SHIP'S LOG:
W.A.G. - Wild Ass Guess, or, to phrase it another way, a Weather Forecast from NOAA! I have complained about forecasts from NOAA for a long-time, almost ruefully now, but it just amazes me how wrong they can be!!!!
I wasn't even aware that NOAA was forecasting that we were suppose to "get some weather" on Thursday until I got a call from Fred, one half of the " Head-In-The-Bucket" Brigade who had received a call from Bob, the other half of the "Head-In-The-Bucket" Brigade, Bob assured Fred that the world was coming to an end, "Weather-wise," and that he should secure his boat tout suite! Fred called me as he lives up and beyond the other side of OZ. He asked what sort of weather we were having at TYC. I told him it was Triple H and that was all. Fred shared the word from BOB, that there was "Heavy rain coming, with large hail(hale?) and damaging winds, thunder and lightning, with air to ground lightning (is there any other kind?) and the potential for tornadoes!" -in NOAA-speak. Fred was vacillating between blowing the day to come down and secure his boat or just trusting that NOAA was screwing up again and letting it sit as it was. I told him that I would take care of his boat and that was that.
Going online and checking the weather radar, you could certainly see how things looked serious and that the potential was there from something bad to happen, but it didn't "feel" like it. I checked four or five different weather sites and none of them really agreed, but as with all thing that have to do with the weather, you had to deal with whatever came along. Myself, I wasn't really happy about the prospects of storm weather as I would be spending Thursday night attached to one of the piers("dock" is what you do, "pier" is what you do it to.). I Never liked being secured in a slip. I am never sure if I have ABISHAG secured correctly, what with the rise and fall of the tide and the shifting winds. There is far less strain on a mooring and a more comfortable motion too. But I had to go into a slip as I had to be at the Clubhouse at 8 am bright eyed and bushy tailed to help with the OPTI Regatta on Friday. And since the launch didn't start running until 9a,. and since I am not really awake until 3cups of coffee and a shower, and since I really distrust my skill at docking ABISHAG despite the ICW Trip, I brought her in on Thursday afternoon. I overwhelmed every cleat and piling with docklines, just in case NOAA got it right. I didn't want her to bash.
By 7:30pm, when the Force Fives had finished their races, what wind there was died to nothing. It got black and ominous. There was some thunder and there we some spectacular flashes of lightning(not many) and the rain started to fall (lightly.) Actually thinking NOAA might be right this time, I scurried ashore, intending to wait out the storm on dry land(I had enough of doing so aboard in Florida.)By 9it had all but past and was completely gone by 10. No violent winds(though supposedly Ledge Light clocked 70 mph gusts), no tornadoes, no hail(hale?) and not enough rain to get anyone a reprieve from watering the garden. May such things happened elsewhere but not here where they were forecast. I figured that actually nothing would happen as a NOAA ship came in and tied-up at the Underwater Sound Lab pier. There was no way NOAA would have brought hat ship in here if the end of the world was coming - weather-wise! I slept aboard ABISHAG.
Friday NOAA forecast that it would be cloudy with some rain in the morning, followed by thunderstorms and lightning in the afternoon. Not the sort of weather forecast that one would like for a regatta full of kids. But again it didn't happen. Not a drop of rain fell and the skies were blue with puffy white clouds.
NOAA is predicting the weather crap-out for the weekend, probably because it is the weekend and it will probably come true as even NOAA can't be wrong all of the time. I let you know! ! ! !
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
SHIP'S LOG:
Ah, the weather be shifting again .. . . . and again. Monday was a fine day but Tuesday triple H and no wind . . . at least until late. I went out for a sail in the afternoon because it is was far too hazy, hot and humid just to lounge on the boat. There wasn't a great deal of wind and there wasn't any forecast for such but towards that late afternoon, the wind shifted from out of the South-West(normal for this time of year and this place) and came out of the North . . .big time. It was hard to tack up the river as there was a lot of traffic so I dropped sails off Ledge Light and began to motor in. It was a good thing too as there was a nasty bit of cloud to the West and it looked like it was raining too. In fact, I got a few sprinkles on the way in but nothing dramatic . . . . . except the wind which was strong and steady. Coming out of the northern quadrant, it produces more than a bit of chop when it gets over 15 knots and there was plenty of chop.
