SHIP'S LOG:
The days have been crappy and it was a good time to get away . . . .and do some laundry. So I did. Other than that, ti has been a crappy couple of days. Crappy! Crappy! Crappy!As the season wind to a close, this time of years is usually among the best for sailing. The humidity is light, or it is supposed to be and most of the boaters are not boating so the area is clear of extraneous traffic. Even the number of fishermen is down as compared with the summer season. But so far, the weather has been less than ideal. It seems as though IRENE, while not the hurricane we were led to expect, some how blew through and took the good weather with her.I am hoping that it will turn around before I haul ABISHAG for the winter.
It looks as though Columbus Day Weekend will be the target for hauling out. Fred and a couple of others from TYC are making noises in that direction. The plan in general is to leave TYC in convoy on Saturday of that weekend and try to make it to Hamburg Cove on the Connecticut River. Preliminary info suggests that we would be battling the tide from TYC to Old Saybrook where we would enter the Connecticut River. Going as a group would probably go along way to insuring that the railroad bridge would go up for us when we approach. Usually it is hesitant to rise for just one craft, or at least that is my understanding. It doesn't run on schedule and so it is something like an ICW "open-on-request" bridge, except for the fact that it would rather open for more than one boat id feasible. Not having to hang around waiting for an opening would be helpful in reaching Hamburg Cove at a decent hour. There is a pretty good flow normally in the Connecticut River and it is currently still running high because of the rains from Irene and the following storms and this would make the trip up a slow slog as we can only move as fast as the slowest boat. I am hopeful that we will also be blessed with decent weather that weekend as well. Moving in crappy weather is always a drag. Though Fred and I can pretty much go anytime, the rest of fleet will be free-time dependent. working for a living does have its drawbacks!
I wish there was more to write but it is a grey day and I need the sun. Blah!
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Fun With Fog
SHIP'S LOG:
We have been promised, by the boys and girls at NOAA, 24 hours of rain free weather. It is a question of whether or not to believe 'em. I got hit with a short downpour last night. That,. along with a temperature shift, produced a real pea-souper this morning. I woke up the the honking of for horns both from buoys as well as boats. The fog does strange things to sound. It make sit difficult to gauge exactly where the sound is coming from. At times it muffles it and at others it funnels it, making even a stationary fog signal seem to grow louder and then softer even though it is not moving at all. This phenomenon can really raise havoc when the source of the fog signal IS moving such as when it is on a boat. There is a set time dictating how often you must sound your fog signal and for how long a duration. I must admit that it slips my mind just now. What can make it a bit confusing is that a sailboat under sail and a powerboat underway have different fog signals. In addition, boats at anchor also have fog signals that they must sound if they are anchored outside of a designated anchorage. Submarines have a fog signal which is silence! In the official Book of Signals,the sound signals used by submarines lists "_______" as the appropriate signal that is to be used by submarines transiting in the fog! If you are in a fog and don't hear anything, a submarine could be headed your way!
You can use just about anything to make "sounds" for a fog signal. Horns are the most obvious and the most frequently used, but you can also use bells, whistles, and goodness knows what else, including screaming, to warn off whatever and whoever may be bearing down on you through the fog. Of course most large vessels also depend on radar when navigating in the fog. This allows them "to see" whatever is in their way. Three things are necessary for it to be effective: 1.) it has to be switched on and be operating; 2.) someone has to be looking at the screen; 3.) the person looking at the screen has to understand what is being displayed on the screen. One only has to remember that the Andrea Doria sinking involved two ships in a fog with working radar. The local ferries around here don't want a similar incident on their records so even with the radars working, they blast away with their fog signals, not just at the scheduled times, but constantly. Being far out in the mooring field near to the riv er channel they traverse, the sound is enough to wake the dead and when two ferries are passing in opposite directions, the blasting increases and I wouldn't be surprised if it did wake the dead.
Well, it hasn't rained a drop so far, then again, there is no wind either. Hopefully this will change later in the day, the wind I mean not the rain.
