Naked News No Longer on Top...

Ha! That got your attention, didn't it? For months now, my post on Naked News has been the most read post on this blog. What did I expect from a bunch of pirates, right?
According to the blog stats, Tahiti Teasing, the blog previous to this one, is now first in page views for the week, with Naked News coming in second. NN still has the number one spot for the month, but TT is in second and closing in, and fast!
Now, here's where it gets really interesting. I checked the all time figures and, naturally (he says with a broad grin), Naked News is in first place. Tahiti Teasing, as a newer post, is in fifth but that's only after a few days. I suspect it will rise to second place in short order and perhaps even take over the all time top spot.
But like the gag says, Who's on first, What's on second? Rather than tell you, here's the link. Why am I not surprised that that particular post would get big views from a group of sailors?
Nice to see everyone has their priorities in place! Naked, free and tropical sunsets...I'm proud of all of you!

Tahiti Teasing....

I know, I know...I promised to tell you all about cruising in Tahiti. Then I got here to Annapolis, and caught up in the social whirl with my many good friends. Since it's about time to sober up - er, take a break, now seems a good time to tell you about Tahiti.
Simply put, everything you've ever heard about how beautiful Tahiti is - is true, but times 10. It's that spectacular. 
I was about to leave for South Africa in 2010 on an assignment for SAIL Magazine when I got an email from my editor: "Would you like to go to Tahiti?" What kind of a question is that? Of course I do. I've never typed 'yes' and hit 'send' as fast as I did then.
SAIL wanted me to cover the Pearl Regatta, which coincidentally has just finished this year. This regatta is one of the world's top regattas for cruising boats, with entries of nearly every conceivable type of boat.
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For example, in this video (click here), the yellow boat you see is a ferro cement boat that was one of the top performers, but there were even boats under 30 feet racing.
Here's another video of the event, taken when I was there...
I just went looking for photos of the event for you - found a blog from Tahiti - and darned if the article on the event they linked to wasn't my own, in SAIL - here's the link - SAIL article.
As you read in the SAIL article, one of my crew was a Japanese sailing writer - well, guess who ended up on the cover of Japan's national sailing magazine? Yup, you got it. Isn't that a hoot? The Japanese magazine cover is shown below in the photos.
Ok, that's it for today, more photos next post...enjoy!

Two of the crew...

This is what Tahiti is all about...

Bora Bora in the background, and look at the colour of the water...

The sailing was fabulous....

Can you believe it?

Coming soon....Tahiti...

Tahiti - yes, it's this beautiful...

...a couple of people have asked me to talk about my trip sailing in Tahiti...so just putting together some photos - Tahiti is so beautiful...you'll love it.

Early morning sunshine coming over Bora Bora, complete with thunderclouds

Annapolis is bad for your health...

...more accurately, you're liver's health, especially if you have friends like Mike, Dennis, Jeff, Joe, Cheryl, Michelle, Matt, Crystal...which is not to discount friends such as James, Joe, Pat, Susan, Troy and the Timinator® in St. Simons, GA, who are equally as dangerous!
I have managed, barely, to survive my first weekend back in Annapolis. Friday evening, Mike and I got together for a brew at the Boatyard. That led to Pussers (Kathy, you like that place don't you, or is it their Painkillers, lol?), then Middletons....you get the picture? Got to hear some good music at Middletons, which has always had good bands if you enjoy classic rock and roll and dancing. I do believe we also dropped into the Rockfish and a couple of other pubs...it must be age, my memory isn't quite what it used to be. Yeah, that's it - age!
Saturday, I felt it important to relax (read sleep in and recuperate) and work on the boat, then visit some friends at the nearby marina. Perhaps read up on memory enhancing techniques...
Sunday - oh oh, here we go again. Got a call from Dennis, everyone is meeting at Pussers...well, that took care of the afternoon and Aduana made all kinds of new friends while I reacquainted myself with some of my old ones. While shuffling - er, walking - back to the boat from Pussers, who do I run into but Joe and his lovely new ladyfriend Amy, and Joe's brother, at Davis' pub - so near to my boat and safety, but too late, too late. 
Sat down, chatted, then Joe suggests I check out his new place, we'll play some music (Joe's plays guitar and sings, I sing, badly) and perhaps have a Fat Tyre (type of beer) or three and some laughs. Well, a good time was had by all....Aduana got into what was left of the shrimp dip while no one was watching, and turned her nose up at her kibble later...spoiled pooch.
We won't discuss what time I got back, but I've never seen the streets of Annapolis so quiet. 
Thank God for Mondays...

