sailorgirl

QUINTESSENCE

2011-12-25T03:01:00.001-08:00

Lovely day sail on the Bay from DeRouvilles and back.

Jupiter at the Seaport Dock

2011-12-08T18:27:00.000-08:00

dressed in her Christmas stockings. Merry Christmas!

Sunset at the Seaport

2011-11-14T20:37:00.000-08:00

High Tide at Paw Wah

2011-11-13T19:04:00.000-08:00

about 20 years ago

Sail Parade at ISM

2011-10-09T19:58:00.000-07:00

MOGGIE

2011-09-26T03:51:00.000-07:00

a John Brady melonseed by way of Cortez, FL
built by Mike Wick (sailing slowly)
photo by Phil Maynard
Lake Union, Millville, NJ

To Block Island

2011-06-25T04:44:00.001-07:00

Haven't gotten there yet. The weather has been bad, no wind or too much. Fixing the boats. Had a nice sail on ARGIA with Liz as deckhand. The WoodenBoat show was good, no rain, but we were waiting for the rest of the party. Harry Bryant showed a neat little houseboat. Caught up with a few TSCA guys and Russ.

Maid in Manto

2011-06-19T13:10:00.000-07:00

soon

TSCA PondBoats at Millville

2011-06-13T03:49:00.000-07:00

ReLaunch of YELLOW JACKET at Union Lake. New folding mast arrangement. Had a nice sail on ReDucks. Missed most of the messing about, caught the last bit of meeting.

End of May

2011-06-01T18:59:00.000-07:00

Cape Cod Memorial Day

Whaleboat Molds

2011-04-23T17:09:00.000-07:00

The molds for the whaleboats were cut last week from 2" framing lumber. One set for the Workshop on the Water crew and the other for Rocking the Boat.

Dinghys

2011-04-02T20:10:00.000-07:00

Love to read John Vigors blog

He has a way with words. The post about dinghies was good. We towed MAID SERVICE all the way to Maine and back. She towed very well, having that funny undercut stern. Even when it was blowing over 50 she didn't fill or swamp. We did bail her out after running down Long Island Sound into the East River. It had rained hard all day. She did surf a bit on quartering seas but never hit the transom.

2011-03-30T16:16:00.000-07:00

Unknown Maker

2011-03-21T12:15:00.000-07:00

This whaleboat was used on the last wooden whaleship in service. The maker is unknown. It has 2 lap strakes and 7 edge joined.

Whaleboat Art

2011-03-20T19:51:00.000-07:00

Details of paintings, mostly unmarked, from the New Bedford Whaling Museum. There seems to be a great deal of variation in colors, strakes, build and conformation in boats from different builders as well as in the imaginations of the artists. The last boat looks very much like the whaleboat in the museum's collection.

Spring on the Beach

2011-03-19T11:46:00.001-07:00

Spartina Alterniflora sprouting from the sand.

Azorean Whaleboat Racing

2011-03-18T16:00:00.001-07:00

These pictures are from the Azorean Maritime Heritage Society webpage. See more here.

Whaleboats

2011-03-18T15:52:00.000-07:00

Saw whalebones and whaleboats at the New Bedford Whaling museum. Click for their webpage.

2011-02-10T06:57:00.000-08:00

Skiing is good anytime, but it is the best with family. This was in NH in Jan. Check out the girl with the 35 year old Rossi Stratos. They tell me I have to learn to ski less gracefully on the parabolics.

Dec TSCA party

2011-01-17T16:53:00.000-08:00

Mike and the plunger award.

Jan TSCA

2011-01-15T16:56:00.000-08:00

Phil gave a great talk on his new small craft project.

Snow Day at the Seaport

2010-12-16T19:49:00.001-08:00

Pleasant Bay November

2010-11-24T15:55:00.000-08:00

Summer Sun

2010-11-12T20:45:00.000-08:00

Nov TSCA Meeitng

2010-11-03T18:58:00.000-07:00

On OLYMPIA!

