SHIP'S LOG:
. . . . .but then again it is Summer and there are always a lot better things to do than sit in front of a computer and type. Like sailing for instance. done a lot of that since last I typed and it has been glorious. The winds during the days have been nice and fresh and as long as you get back to your mooring by say 5pm, they have been perfect days After 5pm, it has pretty much been a crap-shoot.The last two days saw rain and no wind. The previous few days just saw no wind post 5pm. That's all a part of summer too.
Summer really seems to be fading fast even though it is still July. I am not sure why exactly, but it seems on the verge of being over. Perhaps it is because the weather seems more August than July, but whatever the reason, it does really seem to be on the wane. But I will also enjoy every minute of it.
There is a certain "ennui" down here at TYC that I also can't get a handle on. There are lots of boats in the water but they don't seem to be getting a lot of use, except by the racers. One that does get a lot of use, at least on the weekends, it moored out near me. These three couples climb aboard on Friday night and basically drink until late Sunday afternoon when they "de-boat." They seem to be having a great time but it is rare that they hoist a sail and go anywhere. It is one way to use a boat I suppose but then it is not all that different that living on ABISHAG.
This is too much typing. Time to go sailing. Ciao for now!
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Hazy, Hot & Humid . . .AGAIN!
SHIP'S LOG:
Actually, the sailing has been pretty good despite the hot and humid weather. The only problem that presents itself is overcoming the lethargy the hot and humid weather brings on. Once you ca get up and running and get the boat ready to sail, the sailing is no problem. But getting, believe me, isn't half the fun!
I still have to be careful to drink lots of fluids, though it is easy to recognize when I haven't and "fill-up." It is amazing how much you can sweat out in a short time. Strangely, it isn't so much that you feel thirsty, you just feel hot, maybe overheated, and all your energy drains away.
Things around TYC are unfolding as they should, though there are a lot more beach members making much more use of the beach than last year. Everyone who can get close to the water is doing so and literally, the closer you are to the water, the cooler you are. There is a distinct difference between standing on the walkway over the sand and being on the part of the pier that is over the water. I am actually surprised that no one has hauled a lounge chair out onto the floating dock!
This is supposed to be a week of "potential thunderstorms." I am not quite sure what that means for it is vague even for NOAA. Official jargon keeps changing, like the Coasties telling you to "de-water your bot" - meaning pump it out, and you are never quite sure what they mean. Is "the potential for thunderstorms" and potential thunderstorms" the same thing and is that the same as " a chance of thunderstorms?" Sometimes it is more confusing than helpful.
If we are going to have a thunderstorm, it will probably be after 5pm as the races start at 6:10pm and there is nothing like racing a sailboat in a thunderstorm, with lots of thunder and lightning and rain, all for the chance to win a can of beer!
Summer seems to be slipping fast. True it is only early July, but we really didn't have much of a June, at least not for sailors, it's 4 months to haul-out in the Fall. That's too depressing to think about, so I will think about the fireworks extravaganza Saturday night here in New London. Here at TYC, we have a ringside seat and the show is always first class. Every place else, eat your heart out!
Actually, the sailing has been pretty good despite the hot and humid weather. The only problem that presents itself is overcoming the lethargy the hot and humid weather brings on. Once you ca get up and running and get the boat ready to sail, the sailing is no problem. But getting, believe me, isn't half the fun!
I still have to be careful to drink lots of fluids, though it is easy to recognize when I haven't and "fill-up." It is amazing how much you can sweat out in a short time. Strangely, it isn't so much that you feel thirsty, you just feel hot, maybe overheated, and all your energy drains away.
Things around TYC are unfolding as they should, though there are a lot more beach members making much more use of the beach than last year. Everyone who can get close to the water is doing so and literally, the closer you are to the water, the cooler you are. There is a distinct difference between standing on the walkway over the sand and being on the part of the pier that is over the water. I am actually surprised that no one has hauled a lounge chair out onto the floating dock!
