New Quarter

sink

Newport RI

July 9, 2010
The team of owner Peter, Captain MaryBeth, ED, JohnS'Bach, Peter & myself flew up to Newport to join the full timers John B and Henry. Liz arrived in time for dinner at Harbour Court, one of the NY Yacht clubs.We enjoyed a lovely tour of the grounds, beautiful gardens, water features, the most beautiful waterlilies I have ever seen and wonderful architecture. The house is situated high on a bluff overlooking the harbor which is filled with gorgeous boats. Dinner was splendid, a tasty appetizer, salad, and main followed by chocolate death, yum. Our host was just delightful, making everyone comfortable and carrying conversation all around. He has a terrific personality, and lots of stories. Next came a night run over to BARNEGAT . She is a large wooden motor-sailor (three staterooms, one with a fireplace, nice lounge and galley, and hot water showers) built in Stonington CT. My usual job is to make sure there is food to go all round. This took two days to shop and prep since we had many more than usual aboard for the race.

July 10, 2010
Up at 5:30. Coffee and oatmeal all round. clean up and pack for the day's outing. Weather prediction is iffy, so we are all outfitted with the ships foulies, blue overalls, red anoraks, and of course SILENT MAIDs signature yellow life vests. WHITE WHALE an 11 meter Rib, tows us over to Wickford. I got to steer a long way across, which I enjoyed very much. We have to be towed since SILENT MAID went back in the water with her aperture cover plates on. These are the same objects I called speed plates earlier. It means we can not use the engine and are more dependent on seamanship that ever.
As we drive in to Wickford, we get a glance at the monster cat boat KATHLEEN. She is beautiful. I will post some photo's of her separately. This match race seems a very iffy thing. The SILENT MAID is 33' to KATHLEEN's 28, But MAID is about four tons heavier I think. We miss thwe captains meeting (not unusual) and join the parade of sail through Wickford Harbor. Kathleen sails in the parade. She tacks up a narrow anchorage behind us, and demonstrates wonderful control on the helm and no loss of power through the tack. Nice work on the crews part. We have a guy aboard from the boatshop who is supplying local knowledge, always a useful thing.
Next it was outside the breakwater to set sail and find the committee boat so we could ask about the starts and the course. There were three starts, the 18's, the 22's and then the two of us, the big boats. We went off last, Around the lighthouse, around the yellow marks, then back to the club for the finish. KATHLEEN made a beautiful start, we were a bit late over the line. She exhibited nice clean sailing and at first we covered her tack for tack until she took off toward shore for the inside track.

See John's blog for more on the race.

There were some fun post race hyjinks with battle flags. Another post perhaps.

Delaware River

The Delaware gave us a slow sail today and a lot of exercise rowing. Carolyn & I explored the Red Dragon two headed moose, Beverly bight and the gravel beach below Burlington power station. We swapped both sailing and rowing.

BayBirds

Mon., July 5, 2010

Namequoit Sailing Association, Orleans MA
I was honored to be included in the weekly race series with a wonderful group of Cape Cod gals. BayBirds are 18' daysailers, gaff rigged with a baby jib. Very sweet. We won one and lost one. Had a great shipmate for the day.

Tuckup Sailing Tonight

Great time to be in the river! Which is the way to sail a tuckup. See the nights events on The Delaware River Chapter of the Traditional Small Craft Association.

Do tuckups leak, you ask? Well, not exactly. They are a thin wooden shell making a slight dent in the water and they don't leak as much as simply slow down the water trying to fill the boat. There should be a full time bailer aboard.

