Showing posts with label at. Show all posts
Showing posts with label at. Show all posts
Sunday, 9 April 2017
Top 10 funny things at our survey
Top 10 funny things heard at our survey (on the boat we didn't buy!)
1. Surveyor: The autopilot doesn’t work
Owner: Yes, it does.
Surveyor: It doesn’t turn the wheel.
Owner: I use it all the time.
Owner: Yes, it does.
Surveyor: It doesn’t turn the wheel.
Owner: I use it all the time.
2. Surveyor: The stove doesn’t work.
Owner: Yes, it does. I’ll show you (see separate post)
Surveyor: OK. We’ll call it hazardous and unusable.
Owner: Yes, it does. I’ll show you (see separate post)
Surveyor: OK. We’ll call it hazardous and unusable.
3. Husband: Did you know the (400 hr) engine is smoking?
Broker: (crickets chirping)
Broker: (crickets chirping)
4. Surveyor: Four of the batteries aren’t secured--unless someone is laying on the ¼ berth.
5. Surveyor: Did you know the boat doesn’t have a hot water heater?
Me: Yes.
Surveyor: (crickets chirping)
Me: Yes.
Surveyor: (crickets chirping)
6. Surveyor: Let’s go sailing.
Husband: Did you see the whisker stays?
Surveyor: Yeah, let’s not put that under a load.
Husband: Did you see the whisker stays?
Surveyor: Yeah, let’s not put that under a load.
7. Me: Are those blisters in the hull?
Husband touches one & it squirts in his face.
(OK, not “heard,” but still funny)
Husband touches one & it squirts in his face.
(OK, not “heard,” but still funny)
8. Me: (after blisters are discovered) Did you know the broker is starting to touch my knee?
Husband: (laughter)
Husband: (laughter)
9. Surveyor: The alternator isn’t working.
Broker: Should we start the generator? (we’re motoring)
Surveyor: Sure. (To me, sitting on the generator). Is it loud?
Broker: Should we start the generator? (we’re motoring)
Surveyor: Sure. (To me, sitting on the generator). Is it loud?
10. The broker backing the boat into the haul out (too long and to much cursing to share)
Thursday, 9 October 2014
In the Whitsundays at last – Shaw Island
21 October 2015
After days and days of south easterlies, the wind was finally forecast to swing to a north easterly so it was definitely time to leave our cosy spot on Brampton Island’s northern shore and move on. We decided to sail to an anchorage on the southern side of Thomas Island which looked good on the charts and enjoyed good reviews in both of our cruising guide books we were carrying.
We made an early start to the trip to make the most of the wind before the northerly change came through. As Brampton grew smaller over the stern railing, the breeze persisted from the South East in the 10-12 knot range giving us a fairly gentle downwind sail.
We spotted a catamaran a mile or so east of us sailing south and our AIS revealed it to be friends from our time on the Indonesian Rally in 2011, Colin and his son Alex on Splashdown. We had hoped to catch up with them in Airlie Beach but now they were taking advantage of the predicted break in the ever persistent south-easterlies to run for home on the Gold Coast. We were able to have a good chat on the radio though as we sailed by each other.
By the time we rounded Tinsmith and Linne Islands there was still no sign of the predicted wind shift so we elected to change our destination to Shaw Island further to the north. There are anchorages both sides of its western end in the bay of Burning Point or in Billbob Bay which would provide us safe options whether the wind stayed south easterly or did in fact swing north.
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| Our intended destination changed to Plan B of Shaw Island when the wind didn't swing as forecast. |
It had been quite an uneventful sail on relatively smooth seas. The sail trim needed very little attention and Ben & Gerry (our B&G autopilot) were doing a great job of steering the boat. We were very relaxed in the cockpit watching the world slowly float by when the sound of the ratchet on our fishing rod screamed loudly for a few seconds.
We were both at the stern very quickly peering out towards our trailed lure where a dark shadow in the water appeared to be lazily following behind stalking it. Rob grabbed the fishing rod out of its holder and eased out some line to drop the lure back towards the lurking shape. It also dropped back. He then reeled in some line and as the lure moved forward the shadow kept station about a metre or two behind again. The lure was alternatively eased then retrieved another two or three times as the game continued until suddenly the ratchet screamed as the line ran hard. The fish had taken the lure and was off.
