tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59683072868757458422024-03-19T04:15:24.942-07:00S/V Jammin Peoples AdventureS/V Jamminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677812253161064798noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968307286875745842.post-58889348126968151192014-10-27T07:19:00.001-07:002014-10-27T07:35:40.462-07:00From Newport to Cape May<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br><br>We just came down from Newport in the last two days. First night we had to sail 45 degrees off our intended coarse because of ill wind. Also in some unpredicted seas we had a very large wave break over the side of the boat and took out our front dodger. It broke through one of the front windows panels and then ripped out all the snaps and fasteners on the bottom of all the front and one side panel. Water was everywhere in the cockpit and downstairs. Helen took the full brunt of the power right in the face. Knocked off her glasses, and lost her hat overboard. She said it is one thing she never hope to experience, being pitch black and not being able to see it coming made it even worse. Trying to keep the subsequent waves out of the cockpit was a loosing battle. We then had an ok day of hard 25 knot sailing, but it was good. just before dark we heard over the VHF a warning from the coast guard about a huge string of t storms coming our way. Major winds and lightening 40 miles wide and 75 miles long coming our way. We dodged them for about 8 hrs watching as many as 5 bolts making contact simultaneously with a 270 degree view of the storm. Then we got hammered by the last one. For about 2 hrs we were in the middle of hell. At one point during the highest winds and rain we had two bolts hit within feet if our boat, but didn't take a direct hit. They were so close our autopilot went into reset and power down mode. Thankfuly no other electronics were on. One was about 5 ft in front, we thought it hit our bow roller,and the other about 30 ft behind. Worse lightening scene I have ever witnessed, literally felt like the gates to hell. Made it through with only our nerves hurting and arrived at Cape May in 30 knots of wind with 3 or less hours of sleep in us. Trying to find a place to anchor, we caught a boat's anchor rode in our prop, they had too much scope in 10ft of water. We were pulled out of the water in order cut off the rode. That was a very long 48 hours. Ugh<br><br><br><br><br><br></span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"></span><br style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpV_wNbqlHWbxU8NTHABBhX3jXLiaIbImzVIHLN4KB6ZG3wquV6HOs0nc2X5mI26TZLdDLhurzDbyeSCfXxtRCaYrPpsQZ_EqJJtcOOvfDOJUlZBPzYgq7I7PvpPYkwTeBQ_AYV_faEV7/s640/blogger-image--1639282086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpV_wNbqlHWbxU8NTHABBhX3jXLiaIbImzVIHLN4KB6ZG3wquV6HOs0nc2X5mI26TZLdDLhurzDbyeSCfXxtRCaYrPpsQZ_EqJJtcOOvfDOJUlZBPzYgq7I7PvpPYkwTeBQ_AYV_faEV7/s640/blogger-image--1639282086.jpg"></a></div>S/V Jamminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677812253161064798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968307286875745842.post-61689242603660443692014-10-09T13:34:00.000-07:002014-10-09T13:36:22.425-07:00October 9, 2014 Season 8 Begins<br />
Leaving Maine and Heading South<br />
Find pictures posted in the blue box down and to the right of this blog entry.<br />
We have had two great weeks here in Maine. Our last week has been spent with Rob Anderson at his hide away on Hupper Island off Port Clyde. We last saw Rob in Mexico, 2008. What a perfect host. He took us to three nearby towns, shopping and even let us do wash. We had great dinners, many happy hours, and drop dead gorgeous mornings looking out his windows onto the channel and out to sea from the bedroom windows. Some days we were glad to be under his roof and not bouncing on the boat as the weather turned lumpy on us. One day we hiked the island and Rob filled us in on the history and families that have been here for more than 5 generations in some cases. It is a slice of serenity and even looks great blanketed in snow...we only saw pictures of that.<br />
Tomorrow we drop the mooring ball line and head out to start another season of cruising. Our calendar start is not pinned to a date but rather to when our migration south to warmth and sunny spots begins. Our plans are to avoid Atlantic storms and uncomfortable weather. Our heading will be for Bermuda if the weather window is short or head for The U.S. Virgin Islands if all looks safe.<br />
Last weekend we rented a car for 3 days, drove almost 600 miles and saw what Maine is famous for: beautiful small seaside towns, great food, trees shedding their green coats for colorful Fall colors, a shoreline that reminds one of Washington, the San Juans, Desolation Sound, and Vancouver Island, B.C., and last but not least the friendly people. Keep us in your thoughts and pray for us to have reasonable seas and winds that help us glide and fly (not jet us) southward.S/V Jamminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677812253161064798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968307286875745842.post-24515454519976575682014-09-16T07:02:00.001-07:002014-09-16T07:02:31.400-07:00September 16, 2014<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbP23HsSvPQDHVCx-cV8wu8Z1dIsqu6InSBcUom8pT_m__lzDKrXb0iwVwhPN1ZJw24otQsQzP_6iOixw9YvOhewPsnf2gPaT62RQ4kewNXCP_gfEeB4hA9yyQpC9N8ZI0YsdUBP0b5viQ/s1600/0916040806-751401.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbP23HsSvPQDHVCx-cV8wu8Z1dIsqu6InSBcUom8pT_m__lzDKrXb0iwVwhPN1ZJw24otQsQzP_6iOixw9YvOhewPsnf2gPaT62RQ4kewNXCP_gfEeB4hA9yyQpC9N8ZI0YsdUBP0b5viQ/s320/0916040806-751401.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6059666935424228338" /></a></p>September 16, 2014 Where friends and are made
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<br>> Yesterday we reached Onset, MA and walked up the hill to find a happy hour bar. We Yelped the area and found Pierview Restaurant as a possible destination. Once up the hill we saw this sign and it reminded us of the series "Cheers" so we walked in. The people at the bar noticed us right away. We took the seats at the end of the bar and started talking to the bartender. Dave told him it had taken us 8 years to get to his bar and he shared that with the others. Soon we were sharing stories, swapping jokes, answering questions, and feeling like we were in an episode of Cheers. What great people they all were. Names were exchanged, the song "Sail Away" was played on the juke box for us by Kevin, a beer appeared bought by one of the generous bar crowd, and we started handing out boat cards and shaking hands. Uncle Bobby enlightened us on the meaning of the Tesno t-shirt and told us half of the group originated from the Cape Verde Islands. We left the place with a promise to return and as our dinghy pulled away from the town dock we saw Uncle Bobby waving us a fond goodbye. There is a deep truth to the advertisement in this window.
