Meryl Grandy

Can you tell they're brothers?

Our first overnight guests are the Captains' brother and his wife.  They're sailors and lived on a houseboat in San Fransisco.  Good times always follow when we get together.  We were excited to have them as our first guests!

Trouble in a dinghy!

We're up the next morning and leisurely depart the dock by 10:00 am.  The winds are light so we motor out to the sound and up the Chowan River to an good anchoring spot just outside the Rocky Hock creek.  After a 4-person consult on the anchor, we grilled burgers.  My sister-in-law & I headed out in the dinghy first for a quick reconnaissance of the creek.  The afternoon are naps and kindles, along with a leisurely afternoon discussion in the cockpit about sail boats including Gunboats (how do you dismast one of those?) and Benetteaus (keels shouldn't fall off).  Then I headed out in the kayak for a deeper expedition up the shallow creek, only to find a small marina with a few power boats. BIL headed out in the dinghy next, and headed all the way into the tiny marina, tied up and went for a walk.  More naps.  Captain comes out and heads off in the dinghy, only to come back for the aux fuel tank and say, "Come on.  You have to go under the bridge."  Off we go.  We went at least a mile up river and only saw one house.  On the way back, I said, "Look a kayak."  That's your SIL in your kayak.  Oh, yeah.  Grilled chicken and chop salad for dinner.  Best anchor hold yet.  Minimal swing, but as usual, the wind picked up in the middle of the night.

We had a lazy morning at anchor, with coffee and smoothies and BIL heading out in the kayak.  The wind started to pick up nicely, so we hauled up anchor by 10:00 am (nice to have extra crew members) and had the sails up 15 minutes later as we turned back into the main part of the Chowan.  The brother's were quickly playing with sail configurations/trim and different tacks.  It was a beautiful day to sail with 10-15 kts of wind and max speed of 7.5 kts.  We started with a close reach, then a beam reach and finally a run.  

Every day is something new.  We finally got around the a wing & wing configuration.

Heading into Edenton the boys successfully set up wing & wing that took us almost to the marina.  With two line handlers, docking was easy-peesy.  Back into town for lunch at the ice cream shop, followed by a stop at the coffee house to stock up on whole beans.  While the boys took their afternoon naps (it turns out the forward berth with a hatch open and a fan is a comfortable spot in the afternoon heat), the girls discovered the rocking chairs on the upstairs porch at the Barker House--in the shade with a breeze (they also had an amazing assortment of southern cookbooks--biscuits, shrimp & grits, corn bread and Natalie Duprie to name a few.  We always end up perusing cookbooks somewhere!).  Everyone reconvenes in the cockpit to discover there is a wedding in the park outside the marina--yep, we found another party.  The Captain closes us the boat and turns on the air, "because he wants to wash down the exterior."  Dinner is pasta with ground turkey & marinara, interrupted by the arrival of a trawler from Makey's/Plymouth.  "You have to go to Christy's for white pizza!"  THE BRIDE HAS ARRIVED, makes even the boys look up.

Family departs Sunday morning.  I stepped out into the cockpit to see the Captain watching his brother scrubbing the may flies off the deck.  "What's going on out here?"  "He volunteered!"  The second our guests head down the dock, Amelia comes out to reclaim her territory!  We borrowed the marina courtesy car to go grocery shopping (but no beer, because it's before noon on Sunday--Captain will have to make a second trip), cleaning and naps.  As usual, we've found a another party on the waterfront.  It's Music by the Bay sponsored by the Barkley House--Justin Holland & Friends is playing acoustic country right across from the marina.  We sneak onto the upstairs porch of the Barkley House and watch from the shade of the rocking chairs with a breeze.  Purchased the books, History of the Dismal Swamp and Cornbread Nation.

Music by the Bay (with Odin in the top right)

I spoke to Peter the boat builder yesterday, progress sounds good and I will see him later today, so pictures of the Mirror Dinghy build then.

I think he has been fastening the pine cleats to the bulkheads and seats?


This was just one week back, the hull panels were put together two days later!


It was easy says Peter.

At this stage the copper wire has been removed after the epoxy paste fitted into the hulls ply joints was cured, this leaves a nice clean surface on which the glass tape will be epoxy fitted later.


Check the pine cleats which are fitted first.

Kits and part or fully built Mirror Dinghy's to order.

Roy

Info And Reservation For Mediterranean Ferry Boats

When you have decided to go on a holiday to Italy or Morocco, or any on the Mediterranean countries, taking the ferry boats to other parts in the area is definitely an adventure. Due to all the water bodies surrounding the region, ferries are accessible via the day at normal intervals. Say, you are in Egypt and want to hop across to Cyprus, you need to verify out the data connected to ferry boats vying in that route.

