bilbobaggins
N/A
\'Peace 4\'
Would anyone mind this latest note being posted here.....?
"Peace 4
Sunset colors reflect off Peace's deck while her bows lift and lower in the sea's ancient rhythm on her westward voyage. The evening star shines brightly just off the starboard bow and as the sunlight dims, more and more stars are revealed. Hatches have been secured, snacks set out for later, and we are settling in to our familiar routines for night sailing. The weather forecast is for following winds which are now about 10 knots from the east expected to increase overnight and perhaps veer south east while we are heading for Florida. All that is agreeable to Peace. Our winter in Bahamas is over and we leave reluctantly, but this gentle sailing with only the jib out and the Monitor steering is totally relaxing. We were sunbathing earlier so our skin has that delicious feeling as if sun were still warming us and the tan will be deeper by morning.
Now Orion is on station and the Dog star too. I think star watching will be the main sport this evening. Off to the north the Big Dipper is pointing out the North Star for us to check the boat's compass. The heavens are a sailboat's guide at night.
We should get off the Bahama banks in an hour or so and the other sport - watching for shipping - will begin. But presently, Nev has his tea, the mast head light is on, and Peace is doing 5 knots with ease. The GPS says we will be in Ft Pierce by noon tomorrow but I am sure we will arrive much sooner because of increasing winds and the lift from the Gulf Stream. In any case, we are in no hurry to end this perfect sail. Conditions are most favorable for day dreaming. We have the compass at 270 degrees and the 3 1/2 knot Gulf Current will do the rest.
We also remember the highlights of the winter. We made several trips to Manjack Cay in the Abacos and hiked around the extensive trails Bill and Leslie and others have made through those swamps and woods to the beaches beyond. We even helped improve one trail using bars and sledges to remove some sharp rock outcroppings. I collected a number of Sea Biscuits which are similar to sand dollars but thick and about 4 or 5 inches across. They have eloquent and detailed markings which fascinate me, are strong and subtly colored tan, brown, or gray if they are not sun bleached snowy white. I hope to find an ant colony to clean out the insides for me and then I will fill them with spices and use them as paper weights when I am an old lady living ashore. I will remember those walks on the soft sandy beaches, my hand reaching down, and the wonder of it all.
Many visitors came to visit Peace in the Bahamas including Walter and Joan Greene who own and run Greene Marine in Yarmouth Maine. Peace was hauled there last summer and we were both impressed with all the people in that yard both professionally and personally. While the Greene's were with us, we discussed Peace's sail plan and sailing characteristics at great length and they gave us a sailing lesson. Walter and Joan are ocean racers, designers, and builders of fast multihulls and well known in those circles. It was wonderful having their experience and advice as well as their good company. A bow sprit extension may happen on Peace with an additional forestay for better foremast support and a larger jib for better speed and sail handling when downwinding.
Another happening was meeting Kirk Ward on Three Cheers ( formerly Rogue Wave). This Chris White designed trimaran belonged to John Barry when she was badly damaged in the Bahamas. Kirk came from Bermuda to the Florida yard where the trimaran was for sale. He bought her and worked with Chris White to replace the bottom and the workmanship for that was tricky in the extreme and perfectly done. The join is invisible outside and reassuringly strong to see inside where the entire living accomodation has been rebuilt. Renamed "Three Cheers", she delighted all those who joined Kirk for her sea trials in the Sea of Abaco. She even gave Kirk a thrill when surfing the breaking waves through the Whale Cay Passage a few days ago. After six months hard work, this experienced ocean racer now has a boat he can be proud of and he plans to enter her in some ocean races. He and friends will sail across the Atlantic to Kirk's new home in Wales in a few weeks.
This summer Peace will move up to all ball bearing Harken blocks to make the hauling and pulling easier on us old folks. Those engines are not actually getting heavier, but sometimes our muscles think they are when we lift them up for sailing or at the end of the day. The same with the dinghy on its lifting ramp. In our sixties and seventies, we need to use better blocks and less brute strength which is getting to be in short supply. We also plan to install solar powered refrigeration at long last. And we will build Wharram style hatches that do not leak to replace the three store bought ones that do. A new main sail is already on order and general paint work will continue. So it looks like a good summer for the boat.
Our own health continues good and the family is all doing well. So tonight we sail with glad hearts for those blessings. As a home, I think Peace treats us well. Her care is not hard, this life is fantastic, and we hope to continue.
Later: As the night progressed, the stars winked out with increased cloud cover and the blazing and excessive lights of South Florida totally finished the last of the star watching while increasing the rate of global warming. But the crescent moon was lovely when it rose around 3 am and dawn came with glory. Now it is tea and toast time, while we make our final landfall approaches and correct the up wind bias I always put into any long passage. Soon we will be swooping down the ocean swells and rounding the entrance buoys into the channel.
Nev is thinking of having rum raisin pancakes for breakfast when we get anchored. I have a jar of raisins that have been soaking in rum for a few days and will simply mix them into the pancake batter just before cooking. Once you have had pancakes that way, even blueberry pancakes seem dull by comparison. After we catch up on our sleep, we will check in with the nice Customs and Immigration man at the airport and then head north with the warm weather towards grand children and all the rest of the New England family, old and new friends, and whatever adventures this boat brings our way.
