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#31
South East / Re: Finally Going Cruising
Last post by pgandw - Mar 29, 2025, 03:02 PMIf you get as far west in Albemarle Sound as Yeopim Creek, give me a call. We just might have some dock space, hot shower, and vittles. About 3 miles up the crik from Albemarle Plantation marina.
Fred W
Fred W
#32
TSBB General Talk / Re: Not so good news for launc...
Last post by Brian N. - Mar 29, 2025, 01:54 PMI'm lazy too, but I have no great options but to store my boat in the driveway, and raise/lower the mast every time. I live within 5 miles of several ramps, but one, just a five minute drive is the best. It is kind of a "hidden gem" owned by NY State, and for those of us who use it on a regular basis, we have seen an increase in users over the last 3 years so the secret is out. I've been avoiding weekend sails due to the growing number of boaters who use the ramp Saturdays and Sundays. There is another ramp just a 2 minute drive, owned by the Town but it is a complete zoo and until recent renovations had overhead wires too close for comfort. A third option is a great ramp on the local powerplant property. However they charge $35 per day.
#33
TSBB General Talk / Not so good news for launching...
Last post by noelH - Mar 29, 2025, 01:26 PMI'm lazy. It's only ~8miles to the Washburn Marina to trailer Vela to the ramps. Or ~9 miles to Thompson's West End Washburn Boat Club ramps. Or ~5 miles to the ramp in Bayfield (Blackhawk). So I seasonal on the trailer store the boat at the Washburn marina. No need to step the mast every trip. I'm lazy.
But this season. Received an email from the Washburn Marina. Major plumbing and parking lot repair. The ramps will be closed at least all of April. The water and sewer lines run under the ramp approach. A large section of the parking lot at least through May will be closed. Assuming repair and construction finishes on time. Which pretty much never happens up here for any Spring construction. The WEATHER. Like now. Winter weather advisory for the next couple days. Washburn Boat Club lot is very small. Maybe room for 6-8 trailers. With the Marina ramp closed the local fishing folks will all need to use that ramp. Add the too many outsiders that come up for Spring fishing. So thinking the alternative would be BlackHawk. Normally drop down Mannypenny and hook a right hand turn to the ramp. Mannypenny will be closed for new water and sewer lines and finally proper width and surfacing for unspecified time. If you ever have been to Bayfield in the summer you will understand how pulling a sailboat through or around "downtown" is a PITA. Which is what you will have to do to get access to Blackhawk.
But this season. Received an email from the Washburn Marina. Major plumbing and parking lot repair. The ramps will be closed at least all of April. The water and sewer lines run under the ramp approach. A large section of the parking lot at least through May will be closed. Assuming repair and construction finishes on time. Which pretty much never happens up here for any Spring construction. The WEATHER. Like now. Winter weather advisory for the next couple days. Washburn Boat Club lot is very small. Maybe room for 6-8 trailers. With the Marina ramp closed the local fishing folks will all need to use that ramp. Add the too many outsiders that come up for Spring fishing. So thinking the alternative would be BlackHawk. Normally drop down Mannypenny and hook a right hand turn to the ramp. Mannypenny will be closed for new water and sewer lines and finally proper width and surfacing for unspecified time. If you ever have been to Bayfield in the summer you will understand how pulling a sailboat through or around "downtown" is a PITA. Which is what you will have to do to get access to Blackhawk.
#34
TSBB General Talk / Re: Ice out, ice in
Last post by noelH - Mar 29, 2025, 12:58 PMDecades ago when I was a bit younger and maybe a bit more less wiser. Friend and I had to get one more L. Superior windsurfing session in. Epic NE conditions with F4-6 winds. Long fetch creating boom high rollers inside Chequamegon Bay. Balmy +10C air temp. Water temp felt warmer. Windchill from the spray was painful. Still a blast. Until both of us realized our feet even with booties were getting cold. Reduced board feel = more crashing. We stopped. Grabbed our gear and huddled in the leeward side of the local windsurf shop which was closed for the day. Thermometer in the late day sun read above freezing, but our lines have stiffened up with a slippery coating of ice. No fun de-rigging. Drove home in the wetsuit with heater on max.
At least sailing I can throw on proper clothing to keep me warm. Except like windsurfing, the fingers suffer. Picked up a pair of "freezer" like gloves. Heavy insulation, heavy rubber coating, almost up to the elbows coverage. Too bulky for anything but handling the tiller. At least warmer fingers.
Too cold windsurfing and sailing days are done. If I see ice anywhere on the water I stay dry. Better to be inside enjoying a cold drink. Am I older and wiser or just an older wimp?
Record for 1st out in this region of L. Superior is April 1st. My sailing instructor took his cat ketch dingy sailboat out among the growlers. He did make sure the forecast was for the offshore wind to stick around for awhile. The growlers can pack in along the shoreline with an onshore wind impeding your return to harbor. Wooden hull boat. Maybe more impact resistant than fiberglass?
