WHAT A DAY TO GO SAILING! ! ! ! ! ! !

SHIP'S LOG:

What a day to go sailing! The temp was in the mid to high 70's! The humidity was a little high but aside from creating a little haze, it was no big deal. The wind was out of the SW 10-12Knts, gusting to 15 or so. It was in a word, perfect!

I go to the boat about 11:30 and took the launch out. Opened the boat and turned on the radio to check the weather . . . .for the 30th time. But no sound from the radio. In fact it didn't even light up. I checked the battery switch. ON! I checked the circuit breaker and even reset it. It was close as it should be. Turn the battery switch to "House BATTERIES" . . .. . Nothing. Tried the engine starting battery . . . Nope! Tried both . . .No joy! To put it in simple terms all three batteries were dead . . . no juice . . . . NADA!

And I can't figure out why? When I left the boat on Friday, I left the battery switch on "BOTH" so that the wind generator would continue to top up the batteries. I thought that I had clicked off all the breakers and switches but I must have left one or more on and they drain the cells. There wasn't enough juice to light the backlight on the radio left alone receive. Forget about transmitting. I could have called the launch by cell phone but I decided that since I was out there, I might as well do some work. Nothing major, little diddly stuff but things that were on that never-ending project's list. And when I ran out of stuff that I could do without electricity, I worked on my tan and enjoyed the day! It's one of the reason to have ABISHAG in the first place. Tomorrow, I'll bring my battery charger and re-power the batteries with the portable generator. It will take a while but it will give me an opportunity to clean the hull and the prop.

MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:

I was sure looking forward to going sailing, but such was not to be the case. I guess all that frustrating work this winter, the problems and all the practiced patience paid off. The battery problem could have easily ruined the day but it just changed what was to be done. While it was not the day I anticipated, I still got to enjoy it. I suppose it is like that poster that says , "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!" It was a good day. Any day you spend on a boat on the water is a good day. The first of many to come!!!!

WELL, IT'S ABOUT TIME! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

SHIP'S LOG:

When I got to the shipyard Thursday afternoon, I found that the engine had been repaired. The dohickey that had cracked in the cooling system had been epoxied back together and was holding fine. The Tach was working, the oil pressure gauge was working, the temperature guage was working. In short everything was ready to go. I called Ken and he said he was free on July 4th and I thought that it would be the perfect way to celebrate INDEPENDENCE!!!!!!!!

We took off about 10AM in low overcast and haze and no wind. As we passed the point where the engine gave up last week, she was running fine. Couldn't get her up over 5 knots but I am pretty sure that the foul bottom and prop are the reason for that. She ran cool and just chugged along. No Wind so no sailing but there was movement, even if it was with the help of the Iron Genny. And of course by the time the trip was over, the tach no longer functioned but the other gauges did, though the Engine hour Meter gave up the ghost(new project!).

We puttered around the north mooring area looking for a mooring ball with "GRACE" on it but could find none. I called up the TYC Launch river and he directed us to the right one. (No Name On It, of Course!!!!) and ABISHAG rocks safe and secure in her element and new home. Tomorrow, my mooring should be set and I will move her to it, but even if that doesn't happen, at this point I don't care. I am out of MYSTIC and have taken the first(?) step! ! ! !

MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:

True, it wasn't much of a journey, but it was more than the distance measured. I am no longer tied down and now the "fun" begins. The week ahead will see day sails and more day sails as ABISHAG and I take a measure of one another. The transition from landlubber to live-aboard begins. The time has come to decide what stuff to keep( as little as possible) and what stuff to sell, give away, store and/or trash. Time to begin to learn how to live in 39' X 11'6" space that moves and has a mind of its own. Time to begin to live with an eye to the weather and the planning of literally every step.

I was beginning to think that this day would never really get here but it has arrived and it feels wonderful. Someday has become today!

TAKE THREE AND HIT TO RIGHT

SHIP'S LOG:

There is Good News and there is Bad News and there is Strange News. The Good News is that it wasn't a hose that split. It turns out that it was a small plastic fixture that crack and allowed the pressurized coolant/antifreeze to get blown out of the cooling system. The Bad News is that the little fixture is going to be hard to find if it can be found! The fall-back approach is to epoxy the old fixture to hold the pressure and re-install it and we are good to go . . . hopefully.

The Strange News is the electrical system. For some reason it is having what might be considered a small nervous breakdown. It showed up during the tow back to Mystic when the depth sounder in the cockpit started to give some "rather unreliable" readings. It was jumping all over the place 100' . . . .. 30' . . .. . . 55' . . . . . 75' . . . . as quickly as the numbers could flash. Not the best thing to have happen and it begs the question, WHY? The battery Monitor System, LINK 2000, was saying things that didn't make any sense and why it was doing so I haven't a clue. Looking up the Error Message in the manual give a vague explanation but no way to trouble shoot it. I was going to call the manufacture but then discovered that I had forgotten to bring my cell phone. Not having a dependable electrical system is not a good thing but such is the case, I guess, for as Tim Porter, the Yard Manager noted, "Your boat has issues." O well, such things keep life interesting. Spicy!

MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:

ABISHAG will be moved again as the owner of the slip. It is a little frustrating that I haven't been able to get out sailing, or even over to TYC yet. I am sure that it is coming but it is tedious, heavy, draining that it hasn't happened yet. When it finally happens, all will be well, but it is the time between then and now that is a drag, though just lounging on the boat yesterday was wonderful even if I wasn't moving. It can only get better.

I GOT HOSED! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

SHIP'S LOG:

The thunderstorms didn't materialize. That should have been my first clue. Ken and I were able to been on the Jib and Main without any major problem. That should have been my second clue. I was able to back ABISHAG out of her slip with no difficulty whatsoever and that should have been my third clue. Needless to say, i ignored or didn't pick up on any of these clues and got hosed in Fishers Island Sound 3/4s of the way to TYC in New London.

The engine won't rev up far enough to get us up to 6 knots which we did without a strain all the way from Annapolis last fall. Eventually the engine heated sufficiently to cause steam to rise into the cockpit and just as I was going to shut it down it seized and shut down on its own. After realizing that we were going to have to be towed, either to TYC or back to Mystic, I called the shipyard in Mystic and told them of the problem. They said come back and so I called Tow Boat/US. After our little engine adventure way back in August on the trip up, I had upped my limit to "unlimited towing" at the Newport Boat Show. A truly wise move on my part. So I put in a call to Tow Boat/ US and said "Help."

Strangely, about a quarter of a mile from us was one of their craft and after a phone exchange, the guy hailed us on the radio and came over. With great efficiency, to took us in two and inside of an hour we were back at the Mystic Shipyard, securely ensconced in a new slip, about 10 away from where we began the day. Ken and I did receive a complement from the Tow Boat/US guy. H e said he had been watching us for about 20 minutes before he received the call and after he got us back to Mystic, he said that we were the calmest and most relaxed people he had ever seen in similar situations.

I drove Ken back to New London to get his car (see we did go from Mystic to New London) and returned to the boat. A half hour later, the yard manager( who was thrilled to see me so soon again) and the weekend mechanic descended on the boat and announced that a hose, possibly two Which lead from the radiator, through the hot water tank, had split and would need to be replaced. They could get to it on Monday . . . .. . first thing. That is probably true because I was now occupying the last free slip and the guy renting it was showing up Tuesday!!!! AH!!!! The Fun Of Boating! ! ! !

MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:

Well nobody got hurt and the boat is safe and sound, if in need of some repair. It is more than a little disappointing that this happened but better here in the friendly confines of home waters than somewhere else. As a mechanic friend of my likes to say, "We can fix it. We have the technology," and I am sure that this major minor problem will be rapidly corrected. You can worry or get upset about things beyond your control. Hey, i got to at least drift out on the water today and it was spectacular ! ! ! ! !!

TOMORROW! TOMORROW! TOMORROW!!!!!!

SHIP'S LOG:

TOMORROW! TOMORROW! TOMORROW!!!!! . . . . . . well, that's the plan. I will be taking ABISHAG to New London with good friend, Ken, and possibly old sailing mentor, John Plante. As of right now, the mooring is still not in. Again it is a question of waiting for someone else to do their job though this time I am waiting on someone because they are waiting on some else. In this case, the divers are waiting on the foundry to deliver the mooring anchor they have forged. Until it gets in, I get to hang off a mooring owned by another member of the club. The fact that the mooring has "GRACE" painted on it seems to make it clear that God is involved in the whole process. What a surprise!

This week has been the week of setting things in order to go to sea. I went into the anchor well and cleaned it out. Along with the windlass, there were two anchors, another plow anchor and a Danforth type. Since there is already a plow on the bow, I moved the second plow to the stern and tied it to the stern rail so that I can use it there should the need arise. Having two different type of anchors at the bow means that I should be able to handle whatever bottom I will have to anchor in as different types of anchor are better or worse on different bottoms. Now, I am covered.

Also in the anchor well was a hose and the faucet for the anchor wash-down, good for getting mud and gunk off the anchor and the rode before it goes into the boat after anchoring. In addition, there was a line snubber, use to take the strain off the anchor line, and two pieces of holistone, which is traditionally used to rub-down a wooden deck and keep it in good condition. Two last items were a bronze gear and a small bronze piece, something like a lever, that both seem to have come from the windlass. I now have to find out if they are spares or necessary to the operation of the windlass. I have no idea which is which.