You can find ferry boat businesses like Miniotis lines that offer transport in between Greece and Turkey. Similarly, Euroferry offers their array of services about Morocco as well as other components in the Mediterranean. Scandlines is one more ferry boat organization that operates in the Baltic Sea. If interested, you can book a tour package that will take you on a 3-4days tour. Blue-line around the other hand, specialises within the Italy- Croatia sector. Another exciting issue to note is some even permit animals, but you must mention the details at the time of generating a reservation.

So, wherever be your destination, you can find ferry boats that ply in these places. Aside from ferries, these organizations also make arrangements for accommodation inside the location town should you need that help. But, keep in mind that you may must book in advance to have location, and to maintain up with the itinerary chalked out for you personally by the travel agent. Be sure to pick up a timetable from the local shop or browse the net for information. It is possible to also make advance bookings before you leave residence for the trip.

Whilst booking your holiday flight tickets, it could be wise to talk about with your travel agent on the other locations you happen to be keen on going to. This may give them an idea as to how numerous days, or how long it is going to take to have from a single spot to another and strategy accordingly. In the event you utilizing the net to accomplish your bookings, you've the choice of selecting round trip or simply a one particular way ferry ride. Also remember the rates are bound to vary according to the season, if it is off season, they would be reduce and vice versa. For youngsters below 4years of age, it truly is totally free, and for all those among 4-12years of age it truly is only 50% of the charge.

To be able to book these tickets, you'll have to acquire in touch with their offices, and make the bookings. If through online mode, then fill within your information, date of travel, quantity of passenger, 1 way or round trip, and stick to the approach till your bookings are completed. Select should you need a vehicle or not to get you on board and although departing too. You will have to produce the payment using your bank card, provide your get in touch with details so they are able to maintain you posted if you will find any schedule adjustments. You are going to be assigned a booking quantity, which can be employed at the time of journey as proof of booking.

Hey, look!  We finally got out the spinnaker!  Pretty.

Clarence to Mayaguana:  We're up early, but we can't leave too early. It's a 24-hour run to Mayaugana and we need to arrive with good light to enter the harbor.  A Lagoon catamaran arrives at our dock, so we grab lines & give them the rundown ("came from Mayaguana into the wind & waves but the worst part was entrance to Clarence!").  They return the favor and throw lines for us as we depart.  The First Mate secures lines & fenders, then takes the helm to follow our bread crumbs back out.  The waves out on the Atlantic are from the NE and white caps are created as they break over the reef, right outside the harbor entrance.   It's actually not to difficult to navigate--stay between the white caps off our port and starboard!  We work our way around the point by 7:30 am and they wind and waves are now behind us. The Captain goes up on deck (my least fav part) to deploy the spinnaker. It goes up with only minor glitches and we are doing 5-6 kts with 10-12 kts of wind behind us and both engines are off!  We're sailing!  It's grey ahead of us and I'm still getting used to new flutters & squeaks as The Captain goes down to relax. How to I douse this thing in an emergency?  "You don't."  I post a picture of the spinnaker on FaceBook and I get a note from our friend Marc, the previous owner--let it out more!  Well, that's tons better.  Technology is an amazing thing.  Cargo ship #1 is off our starboard, heading up Long Island.

Open water passages are a lot like flying. Hours and hours of boredom punctuated by a few moments of excitement. We do 3-hour shifts, with the off-shift person trying to spend as much time down below resting, as possible.  For the first time, we are comfortable reading (and occasionally cooking!) The Captain even downloaded a few tv shows for his iPad.

It doesn't look that big or that close, but it was 650 ft long!

We enter Crooked Passage, a shipping channel.  Technically, this should be less stressful during the day, but with the engines off and the spinnaker up, we are limited on our manueverability.  I call the cargo ship #2 on the radio and say "Hi.  Sailboat here.  See our pretty spinnaker?  We have you in sight.  We're attempting to turn behind you, butttttttt..."  The 650 ft freighter graciously offers to make a slight turn also, so we don't become his hood ornament.  Thank you, Toronto!  

Working in the engine well while underway.  (And that's the ball of line/seaweed/plastic garbage)

By 2:00 pm the winds are less than 8 and I suggest unraveling the spinnacker sock that is twisted around the halyard while winds are light. The Captain gets so dang excited that he got it straightened out, that he yanks the spinnaker down. By the time he gets back to the cockpit, the wind is back up to 10.  "Huh?  I'm not going back up there." The genoa is unfurled instead and we start an engine.  "Uh oh.  The port engine is vibrating."  (We're using the port because the starboard alternator is acting up.)  More working on boats in exotic places--The Captain raises the engine out of the water and discovers a piece of "ocean trash" wrapped around the prop.  (LOVE OUR RETRACTABLE ENGINES!)  As the sun sets, the calm winds try to clock SW!  That's not in the forecast.  They are supposed to switch more northerly.  Motoring on one engine at 5 kts.

Cargo ship #3 passes behind us as we pass Crooked Island.  I have 2 bars of cellular!  Still sailing with 10 kts of wind behind us.