<br>>S/V Jamminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677812253161064798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968307286875745842.post-52176690906586533722014-09-13T13:49:00.000-07:002014-09-13T15:29:51.011-07:00September 13, 2014. Newport, Rhode IslandSeptember 13, 2014. Newport, Rhode Island<br />
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What a delicious slice of Americana this harbor town offers to all who take the time to explorer. The historical vibe, the sense of times past and present blended together, an East Coast rounding of consonants and unique vowel sounds floating in the brisk air, and a small town neighborhood feel from homes peeking around each corner, you feel the warmth but not the cold size of a big city here. We arrived a few days ago to attend the Boat Show, meet old boating friends, and enjoy some relaxed time. When we arrived there were plumbing issues to deal with, a boat is rarely trouble free, a wind generator issue, that can wait, and new friends greeting us. Ian and Fiona have shared some anchorages with us and came over to say "hi". They were able to put us in touch with Craig and Karene, friends from the Bristol, Rhode Island reunion, and we ran into Linda and Bill with Tahja from the Salty Dawgs organization. Social time ahead of projects kept Dave happy. Dave walked the Boat Show while I caught up with fellow Dawgs and friends at the Salty Dawg booth. Late afternoon we broke away and had a beer with El Sogno who then tempted us to go with them to West Marine and dinner...we are easy, what can I say! They chose an owner chef restaurant that was in an older section of town. The lyrical piano playing, the white cloth and napkins, and the antique stain glass displays gave the perfect backdrop to a delicious meal. We talked about the best places in Maine and their future plans to head through the canal and off to the Pacific. After another peaceful night of sleep Dave awoke and dove on the boat to remove barnacles from our thru holes. We are now trouble free and draining. The wind generator problem is still out there but it can still wait. Today we walked the waterfront, hiked up into the town, saw the church that the Kennedy's were married in back in 1953, shot pictures of the International Tennis Museum, and took a dinghy tour of the waterfront mansions. It is now getting chilly and blackish skies surround us. Weather is changing and we are tucked in for the night. <br />
There is a small canal between us and the ocean that we will use to head north and into Maine. We will write after we finish Maine, but feel free to write us now and share with us your must see in Maine spots.S/V Jamminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677812253161064798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968307286875745842.post-24618737844812080352014-09-06T15:44:00.001-07:002014-09-06T15:44:51.645-07:00Crossed Fingers and High HopesMonday we board the plane to Boston, MA and by Tuesday we will be back on Jammin getting ready for another trip afloat. We will head north to eat Maine lobsters and see the rugged coast as we dodge and weave through the pots and traps. Then come October we will find the one week of good weather (they say that is how it works most years) and head to Bermuda. After relaxing and waiting out the hurricane end of season storms there we will sail south to the Virgin Islands for the holidays. <br />
Our summer was more work than play blended with quality grand parent time in Oregon and Texas. Our daughter, Kelsey, moved to Beaverton, Or and Dave built a barn bed for Kiwi, our grand daughter. Then it was off to Katy, Texas where our son, Mike, moved and visiting with the other two grand daughters (Layla and Stevie) and daughter-in-law, Julia.<br />
We will be better about blogs this coming season. Last season we had our share of trial and tribulations and never really had a sailing season to share. Adrift and windless best describes last winter's season. This season with fingers crossed and high hopes drifting over us we look forward to more adventures, reunions with old friends, and making new friends in foreign places.S/V Jamminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677812253161064798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968307286875745842.post-90653942418190680712014-03-19T17:14:00.000-07:002014-07-08T12:57:10.166-07:00Season 7, March 19, 2014<br />
Jammin is back in the chill and working on repairs. We arrived Saturday to Norfolk and plugged in the heaters as the temps were in the 30's. We then discovered we had an electrical problem. Touching the boat we received a 115volt shock, it took 4 days to discover a bolt from the new stanchion had pinched a wire.<br />
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Yesterday we drove through snow coated land to get a mattress and the anchor repaired. Today we wore out one of our heaters but we had a back up ready to plug in. The next cold/snow storm is predicted for mid next week...UUUGH We still need the yard to put in the wind generator, the boat heating system, and then put us in the water for a rigging inspection. We also need to pick up the repaired sails, put everything away, and celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary on March 30th.<br />
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All in all, LIFE IS GOOD. We are cold but can wear layers, we can see water and smell salt air, and we are closer to being at sea than notS/V Jamminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677812253161064798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968307286875745842.post-16392320966808954592014-01-02T21:47:00.000-08:002014-01-26T10:42:48.365-08:00One, two, three, you are out!<div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">
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Light winds and calm seas yesterday, November 6, made the passage enjoyable. Tonight the stars are bright, three and sometimes four fellow Salty Dawgs are visibly nearby, and the seas make the ride a rocking chair experience. All is good and in about 3 hours the sun will be shining upon us. The boat is doing great, everything is working, and we be Jammin'…</div>
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Season 7, Day 3...</div>
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<span class="yiv5339748057userContent" id="yiv5339748057yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1388724505832_7435">Thursday, November 7th arrived and was one of the foulest days we have ever encounter. As the sun was setting we came out of the Gulf Stream, t<span class="yiv5339748057text_exposed_show" id="yiv5339748057yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1388724505832_7434">hings were calm enough to think about cooking. Dave was having trouble with the auto pilot–it kept beeping off so he had to reset it–that lasted about 20 minutes. Then we heard two noises, one off the stern and one above our head. The latter was the traveler and boom swinging to port, and the former was the buzzer for the auto pilot. Dave went first to the wheel and found it unresponsive, next he inspected the connection between the wheel and auto pilot and it was not the problem. Which meant…that's when the boom took off and the connection between the traveler and the main sheet pulley system broke. He went forward and with rope was able to connect the two parts. Now back to figuring out why we have no steerage, it seemed obvious that we were rudderless. To confirm that would mean putting Dave in the water and night had fallen as well. We called into the DoDah net and let them know we had some damage. That's when we heard other boats were in trouble and in worse shape than us. So we waited.</span></span><br />