November TSCA mtg

2010-10-23T05:46:00.000-07:00

The regular monthly meeting will be held on Olympia at Penn's Landing. RSVP so i can get a head count.

buoy 36 revisited

2010-10-22T18:53:00.001-07:00

Oars Shipped

2010-10-19T18:47:00.000-07:00

picnic on the river

Delaware River Fall

2010-10-18T18:36:00.000-07:00

Sunset on the River

2010-10-17T11:18:00.000-07:00

Out Rowing

2010-10-16T20:01:00.000-07:00

BUOY 36

2010-10-15T18:21:00.000-07:00

Stix New Stick

2010-10-14T18:50:00.001-07:00

Oct TSCA

2010-10-06T16:47:00.000-07:00

Pete Peters gave a good talk on sailing tactics. I nominated Ted for Pres, Frank for VP. Pul for Treas. Bill will con't as sec. Next mtg at the Dragon. Elections.

Presentation: “Efficient Catboat Sailing Skills”, by Pete Peters (Lecture 1 of 2)

- Key parameters:

o Length

§ Hull speed = √(Length in Feet) x 1.34

§ Disproportionate energy needed to exceed hull speed

§ “make boat as long as possible”

o Weight

§ Lighten as much as possible

§ Inertia hinders acceleration

§ Greater wetted surface = drag

§ Center as much as possible

§ Remove water in the boat – bail!

o Lift

§ Bernoulli’s principle – air moving over curved surfaces

§ Lift off wind

§ Lift found in sail, centerboard, rudder

§ Rudder – a little weather helm generates lift

o Balance

§ Center weight in boat

§ Maximize waterline, maintain level (fore/aft and port/starboard) by shifting crew and content weight.

TSCA August

2010-08-03T21:24:00.000-07:00

Have been busy with SILENT MAID and crew duties since the last post but actually have made two meetings.

Evening Sail Burlington

2010-06-11T22:27:00.000-07:00

MAID in Manhattan

2010-06-05T06:40:00.000-07:00

SILENT MAID is in the basin at Manhattan Sailing Center, down in the Financial district. Has some instructional sailing with a group of young people. These sails are always fun with new foredeck hands an back stays and helmsmen. I can see how the old navy state, then repeat the command is beneficial.

Crew for SILENT MAID

2010-06-03T20:22:00.000-07:00

Drove the crew to Beaton's Boatyard to resume the journey. They are headed for New York City. I am driving the car back home.

MYTH and the original MYTH

2010-05-31T21:13:00.001-07:00

Night Row

2010-05-03T19:28:00.000-07:00

Have not had the sail up this spring yet, but have had two very peasant sunset pulls on the river. Tonight's was on a flat outgoing flood tide.

FISH STIX

2010-04-11T18:12:00.000-07:00

On the move. Centerboard will be in this week.

Monday Orange

2010-03-03T18:32:00.000-08:00

FISH STIX bottom primed by Ed and Bill,, who also 8 sided gaffs. Lots of consultation on setting up the spar taper jig. Pete and Mike running them down. Nice photo essay by Paul G. Paul S. helped me true the taper jig. Here are some pix on the TSCA facebook page

March TSCA

2010-03-02T20:13:00.000-08:00

A Beautiful diminutive Cradle boat by Andy.

Worker Bees

2010-02-23T21:28:00.001-08:00

Monday this week brought eight members out to spar, sand, and tape. Good friends helped set up the dado so she was ready to rip and teams of two got staves milled for five masts, planed three gaffs and routed one boom.

Bow Tie Elegance

2010-02-23T19:58:00.000-08:00

SILENT MAID Silent Maids new blog
Guys uniform is bow ties and boaters, white dress shirts and khaki shorts. Girls ? I am guessing white linen and lace.

How to Build a Tuckup in One Easy Step

2010-02-16T17:43:00.000-08:00

TOFU in progress
(some years ago)
Photo of a photo from the collection of John Brady

Seven Member Monday

2010-02-15T21:00:00.000-08:00

Using a batten to layout the taper for a Tuck-up gaff. Lots of spar work got done tonite.