We have been promised, by the boys and girls at NOAA, 24 hours of rain free weather. It is a question of whether or not to believe 'em. I got hit with a short downpour last night. That,. along with a temperature shift, produced a real pea-souper this morning. I woke up the the honking of for horns both from buoys as well as boats. The fog does strange things to sound. It make sit difficult to gauge exactly where the sound is coming from. At times it muffles it and at others it funnels it, making even a stationary fog signal seem to grow louder and then softer even though it is not moving at all. This phenomenon can really raise havoc when the source of the fog signal IS moving such as when it is on a boat. There is a set time dictating how often you must sound your fog signal and for how long a duration. I must admit that it slips my mind just now. What can make it a bit confusing is that a sailboat under sail and a powerboat underway have different fog signals. In addition, boats at anchor also have fog signals that they must sound if they are anchored outside of a designated anchorage. Submarines have a fog signal which is silence! In the official Book of Signals,the sound signals used by submarines lists "_______" as the appropriate signal that is to be used by submarines transiting in the fog! If you are in a fog and don't hear anything, a submarine could be headed your way!
You can use just about anything to make "sounds" for a fog signal. Horns are the most obvious and the most frequently used, but you can also use bells, whistles, and goodness knows what else, including screaming, to warn off whatever and whoever may be bearing down on you through the fog. Of course most large vessels also depend on radar when navigating in the fog. This allows them "to see" whatever is in their way. Three things are necessary for it to be effective: 1.) it has to be switched on and be operating; 2.) someone has to be looking at the screen; 3.) the person looking at the screen has to understand what is being displayed on the screen. One only has to remember that the Andrea Doria sinking involved two ships in a fog with working radar. The local ferries around here don't want a similar incident on their records so even with the radars working, they blast away with their fog signals, not just at the scheduled times, but constantly. Being far out in the mooring field near to the riv er channel they traverse, the sound is enough to wake the dead and when two ferries are passing in opposite directions, the blasting increases and I wouldn't be surprised if it did wake the dead.
Well, it hasn't rained a drop so far, then again, there is no wind either. Hopefully this will change later in the day, the wind I mean not the rain.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Ho Hum
SHIP'S LOG:
Though yesterday was a great sailing say, the rest of this week looks to be "not good." Rain and more rain, and clouds and coolness if not down right cold is the predicted forecast, though with NOAA you never really know for sure.
I wonder if something is up? There was a 688 that went out yesterday afternoon and another has just departed as I write this. I always feel more comfortable and at ease when they are coming in rather than when they are departing. True they have to leave eventually, can't stay tied up forever, but they are always frightening when they leave.
A couple of guys from the Millstone Power Plant in Niantic showed up today carrying a large bag of oysters. I had never seen them before and so I chatted them up. They said that they have monitoring sights all around the area to check for any radiation contamination from Millstone. Now that's a cheery thought! Evidently, they put the oysters in a cage and lower them into the water and every few months replace them with new one and analyze the old ones. And no, they don't eat them when they are done. I asked. I am happy they are doing it but it is something that also can cause one to become a bit ill-at-ease, especially since they don't release their finding to the public. Oysters Rockefeller anyone?
Though yesterday was a great sailing say, the rest of this week looks to be "not good." Rain and more rain, and clouds and coolness if not down right cold is the predicted forecast, though with NOAA you never really know for sure.
I wonder if something is up? There was a 688 that went out yesterday afternoon and another has just departed as I write this. I always feel more comfortable and at ease when they are coming in rather than when they are departing. True they have to leave eventually, can't stay tied up forever, but they are always frightening when they leave.
A couple of guys from the Millstone Power Plant in Niantic showed up today carrying a large bag of oysters. I had never seen them before and so I chatted them up. They said that they have monitoring sights all around the area to check for any radiation contamination from Millstone. Now that's a cheery thought! Evidently, they put the oysters in a cage and lower them into the water and every few months replace them with new one and analyze the old ones. And no, they don't eat them when they are done. I asked. I am happy they are doing it but it is something that also can cause one to become a bit ill-at-ease, especially since they don't release their finding to the public. Oysters Rockefeller anyone?
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Not Much Better Today Either!
SHIP'S LOG:
One thing you really notice when you are sailing in "a chill" is that when you are sailing upwind, close-hauled, that is into the prevailing wind, it can really get cold. That is probably why very old and very rich "yachtsmen" used to say that "Gentlemen never sail to weather!" This is very true when the weather in question gets below 70 degrees in temperature and and the wind gets over 20mph in speed.