Annapolis, storms and the dock goat...

I know, I know, you all want to hear about the storm and the dock goat... well, here's a photo of the damn dock goat...

and this is a photo of the little bastard about to eat my furling line... welcome to Reedsville, VA!

Ok, now about the storm - there are no photos. It was dark, and I was too busy saving my life to take video. Ok, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but it WAS dark. Honest. Ok, it's a lot of an exaggeration, as in an Olympic gold medal whopper. However, just at sunset, about 20 miles outside of Annapolis, NOAA weather came on the radio with their 'Armaggedon' message. Basically, it's this - the weather is about to take a nasty poop, you had best bend over and kiss your butt goodbye because it's going to get nastier than you'll enjoy out there and why are you so stupid anyway?
So I looked up and yup - sure enough - there's a roll cloud coming out of the west. Picture a rolled carpet, with evil looking clouds behind it, lightning crackling every which way coming out of it, and moving towards you FAST.
Everything in front of it - i.e. the weather I HAD been enjoying, was a light grey. Everything behind it - the weather I was about to experience - was dark, broody, ugly, mean looking grey. You know, kind of like the look your ex-wife gives you when you suggest -well, when you suggest almost anything other than increasing her support.
The NOAA guy on the radio was telling those of us idiotic enough to be out on Chesapeake Bay at this time that 'winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour can be expected, with gusts to 40 mph'. He went on to describe 'cloud to ground lightning', thunderstorms ("winds and waves may be higher in thunderstorms"), gee, thanks for that bit of cheery news...and on and on. About the only thing that wasn't mentioned was fist sized hailstones. One must be grateful for whatever mercies the weather gods may choose, in their mercy, wisdom and kindness, to bestow. Do I sound cynical or what? Especially when they say 'Mariners should seek shelter'....right, and just where will I find shelter when I'm 10 or 20 miles from shore? According to Employment Stats, there are 80,000 comedians out of work. Where did they find this guy?
Ok - the truth? I wouldn't have even been there had I not gone to Reedsville (home of the damn dock goat), instead of carrying on to Solomon's Island, as was the plan. However, the dockside bar, Leadbelly's, has the world's best crab bisque ($7 for a big bowl) and it had been a couple of years since I'd feasted on it. The locals are friendly, if a bit - (HA!) - redneck and always good to chat with. (They must be redneck, they like goats...)
So, like a fool, I abandoned the 15 - 20 knot south winds that were blowing me cheerfully and quickly up the bay from Deltaville to head in to Reedsville, VA. Loved the soup, as good as ever. Tanya, the owner, told me she puts two pounds - yes, that's pounds - of crab in every pot to make this soup. You ever priced blue crab? Do you have any idea how much two pounds of picked crab meat costs? But it was oh so good. I didn't quite have the nerve to lick the bowl, but I'll admit to thinking about it.
Later, on my way back to the boat, I walked behind the restaurant, following Aduana on one of her wanders along the dock. Found a bunch of aquariums and probably three to four hundred blue crab in them. No wonder the soup tastes so good. They pick the crab meat right there. Anywhere else, this bowl of soup - were it even possible to get it like this - would cost closer to $20 and would be worth it at the price.
Next morning, got up at 6 am - yea yea, I know, those of you who know me don't believe that, but there are times I actually LIKE getting up that early, given a good enough reason - rowed Aduana to shore for a walk (not a good enough reason!), and headed out. Winds had abated from the 15 knots the day before, so with 80 miles to go, I fired up the diesel to help the emergency white things - you know, the sails. Most sailors only use them when their motors quit, hence the 'emergency white things' nickname...
Ok, NOW can we talk about Annapolis? Sheesh, the things I do to keep you guys happy!
Sailed into Annapolis at 12:30 am, 17 hours after leaving Reedsville - had it not been for the storm, I would have made it by 11, dry and comfortable, instead of wet and miserable. Had I gone with the winds of the day before, it would have been even sooner and I would have missed the storm entirely.
Put down the anchor, made sure it was backed down well, given how strong the winds were - and then rowed to shore to walk the pup. In the rain.  Do I know how to have fun or what? Meredith, one of my editors at SAIL, is now laughing at this - aren't you? Busted!
I love this place. Annapolis is my second home, the place I should have been born. I left Canada with people I knew thinking I was out of my mind, going to travel on a boat, explore the world, when I could stay home and shovel snow for six months of the year...(and just who is out of their minds here?). Basically, most people thought I wasn't normal. Most people still think that, come to think of it.
Got to Annapolis, and discovered....I was just another damn sailor. Walked the docks, met all kinds of people doing what I was doing, some in fancy boats, some in better boats, lots in similar boats and some in really rough boats, old, young and not so young, healthy and not so healthy, sober and - well, not so sober but by and large, all happy about being there - there being out there, doing it. Felt at home here ever since, and always feel like I'm coming home when I return. Only my liver shudders in fear....this town started the t-shirt that says 'A sailing town with a drinking problem'. Oh yes, indeed.
Ok, that's it for tonight. Oh, the storm? About ten minutes of strong winds, rained for a half hour, ruined the sailing and slowed me down a bunch, but that was about it. So much for NOAA and their ability to predict weather.
Time to walk the dog. It's still raining. Meredith, STOP laughing.
Sheeesh!