By later on that night, it really began to honk and the chop got a lot worse. It was a bit "uncomfortable" made even more so bu the constant passage of the ferries. Even after they stopped their runs (about 11pm), the chop from the wind continued. Thank good ness for the ICW trip and all those expereinces for it made it easier not to worry about "draggin' an anchor" and let me get to sleep much easier.
It was still blowin' out of the north this morning. One good thing is that it blew all the humidity and haze away and it looks to be a good day for sailing or anything else for that matter. Adios!
Ah, the weather be shifting again .. . . . and again. Monday was a fine day but Tuesday triple H and no wind . . . at least until late. I went out for a sail in the afternoon because it is was far too hazy, hot and humid just to lounge on the boat. There wasn't a great deal of wind and there wasn't any forecast for such but towards that late afternoon, the wind shifted from out of the South-West(normal for this time of year and this place) and came out of the North . . .big time. It was hard to tack up the river as there was a lot of traffic so I dropped sails off Ledge Light and began to motor in. It was a good thing too as there was a nasty bit of cloud to the West and it looked like it was raining too. In fact, I got a few sprinkles on the way in but nothing dramatic . . . . . except the wind which was strong and steady. Coming out of the northern quadrant, it produces more than a bit of chop when it gets over 15 knots and there was plenty of chop.
By later on that night, it really began to honk and the chop got a lot worse. It was a bit "uncomfortable" made even more so bu the constant passage of the ferries. Even after they stopped their runs (about 11pm), the chop from the wind continued. Thank good ness for the ICW trip and all those expereinces for it made it easier not to worry about "draggin' an anchor" and let me get to sleep much easier.
It was still blowin' out of the north this morning. One good thing is that it blew all the humidity and haze away and it looks to be a good day for sailing or anything else for that matter. Adios!
Monday, July 23, 2012
A Good Weekend For Sailing
SHIP'S LOG:
If you totally ignore Friday, the weekend was pretty good. Yes, I know that Friday is not part of the weekend, at least technecally, but for most people the weekend begins on Friday and ends on Monday. In this particular case, for sailing there was just Saturday and Sunday and both were pretty spectacular - windwise.
There is something so very nice about raising sails, scudding across the wind, with a rail down and nothing in front of you but water. I got the chance to do several miles long runs with the sails set perfectly and a light hand on the helm. Except for the occasional reef, rock, island, shoreline, drifting fisherman, blind power-boater or not-paying-attention sailor, all was bliss.
Sunday night, back at TYC, a 125 foot sailboat from somewhere in Europe showed up and anchored in the River off the Queen Merry. It was magnificent! It was huge! It was wide. I can not imagine how much it cost but it probably went for well over $7 million. It was sort of "scarey" to even think about being at the helm of that craft under sail. Someone came out on deck early Monday morning, probably one of the paid crew, and they looked "tiny." People often remark that they are "amazed" that I sail my 39 foot boat all by myself. My boat would probably make a nice "tender" for that super yacht!
If you totally ignore Friday, the weekend was pretty good. Yes, I know that Friday is not part of the weekend, at least technecally, but for most people the weekend begins on Friday and ends on Monday. In this particular case, for sailing there was just Saturday and Sunday and both were pretty spectacular - windwise.
There is something so very nice about raising sails, scudding across the wind, with a rail down and nothing in front of you but water. I got the chance to do several miles long runs with the sails set perfectly and a light hand on the helm. Except for the occasional reef, rock, island, shoreline, drifting fisherman, blind power-boater or not-paying-attention sailor, all was bliss.
Sunday night, back at TYC, a 125 foot sailboat from somewhere in Europe showed up and anchored in the River off the Queen Merry. It was magnificent! It was huge! It was wide. I can not imagine how much it cost but it probably went for well over $7 million. It was sort of "scarey" to even think about being at the helm of that craft under sail. Someone came out on deck early Monday morning, probably one of the paid crew, and they looked "tiny." People often remark that they are "amazed" that I sail my 39 foot boat all by myself. My boat would probably make a nice "tender" for that super yacht!