By my 10:00 pm "off-duty", I sleep the whole 3 hours. When I return we've passed the Planas.  The Captain saw a white nav light go by, probably sv Strider. according to our AIS.  There is no cell service, so I'm now tweeting on our Iridium.  We enter the Mayaguana Passage, our second ship channel.  As soon as I take the helm and The Captain ducks below, I hear a "clink" (like a penny or washer dropping), then CLUNK (screw or pocket knife).  No sign of anything amiss in the cockpit or on deck that I can see. The Captain appears in companionway and says, "What was that?  It sounded big and over my head?" (He'd gone up to our berth to lay down).   I shine a flashlight up at the rigging.  Is the radar reflector gone!? I glance at the chartplotter and see ship #4 (but it's only 190 ft.  No big deal).  I cross over the genoa and shine a flashlight on it to make us more visible.  I'M AWAKE! Better than coffee.  The wind starts to clock back around to N @ 4 kts.

As the sun rises, we have Mayaguana in sight. I'm feeling so invigorated, I want to press on to Provo! However, math proves we wouldn't clear the entrance reef before dark.  (I had him talked into it for a second.)  Ultimately, we decide to pass up Mayaguana harbour for the staging anchorage on the SE point.  This knocks 10 miles off our next leg to Provo.  We also avoid navigating the reef and coral heads to anchor.  We can make Provo in daylight from there. Then the Captain suggests another overnight. The winds are supposed to start increasing by noon tomorrow.  Otherwise, we lose our weather window. That gives us the day to nap, heat up some food and tidy up and raise anchor unobstructed (we wouldn't be able to leave the harbour until "good light.")

Stats:  Total time 16:45 + 10:09 = 26:54, avg speed 5.1, total distance 85.7 + 50.5 = 136.2 nm

Mayaguana to Providenciales, Turks and Caicos:  I'm up in time to make coffee before our 11:00 pm departure.  Splashing behind the boat keeps drawing me into the cockpit.  When I shine a flashlight into the water, a fish or a turtle dives back down out of sight.  I finally stand there long enough to see tiny teeny, tiny jellyfish(?) floating in the water.  That must be what they are after.

OK, "raise anchor unobstructed" was an over statement.  Before sunset, I took note of which way we were facing and our relationship to the island. After sunset, I can hear the waves crashing on the NE side of the island and try to picture the limestone cliff that was in front of us. We have a longer-than-usual brief before we pull up anchor in the pitch black (not a single light on shore).  I'll use compass heading, Garmin heading and the depth finder (water should be getting deeper instead of shallower) to turn us away from the island.  I usually prefer to have two sets of eyes on the chart plotter for trickier navigation like this, but he needs to secure the anchor--with only a head lamp.

He turns around and gives me a thumbs up from the bow to tell me the anchor is up and I'm driving--and blinds me with is head lamp!  "Sorry."  I'm holding a compass heading of west and the water is getting deeper.  That was exciting.  Who needs coffee after that?!  The Captain takes first shift.  

I was eager to continue on our journey without much rest because the ocean swell had been so comfortable.  The waves should still be behind us.  However, it's noisier down below than it was before.  There are waves slapping the bottom of the bridge deck, but I still doze.  When I pop back out, I can see the glow of the Turks on the horizon.  We have 10-15 kts of wind and both engines are off.  As I take the helm, I see lights off our starboard but nothing on the AIS.  Perhaps they are farther away than they look.  Boom.  There he is, and he will pass right off our bow.  I wake The Captain and he elects to furl the genoa and turn 90 degrees starboard.  Oddly, this seems to improve our ride.  We clear the ship and turn back.  As the sun comes up, we can finally see the waves coming at us from quartering to beam with the occasional white cap, which is what is slapping the bridge deck as we crest the wave.  "Turn back right so I can sleep."  Huh?  Turks & Caicos is over there?!    

We cross the 12 nautical mile ring that means we've officially broken free from the Bahamas and arrived in Turks and Caicos.  We arrive at Sandbore Channel, a break in the west end of the reef surrounding the Turks & Caicos, at sunrise.  We clear the two mile-wide entrance with only a minor current and navigate coral heads for another 9 miles/2 hours before reaching the Sapodilla Bay anchorage.  Kelly Nicole waves as we go by ("We may you breakfast, but we ate it.  Sorry.")

I finally wrestle The Captain into the dinghy to clear Customs by 10:30 am.  He dinghies to the beach and heads out "on a short walk to customs" per the guidebook.  However, the guard at the gate waves him down the road.  After walking at least a mile, a local pulls over and offers him a ride.  Jose has to make a phone call to find out where The Captain should be and then turns around and drives him back and points him down a "goat path".  He clears customs easily but is instructed to come back at 2:15 for immigration.  No sleep for you today, honey. 

Stats:  Total time 10:12, avg speed 4.7 kts, total time.  Sailed two hours.  Motor-sailed.