It is said that it’s the journey, not the destination that matters. With all due respect to the journey, after two months of sailing Narragansett Bay only to return to my mooring in Jamestown, I was jonsing for a destination. At the advice of my colleagues from Cruising World magazine, I decided that my firstContinue reading “Wandering in Wickford”
Tag Archives: Sailing
Mistakes Made and Lessons Learned
Over the past few weeks I’ve gotten out sailing half a dozen times. Most days, I’m happy to report, progress was made and I’ve SLOWLYYYYY but surely been staring to figure out this whole wind-powered thing. Then there are days, like I had a few weeks ago that humble me in a hurry. On thisContinue reading “Mistakes Made and Lessons Learned”
A view that doesn’t suck
They say a picture is worth a thousand words but I can think of only one…ahhhh
Over the Top
My tiptoes screaming uncle, my arm stretched as high as it would possibly go but still I was forced to watch helplessly as my halyard (the line that lifts and lowers the sails) passed beyond my reach climbing up and over the pulley at the top of my mast. In a rush to clean upContinue reading “Over the Top”
Vindication
After months of toiling in the wood shop, weekends of sanding and painting and days spent pouring over sailing forums, it was finally time to put the Karen Marie to the test. My sails were aboard and prepped, the halyards were (re)attached and all systems were a go. It was time to go for aContinue reading “Vindication”
We have splashdown
Riding the marina launch to the recently splashed Karen Marie, I peered through the mooring field trying to get a glimpse of her. My tip-toes found relief quickly when her profile came into view. Her bowed sheer line seemed to smile at me and I smiled looking at the mast, standing vertically for the firstContinue reading “We have splashdown”
Moving a mast
Since day one of working with Jim on the mast I wondered, “how are we going to get the mast across the bridge to Jamestown?” I voiced this question a few times but never got a serious answer, “we’ll float it across,” or “we’ll throw it in your car” were traditional replies. If Jim wasn’tContinue reading “Moving a mast”
A Father’s Day Shout Out
Cold, cramped and bored out of my mind, those are the feelings that return to me when I think back to my old man’s first lesson on how to change the oil of the family’s 33-foot Egg Harbor. It was early on a weekend morning (It was probably 8 o’clock but on a Saturday whenContinue reading “A Father’s Day Shout Out”
A Wheel Pain in the A$$
With Christmas and the New Year fast approaching, I would be taking a break from mast construction to spend time with my family on Long Island. Not wanting to completely lose momentum, I brought home my wooden cabin doors, cockpit bench seats and the wheel, all of which had layers of varnish that were peelingContinue reading “A Wheel Pain in the A$$”
I love the smell of Varnish in the morning (and night)
Driving over the Pell Bridge between Newport and Jamestown , I couldn’t help but notice more and more boats out on the water. The sailboats gliding across the bay were so close yet so far away. Though it was impossible to see, I imagined the sailors had smiles as full as their sails, laughing at the commuters aboveContinue reading “I love the smell of Varnish in the morning (and night)”
Boy and a Boat 