August 13, 2008

With the Perry Rendezvous just around the corner thought it might be time to spruce up "Annie" just a little.  The varnish on the deck hand rails has slowly been peeling and didn't look like that big a job to strip and re-finish.  I have been parked next to a Panda 40 and been watching them re-do their brightwork over the past month and felt really pleased about the lack of teak on the Nordic 44 deck.  The challenge of stripping hand rails is of course more time consuming than can be imagined, after all it part of a boat.  The sun exposed varnish came off easily enough it was getting to the underside that proved to be the big challenge.  It is extremely difficult to hit the underside with the heat gun and I still need to find the scraper that fits underneath without scratching the deck fiberglass.

Having owned a Valliant 47 in the past with a "really long" cap rail, wood hatches, teak dorade boxes and teak eyebrow that required endless hours of stripping, many coats of varnish and constant re-touching, plus a  Young Sun 35 prior to that that had more teak than fiberglass, I have over the years paid my dues as slave to teak.  After some serious consideration as I scraped, sanded and taped the hand rails my choice this time around is Cetol.  In the past I did not like the orange mud look of Cetol but it seems like they have made great strides over the years and so far with 2 coats it looks pretty good.

It has been interesting reading all the opinions of Tayana and Baba owners with regard to their preferences of wood treatments.  Like all sailors a lot of opinions and we all swear by our choices and learn by our mistakes.

August 3, 2008

The weather has been so amazing that it is very difficult not to just blow off work and take off on the boat lately.  Friday would have been the perfect day to head north to the islands with a brisk breeze out of the south.  Instead we compromised with a to sail to Blakely Harbor and anchor out on Saturday night.  Unfortunately I didn't take the camera along and was really sorry on Sunday morning when we got up and looked towards the city.  Blakely Harbor is a nice little anchorage at the south end of Bainbridge Island and does offer a beautiful view of downtown Seattle.   On Sunday morning there was a little haze and the lighting on the Seattle skyline was spectacular. 

There was enough wind to sail back to Shilshole and on the way back we noticed a sailboat keeled over (always wondered where that phrase came from) over by the Westpoint lighthouse.  Lately we have been having a lot of minus tides so extra caution us needed for shallow areas especially cutting way inside the nav bouy.  There was not a lot of wind so we were ghosting along assessing the situation of the boat aground.  A large inflatable showed up and took a halyard  in tow and slowly pulled the boat named "Risky Business"  over onto its side and then into deeper water.  Fortunately the area that they had run aground seemed to be mud rather than the rocks not to far from it, and they appeared to be intact and able to continue on without further assistance.  How I wish I had had my camera.

July 16, 2008

Our sailing trip to the Gulf Islands was really spectacular.  We set sail from Shilshole in 10-14 kts of northerly wind and had a great sail all the way to Pt. Townsend.  Our destination was Dungeness spit for the night and there was only one other boat anchored there.  This was my first time to anchor at Dungeness spit and it was pretty cool.  The spit is low and reaches far out so you feel like you are anchored out in the middle of the straits.  It is very peaceful aside from when ships pass by since the shipping lane runs close by.  The spit is a nature preserve and access is not allowed so we were glad not to have our dog on board for this trip.

Other highlights were shooting pool with locals in the pub in Ganges.  They informed us that the next day was "Canada Day" with the antique car show and later the fireworks display.  We decided to spend an extra night there and were glad we did - it was very festive and much like small town 4th of July. 

Another destination that looked appealing in the cruising guide was Pirates Cove up near Dodds Narrow.  When we got there it was an incoming tide and after navigating into the cove and having .5' under the keel decided that it was not a good idea.  We ended up in Herring cove on Ruston Island for the night which was a really quiet and beautiful anchorage.  The island has houses but no roads so very peaceful.  There are beautiful sand stone banks which reminded me of Sucia.  The next morning we hopped in the kayak's to paddle around the cove.  We were hailed by locals Brian and Lenora Sigsworth and invited to stop for a cup of coffee.  Brian and Lenora are retired and have a home in West Vancouver.  They purchased the log cabin 20 something years ago and use it as their summer home.  The cabin was built in 1946 and is very rustic and charming, outhouse included.  We felt really fortunate to be sitting on the cabin deck overlooking the beautiful cove with Annie anchored in front of us.

Our final destination after a quick check in at Roche Harbor was Sucia Island.  When I kept my old Cal 34 in Bellingham Sucia was my favorite weekend destination.  We had amazing weather the 10 days we were in the Gulf Islands and finally as we turned the corner into Sucia the big black cloud caught up to us and we anchored in pouring rain.  The rain quickly passed by and we were treated to a full rainbow followed by magical lighting.  We spent two nights anchored there, had a great island hike, caught my first crab of the season - life was good.

We left Sucia around 9am to head back to Seattle and motored for an hour and then the wind kicked in and we had a great sail all the way to Pt. Townsend and arrived just in time for a major flood.  We made it all the way back to Shilshole by 8pm and managed to sail most of the day.  I feel really fortunate to have sailed most of the time we were out and it sure helped not to have a specific destination and time frame in mind.

June28, 2008

Summer seems to have arrived right on time and just to make sure we make the most of it whether it lasts for one week or 8 we are going sailing! 

It does seem like whenever I plan to take time off I suddenly get very busy with boat sales and need to cancel or adjust vacation plans.  This time around it has happened again, good reason to plan a vacation I guess, but we are sticking to a modified sailing trip.  Usually it takes a couple of weeks from time of a boat offer being accepted to survey date and closing, not this time.  I received two offers yesterday and both are in a huge rush to survey and close next week - yes you do need to make the most of summer around here.  After a little deliberation and negotiation with buyers, sellers, a little "poor me" whining included we are heading out.

We will be taking off sailing this morning in the direction of the Gulf Islands.  Should have some breeze and the plan is to sail rather than reach a certain destination in record time.  It was shocking to fill up with diesel at $5 per gallon and note in the log that fuel now cost double what it did back in August last year. 

The Puget Sound Cruising Club hosts the annual Salmon Bake this evening at Pt. Madison Yacht Club.  This event is open to anyone all you need is a pot luck dish.  Boats will be rafting up in Pt. Madison bay.

Smooth sailing!

June 20, 2008

Summer Solstice is finally here making today/tomorrow the official longest days of the year and a time to celebrate a VERY LONG AND DREARY winter/spring.

Every year we head to Fremont, the center of the universe (also a neighborhood of Seattle) for the Summer Solstice Parade and festival.  For those of you that don't know anything about the event, briefly it is a celebration of summer and the biggest gathering of really happy people and free spirits in the Northwest.  All the floats in the parade have to be manually propelled - no motors allowed.  Anyone can enter the parade and the creativity of some of the costumes and themes is amazing to say the least.  Yes you can expect to see 100 or more people wearing nothing more than body paint go streaking by on bicycles but it is part of the fun and it does get the crowd going.  Tips are to get there early for a good spot along the parade route, bring a camera and a smile.

I noticed in the local sailing rag that there is a "Summer Sailstice" movement which seems like a really great idea.  In checking the website www.summersailstice.com for local events came to the conclusion that it may just be to get people to sign up for future spam from the "sponsors" so didn't go there.  Basically local groups or individuals can organize a raft up, sail etc and invite sailors to join in.

My thought is that if you have a boat in the Seattle area lets all get out and sail on Sunday.  It would be fun to see hundreds of boats out on the water.  Last Sunday was spectacular for sailing and there were quite a few boat out but really not that many for such a great day.  I thought then of all the boats that just sit in Elliott Bay Marina and Shilshole Marina and what an incredible sight it would be if everyone left the slip for a day.  Make it happen.

May 31,2008

Last weekend was the annual Swiftsure Int'l Yacht Race - starting in Victoria, BC.  This is an amazing event to attend with all the boats rafting up in the inner harbor in front of the Empress Hotel as early as Wednesday before race day.  My plan is to try and get there by Thursday noon in order to get a good spot near a dock and save having to set an anchor. 

This year we left Shilshole Marina at 6:30am on a BIG EBB under power.  The wind finally kicked in at Point No Point and we had a great sail to Pt. Townsend making the trip in a record 4 hours.  The plan was to spend the afternoon in PT getting lazy jacks or Lisa jacks (modified version) as Pt. Townsend Rigging likes to refer to them, installed.  Dropping the main as we came into PT was exciting with the wind gusting to 23 kts, minus tide, ferry arriving all at the same time.  Once we had the main secured we headed into the marina and watched as the depth meter dropped to a bit 0 right as we plowed through the mud.  Fortunately we didn't get stuck and made it to Pt. Townsend's work dock where we spent the afternoon and night waiting for the next ebb.  Thursday morning we left around 7:30am and after getting around Pt. Hudson set sail and reached in 10 kts all the way to Victoria.  It was sunny, warm and a spectacular sail all the way.  I could not understand why 2 other race boats headed our way did not bother to sail - we were a lot faster under sail and had a lot more fun.