Fair winds....

This is actually rather hard to believe - I'm heading out of Deltaville tomorrow, going north - and the winds, for once, will not only be strong enough to sail with, they'll be from the right direction. That is so rare, ask any cruising sailor with a destination. So should be a great day on the water tomorrow - wind, sunny and mild. Life is good.
The goal is to make Annapolis, MD, which is about 85 nm from here. I don't expect to do it all in one jump - I'd be looking at about a 15 hour day and I don't need to push that hard tomorrow. So I'll split the trip into two days and probably anchor out at Solomon's tomorrow evening. That's about 55 miles - still a long day, but doable in daylight, provided I don't oversleep.

You can see by the lines on the chart what my route will be tomorrow. Red in, and blue out. Probably won't have internet access tomorrow, but you never know, so be prepared! I may just surprise you...

Red Neck Yacht Club Party...

Deltaville's premiere marina is Regatta Point, and that's where I am now. This weekend, the Virginia Yacht Club is partying here - big powerboats everywhere you look, bedecked with flags and bunting. Friday evening when I pulled in, there were close to 100 people on the deck, men in white pants and blue jackets with ties, women all dolled up, everyone with fancy drinks in hand - and on the docks were the sailors - scruffy t's, shorts, beers in coozies, every one of them looking a bit bemused at the ostentatious display of spiffery up on the deck.
Of course, I headed to my natural environment, after donning a good shirt and tie and polishing up my black oxfords - ok, ok - stop laughing so hard people. Some of you are going to hurt yourselves. But I do have a nice shirt, tie and good shoes on board, and a jacket. You never know when some hottie might want to go out dancing someplace hoity toity!  Mind you, you could fly a small plane using the lapels of that jacket as wings, but I digress here...
What really happened is that a couple of the sailors from the next boat over grabbed my lines and I joined them for some beer and laughs. Someone suggested the next evening we have our own 'redneck yacht club' party at the barbecue pit - and as fast as that, it was decided.
So last night, there we were in our scruffiest outfits - and where sailors are concerned, that's SERIOUSLY scruffy, hokey hats, beers in hand, cooking dead animals on the grill, going 'hyuck hyuck, y'all havin' fun now?' Had to laugh when a couple of the yachties wandered over from their dinner party to chat - seems they weren't all as hidebound as they looked. A couple of the guys looked as if they wanted to hang with us, but with wives pulling on their arms like a terrier on a leash, off they went.
Five of us ended up the evening helping the marina 'social directors' prep for the marina breakfast some seven hours hence, slicing potatoes and fruit, setting out tables and chairs. Raiding the fridge, we found a huge piece of smoked salmon, cream cheese and crackers left over by the hoity toitys. Well, since we were busy prepping and working, it only seemed right that we have a nibble...I mean, no point in wasting good smoked salmon is there? I'm sure you would have agreed. 
So there we were, noshing on smoked salmon and cream cheese, sipping 18 year old rum that one of the guys had - an incongruous end to the Red Neck Yacht Club party when you think about it.