It is an entirely different matter when you sail downwind though as you are moving with the wind. It can actually get bleeding warm. The only problem with going down wind is that the odds are very much in your favor that you will have to turn up wind at some point and with the "terrible onslaught of cold weather" it is not a lot of fun. It has caused me to begin a careful and exacting search for that cold weather gear that I stored on ABISHAG somewhere. Let's face it, I haven't needed it since January 3rd and I am not completely sure where I stored it. Obviously, it got put off in the corner of some locker or storage space when the need for it had faded away. Just where exactly is a matter to question. Equally obvious is the fact that piled on top of it wherever it happens to be is all sorts of warm weather items, along with tools, spares and whatever else was need in the warmth of summer, along with displaced items that got shunted around in preparation for the hurricane that never really showed up. At least the solid fuel heater is still attached to the bulkhead in the saloon, though where the charcoal ended up is a mystery.
The only real improvement over yesterday-&-night was the fact that the wind eventually died down to little more than a breezed. The "moose calls" and the singing wires disappeared, but the wind generator still whined though at a lower tone. It is a very good thing that it is mounted at the top of the Mizzen mast as the distance keeps the whined tolerable. Another boat here ahas a similar until though it is attached to a pole that is affixed to the deck. It creates a considerable racket, both from the whine and from the vibrations it transfers to the pole and thus to the deck. The boat owner's wife refuses to sail with it operating because she can't stand the sound.
Friday morning was the start of the Fall "Off Soundings Race." This fall, they will race from New London Ledge Light to Greenport Harbor on Long Island. On Saturday, they will do a round-the-buoys race in Gardiners Bay, and on Sunday will race back to New London. AS they jockied around at the start on Friday out by Ledge Light, in the midst of the blow, a sub chose that time to enter the Thames River. And with the Coasties in the zodiacs providing "protection to the sub, and the 500 yard safe zone around it, it made for a rather interesting start I am sure!
One thing you really notice when you are sailing in "a chill" is that when you are sailing upwind, close-hauled, that is into the prevailing wind, it can really get cold. That is probably why very old and very rich "yachtsmen" used to say that "Gentlemen never sail to weather!" This is very true when the weather in question gets below 70 degrees in temperature and and the wind gets over 20mph in speed.
It is an entirely different matter when you sail downwind though as you are moving with the wind. It can actually get bleeding warm. The only problem with going down wind is that the odds are very much in your favor that you will have to turn up wind at some point and with the "terrible onslaught of cold weather" it is not a lot of fun. It has caused me to begin a careful and exacting search for that cold weather gear that I stored on ABISHAG somewhere. Let's face it, I haven't needed it since January 3rd and I am not completely sure where I stored it. Obviously, it got put off in the corner of some locker or storage space when the need for it had faded away. Just where exactly is a matter to question. Equally obvious is the fact that piled on top of it wherever it happens to be is all sorts of warm weather items, along with tools, spares and whatever else was need in the warmth of summer, along with displaced items that got shunted around in preparation for the hurricane that never really showed up. At least the solid fuel heater is still attached to the bulkhead in the saloon, though where the charcoal ended up is a mystery.
The only real improvement over yesterday-&-night was the fact that the wind eventually died down to little more than a breezed. The "moose calls" and the singing wires disappeared, but the wind generator still whined though at a lower tone. It is a very good thing that it is mounted at the top of the Mizzen mast as the distance keeps the whined tolerable. Another boat here ahas a similar until though it is attached to a pole that is affixed to the deck. It creates a considerable racket, both from the whine and from the vibrations it transfers to the pole and thus to the deck. The boat owner's wife refuses to sail with it operating because she can't stand the sound.
Friday morning was the start of the Fall "Off Soundings Race." This fall, they will race from New London Ledge Light to Greenport Harbor on Long Island. On Saturday, they will do a round-the-buoys race in Gardiners Bay, and on Sunday will race back to New London. AS they jockied around at the start on Friday out by Ledge Light, in the midst of the blow, a sub chose that time to enter the Thames River. And with the Coasties in the zodiacs providing "protection to the sub, and the 500 yard safe zone around it, it made for a rather interesting start I am sure!