As Rob slowly wound on the resistance a fair bit of line ran out before the reel started to hold it. The moment he tried to wind some back in the previously unidentified fish revealed itself emerging high out of the water and tail walking across the surface ready to fight for its freedom. We’d hooked a good sized sailfish. Ever the game fisherman’s daughter determined to try to land the catch, Karen screamed “How the hell do I back the boat up on the fish under sail?”
The short answer is “You can’t,” but it was all a moot point as our sailfish made short work of our tackle and busted free seconds later. Retrieving the line we found the swivel had broken. Rob suggested that it was probably for the best as trying to land an angry sailfish on our high stern without one of us getting impaled on its bill may have been a risky exercise. Karen would have none of that maintaining if we’d got it to the boat she’d have “landed the bastard.” Knowing her determination she probably would have. Excitement over, we resumed our near horizontal positions in the cockpit and continued our otherwise sedate passage to Shaw Island.
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| The water shelves very slowly to the beach at Shaw Island so we were anchored well out. |
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| Looking across the passage to Lindeman Island Resort - also mothballed at the moment. |
There was still no sign of any wind shift as we approached the island’s western extremity so we sailed around Burning Point and anchored in very calm waters of its bay. We were now officially in the Whitsunday Islands at last.
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| Brampton Island to Shaw Island - 24.2 Nautical Miles - 4 Hours 36 Minutes Average Speed 5.3 knots - High Speed 6.9 knots |
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| Calm conditions in the anchorage at Shaw Island |
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| A number of other boats joined us in the bay through the afternoon. |
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| Good night from Shaw Island. |
If you have only recently discovered our blog and would like to read how it all started, or work through our previous adventures, click the link to go back to our first blog entry. Stuff it. Let's just go sailing anyway. We hope you enjoy reading the previous posts to catch up on our story.
Saturday, 10 May 2014
Paddle Art at the Abbe Museum Maine
The Abbe Museum in Maine apparently held a Paddle Art auction in August of this year as part of its 80th anniversary celebrations. Nearly 2 dozen full sized paddles (all with ottertail style blades) were decorated by local artists. Some were quite over the top with a modern art flair. Below are three that I particularly enjoy - I guess I tend to favour the more traditional types of motifs. Clicking each image will take you to the info page on the museum's site:
David Moses Bridges, Passamaquoddy
Stanley Neptune, Penobscot
Jo "Hugga" Dana, Penobscot
Thursday, 26 September 2013
Look back up at me in an old spicy way
Hello boaters, look down at your panel, and then back up to mine, now back to your panel, now back to mine. Sadly your panel isn't mine, but if you used acrylics, instead of those other poor choices, your panels could look like mine.
Look down, then back up. Where are you? You're on a boat with the panels your boat could have.
What's in your hand, now back to me. I have it, it's an acrylic panel. Look again, the panel is now etched with a laser. Anything is possible when you use acrylics for your panels.
I'm, supposed to be on a horse now, but I don't seem to fit. What should you do? Why of course, look back up at me.
CNC cut 3/8" panels, laser etched nomenclature, beveled, and edge polished. The two panels cost $140.00 and were made by Delcraft, priceless. I would still be trying to sand the fur off of Starboard.
The photo of Thumbelina is from Wikipedia, and was taken by Phil Konstantin.
Monday, 3 June 2013
Building a wooden boat at home
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Tuesday, 9 April 2013
A Day At Fern Valley On The Soque
I would guess that Greg Morgan of G.R. Morgan Outdoors and I have been talking about getting on the water together for several years and it's never worked out since we could never get our schedules to jive. With my family out of town last weekend, it was the perfect opportunity to jump over the state line to Georgia to spend the night at Greg's house and then up early the next morning for the easy hour plus run up to Fern Valley On The Soque.
Greg has guided nearby properties on the Soque River for several years but lately has been spending more time at Fern Valley On The Soque. This property is owned by Glad and Marty Simmons and he's enjoyed a great relationship with them as they continue to enhance their property with new sections of water to fish. Greg was excited to show a newly opened addition to Fern Valley with a long meadow section just downstream that is a mix of pools and riffles in a wooded area surrounded by pastures.
We decided to spend the morning on the meadow section and geared up at the cars, let the pups take a run, and then walked down to the river. It wasn't long before we saw trout (some of them very large) fining in the pools. We took turns working our way downstream before working upstream.