Fog, and other things...

Left Hampton today, and started up the Chesapeake to Deltaville. Not a very long run, about 33 miles, but the wind never picked up and so I motorsailed (motor and sails up) for most of the trip. 
There was some fog early on - that always makes for some nervousness. Funny thing about sailing in fog - it's a bit like life in its way.  You can see just far enough for your next step, but have no idea what might be hiding behind that grey veil. It's a matter of proceeding cautiously, knowing where you want to be, while hoping there is nothing unseen out there that can cause you harm or damage. There's always that risk, in sailing and in life, but you don't get the joy out of either one if you don't accept at least some risk.


Some people however would rather play it safe, not risk the fog and the uncertainty of life, and they miss out on some of life's truly great adventures. Yet as you travel through life, there will be fog at times - it's unavoidable - and staying tied to the dock gets you nowhere. You miss out on some truly amazing adventures when you do that.
Today, the fog cleared off and the day was sunny, warm and beautiful, and the trip was fabulous - beautifully scenic. I'm so glad I didn't stay at the dock and miss all that. But before I could experience the beauty of this day, I had to take the risk and travel through that fog. It was certainly worth it.

Just got a text from one of the crew about her pirate name - we can welcome Dirty Mary Flint aboard....now, how about everyone else? What is YOUR pirate name? Check it out at Ye Olde Pirate Store... and let us know who you really are!
Arrrrrgggghhhhh!

Lights, Camera, ACTION!

So there we were, Aduana and I, sitting at the coffee shop by the marina when a young woman comes over to tell me that the guy with a gun shooting the two policemen is all faked - a movie shoot. How entertaining. So we walked over to watch 'the show'. 
Let's see - anyone famous? Nope, in fact, it's quite likely that I was the best known person there, based on my own media exposure, but no one asked for my autograph...got to work on that.
The show they were shooting is for the Discovery Channel, one of their crime features. The action involved some clean cut young guy walking along, when a white van pulls up, two policemen leap out and tackle the young guy. They struggle, then the young guy falls to the ground, pulls a gun from his waistband and shoots the policemen. That's it.
Interestingly enough, there was no gunfire - no sounds, no flashes. That's all added in during post production I was told. Made the entire scene very surreal, it would be interesting to see what the final cut looks like. I would think it will appear quite different from what I saw. 

 

Pirate Names....

Had a great evening tonight, the marina staff invited me to a party locally. Met a great bunch of people, had a really good time. Even met a fine old pirate, and he's got a message for everyone.

This be Bloody Roger Reid here speakin' to ya. I just be discoverin' that not all of ye has yer very own pirate name - arggghhhh, and what's that about lads and lasses? If ye be good pirates (where's Doc - oh yes, he's out plundering on his chum's Sabre 42), ye need to be havin' yer own piratical name.
So, hurry yerself on down to Ye Olde Pirate Store and be orderin' up yer very own Pirate Name. Just be clickin' on that there link, then be ye mailin' us and tellin' yer pirate name for everyone to be knowin' just who ye are!
ARRRGGGGG! That's right mateys - I be hearin' from all 40 and more of ye!

Shark vs. Octopus....an amazing video

This is an astounding video, you're going to have a hard time believing what you're about to see...

Cruisers' U a Hit!

I'm back on Gypsy Wind in Hampton after spending a very busy weekend in Annapolis at Cruisers University. I gave three seminars - two on Cuba and one on the ICW. I'm quite pleased to say that the comments that came back from those in attendance were very very good. Everyone enjoyed themselves, including myself, and the students felt that they'd learned something from the experience. I had several people come to me over the course of the weekend and thank me for the seminar they had attended - very gratifying for me of course. 
A heck of a contrast to the seminars I gave at Port Credit during Hurricane Irene, when I was terrified that my boat, on the hard in Virginia, would be destroyed by the raging winds that were howling around her even as I was speaking in Toronto. Those seminars were - shall we say - not my best ones? I felt badly about that, but was way too stressed out about the boat to do as good a job as those attending deserved.
After my last seminar, I got together with some friends at Pusser's for some Painkillers, a rum concoction that should be taken in moderation. I must remember this in the future...anyway, I survived that experience to find myself and several of the group at the Spinsheet Magazine party a bit later in the afternoon, where free rum was on offer....oh oh, here we go again...this is gonna hurt! 