On race day there was NO WIND!  The picture above shows one crazy kayaker who was paddling around the start in the midst of around 200 boats.  Race committee made him leave and this is where he hung out until the starts were over.  We managed to start our race and then slowly started getting sucked back towards where the starting line used to be.  After 2 hours of minus progress (we were going backwards at about 1 KT)  we opted to withdraw from the race and motor to what looked like a wind line on the horizon, enough to put up the cruising chute and drift along in the warm sunshine having a beer and snacks.  We were first back to the dock in Victoria and promptly declared ourselves the winner of the Rosedale Rocks Race.  It did turn out that not a single boat from our group managed to make it around the first mark by the 5:30 deadline so no finishers.  Sunday morning we cast off around 8:30am knowing we had to buck current all the way to PT.  There was a 17 KT westerly blowing and we had an amazing broad reach to PT which was a fitting end to another great sailing weekend.  Oh, the Lisa Jacks are the best - wish we had splurged and installed them a year ago.  Finally it is a pleasure to drop the main!

May 16, 2008

Seattle will be hosting the NOOD 2008 regatta this weekend.  Over 220 boats are entered and basing out of Shilshole Marina so parking is going to be really interesting at least.   NOOD stands for National Offshore One Design and the major sponsor is Sperry Topsider.  It is round the buoy racing and should be a great three days of racing providing there is wind.  With the big high pressure and record heat the only salvation will be thermal breeze.  I raced a Corsair 27 in a NOOD regatta back in 1995 in Galveston Bay.  When I mentioned to friends that I was sailing in the NOOD regatta it did raise a few eyebrows until advised what the NOOD stood for.

We are taking advantage of the great weather to get Annie out of the slip for the weekend.  We will be heading to Victoria BC for Swiftsure race next weekend and so will need to make sure all the systems are working - little spring maintenance in the planning.  The biggest project that I know about is replacing the one end pieces of the spinnaker pole.  The unfortunate part is the new piece is different from the old piece so not as simple a replacement.  I can see it now, the 1 hour project becoming several hours - at least it will be sunny.

Good nautical joke!

A string walks into a bar with a few friends and orders a beer. The bartender says, "I'm sorry, but we don't serve strings here."

The string walks away a little upset and sits down with his friends. A few minutes later he goes back to the bar and orders a beer. The bartender, looking a little exasperated, says, "I'm sorry, we don't serve strings here."

So the string goes back to his table. Then he gets an idea. He ties himself in a loop and messes up the top of his hair. Then he walks back up to the bar and orders a beer.

The bartender squints at him and says, "Hey, aren't you a string?"

And the string says, "Nope,  a frayed knot."

April 8, 2008

Lots of change in the wind for me these days.  First of all I decided to join Sailboats At Shilshole after a little agonizing and am loving working at Shilshole.  It is really nice being close to the boat and running into friends and people I know every day.  We did live aboard our Valiant 47 here at Shilshole for 5 years and it really does feel like a home coming in a strange way.

Both my daughters are expecting babies between now and April 24th and I can't wait to meet them.  I have had a tremendous amount of fun with my first grand daughter who just turned two.  She seems fascinated by boats and I hope to take her sailing as soon as the weather warms up and I can get her to keep a life jacket on for more than 1 minute. The "little kid" life jackets that I have seen so far do not appear to be made for comfort.  This brings to mind that Margie Simpson found out that the self inflating PFD's are not recommended for people under 5'5" - information to found in the booklet of really small print that accompanies the new PFD.  More to follow on that.....

February 29, 2008

It has been so hard trying to stay focused this week with all the sunshine and warm weather especially with today being the bonus leap year day.

The Women's Boating Seminar last Saturday was a big success and well attended.  It is always fun to get a group of women together with the focus of boating related interaction.  One of the topics covered was "Galley magic" and Linnea mentioned a great cake recipe that was perfect for the boat that she had sadly misplaced.  As she drove into her garage after the seminar she glanced up at a shelf and saw a box labeled cook books and found this recipe that she would like to share.

Here is one more recipe :).

	Stewed Tomatoes
	A guy is going on an ocean cruise, and he tells his doctor that he's worry about getting seasick. The doctor suggests, ''Eat two pounds of stewed tomatoes before you leave the dock.'' The guy replies, ''Would that keep me from getting sick, Doc?'' The doctor says, ''No, but it'll look real pretty in the water.''

February 11, 2008

The 11th Annual Women's Boating Seminar in Seattle will be held on February 23 at the North Seattle Community College.  Each year this event gets bigger and better and this year is no exception. There is still time to register for this event, don't miss out.  This is a very special day that is both educational and a lot of fun and enjoyed by over 100 women in attendance.  Our sponsors have been very generous once again this year and for the first time, everyone will leave with a door prize. 

It is always fascinating to me the power of the internet and how easy and instantaneous it is to locate people around the world with similar interests.  Just this weekend I received an email from Joy Smith who is the author of a new book "Escape from Hermit Island" that details her experience of striking a reef and sinking her boat on remote Papua New Guinea Island.  Her story is incredible and Joy came across the Women's Seminar while surfing the web.  Joy is currently in Miami doing presentations and promoting her book on the east coast and at the Sail Miami Boat Show prior to heading back to her boat now located in the Philippines.  To cut to the chase we have managed to include Joy in our Seattle seminar schedule and look forward to hearing about her amazing experience and how two women dealt with their situation and survived under primitive conditions.

Recently I was contacted by Cruising World, as a result of the Perry Design Rendezvous information on my site to see if I had a picture of a Tayana 37 flying a Spinnaker for a future article they are working on.  I didn't have one but was able to post on the Tayana owners site and have two owners submit photo's within a day.  Cruising World agreed to sponsor our Women's Boating seminar this year and are sending us magazines for the registration packages and free subscriptions for door prizes.  Another contact has come from someone writing a script for a movie and wanting to know how long it would take to sail from Pt. Townsend to Seattle....mmmmm that one had a lot of variables to consider.  It sure makes life interesting.

February 6, 2008

The Women's Boating Seminar is just around the corner.  We have a great program this year, new speakers and topics to get us all thinking about warm weather and safe boating.   If you haven't attended in the past this event is really special.  We have women come together from all over, surrounding states and Canada included.  There is high positive energy and lots of camaraderie taking place during the day.  Local and national businesses have been very generous in their support by donating door prizes to our event and everyone, I really mean everyone, will leave with a door prize this year. 

The boat show was a long 10 days this year.  We had rain, snow, wind, cold and lower attendance than in past years.  It was still amazing to see how many people came out to look at boats regardless of the weather.  I spent most of the time on the Tayana with the companionway wide open and the COLD southerly wind funneling down on me.  Two space heaters on low so that they don't trip the circuit breaker didn't quite cut it in keeping the boat warm.  Having enough layers on I was able to stay warm and it was actually quite invigorating although I wouldn't advocate this as a "fun activity".

Jan 23, 2008

The boat show starts tomorrow which means the end of our spectacular weather including the amazing moon and sunsets that I have really been savoring.  Fortunately the hardy boaters of the Northwest are not deterred by a little snow or rain.  I have been at boat shows that have cleared out because of a little precipitation - never the case here.  It will be interesting to see if the economic forecasting will have an effect on the boating industry.   I would imagine that wind power is going to get a lot more consideration this time around. 

Jan 21, 2008

I was greeted this morning by the full moon casting its light on the water of Puget Sound.  It was so spectacular and then as daylight approached and the Olympic Mountain Range became visible the moon started to set.  What a great start to the day!

Today is move in day for the Seattle Boat's Afloat Show that opens to the public on Thursday the 24th.  It is a treat to be able to move boats around in sunshine even if the temperatures are VERY COLD.  I have been noticing how brilliantly colorful everything looks after all the grey days - think I may have a touch of spring fever.

Seattle's in the water show on Lake Union coincides with the indoor boat show at Qwest Field and boat show tickets are good for both locations.  There is also a free shuttle connecting the two locations which is very helpful.  This is the biggest local boat show of the year and a great time to buy and sell boats and everyone wants to be ready for our 8 weeks of summer when it gets here.  Most vendors will have pretty good deals on boat gear if you are looking to do some upgrades on your existing boat. 

I will be on board the Tayana 48 Pilothouse at the Boat's Afloat Show most of the time.  If you are down there stop by or better yet come buy a boat.

January 6, 2008

Now that the days are getting longer, sun dares to peek through the clouds ever so often, boat show is around the corner, it is time to start thinking about "Spring Maintenance" for our boats.  I find it inspiring to start going through a check list and see how much I can accomplish on my own each year.  Having the "list" also is a great reminder of all the various things to check over.  Once the boat show starts it seems like the local boat industry gets swamped and finding a professional to help on projects beyond my capability or expertise may just cut into spring boating time.  This is also a good time to have the bottom painted if needed as the various boat yards are running "winter specials".

January 4, 2007

Happy New Year to everyone. 

I have been one of many in the Seattle area hit by the flu and after a week of really being out of it feel like I am crawling out of a hole.  We had been really looking forward to taking the boat to anchor out for New Years eve at Blakely Harbor and watch the Space Needle fireworks.  Unfortunately for me that was the peak of really feeling sick and had barely managed to watch Times Square festivities before giving up and crashing. 

