OK, its been far too long since I have posted on the blog and a friend pointed that out last weekend.  I will therefore be posting more often.  

Jim Elliott

Ron and Maryann - S/V Cavu

Al and Ann

Last weekend was the Annapolis Boat Show and I attended Thursday and Friday.  The highlight for me was seeing friends. David and Patty; Kurt and Monica, Jim and Norm, Corky and Deb; Al and Ann; Ron and Maryann; John and Linda; Denise and finally Jim.

The good thing about the boat show is that you can get good deals on a lot of equipment.  The bad thing is you can see so many good deals that you blow your budget.  Do I need the new Kiwi Prop or the Air Breeze wind generator?  No, not need but highly tempting....  My biggest purchase was new fowl weather gear from Helly Hansen at almost half off.  Yea, I know its Yellow and White but my existing Bibs and boots are also yellow.

The other good thing about the boat show was the party's.  There was a good get together with the Salty Dog Rally from last year and a get together with the Caribbean 1500, including Davis and his band performing at the Ram's Head,

I will be on the 1500 again this year for my 4th trip to the Caribbean.  This year I will be on a 48' Tayana and we will leave on 11/4, weather permitting.  More to follow...

Catching Up

OK, it has been a while since I had an internet access.  The last marina I stayed in (Sandwich, Mass at the eastern end of the Cape Cod Canal) claimed internet but it did not reach my slip.  I am now in Brielle, NJ (Manasquan Inlet) as it is one of only 3 inlets in NJ that I would attempt.  The other 2 are Atlantic City and Cape May.  Since my last post I have been basically single handing from Boothbay Harbor.  Not that I have not had offers for folks to be crew, but there are always timing and logistical considerations on when and where to pick them up and drop them off.  The exception has been that I have had Lucas Gunhart with me from Labor Day to last Sat.  He is beginning to study Sailing and he sailed with me from Block Island to Oyster Bay.  The engine problems with air in the fuel lines are now resolved as they were caused by a vacuum guage on the primary fuel filter that was installed in Boothbay on the way up.  This was to diagnose a problem with loosing RPM for short periods that was caused by a loose fitting.  Once that guage was removed, the problem went away.

Enough of that... from Boothbay I went to Portsmouth, NH and then to Marblehead for 2 days.  Dolphin Yacht Club only charges $30 and you get access to there clubhouse - great deal as the other clubs charge $50.  From there I went on to Scituate and ran across Bob and Laura Fleno - Bob sailed with me on Ilene on the Caribbean 1500. 2 years ago.  They left last year for 2 years of sailing in the Caribbean but came back a year early. I sailed from there to Sandwich, because I was not sure about the resolution of the engine issue and wanted a clean start at the head of the Cape Cod Canal.  3 days in Cuttyhunk, 3 days in Block and then up the LI sound, including 3 days in Oyster Bay  Today was City Island to Brielle and tomorrow is Cape May.  I will be home soon and can't wait.

Here are shots from the trip...

Why do people put stupid names on their boats?

Or have an OK name ...

And put something stupid on their boom?

I prefer to just live the good life and enjoy - Try the Oysters they are Great!

Cuttyhunk Rocks!!

And it doesn't get any better!

Boothbay Region Boatyard - BRB

I am having parts arrive here by noon today and they will have them installed by 3:00.  If you are in the area needing service this is the marina.  They are the local Yanmar dealer and they come highly recommended.  They troubleshot my problem the last time I was in and, although it could not be pinpointed at that time they were able to look at it on the day I needed and install an new vacuum sensor on the fuel filter system to help confirm if it was a fuel problem.  They are great to work with and knowledgeable.

I sailed here yesterday from Boothbay Harbor, having run the engine only about 30 minutes total.  In the 6 miles traveled, I past 3 lighthouses.  They are every where and all beautiful, but you overwhelm people with too many photos.  Here are the 3 from yesterday though.