At least sailing I can throw on proper clothing to keep me warm. Except like windsurfing, the fingers suffer. Picked up a pair of "freezer" like gloves. Heavy insulation, heavy rubber coating, almost up to the elbows coverage. Too bulky for anything but handling the tiller. At least warmer fingers.
Too cold windsurfing and sailing days are done. If I see ice anywhere on the water I stay dry. Better to be inside enjoying a cold drink. Am I older and wiser or just an older wimp?
Record for 1st out in this region of L. Superior is April 1st. My sailing instructor took his cat ketch dingy sailboat out among the growlers. He did make sure the forecast was for the offshore wind to stick around for awhile. The growlers can pack in along the shoreline with an onshore wind impeding your return to harbor. Wooden hull boat. Maybe more impact resistant than fiberglass?
#35
TSBB General Talk / Re: GO NOW!
Last post by noelH - Mar 29, 2025, 12:35 PMDec 31, 2024 was 7th full year of retirement. Bit opposite of what I though I would be doing. More time, less family obligations, more flexible schedule. Thought was more trips. Instead it has been becoming a "home body". Wake up in the morning and then do whatever seasonal activity nature allows. Go snowboarding, go windsurfing, go sailing, go hiking.... Veggie and fruit garden to tend to. Always a pile of firewood to split and stack if I get really bored. Had to renew the passport in '20. Haven't used it once since. Outside of family get togethers, the past trips have have been activity oriented. Basically just windsurfing and snowboarding adventures.
Not really into cruising. Prefer just day sailing. Most days sailing I don't get really anywhere. Long days may break 30nm of getting to nowhere to where I haven't been to before. Lake Superior is a bit on the large side. Always thought if into cruising a trip from Bayfield to Saxon Harbor to Black River Harbor to Ontonagon Harbor to Houghton Harbor to Copper Harbor would be fun. Even with a faster cruiser like a trimaran similar to a Dragonfly 25 or Farrier F22 the distances between harbors with minimum number of safe anchorages if not reaching the harbors would make for an interesting cruising adventure. My brother-in-law tried to make it to Copper Harbor in a 49 footer. Just him and a sailing buddy. They experienced which was typical L. Superior conditions. That is, everything from drifting in F1 to pucker moment. Sailed some days for +24 hours out of necessity. Didn't make to Copper Harbor. Had to come about and head back to Bayfield to get back to work in time.
Life and aging just happens. Sometimes my hesitation pays off. SSNHearingLoss in late Dec'23. Was an invalid for a month. Wobbly the rest of the winter. '23-24 winter plan was to purchase a season lift pass at the Big Mountain in NW Montana during their early season sale special pricing. MT snowboard road trip. Spend a month or so in WhiteFish. 11 days was the break even point for the season pass plus you get 5 days at Red Lodge. Between Big Mt. and Red Lodge stop by at SnowBowl, Bridger. Everyone I know who would consider such a trip has aged out of skiing and snowboarding. Maybe I have also. At least I'm still snowboarding and trying to take out a tree or snow fence laying down a Euro carve.
Not really into cruising. Prefer just day sailing. Most days sailing I don't get really anywhere. Long days may break 30nm of getting to nowhere to where I haven't been to before. Lake Superior is a bit on the large side. Always thought if into cruising a trip from Bayfield to Saxon Harbor to Black River Harbor to Ontonagon Harbor to Houghton Harbor to Copper Harbor would be fun. Even with a faster cruiser like a trimaran similar to a Dragonfly 25 or Farrier F22 the distances between harbors with minimum number of safe anchorages if not reaching the harbors would make for an interesting cruising adventure. My brother-in-law tried to make it to Copper Harbor in a 49 footer. Just him and a sailing buddy. They experienced which was typical L. Superior conditions. That is, everything from drifting in F1 to pucker moment. Sailed some days for +24 hours out of necessity. Didn't make to Copper Harbor. Had to come about and head back to Bayfield to get back to work in time.
Life and aging just happens. Sometimes my hesitation pays off. SSNHearingLoss in late Dec'23. Was an invalid for a month. Wobbly the rest of the winter. '23-24 winter plan was to purchase a season lift pass at the Big Mountain in NW Montana during their early season sale special pricing. MT snowboard road trip. Spend a month or so in WhiteFish. 11 days was the break even point for the season pass plus you get 5 days at Red Lodge. Between Big Mt. and Red Lodge stop by at SnowBowl, Bridger. Everyone I know who would consider such a trip has aged out of skiing and snowboarding. Maybe I have also. At least I'm still snowboarding and trying to take out a tree or snow fence laying down a Euro carve.
#36
South East / Finally Going Cruising
Last post by Wolverine - Mar 28, 2025, 04:41 PMMy friend in Ohio and I had planned to sail the Keys for 6 weeks this winter, but a surgery, 6 week recovery and a funeral delayed the trip to April 17th. A date we judged too late. So, he will be trailering his Compac Suncat to my house where we will start our voyage. As of now we are thinking of heading out of Oriental to Hubucken where we will spend the night on a creek off the Pamlico River. From there we will sail on to Washington. Once we're asked to leave we'll head to Bath. After they run us out, we head up the Alligator River and on to Elizabeth City. When they have enough of us, and if they hadn't called ahead, we'll try our luck in Kitty Hawk. By then we will surely need to sneak into Manteo under the cover of darkness. After ditching our disguises we'll need to hide in a less populated area like Ocracoke, the Outer Banks, Lookout Lighthouse, and Shackleford Banks. With luck we'll visit Fort Macon, where no doubt one of us will end up in a cell, Beaufort, and then up Adams Creek and home.