Friday, September 16, 2011
Horror Of Horrors ! ! ! ! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
There is nothing like a front moving through to ruin your day! The boys and girls at NOAA, and most of the other weather outlets, predicted that a cold front would "blast" in from the west. Preceding it would be torrential rains and following it a temperature drop. The "blast" was scheduled for about noon.
At noon the temperature was in the high 70's/low 80's, there were a few clouds here and there and what breeze there was was light and variable. Toward the end of the afternoon, it cooled a little and the winds picked up a bit and one of our most revered members announced that the front "had past through." Now in anticipation of the nasty weather, I had brought stuff ashore to camp out in the clubhouse which would be warmer and dryer and more stationary than ABISHAG. NOAA had once again it seemed "blown the call" and so about 6pm, I took advantage of the launch service for the Off Soundings Race to haul all the stuff back to ABISHAG for the night. The launch service stopped at 8pm and an hour later we got hit. Not a lot of rain but some serious wind.
It is a tough thing to estimate the speed of the wind at night without an anemometer. The best thing I had was the wind generator and I could only use that as a gauge by noting the sound. The higher the pitch the greater the wind speed. I would estimate that the sustained wind was about 25-30mph and some of the gusts had to hit the40's as I got the "moose call" from the rigging and the radar reflector. ABISHAG didn't sail much at the mooring but occasionally she did lay over a bit which is also an indicator of some high velocity gusts. It reminded me of the times on the journey when I got nailed by storms. Then I was hanging off a 5/8 anchor rode attached to a 35lbs CQR anchor and 20lbs of anchor weights. Riding on the mooring made it easier to drop off to a relaxed and easy and deep sleep though I did check the pennants and chaffing gear before retiring. Even with the movement, it was far more comfortable on ABISHAG than it would have been on the clubhouse floor though if the "hit" had come earlier, I certainly would have stayed onshore.
And the "horror of horrors" is that when I got up at 6:30, the temperature was "hovering at 45!!!!!!!!!!!! I haven't awakened to temps that low since last December! I imagine that the cold front will pass through is a day or so and the weather will return to its proper September state, but there is no doubt that summer, if not past, is passing and quickly. I don't think I am ready for it!
There is nothing like a front moving through to ruin your day! The boys and girls at NOAA, and most of the other weather outlets, predicted that a cold front would "blast" in from the west. Preceding it would be torrential rains and following it a temperature drop. The "blast" was scheduled for about noon.
At noon the temperature was in the high 70's/low 80's, there were a few clouds here and there and what breeze there was was light and variable. Toward the end of the afternoon, it cooled a little and the winds picked up a bit and one of our most revered members announced that the front "had past through." Now in anticipation of the nasty weather, I had brought stuff ashore to camp out in the clubhouse which would be warmer and dryer and more stationary than ABISHAG. NOAA had once again it seemed "blown the call" and so about 6pm, I took advantage of the launch service for the Off Soundings Race to haul all the stuff back to ABISHAG for the night. The launch service stopped at 8pm and an hour later we got hit. Not a lot of rain but some serious wind.
It is a tough thing to estimate the speed of the wind at night without an anemometer. The best thing I had was the wind generator and I could only use that as a gauge by noting the sound. The higher the pitch the greater the wind speed. I would estimate that the sustained wind was about 25-30mph and some of the gusts had to hit the40's as I got the "moose call" from the rigging and the radar reflector. ABISHAG didn't sail much at the mooring but occasionally she did lay over a bit which is also an indicator of some high velocity gusts. It reminded me of the times on the journey when I got nailed by storms. Then I was hanging off a 5/8 anchor rode attached to a 35lbs CQR anchor and 20lbs of anchor weights. Riding on the mooring made it easier to drop off to a relaxed and easy and deep sleep though I did check the pennants and chaffing gear before retiring. Even with the movement, it was far more comfortable on ABISHAG than it would have been on the clubhouse floor though if the "hit" had come earlier, I certainly would have stayed onshore.