Exciting, Busy Day....

Today was a hectic one, made moreso by the fact that I couldn't get to sleep last night and woke up quite early, ready to crush and destroy the alarm clock blaring beside me. Tomorrow morning is beginning to look like it might well be similar...
I had two seminars to give at Cruisers U, an educational forum here in Annapolis for boaters planning on heading out cruising. The roster of speakers includes some of the best known sailors in the world, and I am very humbled by the fact I have been selected to be amongst these sailors whose abilities and accomplishments in this sport far exceed mine.
My talks today were on Cruising the ICW and Cruising Cuba - both popular topics. Because this seminar is US based, I made substantial last minute revisions to the ICW seminar to reflect the interests of those attending and the most recent information from my just finished trip north - and I'm pleased to say that this seminar was particularly successful. The Cuba seminar was well attended - not up to expectations but I was speaking opposite Gary Jobson, so what was I to expect? 
As usual, Americans long to sail to this forbidden (to them) land and experience the Caribbean as it once was - and my goal was to give them a sense of what they were missing, and some ideas on how they might accomplish their goal - legally of course. Fact is, more and more US sailors are traveling to Cuba and then heading on into the Caribbean, thus avoiding US restrictions on going there. On my last visit to Marina Hemingway, I met a number of US boaters doing just that, in boats from 27 feet to a 100 foot plus US registered megayacht.
The crowd at my ICW seminar was particularly friendly and we had a lot of fun and laughter - the best chuckle was when someone noted that a water bottle was shadowing part of a chart projected onscreen where I was highlighting a navigational problem. He suggested, to much laughter, that there was a 'bottleneck' causing the problem in that area, and I responded by moving the bottle and stating that we had saved the US Corps of Engineers the trouble of dealing with this problem.
Always great to speak to a receptive audience and they had lots and lots of questions at the end - another good sign that you've engaged your group.
Tomorrow I've got the Cuba seminar again, then the SAIL Magazine luncheon, then an opportunity to wander the show and touch base with industry friends.
This boat show also features the maritime flea market, at which you can find some great deals. I scored an on demand propane water heater, so hot showers on board will soon be the rule - and since I'm feeling 'impish' today, I'll ask if anyone cares to join me to lather up once it's installed? (ps Doc, that invitation was NOT for you...)
Doc, who traveled up from Florida with me, has been busy posting photos and comments on Facebook about our trip. I came back to the hotel to find dozens of remarks and tags awaiting me - including some clever jabs at me which I had more fun defending myself on. 

Here's a photo of my new water heater.... the best part of a tankless unit when used on a boat in the Great Lakes is that as long as you have propane....you have hot water. How nice is that? Now I've got a generator and/or solar energy to power hair dryers and a hot water shower capability. Gypsy Wind will be just like home...only better!
What more could a wandering sailor ask for? Depends on how impish he's feeling I guess!

So Much Happening...