Friday, July 20, 2012
Stormy Weather . . . And It's A Good Thing!!!!
SHIP'S LOG:
The weather has broken finally. There was a small rain storm Wednesday Night. Thursday it rained in the morning but cleared in the afternoon. Thursday night, it started raining again and today it looks like awash out. it supposed to basically rain on and off all day. But as I said, that's a good thing, for with the coming of the rain storms came also the departure of the humidity, at least for awhile. I'll take it!
There has been much sailing since Wednesday as every time I thought about it, it took only one look at the sky to make me realize it might be a bad idea. I had enough of living on ABISHAG during thunder storms when I had to and since I don't necessarily need to do so now, both Wednesday and Thursday nights, I pack to possibly spend the night ashore if required. But aside from a rumble or two, and the odd flash of lightning, and the on and off rain, it was no sweat staying aboard.
The Portuguese sub came back in again yesterday morning. Evidently the training with the US Navy continues apace. Considering that the US Navy doesn't own any diesel-electric subs anymore and that is the type owned by most of other nations of the world, especially those in the Middle East and the Far East, the Navy seems to be practicing learning how to detect and follow (and sink) such boats in case the need should arise in the future. Pleasant thought.
The owners of the Gemini Catamarans are having a rendezvous over in Three Mile Harbor over the weekend and a couple from the club are getting ready to leave today. It is raining but it won't stop them from going. n fact, several other couples, who don't have Gemini's, are going along as well. True they won't be ab;e to anchor in the 22 inches of water that the Gemini's can, but their parties at the rendezvous are always great and who would pass up a chance to party. The Nonsuch catboats are having their summer rendezvous this week over in Greenport with about 30 in attendance. It is a big summer thing for boats of the same make to get together to break bread and gam. There are none anywhere nearby that I can find for Camper Nicholsons which is too bad. They had one a couple of years ago somewhere up in Maine and another down in the Chesapeake but that was before I would have undertaken such a trip by myself. Now that I would . . . . Nada! Such is life.
The weather has broken finally. There was a small rain storm Wednesday Night. Thursday it rained in the morning but cleared in the afternoon. Thursday night, it started raining again and today it looks like awash out. it supposed to basically rain on and off all day. But as I said, that's a good thing, for with the coming of the rain storms came also the departure of the humidity, at least for awhile. I'll take it!
There has been much sailing since Wednesday as every time I thought about it, it took only one look at the sky to make me realize it might be a bad idea. I had enough of living on ABISHAG during thunder storms when I had to and since I don't necessarily need to do so now, both Wednesday and Thursday nights, I pack to possibly spend the night ashore if required. But aside from a rumble or two, and the odd flash of lightning, and the on and off rain, it was no sweat staying aboard.
The Portuguese sub came back in again yesterday morning. Evidently the training with the US Navy continues apace. Considering that the US Navy doesn't own any diesel-electric subs anymore and that is the type owned by most of other nations of the world, especially those in the Middle East and the Far East, the Navy seems to be practicing learning how to detect and follow (and sink) such boats in case the need should arise in the future. Pleasant thought.
The owners of the Gemini Catamarans are having a rendezvous over in Three Mile Harbor over the weekend and a couple from the club are getting ready to leave today. It is raining but it won't stop them from going. n fact, several other couples, who don't have Gemini's, are going along as well. True they won't be ab;e to anchor in the 22 inches of water that the Gemini's can, but their parties at the rendezvous are always great and who would pass up a chance to party. The Nonsuch catboats are having their summer rendezvous this week over in Greenport with about 30 in attendance. It is a big summer thing for boats of the same make to get together to break bread and gam. There are none anywhere nearby that I can find for Camper Nicholsons which is too bad. They had one a couple of years ago somewhere up in Maine and another down in the Chesapeake but that was before I would have undertaken such a trip by myself. Now that I would . . . . Nada! Such is life.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
It's Hot!!!!!!!