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<span class="yiv5339748057userContent" id="yiv5339748057yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1388724505832_7435"><span class="yiv5339748057text_exposed_show" id="yiv5339748057yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1388724505832_7434"><br /> <br /> We were never in danger of sinking but we lacked the ability to set a course and get anywhere. We also lacked the conditions to build a rudder out of cabin doors and get the whisker pole due to the state of the seas. The seas were 2 to 6 feet for an hour or less, and as much as 10 to 20 feet the rest of the time. The winds were an issue as well. But it was the confused waves breaking over all sides of the boat, tossing us back and forth, pitching us forward and backwards, and swaying us on a diagonal every now and then. Water, water, everywhere. I counted how often they were occurring and occasionally I reached 55 seconds but most of the time it was every 5 to 12 seconds.<br /> Friday morning we tried the bucket and anchor method but the confused seas would send the bucket airborne and it would entangle itself to the anchor rode. That is when we contacted Dick and together decided a call to the towing company should be made. They declined to come out that far even though we had bought their "unlimited" 200 mile plan. That left the Coast Guard. We were told we were third or fourth in line for assistance.<br /> For two days my husband and I drifted further south and east out to sea. Help was coming but we had to wait our turn, many boats were caught by the weather stalling and developing into something nasty. On November 9th the Coast Guard cutter USCGC Forward arrived mid afternoon. They first established that we were not injured and not taking on water, then they wanted to know if our engine was in good working condition and it was, next they had to check if we had two points to tow from and that they were reinforced metal plates with strong bolts. After assessing us and our equipment, they were able to install a tow line. That began a 44 hour tow job with quite a few more exciting moments. Jib unfurled and Dave retrieved it, tow line chaffed, inverter stopped working, boarding a zodiac rescue boat and climbing up the side of a 200+ cutter…but we made it back bruised but not broken to Cobb's Marina, Little Creek, Virginia.<br /> About 2 hours after the marina hauled us, Zulu was pulled out at Cobb's Marina. We talked to him the next day and guess what? He had the same auto pilot experience as us before his rudder broke off (in a similar place--clear break straight across).<br /> <br /> We are now making up for lost sleep and working with our insurance company on repairing Jammin', our home away from home of 7 years. We are the fortunate ones, but the USCG crews are the true heroes. They managed to get all sailors to shore and out of the danger that unpredictable weather can create. They are truly our Coast Guardian Angels.<br /> The crew of USCGC Forward were amazing. Their story is much more interesting than ours. Here is a link to the article and photos of the rescue they performed. <a href="http://www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/1956938/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/1956938/</a></span></span></div>
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S/V Jamminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677812253161064798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968307286875745842.post-55375446961819314062013-11-05T16:34:00.001-08:002013-11-05T16:34:27.438-08:00Season 7 day one<div>November 6 2013<br><blockquote type="cite"><font color="#000000"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When we wake up we will set a course for the British Virgin Islands and arrive some 9 to 11 days later. The weather report shows winds for most of the days and no tropical storms are currently forming. We are at anchor in front of Fort Monroe, in sight of where the USS Monitor and the CSS Virgina fought a battle at sea. Norfolk and Hampton have been our home for the past week as we met fellow Salty Dawg participants and old cruising friends. After a week of social events, seminars, and informational meetings we are ready to relax and enjoy the E ticket ride through the Gulf Stream. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers and we will be posting blogs on the 2013 Salty Dawg Fall Rally site.<br></span></font></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><font color="#000000"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">What keeps us doing this? Right now it is the promise of a second summer. Warm nights, idyllic days, hiking, swimming, snorkeling and diving, <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://3" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors-result="3">5 o'clock</a> gatherings or<a href="x-apple-data-detectors://4" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors-result="4">6 o'clock</a> red wine and chocolate, reading, napping in a hammock, just lim in' the time away...did I mention the work or the repairs, the hunting far and wide for parts and tools? How fast we forget the downside of the cruising life! Ohooooo, something just snapped up above and Dave is opening the tool box. Guess we will need to snap back into reality a bit sooner than later. P.S. It is almost <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://5" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors-result="5">5 o'clock</a> </span></font></blockquote><div><br></div><div><br></div><br><blockquote type="cite"><font color="#000000"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></font></blockquote><br><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Sent from my iPad</span></div>S/V Jamminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677812253161064798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968307286875745842.post-50603458001508848382013-06-01T08:08:00.003-07:002013-06-01T08:08:42.192-07:00Chesapeake, Day TwoMay 30, 2013
<br>We just passed the New Point Comfort Spit Light off Mobjack Bay in Chesapeake Bay and are heading north to Deltaville, Virgina. The water depth is a mere 14 feet in the deep part of this channel. The majority of the Chesapeake is 25 feet or less--with anchorage sites bragging about 7-8 feet of depth. Our boat draws 7 1/2 feet so we are limited on where we will find places to anchor. Up in Deltaville we will anchor in 8-10 feet, and tomorrow check out their marina for boat storage. Hmm, wonder what the tide depth is here?