This is supposed to be a week of "potential thunderstorms." I am not quite sure what that means for it is vague even for NOAA. Official jargon keeps changing, like the Coasties telling you to "de-water your bot" - meaning pump it out, and you are never quite sure what they mean. Is "the potential for thunderstorms" and potential thunderstorms" the same thing and is that the same as " a chance of thunderstorms?" Sometimes it is more confusing than helpful.
If we are going to have a thunderstorm, it will probably be after 5pm as the races start at 6:10pm and there is nothing like racing a sailboat in a thunderstorm, with lots of thunder and lightning and rain, all for the chance to win a can of beer!
Summer seems to be slipping fast. True it is only early July, but we really didn't have much of a June, at least not for sailors, it's 4 months to haul-out in the Fall. That's too depressing to think about, so I will think about the fireworks extravaganza Saturday night here in New London. Here at TYC, we have a ringside seat and the show is always first class. Every place else, eat your heart out!
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Great Day To Go Sailing!
SHIP'S LOG:
I am alive and well, though I do tend to "slosh" a bit. The day to day is supposed to be more of the same though I am approaching fluid intake in a better and more pro-active way. The cramping is all but gone and probably would be gone if I could stomach the taste of Gatorade or one of those other sorts drinks. Despite the flavoring, they all sill taste like you are sucking on a mouth-full of dirty change. I'll just drink lots of water and juice and deal with the sloshing!
It will be a great day for sailing. The winds should be 10-12 and with the Bimini, I'll be in the breeze but out of the sun. Can't ask for better than that. A couple of more days like the last few and we will be due for a monster of a thunderstorm. The heat and humidity just build up and then it all lets go in a big band. They are really spectacular to watch when they slam into the ocean . . . so long as you are on shore, that is.
Don't take offense, but rather than sit around and type this blog, I am going sailing! Later.
I am alive and well, though I do tend to "slosh" a bit. The day to day is supposed to be more of the same though I am approaching fluid intake in a better and more pro-active way. The cramping is all but gone and probably would be gone if I could stomach the taste of Gatorade or one of those other sorts drinks. Despite the flavoring, they all sill taste like you are sucking on a mouth-full of dirty change. I'll just drink lots of water and juice and deal with the sloshing!
It will be a great day for sailing. The winds should be 10-12 and with the Bimini, I'll be in the breeze but out of the sun. Can't ask for better than that. A couple of more days like the last few and we will be due for a monster of a thunderstorm. The heat and humidity just build up and then it all lets go in a big band. They are really spectacular to watch when they slam into the ocean . . . so long as you are on shore, that is.
Don't take offense, but rather than sit around and type this blog, I am going sailing! Later.
Friday, July 5, 2013
Heat Exhaustion!!
SHIP'S LOG:
The last three day have been very, and I emphasize, VERY hot and humid. In fa, they have been rather brutal. And I guess that I ever gt around to consuming as much fluid as I thought I had to stay healthy. This morning, after doing my clean-up of the club, I wet out to do a little shopping before heading off to a family gathering. However, it was not to be.
By the time I got back from the short trip I was dizzy and feeling faint. My stomach was flipping and I felt rather poorly. I started to get cramps in my neck and leg. Talked with one of the clubs members, who is a nurse and she felt it might be a mild case of heat exhaustion.SO basically I spent the day laying I the shade of the bimini on my boat n the cool breeze consuming copious amounts of fluids and taking aspirin. I seem pretty much alright now. I must betaking in enough fluid because I have to pee. They say in the army, in ho weather situations, that you aren't drinking enough if you ain't got to pee. Trust me, I am drinking enough now!
The last three day have been very, and I emphasize, VERY hot and humid. In fa, they have been rather brutal. And I guess that I ever gt around to consuming as much fluid as I thought I had to stay healthy. This morning, after doing my clean-up of the club, I wet out to do a little shopping before heading off to a family gathering. However, it was not to be.
