And We're Off.................

Our New Neighbor
Queen Mary II

The first step is the hardest.  On September 10^th, we began the journey.  After leaving our home mooring in Bristol, RI we headed south toward Newport.  While this is the weekend of the Newport Boat Show, we were able to find a comfortable place to anchor in Brenton Cove.  After celebratory dinner at the Moorings Restaurant we headed back to our floating home.  When we awoke the following morning we had a new neighbor in the anchorage, The Queen Mary 2.  Interestingly, its length is listed as .1 nautical miles and its depth as 36 feet.  This is one huge ship.  Not the kind of cruise ship that frequents Newport. 

Murray enjoying time on Block Island's
Crescent Beach

Block Island 

After a walk in Newport with Murray, we set off for Block Island.  Winds were strong (up to 30 knots) from the SW, the direction we were heading.  With 5 tacks, we were able to sail all the way past Point Judith and on to “the Block”.  Once in the Great Salt Pond, winds picked up a bit making for a lively night out.  The Great Salt Pond is a wonderful anchorage but because of the frequent use by motor and sail boats alike, the bottom provides fairly poor holding.  With high winds and poor holding, we hopped on a town mooring for the night.  Block is one of our favorite places and a fitting spot for our first “stay put day.”  We visited Crescent Beach where the combination of wind and sand gave us a “exfoliating spa treatment”, dad lunch and a beer at the Oar and walk into Old Harbor.  Few places have the charm and beauty of Block Island. 

Sunset on Fisher Island Sound

From here we took a short hop to Stonington, CT.,  a beautiful and protected harbor.  With a charming waterfront area, Kay had a chance to visit a number of stores that she is fond of.  The beginning of our journey seems to have a familiar stops in our favorite places, ones that will not see for a few years.  Once we drop below NYC we will begin visiting new territory, places neither of us have ever been. 

Anchored in the Sand Pit
Port Jefferson, NY

We left Stonington at 5:55 AM on Friday for a 65 mile sail to Port Jefferson, NY.  While 65 miles may not sound like much, @ 4.5-6 knots it is a reasonably long day sail.  We picked up a mooring in the sand pit at sunset and settled in for dinner and rest.

Murray meets his match

Sunday, we had a sweet sail to Hay (Zeigler) Cove and again picked up a mooring for the night.  This is where we interned both my father and nephew.  It is a special place in our hearts for that reason.  Tomorrow we will venture to Mamaroneck where we will spend a few days with mom before heading south.  Hopefully we will be joined by Mark for the ride to “the city” before heading off the New Jersey coast for our first overnight sail of the journey.  Time in the Chesapeake is in the future.

As the fall weather seems to be upon us, it feels good to be heading south, following the moderate temperatures and hopefully clear skies.  

Thanks for following our adventures.  More to come soon.

Richard and Kay

Bristol and Counting

Kay enjoying the sunshine

Bristol, our home port for the past 4 years, continues to have a hold on us.  While we boarded Atalanta one week ago as our new home, we have not been able to begin our journey due to a few "minor" last minute repairs.  As Richard was replacing the "spreader boots" on the mast, he noticed a crack in the end cap of one.  This is a small but critical piece that holds the stays (cables holding the mast up) in place.  Since the mast is 30 years old, the part has to be fabricated.  That will happen on Monday.  The chart plotter was another piece of equipment acting a bit funny so it is on the bench of Ray Marine being repaired as we speak.  Hope to see it reinstalled on Monday as well.

Once these final items are taken care of, it is our hope to be joined by our good friend Paul and sail to Block Island.  Block seems like a fitting first port on our journey as it is one of our favorite places in the world.  It will be our last time on Crescent Beach and eating at the Oar for some time.

We don't think Murray really knows that this is his new home and that it will be a while before he gets to sleep on the old couch.  With time, he will learn.

We are anxious to get going and see all that is ahead.  In the mean while, we will enjoy the company of new friends here in Bristol and the warmth of the sun.

Moving Onboard - Finally!

Jamestown Bridge, Newport, RI

A visit from Steve 

Today is moving day and we are out of our house.  With a one day stop in New Rochelle to visit Mom we should be living aboard Atalanta by Friday!  Recent days have been focused on packing all of our belongings in a 40 foot container and stocking Atalanta with what we think we will need for the next two years aboard.  With the transition in full swing, the magnitude of our adventure is finally hitting.  Spending time with family and friends has even more meaning.  Kay and I are looking forward to visits from friends and family.  We have our first booking for the end of February and are very excited to think about hosting Sue and Dennis in paradise. 