SHIP'S LOG:
In case you don't know it, you who live in air-conditioned comfort, it is hot out there! And what is more, it is humid too! Being with out an air conditioner or a wall socket into which to plug it, ABISHAG is at the mercy of the wind which, thank goodness, continues to blow, fairly consistently if not with great velocity. In any event, it is enough to move ABISHAG when the urge overtakes me. Getting ready to shove off can be quite the effort in the heat and humidity and it takes not only the physical effort, it takes copious amounts of fluid. I would guesstimate knocking back at least a gallon and a half to 2 gallons of water a day, and that doesn't include a can or two of ginger-ale (it's cold!) and the odd can of beer or three (which are also cold!) Eventually, the weather will brake and there will probably be a hell of a thunder storm, but for right now, it is "late- August-in-July"!
NOAA did it to me again. There were no predicted rains for the week ahead, at least according to the weather report yesterday. And so, quite naturally, I was asleep in the aft cabin under the wide open hatch when at a bout 4 am the skies opened up and sent me scurrying about closing all the hatches and ports against the rain.Stumbling around in the dark, having been so rudely awaken from sleep by a cold and drenching shower, I got ABISHAG shut-up just in time to see the rain stop. Then it was matter of re-opening all the ports and hatches, though not completely this time, less there be another shower. Alas, there was none and the rain we did get is serving as I write this to boost the humidity. It will be another "Triple H" day, Hazy, Hot & Humid. But the one good thing about such a day is that you don't have to shovel hazy, hot & humid!
In case you don't know it, you who live in air-conditioned comfort, it is hot out there! And what is more, it is humid too! Being with out an air conditioner or a wall socket into which to plug it, ABISHAG is at the mercy of the wind which, thank goodness, continues to blow, fairly consistently if not with great velocity. In any event, it is enough to move ABISHAG when the urge overtakes me. Getting ready to shove off can be quite the effort in the heat and humidity and it takes not only the physical effort, it takes copious amounts of fluid. I would guesstimate knocking back at least a gallon and a half to 2 gallons of water a day, and that doesn't include a can or two of ginger-ale (it's cold!) and the odd can of beer or three (which are also cold!) Eventually, the weather will brake and there will probably be a hell of a thunder storm, but for right now, it is "late- August-in-July"!
NOAA did it to me again. There were no predicted rains for the week ahead, at least according to the weather report yesterday. And so, quite naturally, I was asleep in the aft cabin under the wide open hatch when at a bout 4 am the skies opened up and sent me scurrying about closing all the hatches and ports against the rain.Stumbling around in the dark, having been so rudely awaken from sleep by a cold and drenching shower, I got ABISHAG shut-up just in time to see the rain stop. Then it was matter of re-opening all the ports and hatches, though not completely this time, less there be another shower. Alas, there was none and the rain we did get is serving as I write this to boost the humidity. It will be another "Triple H" day, Hazy, Hot & Humid. But the one good thing about such a day is that you don't have to shovel hazy, hot & humid!
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Ho-Hum,More Boring Summer Days
SHIP'S LOG:
I wish that I could say that there is a lot to report but there truly isn't. It is really tough to just go sailing every day and enjoy the summer like this. Truth be told, the sailing has been a necessity in that the heat and humidity down at the shore has been on the brutal side. The only way to truly escape it is to get out on the water. Even if I don't sail, there is always a breezed at the mooring and by skillfully playing with the hatches and ports aboard, I can get a very good breeze blowing through the boat. The only real problem is that anything wet stays wet, or at least damp, never completely drying out which can make the bedding a tad uncomfortable.
Perhaps the only two things of note this week were the invitation and the sub.The "invitation" was from my cousin Bob who called and asked me to help him deliver a boat from Milford to Brandford. It was not what you might call the journey of the century, but it would have been a nice day trip. I was on my way down 95 to Milford when a call came from Bob canceling the trip as the rest of the delivery crew came down with what Bob referred to as "hoof & mouth disease." He wasn't more specific but the simple truth was the delivery was off until another time.
The second was "the sub." About 3pm Friday, I was off New London Ledge Light when a call came over Channel 16 " the International distress and hailing Channel" which boaters are supposed to monitor all the times. The caller was requesting contact with "New London Harbor Control," identifying himself as being on a Portuguese submarine! It didn't surprise me that Portugal had a Navy but I was surprised that it had a submarine service arm! But sure enough, out came the Harbor Pilot and up came the sub and they met at Buoy 2 at the mouth of the Thames River. It was a small sub, perhaps not even 1/3 the size of a 688 class boat and it was diesel-electric, but it had what appeared to be a fairly modern design. It was interesting that not "protection" was offered and you could get close to the sub, much like you could to the US boats prior to 9/11. I have no idea what it was doing here or where it went, though I suspect it berthed at the sub-base. I probably catch it again when it leaves if it does so by daylight.