Guess Who

2010-02-15T20:57:00.001-08:00

FISH STIX Friends

2010-02-11T21:08:00.000-08:00

Seven members came and worked on spars and FISH STIX rubrails.

Monday Boatwrights

2010-02-05T18:27:00.001-08:00

TSCA February Meeting

2010-02-02T19:38:00.000-08:00

Meeting at the Seaport, topic, ELF sparmaking, John Brady.

Winter Worknight

2010-01-26T18:26:00.000-08:00

All last week the sailing scourge had me by the tail. I was wishing for warmer water and those late afternoon sails where the breeze gentles the boat along.

Well, today made me think otherwize. Blowing 25-30 with horizontal rain and lots of it. Then just for good measure one of those sun peeps out and then, told you so - smack down - wind shift 180º.

The Traditional guys got a ton of work done on surfacing spruce for spars and finishing up FISH STIX.

Pink Boots Inside

2010-01-24T17:31:00.000-08:00

Inside is DONE! URCHIN is flipped over. I can't wait to go sailing. It is not even Feb. yet. ARRG. Three months to wait.

The Tuckup is Done

2010-01-19T20:57:00.000-08:00

On display in the museum. She is drying out though.

Pink Boots

2010-01-07T20:02:00.000-08:00

Jan TSCA

2010-01-05T19:06:00.000-08:00

Ron Gibbs gave a wonderful talk on the boats of Venice. He ably translated the character and excitement of the races as well as the unique forms of the boats. His photos had great color. Photos by Ron Gibbs Nice work. I heard there was some excellent music on this trip also.

Next meeting is at the Seaport in the Workshop on the Water.

Happy Christmas to All

2009-12-24T20:03:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
from Urchin and the Byars

Joe Youcha

2009-12-10T17:40:00.000-08:00

movie
Here is a link to a news clip about Alexandria Seaport's Boat Building program.

Friends & Tuckup

2009-12-09T18:01:00.001-08:00

Chippy

2009-12-08T21:26:00.000-08:00

I stopped by the Seaport between classes and put a coat of topsides paint on the deck of TP. She is looking fine. See Greenboats for more pictures of today.

Skeg

2009-12-07T21:41:00.000-08:00

Top Priority in primer.

First Snow

2009-12-05T16:16:00.000-08:00

6 hr canoes in the snow.

Sharing Boat Genes

2009-12-04T18:51:00.000-08:00

We found a boat on the beach! Got to start early. This is my grandson, 'Siah.

Boat Movie by boatmovie

2009-12-03T19:13:00.000-08:00

Watch this! It is my favorite boat. (and there are some favorite good friends there too.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhxckWGbNhw
boatmovie

King of the Hill

2009-12-01T19:52:00.000-08:00

Talking about sailing is a substitute for the real thing, but I am patiently awaiting the spring when the water warms up. Silent Maid is being refit and made even more comfortable to sail and to cruise. This is real design work.

Two Tons of Fun

2009-11-30T22:18:00.000-08:00

My Pop

2009-11-30T21:55:00.001-08:00

Sailing instructor, light on the path, part of my heart.

November Colors

2009-11-30T21:19:00.000-08:00

Cape Cod Thanksgiving.

Tuckup Party Nite

2009-11-30T19:53:00.000-08:00

TOP PRIORITY gets sheerstake paint.

The Yach-Chet

2009-11-22T18:39:00.000-08:00

URCHIN is getting her upgrade. I spent everyday this past week scraping a bit, then oiling, varnishing or painting. Putting in a few of the 10 hours for every one hour you spend sailing a wooden boat. Gosh, you got to love a wooden boat.
It was so warm the bees came out today. November colors in the Marsh. Cresent moon.

URCHIN work

2009-11-19T19:42:00.001-08:00

I have been steadily plugging away at refinishing URCHINs bright work. A little bit every day.

TSCA workparty

2009-11-17T19:57:00.001-08:00

TOP PRIORITY is getting fixed up by some of the best boatbuilders I know. Monday nights, November and December, the shop js open for TSCA members to contribute some skill and time to the museum.