Atalanta is having some final work done on her this week.  Custom Navigation is installing our AIS system, which will allow us to identify other boats by name on the open seas.  This is a key piece of safety equipment for open water passage making.  We are also getting our SAT phone set up so we will be able to access phone and data regardless of our location, including out at sea. 

With a little bit of luck, we will be leaving Bristol, RI the first week in September.  Our first leg of the journey will take us to familiar waters in Long Island Sound, culminating with a visit with Mom. 

Many of you have helped us greatly to prepare for this trip.  Kay and I are very grateful.  From Paul allowing us to store our container, to Rachel and Pat baby sitting our Truck, to Tara and Chad helping us move, to Dennis and Susan with all their advice, ideas and experience.  There are others, too many to list including all the venders, mechanics, and Bristol Marine.  Thank you one and all.

Our next posting will be the first of the actual voyage.  Stay tuned and stay in touch.

Engine Work a Success

Murray Grooving on the Wind

We just returned to Vermont after a great cruise east.  The overall purpose of the trip was to get our engine repaired at Hanson Marine Engineering in Marblehead, MA.  On the way we decided to have some fun and relaxation.  After a strong wind, high waves and rain, we arrived in Cuttyhunk.  Getting into the protection of Cuttyhunk Harbor gave new meaning to the phrase "shelter from the storm."  The next day we advanced to Quissitt to pick up Chad and Tara for a little R and R on Martha's Vineyard (see prior post).

Cape Cod Canal
Heading East

The sail to Marblehead (2/3's the way to Maine) was beautiful.  Fortunately, we were able to sail most of it and avoid using the engine which was leaking oil at a rate of 2 quarts every 4 hours.  Hanson Marine Engineering provides high quality work including a specialty with older Perkins engines like ours.  Fred Knowles has been our engine guru for the past three years.  He indicated that the rear main seal needed to be replaced.  Hanson was the only operation willing to do it with the engine in the boat.  All others wanted to pull the engine at a cost of over $10,000 (which doesn't include the engine repair).

We were on a mooring at the Boston Yacht Club for four days while Dan and Robbie did the Job.

Dan figuring out how to Lift the Engine 

Day one: problem solving how to raise the engine in the boat (6 inches or so) so that they could pull off the shaft, transmission, bell housing, and rear fly wheel to get to the rear seal.

Engine Lift Plate
In Cockpit

Day two: actually lift the engine, disassemble and get the part to the shop for the install of a new rear seal.

Pulling the Bell Housing
Off the Perkins

Day three:  Put it all back together and make sure it works.

Tight Engine Space

Robbie and Dan worked tirelessly. Some amazing problem solving to issues that they were constantly being challenged by became the order of the day.  It was amazing to watch them work.  What a great team.

By 4:00 PM on Saturday, the work was complete, the engine ran flawlessly, and the problem was solved.  Hard to believe how much work it was to put in a $75.00 part.  I cannot say enough good about Hanson and the job Robbie and Dan did.  Thanks Fred for making it all go so smoothly.  Now Kay and I feel the engine is ready for our journey south!

Robbie

Tools of the Trade

Home Sweet Home

Points East

Kay and Murray in the Narragansett

On July 24th, with Leo and Inky, we left Bristol, RI bound for Newport.  With the wind out of the south, we tacked our way out of the Narragansett.  After a wonderful day of sailing and a great dinner at the Moorings in Newport, we said goodbye to our guests and prepared to leave for points east the next morning.  The weather on the 25th was poor. With high seas and winds and fair to poor visibility we sailed to Cuttyhunk.  Cuttyhunk is the last of the Elizabeth Islands, a chain of islands that extend from Cape Cod into the North Atlantic and define Buzzards Bay to the North and Vineyard Sound to the South.  A tiring ride as the seas reached 4-6 feet and the winds were over 20 kts.  After a few bourbons and a good nights sleep in the protected inner harbor, we headed to Quissett Harbor to pick up Kay's daughter Tara and Chad.  

