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 reading13 Sunday Jan 2019
Posted in Modifications, Provisioning, Uncategorized, Upgrades, Voyaging
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Water hauling day: 35 gallons or 280 lbs of water. Our 9’ Fatty Knees has been a real work horse for almost 15 years. She’s tough, rows well, and with a 15’ tall mast carries a lot of sail for her size. I can’t imagine trading her for an inflatable.
As part of our “keep it simple” approach to all things sailing we have developed a system for filling the water tanks on the Far Reach. It didn’t happen all at once…it took a little time and some trial and error.
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.
20 Friday May 2016
Posted in Provisioning, Voyaging
20 May 2016–The Far Reach, Anchored, Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten.
The Far Reach at anchor in Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten waiting to be turned loose for the trip home.
I spent 2 1/2 hours yesterday scrubbing the hull of the Far Reach in preparation for my upcoming singlehanded passage back to NC.
I moved the Far Reach out of the lagoon this morning. I have provisioned with food, ice, water, and cleared Customs. With luck I’ll get underway this afternoon. That would put me near Virgin Gorda tomorrow morning. I can divert to the BVI in daylight should the halyard chafe issue not be solved.
The winds are expected to be light for the next week. Could be a slow passage. Will have to see. inhave had a great trip this year. I have learned a lot. I have also gained tremendous confidence in the Far Reach. With luck, I’ll make landfall at Cape Lookout and 10-14 days.
Far Reach Voyages 