Without many places to seek refuge along the banks, our itinerary may change due to weather and time restraints, but so far this is the plan. I will try to post our progress, or lack of, for everyone to criticize and leave suggestions after we make those embarrassing mistakes.
If we stop in your town along our route, don't be put off by our rickety boats, lack of sailing prowess, strange dress, unshaven faces, or fermented breath. Buy us a beer and we'll consider you our friends. We may even allow you to photo us! What more could one ask for?
Without many places to seek refuge along the banks, our itinerary may change due to weather and time restraints, but so far this is the plan. I will try to post our progress, or lack of, for everyone to criticize and leave suggestions after we make those embarrassing mistakes.
If we stop in your town along our route, don't be put off by our rickety boats, lack of sailing prowess, strange dress, unshaven faces, or fermented breath. Buy us a beer and we'll consider you our friends. We may even allow you to photo us! What more could one ask for?
#37
TSBB General Talk / Re: Trailer Sailing Cruising A...
Last post by Grith - Mar 28, 2025, 06:41 AMHi Norm Yes regarding food on our yacht I am extremely fortunate the my repartnering just over 5 years ago with Clare not only scored me an excellent and highly adaptable cook but also a lady willing to undertake some real adventuring.
Clare had never even set foot on a boat prior to our meeting and is now an accomplished kayaker, beginner stand up paddle boarder and quickly learning about sailing.
It helps that Clare was already a very tough and capable wilderness explorer/backpacker and thinks living on our small 28 foot trailerable cruising yacht is luxury camping.
Now retired together for just over three years we have already lived on my yacht for over 6 months of this and about the same in our off-road slide on truck camper primarily remote area walking which is her passion.
Whilst we also backpack longer distances sleeping in our tent the slide on camper provides a similar level of comfort to our yacht.
Clare is a genius a dehydrating and turning excellent meals from what we catch or collect. The middle photo is a dish made with oysters we collected with around 40 oysters on each plate!
3/4 months without the ability to reprovision on our Kimberley's adventure will however really stretch both our skillsets.
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Clare had never even set foot on a boat prior to our meeting and is now an accomplished kayaker, beginner stand up paddle boarder and quickly learning about sailing.
It helps that Clare was already a very tough and capable wilderness explorer/backpacker and thinks living on our small 28 foot trailerable cruising yacht is luxury camping.
Now retired together for just over three years we have already lived on my yacht for over 6 months of this and about the same in our off-road slide on truck camper primarily remote area walking which is her passion.
Whilst we also backpack longer distances sleeping in our tent the slide on camper provides a similar level of comfort to our yacht.
Clare is a genius a dehydrating and turning excellent meals from what we catch or collect. The middle photo is a dish made with oysters we collected with around 40 oysters on each plate!
3/4 months without the ability to reprovision on our Kimberley's adventure will however really stretch both our skillsets.
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#38
TSBB General Talk / Re: ONE BIG GIANT THREAD
Last post by Captain Kidd - Mar 27, 2025, 10:02 PMQuote from: Wolverine on Mar 27, 2025, 09:43 PMI would like to to attend the OBX 130. I believe it's held every other year.
I think that's the plan, but if I'm not mistaken, they did it last year (which was the off) due to demand.
#39
TSBB General Talk / Re: ONE BIG GIANT THREAD
Last post by Wolverine - Mar 27, 2025, 09:43 PMI would like to to attend the OBX 130. I believe it's held every other year.
#40
TSBB General Talk / Re: ONE BIG GIANT THREAD
Last post by Captain Kidd - Mar 27, 2025, 09:39 PMQuote from: pgandw on Mar 26, 2025, 05:43 PMQuote...When shopping for a boat, I visited Washington, Oriental, New BernIf you have a shallow water trailerable, and are not looking to race, the OBX 130 might be your cup of tea. Almost always visit Cape Lookout and spend the night there. Other stops depend on wind and weather. Many beach camp, some sleep on their boats. Most of the info is in the Facebook Group.
and a couple other places. Lots of water in eastern NC. My sister lives in Beaufort, NC. I haven't visited her since she retired there. One day I'd love to sail out to Cape Lookout. I'm also interested in the Watertribe event they host there.
I'm up on the north side of Albemarle Sound myself. Edenton, Plymouth, Columbia, Hertford, Elizabeth City are all ports of call, with many nice anchorages between the ports.
Fred W
Stuart (ODay) Mariner 19 #4133 Sweet P
I have fairly recently learned about the OBX 130. I've actually joined their FB group. I'll keep an eye out. So many places to sail and so little time! Ugh!