Maine: It’s a beautiful place.

Our original 4 day Boss trip out of Newport turned into 4 weeks.  It was a busy August, that’s for sure.

Itinerary:

• Bounced up the islands to Somes Sound (see last post)
• Sailed down to Boothbay Harbor for the Shipyard Cup (we came in 2^nd place overall – not too bad for my first race)
• Dropped off Boss in Newport at the end of the month (sailing into the harbor at 15 knots.  Yeehaw.)

We thought we’d have a lovely time as spectators for the Newport Bucket Race August 27^th & 28^th, but Hurricane Irene got in the way.  The race was cancelled, and we fled the country – to Halifax – for about 5 days.

Highlights of Halifax:

• Delicious food – sushi, Italian, Irish pubs – they have it all
• Really good night clubs that are actually open til 4am
• My first real day off in 6 weeks!

We then sailed (motored) back to Somes Sound for a week of work (and a real weekend off).

Highlights of the past week:

• Being deckie again.  Ah, fresh air.  And rain.  And cold.
• Biking around Acadia National Park
• Blueberry pancakes

Some closing thoughts on Maine:

• Lobster anytime is good, but the free lobster that we cooked ourselves was best.
• When people say “it’s beautiful”, it’s true.  As long as you can see it through the fog and rain and lobster pots.
• “It’s beautiful” also equates to “there’s not much to do here”.
• It gets COLD in September.

Next week it’s back to Newport to pull the mast out (again) and do some more yard work, till we head to Antigua at the end of October.

Ok, pictures (for real this time).

Maine

I got a new job!

It’s on this boat:

 

 

 

 

Quick facts:

• 155′ ketch launched in 2003
• Built in Maine
• Hull is cold-molded wood
• She can go 15 knots

And the best part is I love my crew and my job!

I started two weeks ago.  A few highlights thus far:

• Stepping the 185′ main mast with an even bigger crane, in fog with 20 knots of wind (we could barely see the top of the crane)
• Putting 9,000 square feet of sail back on the boat
• Sailing out of Newport for the first time
• Motoring through pea soup fog while avoiding the millions of lobster pots up in Maine

We’re currently up in Somes Sound, next to Acadia National Park.  We’ve been really busy with the boss, friends, and family on board, but I have had time to go for a couple of runs through the park.  I’ll post pictures when I can.

Newport, RI

After Baltimore, I spent 2 days in DC before heading up to Newport.

Everything in this town is old, yet very well-maintained.  And the air here is amazingly refreshing – I finally understand why everyone loves New England summers.  I did the Cliff Walk last week, which is a path along the coast with the Atlantic on one side and Newport’s “summer cottages” (read: enormous mansions) on the other.  One of the Vanderbilt mansions, The Breakers, is here.  I’ll post some pictures later.

I stayed at the William Gyles Guesthouse, the only hostel in town, and moved into a crew house on Friday.  I took the bus/train up to Marblehead, MA to visit my friend Kate for the holiday weekend and we explored that town too.  Too bad it gets ridiculously mind-numbingly cold up here during the winters – a fact I was reminded of when we went to the local beach and my toes touched the water.  Brrrrr.

I really wouldn’t mind staying here all summer if I had some work lined up.  Speaking of work, I’ve been talking to agents and have a few things that may come to fruition soon.  Keep your fingers crossed.

In the meantime I’m going to enjoy this weather to the fullest.

Special Delivery

Latest adventure: a delivery from Ft. Lauderdale to Baltimore on a 103′ motor yacht.

We stopped most nights on the 8 day trip.  Along the way, we:

• Ran into some bad weather,
• Got seasick (yes, it even happens to experienced circumnavigators),
• Saw lots of marshland, and
• Ate a massive prime rib and a delicious crab cake.

The highlight, however, was Huey:

I’m really going to miss that dog.  All in all, it was a good trip.

Between Boats Special – Mojitos and Muddlers

I am back stateside and restarting the job search after a brief visit to the Exumas and Brandon.

In the meantime, I wanted to mention a new project by a very dear friend of mine – he has started a muddler-making business called Mountain Top Muddlers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since yachties are infamous for their drinking habit, I know plugging his product is more than appropriate.  Muddlers (for ye uninitiated) are wooden implements used to mix and “muddle” certain types of beverages – including mint juleps and mojitos – to bring out the flavors of the drink ingredients.

