Well, it looks like winter has reached coastal Texas. With the mercury in the low 40's and the recent rains, it is almost like de ja vu of my last home in Boston. Nothing like overcast skies and some cold wet rain to make you feel alive, right? With holiday celebrations, visiting friends and family, and all the extra cleanup involved, I bet many like myself have been stuck to armchair sailing this month. Ok, I admit, I did have an opportunity to join a group on a 1/2 day charter after…
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Added by Tim on December 29, 2009 at 11:18pm —
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Well, hurricane season ended and now we are headed north with Wind Whisperer, Abasaroque, and Emerald Seas. We have had some great sails on the way north. Celebrated Thanksgiving at Saline Bay on Mayreau in the Tobago Cays. What a beautiful spot. The next day we sailed around to the Cays and snorkeled around the islands. We saw sea turtles, and lots of tropical fish on the reefs. The water was nice and clear and warm. The Cays are on the top of the list for must visit places if you like to…
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Added by Jim Jackson on December 24, 2009 at 1:28pm —
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As I spend my days, two at least, cleaning out my home office, my hands are shaking. I have all this stuff. Stuff I don't know what to do with. Oh, I could spend money, rather borrow money, to buy some shelves to show off my life's collections, or toss, toss, toss, or sell on criag's list, donate to goodwill, or just sit here until as my mom would say until the cows come home.
I know I need to focus, to set a goal for the 2010 year, to plan for my finite future. Maybe it is the…
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Added by Marlene A. Sassaman on December 21, 2009 at 12:00pm —
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The practice of ringing bells at sea is as old as the bells themselves. On board ship it is important to observe some form of timekeeping to facilitate the smooth running of the ship. As clocks or watches were, at best, expensive and so out of the reach of the ordinary sailor, time was measured by using a sand glass.
It was left to one of the ship's boys or midshipmen to be responsible for turning the glass. The most common form came with a running time of half an hour. As periods of…
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Added by Terri on December 19, 2009 at 5:45pm —
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Anyone here make it to the BVIs a week or so ago for the party in Tortolla? It was awesome!!! Grog and Painkillers seem like the staple drinks and we definately had our share. I found Catillo Gold rum for 2.69 a bottle....life is good....Capt Fish
Added by Steve Savell on December 15, 2009 at 5:23pm —
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Just got back from Kemah xmas boat parade on a 56' pwr yacht in heavy fog... 2 electrical fires, almost t-boned a SAILBOAT anchored broadside in the fairway, came less than 10' from hitting rocks, and damn near ran down a game warden boat. I wasn't skippering but I was doing a lot of yelling.....now if only I can remember where the hot coco and mint schnapps is.....
Added by Tim on December 13, 2009 at 1:45am —
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November 15th 2009, Shilshole Bay: The Gales of November
We didn't make it to Friday Harbor. Our trip to Port Townsend was uneventful. Light South Winds were not enough for us to sail, the Northward current pushing us faster than the wind. We had a quick trip under power to Point Hudson Marina where Bree and I stayed with the boat while Laura attended her "Team Building" activity ashore. By Wednesday Laura's meeting was over but the weather was closing in. With gale…
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Added by Orvil Newton on December 10, 2009 at 2:15pm —
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I love this network as it is bringing sailors form all over the world together!! There might be people here though that want to know more or are sailing in Thailand. For those we have a separate network as well.
www.sailingthailand.ning.com Just recently all news and pictures about the biggest sailing Regatta in Thailand the Kings Cup that all happened last week. We hope to see you there also, and if you have anything to add to…
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Added by Andaman Sea Club Sailing Charter on December 9, 2009 at 3:30am —
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Fellow SeaKnots member Max Soto joined in plus sailing buddy Bruce Young. We had a great day of warm weather/warm water (both in the 80's), light air sailing. We are hoping to increase the sailing activity here in Costa Rica by magnitudes...especially our own! I will post a few photos after Max sends them to me
Here's a few photos
.…
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Added by Art Dufresne on December 8, 2009 at 3:00pm —
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As the song goes, there's no place like home for the holidays and we all know home is where the heart is. Couple this with rainy weather a gazillion cars in a hurry to get home, crowded airports, plane delays, and a tight budget going home is a little stressful this year. Even still, the confidence I gained from my summer solo sail has even given me the hutzpah to stand tall, be a frugal shopper and take perhaps a much needed break from sailing.