Dry Sailing

2009-11-12T19:07:00.001-08:00

except it is raining out.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=info&id=548401318#/pages/Philadelphia-PA/Silent-Maid/125811239464?ref=nf

The process of moving seven tons of boat on a trailer, off the trailer, on to dollies, into the shop, and off the dollies and blocked is fairly involved. Lots of help from volunteers, mostly very cheerful, make the day fly by. No sailing involved here, but the potential fro dreaming exists. Check out SILENT MAIDs facebook page to see more process shots.

The silk bow ties are SILENT MAIDs uniform when her owner is aboard. I wonder what sailor girls get to wear? I kinda like the dress Sara Schoettle is wearing in the fan photos on SILENT MAIDs Facebook page... Wonder where I could get one of those?

Nov. TSCA

2009-11-08T20:38:00.000-08:00

Phil brought in his Tom Hill canoe. WOW is open Monday nights so members can work on TOP PRIORITY, the museum's tuck-up. O, and I get elected-look what happens when you don't go to meetings.

These pictures are from the pond boat meeting but it is the same canoe. I think Tom & Phil have developed a new sport. Canoe hefting. Snatch, grab, press that canoe, steady, steady, one hand!! Wow, shes light.

I am always amazed at the talent and productivity of this group.

Sultana DownRigging Weekend - Day 5 - Mon

2009-11-08T19:45:00.001-08:00

Morning. Coffee water's heating, crew still asleep. My last day. SILENT MAID leaves Chestertown. I stand on the dock watching as she leaves. An achy swell of loneliness rises in my heart. She turns the corner and is lost to veiw. How I wish I could be on board, but...

I get to drive a fun standard shift back to Phil (a-del-phi-a) that's for you, Jimmie. I enjoy the Maryland countryside in fall color and local radio. Back to class.

Sultana DownRigging Weekend - Day 4 - Sun

2009-11-07T18:59:00.001-08:00

Breakfast not at Tiffany's, but pretty good anyway. Gingered applesauce, local spiced peaches, oatmeal, coffee from Sam's. Amish sticky buns. I get the stove going after a few false starts, figure out we need more juice. We've gone three days on battery power. Graham Ero visits. We go sailing. Rescue Meerwaldians from their mud-bound ship. They jump aboard bearing biscuits. A very water-proof recipe. We eat lunch. Pete leaves and Pete comes. Byar exchanged for Siegal. The sun comes out at last - sort of. We move our berth for shore power. John & John dry out our power cords and pig tail. Bed making. John fixes more stuff. That light had been wonky since Barnegat. Jack, the pirate pumpkin peers in.

Sultana DownRigging Weekend - Day 3 - Sat

2009-11-06T18:46:00.001-08:00

In which, I sail across Chester River in URCHIN. I think she's actually on plane. I did not think her capable, but she is defiantly in front of her bow wave in the picture. The wind did kick up some, leading to some fast sailing in SILENT MAID. We sail around the big girls with two reefs in. I get to handle the mainsheet with abounding joy. I take so much pleasure in sailing this boat. Inexplicable, it just wells up. We sail back to our submarine dock. Jack, the pirate pumpkins, glows with malevolence.

Sultana DownRigging Weekend - Day 2 - Fri

2009-11-05T20:15:00.000-08:00

Drew McMullen came down after breakfast bearing a welcome basket from Sultana. Such a nice surprise!

A morning row around the harbor let me look over our neighbors. The polychrome Kalmar Nyckel just takes your breath away. A few of her crew were up in the fighting tops.

SILENT MAID is a big attraction at the foot of High Street. She makes plenty of new friends and is very hospitable. We entertained multiple groups of folks for meals and those who just wanted a look-see.

Silent Maid was berthed at the end of High Street (which actually turned out to be fairly low, as you
will see later.) A nice group of volunteers gathered to have lunch together.

The line up of big girls was very cool.

