Messing About In Sailboats

Woods Hole

Today we are sailing from Edgartown mv to Cuttyhunk. We had currents on the nose and opted to pass through Woods Hole channel rather than sail up Vineyard Sound where we would face 2-3 kts of current. The current was ripping over 4 kts as we passed through the channel. The cans below show\ what we were fighting. Lots of traffic too made for an exciting passage past the NOAA Center at Woods Hole. Read more →

In Edgartown

Alice and I are off cruising with our friends Phil and Joy aboard their beautiful 1975 Swan 44. We came aboard in Edgartown Martha's Vineyard. Never been here before and it is an experience. A stunning harbor. We're on a mooring, banked either side by elegant New England homes, the most modest of which goes for $5 million. At least half the boats in view are Hinckleys or of that class. Behind is a wetland area with osprey nests. Yesterday evening I saw an osprey flying, fish in mouth, pursued by its offspring. Today is landbased but tomorrow we're off to the Elizabeth islands. Read more →

July 4th - Two Great Sails

With son and heir, Matt's graduation, new job and the World Cup in full swing we didn't sail at all in June. On July 4th, I made up for my lack of water time with 11 hours of solid sailing. My body aches today. Part 1, was crewing for my friend Ethan on his Capri 25, Nightswimmer in the Holiday race. Ethan mostly crews and this was his first time this season racing his own boat. He rather courageously invited two very accomplished racing skippers, Jerry Orabona and Kelly Robinson along for coaching and "moral support". Having one seasoned racer whispering pointers and words of encouragement from the after-guard is one thing but having two vociferous hardened racers doing foredeck and pit while bellowing instructions took a level of fortitude I am not personally blessed with. Ethan has a great sense of humor and managed to keep smiling despite getting... Read more →

Civilized Sunday and Mad Monday

This weekend was a stunning weekend of sailing and a weekend of big contrasts. On Sunday, the missus and I joined 12 other boats on the annual shakedown cruise from Raritan Yacht Club to Keyport Yacht Club. The club has an active group of cruisers who will cruise all over the Northeast through till Haul-out Day. My friends Tim and Ed run the cruisers and do a great job of organizing a nice series of cruises during the Spring, Summer and early Fall. Through the Winter they put on dinners and seminars. This first cruise is a simple 5 mile cruise Southeast across Raritan Bay where we have reciprocals with KYC. In Keyport we had lunch with one of the skippers I race with, Howard and his bride Skippy along with Ed and Susan who are the previous owners of Messing About fka Tiger Lilly. After a civilized lunch, Alice... Read more →

Interview With A Cruiser. Brilliant Idea for a Blog

I recently learned about a cracking new blog, Interview with a Cruiser. It is based on a brilliantly simple premise: Once a week they post an interview with a long-term cruiser. The only stipulation is that the interviewee must have cruised for two years and must have sailed elsewhere than just the US of A. It makes compelling reading already and I can see that over time this will become a great resource for people like me who dream of some day setting sail for an extended period. The author of this blog, Livia sets cruisers 10 standard questions but lets others ask them questions too. Here is a flavor. Describe a perfect cruising moment that will make cruisers-to-be drool with anticipation I have two that come to mind immediately, one serious and heart-warming, and one funny. a) Hanging onto the wheel with both hands, as the Lavante wind driven... Read more →