Arrrrrgh! It's been a week since I last posted! Sorry about that. We are well and traveling most days. We have had some pretty heavy weather and we had to leave the Chesapeake Bay due to high winds on our nose and waves 2-4 feet! Not fun. The Annapolis Boat Show was a great way to see new things that make life easier on a boat as "live aboards." Of course, most items were expensive but we did purchase some that will help us in our travels.
We had lunch with Anne and Bill O'Connor, formerly from Averill Park. We did a walking tour of the Naval Academy and shared some funny stories.
October 11 Tuesday we motor-sailed to Solomons Island. Yes, it's spelled correctly. As you read this it seems like it should be spelled with an apostrophe. I filled up with diesel then anchored in Back Creek near a Holiday Inn with a dinghy dock. This allowed me to walk to West Marine and purchased spare parts for the water pump that decided to lose its ability to have pressure! We had dinner at Catamaran's Pub on the river. It was a distant dinghy ride to get there but the food and three pints of beer came to $11.07 for the two of us! No joke! It was Happy Hour and we had their specials.
October 12 Wednesday we left Solomons Island, MD and sailed to Mill Creek MD near Smith's Point. There was so much fog at 7:00AM we called Pat and Walt and decided to wait until 8:00AM. We left with running lights on, rain falling and flat water. The forecast was for waves 1-2 feet but by lunch time they were 4 feet. Both of us were not having fun since the wind and the tide current was against us. We bumped along until 5:00PM and pulled into Mill Creek. This was the most special anchorage next to Liberty Park. Mill Creek has good holding and is located on a wide part of the stream with some neat houses on shore.
October 14 Friday we left Mill Creek in flat water but by the time we entered the Chesapeake the wind was whistling and the waves were already at 2-3 feet. The 15 to 25 kt winds were again right on our nose so we left our sails bundled. We left the Bay and anchored in a river near Deltaville, VA and ate lunch and tried to decide what we wanted to do. The choice was easy and we went into Deltaville to a marina for a shower and laundry. Lorrie and Len arrived shortly after us and we spent Friday and Saturday with them.
October 16 Sunday we waved goodbye to Lorrie and Len and headed to Portsmouth, VA. We arrived here at about 6:20PM, ate dinner and settled in.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
October 10, 2011 Annapolis Boat Show
The Annapolis Boat Show is billed as the "United States Boat Show!" While I've never been to a boat show this is truly impressive! Before leaving Coeymans I purchased, at a very reasonable cost, a set of headphones so Bonnie and I could communicate in a civil manner during anchoring maneuvers! It' not just us that have difficulty hearing each others concerns while 40 feet away with our backs turned, it's everyone else trying to anchor as well. The point of the story is that one headphone did not work properly the first time we anchored so I took them back to the booth at the Boat Show of the company that sold them to me and they apologized and swapped them out for brand new ones. That's service! I can recount other stories similar to this one from others we talked to.
I visited the Boat US booth and asked for an insurance quote so that Fiu could go to the Bahamas this winter. My current policy restricts us to 100nm offshore. That means we would only be able to see parts of the first few islands. The quote is comparable to my current premium but I can sail anywhere from Maine to Brownsville, Texas. That includes the Bahamas down to the Turks and Caicos.
There were booths selling just about everything nautical as well as food. Some of the luxury sailboats are outrageous not only in cost but in design too.
In order to get from Fiu to the boat show this is what we encountered. The dinghy docks on Back Creek where we anchored the past two nights are not in good shape and require someone to pay some attention to them. However, while it may sound like whining I enjoy the challenges of traveling by boat and in this case by dinghy.
We intend to sail down the Chesapeake Bay to Solomons Island. We are told there is lots to do there. It's getting late and I must close.
Capt Sid
I visited the Boat US booth and asked for an insurance quote so that Fiu could go to the Bahamas this winter. My current policy restricts us to 100nm offshore. That means we would only be able to see parts of the first few islands. The quote is comparable to my current premium but I can sail anywhere from Maine to Brownsville, Texas. That includes the Bahamas down to the Turks and Caicos.
There were booths selling just about everything nautical as well as food. Some of the luxury sailboats are outrageous not only in cost but in design too.
