Met Stuie, Zephyr, Longtail and Sara on the Patuxent River in Maryland. Was a perfectly gentle breeze to introduce the new pup to UNA. He took right to it. Short vid here:
Oh, and Leon still has it!
Georgie’s First
Category: Sooty Tern
Look Out! OBC at the Cape
It was a quick trip. Old Bay Club’s UNA, Longtail, Zephyr, Betty Anne, Stuie and Coot sailed. Coot’s new owner was an excellent host! That will be hard to beat. From Marshallberg, NC we ventured out to Cape Lookout where the light is undergoing renovations. Too much paint is crumbling the old brick! From there we sailed out into the ocean for a romp, back in the bight for the evening sight-seeing and enjoyed Sheep Pen Creek in the Core’s marshland before setting home the following day. Some real fine sailing. See here:
Two and a Half Boats
Old Bay went down to Georgia; they were looking for a sail to steal …
Yeah, I’ll leave it there. We were promised warmer temps, but that proved stolen. Poor Greg broke his trailer axle 2 hours from our destination, and the repair was days away. So, we were now reduced to 3 boats, or more exactly 2.5 as one was a Scamp! Sorry Dale.
The first day was too cold and windy and we elected to tour St. Marys and camp at a nearby RV park. My pup Huckleberry was sorely missed, but we found a little Mini Aussie Mixie that entertained our second night. The following day delivered good weather, and we began the “best sailing all year” which coincidentally was also the first. The following video shares the flavor of the Cumberland Island surrounds. Lovely sunsets and active sailing-
Feelin’ Alright
The Old Bay Club had their “Hippie Fest” this past weekend. Camping, sailing, eating and, well …
A good time was had. Fun group. See here-
Boats, Dogs and Scallywags
Was a long drive, but worth the great week (minus one rough day). Not sure if the pup agrees, and I won’t ask.
UNA Projects
UNA, like most boats, has an ongoing list of improvements. Most usually get kicked along, but an upcoming cruise got me motivated. The respite from the miserable July/August heat certainly helped too.
What are they? See below from most recent:
- A road cover. She deserved it after 11 years. Heavy duck canvass.
- A lighter, quicker tent fashioned from a rain fly with loads of eyelets, kiddie tent poles, miscellaneous plastic hooks and paracord.
- A repurposed cot, minus its legs, stretched between gunnels with webbing. works! Took a nap in the garage one day.
- Ganged floorboards port and starboard for easy access to the bilge. Now 3 bolts replace the some 50+ wood screws.
- An engine storage mount inside the boat. A couple mock ups led to the final.
- Widened cockpit seats. It’s amazing what an extra 3” has done in comfort.
- A bottomless box for the lazarette for organizing gear. Before, everything wanted to occupy the center of the bilge there.
- A repeater for the ammo battery box 12v meter and charge ports. The box is lashed under the aft deck now.
- New halyards and sheets using New England Ropes “Vintage”.
- A modified toilet flapper valve to protect boat from flopping main sheet block.
- Cam cleat for shock cord centerboard hold down.
- Galley box 3.0.
I feel like I’ve a new boat now! Will report on the success/ failure after our journey. Pics below-
I’m Your Huckleberry
First sail of the year about a month ago now. My pup, Huck, has been before, but never for an overnight cruise. He was a delight. Somehow, he knew you bark at drones and when it was time for sleep, he did. No budging through the night. Amazing really. All the swimming and fetching wore him out. It did me too. A short video until next time …
The Definite Maybes
Five boats went a cruising for 3 days. Catalpa, Nip, J’Olie, Little T and UNA. Consistent and persistent winds, but a great time. No bugs. Pleasant temps. Base camped out of Little Bay. Shrimp boil one night. Oysters and hot dogs another. Reefed UNA’s mizzen and doubled the foresail home. Awesome romp. See here:
10 Years After
“I’d love to change the world, but I don’t know what to do.”- 10 Years
Know that one? A tune can really yank you back in time. That summer I shared a Turnabout dinghy (aka a National 10) with David. We were 10 years old, took sailing class, but more often then not skipped out on the lessons part. His older brother Paul had a baby blue van with a prized Easy Boy in back with shag carpet floor. D and I would wrestle for that seat for the ride home. Why would you want shotgun? Of course there was an 8-track player and Paul had the music: Argent, the Guess Who, Creedance to name a few.
“I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?”- Creedence
Paul had the look of a long haired hippie. Gentle guy. Think Gregg Allman. Not sure if good Paul subscribed to the movement, but I suspected he knew something was happening. We were brats at times. He put up with it. Can’t leave out D’s brother Charlie. His white van had a large American flag on the side. No chair or carpet as I recall. He did keep us in check better. We knew better than to push his buttons too far. Not sure about Paul, but Charlie went on to med school. David was lucky to have them both.
“Cause it’s a good life, too hard to lose.”- 10 Years
Well, that’s a bit off track. My daughter sent this post of hers from almost 10 years ago. That was UNA’s first season and we had taken her for her first overnight. Even behind Milford Haven’s barrier beaches it was a rolling bucking night at anchor. I had given my girl the cockpit and stuffed my little frame into the bow. Morning couldn’t come soon enough though I recall many shooting stars.
My daughter is an original, a good one. UNA has been a good boat. So, here we are, 10 years after.
“And if it’s bad, don’t let them get you down, you can take it.” -Argent
Water and Windows
UNA has been sailing for 10 seasons since that “leaky” maiden trip. Back then I had planned on tent windows, but didn’t put them in. There have been windy nights I’ve reluctantly stuck my head out in the driving rain to confirm the anchor’s hold.
Yesterday I put those windows in. I followed Sailrite’s video. I confess I was only partially successful. Sewing remains a mystery to me. Perhaps it is mostly a lack of patience? In any event the task is done. I believe the wrinkles in the ports are largely due to the stretchiness of the WeatherMax fabric. I did not cut the fabric until after the window and backing were sewn in. While it is lighter than Sunbrella, I’m not sure I can recommend it. Maybe this is all a dry run. I must say even without the mizzen deployed, the boat and tent weathervane quite well even without the bow canvass, the tent stands up to 40+ mph winds. I’ve yet to have a midnight fire drill with it.
UNA is now back in the garage. Putting lead in the centerboard and a road cover are the next projects in line. 10 years should be plenty of time to complete them.
