPRAY ready to go . . .

Get the house ready to rent . . . Work out, eat right, stick to the plan. . .

At least I drove by…

Ay! With a new permanent lens in my right eye I can see clearly. Cruising up the same area of the ICW where I have sailed for 30 years, I could finally see the landmark house that guides into Ballard Park.  More importantly, I  clearly see where my life is going. The vision of sailing out Port Canaveral on a warm sunny day is crystal clear.  Nervously rounding the fartheest channel mark, setting a northerly course, wondering how the weather will be are visible images that compel me to be…

While going on 41 hours of no sleep, an old friend , Pat calls about 7:25 pm. The timing was perfect for the two of us to take a walk  to the beach to watch a delta rocket being launched into space. With clear skies to the south, ORION was proudly displaying his beautiful stance. Back home I admit to crying as Pat and I parted ways.

Because sleep continued to evade me I decided to conquer my fear of relaxing in the hot tub when no one else is home. By this time a random assortment of…

With the rudder and one solar panel on, and two new batteries on the way, it is time to pump up the dinghy, install the other solar panel, then zip on the dodger.  With all these dodads done  SPRAY should be all set for a Friday evening or Saturday daytime sail. With a little luck I will have a special guest on board. Then for fun my women's team will embark up the river about two hours to join the East Coast Sailing Association's frostbite cruise and bar-b-que at Ballard Park.

Girls…