By the time I got back from the short trip I was dizzy and feeling faint. My stomach was flipping and I felt rather poorly. I started to get cramps in my neck and leg. Talked with one of the clubs members, who is a nurse and she felt it might be a mild case of heat exhaustion.SO basically I spent the day laying I the shade of the bimini on my boat n the cool breeze consuming copious amounts of fluids and taking aspirin. I seem pretty much alright now. I must betaking in enough fluid because I have to pee. They say in the army, in ho weather situations, that you aren't drinking enough if you ain't got to pee. Trust me, I am drinking enough now!
Monday, July 1, 2013
It Is Monday Morning, What Do You Expect!
SHIP'S LOG:
Today was a day of. . . .I'm not sure what. To begin with my computer committed suicide. I am not sure how or why but the "motherboard" won't talk to the hard drive. In fact, the "motherboard" is in denial that there is even a hard drive in the computer. Luckily, when I bought it, I signed up for "concierge" service which means that since the phone the guy couldn't fix it, they will be sending a "concierge" tech person to me and he will fix it on site! rue it will be two or tree days, but what the heck. It is better than me send the computer to DELL And f you happen to be wondering how I am getting online, why I am simply using the old computer that is several years old and went up and down the ICW and is full of all types of gremlins. But it still works well enough some of the times for me to do the things I need to do.
I am beginning to suspect that my newly re-built wind generator as crapped out again. It doesn't seem t be tuning as it should. I don't know for sure as there really hasn't been a lot of steady wind but I am beginning to suspect that such is the case. If it is, it means it gets to take another trip o Florida for a re-build of the re-build. I will have to contact Josh up in Portland and talk with him about it. with my luck, there was a 30 warranty and that's sure past!
And the crappy weather continued all day. The week ahead doesn't look like it holds much in the offing either. It has been a really strange and crappy summer, weather - wise, so far and I hope that things get themselves straightened out soon. If it rains tomorrow, it will be a good day to do laundry I suppose. Wen you live on a boat, it s just one of those rain day things to do instead of sail! Bah! Humbug!!!
Today was a day of. . . .I'm not sure what. To begin with my computer committed suicide. I am not sure how or why but the "motherboard" won't talk to the hard drive. In fact, the "motherboard" is in denial that there is even a hard drive in the computer. Luckily, when I bought it, I signed up for "concierge" service which means that since the phone the guy couldn't fix it, they will be sending a "concierge" tech person to me and he will fix it on site! rue it will be two or tree days, but what the heck. It is better than me send the computer to DELL And f you happen to be wondering how I am getting online, why I am simply using the old computer that is several years old and went up and down the ICW and is full of all types of gremlins. But it still works well enough some of the times for me to do the things I need to do.
I am beginning to suspect that my newly re-built wind generator as crapped out again. It doesn't seem t be tuning as it should. I don't know for sure as there really hasn't been a lot of steady wind but I am beginning to suspect that such is the case. If it is, it means it gets to take another trip o Florida for a re-build of the re-build. I will have to contact Josh up in Portland and talk with him about it. with my luck, there was a 30 warranty and that's sure past!
And the crappy weather continued all day. The week ahead doesn't look like it holds much in the offing either. It has been a really strange and crappy summer, weather - wise, so far and I hope that things get themselves straightened out soon. If it rains tomorrow, it will be a good day to do laundry I suppose. Wen you live on a boat, it s just one of those rain day things to do instead of sail! Bah! Humbug!!!
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Fog! Fog! Wind! Rain! More Fog! !! ! ! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
The last few days have been a strange combination of weather. The mornings have been especially foggy. Not just the common morning fog you often get the summer, but long-lasting, can't-see-your-hand-in-front-of-your-face type fog. About 80% of it burns off the river by noon, but it remains in place on the Sound. Strangely, we are getting some crackerjack winds which normally tend to blow the fog away but the don't seem to be able to do so. The heat and humidity which create the fog over the cool water seem to be able to produce it fast than the winds can blow it away. Strange!
