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2004 Sailing Digest
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This is a new feature for 2004. On
this page, I will detail, to an extent, a sort of daily vessel log,
including brief outings, maintenance, and short sailing
descriptions. I intend this to be a way to keep track of my
sailing and maintenance days, in a format that will be easy to maintain
and read. From time to time, as conditions dictate, I will
continue to post more detailed sailing and cruising logs, but I thought
it would be interesting for you--and me--to see, come the end of the
season, how many days I made it out to the boat, and what I did on those
days. We'll see how it all goes! All times listed in the
entries are approximate.
Newest
entries are at the top of the page. Refresh this page to ensure
that you receive the newest information.
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Click here to go to the beginning of
the 2004 digest in May, 2004, and work your way forward; each month's
entries are located on a separate page. You can click on the links
just below to go directly to any month's page.
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May
2004 Digest | June 2004 Digest | July 2004 Digest |
August 2004
Digest | September-October 2004 Digest
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Continue with August Entries. Click
here.
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July 23, 2004 - August 20, 2004 | 2004 Maine
Cruise
Full log posted. Click
here to read it.
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July 22, 2004 | Brief Visit
 Heidi
needed the grommet kit from the boat, so I went out for a brief visit to
retrieve the kit and bring out another two tote bags full of stuff. (How
does this happen?)
The coast stayed socked in with thick fog
all day, though there were some sunny breaks inland at the house.
More of the same was predicted for Friday, the day I had hoped to depart
for cruising.
On board: 1330-1400
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July 21, 2004 | Provisioning and Cruise
Preparation
 In
about the thickest fog I've ever seen, I began my day early by launching
the dinghy and rowing to the boat before the launch opened. I
brought her to the dock to load several cartfuls of gear and provisions,
fill the water tanks and auxiliary jugs, and give her a good
washdown. I spent much of the remainder of the day back on the
mooring, leisurely stowing all the goods on board, ridding everything of
excess and cardboard packaging, and stowing deck cargo (water jugs).
The fog remained dense until nearly noon, when it reluctantly retreated
for the day (only to return in the evening once more).
Except for perishable goods, by the end of
the day the boat was loaded and ready to go later in the week. The
weather forecast continues to include daily fog, so we'll see what
happens. I'm going for a week or so alone, and then Heidi will join
me later for an additional three weeks. I anticipate departure on
Friday, but it could be Saturday or Sunday. With no real schedule
and no absolute need to leave on a given day, I can afford to be flexible.
Look for cruise logs and photos upon our
return in August. I plan to write them on board as we go, but will
make no attempts to post to the web until returning.
On board: 0715-1500
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July 20, 2004 | Tiller Install
Anticipating a long-ish cruise down the coast of Maine beginning later in
the week (departure date dependant on weather), I spent much of the week
involved in preparing for the trip, and for absence from home and work;
any such long absence requires some preparation beforehand. I filled
the LPG tank and diesel jugs, and went grocery shopping for bottled water
to drink and non-perishable goods for the trip. Later in the week,
closer to departure, I'll shop for fresh food.
On board today, I installed the new tiller
I built, added diesel to the tank from one of my jugs, and prepared for
loading gear on board the next day.
Click here for more on the tiller.
On board: 1145-1313
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July 18, 2004 | Maintenance
 It
was oily calm all morning, so I didn't sail. I did take care of
several maintenance chores, including my usual mid-season bilge clean (to
rid it of the minor dirt that accumulates). I also cleaned the
engine to remove belt dust and minor debris--I like it spotless.
Finally, I changed the oil filter--always a favorite chore. I've
decided it's simply not possible, given this design, to change the filter
without making an oily mess. Some fool even got oil splatters on his
new shorts--sheesh.
On board: 0900-1300
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July 17, 2004 | Sail
Hot weather with unsettled--but
non-threatening--skies was good enough for me. The wind was light
and variable, but I managed to find enough for a nice sail, despite about
30 minutes of complete becalmation (I know, I know: I made it up).
Heidi was away, so I was alone. While rocking and pitching through
several ridiculous powerboat wakes, I recalled why I so like sailing on
weekdays instead of weekends! I am spoiled.
On board: 1000-1430
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July 15, 2004 | Shoreside Boat Check
We had some pretty strong winds yesterday, so
I just wanted to check things out. The weather's been lousy all
week--fog, drizzle, and showers, so I haven't been out for a sail or much
else.
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July 13, 2004 | Tiller Test Fitting
I headed out with my new tiller blank to check the fit on board and see if
any adjustments were necessary. While I was there, I fiddled with
one or two other things which, frankly, I can't remember!
On board: 0900-1100
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July 12, 1004 | Sail
Pleasant, relaxing sail in a developing breeze.
On Board: 0915-1300
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July 9, 2004 | Maintenance Visit
With a borrowed banding tool, my friend Nathan and I went out to the boat
to reinforce the gooseneck as a little insurance against my boom arriving
in time. Click
here to read more.
On board: 1500-1730
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July 8, 2004 | Brief Utility Visit
I headed back to the boat to confirm a couple final measurements I
needed. Instead of a new gooseneck, I'm getting a whole new
boom. With a new gooseneck, of course. Yeah, remember the
whole gooseneck problem?
Click
here for more.
On board: 1415-1500
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July 1, 2004 - July 6, 2004 | Cruise
Full log posted. Click
here to read it.
On board: 1900 (7/1) - 1700 (7/6)
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