For many years a new years days sail has become a tradition.  It was still good for my soul to look out over the water and see lots of different boats out enjoying the day, in sunshine no less!  This was while I was being held hostage to endless college football bowl games on new years day.  One good outcome of this week of sickness and football is that I am so ready to be healthy again that I promise to "get off the couch" and become a participator rather than an observer!  Did I get old or something?????

December 19, 2007

Tis the season of storms - or so it seems. 

Last night during the strong winds a barge carrying more than 280,000 gallons of heavy bunker fuel broke a tow line and ran aground after blowing into the Elliott Bay Marina breakwall.  The coast guard reported that two tugs were able to move the barge to nearby Pier 91 near the Magnolia Bridge.  Fortunately inspections showed no apparent damage or leaks - it was double hulled - could have been a major ecological disaster for Puget Sound. 

I talked to one person who spent the night on their boat at Elliott Bay and was oblivious to the grounding.  It must have been an exciting proposition trying to secure the barge prior to towing it off.  Wind gusts were between 40-50 kts.

December 7, 2007

Eleven years ago after becoming a yacht broker in Seattle I decided it would be fun to have a "Women's Day" for women interested in boating and the first "Women's Boating Seminar" was born.   The camaraderie and positive reinforcement has been the focus of this very successful event.  The 11th Annual Women's Boating Seminar will be held on February 23, 2008 and promises to be the best event to date.  We have a great line up of dynamic professional women speakers offering a variety of topics to choose from. 

For additional information regarding this great event or to register on line click on "Women's Seminar" to the left of this page.  Gift certificates are available. 

November 30, 2007

Tis the season!  This weekend is the start of the "Lighted Boat Parades and Cruises.  The Argosy Christmas Ship offers rides from December 1st to the 23rd and sails to different Puget Sound waterfront communities.  A portion of all ticket sales benefit the Seattle Times fund for the needy.  For full schedule www.argosycruises.com

In checking for the "longest running boat parade" it appears that the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade takes the honors.  John Scarpa, an obscure Italian gondolier, and Joseph Beek, developer of Beacon Bay, the Balboa Ferry line established in 1907 the "Tournament of Lights" an event that continues today.

In 1907 Scarpa began the tradition of lighting boats by taking a group of visitors from Pasadena across the bay in a gondola decorated with Japanese lantersn.  One year later on July 4, 1908 the first lighted boat parade took place.  Scarpa, along with his fellow small boat operators, put together a loosely organized affair consisting of nine vessels.  The parade became a Christmas celebration in 1946 and today features as many as 150 boats and is the premier event of the holiday season in Southern California.

The most spectacular Seattle lighted boat event is hosted by Queen City Yacht Club and takes place December 7 starting at 6pm.  All boaters are welcome.  

Approx Schedule:

Friday December 7th.
Lake Union Gasworks Park (start)      6pm.
Webster Point                                        7pm.
Leshi Park                                              7:25pm
Meydenbauer Bay                                 8.20pm
Webster Point (end)                              9.00pm

Same schedule for Saturday December 8th with a couple of additional destinations added.

Years ago, at least 12 when I still lived in Texas and had a rather large Valiant 47 sitting on a lake we got involved with the local scout troup who was trying to start a sea scout program.  We volunteered our boat for the local Christmas light parade, bought all the lights, came up with a design and then let the scouts work on getting the boat decorated.  When we set out that evening with everyone on board for the parade we ended up taking first in sailboat and best dressed boat overall.  The "anchor covered in lights" trophy was pretty spectacular along with the $200 cash prize which we donated to the scouts.  The best part of the evening was seeing the pride in the faces of the scouts.  One young man from a really poor background who had a scouting scholarship said it was the first time he had won something in his life.  We were thankful for being part of the experience - it would not have been the same without the scouts.

November 28, 2007

Boater Education Law  Requirement Nears

Beginning January 1, 2008 boat operator's ages 12 to 20 years old will be required to carry a boater education card when operating a motorboat of 15 horsepower or greater on Washington's waterways.  The card requirement applies to boaters born on or after January 1, 1955, and will be phased in through 2014.  Boaters born before January 1, 1955 are exempt from this law.  To meet the new education requirements boaters can take a course in the classroom, online, or they can take the exam at home by purchasing the Adventures in Washington home study course.  Cards cost $10 and are good for a lifetime.

The best time to take a boating safety class is from fall through spring.  Boaters are encouraged to take a class as soon as possible, and not wiat until they are required by law to have the training.  Schedule for the new requirement:

2008:  12 to 20 years old
2009: 25 years and younger
2010: 30 years and younger
2011: 35 years and younger
2012: 40 years and younger
2013: 50 years and younger
2014: Card is required for any boater born on and or after Jan 1, 1955

www.parks.wa.gov/boating

November 2, 2007

I knew it had been awhile since I updated the site but had no idea just how long it actually was.   This has been a strange and very busy summer/fall and now it is almost Thanksgiving which is very hard to believe.

Recently I went to Annapolis for the big sailboat show.  The weather was spectacular for a boat show although very hot and humid especially since not all the boats were air conditioned, including the Tayana 48 deck salon that I was working.  This particular boat was commissioned for Mr. Ward an 81 year old who by now should be en-route to St. Martin in the Caribbean.  He had the boat rigged for single handed sailing which he often finds himself doing.  Mr. Ward swears that this is the last boat he is buying - what an inspiration! 

Even though I had packed my summer boat show wardrobe it was way too hot for what I had which forced me to go do some emergency shopping.  It reminded me of why I left Texas all those years ago - can't handle the heat.  Of all the boat shows I have attended I would have to say that the Annapolis show is by far my favorite.  Annapolis is such a beautiful historic town and sailors come from all over the world for this show.  I think it is great that they have separate boat shows for power and sail and most every "new boat model" is represented there.  The vendor tents host just about every type of boat related product available if you are looking to update your present boat.

At the end of the show on Monday at 6pm all the boats leave the harbor to make way for the power boats arriving the next day for set up.  The boat show crew dismantle docks and tow them out of the way for boat to leave.  If you have never been to Annapolis the Marriott Hotel is waterfront as well as the Pusser Pub and store.  The move out is a huge spectator event with drunken sailors lining the shore to cheer/jeer the boats as they leave and crew onboard the boats hamming it up for additional attention.

From Annapolis I headed to Norwalk, CT for a sea trial and survey for one of my clients on a Hylas 46.  By this time the weather had changed and it was drizzle and blowing around 18 kts which made me feel like I was home in Seattle although longing for the sunshine and warm weather.  The worst part of the experience was that I didn't have any foul weather gear with me and found myself scoping out gear in the marina store.  Fortunately the "listing broker" happened to have extra stuff in his trunk and I was able to make do without any additional purchases. 

It is always interesting doing a boat deal in new places and hoping that the surveyor(s) are going to be thorough and professional.  Due to some research and recommendations we did end up with a great surveyor although the cost per foot in Norwalk CT is $22 compared to Seattle which averages around $14 - a big difference and not for any additional service either.  The engine surveyor never did show up and finally the "listing broker" went looking for him and brought him back to do the survey.  The next day I drove looking for the engine surveyor to make sure he would send the report and bill to the right place.  That was the last we heard from him - no bill, no report!  Unfortunately this mechanic was the only game in town, supposedly good but very godly :).   The boat did survey satisfactorily and is already on its way to Seattle on a flatbed.

August 22, 2007

Looks like summer is returning just in time for the Perry Design rendezvous this weekend in Pt. Ludlow, WA.  It is always fun heading there and seeing various Perry boats sailing on the way to the event, a great opportunity to take pictures of other boats under sail.  Pt. Ludlow is a beautiful setting and has been home to the rendezvous for the past 10 years.  Many of the participants/boats return year after year until they sail into the horizon.   This is a great time to head south to California and beyond and the rendezvous has been the kick off for several cruisers in the past.  We have a Tayana 37 and Valiant 42 making this rendezvous their last stop.  Fortunately there are always new faces to fill the gap of our lucky friends who leave to go cruising. 

Guest speakers for seminars this year:

Bob Perry talks about his new "container boat" design the Flying Tiger.

Brion Toss -  "The Myth of the 10-year Fuse, The Sledge Hammer as a Cutting Tool, and other Stories" - A paranoia-inducing look at rig design, installation, and maintenance.

This promises to be a FUN weekend - hope to see you there!

August 10, 2007

This weekend is "Latitudes and Attitudes" cruiser party in Poulsbo, WA.  The event is open to all cruisers and should be a lot of fun considering the sponsor.  Might have head over on land to check it out since our half of the boat is out with our boat partner.   If any Perry design owners are heading to Poulsbo this weekend please spread the word about the upcoming Perry rendezvous August 24-26.

August 7, 2007

We are back from a great week out on "Annie" our Nordic 44 exploring new destinations in South Puget Sound.  Getting all the last minute stuff and then dropping off the dog with friends for the week took longer expected and it was 3:30pm before we managed to cast of the dock lines.  We did have a nice northerly breeze and started sailing south with Quarter Master harbor on Vashon as our destination.  By the time we got to West Seattle we decided to pick up a mooring buoy at Blake Island for the night and RELAX.  It was a good move because we were able to thing about all the things we forgot, really hard to imagine that we needed more stuff at that point.  Some of it was crucial like a pot big enough to cook the crab we would be catching so plan B was hatched.  We live in a condo south of Alki point so next morning we motored across and I jumped in the kayak and paddled ashore to retrieve the forgotten items while Paul hovered around.  