We lucked out on Saturday for the inaugural Calvin Brouwer Memorial Race. We woke up to on and off showers, and rain, and wind, and it looked as though we were going to have a not fun time. The fog was so thick that the fellow that was to be stationed at the windward mark in his boat couldn't make it over from Pawcatuck where he lives, at least not in the boat he was planning to use. since I was working with him and my boat was here, we decided to use mine. A Bimini and a dodger is a good thing to have in the rain.
The Race Committee Boats left about 9:30 and got to Vixen's Ledge by 10 and we motored around while the Race Committee tried to decide on a course and then set it up in an attempt to get the race off at noon. Since John and I were the Windward Mark Boat, once the starting line was set, we had to "race" out 2.5 miles from it to drop the Windward Mark. One the way out, I had to tie the TETRAHEDRON, a large floating geometric shape that looks like two triangles stuck together, to 100 feet of line and to an anchor and get prepared to drop it on command once we got on station. we would then sit there, make sure it didn't move, and record all the boats that went around it to make sure no one took any shortcuts. The Race Committee had just begun the starting sequence for the first class of boats when the wind shifted and a whole new course had to be laid out. In the end, they decided to use a government mark off Fishers Island and we had to motor over there an do the recording of the boats going round the mark. It can be a tad on the boring side, but the rain had stopped and the wind had picked up and the sun had come out and there is something very entertaining watching a whole bunch of boats trying to round a mark at the same time at high speed. Words, but no paint, were traded and everyone made it safely to party at TYC after the race.
This morning looks to be a repeat of the past few - lots of fog, humidity, little air and growing heat. This is the strangest summer weather-wise I can remember.
The last few days have been a strange combination of weather. The mornings have been especially foggy. Not just the common morning fog you often get the summer, but long-lasting, can't-see-your-hand-in-front-of-your-face type fog. About 80% of it burns off the river by noon, but it remains in place on the Sound. Strangely, we are getting some crackerjack winds which normally tend to blow the fog away but the don't seem to be able to do so. The heat and humidity which create the fog over the cool water seem to be able to produce it fast than the winds can blow it away. Strange!
We lucked out on Saturday for the inaugural Calvin Brouwer Memorial Race. We woke up to on and off showers, and rain, and wind, and it looked as though we were going to have a not fun time. The fog was so thick that the fellow that was to be stationed at the windward mark in his boat couldn't make it over from Pawcatuck where he lives, at least not in the boat he was planning to use. since I was working with him and my boat was here, we decided to use mine. A Bimini and a dodger is a good thing to have in the rain.
The Race Committee Boats left about 9:30 and got to Vixen's Ledge by 10 and we motored around while the Race Committee tried to decide on a course and then set it up in an attempt to get the race off at noon. Since John and I were the Windward Mark Boat, once the starting line was set, we had to "race" out 2.5 miles from it to drop the Windward Mark. One the way out, I had to tie the TETRAHEDRON, a large floating geometric shape that looks like two triangles stuck together, to 100 feet of line and to an anchor and get prepared to drop it on command once we got on station. we would then sit there, make sure it didn't move, and record all the boats that went around it to make sure no one took any shortcuts. The Race Committee had just begun the starting sequence for the first class of boats when the wind shifted and a whole new course had to be laid out. In the end, they decided to use a government mark off Fishers Island and we had to motor over there an do the recording of the boats going round the mark. It can be a tad on the boring side, but the rain had stopped and the wind had picked up and the sun had come out and there is something very entertaining watching a whole bunch of boats trying to round a mark at the same time at high speed. Words, but no paint, were traded and everyone made it safely to party at TYC after the race.
