About 100 nm south of the Mona Passage heading 240T. We have settled in
after 2 days at sea. With only two of us (and XO) watch standing has been
informal. Capt. Roger has been fealing the effects of his tooth extraction.
He has conked out for a couple of long naps.
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Cruising my 1995 Catalina 42 MK II sailboat with my cat XO, the good, the bad, and the ugly of the open ocean world cruising life.
Saturday, January 30, 2016
Friday, January 29, 2016
Via Inmarsat:
Underway to the Panama Canal from st thomas. About 940 nm to go. Winds 15
kn waves 5 ft.
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kn waves 5 ft.
Please note your reply is limited to 160 Latin characters or approximately 135 for non-Latin characters.
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Thursday, January 28, 2016
The whole tooth
Actually, the half tooth. I broke a tooth the other day. Yesterday it just exploded and Davyd, my new crew set me up with Dr. Gray, DDS. http://www.drdonaldpomeranz.com/. He let me jump in and extracted the remainder of the tooth. He also did a bone graft so that I could do an implant at a later date. (BTW ladies, he is quite good looking. Not sure if he is single.) Strangely I felt much better - so good in fact that we did the "last night on the island" tour. We went to the Ritz for martinis, then to Hull Bay for live Bluegrass, then back to the Fat Turtle for a nightcap. A nice evening and with the waves finally laying down we will be off today for Panama.
Fair winds and following seas :)
Fair winds and following seas :)
Monday, January 25, 2016
Back at Yachts Haven Grand
A nice but slow downwind passage. Provisinging and on to Panama.
Fair winds and following seas :)
Fair winds and following seas :)
Sunday, January 24, 2016
St. Maarten to St. Thomas
Departing this afternoon to pick up Davyd in St. Thomas and then to the Panama Canal.
Fair winds and following seas :)
Fair winds and following seas :)
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Daywork 123
Even after many years of cruising I am still learning the ropes. I have previously mentioed "find-a-crew. It has not been as productive as I might hope but perhaps my specific needs to not resonate with the desires of the subscribers.
As a single hander I occasionally find myself in need of a second person to help with tasks. Sometimes it is just ennui, other times it really takes two, e.g. the need to be on both sides of a bulkhead simultaneously.
I met a nice young man at The Harbor where he was visiting with his girlfriend/bartender. I asked him about day work. First. He said he was free the next day so I hired him. It worked out very well. He also filed me in on the daywork world.
It seems that the old "walk the docks each day and ask" has become impossible. Security in the marinas has become very tight. As a consequence the daywork "body brokers" are one way to get work. Enter the Internet. The web site www.daywork123.com provides a way to connect people in the industry. It is sort of a Craig's List. I decided I would give it a try and post for boat cleaners. Within an hour I had several replies. I was surprised from the CV's how hard it is to get work. I will let you know tomorrow how it works out.
We also talked about boat sitting. In St. Maarten the going rate in the crew house is $150 per week to share a bunk house with 11 other people. To boat sit with a dinghy to get around is nirvana. Not only does it save money but also wear and tear. Plus the fun of having XO to love. He also shared that conditions were similar in most ports. I good thing to know the next time I want to visit my sons.
As a single hander I occasionally find myself in need of a second person to help with tasks. Sometimes it is just ennui, other times it really takes two, e.g. the need to be on both sides of a bulkhead simultaneously.
I met a nice young man at The Harbor where he was visiting with his girlfriend/bartender. I asked him about day work. First. He said he was free the next day so I hired him. It worked out very well. He also filed me in on the daywork world.
It seems that the old "walk the docks each day and ask" has become impossible. Security in the marinas has become very tight. As a consequence the daywork "body brokers" are one way to get work. Enter the Internet. The web site www.daywork123.com provides a way to connect people in the industry. It is sort of a Craig's List. I decided I would give it a try and post for boat cleaners. Within an hour I had several replies. I was surprised from the CV's how hard it is to get work. I will let you know tomorrow how it works out.
