On 2/18 I attended a presentation on the book "Overboard!" by Michael Tougias.  The presentation was by the author and Loch Reidy who survived more than 24 hours in the water after being washed overboard during a passage to Bermuda in May 2005.   At the time, I had remarked on my facebook page that there were several things that had run through my mind that they had done wrong.  I take that back, the thing done wrong has its source in one main issue - rushing to leave in order to keep to a schedule.  The need to keep to that schedule led to the captain discounting the potential risk of a low developing into a major storm on the voyage.  It also lead to leaving the black out panels off of the forward windshields in the rush to get underway, one of which smashed and was the source of water in the main cabin that kept filling the boat.  There were many more things that were done right and I really cannot put fault or have any real blame on anyone.  Loch's perseverance in particular is awe inspiring.  How the Coast Guard, Navy and AMVER vessels contributed to Loch's rescue and that of the remaining 3 crew members who were left on the boat is riveting. 

We have all at least felt the temptation to leave because people are waiting for us at a certain place on a certain date.  The main lesson to take away from this is that the decision on when to leave and when to stay in port is the most critical decision you can make for the safety of your boat and crew.  We saw that with the story of "Triple Stars" a year and a half ago.  There are other lessons in the book that we could all benefit from - such as how the wind wants to rip a life raft away from a boat once its deployed.

The book is very well written and a quick read.  I highly recommend it!

http://www.msc.navy.mil/sealift/2005/june/seay.htm

There is a complete list of lessons learned assembled by the author that can be found at this site:

http://www.soundingsonline.com/news/home-waters/101-new-england/253002-almeisans-lessons

Spring is here and the blood is flowing again!  I was at the boat on Monday to start the Spring commissioning.  It looks like a mid-April Launch, although there's a lot to do over the next month.  The past 2.5 months have been consumed with Coast Guard Auxiliary and house chores, although the later seems to never end.  Barb does like the fact that I have pretty much taken over the grocery shopping and am cooking most of the dinners now (Cooking Channel @ 12:30 - French Food at Home with Laura Calder - Highly recommended).

This year's boat list includes applying a new Vinyl Name (the painted on one is 12 years old and is wearing off); repainting the bottom; re-doing most of the teak; applying Poly Glow to the Hull and verifying that the engine problems from last year have been solved.  On the watch list are the batteries, they have not been giving me any problems but they are 10 years old and I am considering changing them out to avoid an issue.

The plans for the year include the Corinthian Spring Cruise in May in the Chesapeake and a trip north to at least Long Island Sound, although I really did have a good time last year in Maine and there is a strong draw to do it again.

The posts will be more active now that the boating season is upon us.  I will even try to convert some of the recipes to boat friendly versions.  For example: Roasted Veggies in Vacuum Sealed pouches and frozen work wonderfully.  Poke a hole in the top and put them in the microwave to reheat.  Veggies that work well include Beets; Baby Carrots; Green Beans; Asparagus; Yams; Red Onions; Leeks; Potatoes.  Roast them separately at 325 and then place them in pouches - I like to mix the up into various combinations.  Bon Appetit!

Yes, with the boat on the hard I have not posted in a bit but now we are planning for the coming year and a continuation of the voyage through life.  Oh God, is that too philosophical or what??  Well here is the news...

Eau de Vie is still in its cocoon for the winter and will not likely emerge until mid April.  This is because I pulled it earlier than I had wanted to because of Hurricane Sandy and there are now rows of boats behind her.  Plans for the year are coming together, although not along the originally hoped for path.  I had wanted to do the ARC Europe but the only 2 boats listed are a racing boat that is described as "Spartan inside to say the least" and the other whose captain extols his virtues in an email and asks for 350 Euro deposit with another 500 due on arrival at the boat but gets the first leg of the trip wrong by saying twice that it is to the Bahamas instead of Bermuda.  Be afraid, be very afraid.

It now looks like we will be able to participate in the Corinthian Spring Cruise in May as the alternative.  This will be followed in June by a cruise with the Little Ship Club on the River Lot in France.  Barbara is really excited about this, in particular the opportunity to see real Cave Paintings!  Here is the overview...

The River Lot has been chosen because of its:

• dramatic scenery
• magnificent prehistoric cave paintings
• lots of sight-seeing en route
• renowned for its wildlife, particularly birds
• swimming
• canoeing
• fishing
• delicious local food and wine.

DAY 1

Pick up boats in Douelle and make our way up-river to Cahors

DAY 2
Morning - Cahors market, the biggest and best in the area
Afternoon - explore Cahors - Valentre Bridge, Chemin de St Jacques de Compostelle, the old town, Cathedral, museums, secret gardens
Evening - wine-tasting followed by first rally meal, featuring local specialities

DAY 3
Up-river, exploring the riverside villages, all with beautiful scenery that get increasingly dramatic, including:
    Arcambal - a brewery, ancient mill, 14th century chateau
    Vers - well-known art gallery, remains of aqueduct, cascades
    St Gery - great for bird-watching
    Bouzies - tow paths carved into the limestone cliffs, canoeing in River Cele (tributary of Lot)

DAY 4
Continue up-river arriving at St Cirq Lapopie in the afternoon
It is one of the 'Plus Beaux Villages' and is perched spectacularly on top of the cliff overlooking the river, with stunning views
Pontoon party

DAY 5
Morning - visit caves of Pech Merle with prehistoric cave paintings - unlike the more famous ones at Lascaux you see the originals, some of them 25,000 years old
Afternoon - look round St Cirq Lapopie - lots of crafts and galleries as well as the amazing views

DAYS 6 and 7
Back down-river past Cahors and Douelle, to Luzech

DAY 8
Back up-river to Parnac - visit to vineyard
Then back to Douelle
Final rally meal in Douelle
Leave boats 9.00 am next morning

This makes the 4th sailing with our friends of the Little Ship Club and we have had such fun that I have decided to become a member.