Wendy & URCHIN between big sisters Kalmar Nyckel and LADY bALTIMORE

Captain Smith's shallop

Sultana

Pete in URCHIN

Pride of Baltimore II

URCHIN was a water taxi letting us row around the harbor checking everyone out.

Later, in the evening, the docks flooded with a very high spring tide. It knocked out our electric, made us wade to shore, and URCHIN floated on the dock.

Dr. Kent and Jimmie Glen swapping stories. Jimmie should be named official Chestertown Greeter. She treated us like family, taking me to the farmers market for fresh greens, bring dry socks for the crew and generally looking after us.

The dinghy dock became an island. I took a quick trip uptown on my bicycle. Chestertown is a really cute little town, lots of art galleries. I saw a good watercolor show. The evening ended with the ships lit up and fireworks.

Sultana DownRigging Weekend - Day 1 - Thurs

2009-11-02T19:15:00.000-08:00

map

High tide and the dock disappears.
(start at the end and scroll up for a sequential reading.)

Pumpkin chili, warm bread, salad, & comradeship.
.

Reminds me of Erskin Childers "kedging."

John uses URCHIN to set an anchor to keep us off the dock.

KALMAR NYCKEL in the dark. We are at Chestertown.

Starboard light works.

Sunset finds us ghosting up the river on a zephyr of the breeze. We are making 1 kt.

Awaiting for the next view around the bend.

We are making head way now, breeze let up so we are motor sailing to make time. Jimmie is sure her mother would disapprove.

Fall colors.

We make the turn into Chester River.

Plotting our speed against mileage to figure out time.

Charles & Joan enjoying the cruise.

Jimmie entertains me with stories about Toms River in her growing up years. She used to swim out to play on Silent Maid when she was moored in Jimmie's cove.

Scanning for the mark.

The portside "big step"

Pete checks the GPS. It is hiding under the bunk cushion which is drying by the stove. We have a leak at the front of the house. It drips onto the V-berth.

We are nine altogether. Volunteers and one special guest. Jimmie grew up with Silent Maid in her back "yard." Cook serves out coffee and snacks.

Leaving Rock Hall under overcast sky and light winds. Pete is driving.

John S. foredeck hand awaiting the hoist command.

Many hands make light work of removing sail stops. Can you spot all six people in this photo?

Big Boats

2009-10-25T20:08:00.000-07:00

I really like sailing Silent Maid, but I'm not going to give up small boats real soon. Got a Tuck-up to finish at the seaport first.
This picture is by Barry Long, builder of gorgeous melonseeds. Eye in Hand Gallery.

Happy Halloween

2009-10-24T08:35:00.000-07:00

Skulling by Skulls

Oct TSCA

2009-10-16T16:00:00.000-07:00

Pete gives a talk on our trips to Maine for the Small Reach Regattas. I can't go to the meeting this month since I have a night class to teach on Tuesdays. Some pictures from the 2009 SRR are here.

GWYLAN on the Delaware

2009-10-10T13:33:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Roger for a super sail down river and back. GWYLAN roiled along in the stiff breeze, a dry and comfortable boat. We met the CG buzzing around the new Navy ship, spoke to ELK RIVER, a lovely new tug, who graciously gave us tack room under the Ben Franklin, gave the tourists on the ducks a thrill (and a lesson in beauty.) The sun broke through on the way back and gave us delightful blue sky. Adding to the bucket list, I filled in a section of the Delaware that was missing and connected the dots.

Map

Pictures

MASCF 27 St. Mike's -Trip to Philly Day 5, Mon

2009-10-07T21:16:00.000-07:00

Leaving Bohemia Creek homeward bound.

map

Cap't rousts the crew early.

Make way for the canal.

Schooner alert. This LIBERTY CLIPPER out of Boston.

Leaving the canal for the Delaware.

Man overboard drill.

As fast as we can go.

Beating Home.

Seaport in view.

Great weekend.

Good shipmates.

Pleasant journey.

Oh, and I did not explain about tugboat wake wash. That will be another tale, for another day.

MASCF 27 St. Mike's -Trip to Philly Day 4, Sun

2009-10-07T20:29:00.000-07:00

Leaving St. Mike's today.
map

Morning Mist.