<br>Last night was our first full night of sleep since May 16--we slept till 9 (me) and 10 (Dave)this morning. The boat sat as still as as house, and only the rub of a halyard on the mast could be heard. With the first light of the day, we heard the birds calling to each other, another sign we were near land again. After day 2 out at sea there were no birds, and no flies. The smell of land was replaced with the smells of the sea and our ever present boat smells. Yesterday I realized there was no welcoming smell of land greeting us as we approached Norfolk, Virginia--perhaps because the wind came from the east. However, there were flies, a horde swarm our boat and filled our salon. We eliminated over 30 and broke one fly swatter during the assault. So our shopping list now includes fly paper, eggs, more fly paper, potatoes, and spare fly swatters.
<br>After 13 days at sea, Dave is more excited than ever for the passage to Europe he will make in the next few years. Nothing has daunted his spirit of adventure. I am wondering if after 13 days at sea I will be able to walk without the Earth feeling like it is pitching me to starboard and port. The trip was fairly smooth and normal for us--a few exciting hours while we jerry rigged a fix for an important part breaking, and then rearranged our sleeping and watch duties around what time we finished the repair. There were many days where we were the only boat on the water and 2-3 days between any sighting of another vessel under way. I gained a new appreciation for how vast the ocean is and how small and insignificant one boat can be upon its surface.
<br>Dave said this trip across the open water makes him confident about crossing the Atlantic when he takes the boat to Europe. He was able to fix what broke, kept his mind clear to solve whatever was thrown his way, and he enjoyed the adventure and time at sea. The crossing of the Atlantic has been a long time dream for him and accomplishing it will be one of his lifetime highlights. But for now we are going to cruise the East coast, return to the Caribbean next winter, come back next spring to Maine and points south, and do another season in the Caribbean before he heads over the next horizon.
<br>This summer we will be in Oregon in June, Texas for July and part of August--grandbaby #3 arrival, back to Oregon in mid-late August, then back on the boat to cruise the East coast from September through late November--avoiding thunderstorms and named storms if our luck holds up.
<br>Life is good and we are looking forward to getting back together with friends and family. Time to quit writing, the flies have returned, are attacking me from all sides, and so I will take up the mighty surviving fly swatter and fight against their attempt to overtake our home on the water. It's clearly time to pull out of storage the bug screens!
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<br>for information see: <a href="http://www.sailmail.com">http://www.sailmail.com</a>S/V Jamminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677812253161064798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968307286875745842.post-83698482796557642492013-06-01T08:08:00.001-07:002013-06-01T08:08:40.127-07:00Salty Dawg Rally CompletedWe made it! The morning of May 17th we left St John, U.S. Virgin Islands and in the afternoon of May 29th we dropped our anchor in Mobjack Bay on Chesapeake Bay. After 7 years of being away we had Jammin' in the continental states at last--with credit cards and the check book out ready to start refitting the old girl (Jammin' not Helen). The boat will rest in Deltaville and hit the water again the first of September.
<br>What a great time it has been. Thanks to Bill and Linda on Sapphire, who organized this event, we met the other participants at numerous gatherings which fostered friendship and the exchange of information. Being from the Northwest we are newbies entering the waters of the North Atlantic. Over the past 7 years our boat/home has traveled from Oregon, up to Alaska, down the West Coast, passed through the Panama Canal, stopped in the Western Caribbean, summered in Panama, crossed the waters to Jamaica and the Eastern Caribbean islands, and summered in Trinidad twice. Even though we are seasoned travelers, we felt new and uneducated about the Gulf Stream and the Atlantic East Coast ports and anchorages. Our reason for joining this rally was to get first hand accounts of the Gulf Stream and information on where a deep draft boat can anchor safely. The ICW is famous for its skinny waters and we are what you would call a beefy bottom boat at 7 1/2 feet.
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<br>We can HIGHLY recommend the Salty Dawg rally to anyone heading north (in May) from the Virgins, or south (in November) from the East Coast. With the help of Linda from Sapphire, Steve on Celebration, relays from Matt on Troupadore, and Dick from the DoDah net we were able to check in 3 times daily via SSB radio and hear the progress being made by all the boats participating in the Salty Dawg Rally. It surprised us that during the 13 days we never saw another boat after the first day, each of us took a slightly different course towards the U.S. The daily radio contact helped us feel we were not alone at sea despite the fact no one was ever in our sight. We owe Chris Parker a big thank you for giving us the data we needed to make informed decisions on our course as the weather conditions contorted into 3 different weather systems and us sailing at the edge of it all. And we owe a special thank you to the person(s) who posted our blogs--our son, daughter, relatives and friends followed our progress on the spot and read the daily logs we and others posted. It calmed their worries to hear our words, it entertained them to hear what was happening to us and others, and it brought back memories of time on our boat as a family.
<br>This fall, when we plan our return to the Caribbean, we hope to join the rally for the Fall migration to the Virgin Islands. Safe travels and full sails until our paths cross again, Helen and Dave on Jammin'
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<br>P.S. We will be checking out the Salty Dawg Rally website and reading about the Spring 2013 Hotdawg Rally. Now that we finally have internet we can read what others wrote and how their trip went. Our kids tell us it was great hearing all the joyful experiences others were having, and they could commiserate with the dreadful conditions some of the participants overcame. Boating is rarely dull,but the good times are sooooo good that one quickly forget the hard times. My husband is already talking about crossing the Atlantic and how it would only be 6 days longer than the trip we just completed...a man of the seas can never be far away from planning the next adventure.
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<br>The Salty Dawg Rally has been great and the support superb. The daily nets and the encouragement from other participants have made this long journey a wonderful event. We would like to also send out a great big thank you to Chris Parker and his weather report service. Chris's report have been right on and accurate in every case. We used what he gave us and ended up avoiding the worse of the two weather problems and ugly conditions at sea. His thorough explanations of what we would be facing supported by position recommendations gave us a path to follow that kept us and the boat relatively safe. His services are well worth the investment. For all you in Bermuda, hope your time there is sweet and restful, and that your seas and weather are perfect when you once more head out to sea. Looking forward to meeting up with you Salty Dawgs through the summer/fall or finding you back in the Carib next winter. Until then, we be Jammin' Helen and Dave Peoples
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<br>We made it through the ugly trough with squalls and 40+winds, the chilly cold front with winds 20-25 knts. out of the north, and threats from the low in Chesapeake of gale force winds above us. The convergence of all three made us question sitting out here. Most of the Salty Dawgs chose to sit it out in Bermuda sipping dark and stormy rum drinks.
