21 Tuesday Jun 2022
Posted in Planning, Provisioning, Techniques, Tactics, Tips, Voyaging
Sailing home to NC from the Virgin Islands requires thinking about timing. If you leave too early you can get smashed by powerful low pressure systems coming off the SE US coast in the late spring or early summer as you approach the land. Also, along the offshore route, once you clear the trade winds just NW of the Virgin Islands, you can sail into an area of high pressure in the Atlantic and lose the wind for days or even weeks.
Continue reading30 Thursday Dec 2021
Posted in Navigation, Planning, Provisioning, Techniques, Tactics, Tips, Voyaging
With the selfsteering windvane back in fighting condition we provisioned the Far Reach for our planned six months in the West Indies. Since this was our third voyage there Gayle has gotten pretty good at knowing what we need to purchase here in the states. I have heard sailors argue that “excess storage capacity and heavy provisioning in the states is not necessary since people eat everywhere.” That may be but almost everything in the West Indies costs two to three times what it costs in the states. So, while she worked the provisions I gathered all the tools, gear, equipment, lines, repair parts, books, navigation equipment to include my sextant, snorkel gear, etc that needed to be stowed on the boat. I made lists then began making trips to the marina to get the gear aboard and stowed. I tested my Sony SW7600GR short wave SSB receiver and the long-wire antenna making sure I could get the key stations I needed to be able to hear to get weather. We also test a new piece of equipment for this voyage–a Garmin In-Touch Mini satellite texting device.
Continue reading02 Sunday Jun 2019
Posted in Local Sailing, Modifications, Planning, Techniques, Tactics, Tips, Uncategorized, Upgrades, Voyaging
The wind in the SW North Atlantic north of the Caribbean remains elusive. I discussed it with Chris Parker of Marine Weather Center last week. Together we came up with three options:
09 Saturday Mar 2019
Posted in Musings, People, Planning, Techniques, Tactics, Tips, Uncategorized, Voyaging
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.
24 Monday Dec 2018
Posted in Planning, Techniques, Tactics, Tips, Uncategorized, Voyaging
Anchored in 10’ of gin clear water on a sandy bottom in Great Harbor, Jost Van Dyke.
I departed Beaufort, NC on the heels of a low pressure system and after 12 days at sea made landfall across the north bank of the British Virgin Islands. I cleared in through customs at Great Harbor, Jost Van Dyke where I anchored in clear blue water on a sandy bottom.
23 Sunday Sep 2018
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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.
23 Saturday Dec 2017
Posted in Equipment, Modifications, Planning, Repairs, Sails, Techniques, Tactics, Tips, Upgrades, Voyaging
Here we are departing Hancock Marina on 29 Nov 2015 for the BVI. There was not a breath of air. We used the engine to get to the head of Adams Creek on the ICW that afternoon. The next day we sailed all the way down the ICW, under two bridges, and out to Cape Lookout where we waited for a weather window to cross the Gulf Stream. A few days later a friend linked up with us in the Bight at Cape Lookout and we transferred the engine to his skiff. We sailed to the BVI engine free.
While I would prefer to have the Far Reach engine free all the time it would require access to a mooring that we could sail on and off. There are very few moorings in NC and none where we are. She is berthed in a small marina with 360° of protection. So, we often carry a Honda 9.9hp four stroke outboard on a custom-made removable swing arm bracket attached to the port quarter. The outboard allows us to more conveniently move her in and out of her slip, make the tight turn onto the fairway, then exit the narrow 1/4 mile long channel out to the Neuse River.
26 Sunday Nov 2017
Posted in Modifications, Planning, Provisioning, Repairs
The “scratch and patch” repair technique I used to repair the small damaged area on both winch bases worked very well. I can’t tell where the repair was made on the port base. Though it still required five repair coats and two full coats over the entire base it still saved a bunch of work.
For the last couple weeks we have been working on several projects as we continue to either further refine the Far Reach’s few systems or conduct routine maintenance. One project was the installation of a camcleat for the jib downhaul System, which is a separate article.
The first varnish project was to repair some damaged varnish on the teak stays’l winch bases. The bases are about 4” tall and are varnished. On top of the base is a 2” thick bare teak pad that serves to raise the winch up enough so the drum is above the top of the coaming. Though we varnish the coamings and pads every four months, there was a break in the varnish on the top edge of each pad. Horizontal surfaces always receive more abuse than vertical surfaces so this damage was not a big surprise.
21 Thursday Apr 2016
20 April 2016, The Far Reach, Anchored, Simpson Bay, St. Maarten
Anchored in Simpson Bay, St Maarten.
At 1400 on 19 April I slipped the mooring at Elephant Bay, St Thomas and sailed SE down the East Gregory Channel headed for open water. My destination was St Martin(French side) / St Maarten (Dutch side), about 105 miles due east as the crow flies. This is often considered a difficult sail as the winds and ocean swell can be big and the wind is almost always on the nose. It seems most sailors motor this passage. The Far Reach does not have such a capability so sail we must, regardless the conditions.
12 Tuesday Apr 2016
Gayle, Cailin, and Eric flew back to NC on 8 April to complete homeschool testing and participate in a couple of local homeschooled acivities planned moths ago. Nonetheless, it was very hard and emotional to see them off.
I am making preparations for some singlehanded sailing down island. The exact destination is undetermined. I’ll have to make a decision by 15 May either to turn NE and sail back to NC or sail to the SE for Grenada. Our reunion plans will be built around the chosen destination.
It has not been this quiet on the Far Reach in months. We are both feeling a little lonely.
Far Reach Voyages 