In order to get from Fiu to the boat show this is what we encountered. The dinghy docks on Back Creek where we anchored the past two nights are not in good shape and require someone to pay some attention to them. However, while it may sound like whining I enjoy the challenges of traveling by boat and in this case by dinghy.
We intend to sail down the Chesapeake Bay to Solomons Island. We are told there is lots to do there. It's getting late and I must close.
Capt Sid
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Heavy Schedule October 9, 2011
We have been sailing pretty long days and it's nearly impossible to contribute to the blog each day. Sorry about that! Arrrrrgh!!!!! Here is a current update of our travels.
October 2 Sunday Coeyman's Landing Marina to Newburgh, NY
October 3 Monday Newburgh to Nyack, NY
October 4 Tuesday Nyack to Liberty Park, New Jersey
October 5 Wednesday Liberty Park to Atlantic City, NJ
October 6 Thursday Atlantic City to Cape May, NJ
October 7 Friday Cape May to Chesapeake City, MD
October 8 Saturday Chesapeake City to Annapolis, MD
October 8-10 Saturday Annapolis,MD
thru Monday
October 11 Tuesday Plans to head down the Chesapeake Bay toward Portsmith/Norfork, VA
Capt Sid
October 2 Sunday Coeyman's Landing Marina to Newburgh, NY
October 3 Monday Newburgh to Nyack, NY
October 4 Tuesday Nyack to Liberty Park, New Jersey
October 5 Wednesday Liberty Park to Atlantic City, NJ
October 6 Thursday Atlantic City to Cape May, NJ
October 7 Friday Cape May to Chesapeake City, MD
October 8 Saturday Chesapeake City to Annapolis, MD
October 8-10 Saturday Annapolis,MD
thru Monday
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| Add caption |
October 11 Tuesday Plans to head down the Chesapeake Bay toward Portsmith/Norfork, VA
Capt Sid
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
October 4, 2011
We are in NYC with the following sites visible from our anchorage: The Verrazano Bridge, Liberty Park, The Statue of Liberty well-lighted and The Battery and the rest of the southern tip of Manhattan.
We are leaving early tomorrow AM for our ocean sail down the coast of New Jersey. We expect to get to Atlantic City to anchor at dusk.
I have pics and stories to tell. Lights out!
Capt Sid
We are leaving early tomorrow AM for our ocean sail down the coast of New Jersey. We expect to get to Atlantic City to anchor at dusk.
I have pics and stories to tell. Lights out!
Capt Sid
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Luffing of the Sails
We are laughing and luffing! We are laughing because we have had a busy week visiting with friends and neighbo
rs and telling humorous stories. Some are about our previous trip to the Keys while others are just about daily happenings. We are luffing! Luffing in sailing terms refers to the mainsail flapping back and forth while your bow is likely pointed into the wind thereby not allowing the sail to catch the wind and move the boat. We are luffing this week in terms of getting prepared to leave this Sunday. Since Fiu is loaded with lots of food (Bonnie's good judgment and her thoughtful healthy choices) the nav system has been checked out, engine work completed, the sole cleaned and the head smelling fresh and clean as well, there seems to be little to do but wait. The anticipation is beginning to turn into reality. We will be home for only two more nights before we embark on another wonderful and educational adventure!
There will few chances to golf on this trip (one of my favorite past-times). While sailing there are enough things happening to keep one busy, you know like dodging sport fishing boats (always in a hurry), anchoring dragging (usually occurs while eating supper or worse yet while preparing supper) and of course the routine use of time to study charts and safely plan your next leg of the journey! Well, I went golfing yesterday probably for the last time until next May. Maybe that's a good thing since my "A" game was left at home for the day!
There are so many details to manage when you leave a friendly and known environment for an adventure away from home. Important things like "getting the mail", returning to the store for that one "forgotten" item, and gee, I thought I wore that shirt yesterday. All of these cause anxiety, but it's probably better to laugh a little while luffing!