<br>For three days we have zigged and zagged in the safe latitudes, and hove to for about 3 hours before Dave started zig zagging again. Hooray! The worse is over. No damage, no problems. Currently we are traveling west and all is good.
<br>After clearing the messy weather this morning the steering wheel threw its nut overboard and fell off. Auto pilot does not require a steering wheel, thank goodness. The wheel is now back on--held fast by wire twisted around the exposed threads.
<br>Our gear arm is also broken, and a pair of vice grips allow us to shift. A few days ago our out-haul blew apart on the boom and strong line is still holding it in place. The pictures of all these at sea repairs will make a great article.
<br>Now as we wait for the beer to chill and the nacho to bubble,we are experiencing burst of wind that take us screaming at 7knts. and then suddenly die off and leave us making 2 knts. on our western heading towards the Gulf Stream and the states.
<br>Earlier we tried motoring north a we were maing 1.7 knts and using up valuable fuel. Hard to say how many days it will take us to make the last 400 miles of this 1,600+ mile trip--an extra 200 due to zig zagging. We will be motoring for some of it, and sailing as well. So, I guess we will see you when we see you. Don't bother to set up a betting pool for our arrive day (forget hour of arrival)it is so unpredictable. The good news is we bought BoatUS towing insurance the day we started and paid for the Deluxe plan--the one where they will come out 150 miles and deliver fuel...Hopefully we won't need to make that call.
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<br>for information see: <a href="http://www.sailmail.com">http://www.sailmail.com</a>S/V Jamminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677812253161064798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968307286875745842.post-19781215576438624632013-05-22T15:08:00.000-07:002013-05-22T15:11:07.929-07:00Day 6 At SeaWe are just meandering our way today through the lumpy waters west of Bermuda with no need for speed or sails. With the news about the adverse wind and sea conditions around the Gulf Stream and waters North of 32 latitude from Thursday through Sunday, we decided to cut cookies down here in the lower lats and wait out the storm. We could be fixing things but the things that have broken to date are either fixed or cannot be without parts we don't have. Yet, life is good and we are baking a chocolate cake as I write this post.
<br>As we departed Francis Bay last Friday and raised our main we saw two of our battens start to slide out. We quickly dropped sails, shoved them back in, velcro closed the openings, and got underway again. Day one was starting out with a challenge. When we shoved the battens in, our stack pack loops revealed their age and two of those ripped out as well. Day Two the sun rose and we looked up at our main and saw one batten was gone and the other was on its way, again we dropped the sail trying to save it but the dip in the sail worked against us and sent it flying out of our reach. Two gone, two still there. Day 3 as we ate lunch our loose footed mainsail out-haul (which hold the back end onto the boom)blew out. The only thing holding it was our reef line. A quick thinking Dave pulled out some reserve line and he improvised a fix--still working and not chaffing. Day 4 Dave turned 63 and the boat gave him respect, Not one thing went wrong or broke. Day 5 we discovered the other two battens had left their home so we added new battens to our refitting list. Day 6 has been a day where we could catch up on sleep and relax our bodies, seas are 1-3 with an occasional 6 foot roller, with winds of less than 10.
<br>On my late watch (2AM-7AM)many lofty thoughts take me wandering through the meaning of life, man, relationships, etc. and meaningful AaHaa moments stream through my mind, but I always stray to lesser ideas by the end of my watch. Such was the case last night/morning...I watched the wobbled shape moon change from its bright yellow reflection to a deep orange red on its approach to the western horizon. When it slid into the Atlantic it was more blood red than orange which led me to ponder the old saying about the red sun in morning, sailor take warning...is there such a rhythm for the moon? Well, in about two hours I would see the sun rise and compare--the sun rose redish at first and then faded to a pale rising sun. My musing then went off to the lip stitched across the top of my coat pockets (Yes, it's time for fleece coats and long pants) which made it hard to get my cold hands into them. Is it designed to keep water from running in? Perhaps to keep from snagging things as you move about the boat? Or does it keep things from falling out when you go to pick it up upside down? It sure gives a trimmed line to the front. Bet it would look great on the back pockets of pants, better than the flaps that never lays flat and the corners curl up making your butt look bigger! Hey that would make a good ad, "Do these pants make my butt look smaller?"...OBVIOUSLY, I am slipping into sleep depravation, time for a bite of chocolate and another cup of caffinated tea.
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<br>for information see: <a href="http://www.sailmail.com">http://www.sailmail.com</a>S/V Jamminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677812253161064798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968307286875745842.post-48275693894959705192013-05-21T15:55:00.000-07:002013-05-21T15:57:49.988-07:00Taking a detour towards BermudaOur rhumb line to Chesapeake just took a sharp turn to the right. Jammin' is use to taking side trip when traveling--usually to eat or see new sites. This detour however is due to weather reports forecasting gale/storm conditions from Thursday through Saturday (where we would be if we stuck to our rhumb). So to avoid having our sails eaten, and being blown to sites we don't want to see, we will hang out below 32 North and East of 70 West with a few other boats.