We are looking forward to the year ahead

M/V Fairport C

Here is the route of the latest trip aboard M/V Fairport C, a Grand Banks 52.  We made the trip straight through in 67 hours.  Aboard  were John and Denise, the owners and the professional Captain, Andrea who is a friend of the owners.  Andrea is captain of a 72 footer which is now in Florida.  She is an excellent captain and knows boat systems inside and out.  We had a good trip with guidance from a weather router, which is why we pushed to get into San Juan by Thursday.

We started with from Long Island in the Bahamas and left at 2200 hrs on 11/26.

I will post other photos in a few days.

Home Again!

I am home again and can upload more photos and video of the trip.

Jack Zacks - Yacht Broker with Sparkman & Stephens

Larry Cohen - Dentist

Darlene Roberts 

Larry Kron

Hampton before departure

Cutter Loose in Hampton

Saudade in Tortola

The meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything

Arrived in Tortola

We left Hampton as scheduled on Saturday at 1300 hrs to avoid the Nor'easter that was due to hit on Wed. Larry Cohen (7th passage down) and I (4th passage) had commented that the forecast presented was the best we had seen for a trip down.  The first day and night were uneventful and we started across the Gulf Stream at 0900 the next morning.  The Stream as the calmest I have experienced until just before sunset when a squall appeared on the radar.  The squall became a constant storm that persisted all night and into the next day before it dissipated.  Winds were 35 to 40 with gust to 50 with heavy rain and lightning.  After arriving in Tortola we were told that this was a small area of low pressure when we left that had developed into a large area that coincided with the fleets arrival in the area.  Beyond that weather improved and we proceeded to get south down the rhumb line as quickly as possible to get out of the path of the NE'er.  Most of the early passage was fast with the strong winds - up to 9kts.  By Tuesday we were fairly consistently making 7kts with an occasional 8kts.

The Crew upon arrival - Larry Kron; Larry Cohen; Darlene Roberts; Jack Zacks; Me - yes I did not shave!!

The Beach at Nanny Cay

The Crew of Cutter Loose upon Arrival

The biggest mechanical issue was that we lost the autopilot on the first day and had to hand steer until we finally were able to fix it after 6 days.  We slowed down toward the end to arrive at the marina entrance at daybreak.  We were the 11th boat to arrive, with cutter loose having arrived the next day.

Our path down was as follows:  http://www.findmespot.com/spotadventures/index.php/view_adventure?tripid=317612.

With this event, sailing for the year is now done.  I fly back on Friday and begin planning my next event.  I am trying to be a crew member on the ARC Europe which leaves in May.   Fingers Crossed...

The Caribbean 1500

I am now due to head to Hampton on Wednesday.  Amtrak has announced the cancellation of service for tomorrow.  The marina in Hampton is at the indicated location and have the second highest level of impact.
With a target departure date of Sunday (conditions premitting) I need to be there to ensure that the boat is ready.  If Amtrak is cancelled again on Wed. I will need to drive down and return later to pick up the car.

Updates from Yachts en-route to Hampton

29 October

Thanks to those yachts not yet in Hampton who emailed in with their progress reports! We heard from the following, in addition to the news we posted yesterday about a few boats in Annapolis and on the Chesapeake... FROM JIM ON KIA ORANA: "Hi- Kia Orana in 30-40k presently, but safe and sound at the dock in Smith Creek at the mouth of the Potomac. Plan to resume on Weds., make it there by late Thurs., 1 Nov. Jim Burdick" FROM THE CLUB CARP CREW: "Report from Club Carp. We plan to leave Annapolis Wednesday PM and arrive in Hampton Thursday PM. We will be staying at my cousin’s (Charlie Huffman) dock next to Chris Hall's place at Bluewater Yachting Center. We will have a car to get to the events. Club Carp Crew, Jeff Woody Hansmann Larry Roland Glenn Haberbush" FROM BILL ON ALTHEA "Thanks for the updates.  Althea is still in the C & D.  I expect to head south Wed, hopefully we will arrive Thurs or Friday. Again, the updates have been very helpful in keeping us informed. Bill Ewing Althea" FROM NEIL & SHAUN ON ESCAPADE "We sailed all night Frdayi night and arrived at Blue Water in the wee hours Sat morning in order to be ahead of the weather. We are on the floating dock just outside of Surf Rider restaurant at Blue Water.    We drove back to our hometown Saturday afternoon to deal with hurricane issues here and plan to return to Blue Water mid day Wednesday.   We look forward to seeing everyone. Neil and Shaun s/v ESCAPADE"