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Far Reach Voyages

~ The sailing, maintenance, and upgrades of a highly modified and custom built Cape Dory 36 sailboat. Please visit our other website that documents the six year rebuild and modification of the sailing vessel Far Reach at www.farreachvoyages.com.

Far Reach Voyages

Category Archives: People

Living Large–Six Months in the Virgin Islands

19 Sunday Jun 2022

Posted by farreachvoyages in Musings, People, Techniques, Tactics, Tips, Voyaging

≈ 2 Comments

It was great to be back sailing in the West Indies. I never tire of sailing the Far Reach.

This was my third voyage to the Virgin Islands. I knew the area pretty well. Covid, and the restrictions put in place to limit its spread, definitely changed my experience from previous voyages to the islands—more on that later. Nonetheless, it was worth the considerable effort it takes to get there from the continental US (the details of the 12 day voyage from North Carolina were covered in the previous blog post).

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The Marine and the Rasta

23 Thursday May 2019

Posted by farreachvoyages in People, Uncategorized, Voyaging

≈ 1 Comment

The Marine and Tanza the Rasta barber.

As the departure date for the sail home gets closer it was time for a haircut. So I took Sweet Pea into the dinghy dock and walked up the hill to the local barber shop.

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Alone Again: Small Projects and Maximum Chill….

01 Wednesday May 2019

Posted by farreachvoyages in Maintenance, Musings, People, Repairs, Techniques, Tactics, Tips, Uncategorized, Voyaging

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Deep into Michener’s Tales of the South Pacific.

It was a sad day to see Gayle fly home. We had a great time together. But the kids have to declare their college selection by 1 May. She needed to assist them with another round of campus visits so they can make a wise choice. So we divided our combat power into two elements, each with missions to accomplish.

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A 30 Day Cruise in the Virgin Islands

25 Thursday Apr 2019

Posted by farreachvoyages in Boats, People, Techniques, Tactics, Tips, Uncategorized, Voyaging

≈ 2 Comments

We had a great cruise. The Far Reach performed wonderfully in a wide variety of conditions.

With fresh provisions on board we slipped the mooring in Elephant Bay, St Thomas on 12 March with only a basic plan—sail towards St John and proceed somewhere from there.

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A Long Beat Back to St Thomas

09 Saturday Mar 2019

Posted by farreachvoyages in Musings, People, Planning, Techniques, Tactics, Tips, Uncategorized, Voyaging

≈ 1 Comment

 

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Beating back against the NE Trades from Culebra to St Thomas.

After a wonderful week in Culebra it was time to head back to St Thomas. Unfortunately, St Thomas is about 20nm dead upwind against the powerful Caribbean trades. We prepared the afternoon before by stowing gear and stripping the sun awnings and sail covers. We hauled Sweet Pea up and inverted her on the cabin top and snugged her down securely in her teak chocks.

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Easy Living

26 Tuesday Feb 2019

Posted by farreachvoyages in Modifications, Musings, People, Repairs, Techniques, Tactics, Tips, Uncategorized, Voyaging

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The Far Reach has proven to be wonderfully comfortable during extended live aboard. 

For the last month or so it’s been pretty easy living. The Far Reach and I have mostly remained here in Elephant Bay, St Thomas until Gayle could join us.  The pace of living has been slow and relaxed. There has been plenty of time to read, sleep, swim, eat, study the sky, think, and meet new people.

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Jost Van Dyke, BVI to St Thomas, USVI

04 Friday Jan 2019

Posted by farreachvoyages in Musings, People, Techniques, Tactics, Tips, Uncategorized, Voyaging

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I slipped out of Jost Van Dyke early on 30 December. The anchorage was already getting crowded in anticipation of the big New Years Eve bash. The night before I left, while I was ashore helping Baba, a 62’ private charter cat anchored way too close on the starboard side of the Far Reach…exactly the reason I wanted to get out of Great Harbor.

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The FR and the cat got much closer than this photo depicts.

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Wonderful People and Anchoring Woes

29 Saturday Dec 2018

Posted by farreachvoyages in Musings, People, Techniques, Tactics, Tips, Uncategorized, Voyaging

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The Far Reach—Great Harbor, Jost Van Dyke

My 13th Day at Jost Van Dyke. I have spent the last 8 days helping out Ali Baba on whatever projects he has lined up. Painting, helping run wires, building a booth for the New Years festivities, etc. I have really enjoyed working with Baba and getting to know him and Urinthia. They have fed me and engaged me in interesting wide ranging conversations.  I have learned a little about Island culture and got a peek or two about what goes on behind the scenes.  I have traveled all over the world yet never cease to be humbled by the kindness so many people extend to people they barely know. There is nothing that demonstrates how we are so much more alike than different like foreign travel especially when you engage outside your own community and culture.

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I’ve known Baba and Urinthia for three years.  If you want disco and loud music Foxy’s is the place to go.  But this is where the best food is on JVD.  It’s a great place to bring a family or a friend and have a slow meal and a long conversation. And Baba also has a fantastic and diverse play-list loud enough to hear but quiet enough not to interfere in conversation.

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Splicing Wire Standing Rigging in British Columbia

23 Sunday Sep 2018

Posted by farreachvoyages in Boats, People, Planning, Upgrades

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Liverpool Splice

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I spent three weeks on Vancouver Island splicing rigging and helping my friend Kaj install the rig on his self built Lyle Hess designed 34’ Falmouth Cutter.

As mentioned in an earlier post, I was invited by my friend Kaj Jakobsen, to help him  step the mast and splice the standing rigging on his beautiful Lyle Hess designed 34’ Falmouth Cutter.  I flew to Vancouver Island in the middle of July.  I had never been to British Columbia and all I can say is wow!  It is gorgeous.  It reminded me of Montana but with a lot of water.  Many islands.  Clear water.  Deep fiords.  Lovely Douglas Fir trees everywhere.  Clear sunny skies.  Perfect temps.

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Cape Lookout Summer Cruise

18 Monday Jun 2018

Posted by farreachvoyages in Local Sailing, Musings, People, Uncategorized, Voyaging

≈ 1 Comment

We had hoped to sail to Bermuda this summer but it was just not in the cards. We had too many balls in the air especially with the kids graduating from home high school and the seminar I teach at Camp Lejeune graduating at the end of May. So, we decided to enjoy a more simple to execute, week long cruise out to the Cape Lookout National Seashore. This trip was just for Gayle and me. Because the kids are usually with us, it was the first time Gayle and I have been alone on the Far Reach for more than a night. So we left the newly graduated high school seniors at home with a credit card and the car keys.

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The Far Reach all provisioned and ready to go.

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