it's coming------dammit
Well, the good news is plenty of time to plan CLR 2017. One suggestion is to tie helium balloons to the buoys since you guys were having a hard time finding them. I can make a nice map of the course for everyone if you want.
Got any boat projects lined up for winter? I forget if you polished her up yet. She is a pretty boat, for a Catalina, harr-dee, harr-harr!!!
1st boat project: Get her out of the water! Yup...she's still in but looks like next weekend might be the day. Waaa...so tempted to leave her in for the winter but with the coming ice, not a good idea.
Other items on the list? Too numerous to list here. Got up this morning to find the remains of our first wintry mix on the ground.
Bob23
Well mateys, there's always Florida. Luckily we have no boating season here, so little time is left for projects and pondering of next year. With the help of cold beer we struggle from day to day, because, yes it is hard to not giggle all the time.
So it's time to retreat to the snow shovels and mittens. But when it becomes unbearable pay us a visit and soak up some sunshine. You can even enjoy a local custom - drinking cold beer in winter time.
It aint' coming, it's here!
Been on Interlude for last week, pulling sails, starting the winterizing process, lemon oiling the interior teak, some replacement caprail bungs, taking Mas out most days. Yesterday was such a spectacular day with highs into the 70's, then.......it came, a full gail warning posted and it is now cloudy, 41, and the halyards on the surrounding boats are singing (tied mine off, i like to sleep!) nursing a second hot cup of coffee. Yesterday was it, i now derig Mas, (have budgeted 15 minutes for that, gotta love the 16's!), get her ready for a couple hours or so of hurricane conditions then we both are home for the winter. Will be hauling Interlude inna couple weeks when the yard here catches up.
So Bob, will be in Whitegrass in less than two weeks from now for the 35th annual Jack Frost party. It's kinda hippy meets coal miner and tons of fun. They are already open with XC skiing for the season. Know you like that, jus sayin!
Oh and Potcake we have a local tradition as well, drinking beer all four seasons! Will be thinking of you while skiing this winter and having a cold beer by a warm fire :)
Potcake Boy,
Thank you for the offer, the Admiral and I would be delighted to stay with you in Punta Gorda this winter! If you don't mind I'll leave the 19 at home and sail your pilothouse--it's just too far to tow for our SUV. I'm sure you understand. I have great tastes in beer so we'll get along great. I'll just mention your name at Hurricane Charley's for the bar tab. As our host, I'm sure this is how you prefer to treat your guests!
We can swap homes if you prefer to experience a delightful winter. for a change of pace. We're on a lake and there is a ramp next door. Of course, the water will be solid, but don't let that distract you from sailing. Just slap some skis on our 19 and go! You won't even need ice for the cooler! And, it will be healthy for you to live up here to avoid skin cancer...you won't see the sun until at least March, perhaps April.
See you after Thanksgiving--and thanks again for the invitation!
So what is wrong with this picture....sitting below decks with the little heater blasting, hot coffee and can almost see my breath it's so cold here this morning. The incessant wind doesn't help either and what am i doing, looking at live video from Whitegrass Ski touring center where they have received over ten inches and still coming down, wishing i was there.....or maybe having coffee with Potcake if not! Love our mountains and snow, love our boats and water, don't love cold and boats. :)
All the sails are put away on Interlude and Mas. We are done. Time now for the infamous gatherings of on the hard winter sailors and snow!
I really dislike winter. It was my goal, at one point, to take some time off after I retire from my present career at 50. I would take my boat south for the winter and enjoy Florida and the Bahamas.
The way things are shaping up these days I doubt that will happen. I will probably be around 40 when my wife and I have our first kid. That will put a damper on a lot of things. My wife isn't really into sailing so that also makes it tough.
We shall see what happens. Maybe someday I will be able to do that. I will just be content to do my sailing on the Chesapeake Bay these days.
Having a cabin heater sure does extend your sailing season. The problem is that the weather is so unsettled that it can be nice one day and the next day the winds build up to unsailable conditions quick. If you cruise this time of year, on the Chesapeake Bay, you have to give yourself a lot of days and allow lay overs for weather. It will either blow hard or very light.
Sorry guys, I spoke too soon. The weather here in Florida took a turn for the worse, it got so cold last night that I had to close the windows. Folks here are walking around with long pants on, except the tourists.
HeaveToo, where do you sail on the Chesapeake? I sailed the upper bay for many years. Kept my 16 in Holiday Hill marina Mayo, and years and boats later in the Municipal Marina in Havre De Grace.
LOL...I bought my Compac 23 out of Holiday Hill Marina in Mayo.
Saga is out of Colonial Beach, on the Potomac River. It is close to 30 miles to the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay but the River is big water too. I venture out into the bay a few times a year.
ill admit i love to hear a bad weather report from florida------as long as it isnt a hurricane that is
My hometown of Union Springs, NY got lambasted w white stuff! They even canceled school! I used to walk two miles in the snow uphill both ways when I was a kid. BAREFOOT!!!
Glad to see the that the young twentials have to do the same. No snowflakes there!
TG
So....sitting in the cockpit of Mas, having a cold one, gazing upon our mountains. Not the usual view from her, and first time there has been a sailboat here in 27 years. Feels right. Bring on the winter season. :)
Winter is defined in many ways to different people. The end of summer, the end of fall, first snow...yadayadayada! One way I really know when winter is here is the draining of my outside shower which thereby confines me to scrubbing up indoors. It's difficult when you realize you might be addicted to being outside, even the nights and mornings here these days in the upper 30's and the 40's, will find me outside, watching the moon and stars while engulfed in steaming hot water! It's made all that much better when a cold beer is in my hand! Ah...luxury!! Checking the forecast, it seems I'm safe from having to retreat inside for well into December.