<br>Today we hit slower speeds and softer winds. Our average speed up to this point has been 7--this boat is use to doing 5. It has been a consistent slant to the port that requires one hand holding onto something when moving about, the up and down motion is predictable, its that occasional slap of a wave on the starboard that sends your feet skidding. I finished my 9th book this morning and Dave is still fishing. We are 0 to 1, zero fish and the fish scored one lure. Perhaps on our detour we will find a fish or two that want to come aboard for dinner...LIG (Life is Good)
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<br>for information see: <a href="http://www.sailmail.com">http://www.sailmail.com</a>S/V Jamminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677812253161064798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968307286875745842.post-46337601913198683922013-05-20T09:08:00.000-07:002013-05-20T09:11:43.245-07:00Third Day.Still almost perfect sailing. I guess I never realized that Jammin could sail so long at near hull speed. Very seldom during the day do we see speeds below 7.3 knts. I had gotten so used to 5.5 I thought that was normal. Our winds have mostly been out of the east at 15 to 18 knots. We have been on a broad reach since we left. In a couple of days the winds will turn more south, southwest. Not sure how well she will do more down wind. We have been fishing most of the time and no luck yet. Something bit my lure off yesterday but nothing on the line yet. We haven't heard of anyone catching a fish going north so I don't feel alone. We had a freighter cross one mile in front of us last night, and one other sailboat heading east. Those are the only boats we have seen. The freighter caught us off guard a bit. We didn't see him till he was a couple of miles away. I think mom is on her sixth book and I have finished 2. Not really much else to do but read, sleep, eat, and be on watch. Just found another boat on AIS miss us by 2 plus miles. Getting good sleep is still a problem. I am sure we will figure it out soon.
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<br>Life is good
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<br>for information see: <a href="http://www.sailmail.com">http://www.sailmail.com</a>S/V Jamminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677812253161064798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968307286875745842.post-72862761767772658782013-05-19T07:18:00.000-07:002013-05-19T07:19:25.914-07:00Day twoSo far it has been wonderful sailing all the way. We have logged 333 miles in 48 hrs. If we keep this up we will arrive at the Gulf Stream by Saturday the 25th. This is not good. There is a cold front with north wind coming in on either Friday or Saturday. This would make it very rough crossing the stream. We have never done it before but have heard it is not a good thing in any kind of a Northerner. So we have decided to slow down. I shorten sail this morning to about 50% jib and full main. We are still making over 7 knots most of the time. If the weather forecast doesn't change we will try to slow down some more so we can arrive on Monday or Tuesday which we hope are better days. Jammin is doing great the conditions are near perfect. The ride is good and we are still trying to figure out sleep patterns so can get enough. Life is good. Sailing fast but sailing safe
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<br>for information see: <a href="http://www.sailmail.com">http://www.sailmail.com</a>S/V Jamminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677812253161064798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968307286875745842.post-80753114971666196992013-05-18T03:00:00.000-07:002013-05-18T03:02:18.071-07:00Day oneGood first day log 172 miles which is on of the fastest days ever. Had a steady 15 to 18 knots of wind with 6ft swells and 4-5ft windwaves. We were on a broad reach all day. We lost two battens out of the sail, poor design, but other than that no problems. It really has been a good day. We have about 1100 to go to get to the Chesapeake. Chris Parker says we might have some adverse weather by the time we get there. We will see. Another sunny day no squalls on the horizon.
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It's 3 PM and I am almost done with my book. Today we completed many small projects and readied the boat for its LONG voyage back to the states. Jammin' is taking part in the Salty Dawg Rally to the East Coast. We leave here on May 15th--weather permitting.
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We are all sitting on mooring balls, doing last minutes preparations that stop before 4 so we can join together and enjoy the 2 Happy Hours (4-6) offerings the $3.00 pain killers/rum punch/Carib beers. After working below in the heat and humidity those drinks are ever so much sweeter and refreshing.
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I have been back on the boat just a week now, having returned from 2 months in Oregon helping to take care of family members. I was also able to get a 5 day trip down to Texas to see Mike, Julia, Layla, and Little Stevie through the wonders of ultra sound. She will be arriving around July 18th so Dave and I will be in Texas for this event. In between time we will be in Oregon and hopefully visiting friends in Washington as well.
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Dave spent the two months I was gone twirling around St John and St Thomas. He hiked over 130 miles and managed to befriend some new boats. One day a man and a woman stopped by and said they were from the Portland area many years ago...well after many exchanges of bits and pieces the main piece fell into place. The woman had gone to OSU, had been in my sorority, had even been my roommate, and Dave remembered her name, Roberta Wilson! We had a chance to catch up when I returned, and we will see them next season down here in the Carib.
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The Virgins have their own special magic and one cannot get too serious about doing too much--it must be the gently sway of the boat that causes us to pick the smallest jobs and feel accomplished after completing just one a day. I am getting back my tan and catching up on my sleep.
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This time before leaving will be filled with gatherings, parties, and conversation. Once we leave it is about 10-14 days at sea with just the two of us for entertainment and relief of duties. We will have our radio and Ham radio email, but if something BIG happens where you are please let us know!!! We will not have internet or telephone service...or newspapers, or tv, or...any of those conveniences that one might take for granted. But if you are looking for a Salty sailor and his first mate, we'll be poster material by the time we hit the Chesapeake 1300 miles later!!!!
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for information see: <a href="http://www.sailmail.com/">http://www.sailmail.com</a>S/V Jamminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677812253161064798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968307286875745842.post-87078212558866036392013-04-21T03:57:00.001-07:002013-04-21T03:57:24.764-07:00Jammin' Did Not Fall Off the Face of the SeaIt appears to our followers that we have cease to exist... well we have in a sense.  Dave is on the boat and Helen is back on land.  Our "cruising lifestyle" came to a screeching halt on March 1st when 3 health issues faced various family members in Oregon and Helen got voted off the boat to go back home.  Dave has been on the boat, entertained Helen's sister and brother-in-law for 10 days in St Thomas and St John, and has hiked, re varnished, attended Happy Hours, and read many books to fill the time.  Helen has helped out supporting the local family members, being grandma, substitute teaching, and cleaning closets storing goods from 1978 and beyond.  But we are returning to the life of a cruising couple if all goes as plan on April 26th with Helen's arrival to St Thomas---I believe in time for carnival!!!!!
<br>Our plans are to cruise for May in the Virgins and then start the trip north.  We are currently signed up to do the Salty Dawg Rally from Virgin Gorda to the States and bring Jammin' back  to US soil after 7 years away.  Our boat has never been on the East Coast and we are looking forward to having some time there eventually.  Dave's mom has Vascular Parkinsons and the doctor has suggested Hospice care.  We might be in Oregon in June.