The breeze filled in and we were soon sailing/fishing with just the genoa - reason being is I could furl or unfurl as needed to maintain a good fishing speed.  Seemed to work really well and within half an hour Paul had a nice salmon on the line much to both of our surprise.  Next stop was Dockton in Quartermaster Harbor where we got to try our new windlass for the first time.  I dropped the crab pot at the entrance as we went it with a turkey leg and the salmon head as my bait.  It was a pretty spot, nice hiking park with a large natural Madrona forest and a spectacular view of Mt. Rainier once you got over the hill.  The windlass did its job, crab pot was full in the morning and life was good.  Interesting to note that the turkey leg was almost completely devoured and the salmon head still intact with the staring eye ball.   I had been highlighting new spots to visit in Wagoner Cruising Guide so only kept the two largest male crab and set the rest free just knowing that "the best" crabbing spot was yet to come and fresh is best.  Well we never did make it the the "best" spot, spent the next night in Longbranch harbor which was another beautiful spot.  On the way back to Seattle we decided to spend our last night at Pt. Madison and I had the crab pot ready to go with turkey leg bait as we approached.  When the depth got to 38' we hucked the pot overboard and watched it disappear.  I looked at the depth and we were in 75' with a 50' line and float at low tide.  Sad lesson learned on that experience, I really feel bad about all the trapped crab in the pot.

What I enjoyed about south sound was the fact that it wasn't crowded for this time of year.  There are some beautiful anchorages and it is not that far to get to compared with going to the San Juan islands.   We were fortunate to have some breeze and be able to sail quite a lot of the time which is always a bonus.

July 31, 2007

After 4 agonizing days of replacing the old windlass we are finally ready to take off today for our now less than week sailing vacation.  What initially looked like a quick swap out turned into a marathon - hey it is a boat project - due to the fact that the foot print was different.  The anchor locker on a Nordic 44 is small and the mounting area even smaller.  We had hoped to use the old chain hole however the aft bolts were ending up right at the bulkhead so no room for the crucial backing plate.  Fortunately there was enough room to move 1" forward although it did mean filling old holes and drilling new ones.  Worst time consuming issues were removing the old windlass that was mounted with 5200 to a board that was glued to the deck with copious amounts of 5200 glue.  Next the drill bit breaking off down in the one hole which was impossible to retrieve.  Finally realizing that the hole was too far aft and that the new board we had glued down to the deck would have to come up - in part to remove the drill bit.  Fortunately we managed to have it all prepped and ready for the "professional" yesterday morning and  because Paul had already done all the electrical were able to get the new one installed and running by the end of the day.  I have to mention how after we determined what we needed in backing plates that Ballard Sheet Metal came through and cut them from scrap aluminum while I waited.  When I asked how much I owed the reply was the guys would enjoy some beer for after their baseball game that night.   I love the barter system!

Our original 10 days out on the boat is now down to 5 days.  With the wind out of the north and the one of the biggest flood currents of the year this afternoon we have decided to head south with our "Gunkholing in South Puget Sound" book and do some exploring.  All that is left to do is to get the crab and fishing license, stop by Fisheries one more time and then head to the boat.

Here's to good sailing, beautiful anchorages, windlasses that work and fresh crab.

July 15, 2007

Thursday was disappointing as we were looking forward to a warm windy evening racing in the Seattle Downtown series.  It is not much fun drifting out of control in an unorganized race and we almost didn't go.  A teaser breeze did get us out of the slip and on our way to Elliot bay but by the time we had started the race it was dead calm and the only boats moving had tell tale engine exhaust spewing from their hulls.

Seems like once the record heat dissipated so did the thermals and all of the great wind we had last week.    Turned out to be a great opportunity for Paul to practice docking the new boat which has been my job so far in our rush to go places.  We practiced docking using a single spring line which works really great once you find the sweet spot for attaching it.  Having an aluminum toe rail really helps in the placement.  The last docking was perfect so it was time to stop before Paul got too confident and wanted a promotion from "anchor boy".  We are still without an electric windlass, waiting to find out if the old one can be fixed or if lots of boat units are in order.

July 10, 2007

Finally had the opportunity to spend some time out on the water.  We took off from Shilshole on Tuesday evening and headed for Poulsbo for the annual fireworks display.  There was wind and we were able to reach across to Pt. Madison, current cooperated making for a quick trip.  Friends of ours on another Nordic 44 were already anchored in Liberty bay and we rafted up for the night.  It is always fun to be rafted to a "sister ship" and be able to go back and forth comparing boats and getting improvement ideas.  The biggest issue discussed was the need to flake chain in the anchor locker when raising the anchor, didn't really figure out a good solution.

I did notice an bald eagle perched on top of a mast at Poulsbo Yacht club over the two days we were there.  Seems like it was the eagles favorite mast/perch in the whole area.  I had to wonder if the owners of the boat are aware of their bird who remained there for hours despite being bombed by sea gulls.  The antenna and mast head instruments have to be affected.

There was a huge exodus of boats the following morning and we had the bay practically to ourselves.  We decided to kick back and stay one more night and it was really great to just relax for a change.  Thursday when it came time to raise the anchor we were dismayed to find that our anchor windlass had crapped out.  Thank goodness for having "anchor boy" on board!  Unfortunately we were unable to find the manual lever searching in all the logical places.  Even a call to our boat partner (original owner) proved fruitless since he had never had to use it.  I guess it is good to know that you can still do things the old fashioned manual way cleaning off chain with a bucket of water.  I had forgotten my cell phone charger at home so decided it would be worth a run back to Shilshole and a quick shopping expedition to get another charger and hopefully find another manual lever for the windlass.  We were unsuccessful with the windlass piece which affected our trip planning to some extent.

Next stop was Blake Island and even though it was Thursday evening all the mooring buoys were full.  We decided to tie up to the rope tie for the night and then grabbed the first available mooring buoy in the morning.  Blake Island marine park is a wonderful place to spend a couple of days.  We have a small dog who likes to kayak, likes to be on the boat with us but loves to go for a hike and was really a happy dog on the Blake Island trails. 

Saturday we thought about sailing down Colvos passage to Quartermaster Harbor on the south side of Vashon island.  The wind was light and on the nose with adverse current so we  took the path of least resistance and sailed back to Shilshole.  It did give us the opportunity to fly our spinnaker with the new spinnaker sheets which worked great.

Enjoy this great weather and wind - what a wonderful area we have for sailing and exploring.  Living the good life!

June 11, 2007

The theme for Duck dodge on Lake Union Seattle tomorrow night is Nawlins Night.  Last week there were 70 boats out on the water for this fun event which would make for a lot of dodging.  For information on rules and starting times www.duckdodge.org.  Race starts around 7pm and if you don't have a boat Lake Union is small  enough that you can easily watch from shore.

Thursday night is the start of the Seattle downtown series which is another fun sailing event that takes place on Elliott Bay.  We are intending on taking "Annie" out and have been advised to do the "fast boats" start - fewer boats - more experienced racers.  Races start around 18:50 from in front of Elliott Bay Marina. www.elliottbaymarina.net/downtown_sailing_series.htm

Last but not least, this Saturday is SUMMER SOLSTICE PARADE in Fremont.  The parade starts at noon and is an experience not to be missed.  While this really has nothing to do with boating it signals the start of summer in the Northwest and enjoyed by a multitude of people with huge smiles on their faces.  It is my favorite annual "photographic event".

June 2, 2007

It has taken me a long time to get back into the swing of things after a great week of sailing and parties.  Swiftsure 2007 was the best sailing with winds in the 20's with gusts to 30 kts.  We entered the Rosedale Rocks race 17.3 nm and did extremely well considering it was our first race on the boat with all new crew, we finished 5th. 

Leading up to the event we headed out of Seattle on Tuesday and made it to Mackaye Harbor on Lopez for the first night.  Wind was light and it was mostly a day of motor sailing with a brief period of sailing across the straits.  On Wednesday we took a leisurely sail up the west side of San Juan Island with the hopes of seeing whales.  No whales, no wind and lots of current so we ended up having to motor once again to make forward headway to Garrison bay where we anchored for the night.  Some old friends from Texas now live on SJ Island and came over by dinghy with 50 shrimp they had caught that day for dinner on board.  It happened to be my birthday and turned out to be quite a celebration in the end.