After 62 days of solo cruising I came…
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Added by Marlene A. Sassaman on November 25, 2009 at 9:32am —
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Hurricane
Ida missed Florida but as we all know, the further north states got some major weather. O Town was glad to dodge the bullet, as it were.
There were gusty winds on Monday and Tuesday of last week but no rain to speak of. We have gone from twice a week water rationing to once a week water rationing. We do need rain but are glad we didn't get a major storm or flooding. I hope everyone one who was affected is doing all right now.
I am now preparing for a week…
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Added by Charlotte Radford on November 16, 2009 at 8:08pm —
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Today’s post is the introduction to Sailing Faith: The Long Way Home. I plan on making the book available for purchase in time for Christmas, and wish to have an idea of how many to order.
Please click here to express a nonbinding interest in ordering.
INTRODUCTION
Just because you’re a great nobleman, you think you’re a great genius! Nobility, riches, a title, high positions, that all makes a man… Continue
Added by Gregg A Granger on November 9, 2009 at 4:35pm —
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That's my question for the day. Hurricaine Ida took a stroll up from Alabama to hit us here in Hampton Roads, Virginia yesterday. We were expecting strong winds and rain, but nothing too terrible, I thought. What we got was 60 - 75 MPH winds (that's category 1, folks) and flooding.
Read More Here
Added by Anne on November 13, 2009 at 7:30pm —
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So after making appointment for Tuesday to be hauled out we figured one more sail! Even double checked and made sure getting hauled on Tues. at 2 pm. Call Bob for the last sail. Planning on removing sails and batteries off Twizzled after a short sail today. We all get there, stop into office to talk about shrinkwrapping and make sure they will be hauling on tues. as Norine taking a half day from work. Secretary informs us...boat is out already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We said, who ok'd…
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Added by Terri on November 15, 2009 at 7:00pm —
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Well....it didn't start out to be moving day.....I loaded the car to the roof (for the third time) and set off on the 3 hour trek to Kinsale. (First time I got there and was informed the marina was holding the boat for debts, second time I destroyed a tire about halfway there and had to return home....)
A little backstory....here are the photos of the marina and boat from when I bought it back at the end of May, when I found out it wasn't really mine after all......…
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Added by Gail K. on November 4, 2009 at 10:30am —
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Someone else just posted a message asking for tips about winterizing. Here in Sunny Florida we winterize by changing our weekly night racing to Sunday afternoons, leave work early on Friday to sail down the river where we drop anchor and sleep late on Saturday morning. Around noon or 1 pm, we clean the bottom of the boat as our excuse to go for a refreshing swim with the dolphins in the continually shifting waters at Sebastian Inlet. Then, around 4 pm we pull up the anchor and drift over to a…
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Added by Marlene A. Sassaman on October 31, 2009 at 8:15pm —
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"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
Mark Twain
Added by Jennifer S on October 29, 2009 at 8:26pm —
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This is the year of my final transmutation. It began four years ago when I gave away my television. All changes heretofore, have been in favor of convention; societal norms and mores; aversion to sanctions. Now is the time to foresake the conventions of land for the wild anarchy of the seas. The sanctification and restoration of my soul. I have taken inventory of my needs; a sturdy ship beneath my feet, white sails above my head, clothes, tools, and one lonely ten dollar guitar. I will have no…
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Added by Dan Vitale on October 29, 2008 at 9:00am —
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Yesterday was the second race of the Frostbite series. I wasn't expecting any crew to show up; it's been difficult to get folks to commit to a weekend, since we really hadn't planned on racing this series in the first place. But I headed over to the boat, figured I could get the jib up at least. If anyone showed up, I'd go ahead and race. Otherwise, I'd just head home to do the homework I was avoiding.…
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Added by Anne on October 12, 2009 at 10:00am —
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Strong finish this season with my 10 and 12 year old girls. I told them that they had to draw on everything that they'd learned in "all their years at sea" and sail from Deer Harbor to Friday Harbor, WA - I would be on board just to watch.
"Whaaaat?? We can't - "
"You've done everything, at one point or another," I said reassuringly. "Now you just have to put it all together in the right order."
The oldest was surprised how quickly the outboard pull started. They…
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Added by John Marston on October 13, 2009 at 8:29pm —
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