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<br>Our son Mike and his wife Julia are expecting a daughter around July18th in Texas, and we will be down there for the event and to give what help is wanted afterwards.  
<br>So bottom line, don't give up on us, we are still cruisers at heart, we still have our boat, and the dream is still alive and floating out there with our name on it.  The good news is we should have time to download photos and info this summer from the past year and make our life more visual to y'all with better internet connections than we have had for the past 2 years.
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Sint Maarten (Dutch side)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKbnzVIDkcX4kAaaHzf0fZc-vUBgQMFvsNpg4mQRlyRN63MeyAc_hL_TbqvYw_tzjY2EehwC4HcomdIc5BF71JqWpcX7Ml41BlgDZJDjbFs5E4f4t8fIJXloSLGkNLl8WXk292ob4xDo8/s1600/Kent+and+Heather+and+us.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKbnzVIDkcX4kAaaHzf0fZc-vUBgQMFvsNpg4mQRlyRN63MeyAc_hL_TbqvYw_tzjY2EehwC4HcomdIc5BF71JqWpcX7Ml41BlgDZJDjbFs5E4f4t8fIJXloSLGkNLl8WXk292ob4xDo8/s320/Kent+and+Heather+and+us.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chilling at Barnacles </td></tr>
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We are at a French bakery (on the Dutch side of the island) eating delights and interneting for free. It is almost 9 AM here.<br />Kent and Heather Sisk had a great time here, on Anguilla, and on St Bart's. We ate, we hiked, we swapped stories, and tipped backed some beers and rum drinks. We even made it to Sunset Beach Bar where you can reach up and be blown over by landing jets. But they did come to sail, too and we had a great sail back from St Bart's to St Martin--we even saw Stars and Stripes out sailing. <br />There was a full moon party on the shore that we could watch from the boat...but it quit early. A bit of rain felled and today it is overcast,windy, and gray. Sirens are heard all day and all night and we are ready to find a corner of an island road free, siren free, and no where to spend money--palm trees and clear water would be nice, too.<br />
Another storm is coming on Wednesday with waves and wind so we will hide out back in a
niche on St Bart's called Colombier. Last week we were there and
snorkeled right off the back of the boat. Dave is finding small
projects to work on and I am reading/tanning so I don't interrupt his
work or answer his rhetorical questions.<br />
LIFE IS GOOD! S/V Jamminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677812253161064798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968307286875745842.post-31411811858137701242013-01-09T20:07:00.002-08:002013-01-09T20:07:29.440-08:00Thursday January 10, 2013<br />
Leaving Antigua for St Martin<br />
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Our destinations this seasons have been based on getting to friends and renewing friendships that time has distanced us from temporarily. We are leaving one group of friends in Antigua to get to another couple that we cruised with in 2007 in Mexico. The winds have kept us here in Antigua for an extra week, but the company has been so great that it pains us to leave this port. However Classic Race Week in Antigua will come in April and we will have a grand reunion with whom we have left behind.<br />
Hiking is a big part of the cruiser lifestyle, and we were able to go on one of the hikes here. Granted we took a wrong turn, did not complete the planned hike, but we did end up at the bottom of the hill in a bar and drank 2 beers over an hour''s worth of good stories in great company.<br />
Last year we circumnavigated the island and hit most of the lovely beaches. This year we have been pinned down in Antigua with 25-30 mph winds for the past 10 days. Great for the wind generator and our power source, but not so great for limin' the time away. I have been busy reading and sewing and Dave has worked on boat projects and reading between social hours, short walks, and the occasional sundowners. It has been windy and squally most afternoons and that has been quite uncomfortable. So we have started meeting for after dinner drinks and chocolates---a change from 5-9 PM Happy hours. The advantage is we all get dinner and a relaxed social time versus appetizers, social time, and wake up hungry the next morning for protein.<br />
We can finally make a public announcement, this week our son announced to FB and the world that he and his wife are going to be having a baby July 18th, 13 months after becoming a husband and a dad to Julia and Layla Hansen. We are so happy about this. In high school he talked about how he would one day be a dad and what he wanted to do with his kids, now he will have two and we couldn't be happier for him and his growing family. Our daughter Kelsey keeps us up to date with weekly videos of what her almost three year old daughter is up to. This week we have a video of her Kiwi putting bubbles (from her bubble bath) on her face and saying, " Opa's face," and then taking her Happy Birthday washcloth out of the suds and singing Happy Birthday to Oma in her bath on a different night. She is growing up so fast and thanks to computers we get to see and hear the changes from baby to little girl...not the same as being there but once removed.<br />
Wish we could write more but then we would have to share stories between friends that no doubt would loose a lot in translation, and since the wind has kept us from exploring we really have little to add to last year's impressions of Antigua. I will try to download photos from our walk and post them. S/V Jamminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677812253161064798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968307286875745842.post-1071146533424116352012-12-29T07:43:00.001-08:002012-12-29T07:43:50.694-08:00St Pierre and Happy New year29/12/2012
<br> Happy New year from Antigua and hopefully many more. We are in Antigua with Miclo and are going to stay put. The weather goes down on Tuesday with a 3plus meter North swell covering the whole area. This is as good a place as any to sit.