In order to get a good spot in Victoria it is necessary to get to the harbor as early as possible on Thursday so we headed out early arriving in Victoria at around 11am.  We got a primo spot along side a dock and spent the afternoon enjoying watching boats come in and racers preparing boats for the big event.  Some other good friends of mine who live in Victoria and have been crew most every Swiftsure event had us over to their home for  another birthday celebration Thursday night.  It was a feast once again and a wonderful evening - I felt so blessed!  Friday we kicked back and enjoyed all the Victoria Harbor festivities and decided on having dinner onboard our boat "Annie".  We were well into happy hours and had the barbeque going with a huge hunk of meat and another 50 freshly caught shrimp when we saw the TV crew walking towards us announcing "there's Annie" and asked if we minded being interviewed.  We had been interviewed earlier as well which was puzzling until we realized that there was another boat named "Annie" much smaller with quite a race record.  Needless to say we were all in great form and it was quite the interview with a lot of filming.  The 11pm news was bleak with a lot of murders, deaths and then the caption "living the good life".  The footage was probably only a few minutes long but seemed to go on for hours, we had come back down to earth by that time and thankful that it was Victoria TV and not Seattle.  I have only had one client mention seeing me on the news so far.  Hopefully I came across as a yacht broker that actually loves to sail and race rather than a lush that likes to sit around and party.  It doesn't really matter because we had so much fun living the good life.

May 17, 2007

One of my favorite "upbeat" songs is by a Texas song writer Dana Cooper "Great day in the Morning".  It is the kind of song that puts life in perspective and makes you really appreciate being alive.  I keep the CD on the boat and can't think of a better way of starting my day than to listen to this song as I have my morning coffee.

Back to boats and coffee, I have been literally leaping out of bed this week at 5:30am to watch the America's Cup live on VETUS channel or 34 on Comcast.  The technology is simply amazing and makes watching sailboat racing  very exciting - even to a non racer, have polled one so far.   The start is the most exciting and important part of the race for me and with the great coverage I am there.  I also love to be able to see the data of wind speed at different locations of the course that is transmitted from the weather buoys, supposedly this information is not available to the racers.   After watching the first day I actually had a dream I was racing again which was cool.

We are actually heading out on our new partnership boat next Tuesday for the Swiftsure Race in Victoria BC.  We will be entering the Rosedale Rocks race which is more of a fun race and 17 miles long.  Swifsure is a huge event with around 200 boats competing in the various races starting in Victoria.  The key place to be prior to the boat is in the harbor in front of the Empress hotel.  Boats end up rafting out together and with all the flags flying it is quite a spectacle.  The energy, anticipation as people ready their boats and crew for the race is pretty amazing.  Crowds of people stream down to the docks to look at all the boats and are entertained by numerous street performers. 

Saturday morning  everyone streams out of the harbor for the start of the race and it is a sight to see all the boats hovering together waiting for their start.   The start is close enough to shore and a huge crowd usually forms to watch the start - quite the event and we will be there for the first time on "Annie".

May 14, 2007

On Saturday I went out sailing with a client who just purchased a Valiant 42 from me.  I had offered to spend some time helping him get more comfortable docking and maneuvering his new boat.  The wind was fairly light which was perfect for docking practice and then perfect conditions to get out the cruising spinnaker for the first time. 

The spinnaker on this particular boat is one of the most spectacular spinnaker designs that I have seen.  It was made by Pt. Townsend Sails and has two bald eagles soaring across the sun (or moon).  The artwork is all inlay rather than appliqué and very stunning. 

We sailed towards Seattle in time to watch some of the tug boat races taking place as part of the Seattle Maritime festival.  It is truly amazing to see the powerful surge when the big boys race.  It was a great day on the water.

Sunday morning we intended to apply the new name we had made for our boat.  The old lettering  had seen better days and made the boat look old.   It was breezy and cold and after getting everything out and ready to go we decided that there were just too many warnings on the application instructions about wind and temperature to warrant screwing it up.  I did run down to the boat this morning and got the name applied and boy does it look good.  I can't believe the difference new lettering made in the general appearance of the boat, it's hot! 

May 10, 2007

Now that boating season is officially started and the sun is shining once again there is a lot of outdoor activities going on this coming weekend.  Details are available on the site "Calendar".

Boater's Fair - Bainbridge Island

Swantown Swap Meet - Olympia

Seattle Maritime Festival - Seattle waterfront - includes the TUGBOAT RACES in the afternoon which are pretty interesting especially if you happen to be sailing past down town oblivious to this event.

Have a great weekend!

May 7, 2007

One ship drives east, another west on the self-same winds that blow.  'Tis the set of the sails and not the gales which decides the way to go.
Like the winds of the sea are the ways of "fate", as we voyage along through life.
"Tis the will of the soul that decides the goal & not the calm or the strife.

May 4, 2007

Tomorrow is opening day of boating in the Northwest which means summer is finally here.  There are several events taking place in the Seattle area and a great excuse to get out and enjoy the day.  I am thinking of heading down to the UW area and take some pictures of all the festivities of the opening day parade and rowing regatta.  Other local events are listed in the Calendar section - be sure to check them out.

Sunday will be our day to get the boat out of the slip and get some sailing in.  So far this season it has been all work and little play, time for a change!  We will be sailing Annie a Nordic 44 and hope to see you out there.

May 3, 2007

Finally made it down to New Orleans to visit my old Hobie crew and his wife and take in the first weekend of Jazz Fest.   The weather was spectacular low to mid 80's and sunny with a slight breeze to keep things cool.  I would highly recommend the event.  The line up of musical talent is unbelievable for the $35 daily admission fee.  There are 8 different stages with music from 11am to 7:30pm.  People come from all over and everyone seemed really friendly and out to have a good time.  We were fortunate to be with our local friends - that local knowledge comes in handy when scoping out the best place to camp out for the day.  There is such a variety of wonderful food to be bought at the festival that it would be impossible to try it all.  Had to double up on the Lipitor while we were there but boy was it worth it!

When I lived in Texas I would visit N.O. a couple of times a year for trade shows and was curious as to how things might have changed as a result of Katrina. 

After filling up on beignets and coffee we walked around the French Quarter and just happened to stumble upon a surprise retirement parade for one of the workers at a fancy hotel/restaurant.  He had worked there for 45 years and they had a jazz band, convertible, champagne and beads along with a huge crowd waiting for him on the street as he left a breakfast in his honor.   The parade was very spirited and I felt blessed to have arrived at that moment of time.  A great way to get into the spirit of things. 

Walking around in the tourist parts of town it was hard to notice any effects of Katrina.  It wasn't till later in the day when we drove out to see the "Free Clinic" that my friend volunteers at that the scope of the destruction set in.  The free clinic is comprises of pre-fabricated buildings and trailers in one of the hard hit areas.  Doctors from around the country volunteer and they see around 80 patients a day.  Most all of the homes in the area are still vacant due to the flood damage.  There are FEMA trailers scattered around in front of houses so that people can fix up their own homes.  It didn't appear like much was getting done which could be from a lack of money.  Some of these trailers looked like they were pretty permanent - up on blocks with grass growing up and around them.  Apparently FEMA has given notice that they are going to retrieve the trailers which could get ugly because it is all a lot of the people have to call home.  Many of the homes, even ones that people had moved back into, still have the neon painted signs on them saying when the homes were inspected and if any bodies were found.  It was easy to see how high the water level got from water stains on the exterior walls.  Shopping strips in most of these neighborhoods are sitting vacant with roofs blown off, windows broken and weeds and grass growing up through the pavement.

The biggest shocker to me was going to the marina on Lake Ponchetrain.  I couldn't believe the destruction and all the boats still piled up and sunk or half sunk just like it had happened yesterday.  Guess there are bigger priorities to take care care.  It was interesting that most of the deck hardware was still on the damaged boats.  I would have expected someone would have gone in and stripped the boats.  Fortunately my friends boat was on the North shore of the lake and somehow escaped with minimal damage, truly a miracle when I saw the photo of all the boats piled up around it.

April 9, 2007

Yesterday was just an amazing day to go sailing and so we did aboard a Nordic 44.  After spending a year looking for our next boat, Paul and I are entering into a partnership on a Nordic 44.   A boat partnership seems to make a lot of sense for people who don't have a lot of time to spend on their boat.  It is also nice to be able to share the monthly expenses which really can add up.  The owner of our new partnership boat has been dealing with some health issues and hasn't been able to use the boat as much as he normally does nor have the energy to maintain her.  Not wanting to sell the boat at this time the partnership will be a good thing.  We will be keeping the boat clean and in top shape ready to take out and enjoy.

Over the years I have run into people who have had successful partnerships and others who have negative tales to tell.  Our biggest concern came from knowing how to structure a partnership that would be fair to all parties.  Paul was able to find a book on the internet "Yachtsman's Legal Guide to Co-Ownership" by Dexter and Paula Odin. This is a great book and even has an agreement with an explanation for each of the 34 points of the agreement.  Dexter is a lawyer and sailor and does a great job of covering just about any situation you may run into with boat partnerships.  The book brought up a number of points that we hadn't considered and so far seems acceptable to  everyone concerned.

We did go ahead and have the boat surveyed so that we would be aware if there were any unknown major issues and to have a list of all maintenance items - our to-do list for the future.  Having a survey done also gave an unbiased surveyor's value of the boat to base the value/partnership on.    While the boat was out of the water for the survey we did the spring bottom paint and then to save money bought a fancy buffer to wax and buff the topsides.  I have to admit that waxing and buffing IS HARD WORK and the boat yards do not charge enough!  Our buffing job didn't look near as nice as the job being done by the professionals.  Let me rephrase that - the last half of the second side (last quarter) looked pretty damn good.  Just wish we could have started with that experience and improved from there...always next year.  At least we have started bonding with our new boat and the pride of ownership is beginning to show, she is looking good.