Boothbay Harbor Entrance

Boothbay Headlands

Sheepscot River

Maine Cruise

I have not been connected to the Internet and had time to post updates for a bit.  Today I have both as I am in Boothbay Harbor waiting for parts to arrive on Monday.  The last 2 nights have been rainy but there is plenty of good food here.  Following the Corinthian Cruise, Grace and Rick joined me as crew for the next week.  Southern Harbor on North Haven; Fox Island Thoroughfare, Bucks Harbor and Little Cranberry Island to see Freda.  From there we headed to Tennent's Harbor and here to Boothbay Harbor.  The Marina is the Carousel Marina - where the musical was filmed.  Barb would love the photos of the filming in the marina --- Not.  As I need to remain, Grace and Rick left yesterday and I am now solo.  This is a true test of whether I will enjoy sailing solo for long periods.  The game plan going forward is slow and safe - it helps having no deadlines or commitments.  Below is a pictorial review of the trip so far...

Cuttyhunk - The storm that missed us...

Fog Happens

Then it begins to clear - Southport near Boothbay

The mini cruise starts at Boothbay Region Boatyard

John Pasley and J. Jay Maunter

Calm with rain in the distance - missed us again.

Replica of a 1920's /30's commuter

Yes there is sun as well!!

Mini Cruise at anchor - Maplejuice Cove

The main cruise at Buck's Harbor

Eau de Vie at Buck's Harbor

Parade of boats out

Corinthian Cruise Penobscot Bay




Camden, Maine

Without much time to take photo's or locations with Internet access, I have been a bit late on getting updates out - my apologies.  The trip has been wonderful but not without difficulties that we were able to overcome.  We left Cuttyhunk for Onset at the mouth of the Cape Cod Canal to await a favorable current the next morning for our voyage to Scituate, Mass.  On the way to Onset we had the boat healed over from the sails and the engine cut out as it could not get any more fuel at that angle.  We still had 20% in the tank so the solution was to stop sailing and motor.  From there we tried for Marblehead, but it was Race Week there and there was no room, so we went next door to Salem for 2 days.  It has been much improved since the last time I was there.  We left Salem for Portsmouth, NH in heavy Fog which did not lift until we were right outside of the harbour.  From Portsmouth we reached Portland, Maine and spent 3 days there so we could drop off George for his flight back to Fort Wayne, IN.  From Portland we motored to the Sheepscot River, again in heavy fog.  Next to Maplejuice Cove and finally to Camden, again in fog, for the start



of the Cruise.  The engine again died, this time due to an air lock and it was easily restarted.  Finding the source of the air getting into the system was a bit harder and I had to get a mechanic to assist.  Today we are in Bucks Harbor and I have to say that this area is one of the most beautiful I could have imagined. 

Replica of a 1930's "Commuter" for the Wealthy to get from Long Island to NYC

Fife designed racers from 1914



Lighthouse outside of the Sheepscot River



Vagn Worm in his Launch in Bucks Harbor

The trip North... More photo's to follow

We left Rock Hall on 7/19 and made it to Cape May on 7/20 where we stayed until 7/22 to await favorable wind for the Passage to Block Island.  Aldo's Bakery still comes by in their Boston Whaler shouting Andiamo with fresh croissants and pastries.  After that we hit Cuttyhunk with lobsters cooked to perfection.

From there we went to Onset, Scituate, Salem in Mass.; Portsmouth, NH and now Portland Maine.  Lobster rolls, Scallops, Fresh fish.  It doesn't get much better than this.

The Harbor at Cuttyhunk

View from Cuttyhunk into Vinyard Sound

Solent Jubilee

OK - so its technically not Eau de Vie Sailing, but it is Sailing...
Barb and I just returned from sailing with the Little Ship Club of London as part of a joint event with the Corinthians.  Starting in Dartmouth we first sailed West to Salcombe.  The weather forecast seemed like it had been a recording - Winds out of the South or Southeast force 4/5, visibility Moderate or Poor sometimes Very Poor with rain and Thundery Showers.

Solent Cruise Agenda

 

The trip was going to include the far left trek to Poole, but with winds on the nose at 30 kts we stayed within the Solent (the area between the Isle of White and mainland England.  We all had a wonderful time with a great crew which included David Clements (owner of Bagheera of Whitby - a 40 Bowman) Mike Gill, who was the liaison with the Corinthians, and Duncan Macmillan, a true Scotsman.  

Duncan





You see - She really does sail and even has her own Oilies...





Salcombe - Pre-Cruise Visit



Itchner Harbour



Scrubbing the bottom at Low Tide



David



Mike

Following the Cruise we flew to Brittany for a week with Bob and Sally  Martin and a wonderful town called Dinan.

Street where we rented a house that was 500 years old

Main shopping street inside the walled town

View from St Malo in Brittany