We also talked about boat sitting. In St. Maarten the going rate in the crew house is $150 per week to share a bunk house with 11 other people. To boat sit with a dinghy to get around is nirvana. Not only does it save money but also wear and tear. Plus the fun of having XO to love. He also shared that conditions were similar in most ports. I good thing to know the next time I want to visit my sons.
Saturday, January 16, 2016
Lagoonies
I am sitting in Lagoonies http://www.dinesxm.com /restaurants/lagoonies Bistro in Cole Bay. Sint Maarten sipping on a cappuccino. I feel like I am in a bistros in Paris. I have just finished lunch - Blanquette de Veal a l'Estragon (please don't ask me to pronounce it) - just exquisite. I am in a decidedly French restaurant on the Dutch side of the island. Don't ask me how this happened. I have had a couple of meals in Maragot (the French side) but nothing this wonderful.
I came here frequently on my last visit. Not only is the food wonderful but the live entertainment in the evenings is great fun too. If you find yourself in SXM it is worth more than me trip.
Fair winds and following seas :)
I came here frequently on my last visit. Not only is the food wonderful but the live entertainment in the evenings is great fun too. If you find yourself in SXM it is worth more than me trip.
Fair winds and following seas :)
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas
Last night I stopped at "The Harbor", a local yachted bar here in Sint Maarten. As I was sitting quietly watching the salsa lesson who should show up but Alex, my crew from the Chesapeake Bay whose visit was interrupted by a hurricane. We had a wonderful reunion. This just proves tha old adage, what happens on the cursing circuit does not stay on the cruising circuit.
Fair winds and following seas :)
Fair winds and following seas :)
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Errands
David seems to have made it back to Charlotte Amalie so it is back to XO and me on Reboot. With about 2 weeks here before heading to Panama it is time to hunker down. First priority is to find my new main sail. I got in touch with Neil Pryde. They expect the sail to be here early next week.
We motored from Charlotte Amalie. My confidence that the engine is repaired has improved as we had no problems.
After many years my flop flops finally gave up. I broke down and bought a new pair.
Food shopping and boat repairs and cleaning for the rest of the day. Salsa at the club tonight.
Fair winds and following seas.
We motored from Charlotte Amalie. My confidence that the engine is repaired has improved as we had no problems.
After many years my flop flops finally gave up. I broke down and bought a new pair.
Food shopping and boat repairs and cleaning for the rest of the day. Salsa at the club tonight.
Fair winds and following seas.
Saturday, January 9, 2016
In Saint Martin
After a remarkably pleasant 22 hour transit from Charlotte Amalie we arrived in Simpson Bay in time to make the 5pm bridge. Tired but happy we are out to dinner eating Thai.
Fair winds and following seas :)
Fair winds and following seas :)
Thursday, January 7, 2016
On Fire
Those of you who follow me know that I destroyed my ASUS weePS a few days ago. It has been replaced by a Kindle Fire 8. I can now read emails and blog without having to carry 20 lbs. of gaming computer to shore. I am in the process of getting acquainted. At the same time I am getting getting Reboot ready to head for St. Martin this weekend.
Speaking of "on fire" I used my new kindle unlimited subscription to read "The Hunger Games." I saw about half of the movies and could not stand them. The books were a very pleasant surprise.
Fair winds and following seas :)
Speaking of "on fire" I used my new kindle unlimited subscription to read "The Hunger Games." I saw about half of the movies and could not stand them. The books were a very pleasant surprise.
Fair winds and following seas :)
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
TowBoat US
As you may remember our last attempt to make it to Saint Martin was interrupted by engine problems. We sailed back (the entire trip to Saint Martin is upwind) to Charlotte Amalie harbor. We contacted SeaTow as there is no TowBoat here in the USVI. I was quite surprised when the SeaTow Captain suggested that I contact TowBoat for reimbursement. I have unlimited towing so I thought - why not. Well I did, and today I got my mail that included a reimbursement check for the SeaTow tow. Good stuff.
Fair winds and following seas :)
Fair winds and following seas :)
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