Jenny does a roll.

SILENT MAID enjoys company!

Rail meat and the cockpit is full. I was amazed at how the helm became light when the crew moved out to the rail. Even though it was expected, it was a revelation to feel it.

LADY BALTIMORE.

Cranking in a reef.

Sailing off wind.

Thru the lift span at Kent Narrows.

Sundown.

It is rough and cold this afternoon. Newt steers most of the way.

Moonlight sailing again. This is just about the best. Quiet, gentle winds, slow swells, easy to pick out the marks. We sail until 2am to make Bohemia Creek.

MASCF 27 St. Mike's Day 3, Sat

2009-10-07T19:32:00.000-07:00

Heading out for the races on Sat.

I spent the morning judging boats so no early photos. I should have taken a picture of each one Dean & I spoke with.

SALIMA II and SLIPJIG

Silent Maid sails around the fleet carrying a crowd of spectators.

The start.

What a thrill!. Log canoes are de bomb.

Ron G., John, and Wendy after being dunked.

movie

The other half of MAID's crew and Munsons as boardmen.

SLIPJIG and friends.

Vera & John England enjoying a romantic getaway.

Men's row and paddle race. This is always interesting because of all the obstacles in the harbor.

MAID in St. Mike's.

Cap't John and foremast deckhand, rated able.

Tube boat.

MAID berthed on the crab shack dock.

Moonrise over the fleet.

Lightning over the Miles River.

MASCF 27 St. Mike's -Trip to MD Day 2, Fri

2009-10-07T19:12:00.000-07:00

A long cold 12 hour day pounding from the Sassafras River to St. Michael's.
map
Motored under the Kent Island Bridge, where Tahiti John spots his palm trees. Arrived at sunset in time for oysters.

MASCF 27 St. Mike's -Trip to MD Day 1, Thurs

2009-10-06T06:19:00.000-07:00

Philly to St. Mike's and back. Best Trip ever. Sailed from Philly in SILENT MAID. Got a sail on EDMEE S., CBMM's log canoe. Judged some to the prettiest boats ever. Missed having URCHIN a bit.

map

Flying in over the same bit of river I would sail down in a few hours.

Post Modern scenery.

Under the Walt Whitman.

Passed Roger in GWYNLYN.

The wind picked up in the afternoon. Passing under the Commodore Barry.

Running down river to the C&D canal. Salem Nuclear.

In the canal on GPS.

Nice Light.

Rip rap and current.

Sunset and Moonrise.

The gloaming at Chesapeake City.

Supper in the cabin on the new table.

On the watch for crab pots. John taught me a new standing steering technique. Almost to our anchorage in the Sassafrass River.

Dewey

2009-09-24T18:30:00.000-07:00

Dewey's comfortable cockpit. We sailed in the Norm Blanchard Memorial Regatta, Three second's and a third. We lost to an El Toro, aughh. A Beetlecat, an nice sharpy, the competely un-nerving experience of sailing with float planes taking off and landing. The Center for Wooden Boats has a large collection of all types of wooden small craft and a nice stable of livery boats. After the races, we sailed all around Lake Union, looking at the floating houses from Sleepless in Seattle. DEWEY was a Woods Hole 12 Sprit rig. A big, little boat.

Silent Maid Cruise Day 4

2009-09-18T04:50:00.000-07:00

Monday, Sept. 14, 09
Cohansey to Philadelphia.
map

The favorable flood began at 2am. We got up at 6. Hauled anchor and out into the bay again, motoring against the wind.

Steaming lights on, the dawn breaks.

Breeze dead ahead, ebb starts. Coffee & oatmeal. Chocolate for me. After tiding the cabin, I steer for a long time, hence no pictures for a while. We pass Salem Nuclear, Fort Delaware, the Chesapeake Canal, the Christiana River, the dredge MCFARLAND, The Commodore Barry bridge, and lot of floatsam in the river. The predominate wildlife are seagulls from the landfills, AKA seagull sanctuarys. The post modern tour begins in earnest. Power plants, trash dumps, factories, and oil refineries consume the riverbank real estate. New Castle is a bright dot on the chart. Pretty cute town. I steer kneeling on the aft deck so I can see over the bow, watching for and taking evasive actions around floating trees and almost submerged chunks of wood. River traffic increases and we monitor channel 13.