Nev and Ann..."
Would anyone mind this latest note being posted here.....?
"Peace 4
Sunset colors reflect off Peace's deck while her bows lift and lower in the sea's ancient rhythm on her westward voyage. The evening star shines brightly just off the starboard bow and as the sunlight dims, more and more stars are revealed. Hatches have been secured, snacks set out for later, and we are settling in to our familiar routines for night sailing. The weather forecast is for following winds which are now about 10 knots from the east expected to increase overnight and perhaps veer south east while we are heading for Florida. All that is agreeable to Peace. Our winter in Bahamas is over and we leave reluctantly, but this gentle sailing with only the jib out and the Monitor steering is totally relaxing. We were sunbathing earlier so our skin has that delicious feeling as if sun were still warming us and the tan will be deeper by morning.
Now Orion is on station and the Dog star too. I think star watching will be the main sport this evening. Off to the north the Big Dipper is pointing out the North Star for us to check the boat's compass. The heavens are a sailboat's guide at night.
We should get off the Bahama banks in an hour or so and the other sport - watching for shipping - will begin. But presently, Nev has his tea, the mast head light is on, and Peace is doing 5 knots with ease. The GPS says we will be in Ft Pierce by noon tomorrow but I am sure we will arrive much sooner because of increasing winds and the lift from the Gulf Stream. In any case, we are in no hurry to end this perfect sail. Conditions are most favorable for day dreaming. We have the compass at 270 degrees and the 3 1/2 knot Gulf Current will do the rest.
We also remember the highlights of the winter. We made several trips to Manjack Cay in the Abacos and hiked around the extensive trails Bill and Leslie and others have made through those swamps and woods to the beaches beyond. We even helped improve one trail using bars and sledges to remove some sharp rock outcroppings. I collected a number of Sea Biscuits which are similar to sand dollars but thick and about 4 or 5 inches across. They have eloquent and detailed markings which fascinate me, are strong and subtly colored tan, brown, or gray if they are not sun bleached snowy white. I hope to find an ant colony to clean out the insides for me and then I will fill them with spices and use them as paper weights when I am an old lady living ashore. I will remember those walks on the soft sandy beaches, my hand reaching down, and the wonder of it all.
Many visitors came to visit Peace in the Bahamas including Walter and Joan Greene who own and run Greene Marine in Yarmouth Maine. Peace was hauled there last summer and we were both impressed with all the people in that yard both professionally and personally. While the Greene's were with us, we discussed Peace's sail plan and sailing characteristics at great length and they gave us a sailing lesson. Walter and Joan are ocean racers, designers, and builders of fast multihulls and well known in those circles. It was wonderful having their experience and advice as well as their good company. A bow sprit extension may happen on Peace with an additional forestay for better foremast support and a larger jib for better speed and sail handling when downwinding.
Another happening was meeting Kirk Ward on Three Cheers ( formerly Rogue Wave). This Chris White designed trimaran belonged to John Barry when she was badly damaged in the Bahamas. Kirk came from Bermuda to the Florida yard where the trimaran was for sale. He bought her and worked with Chris White to replace the bottom and the workmanship for that was tricky in the extreme and perfectly done. The join is invisible outside and reassuringly strong to see inside where the entire living accomodation has been rebuilt. Renamed "Three Cheers", she delighted all those who joined Kirk for her sea trials in the Sea of Abaco. She even gave Kirk a thrill when surfing the breaking waves through the Whale Cay Passage a few days ago. After six months hard work, this experienced ocean racer now has a boat he can be proud of and he plans to enter her in some ocean races. He and friends will sail across the Atlantic to Kirk's new home in Wales in a few weeks.
This summer Peace will move up to all ball bearing Harken blocks to make the hauling and pulling easier on us old folks. Those engines are not actually getting heavier, but sometimes our muscles think they are when we lift them up for sailing or at the end of the day. The same with the dinghy on its lifting ramp. In our sixties and seventies, we need to use better blocks and less brute strength which is getting to be in short supply. We also plan to install solar powered refrigeration at long last. And we will build Wharram style hatches that do not leak to replace the three store bought ones that do. A new main sail is already on order and general paint work will continue. So it looks like a good summer for the boat.
Our own health continues good and the family is all doing well. So tonight we sail with glad hearts for those blessings. As a home, I think Peace treats us well. Her care is not hard, this life is fantastic, and we hope to continue.
Later: As the night progressed, the stars winked out with increased cloud cover and the blazing and excessive lights of South Florida totally finished the last of the star watching while increasing the rate of global warming. But the crescent moon was lovely when it rose around 3 am and dawn came with glory. Now it is tea and toast time, while we make our final landfall approaches and correct the up wind bias I always put into any long passage. Soon we will be swooping down the ocean swells and rounding the entrance buoys into the channel.
Nev is thinking of having rum raisin pancakes for breakfast when we get anchored. I have a jar of raisins that have been soaking in rum for a few days and will simply mix them into the pancake batter just before cooking. Once you have had pancakes that way, even blueberry pancakes seem dull by comparison. After we catch up on our sleep, we will check in with the nice Customs and Immigration man at the airport and then head north with the warm weather towards grand children and all the rest of the New England family, old and new friends, and whatever adventures this boat brings our way.
Nev and Ann..."