Where do I start? Ok, I'm in Annapolis tonight and for the weekend for Cruisers' University, where I'll be speaking on Cruising the ICW and also on cruising Cuba. If past experience is any guide, both seminars will be packed to the doors, which is always exciting for me. Tonight, I'll be tweaking the seminars, before heading out to a nearby pub, Red Hot and Blue, a top notch blues bar I've always wanted to check out here, and since it's close to the hotel, well....just had their takeout for dinner here in my room and if the music is as hot as the food - WOW!
The hotel...well, it has hot showers, if you're really patient...I mean really, really patient - as in 'forty days and forty nights' patient. It's been a while since I've stayed ashore, since the Toronto Boat Show actually, and there was this big square thing covered in linens in the middle of the room. Wasn't sure what it was for a moment, until Aduana jumped up on it and curled up, then realized, hey! it's a bed! Cool. I can't remember the last time I was in one (I can remember other things, but not sleeping - and I'll go no further so as not to embarrass anyone reading here...).
It's not five star by any standards, but fortunately, other than Aduana and I, we seem to be the rooms only occupants.  I suspect that whoever at SAIL Magazine booked these rooms was looking closely at the price, and I'm grateful for that at least... er, Peter, you HAVE stayed here before? This isn't punishment for some transgression of mine? 
Drove down here in a bright red rollerskate - well, a Mazda 3, but I've had rollerskates not much smaller - yes, I have big feet. Lucked out and found a great classic rock station out of Hampton to listen to while driving - 106.9 FM, the Fox - check it out online at http://www.1069thefox.com/, I'm listening to it now in fact. May have to get up and dance even....hey, it's a Friday night, it's ok!
Ok, time to pour a glass of wine, work on tweaking the seminar material, listen to the Fox, and chill...more later, about sailing north from Florida with Doc, including some photos...which reminds me, where is this early warm spring everyone was telling me about? It's damn near freezing here, I'm wearing long pants and my tan is disappearing even as I watch...what's that all about, eh?

Meanwhile, for your viewing pleasure, some video of sailing in Biscayne Bay - where it's sunny and warm....need I say more? Ahhhh......

Heading north....

Hi all - now in Hampton VA after a challenging, and interesting, trip north to the Chesapeake. I'll be driving to Annapolis for the boat show tomorrow, where I'm speaking on Saturday and Sunday, on both the ICW and on Cuba. Ought to be an interesting weekend.
Stay tuned for details of the trip north from Beaufort - storms, crazy winds, torn sails - FIRE! - and more.....once I've rested up enough to write the story.
Some interesting comments on my last blog post - about why - everyone has an answer to that of course. My goal was to make people think about how they're living their lives....seems I touched a few hearts here by the comments I've received.

Why Why Why....

.... do we do this? I'm sure the question occurs to everyone out on the water, from the Newfoundland freighter captain in a north Atlantic blow, far from his family and loved ones, to cruisers like myself, who find themselves thinking how nice it would be to be out dancing on a Friday evening with a special lady - rather than fighting 20 knot winds and a foul tide in the moonless dark (that was last night!) to make it to a chosen anchorage, only to spend the night worrying if the anchor will hold, and will that boat over there come loose and run into us at o'dark thirty in the night?
For that Newfoundland freighter captain, it's a time honoured way of life, one well understood and accepted by those who live it and (hopefully) by their families who are left behind. For those who do this for recreation, or as a lifestyle, the answers are not nearly so simple.
The question struck me most forcefully however, the day I found myself on a beautiful beach in the Bahamas, waves lapping at my feet, while small fish nibbled at my toes, the boat I was delivering floating fifty yards away in the turquoise waters. It occurred to me how fabulous it would be to share beautiful moments such as these with a special someone...
Of course, most people my age continue to work, to accumulate wealth towards their retirement. I think of my friend Jim and his wife Julie, who bought a beautiful cruising boat, a Cabo Rico 38, with plans to work and save, then head off for the islands. Time went by as Jim worked on, their boat sitting in its slip in Tampa Bay, ready to go whenever Jim and Julie decided it was time.
Then...cancer struck. Instead of endless days in the sun exploring the islands they came to, or strolling on sandy beaches in paradise, Jim found himself lying in a hospital bed, doing chemo, and dealing with estate issues, in case the worst came to pass. Eventually, against his doctor's advice, Jim and Julie chose to take the boat to the Bahamas and on into the islands. Jim would fly back for treatment, chemo and radiation, as required.
This went on for about three years, until finally, Jim's strength waning, they sailed the boat back to Florida where they lived. A few month's later, Jim was gone, leaving Julie a widow at 48. Eventually, the boat was sold, and Julie went on with her life.
But they'd lived their dream, together, even if it wasn't for as long as they had hoped. They had at least had that.
Only a few of us know of Jim's thoughts however, when it became clear that his days in the sun were not going to be the endless series of beautiful sunsets he and Julie had envisioned for themselves.
"I didn't have to work as long as I did. We certainly didn't need as much money as we made. We should have, could have, left sooner, long before the diagnosis in fact. We could have enjoyed life more." Jim's sole regret, other than leaving his wife alone, was that they hadn't lived their lives more for each other, rather than for others who clearly didn't matter as much.
His former employer, for whom he'd worked for over twenty years at a senior level, didn't even send a wreath.