March 20, 2007

An evening with Bob Perry - Thursday April 26th 7:00pm

Bob Perry, one of the pre-eminent Yacht designers of our era, will be our featured guest and speaker in the Sherman Clay Pianos Recital Hall in downtown Bellevue.  Bob is generally credited with starting the "performance cruising" movement that introduced the concept of sailing speed to offshore cruising yachts and was one of the first 15 inductees into auspicious CRUISING HALL OF FAME.

Please join us for music, refreshments, and a very interesting and memorable evening with Bob.  We will also be displaying a fabulous collection of some of his custom caricature boat drawings he has drawn for friends and clients through the years.

Please RSVP to Sherman Clay at 425-454-0633 as space is limited to 65 people.  Plenty of free parking is available on the premises.  Address Sherman Clay Pianos, 1000 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, WA 98004.

March 19, 2007

"Spring winds blew my list of things to do away" a great line in a great song by Greg Brown.

This does seem to be the time of year when days fly by.  Everything is growing at a rapid pace, finally color is back in our world after a long and dreary winter.   We will be surveying a Nordic 44 this Friday as the first step in a "boat partnership" and I can't wait for a summer of sailing.

Feb 16, 2007

This evening I was returning to Seattle onboard the ferry from Bainbridge and had the rare experience of seeing a pod of Orca's in Elliot Bay.  The ferry captain made an announcement and actually stopped the ferry for a few minutes for everyone to enjoy the spectacle.  What a treat.

When I first moved to Seattle in 1996 it seems that the bay was full of Dahl porpoises.  Every time we went sailing we would have porpoises come over to play in the bow wake.  Now days seeing them is rare and to have them actually come over to play hasn't happened in years - times are a changing.

February 26, 2007

This looks like a worthy cause to pass along......

I work with Salish Sea Expeditions as their Development Director.

Salish takes kids (grades 5-12) out on a 61' sailing research vessel, Carlyn, on the waters of Puget Sound. While the kids conduct science experiments (testing water quality) they also learn about sailing, the fragile beauty of our waters, and the importance of stewardship of our environment. More than 75% of our kids come from public schools and over 25% are students of color. We'd love to serve even more kids!

We're having a fund-raising auction at the Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center, Pier 66, in Seattle, on Saturday, March 10th. Tickets are $75 per person and the event begins at 5:30pm.

Please let me know if you're interested in attending and sitting at my table I'd love to have you join us  - we'd love to show the community that women boaters support our mission. More information about Salish, the auction and the many wonderful silent and live auction items (over 100) can be found on our website: www.salish.org

Let me know if you'd like me to keep you up to date on our programs, I'll be happy to follow up.
Thanks,
May ((*_*))

May Leong
may@salish.org
cell: 206-910-2621
Salish Sea Expeditions
www.salish.org

 

February 22, 2007

The Women's boating seminar on the 17th was a great success with 120 women in attendance.  It was an outstanding event, and received rave reviews.  The event sponsors were extremely generous this year and as a result 1 in 4 women walked away with a door prize. 

A raffle was held for a GPS to help sponsor additional under privileged children in South Africa and as a result of this event 10 children's lives will be brightened. 

With the current rate of Aids and high unemployment in South Africa many children live a very bleak existence.  Imibala.com is an organization that sponsors children going to school.  $100 will buy uniforms, books, tuition for one year with 100% of the money donated going towards the child.  These children will be able to look forward to attending school for a year and a change of pace from their family situations.  If you are interested in this program please visit www.imibala.com there are many more children in need of sponsorship - you can make a difference.

February 14, 2007

The real Valentine was surely a swashbuckling sailor who had a passion for life and adventure.  Someone who loved nature and would not consider a gift of a thorny rose to prove their love on a certain day as was expected.  For the rest of you "Happy Valentines Day".

February 12, 2007

When I first moved to Seattle back in 1996 I joined the Seattle Women's Sailing Association which was 200+ members strong.  This unique organization at the time had been formed to help educate and encourage women to take the helm.  I would look forward to the monthly meetings, camaraderie and interesting speakers.  Over the years the organization has lost a lot of steam but is still plugging along thanks to the president Laura Dangle now in her 3rd year as president.   Meetings are now held on the 2nd Monday of the month - tonight - and the location is 6535 Seaview Ave NW, Seattle in the Condo meeting room.

A new and exciting group has been forming "Women Aboard" in the Northwest.  This group is for women members only, no offense to spouses or male friends.  I met some of the women spearheading the organization and they are very motivated and focused on education and fun. They will be meeting at 7pm on February 19 th at 2520 Westlake Ave N, Seattle 98109.  If you need more info contact vidor@nwlink.com.

Still time to register for the 10th Annual Women's Boating Seminar Saturday February 17th. Details and registration available on this site.

February 6, 2007

The Seattle Boat Show that ended on Saturday had the best weather ever and everyone seemed happy as a result of it.  It was great to dust off the sunglasses once I located them to cut down on squinting. 

Boat shows are a great time to get out and start thinking summer thoughts.  It is a time to catch up with friends who have been hunkered down the past three wet winter months.  A time to look at all the new boat models on the market and get some ideas for a new boat or ways to improve the one you already have.   My spot during the boat show was the new Tayana 48 Pilothouse that was the only sailboat on the dock.  Thank goodness for a tall mast, flags and persevering sailors - it could have been really lonely stuck among the large motor yachts.

The 10th Annual Women's Boating Seminar will be held on February 17, 2007.  This is a fun and educational event for women only and will be held at the North Seattle Community College.  Our sponsors have been extremely generous this year for the "10th Anniversary" and there will be a drawing for some great door prizes.  Details and registration form are available by clicking on Women's Seminar.  Hope to see you there!

January 19, 2007

Tired of the cold and rain?  A reminder that tonight the Puget Sound Cruising Club meets at the North Seattle Community College, 9600 College Way North, Seattle Room LB1141.  Guest speakers are Sonny and Margie Stolsig "Pirates, Ports and Passages aboard the SVHoptoad Circumnavigation 1997-2002.  Non members are welcome and a $3 donation helps cover the cost of the room.  Coffee and cookies served.

January 16, 2007

Sunday morning I had an early flight with a client to San Diego for a sea trial on a boat he is buying.  What a weekend to pick, first missing the Seahawks morning game while flying and then having the local broker and seller miss their Chargers playoff game in the afternoon.  I couldn't wait to go sailing in some warm sunny weather and it really didn't matter much that there was NO WIND that day nor the fact that San Diego was having record cold temperatures in over 30 years - it was only 58 degrees.  We could have stayed out all afternoon basking in the sun but being the considerate people we are after checking out the condition of the sails and drifting around for an hour called it day.  Unfortunately the Chargers met the same demise at the Seahawks, bad football day for all concerned.

There were quite a few boats out drifting on Sunday afternoon and a couple of heavily laden cruiser boats heading out of the harbor probably for destinations south.   I have a great job helping people find and purchase their dream boats.  Not everyone fulfills the dream however it is always an adventure trying and there are always new stories to tell and people to meet in the process.

Radio Usage

Channel 16 is Coast Guard Emergency and Hailing.  You are required to have your VHF radio on Channel 16 while underway.  Non emergency contact may be made to other boats on Channel 16 initially then you should go to a working frequency like channel 69.

Make sure the radio is turned on and set to the proper channel.

Press microphone button and speak directly into microphone.

(Name of vessel station you are calling three times) this is (vessel's name)

eg  "Windy Windy Windy this is Salish Sea".

Release microphone button.

You should not call the same station for more than 30 seconds at a time.  If you do not get a reply wait at least two minutes before calling again.

After 3 tries wait at least 30 minutes before calling again.

When you reach the other station go to a working channel and sent message.  If you expect an answer end your transmission with "Over" or "out".

January 4, 2007

I was out dropping of seminar brochures at various locations today and as a result came across some great deals at West Marine that I thought would be worth sharing.  They have some really good clearance markdowns on women's wear including Columbia brand.   I was in the hunt for new sailing shoes, which also just happened to be on sale.   Actually some of the Sperry Topsiders, ones with zippers are at an incredible price.  I had bought some a couple of years ago after a friend raved about hers and they did become my favorite shoes as well (still have and wear them in the summer time).   I am usually a two pair of shoe kind of gal, the brown Sperry Moccasin being the shoe choice for summer and my Dansko clogs being the waterproof winter shoes of choice.

My old Sperry's finally were so worn and leaky that in November I reluctantly dropped them in the trash and was pretty much down to the clogs, comfortable but not the best shoes for showing boats.  I was thrilled to find some new shoes by Sperry that look like clogs, waterproof with non marking Sperry topsider soles.  They are super comfortable as well as good looking.  My only regret in buying them is the fact that they are made in China and I have been really trying hard to refrain from buying "made in China" goods this year - it is a lot more difficult than I had hoped.