I started the morning with a sparkle minnow casting it down and across the stream which got a follow from a large rainbow that turned away but committed on the next cast with an eat. Nothing like a twenty plus inch rainbow to start off the day. The rest of the morning was a mix of rainbows and brook trout which were all eager for a streamer. This is a very visual fishery where you can not only see trout holding in the pools and riffles but also can watch as they react (or not) to a streamer.
We continued to work our way upstream and it was a mix of singles and few doubles to make things interesting. Around noon we returned to the cars for lunch, let the pups run again, and then drove up to Fern Valley to spend the afternoon there.
The water in the Fern Valley section is more mountainous and rocky with deep pools. Walking along the river it was easy to spot trout throughout the river. Where streamers were the ticket on the meadow water, a small dry fly with a soft hackle dropped off the back was the preferred setup for the afternoon.
We ended the day going back to streamers but they didn't get much attention. It was getting late in the afternoon and I had three hours home to drive and work the next day. All in all a great day on the water and I appreciate Greg for the invitation to show me just one of the places that he puts clients on fish.
Over the years I've fished a few different private water properties and I have to say that Glad and Marty Simmons run a top notch operation. We spent some time speaking with each of them and it was evident that they love their little place in the woods and continue to work hard to make sure that the experience is exceptional for those who visit.
Looking for a great day on the water? Give G.R. Morgan Outdoors a call and consider spending the day at Fern Valley On The Soque.
Greg has guided nearby properties on the Soque River for several years but lately has been spending more time at Fern Valley On The Soque. This property is owned by Glad and Marty Simmons and he's enjoyed a great relationship with them as they continue to enhance their property with new sections of water to fish. Greg was excited to show a newly opened addition to Fern Valley with a long meadow section just downstream that is a mix of pools and riffles in a wooded area surrounded by pastures.
We decided to spend the morning on the meadow section and geared up at the cars, let the pups take a run, and then walked down to the river. It wasn't long before we saw trout (some of them very large) fining in the pools. We took turns working our way downstream before working upstream.
I started the morning with a sparkle minnow casting it down and across the stream which got a follow from a large rainbow that turned away but committed on the next cast with an eat. Nothing like a twenty plus inch rainbow to start off the day. The rest of the morning was a mix of rainbows and brook trout which were all eager for a streamer. This is a very visual fishery where you can not only see trout holding in the pools and riffles but also can watch as they react (or not) to a streamer.
We continued to work our way upstream and it was a mix of singles and few doubles to make things interesting. Around noon we returned to the cars for lunch, let the pups run again, and then drove up to Fern Valley to spend the afternoon there.
The water in the Fern Valley section is more mountainous and rocky with deep pools. Walking along the river it was easy to spot trout throughout the river. Where streamers were the ticket on the meadow water, a small dry fly with a soft hackle dropped off the back was the preferred setup for the afternoon.
We ended the day going back to streamers but they didn't get much attention. It was getting late in the afternoon and I had three hours home to drive and work the next day. All in all a great day on the water and I appreciate Greg for the invitation to show me just one of the places that he puts clients on fish.
Over the years I've fished a few different private water properties and I have to say that Glad and Marty Simmons run a top notch operation. We spent some time speaking with each of them and it was evident that they love their little place in the woods and continue to work hard to make sure that the experience is exceptional for those who visit.
Looking for a great day on the water? Give G.R. Morgan Outdoors a call and consider spending the day at Fern Valley On The Soque.
Wednesday, 9 May 2012
Trapped at Great Keppel Island
23-28 June 2016
We not sure what it is about Great Keppel Island but every time we come here with plans to stay a day or two it ends up much longer. We try to blame it on the wind not being right to continue on but really we just love the place so much we find it hard to drag ourselves away.
When we stumbled out of our bunk after a great night’s sleep in the calm of North West Island, some forty nautical miles east of the Keppel Islands, we were greeted with an absolutely stunning morning of glassy water and breathless air. Rob quickly took the opportunity to point out to the two New South Wales crews anchored with us what a great State of Origin game it had been the previous night. His enthusiasm for the football didn’t seem shared by either Chances or Sea Whiskers this morning.