Almost Too Much Wind

Went to see my Auntie after sailing. Good, because it means we survived, URCHIN and I. the breeze was up today 16-22 easy. You can't see it in this pic as we are in the lee of Strong Island for a respite. Nice catboat for company too. But both coming and going was tough, there are never pictures of the exciting (or scary stuff) since we are always too busy dealing with whatever. Big rollers coming up the bay, as there is a really long fetch when the wind is in the SouthWest so the waves have a chance to build up at our end of the bay. Had to walk URCHIN out of the pond as it was really low tide and the breeze heading us. Had a "ride the gunwale" trip to Strong Island where the greenheads had a feast. Watched a couple of fiberglass boats ground out on the sand. The new lowfields have migrated so the are in line between Strong head and the bulkheads. I had to skirt these with URCHIN who only draws 6 inches. At least the gnats were blown away. Had a rocking horse ride over the bar on the way back. The tide was ripping. The waves were bigger on the way home. Once we turned the headland to run the home channel URCHIN had some lovely long surfs on pretty big rollers as the period matched her hull speed. Way fun! I think she even planed a bit!!
Anchoring URCHIN has become the daily dunk since we get home at high to mid tide. I drop the heavy hook by the dock then drift downwind to the marsh, when the rode is full out, I throw the oars toward land and jump out with the 10 lb. picnic anchor. I swim toward shore and drop the anchor when I've run out all the scope. Then I gather up the oars and head for shore. Today was the first time I had an audience on the beach. I am sure they were wondering what the crazy girl was doing, jumping in with an anchor.
Did get a coat of primer on the sink.

Going to the Cut

Will try to catch all the lifts to make Minister's Point.
Actually sailed down to Wequassett Inn, (can't wait to see BARNEGAT and SILENT MAID there,) as the wind was North west this morning (pinching like crazy). Gusting to 18. Blue, blue sky. Came about to run up along Nickerson neck, and then up the channel toward Chatham. Caught the lifts over to the North Orleans beach. There were about 200 seals in the channels going across. Anchored for a read and wait for the tide shift. the breeze shifted around to the Northeast and dropped. Was a ghoster going home, had to row a bit before it picked up again. I had a chance to try out my new tiller extension that I tied on. It was a piece of Dad's flooring, Supele(sp) that I carved to match URCHINs tiller shape. worked well in the light stuff.

Sink Plumbing

Spent every morning so far working on the sink. Get another coat of epoxy on then go sailing. Dad helped with the plumbing.

The Narrows

West wind today, flat water, azure sky. Slight breeze, started out rowing. In the middle of Pleasant Bay found more wind and hoisted sail. One tack through the narrows and then ghosted over to Hog Island. Eel grass beds look healthy and lush this year. The water seemed deeper than last year, definitly much clearer. Kind of surprises you depthwize. Measure before you step out. It is deeper than you think because it is so clear. Had a pleasant read on the beach and watched the tide come in. The clouds built up so off we sailed for home. Made it back through the Narrows under sail and the wind died. Rowed the rest of the way back.

Strong and Back

Worked on the sink all morning, went to town to pick up some bronze parts. Stopped at Suzanne's to visit. Saw the winning BayBird STARLING on her trailer and three catboats in the shop all due out by July 4th. Wind brisk today. Had a great sail out to the lee beach on Strongs, wind too puffy to go out father. Thought I'd have to row home but kept riding the lifts on the puffs and made it back with only one tack. Did get help in the channel with the tide shift. Amazing. URCHIN usually won't point up enough to make it. The google map shows Quanset Pond in upper right and Strong Island center, new cut on bottom Right

Pleasant Bay Boats and Spars

Took Dad over to the boatshop here. The prizewinning Baybird STARLING is out front.

Quanset Pond to Strong Island to the Cut

Tues. June 29


URCHIN and the Kayak-boat, have a perfect day sailing out and back. Have a glorious reach out to the lee beach on Strong, where we find the pond has a salt break now and the North point is severely eroded. Out again to the Ocean beach, I can not best the current and the wind. Repeated tacks bring me to the same place, even though URCHIN is pointing up as much as she can, (which isn't her strong suit anyway). The current is so strong, running like the Delaware, I'd say. Even in the shallows. On the beach, it's 7-2 victory over the greenheads. Do you know there are no mosquitoes here on the Cape? but instead we have greenheads, deer flies, and biting gnats. Later after supper, Pete runs and I rollerblade along the rail trail in the dusk coolness, Orleans Center to Eastham & Wellfleet. Beautiful sunset over the marsh, and then the fireflies come out and the stars twinkle in the grass.

