Old Ironsides USS Constitution

We visited the USS Constitution AKA "Old Ironsides" last month on our way to Maine.

We're Licensed Hams!

Robert (KB3RUH) and I (KB3RUI) passed our Amateur Radio Technician Class exams yesterday and are now licensed to use the ham radio aboard Bristol Rose!

Belvedere Yacht Club. 56 Years on the Chesapeake

One of the best things about summers in Maryland is getting together with friends for a crab feast and there's no better place to spread the brown paper and steaming hot crabs than atop a table right beside the water.

Invited by friends who are members of the Belvedere Yacht Club, we made the short trip down the Magothy River from our slip at Ferry Point Marina for an overnight and the club's Annual Crab Feast. The club, founded in 1952, is small and members keep things well organized. As well as a great feast, we thoroughly enjoyed the company and the wonderful hospitality.

Safe at Ferry Point. Hanna has gone and Ike is heading to the Gulf

The plot above shows Hanna from the Thomas Point Light. The tidal surge was not great and the storm passed us by without incident. Lots of rain.

Deciding to keep Bristol Rose at Ferry Point proved to be a good move. Very little wind was experianced at the marina and the staff are very helpful.

Bristol Rose will return to the water this week.

Mid Atlantic Storms Hanna and Hurricane Ike

"URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED TROPICAL STORM HANNA LOCAL STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC607 AM EDT FRI SEP 5 2008...HANNA MOVING TOWARD THE MID ATLANTIC STATES...AT 500 AM EDT...0900Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM HANNA WASLOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 28.0 NORTH...LONGITUDE 78.0 WEST OR ABOUT125 MILES NORTH-NORTHWEST OF GREAT ABACO ISLAND AND ABOUT 430MILES SOUTH OF WILMINGTON NORTH CAROLINA.HANNA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 20 MPH. A GRADUAL TURNTO THE NORTH WITH AN INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED LATERTODAY. ON THE FORECAST TRACK...THE CENTER OF HANNA WILL BE NEARTHE SOUTHEAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES LATER TODAY...AND MAY REACH THE GREATER BALTIMORE WASHINGTON REGION INCLUDING SOUTHERN MARYLAND SATURDAY MORNING.MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 65 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. ONLYSLIGHT STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST PRIOR TO LANDFALL...ALTHOUGH ITIS STILL POSSIBLE FOR HANNA TO BECOME A HURRICANE" Fortunately Bristol Rose is still on the hard. Trish and I prepared her for the storm last night. We are also keeping a close eye on Ike.

Annual Routine Maintenance - Late Summer Haul-Out Special

We've owned Bristol Rose for eight months and this is the first time we've hauled her out for below the waterline annual maintenance.  She was well maintained when we purchased her.  In Canada and North America's northern states boats may be hauled out each winter. At the very least, winter maintenance means winterising the tanks with antifreeze.  A boat may be left in her slip and a bubbler left in the water so it doesn't freeze around the boat.  

We hauled out now to service all the thru hulls, apply new antifoul/bottom paint, etc.  It's an annual, mostly male, bonding ritual that takes place in every boatyard. If you can't be sailing you can be doing boat jobs. This year we took advantage of the (out of season) summer special the folks at Ferry Point Marina offered for haul-out and bottom paint. We use Interlux Micron CSC for our antifoul. The image above shows how well it is working after 12 months in the water.

The size of Bristol Rose presented a challenge for the yard crew and established the limit to what size boats they can haul. To get her out of the water the rigger removed the mizzen topping lift and port side mizzen shroud.




















Before and after shot of Max Prop following replacing the zincs and preparation for application of Propspeed. Propspeed is a relatively new product that protects the propeller from marine growth. A power boat, with propspeed applied, was hauled while I was working on Bristol Rose. After 18 months in the water the propellers were clean.

During this haul out I've cleaned and greased all 12 Spartan seacocks. We were very surprised to find this marine ecosystem in one of the seacocks.



Trish calls this the "whale end" of Britol Rose. Lookin' good after 2 days of wax and polish. We gave the Island Girl products a try. The products are expensive and the written instructions are not that great, although the finished result is impressive. To be fair they provide a video guide.

Almost ready to return to her slip.

Homeward Bound, South-Bound!

Dock E at White Rocks just won't be the same without Randy and Pat aboard Homeward Bound.  Patient planning has paid off and they are on their way, sailing south and living the dream of so many sailors.   Bon Voyage! We hope to catch up with you sometime soon. 

A little provisioning help from some friends.

Farewell Sandpiper

We bought our first sailboat a 30ft 1979, S2 9.2A called Sandpiper in early Spring 2005. She taught us to sail, navigate, and carry out boat maintenance. She safely carried us from Worton Creek to Crisfield MD (the crab capital of the world!) and served as an introduction to new friends. We spent a 4th of July week-end in St Michaels, nights on the town in Baltimore, Spring Break in "Ego Alley" Annapolis and sailed to restaurants in Rock Hall all aboard Sandpiper.

S2's are known to sail well in light winds and Sandpiper proved herself many a summer's day on the Chesapeake Bay. Sailing on the Bay wouldn't be any fun without the occasional "ran aground" story. With the Gunkholers Guide literally as our guide, we tested the soft muddy bottom more than once in far reaching creeks up and down Maryland's Eastern and Western shores. Sandpiper handled it all with ease.

In between week-end and week-long cruises on the Chesapeake, we spent time upgrading and caring for Sandpiper. In July 2008, Sandpiper moved on to a new caretaker. Maybe we'll see her again soon out on the bay.