On Charlie and Cathy's mooring
in Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard

Once they were on board, the weather became beautiful.  We sailed to Edgartown and Vineyard Haven, both on Martha's Vineyard.  After returning to Quissett and saying good bye to Chad and Tara, we began our journey to Marblehead to meet Hanson Marine and Engineering for some fairly extensive engine work.  The journey to Marblehead is about 2/3 the distance to Maine.  Seems a shame not to continue there but unfortunately, time doesn't allow us this pleasure.

Chad and Tara

After one night in Plymouth, we were able to reach Marblehead with calm seas and clear skies.  Thursday and Friday will be engine work days, with Bobby and Dan pulling the rear end off the motor and replacing a rear seal.  Not a small or easy job to do while the boat is in the water.

Super Yacht on the Rocks in Woods Hole

In the Cape Cod Canal on way to Marblehead

While the boat is being repaired, we will explore Marblehead, a beautiful old sailing port, filled with homes from the 1700's, history, and stories.

At anchor in Hadley Harbor (Woods Hole)

Ready to Go East

As Richard recovers from his back going out, we are continuing to prepare for our transition to live aboard.  Activities are both continuing to prepare Atalanta and to pack up the house so that Liz and Stan can move back into their home now that they have returned from their two year sail. 

While most preparations are on the boat, some require one to go aloft.  Fortunately, Kay loves the view and is happy to go up, above, and beyond.  Today’s mast work included checking the spreader boots and repairing a broken flag halyard.  Once back down, Kay was ready for her next adventure.

We are hoping that Richard’s back will be better for our next adventure.  This coming week we are welcoming a friend of ours who spent years sailing with Richard’s father.  Meeting in Bristol and sailing to Newport with Leo will begin our trip east to the Vineyard once again.  We look forward to having Kay’s daughter, Tara and her partner, Chad on board for that leg of our cruise.  After relaxing for a few days on MV,

Kay and Richard will continue east to Marblehead, MA to have Fred Knowles and his mechanics at Hanson Marine work on the engine so that it is in tip top shape for its journey south.

Stay tuned.  

Cape Cod Cruise

The first week long cruise of the season took Kay, Murray, and Richard to points east.  It felt great to finally get beyond the Narraganset Bay and into open waters.

Our first night out took us to Cuttyhunk.  The winds were out of the SW at about 15.  While the seas were behind us, the "yawing" wasn't too bad and the ride was comfortable.  We arrived as the winds were picking up and decided to anchor inside the harbor.  There we found refuge and had a great night's sleep.  By 9:00 we were on our way to Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard.  We decided to go down Buzzards Bay and through Wood's Hole to catch the considerable current.  Fog was thick on the Vineyard Sound side of Wood's Hole.  Once in Nantucket Sound we had very limited visibility (less than 100 feet).  Fortunately, we have gotten used to navigating in the fog and had a great sail up to E-Town.  Once there, we took a town mooring and were tucked in for the Fourth of July celebrations to come.

Terry and Murray on a Starbord Tack

While in E-Town, we were able to connect with Vermont friends, Terry and Dan.  We enjoyed a dinner together on the fourth but missed the fireworks due to more fog.  The following day brought nothing but sunshine, great winds and a fabulous sail with Dan and Terry to Vineyard Haven, also on the Vineyard.

Martha's Vineyard coming into sight

While in Vineyard Haven, we joined our friends from Bristol and three other boats for a three day cruise.  After a wonderful dinner in Vineyard Haven, we all sailed to Menemsha Pond on the Southern end of the island.  We were one Sabre 402, two Little Harbor 44's, a Alden Sloop and a Lobster Boat.  Once in Menemsha we dinked in to get fresh swordfish (harpooned) for a beach cookout with the group.  We have to thank Dennis and Susan for inviting us to sail with the highly experienced group of travelers.  It was wonderful making new friends and hearing all the stories of so many miles of sailing.  New friends, new adventures... what could be better.

Music on the streets of Edgartown - 4th of July

Safely at anchor in Menemsha Bight

Kay makes landfall in Menemsha.

We finished up the week with a great sail back with "Blue Moon" to Bristol. After nine hours, it all ended with a bourbon with Kay, Dennis, and Sue at the Bristol YC. Perfect end to a great week.

Now back to the repairs of Atalanta as we get her ready for our great adventure.

Mark Twain