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<br>We saw Joan on Panchita's song in Compass well done. Good Job
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<br>So we anchored in St Pierre a couple of days ago. Mainly so we could have a wonderful lunch up at Depaz Rummery. We talked to the tourist lady who spoke no English. I guess they don't expect English speaking tourists. Anyway she said we should be able to get a cab up to Depaz for 2eros each. Went down to the cab stand and the guy wanted 10 eurs. You know me so we hiked all the way up there in the heat of the day dreaming of beer, rum, and a great lunch. We were smart enough to bring water. Took us only 45min to walk up hill to what was going to be this great lunch. When we got there we checked into the little gift shop and asked about lunch she said oh ya they are open. The girl behind her no today they are closed only this day!!!! We couldn't believe our luck so we walked around the facility and went back to taste a few rums and a Ti punch, no beer. We bought a bottle of their second from the best, best costing $60 US, a bottle of the next one down, a couple of bottles of a orange flavor rum, 6 Ti Punch glasses and two stirring sticks. Even the best Martinique rum is an acquired taste. I still prefer the sweetness of Zacapa, or Flora de Cana. Now looking for a lunch and a beer we hiked down the 4 kilometers back to the center of town for a good local lunch, using a whole new set of muscles
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<br>Hope all is well and have a wonderful 1st
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<br>for information see: <a href="http://www.sailmail.com">http://www.sailmail.com</a>S/V Jamminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677812253161064798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968307286875745842.post-9017091719243245862012-12-21T16:01:00.000-08:002012-12-21T16:03:24.023-08:00December 21, 2012 MartiniqueWe have arrived to our first French island, shopped, stored provisions, and are now anchored in a secluded cove on Martinique. Life is very good! Early this week we were in St. Lucia, listening to jazz, shopping for beef, and relaxing after our trip from Trinidad. Then we crossed over to Martinique and shopped for cheese, wine, salami, baguettes, and chocolates! We also found internet and called Michael for his birthday.
<br>This cove is where we will spend Christmas this year. So far four other boats have joined us here. The church in town has a bell that chimes the hour, the pier is well built and the boardwalk is quite new. A small grocery store carries fresh fruit, veggies and a few other items, and there is a small movie theater. On the beach there are about 5 eateries in the sand, and a spot for snorkeling. Out where we are anchored you can just jump off the boat and you are in a snorkeler's paradise. Dave dove into the water and came up with a 7 inch by 9 inch oblong sand dollar, a first for us.
<br>Our plans are to stay in Martinique till December 27th and then make a long run up to Antigua to join our friend on Miclo III for a New Year's celebration. During January we will be sailing around that area and in February moving up to the US and British Virgin Islands--great beaches and Dave will get to use his Senior Golden Pass for anchorages. He is very proud to be 62!
<br>That's about it for now, except it appears the world is still here, the Mayan calendar worries are gone, and we hope all your Christmases are joyful and you find time to appreciate the love ones you have nearby. Steak has just arrived off the BBQ so more later...
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<br>for information see: <a href="http://www.sailmail.com">http://www.sailmail.com</a>S/V Jamminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677812253161064798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968307286875745842.post-58133585597643097792012-12-13T08:20:00.001-08:002012-12-13T08:20:27.419-08:00December 13, Thursday<br />
Sink or Float<br />
We are being lifted off the hard and putting the boat in the water in one hour. We hope to float and then motor to around the corner and get some much needed sleep. So officially we are starting on a Thursday for a long run up islands as a Friday start is bad luck. <br />
Six months the boat has sat dry and she is itching to feel the pull of tides and the massaging waves around her belly as much as we are. So we will write more around Christmas when we get a good internet connections.<br />
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P.S. Viva la France! Last night was a birthday party for a local man who has a boat next to ours and we partied with 7 French couples, one Brit, one Alaskan couple, and a woman from Senagal and Hong Kong. Food was great, rum punch strong, and we emptied five 3 litre boxes of wine or more. Stories were swapped, songs were sang, instruments brought out of storage, and after true midnight we made our way to bed. Our social life is full out here with never a dull moment!S/V Jamminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677812253161064798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5968307286875745842.post-25031446985860373792012-12-07T19:50:00.000-08:002012-12-07T19:50:13.773-08:00December 7, 2012 Time transitions: Land Time vs. Island Time vs Cruiser Time<br />
We clearly spent too long on land because Dave and I are having a very difficult time transitioning back into the cruising time mental state. <br />
Our upholstery man called across the fence on Tuesday (Dec. 4th) that he was done and would be over before dark to give us the back cushions that were to be done by Nov. 18th--to his credit we did get on Friday (Nov. 30th) the bottom cushions! Success! So we cancelled dinner plan and waited, woke up on Wednesday and waited all day doing small boat jobs, waited on Thursday and called him but no one answered, called on Friday morning but no answer as well...then he called back at 2 PM and said there is a small problem with his pattern and the cutting of the fabric and perhaps we could enlighten him on the different height of the cushions--our answer was, " We will walk over and be there in 5 minutes with the old cushions to show you the height of both cushions." GEEZ! We are way too uptight about things being done when they are promised and way too gullible to believe that when they said it is done they mean DONE to be true cruisers. In island language "done" means just started on your project, "on my way means" I might be there in 2-4 days, and tomorrow morning means he will be working on it tomorrow morning if you are lucky--and if he is working on it you should run to the lottery ticket booth and buy a ticket because you are one lucky SOB! <br />
We have been peeing in a plastic jug for 12 days now waiting on our cushions that we paid for in May to be done by November...and it is December 7th!!!!!<br />
So land time is a watch, the calendar, one's ability to read and calculate time, and access to the internet.<br />
Island time, it happens when it happens & t'ings get in the way that can't be helped, so go with the flow, man.<br />
Cruisers time is, "It's Friday, man are you sure about that? We've been thinking it was Tuesday. The date? Why would we know that? We're waiting for a weather window to leave and t'ing look good for next Monday but if today is Friday we better get going to be ready to go by Monday, hey, you want to go have a beer?...<br />
Well, we are looking forward to leaving life on the hard in Trinidad, and getting on the water, sailing to Antigua--a 3 day/night sail that will take 7 days with all the stops for food, cheese, wine, rest and other goodies. BUT, we have to wait for the prepaid top cushions being held by our Trinidad upholstery man!%#@. <br />
P.S. They are also being made not with the blue fabric we chose, but the green fabric that he ordered thinking we were a different boat--we are yet to settle that issue, the price difference, and still get out of Trinidad before Christmas! Spiritual Serenity, a concept we are working towards and is definitely a work in progress for both of us.<br />
<br />S/V Jamminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13677812253161064798noreply@blogger.com1