Amidst the oil refineries, Chuck spots a water purifying plant. I start lunch around Marcus Hook. Tomato & avocado salad, radish coleslaw, potato salad, ham & cheese on pumpernickel.

This is John's cue to start sailing again. I hold her into the wind and the guys set the sail. The sun stays bright today. Nice change after all the wet weather.

Running upriver.

We make better progress against the tide. See the wake.

Sail full out against the forward stay.

Here comes the KALMAR NICKLE motoring returning to Delaware after a weekend tour in Philly.

Lot of cordage on that ship.

Sailing with the big boys around Horseshoe Bend. We catch the bridge and tug making eyes at us. I am sure it is because MAID is so beautiful under sail.

The breeze picks up at the Walt Whitman. Almost home.

We furl and motor into Penn's Landing Basin.

4 Days on Silent Maid-day 3

2009-09-17T19:57:00.000-07:00

Sunday, Sept. 13, 09 Cape May - Cohansey Creek
map
HILARY ANN, a Carl Adams powerboat with a wonderful open cockpit.

Talking shop in the engine room of ANNA M. On deck enjoying her fine detailing.

Afloat in the harbor of Corinthian Yacht club.

Topping off the water, refueling and stowing the shore power started day three through the canal.

A doryman in JOB.

Passing under one of the bridges across the Cape May canal.

Best seat in the house for a morning cup of tea. Passing the Lewes Ferry.

Out comes the sun. Up goes the sail. Out come the reefs.

The breeze kicks up. The bay responds with square waves. A new term for me, it means waves that are the same height and period. Like 2' waves, 2' apart.

Navy blue sky, sail from on deck, we are beating into the wind again. It has headed us the whole trip so far.

John and Chuck trade off steering. It looked like it would be too hard for me to hold the course, but I did not try.

We bury the rail repeatedly. After taking pictures, I napped in the lee. The gollywobble got me when I went below for the peanut butter. Afternoon snacks everyday were fruit & cookies. Fig Newtons and Gingersnaps.

Late afternoon the breeze fell a bit with the sun.

Warm wood, setting sun.

We are in Cohansey Creek.

Maid leaves her sail shadow on the marsh grass.

Pete has to go to work on Monday, so we drop him off at Greenwich in a touch and go.

Chuck heads back out the winding creek on the vespers of a breeze.

Almost to the anchorage at the end of the creek.

Good Night Silent Maid.

Supper of soup, salad, bread & butter, peaches with dumplings. No bugs! We sleep with the cabin & ports wide open.

4 Days on Silent Maid-day 2

2009-09-17T18:47:00.000-07:00

Saturday, Sept. 12, 09
Barnegat to Cape May
map

Up anchor at dawn.

Motoring inside the bay.

Coffee, pancakes and homemade blueberry syrup on deck. The galley is improving.

We pass under the bridge to Island Beach.

Cleaned up the galley, The kettle with hot water rides in the sink. The GPS is in the locker to the left. It shows the ship's position and coordinates.

Pete drives for a while. More odd jobs are completed.

A bayman out working.

The forepeak. The arch of wood up there is the house side forward. It and my head became close aquaintences. I can stand everywhere in this cabin except on the forward berths and I cracked my head on this structural element more than once. Slow learner I guess.

We pass an old menhaden plant and this.

Still motoring.

The foredeck from the grand height of the cabin top.

Atlantic City appears in the distance. It is squally Rain off and on. Low ceiling.

Heading out the inlet we are passed by a dragger. The swells are quite large. John decides to try the sail to smooth the trip. I make grilled cheese and zucchini soup.

Here is our position on the GPS. In the Atlantic.