Mystic River to Narragansett River

Monday, June 28.
Left the seaport with six aboard SILENT MAID after a nice oatmeal & fruit breakfast on BARNEGAT. Love that boat. Through the bridges motoring, swing and lift, then hoisted sail with the new crew Peter Seigl and Tony Diaz. Lots of discussion around the navigation table and a fresh breeze. We had a lovely reach rolling up Block Island Sound to Point Judith and then ran up river with the dinghy MAID SERVICE surfing along behind us. Jibe and jibe again kept the mainsheet and backstay crews busy. Under the Pell Bridge and on up to Melville.

WoodenBoat Show 2010

Mystic, CT

Again MiGi, Again

Siah's first row in URCHIN. He wore MiGi out so here here is with Opa.

Leaving Newport

Here is SILENT MAID in the slings after a new paint job and varnish touch ups. White socks for the crew to keep her nice. Left Melville, RI bound for the Block Island sound. Found some big swells out there and my nemesis returned. Well, it is not the third day (so much for that theory), the wrist bands did not work, and I have tried Dramamine and Bonnine. Tried JohnS'Bach's ginger drink too. So far the only really tolerable solution is discretely heave and then steer. Steering makes you focus on the telltales or the compass and the sail. Keeps your mind and eyes occupied, so you don't think about how yucky you feel. Really helps to stay out of the cabin too. We have a bit of lightning and I tell Max he's safe with me since all of us that have been hit once are more likely to be hit again, The sail is already down and I steer with one hand. Lots of cold rain. We miss the really strong winds thankfully. The malady seems to pass in a few hours and I feel fine by late afternoon, but maybe we have always reached more protected water by then. Up Mystic River, passing the railway swing bridge, then through the lift bridge. The MORGAN is on the hard being preserved. She looks absolutely huge out of the water. Colorful sunset. Red sky at night sailor's delight.

BARNEGAT

Not the Bay, but the boat. Motorcruiser BARNEGAT is a beauty. Designed by Henry Sheel. 1962, built by Stonington Boat. Wonderful to wake up in, she is serving as SILENT MAID's dorm while we are in the harbor at Mystic Seaport for the WoodenBoat Show. The harbor is like glass at five in the morning, clear and beautiful.

Longest Day of the Year

Petey and I went cruising downriver against the tide. Began in the gloaming with all the colors of the sunset fading in the sky and on the water. I rowed down to Beverly Point against the tide while Pete chased down some swimming geese. I usually use my lantern on the centerboard case so it shines on my white t-shirt. This night I opted to turn it out because it attracted a cloud of gnats even a half a mile out on the water. At night there is little tourist traffic and the river is more serene. The lights on shore sparkle like colored sequins. The pull back upriver was pleasant. It is much nicer to go with my favorite buddy. It is much easier to deal with the railway with some one else running the engine. Much drier too.
Here is a route I would like to row this year.

Work & Sink

Landscaped the front of Atta Girl Boat shop most of today and did a bit of work on the sink. Sanding and small adjustments and then put some fairing compound on. Have one new part to attach, then sand and paint and work on the plumbing attachments.

SILENT SILENT MAID MAID

Flipping back and forth, they are not twin sisters, yet sisters they be. And with the same name yet. This will be an item of confusion. The 1924 version is in the shop. She seems much longer to me, and could be as her sheer is flattened a great deal. There have been splices to lengthen her toerails. Her cabin is similar has the galley and head in the same places, yet has a much different feel than her new sister MAID. One reason is the liberal use of cream pain and bright cabin ceiling in the new boat, another is the use of warm red cushions rather than the cooler green duck.
Movie of new MAID sailing at Newport.