North Carolina

It's just not fair - the weather guys say south winds, we get north winds....so far, in over 50 hours of sailing, we've sailed MAYBE 10 hours. The rest of it has been listening to the diesel chug chug chug....sigh....
Anyway, we're now on the ICW where we'll remain until we get to Chesapeake Bay - there's no advantage in going offshore at this point, and the winds don't work in our favour anyway - gee, quelle surprise!
A friend of Doc's, in Jacksonville, took the picture below - ok, so I look a bit scruffy, it had been a long day.
Aduana has done amazingly well on this trip - despite being aboard for between 24 - and 30 hours, she's hung in there - although she doesn't take very long to find a suitable piece of grass when we get ashore, as you can imagine.
Caught a lovely Spanish Mackeral the other day, but it shook off the hook just as we were about to bring it aboard. Then, later, something HUGE grabbed the hook and tore it away....so much for fishing. 
Doc noted that at 9:43 pm Wednesday evening, Gypsy Wind had clocked 6000 nautical miles, that since leaving Collingwood a year ago September. That's nearly 7000 statute miles. So we had a glass of wine to celebrate - any ol' excuse will do! 

We're off again...

Heading out...

I woke up briefly about half past four this morning (yes, I really did!) and realized that I didn't hear any wind - at all. And at 7:30, that hadn't changed. So here we are, about to head out for a 140 mile sail on the Atlantic, and there's NO wind. Yesterday, the wind was howling out of the south while we partied around the pool. Go figure!

I'm hoping the wind will pick up once we get out there and the predicted 10 knots out of the south will materialize. The long blue line on the chart is our route out of St. Simons - at one point, we'll be about 17 miles or so offshore. The line starting midway is an alternate route out of Hilton Head, should we decide to break our trip to Charleston up.
But the sun is shining, so away we go!

Sailing Requires Flexibility...

The plan, as all faithful readers know, was to go offshore from Fernandina Beach to St. Simons - of course, that requires some cooperation from the wind gods, who were not in the mood yesterday. Thus, we listened to the chugging of the diesel for all but the last five miles yesterday, when our course put the northeasterly winds on the beam. 
Naturally, we sailed right up to the docks (for the style points!), then tied up behind Joe and Pat's Hinckley Bermuda 40. This is a sweet boat to sail, and Joe and Pat practically stole it, at well under half of what they usually sell for - I keep figuring on getting an email one day from Joe asking for bail money! Pat is doing the varnish on it, it looks great now and she's still got four coats to go. Now that is a labour of love...
This afternoon there's a pool party with a band called 'Soul Gravy' - ought to be interesting. Tomorrow morning, we're out of here and offshore to Charleston, about a 24 hour sail. The winds are 10 - 15 out of the southeast, perfect for this run, I'm really looking forward to it.
Doc is quite at home here - in fact, it was a friend of his who brought me here in the first place, and with this visit, Doc and James, who have the same make of boat and knew one another from a group site,  have finally met. 
Now, time to head for the grocery store and stock up.....cheers everyone, talk to you next from Charleston. Keep those cards and letters and comments pouring in!

A Special Request...

Well, tomorrow evening Doc and I (and Aduana, the Super Puppy®) will be hanging at St. Simon's Island and I have a special request....Doc, and Tim (the Timinator®) are two of the most piratical of boaters and we shall be drinking quantities of rum, etc. along with James, Pat and Joe and the rest of the crew there....
As a result of all this fun and mayhem, bail may well be required, even though the Timinator® is a duly sworn police officer - in fact, given those circumstances, bail will probably be higher...please save up your pennies for us, just in case! I know that those of you who know Doc will understand completely...ARGGGGHHHHH! 

Seriously, we'll be heading offshore tomorrow morning early, to enjoy the 10 - 15 knot easterlies...it'll be a great sail. There's the route, above, in blue. It's about 30 miles, a short day.

Here's the inlet at Fernandina

Here's the inlet at St. Simons