After I clean up from lunch, I get to sail a bit. We are close hauled motor sailing, tacking in and out since the wind is dead ahead.
The engine smooths out the pounding to a tolerable level. Maid kind of shoulders her way through the chop and the engine gives a bit more thrust.

This is good fun. I am so glad to be here.

It is kind of cold for summer weather, I have a hat and mittens on. The cockpit would be really dry if it weren't raining.The guys get the sail in and I get to run the inlet up to the Cape May CG base.

We wash her down and head for a shower ourselves. Chuck is our host and shows off his hometown to the best. Dry, clean, and well fed, the day ends well.

Good Night, Maid.

4 Days on Silent Maid-day 1

2009-09-17T18:01:00.000-07:00

Friday, Sept. 11.
deRouville's Boatshop, Tom's River - Barnegat
map
It is blowing like crazy, Tom's River looks like soapy dishwater stirred by a giant. The rain and wind are pretty impressive. So we go out to breakfast. Nothing like a full tummy to ease anxiety. Great diner. The Bayshore. Bennies with T-ham, about as down Jersey as you get.

Back at the Boatyard, we look at a big old Carl Adams boat in need of a lot of TLC.

Then onto the boat to stow the ship's supplies in lockers.

John tries to hook up the stove for the first time. No Go. so we do. Off to the gas dock to get fuel. Topped off, back to deRouvilles to have running lights looked at, Bill goes up the mast (in the wind) to check the mast head light.

Off comes the tri-color.

We depart to make the run down bay to Barnegat. Silent Maid is a comfortable boat. She is awful wide, and kindly.

I get to steer for a while. It is pouring rain and I am ridiculously happy. The guys are rigging a reefing line. Turns out to be a very useful thing. Set sail and we start moving.

I get back to stowing gear, Chuck drives with Pete as nav.

John returns to stove fixing.

Flags standing proud. Close hauled against the breeze.

We leave Toms River in our wake and come up to an anchorage behind Barnegat in the marsh. Such a sweet boat. It stopped raining. John got the stove running, we have salad, pasta and garlic toast for dinner with strawberry shortcakes. Good sleeping for me on the v-berth, but the bilge pumps kept someone else up.

Sept TSCA

2009-09-07T07:27:00.000-07:00

Mike Bill gave a talk on the round Cape Ann Island rowing race. CALEB looks great on her trailer sitting behind Mike's classic car.
http://www.blackburnchallenge.com/Blackburn.html
there are also a bunch more of these type races posted at water tribe.
http://www.watertribe.com/

Acat Middleton Cup

2009-09-07T07:08:00.000-07:00

Have been out 3 times this summer on TORCH. Awesome boat, good company. Thesis almost done. Took URCHIN out for a sail on the river. Was driven back by flukey winds and two foot waves on the river. Too choppy for comfort.

Some pictures from the
Down Bay Regatta. August '09

Andy driving TORCH.

Rail meat.

VAPOR leading GHOST around the mark.

VAPOR's boa.

TORCH's battle flags.

Small Reach 2009

2009-07-13T16:46:00.001-07:00

Fun in the Maine sun. Two nice days, cold water, and thunder on Saturday night. Snug and dry in the tent. Photographs here

Sailed Marion

2009-06-19T22:00:00.000-07:00

Sailed MARION Brewington from Gloucester City to the Seaport with Tom & Pete. Caught the tide and a few puffs for an uneventful trip up river.

June TSCA

2009-06-03T19:31:00.000-07:00

TSCA evening meeting at Union Lake Sailing club. Pond Boat night. Millville. Phil's canoe almost qualifies as a pondboat. Look how light it is.

Memorial Day Weekend

2009-05-23T15:16:00.000-07:00

At the Cape. Made Outriggers for FIDDLEHEAD, a 6 hout canoe that stays at the cape.

April TSCA

2009-04-07T19:36:00.000-07:00

Met at the seaport. John gave a great talk about the upcoming wooden boat festival in June and a neat slide show on the sandbagger build and rigs. We have to supply painters for the seaport tuck-up so it will be ready to put in the water.