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| Anne on Chances took this great morning shot of Our Dreamtime and Sea Whiskers at North West Island |
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| Our anchor chain dropping 9 metres then laying across the sand. |
As tempting as it seemed to stay in the paradise of North West Islands, a moderate north westerly wind was predicted to spring up that afternoon to be followed by a strong south westerly change a day later. This would be a very uncomfortable and potentially unsafe place to be in those conditions. It was time to bite the bullet and motor across the windless water to Great Keppel Island for a couple of nights before continuing on up the coast.
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| Karen on the helm as we say goodbye to North West Island |
We didn’t bother to raise any sail at all during the day as the trip across was about as boring as you could get. With our clean hull and Propspeed coated propeller working well together we were able to maintain six knots at just 1300rpm in the flat water which certainly helps limit fuel consumption. To help the time pass we both read our books while keeping an eye on the waters ahead. Rob also broke his boredom by cooking up a nice pizza for lunch in the BBQ and Karen felt inspired enough to bake some yummy banana bread for afternoon snacks.
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| It's all about the food on Our Dreamtime |
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| Fresh baked banana bread. |
As we crossed the main coastal shipping channel we again made our way through a huge area of brown sludge. We have come across large areas of this in our passages in Queensland coastal waters and the Gulf of Carpentaria. Some people argue that it’s just coral spawn but having lived in Townsville and the Whitsundays we’ve seen enough of that to know this is something else. The crud we motored through this time re-enforced our belief that what we encounter is foul ballast water pumped out by bulk carriers as they approach harbour to load up with coal. It’s awful.
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| This crap in the water is disgusting. |
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| It was not a small patch of the crud that we motored through |
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| The water was nice and clean again once we cleared the shipping channel. This is Barren Island east of GKI. |
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| North West Island to Great Keppel Island - 43.2 Nautical Miles - 7 Hours 10 Minutes Average Speed 6.0 Knots - Max Speed - 6.8 |
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| Our anchorage in 3 to 5 metres of clear water at Great Keppel Island |
Fortunately the water was beautiful, clean and clear where we anchored near Svenson’s Beach on the northern side of Great Keppel Island. Karen prepared a very nice rack of lamb and vegies which Rob cooked on the BBQ as we cracked a bottle of bubbles to salute the sunset.
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We then spend the next few days simply enjoying the fantastic island that is Great Keppel. We did some exploring in the dinghy and put the crab pots down amongst the mangroves in the tidal creek. Karen sat on the beach and did some painting while Rob got stuck into the blog again. More books were read, great food cooked and eaten and a bottle or two of wine emptied.
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| The BBQ continues to get a workout on Our Dreamtime |
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| Putting the crab pots down |
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| Even inside the mangrove creek the Great Keppel water was crystal clear. |
Saturday June 25 marked Karen's Father's birthday but also the 40th anniversary of the day her family launched G.F.V. Wahoo, the 36 ft game fishing boat that was to be Karen's home in the Whitsunday Islands for a number of years. We were able call Trevor with birthday wishes and some nostalgic recollections of their first voyage on Wahoo from Brisbane up to her new home at Shute Harbour. The next morning Karen's Mum emailed us some great old photos including one from their stop at Great Keppel Island back in 1976.
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| Karen with her family on Wahoo's flybridge on launch day. |
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| 1976 - Karen and her brother Russell enjoying Svenson's Beach at GKI while Dad cleans the dinghy with Wahoo at anchor. |
Late each afternoon we made our way ashore at Svensen’s Beach and gathered with other cruisers around the fire to meet new people, swap stories, enjoy a drink or four and of course, discuss the weather and sailing plans.
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| Karen and Anne from Chances at sundowners |
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| Karen's spinnaker themed sundowner snacks |
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| Each night delivered a great sunset |
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| Cruisers around the Svensen's Beach fire for sundowners |
It’s the sort of place where it’s very easy to convince yourself that although the weather tomorrow may be OK to head north it’s probably going to be better if we stay another day – or two. Yep! We love it here.
But enough is enough. The forecast looks pretty good so we will definitely leave tomorrow - probably - OK maybe. |
| Goodnight from Great Keppel Island. |
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If you have only recently discovered our blog and would like to read how it all started, or work through our previous adventures, click the link to go back to our first blog entry. Stuff it. Let's just go sailing anyway.
We hope you enjoy reading the previous posts to catch up on our story.
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