Next stop was Fisheries to visit with Karen Thorndike in the Sailing Center.  Fisheries has really expanded the sailing area and has some really great demonstration set ups for all sorts of things including windlasses, winches, travellers etc.  Everything is nicely laid out and easy to find and plenty of sales people around to help - quite the treat and worth the trip.

January 3, 2007

Happy 2007!

Now that the holidays are behind us, days getting longer, couple of spots of blue sky every once in awhile, summer seems just around the corner.

We caught the Coho ferry over to Victoria to celebrate New Years with Canadian friends and it felt so good to be out on the water again even if it was aboard a ship.  One of the highlights of the trip was meeting John who is a paraplegic sailor who is campaigning for the spot to represent Canada in the 2008 Para-Olympics in China.  John broke his neck in a diving accident 26 years ago and has been in a wheelchair ever since.  The son of athletes he has kept up a very active life regardless of his disability.  Some of his activities include Murderball (wheel chair rugby), fishing from his own boat and then his favorite - sailing.  John talked about how the only time he feels truly free and un encumbered is when he is out sailing his boat.  Regarding "Murderball" there is actually a very good documentary available through Netflix that I had rented in the past.

John's  goal for 2007 is to represent Canada in the Olympics.  Mine, after being inspired by John, is to get back to being a doer rather than observer - it is so much more fun!  If interested in following the campaign the website address is teamucan2.ca. 

December 18, 2006

The storm on Thursday night was by far the wildest weather that I have experienced.  It was an amazing sight to look at the water frothing on Puget Sound and feel the force of the wind pounding on our windows.   Our biggest excitement was the drain filter at the back of our condo unit couldn't handle the run off from the hillside and water was pouring out of it like a waterfall washing away everything in its path.  Being downstream of it was a little bit of a concern.  Fortunately by hacking a hole in the filter the water drained away and there was not major damage.  The power outage was kind of fun at first.  Everything was so dark and quiet after the big storm.  We had family visiting from Florida and it was kind of nice to be huddled around the fireplace with soft candle light sharing stories and experiences.  By Saturday the "fun meter" had pretty much been pegged, wishing for a nice hot shower, light, cell phone charger, internet connection, coffee grinder, heat, to name a few! 

The fact that we are so energy dependent is scary.  Life as we know it has really become quite complicated, a life of gadgets all seemingly made in China that we don't seem able to function without.  If ever there was a good reason for owning a boat and being self sufficient this is one of them.

For the rest of us - please turn the lights back on!

December 14, 2006

The barometer is perhaps the most useful tool in forecasting weather.  Some general rules to follow are:

Stable: stable weather
Rising slowly: good weather ahead
Falling slowly: wind, and a further, faster fall
Falling quickly: (more than one millibar per hour) stormy weather.

Using a thermometer  if you have a normal curve - rising in the morning, then falling again after noon expect good weather.

In the summer quickly rising temperature = good weather, quickly falling temperature = bad weather.

The winter is the opposite, quickly rising temp = bad weather, quickly falling temp = good weather.

Other useful observations:

Sunrise
Red: bad weather
Clear, but with a reddish touch: bad weather.
Red sky in morning sailors take warning!

Sunset
Red: good weather
Clear behind cumulus clouds: good weather
Bright yellow: wind
Pale yellow or green: rain
Red sky at night, sailors delight!

Now if you live in the land of rain and clouds and have forgotten what sun rise or sun set looks like it is good to utilize technology and be on top of weather forecast this time of year.  It is so sad to hear or read about loss of life due to weather related issues.  Seems like the news lately is full of stories of people being lost or stuck out in the weather with friends and relatives waiting anxiously for news of their recovery.

Tonight the prediction is for the biggest storm so far this season with gusts to 90 km in the Straits of Juan de Fuca.  Prevention is the best cure so have everything battened down ahead of it - should be a pretty wild night for live aboards.

December 7, 2006

I picked up a copy of Real Change this morning from the vendor who frequents the Ballard post office.  The paper usually has interesting articles in it as well as some good poetry actually written by the homeless community.  Aside from the paper I like the fact that the vendors who sell Real Change are not just looking for a free handout.  They have to pay 35 cents per issue and keep the rest of the dollar for their efforts.  Real Change is an alternative to panhandling and other ways that desperate people use to get cash.  I hope that when you pass the next vendor you might consider buying a copy.  If you are cleaning out closets making space for the new holiday goodies consider donating warm clothing or shoes and boots.  www.realchangenews.org.

December 6, 2006

The information regarding the Women's Boating Seminar has been updated to this site.  You can register on line using the secure Paypal payment method.  

November 30, 2006

Saturday, December 2 at 1 pm.
Sea Songs: A Free Holiday Concert
“Sea Songs,” celebrates in song and music the maritime traditions of cultures
living and working on and near the oceans. This family program is offered free
of charge to the Seattle public as a way of thanking them at year’s end for
their support of Town Hall and its programs. Featured in the concert will be:
the Canoe Family Singers from the Samish Nation; Ruze Dalmatinke/Vela Luka
Ensemble with songs and music from the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia; The Samoan
Men Singers - Ben Leiataua, conductor; Dangerous Dave Densmore, Alaskan fishing
boat captain and legendary fisher poet performing his epic saga of being lost at
sea after his boat burns and sinks; and a performance of traditional naval
bosun’s whistles. The program opens with Moe Bowstern’s whimsical and
bittersweet “Life Cycle of the Salmon,” a puppet show based on the tradition of
Indonesian shadow plays. 
Free, no tickets required. Reception follows.
 

November 10, 2006

Huge storms!  One of the things about living aboard is being totally in tune with nature.  There are degrees of rain quite audible as it hits the deck, degrees of wind speed as it whistles through the rigging and rocks or heels the boat, tidal fluctuations - always planning ahead on doing laundry or hauling things to or from the boat at high tide.  Living in Seattle where you can have up to 14' tidal range does make a huge difference to the dock ramp angle.

Times have changed and I now live in a condo overlooking Puget Sound.  With a little imagination it still feels like being on a boat as I watch the storms blow in and white caps build.  The rain hitting the windows is different from the sound of it hitting the deck, no more rocking and the angle of the stairs down to the road stays constant,  but I can imagine.

I read with interest this morning in the Seattle Times about the mother of all storms.  A colossal, swirling storm with a well-developed eye is churning at Saturn's south pole, the first time a truly hurricane like storm has been detected on a planet other than Earth. 

The storm on the giant, ringed planet is about 5,000 miles wide, measuring roughly two-thirds the diameter of Earth, with winds howling clockwise at 350 mph. 

This I can't imagine!

November 6, 2006

Tonight Karen Thorndike is the guest speaker at the Seattle Women's Sailing Assoc. meeting.  The meeting is being held at the Seattle Yacht Club outstation at Elliott Bay Marina.  Karen was the first American woman to solo circumnavigate.  The fact that she started out at age 50 is remarkable in itself.  She has received several awards for achievements as well as a certificate from the Guiness World Records.

October 24, 2006

Decks, decks, decks!

Deck issues have been getting my attention for several months now.  I sell a lot of brokerage cruising boats and lately no matter what kind of deck they have issues have come up.

It all started when Paul and I made an offer on a boat in Florida and when we did our initial inspection tapping out areas found to our dismay that there were several areas that appeared to have delamination.  Our initial thought was to walk away from the deal however we really loved the boat, had flown across country to survey it.  I decided to hire a surveyor to do an initial "deck evaluation" prior to a full survey.  Figured that if the deck checked out we would spring for the $$$ for the rest of the survey.  Our findings were right on and the surveyors moisture meter confirmed high moisture levels in those areas.  One thing that can be done in this instance to find out whether the core is rotten or just moist (not as bad and salvageable) is to drill a core sample from inside the boat in an area that won't be noticeable.  The owner of this particular boat did not want to give permission for this procedure and with some more looking around the surveyor determined that he thought the deck was synthetic coring rather than balsa.   The consensus for synthetic coring is that it can't ever rot however I have heard and read that if left untreated it can break down and cause delamination of the skin to the coring.  We did go ahead with a full survey and other issues coupled with the seller's refusal to even accept the surveyors findings made us walk from the deal. 

I did have the chance to get on board another very highly regarded cruising boat a couple of weeks ago that had teak decks that were totally shot.  The decks were probably the worst I have seen on a boat, extremely worn down to where the deck fittings were 1/2 inch higher than the deck in some places.  The caulking was all loose and flapped around like black worms on the deck.  The boat is 20 years old and to replace the teak decks would likely cost at least $30,000-40,000.  To remove the decks and finish with painted non-skid would probably be the best option for this boat in the $10-15,000 range.  It will be interesting to see how the actual deck has fared - it is synthetic coring - with the teak being in such bad condition.  The boat lived in the tropics for most of its life.