This morning looks to be a repeat of the past few - lots of fog, humidity, little air and growing heat. This is the strangest summer weather-wise I can remember.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
SHIP'S LOG:
well, the rain forecast for Wednesday did arrive. . . .and lasted about five minutes. Rather than clear the air it added eve more humidity and improved the situation not at all. As for the Wednesday Night Races, it was more of a Wednesday Night Drift. The breeze rarely got as high as 10knots and then only in what, with some humor, you might call "the gusts." Even though the current was pretty much slack for the entire time, everyone had to "battle" against it and pretty much were defeated by it. Pile ups at the marks were awful with everyone trying to round without hitting the mark of other boats. The problem lay in the fact that with so little wind and all of it being "disturbed as the boats jockeyed at the marks, it got to the point that everyone was loosing steerage and the fact that no one whacked into someone else was nothing short of a miracle.
The other complicating factor was the passage of the ferries, There were six(6) that went in and out during the "race", disturbing the water and making it lumpy. If you had a nice, fast racing hull boat, you were effected too much but for most of us, hitting the ferry wakes was like running into a stone wall. All you drive and momentum disappeared in a flash and you just wallowed until you could get moving again. The big, old style ferries tried to creep by, staying out of the way as much as possible and the high-speed catamaran ferries weaved their way right through the fleet, blocking wind and making wakes and generally making a mess of things. Near the end of the race, with skies darkening, the wind died and the boat owner decided that it was time to pull the plug. We were far and away the last boat so our quitting the race gave us a DNF - Did Not Finish - which penalized us no more than if we had finished the race in last place. It also got us in to the dock and ashore for dinner before the rains came.
The next few days of weather are "supposed to be" filled with rain and thunderstorms, according to NOAA, and hopefully it will break the humidity. Saturday is the Calvin Brouwer Memorial Race and I am working on the Mark Boat. Being out in the rain in an open boat for four or five hours is not a lot of fun, so I am praying that the rain holds off until the race is done. Then it can be a "Dark 'N' Stormy Night" while everyone drinks "Dark 'N' Stormy Nights."
well, the rain forecast for Wednesday did arrive. . . .and lasted about five minutes. Rather than clear the air it added eve more humidity and improved the situation not at all. As for the Wednesday Night Races, it was more of a Wednesday Night Drift. The breeze rarely got as high as 10knots and then only in what, with some humor, you might call "the gusts." Even though the current was pretty much slack for the entire time, everyone had to "battle" against it and pretty much were defeated by it. Pile ups at the marks were awful with everyone trying to round without hitting the mark of other boats. The problem lay in the fact that with so little wind and all of it being "disturbed as the boats jockeyed at the marks, it got to the point that everyone was loosing steerage and the fact that no one whacked into someone else was nothing short of a miracle.
The other complicating factor was the passage of the ferries, There were six(6) that went in and out during the "race", disturbing the water and making it lumpy. If you had a nice, fast racing hull boat, you were effected too much but for most of us, hitting the ferry wakes was like running into a stone wall. All you drive and momentum disappeared in a flash and you just wallowed until you could get moving again. The big, old style ferries tried to creep by, staying out of the way as much as possible and the high-speed catamaran ferries weaved their way right through the fleet, blocking wind and making wakes and generally making a mess of things. Near the end of the race, with skies darkening, the wind died and the boat owner decided that it was time to pull the plug. We were far and away the last boat so our quitting the race gave us a DNF - Did Not Finish - which penalized us no more than if we had finished the race in last place. It also got us in to the dock and ashore for dinner before the rains came.
The next few days of weather are "supposed to be" filled with rain and thunderstorms, according to NOAA, and hopefully it will break the humidity. Saturday is the Calvin Brouwer Memorial Race and I am working on the Mark Boat. Being out in the rain in an open boat for four or five hours is not a lot of fun, so I am praying that the rain holds off until the race is done. Then it can be a "Dark 'N' Stormy Night" while everyone drinks "Dark 'N' Stormy Nights."
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