One last thing . . . . NOAA. If anyone listened at home to NOAA or any of the weather forecast based on NOAA reports, no one would have come down to the shore to go sailing or to the beach. we had great wind, clear skies, low humidity; it was an all-round great day to be out and about the water. People who took the chance or who lived close by lucked out. It was outstanding!
I wish that I could say that there is a lot to report but there truly isn't. It is really tough to just go sailing every day and enjoy the summer like this. Truth be told, the sailing has been a necessity in that the heat and humidity down at the shore has been on the brutal side. The only way to truly escape it is to get out on the water. Even if I don't sail, there is always a breezed at the mooring and by skillfully playing with the hatches and ports aboard, I can get a very good breeze blowing through the boat. The only real problem is that anything wet stays wet, or at least damp, never completely drying out which can make the bedding a tad uncomfortable.
Perhaps the only two things of note this week were the invitation and the sub.The "invitation" was from my cousin Bob who called and asked me to help him deliver a boat from Milford to Brandford. It was not what you might call the journey of the century, but it would have been a nice day trip. I was on my way down 95 to Milford when a call came from Bob canceling the trip as the rest of the delivery crew came down with what Bob referred to as "hoof & mouth disease." He wasn't more specific but the simple truth was the delivery was off until another time.
The second was "the sub." About 3pm Friday, I was off New London Ledge Light when a call came over Channel 16 " the International distress and hailing Channel" which boaters are supposed to monitor all the times. The caller was requesting contact with "New London Harbor Control," identifying himself as being on a Portuguese submarine! It didn't surprise me that Portugal had a Navy but I was surprised that it had a submarine service arm! But sure enough, out came the Harbor Pilot and up came the sub and they met at Buoy 2 at the mouth of the Thames River. It was a small sub, perhaps not even 1/3 the size of a 688 class boat and it was diesel-electric, but it had what appeared to be a fairly modern design. It was interesting that not "protection" was offered and you could get close to the sub, much like you could to the US boats prior to 9/11. I have no idea what it was doing here or where it went, though I suspect it berthed at the sub-base. I probably catch it again when it leaves if it does so by daylight.
One last thing . . . . NOAA. If anyone listened at home to NOAA or any of the weather forecast based on NOAA reports, no one would have come down to the shore to go sailing or to the beach. we had great wind, clear skies, low humidity; it was an all-round great day to be out and about the water. People who took the chance or who lived close by lucked out. It was outstanding!
Monday, July 9, 2012
Long Gone And Not To Be Found!!!!!
SHIP'S LOG:
I have just noticed that the last couple of entries are not to be found! Let's hear it for the Internet! It is not there was anything terribly earth shattering in any of them but it is nice when my typing, which is an effort, gets out to where it is supposed to be.
Friday was hot and humid and I went out sailing. Doesn't sound like all that much but if you were trapped ashore, without air conditioning, then you know better!
Saturday was when New London hosted its SAIL FEST celebration. This year, they were able to secure a few "tall ships" for a parade up the river to the center of the city. "Tall ships" needs a little explanation. Evidently there are tall ships and then there are TALL SHIPS, ships classified as "Type A Tall Ships." In the parade we had two(2), the bark EAGLE and a similar sized training ship from Brazil, whose name I have forgotten. In addition to these, there were somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 smaller tall ships, ranging from the AMISTAD, the schooner BRILLIANT from Mystic Seaport, and the private yacht, TICONDEROGA. Sprinkled among them were several small Navy ships from the Naval Academy at Annapolis and a modern Naval Assault ship, the CARTER HALL. Sadly, the whole parade sort of unraveled as the Eagle, which had been anchored in Niantic Bay Friday night with the other tall ships, had trouble raising her anchor and it delayed the whole parade for a of couple of hours. The ships got strung out and actually, aside from the two Class "A" tall ships and the CATER HALL, it was difficult for a none sailor to figure out which ships were in the parade and which were part of the spectator fleet that was everywhere. Still, everyone seemed to have a good time and there was a lot of eating and drinking and parties where everywhere.