And the "horror of horrors" is that when I got up at 6:30, the temperature was "hovering at 45!!!!!!!!!!!! I haven't awakened to temps that low since last December! I imagine that the cold front will pass through is a day or so and the weather will return to its proper September state, but there is no doubt that summer, if not past, is passing and quickly. I don't think I am ready for it!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
A DAy Off The Water
SHIP'S LOG:
Yesterday was a day off the water. I took the opportunity of a beautiful day to go see my great-niece for the first time. It was a most enjoyable way to spend a part of the day. She is really marvelous and I could have spent hours just watching her. Unfortunately, Alexa Grace and her parents live almost two hours away down 95 in Cos Cob and even in the best of times, it isn't a joy ride. Still, considering that she awaits at the drive's end, it will be worth the trouble to make it with a fair amount of regularity. . . . until she develops the typical "baby's death grip" and begins to apply it to mustaches and beards, mine in particular!
The four hours of driving took a big chunk out of the day but the day was pleasant and I spend some time on the TYC porch with Henry. There is part of a keg left over from the commodores Trophy Race and the powers that be would like it finished off. So Henry and I and a few others are doing our best to accommodate their wishes.
With the club pretty much closed down during the week, the fishermen problems is surfacing again. During the sailing season, when there are people here daily until after 10 at night, local fishermen often head out to the end of the dock to fish late at night. They remove the lights at the end of the dock and leave hooks, lures, bait and assort fish offal all over the end of the dock. Some days the detritus is worse than others. They do not have permission to fish from our docks, in deed it is against the by-laws of the club for members to do so. And now that the club is winding down for the season, they are getting more and more bold. Two of them parked their cars in the officers' parking spots and strode down the dock, fishing equipment in hand. They seemed to take great offense when I told them that they couldn't fish here and that they also had to move their cars as well. The strange thing is that about a mile away as the dolphin swims there is a long, long dock at Fort Trumbull. There is parking and fishing is not only permitted but encouraged. It is a mystery to me why they want to fish here instead of there.
Some disturbing news is being whispered about the club that a "cold front" is coming this weekend that might actually produce "FROST!" Sure if it dose, it won't be here but inland, but just the thought is enough to shiver one's bones! I count five empty moorings in the field indicating the the exodus has begun. It is not a joyous prospect!
Yesterday was a day off the water. I took the opportunity of a beautiful day to go see my great-niece for the first time. It was a most enjoyable way to spend a part of the day. She is really marvelous and I could have spent hours just watching her. Unfortunately, Alexa Grace and her parents live almost two hours away down 95 in Cos Cob and even in the best of times, it isn't a joy ride. Still, considering that she awaits at the drive's end, it will be worth the trouble to make it with a fair amount of regularity. . . . until she develops the typical "baby's death grip" and begins to apply it to mustaches and beards, mine in particular!
The four hours of driving took a big chunk out of the day but the day was pleasant and I spend some time on the TYC porch with Henry. There is part of a keg left over from the commodores Trophy Race and the powers that be would like it finished off. So Henry and I and a few others are doing our best to accommodate their wishes.
With the club pretty much closed down during the week, the fishermen problems is surfacing again. During the sailing season, when there are people here daily until after 10 at night, local fishermen often head out to the end of the dock to fish late at night. They remove the lights at the end of the dock and leave hooks, lures, bait and assort fish offal all over the end of the dock. Some days the detritus is worse than others. They do not have permission to fish from our docks, in deed it is against the by-laws of the club for members to do so. And now that the club is winding down for the season, they are getting more and more bold. Two of them parked their cars in the officers' parking spots and strode down the dock, fishing equipment in hand. They seemed to take great offense when I told them that they couldn't fish here and that they also had to move their cars as well. The strange thing is that about a mile away as the dolphin swims there is a long, long dock at Fort Trumbull. There is parking and fishing is not only permitted but encouraged. It is a mystery to me why they want to fish here instead of there.
Some disturbing news is being whispered about the club that a "cold front" is coming this weekend that might actually produce "FROST!" Sure if it dose, it won't be here but inland, but just the thought is enough to shiver one's bones! I count five empty moorings in the field indicating the the exodus has begun. It is not a joyous prospect!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Fall Be Commin' . . . But Not Yet!