Another boat with deck issues is a 30 year old Tayana.  It has teak decks and the teak is in great shape, thick and not showing signs of wearing.  The caulking has pulled apart in places and down below there are signs of moisture leaks on the headliner.  I had some buyers for the boat and my recommendation was to have the deck surveyed before plonking down the $$$ for a full survey.  Turns out there were high moisture readings although the accessible  parts of the deck tapped out okay.  The surveyor did get permission from the owners to drill core samples and all three samples showed that while damp, the coring was still in good condition.  The fix for something like this is to first re-bed all the deck fittings, re-caulk the teak decks, drill holes in the deck (could be done from down below) and dry out the coring.  Once the moisture is at acceptable levels then the holes can be filled and epoxy squirted into the deck to fill any voids.

Just this last week some customers of mine were having a boat they were buying surveyed.  It was a rainy day and the surveyor decided to survey the deck as the very last thing, hoping for the rain to stop.  The boat had checked out well so far and excitement was building, plans for closing in the works.  Murphy's law was the surveyor found a fairly large area that tapped out "delamination" around the area of the windlass.  Everyone was really bummed by the news.  Fortunately the owner of the boat did not mind having a core sample taken and it did turn out to be good.  The new owners are faced with drying out the area and making necessary repairs.  Fortunately the problem was found before the coring had time to deteriorate, they bought the boat. 

Instead of purchasing our own boat we are now going to be partners in a Nordic 44.  This seems to make a lot of sense for now, sharing expenses and still being able to have a boat available to sail in the beautiful Northwest.  The Nordic's were all built with slight indentations throughout the deck and "treadmaster" a rubberized nonskid decking material, super glued to the deck.  The nonskid on all Nordics seems to deteriorate at a rapid rate after about 10 years.  I have been looking at various options for the nonskid on our boat and after looking at several Nordics and talking to owners that have dealt with the issue decided on removal of the old treadmaster and then painting.  We hired Jim Knapp to do the work and are really pleased with the outcome.  Once the old nonskid and glue were removed the areas were taped off and prepped. Jim applied several layers of paint with sand mixed in with it.  I was concerned that it would look odd with the indentation that is molded into the deck but it looks fine.  The deck looks really sharp and has changed the whole appearance of the boat.  Once we get a new dodger, sail cover, hull buffed and waxed she will look like a new boat!

It is so easy to prevent these kind of issues by re-bedding deck fittings on an annual basis.  I know that the times I have done it have resulted in a lot of effort and a big mess no matter how careful I am with the caulking material.  It is not something I do annually although after the "deck issues" of late I think I am going to be more inspired.

October 6, 2006

Anacortes is hosting their first annual "Fall Boat Show" this weekend at Cap Sante Marina.  The show goes from Friday through Monday and should offer both new and brokerage listings.  If you didn't make it to Annapolis this is a good local alternative.  I will be onboard the Tayana 48PH on Saturday and then off to visit old friends from Texas who now are San Juan island residents on Saturday night.  When I reflect back on the friends I have and how we met it is amazing to me how many are a result of my passion for sailing. 

What ever you do this weekend, make the most of it!

September 19, 2006

Ahoy Maties!  Today is "Talk Like a Pirate Day".  Dare I say any more!!!!  For all the scoop to to http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html

It was great logging on to Yahoo.com this morning and being reminded of  this special day.  "Talk like a Pirtate" was created by some local sailors and the way it is growing is likely to  be a national holiday in years to come.   I can see it now, shelves of pirate booty and a new line of Hallmark cards marking the occasion.  Have a great one.

September 11, 2006

Hard to believe that summer is almost over.  This has to be the best summer ever as far as weather goes.

The Seattle Boat's Afloat show will be going on Wednesday Sept 13-17 at Chandler's cove on Lake Union.  Hours are 11am - 6pm weekdays and 10am-6pm on the weekend.   I will be aboard the new Tayana 48 Pilothouse so stop by and say hello.

September 5, 2006

I can't remember a more perfect Labor day weekend in the Northwest, glorious weather and wind for the most part.

We drove to Gig Harbor on Saturday to check out the 2nd Annual Folk Festival that is held at a park right on the waterfront in the downtown  area.  The event was very laid back and a family friendly event.  The setting couldn't have been more picturesque and after a great lunch and a couple of beers at the Tides Tavern, we settled down to an afternoon and evening of some really great music by some of the countries most talented singer/songwriters.  The event was free and the only thing lacking was having a boat anchored out in the harbor for the weekend.  Will have to rectify that problem for next year.  This is definitely worth going to if you enjoy beautiful settings, great music, friendly people.

August 29, 2006

The Perry rendezvous was really an amazing weekend/event this year.  We headed out from Shilshole around noon on Friday and were sailing in 10kts of wind by the time we passed the green buoy off of Golden Gardens.  The breeze was out of the NW and we had a great sail all the way to Pt. Ludlow.  In the 10 years that I have been organizing this event it was the first time to sail all the way.  Thank you Ken and Carol!

This year we had 40 boats/owners in attendance.  Tom Larsen from Virginia Beach and Paul and Georgie Sage from Galveston, TX traveled the furthest for the event.  We had a lot of new faces and some designs that were new to the rendezvous including a new Tayana 48RS.  It is always fun to go aboard the various boats and see the various layouts and cool ideas that owners have come up with.  The most amazing workmanship was on the Tayana 37 "Ulalena" owned by Scott and Teri Hagen.  Scott has done some excellent wood work that was both functional and looked like the finest of furniture.  I especially liked the towel storage rack in the head.

Kurt and PL Mondloch were there aboard "Osprey" their Tatoosh 42 that they had circumnavigated on.  They gave a wonderful presentation Saturday morning and I have since really enjoyed reading their book "Flight of the Osprey".  Dr. Betsy Plotkin was our other guest speaker and gave lots of insight to the common malady of sea sickness and great tips and advice for dealing with it.  Betsy and Richard currently have their Valiant 32 in Mexico awaiting their arrival for the next season of cruising.

Bob Perry and the band (the old band that everyone missed last year) were back in synch and everyone had a great time dancing and enjoying the music. 

The general consensus was that this was the best rendezvous to date - great weather, friends, food, music, boats.........

August 24, 2006

August 17, 2006

Still boatless however now considering a great opportunity in a boat partnership.  The Florida boat was one we really envisioned owning and it has been a roller coaster ride of emotions coming to the decision to pass on the boat.   One valuable lesson I have learned is to go with my intuition and not to force things to happen.  Under the circumstances will never know if I did make the right decision but at least will not be regretting that I should have heeded the warning signal.

Perry Design rendezvous starts tomorrow and it is promising to be a great weekend with lots of boats and owners.  We have several out of state owners visiting this year with some interesting seminars planned.  I will be sailing up on Whisper a Valiant 42 that my good friends Ken and Carol let me use for the weekend since family commitments have them on the east coast.    Weather is going to be spectacular so should be the best gathering to date.

August 8, 2006

Have been having a crazy notion that it is time to buy another boat.  So much for the "lets wait a year before getting another one".   We just got back from a trip to Florida to check out a couple of boats, found one that we liked a lot and now it is a matter of waiting to see how the survey checks out.  This will be the third time I have shipped a boat across country so I am surprised at how much I dread making all the arrangements.  I guess the more experience you have at doing things the more you know what is involved in making it happen and what could possibly go wrong. 

Some of the problems related to buying in Florida is getting insurance especially in the middle of hurricane season.  The best option is to close on the deal with the boat sitting on the truck ready to roll.  Hard to find a seller that is that trusting though so looks like an insurance rider is going to be required. 

We bought a Young Sun 35 in St. Augustine, FL.  Our route took us down the intercoastal waterway to West Palm Beach and then to cruise to the Bahamas with the intention of sailing the boat to Galveston, TX, this was during July/August period.  In order to save time which was running short we unstepped the mast and started out across the Okeechobie waterway.  Fortunately we had mechanical problems right off the bat and had to truck the boat from Stuart, FL instead.  The boat left on Thursday afternoon onboard a truck.  Hurricane Andrew hit on Saturday, yes we were lucky on that one. 

                                                                                                            July 11, 2006

When we moved to the Northwest in 1996 we had our Valiant 47 then named "Tokolosh" trucked to Seattle from Texas.  We lived aboard at Shilshole for 5 years and the very first people who we met were fellow Valiant owners who came down the dock to welcome us.  It was amazing to me how many Valiant's were moored at  Shilshole Marina and thought it would be fun to have a raft up and meet some of the other owners.  Our first raft up consisted of 7 boats and was a lot of fun.  It was nice to be able to get on board the various boats and find out what owners had done to upgrade their boats and get some good ideas.  A bonus was making new friends in the area.  I had decided on a new career when we moved to Seattle and became a Yacht broker.  The company I was working for became the Saga dealer for the Northwest.  The Saga 43 was Bob Perry's newest design and I decided it would be fun to have an annual Perry design rendezvous instead so that more people would attend.  The event has turned out to be a lot of fun each year and one I enjoy organizing.  

Bob Perry has designed most of the best offshore cruising boats (a little biased here) and every year we say goodbye to some of our regular attendees/friends as they take off cruising.  This is the reason we love to see new boats/faces at the rendezvous so if you happen to stumble upon this website and own a Perry design or know some one else who does - hope to see you there!

July 10, 2006

I was talking to a customer who happens to be good friends of friends of mine who are out cruising.  She told me about a scary situation she just had while helping on a passage from Californi