Saturday night was also the night of the New London Fireworks for the Fourth of July. This meant that every square foot of beach front and/or lawns that had a view of the appropriate part of the river where the fireworks would be fired off was much sought after. This meant that TYC, its beach, clubhouse, pier and boats were Ground Zero. To keep control, entrance onto club property was restricted members and their guests and those who obtained a guest mooring for the night.I had "gate " duty, putting wrist bands on "the elect" and turning away those who tried to crash. Counting the members who came down and went out to their boats for the show, plus all those on the property, we had somewhere in the neighborhood of 400 people on our little "slice of heaven." The fireworks were marvelous. It was clear that it would be a fantastic, better-than-average show as the company which put it on, ha a "disaster" on the 4th in San Diego when, because of an "electrical malfunction," all of the fireworks went off at once with the throwing of the first switch. It must have been spectacular!but I was more than happy with the show we experienced here.
Sunday was Hazy, hot and humid and once the crowds thinned out, I sailed up to look at the tall ships docked about a mile from TYC. Several of the schooners were taking people out for a cruise down to the mouth of the Thames and then back and I went along in ABISHAG a couple of times. I can say for certain that now ABISHAG and I exist in numerous cellphones.
I have just noticed that the last couple of entries are not to be found! Let's hear it for the Internet! It is not there was anything terribly earth shattering in any of them but it is nice when my typing, which is an effort, gets out to where it is supposed to be.
Friday was hot and humid and I went out sailing. Doesn't sound like all that much but if you were trapped ashore, without air conditioning, then you know better!
Saturday was when New London hosted its SAIL FEST celebration. This year, they were able to secure a few "tall ships" for a parade up the river to the center of the city. "Tall ships" needs a little explanation. Evidently there are tall ships and then there are TALL SHIPS, ships classified as "Type A Tall Ships." In the parade we had two(2), the bark EAGLE and a similar sized training ship from Brazil, whose name I have forgotten. In addition to these, there were somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 smaller tall ships, ranging from the AMISTAD, the schooner BRILLIANT from Mystic Seaport, and the private yacht, TICONDEROGA. Sprinkled among them were several small Navy ships from the Naval Academy at Annapolis and a modern Naval Assault ship, the CARTER HALL. Sadly, the whole parade sort of unraveled as the Eagle, which had been anchored in Niantic Bay Friday night with the other tall ships, had trouble raising her anchor and it delayed the whole parade for a of couple of hours. The ships got strung out and actually, aside from the two Class "A" tall ships and the CATER HALL, it was difficult for a none sailor to figure out which ships were in the parade and which were part of the spectator fleet that was everywhere. Still, everyone seemed to have a good time and there was a lot of eating and drinking and parties where everywhere.
Saturday night was also the night of the New London Fireworks for the Fourth of July. This meant that every square foot of beach front and/or lawns that had a view of the appropriate part of the river where the fireworks would be fired off was much sought after. This meant that TYC, its beach, clubhouse, pier and boats were Ground Zero. To keep control, entrance onto club property was restricted members and their guests and those who obtained a guest mooring for the night.I had "gate " duty, putting wrist bands on "the elect" and turning away those who tried to crash. Counting the members who came down and went out to their boats for the show, plus all those on the property, we had somewhere in the neighborhood of 400 people on our little "slice of heaven." The fireworks were marvelous. It was clear that it would be a fantastic, better-than-average show as the company which put it on, ha a "disaster" on the 4th in San Diego when, because of an "electrical malfunction," all of the fireworks went off at once with the throwing of the first switch. It must have been spectacular!but I was more than happy with the show we experienced here.
Sunday was Hazy, hot and humid and once the crowds thinned out, I sailed up to look at the tall ships docked about a mile from TYC. Several of the schooners were taking people out for a cruise down to the mouth of the Thames and then back and I went along in ABISHAG a couple of times. I can say for certain that now ABISHAG and I exist in numerous cellphones.
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