My friend, Dick, has begun to make muddlers out of exotic woods on his own lathe.  I am fortunate to own not just one, but two! of these essential bartending tools.  His website just went live – http://mountaintopmuddlers.com – check it out!  Makes a great gift for: sailors, new graduates, beach vacationers, bartenders, mojito enthusiasts, 21st birthdays, and fruity drink lovers everywhere.

Parting Ways

So things on this boat didn’t work out, for various reasons.

I’m flying out of Noumea tomorrow around noon to head back to the States.

So as soon as I find a new boat / have a plan, I will start with the updates again.

Bonsoir!

Ups and Downs

Location: Ile Ouen, New Caledonia

This isn’t my ideal situation, but I’m making it work for now.  I’ll just talk about the good stuff here.

• I got a megalodon tooth!  Suh-weet.  It’s only about 1.5 inches but it’s at least 1.5 million years old.  Our first mate got a 5 inch one and it weighs a ton.
• We left Noumea on Tuesday and went to Ilot Amedee, which was near the outer reef and had a nice lighthouse.
• Yesterday we came north up to Ile Ouen island, inside a beautiful bay.  The island (and all of New Caledonia) has tons of minerals in the soil, so we can see some patches of land that look almost yellow-white-green with sulfur.
• Today I went snorkeling with a few members of the crew and saw a couple white tip sharks, as well as other various wildlife.

The weather has been crappy and rainy but it clears up some around sunset.  Should be better over the next couple of days.  Hope you like the pictures.

Design Flaw

Don’t design or buy a boat with water tank overflows that empty into the bilge instead of over the side.

Noumea

Location:  Noumea, New Caledonia

The sail (motor) from Russell wasn’t bad.  It took us about 3.5 days and we got in on Wednesday morning in the pouring rain.  The wind started from the N and moved counterclockwise all the way around the compass to the E by the time we arrived.  Confused seas = rolly ride.

• Stood watch with First Mate Luke and Engineer Rob,
• Put sails up, took sails down, put sails up, took sails down, rinse, repeat,
• Learned how far a cable was,
• Shot off some flares (for practice), and
• Only got completely drenched with saltwater once.

On the way into the reef we saw Planet Solar, the first solar-powered boat to circumnavigate.  You can read more about it here.

Noumea is different than what I thought it would be.  The buildings are run-down and grimy, the people aren’t always friendly, and it gets a bit dodgy at night.  But the food and beer is tres bien and other parts of the island are absolutely stunning.

• Explored the Noumea environs with First Mate Luke.  Walked 8 miles in my Havaianas (tres blistered toes), from Baie des Citrons to town and back,
• Ate a 4 fromage pizza and listened to a fantastic live jazz band at a lovely little restaurant called La Case,
• Rented a(n automatic that drove like a manual) car and wandered up the southern coast to Poe Beach to do some snorkeling on the reef, and
• Ate an incroyable crepe with chocolate icecream, chocolate sauce, fresh whipped cream and almonds

Today was not quite as enjoyable by comparison.

• Up on deck by 7am to finish cleaning in time for the boss’s arrival,
• Scrubbed the topsides and cleaned the scuppers, and
• Unclogged our toilet plumbing – NOT FUN.  I got to scrub the buckets used for that process too.

I guess I can’t be paid to enjoy myself every day.  But I did eventually make it to a very cute (and mouthwatering) patisserie to buy some special treats.

We’re staying in town for a couple more days and then heading out to explore the lagoon (New Caledonia has the largest lagoon in the world).  Planning on diving on some reefs and in some hot springs.

Bonsoir, my friends.

Russell

Location: Russell, NZ

Weather: Mostly sunny, wind from the north at 10 knots

Surroundings: Still beautiful

Been a fun past two days.  Or, as they say here, “sweet as”.

• Went kayaking with half the crew
• Met a horse
• Read my book on top of the wheelhouse
• Ate a superb lamb roast
• Had some brews with the rest of the crew and looked at the stars
• Drove the tender
• Ate some more excellent food in Russell at the Duke of Marlborough, the first establishment to have a liquor license in New Zealand (and a former brothel)
• Bought approximately 536 pounds of Cadbury and Whittaker’s chocolate to tide me over until we next arrive in a civilized port

Heading to New Cal(edonia) tomorrow morning.  Should be a 3 or 4 day trip with wind on the nose (of course).