Went into the forepeak and open the bench locker furthest forward. It was quite large but when I took out the liner to get below it ( a possibler location of the anchor chain storage) I found a set of blades for a windgenerator (I wonder if they will fit mine?), a fine grill-screen which can fit nothing I can fine, and a large bolt/ cable cutter. Unfortunately the cutter was a large mass of rust and the was no way to do anything to even getting close to functioning again. I trashed it.

I spent a lot of time storing things and getting things in place so that they could take the heeling. Another step closer to being underway.

MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:

I probably not sleep well tonight. It is scary and exciting to be going over to TYC after all these months in Mystic, but I can't wait. Even though it will probably be raining, it never "really" rains when you are sailing. Considering I expected a three to six week repair stint last August to get ABISHAG ready, I am really, REALLY ready to be going. To quote Capt. Jack Sparrow, "Now bring me that horizon."

SOON! SOON! SOON!

SHIP'S LOG:

Well, after a week in Maryland to take care of a little personal business, I have come back to find ABISHAG gone . . . . . but not far, just over to "A" Dock. She had to be moved as the owner/renter of the slip I was occupying finally showed up. Ah, such is life!

All the little dodas and thingamabobs have been corrected by the yard and she is ready to "go scudding along with a bone in her teeth." That is with the exception of the Wind/Speed Indicator. It seems that it has given up the ghost and can't be fixed. It needs to be replaced and that is something that is going to have to wait a good long while. Even though a new unit, transducer & cable can be had for a mere 1 1/2 Marine Units, I don't have them! Basically I am tapped out and if I want to be able to afford to sail, I'll have to go with what I have now. That may change in the future, especially if I hit the POWERBALL Lottery, but until it does, ABISHAG gets no new frills or further cosmetic surgery.

I will be bending on the sails (jib & main) and tuning the rig and ABISHAG will be good to go . . . to her new home on her new mooring over a TYC. . . . .this week! ! !! ! ! Well, that's progress!

MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:

It is hard to believe that the time is finally here. I was beginning to think that it would never come, but it has, or I should say is, this week. I am excited about the shake down sails and planning for the future. There is a Rendezvous for Camper Nicholson Owners in Tenants Harbor, Maine, in August and I am planning to attend. As with all things to do with sailing and schedules, it is a tentative plan but it is a plan. Tentatively, Maine will be followed by a trip to Bermuda and from there to the Chesapeake where I will cruise awaiting the end of the Hurricane Season. Once November 1st rolls around, I will pick up my two(2) crew for the trip down the ICW. Beyond that, I'll just have to see what God has in mind. But whatever t might be, it will be "an adventure."

IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH? DO YOU BELIEVE IT?

SHIP'S LOG:



Today, I had to go to the DMV to register ABISHAG and the dinghy.(I've got to come up with a name for the dinghy!) I had gotten the forms necessary earlier in the week, filled them all out and, with checkbook in hand, head to the DMV, bring along a good book.



First of all, going to the DMV last week, I was given the WRONG! forms with which to register the boats. The fact that I was "given" the form by a DMV official made no difference DMV to get the correct forms.

Going to the DMV Office in Old Saybrook (a smaller office that seems to move things along rather quickly . . . at least for a DMV office), I got in line to get a number so that I could get in line for service. I got my number and sat down, opened the book, and started reading. Two hours later, my number was called and I went up to the counter to begin my interaction with a DMV official.

Having bought the dinghy from Defender Industries in Waterford, CT, all of the paper work was exactly and completely right and the registration went through without a hitch. Pay $7.50 and the registration was complete. Next was ABISHAG. I laid out the proper form filled out, the Federal Boat Documentation, the Coast Guard Bill of Sale, and opened my checkbook to pay the sales tax and the registration. The DMV Official picked up the paper work, looked at it, and said, " I can't accept this Bill of Sale." Say what? "This Bill of Sale doesn't have all the information I need to register the boat." Say What? I said, "This is a Federal Government Document. It was sufficient and acceptable to obtain the federal documentation and registration of this boat and it is not good enough to register the boat here in Connecticut?" " Sorry, It is not a proper Bill of Sale like we need to register the boat."

And that was that. No registration for ABISHAG! I call the documentation service and talked with the agent who had handled the documentation. She thought I was kidding. "How can Connecticut not accept the documentation that the Federal Government accepts?" Hey, what did she want from me? I am just the messenger. I had to fax her a State of Connecticut Bill of Sale (for boats) which she will fill out, get all the signatures and send it up. Being away for the coming week, means I get to come back not just to sailing but also to another fun day spent in the DMV!

Leaving the sate for a week with the boat ready to got, I have had to make arrangements for moving ABISHAG to the Thames Yacht Club if necessary during my absence. Ken and Chris, the crew from the Annapolis delivery, have been apprised and are ready to go at a moments notice . . . .well with 24 hours notice. Hopefully, it won't be necessary but it is nice to know that all is set if it is.

MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:

Next Saturday . . . . . Next Sunday For SURE! ! ! ! !! ! ! !