Capt Sid
rs and telling humorous stories. Some are about our previous trip to the Keys while others are just about daily happenings. We are luffing! Luffing in sailing terms refers to the mainsail flapping back and forth while your bow is likely pointed into the wind thereby not allowing the sail to catch the wind and move the boat. We are luffing this week in terms of getting prepared to leave this Sunday. Since Fiu is loaded with lots of food (Bonnie's good judgment and her thoughtful healthy choices) the nav system has been checked out, engine work completed, the sole cleaned and the head smelling fresh and clean as well, there seems to be little to do but wait. The anticipation is beginning to turn into reality. We will be home for only two more nights before we embark on another wonderful and educational adventure!
There will few chances to golf on this trip (one of my favorite past-times). While sailing there are enough things happening to keep one busy, you know like dodging sport fishing boats (always in a hurry), anchoring dragging (usually occurs while eating supper or worse yet while preparing supper) and of course the routine use of time to study charts and safely plan your next leg of the journey! Well, I went golfing yesterday probably for the last time until next May. Maybe that's a good thing since my "A" game was left at home for the day!
There are so many details to manage when you leave a friendly and known environment for an adventure away from home. Important things like "getting the mail", returning to the store for that one "forgotten" item, and gee, I thought I wore that shirt yesterday. All of these cause anxiety, but it's probably better to laugh a little while luffing!
Capt Sid
Monday, September 19, 2011
Preparations September 19, 2011 Monday
Welcome to our blog! It is always fun and satisfying to create easy reading stories that describe our adventures as we head south to warmer climates (it gets darn cold here)! It is our intent to sail to the the Keys now (where it is much warmer) and after the first of the new year to the Bahamas, a place we have never visited. This blog is intended to keep our families and friends aware of our location (please don't all come and visit at once) and provide interesting and hopefully humorous accounts of our adventures as we sail Fiu southward.
Our original goal was to set sail tomorrow Saturday, September 24, 2011 (Bonnie was thrilled to have extra time as we all know she is often late). However, this has changed due to two events beyond our control. First, the lift at our marina is waiting for spare parts which will be arriving soon and second, our "Buddy Boat" from Rochester, NY is unable to make a direct link to Albany due to the closure of the Erie Canal at locks 10, 11 and 12 and is currently heading to Montreal, Canada via the St Lawrence River and Lake Champlain to Albany. We expect to launch Fiu next Saturday and set sail down the Hudson River on Sunday just about the time our buddy boat, "Waves of Grace" will arrive.
There have been many activities this summer including numerous items on my "Honey Do" list ( I'm a carpenter, electrician, painter and whatever Bonnie needed done), a son married in Bozeman, Montana this summer, a New York reception here for friends, family and neighbors unable to attend the wedding and a rather lengthy process of outfitting and preparing Fiu for a safe journey ( you know... varnishing, cleaning and bottom paint). We are just about finished with preparations with postal and paper deliveries, on line bill pay and numerous other details being close to completion as well.
We will have the ability to email as long as we are within cell tower range so please respond to our postings either by commenting on the blog, emailing at your leisure or calling our cell phones. I am still trying to decide on the details of our specific daily location using GPS.
Captain Sid
Our original goal was to set sail tomorrow Saturday, September 24, 2011 (Bonnie was thrilled to have extra time as we all know she is often late). However, this has changed due to two events beyond our control. First, the lift at our marina is waiting for spare parts which will be arriving soon and second, our "Buddy Boat" from Rochester, NY is unable to make a direct link to Albany due to the closure of the Erie Canal at locks 10, 11 and 12 and is currently heading to Montreal, Canada via the St Lawrence River and Lake Champlain to Albany. We expect to launch Fiu next Saturday and set sail down the Hudson River on Sunday just about the time our buddy boat, "Waves of Grace" will arrive.
There have been many activities this summer including numerous items on my "Honey Do" list ( I'm a carpenter, electrician, painter and whatever Bonnie needed done), a son married in Bozeman, Montana this summer, a New York reception here for friends, family and neighbors unable to attend the wedding and a rather lengthy process of outfitting and preparing Fiu for a safe journey ( you know... varnishing, cleaning and bottom paint). We are just about finished with preparations with postal and paper deliveries, on line bill pay and numerous other details being close to completion as well.
We will have the ability to email as long as we are within cell tower range so please respond to our postings either by commenting on the blog, emailing at your leisure or calling our cell phones. I am still trying to decide on the details of our specific daily location using GPS.
Captain Sid
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