BrrrrrBob23
I hear ya my friend...we have a shower in a greenhouse that is our favorite place to shower up. Just really love being outside regardless. Hot shower, cold beer, winter sky, a promise of snow....you're right doesn't get much better! Looking forward to sharing some cold ones with ya this winter.
The strong winds over the last few days have resulted in boats being stranded shy of their berths. Never had Interlude sitting on the bottom before but she is kissing the bottom now. Good time to call it done. Mas looks perfectly happy here in the mountains.
We've had the warmest Fall I have experienced since moving to the mountains. The ski resort is struggling to open but I'm not complaining. I've managed to accumulate a ridiculous amount of winter equipment between the kids, my wife and I. Sleds, downhill skis, nordic skis, snowshoes. So far I've managed to avoid snowmobile ownership. I grew up riding motorcycles but have grown to dislike motorized hobbies and all the engine maintenance they provide.
Sent the main out to Sailcare for the first time so we'll see how that goes.
We have a partial interest in a house in Mexico Beach, FL that has an outside shower. In forty some years of going down there 3 times a year, mostly in the Spring and Fall, I think I've had to shower once inside and I resented that cold day.
However, Winter has arrived in the Gulf South, I spent last weekend in Delacroix, LA which is kinda at the end of the world, and overnight lows hit the mid thirties, with winds gusting to thirty with nothing but marsh grass to block it. Now that probably doesn't seem cold to many of you, but when you are trying to put a shrimp on a hook and your hands are numb, well, sometimes the hook catches human flesh. At least you can't feel it.:)
Spent part of last week up in the mountains, snow on the ground, temps never getting out of the 30's and Sunday we came back to sea level to finish winterizing Interlude. Golly, it is no where as cold here as the mountains, but the wind and dampness makes simply being outside no fun! My hats off to you guys who sail year round in these latitudes, or even just winter over on the coast here.
Heave Too,
I kind of miss sailing the Chesapeake, lot's of fond memories upon her waters. I remember when I lived in Maryland and always knew it was really cold when I spotted a teenager actually wearing his/her coat.
Sailing Florida waters is just the next step up, but of course, there are the unique problems that plague this area, usually related to people. Seems there is a battle between boaters anchoring near expensive homes, and owners of those expensive homes being of the opinion that they bought the view along with the house, and for some reason find the sight of sailboats unpalatable. So there is always a struggle between the different governing groups as to who has authority over these waters. It's been escalated to the level of one wealthy individual buying a Florida legislator from the other side of the state and not representing any area on the water, to propose legislation to make it illegal to anchor in his backyard.
Fortunately, we sailors all know the secret to get away from all the insanity and we have the means to do so.
Spring will be here before you can wear out your snow shovel.
Every place has its charms and its harms!
Here is a very cool documentary about the Chesapeake Bay and the iconic Skipjacks. I love the history of the Chesapeake Bay.
http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/the-twentieth-century-the-sailing-oystermen/
Heave Too,
Thanks so much for that. I have always been a true fan/admirer of Chesapeake history. Especially interesting to me is the conversation the men had about the future of the island's youth - some things never really change.
I once worked with a woman who's family owned and operated a Chesapeake Bay boat that hauled mostly lumber up and down the Bay. The family lived aboard the boat where she was born. She shared with me a book she had with a photo of her family's old boat. There were also photos of the great ice storm in Baltimore harbor.
I once found an old book in the library describing the geological history of the Chesapeake. To read about the early times of the Chesapeake (before Europeans) and how the water was so pure brought tears to my eyes. I was witness to the very positive impact on the Bay by the new (many years ago) sewage treatment plant at Blue Plains in D.C.. You can easily recognize the difference in water quality and aquatic life once you are south of the Potomac. Many of the really great places to visit under sail also lie in Virginia.
Walter Cronkite was not only one of our sailing brethren but one of the giants of journalism and left us this great gift - Thanks again.
My one comment to that is today's media lacks true journalism. Most of them chase a story instead of the facts. They allow politics or other factors to influence the story so you rarely get the truth. I miss those days when they looked for the truth and reported stories ethically.
I worked on the Bay for a summer on a charter boat. The captain was a salty guy that had been around forever. It was a very unique experience.
Hopefully we will see a few of you all make it down to the Bay this year. Maybe we can even get together at some point!
Well, said goodbye to Interlude, as she is now tucked in for the winter. We had two sunny days and two fit for ducks only weather days. Spent one of those yucky days at the Delatville Maritime Museum. Have been there more than once and it is a wonderful place to visit. If ever in the area it is a must. Who knows maybe we can get some of the CBMWG 2.0 folks to visit. We used to sail out that creek decades ago with our first little Compac 16!
http://www.deltavillemuseum.com
Heave, with your interest in the Chesapeake if you haven't been plan to carve some time at CBMWG to visit. Well worth it.
Going skiing next week, come on winter!
I may have to. I have visited Deltaville several times and never been there.
You have to go up to Saint Michaels and see the Maritime Museum there. It is amazing!
Quote from: HeaveToo on December 08, 2016, 10:56:12 PM
I may have to. I have visited Deltaville several times and never been there.
You have to go up to Saint Michaels and see the Maritime Museum there. It is amazing!
I've heard nice things about that museum as well and will definitely make it there. Maybe you can convince your wife to attend this years event, meet the rest of the lady folks, spend the night at a nice place and hit the museum the next day with a lunch at Merrior. Susan and I will be glad to help with such an endeavor! Gunna work on Bob and Kevin to bring Linda and Lesa as well. :) It's winter and such events warm the mind and body while our craft sit waiting for spring.
Meanwhile got snow on the brain!