SHIP'S LOG:
It has been a staggering couple of days, though aside from sunday, little if any breeze. Makes it rather difficult to sail but it is still nice just enjoying the late summer. This year, there will be no avoiding fall and winter unless someone comes through with a last minute offer to help them take their boat south. I get the funny feeling that that the active hurricane season is casing a lot of second guessing amoing the the potential travelers heading for the ICW and the warmth of Florida and beyond. we are just past the half-way point of the hurricane season which comes to an end on the 1st of November, at least as the incurnace companies see it, and they are already half way through the names they give to "significant" storms. That doesn't bode particularly well for a southern joint as the latter half of the hurricane season is usually the more active.
TYC is basically closed up now that the launch only runs a limited schedule on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays and I basically have the place to myself. It really is deserted with an occasional visitor who might "dinghy" out to his or her craft, if only to sit on it for awhile. Like I said, not a lot of wind. I imagine that I will be gin to see boats begining to dosappear into winter storage soon. Most of those who got pulled out in anticipation of "IRENE" haven't bothered to to get re-launched and if another storms posses a serious threat, I am sure that more will use it as an excuse to get to their winter storage early and stay put, calling it a season. Myself, I am looking to get hauled somewhere around Columbus Day before it gets too cold and the unstable fall weather gets a chance to take a real hold. I am both looking forward to it, as there are a myrid of jobs and projects that need to be attended to, and at the same time, not looking forward to it as it means that summer is well and truly over, never a pleasant prospect. It means it is fall and winter, with its cold and snow and darkness are on the way. Yeech!
Before I make the trip up the Connecticut River in a few weeks, I am going to have to clean the bottom again. With all the stuff that got "flushed" into the river, the local marine life has been very, very active. I would have to say the fact that the bottom paint is no longer good for much has also contributed to the situation which will only get worse in the days ahead. The trick ois the timing. If I do it too soon, I just will have to do it again before departure. If I wait too long, the temperature of the water will be too cold and I'll have to get a "pro" to do it and pros cost money. I want, and indeed, need a clean bottom and prop, so as to make the journey something completable in a day, for clean bottoms and clean props make the boat go faster. Less drag you see. Like I said , timing is everything. Ah, the fun of boat ownership!
It has been a staggering couple of days, though aside from sunday, little if any breeze. Makes it rather difficult to sail but it is still nice just enjoying the late summer. This year, there will be no avoiding fall and winter unless someone comes through with a last minute offer to help them take their boat south. I get the funny feeling that that the active hurricane season is casing a lot of second guessing amoing the the potential travelers heading for the ICW and the warmth of Florida and beyond. we are just past the half-way point of the hurricane season which comes to an end on the 1st of November, at least as the incurnace companies see it, and they are already half way through the names they give to "significant" storms. That doesn't bode particularly well for a southern joint as the latter half of the hurricane season is usually the more active.
TYC is basically closed up now that the launch only runs a limited schedule on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays and I basically have the place to myself. It really is deserted with an occasional visitor who might "dinghy" out to his or her craft, if only to sit on it for awhile. Like I said, not a lot of wind. I imagine that I will be gin to see boats begining to dosappear into winter storage soon. Most of those who got pulled out in anticipation of "IRENE" haven't bothered to to get re-launched and if another storms posses a serious threat, I am sure that more will use it as an excuse to get to their winter storage early and stay put, calling it a season. Myself, I am looking to get hauled somewhere around Columbus Day before it gets too cold and the unstable fall weather gets a chance to take a real hold. I am both looking forward to it, as there are a myrid of jobs and projects that need to be attended to, and at the same time, not looking forward to it as it means that summer is well and truly over, never a pleasant prospect. It means it is fall and winter, with its cold and snow and darkness are on the way. Yeech!
Before I make the trip up the Connecticut River in a few weeks, I am going to have to clean the bottom again. With all the stuff that got "flushed" into the river, the local marine life has been very, very active. I would have to say the fact that the bottom paint is no longer good for much has also contributed to the situation which will only get worse in the days ahead. The trick ois the timing. If I do it too soon, I just will have to do it again before departure. If I wait too long, the temperature of the water will be too cold and I'll have to get a "pro" to do it and pros cost money. I want, and indeed, need a clean bottom and prop, so as to make the journey something completable in a day, for clean bottoms and clean props make the boat go faster. Less drag you see. Like I said , timing is everything. Ah, the fun of boat ownership!
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