The Sailing Roundup is back! Our 2022 summer hiatus lasted into the fall, and the winter, and well, now the spring. But alas, we’re back with fresh news, trends, gear, events, and training for your inbox.
Editorial:
Solo sailing has always been a significant part of my sailing education. No other type of sailing even compares to the growth and challenge provided by long-distance solo sailing. When I sold Daphne my biggest concern was that I would lose the skills and perspective that I had developed while on my two-year solo voyage. Benji shared the same concern for himself. So, it felt natural that we make a pact: To create several solo opportunities for one another each year. Ben and I both recognize that when we share boat operation responsibilities, it feels a bit lazy; there’s less to do, less to worry about. But with Ben away for a week, I decided to seize the best opportunity available: set sail with a friend of mine—someone who knew nothing about Rocinante, who was primarily a tall ship sailor, and who wouldn’t share the same sense of responsibility for Rocinante’s safe operation that I did.
The first day out went smoothly without a hitch. We anchored before sunset, cooked a delicious curried cashew & kale dinner, then slept under the stars in the cockpit. The next day, we awoke before sunrise and immediately weighed anchor, still in our pajamas. The barometer was creeping closer and closer towards Fair and there wasn’t any wind, the water was like glass. We motored a few hours, then dropped anchor right next to the schooner on which Ben was working. It was a lovely reunion and I got to spend time with Ben and the crew—who challenged us to an impromptu race!
In the excitement of it all, my friend and I weighed anchor and got underway without stowing for sea. It was chaos at first, and things quickly began to go adrift below. I bustled around stowing dishes, hoisting sails, putting books back on shelves, all the while trying to keep a tight eye on the chart as well. Once everything was back in its proper spot, we tacked up a narrow chain between a tight group of islands, heading for The Reach. Submerged rocks were scattered everywhere and the wind was strong. I had to think fast and keep on top of navigation. Several times we plotted quickly on the chart, only to decide to tack immediately upon determining our exact position. That’s how swift things were happening. Rocinante is a fast boat! The challenge was fun and I felt vital. While not quite exactly like solo sailing, I recognized an elevated level of responsibility and leadership aboard Rocinante for the first time since we purchased her. Instead of Ben and I working together, carrying out the functions of the boat that we know well, and fully trusting one another, I was teaching my friend new roles, new skills, new tricks to a quick learner and trustworthy person, however, I was still taking on most of the work myself. The independence was gratifying.
We, of course, won the race—even though our ‘competition’ was 20′ longer, short tacking to weather on a Bob Perry design is no match for a gaff rigged schooner built in 1872! After we rounded the last windward buoy, we turned towards The Reach, eased the sheets for some comfortable sailing, and coasted into anchorage. That night we enjoyed the music of a steel drum band and the sounds of laughter from the surrounding schooners.
In the morning we rowed over to visit Ben again and joined him and the crew for breakfast. Our morning was lazy, even though we had to return to our starting destination, ending our journey. When we finally set sail, the wind had diminished to an inconsistent 5 knots. We drifted up The Reach, exited the Northwest end, then turned south. A thick fog bank sat on the distant horizon but quickly rolled up the bay and engulfed us. We were soon sailing in thick fog and the sun was setting. I’m not bothered by fog travel or night travel. I even enjoy the challenge. However, the combination of fog + darkness is something I try to avoid. But that night we would be stuck in both. I asked myself if I should to proceed to our final destination—still some 4 hours away, or anchor before sunset. With some prudent navigation, and a keen lookout, I decided we could continue.
We prepared for darkness. I would need all the essential navigation tools (rulers, hand-bearing compass, fog horn, and chart). My friend was positioned at the bow with a high-powered flashlight. “Lobster pot, fine off the port bow,” or “power vessel to starboard,” whenever he could see them, which seemed to be only when they were very close. I would respond with, “lobster pot aye,” and adjust course to dodge the buoy. The call-and-response communication style worked well for us. Like Ben and I, my friend is also a professional mariner aboard traditional commercial vessels so it went without saying how we would best communicate and navigate in the foggy darkness. Thankfully, the rest of the night was fairly quiet and routine.
I also turned on, what in my opinion is one of the more essential pieces of electronic navigation equipment, the radar. It far surpasses a chart plotter or AIS in usefulness and versatility. The radar does the very thing I cannot do in the fog: see. It showed me land shapes and vessels and their range (distance away). From that information I could triangulate and pinpoint my position on the chart. I often use radar in conjunction with dead reckoning to stay on top of navigation.
We dropped and set the anchor around 2230. There were two other boats anchored near us that we could see, but in the morning I saw a dozen more. The trip went without a hitch, but I learned one important lesson: We perform to the level of expectation.
When I sailed Daphne solo, it was expected that I be responsible for maintenance, upgrades, winterizing, sailing, and all the work related to the boat. Now that Ben and I share all the responsibilities, we divide and conquer, therefore some skills are called upon less often, sometimes never—for example, how to turn on the radar…a source of great frustration for the first 30 minutes of darkness! My goal is to continue to seek opportunities that require me to perform at a higher and higher level.
~ Teresa
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Don’t forget to check out our sail-training expeditions at MorseAlpha.com.
From Morse Alpha:
Our Latest Podcast • Ep 23: Sailing At Night & Standing Watch
We chat with Behan Gifford and John Worth about sailing at night, standing watch, working on commercial vessels, making passages, ship traffic, AIS, radar, and more.
Available Bunks For Summer 2023 Expeditions
Our summer sailing season is coming fast. There are still some available bunks. Our 2023 sailing school schedule will spend the the summer based out of our homeport, Rockland, doing what we do best, cruising somewhere between Rockland, Portland, Monhegan, Petit Manan, and Mt. Desert Rock in the Gulf of Maine.
Now for the best of the web...
News & Interesting Finds:
Maiden enters round the world race
An all-female crew will again race the yacht Maiden around the world.A young female skipper and up-and-coming female sailors, yet to be named, will take part in the 2023 Ocean Globe Race.
Greenhouse gases continued to increase rapidly in 2022
Carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide rise further into uncharted levels.Don’t shrink away: Mystic Aquarium teens work to recycle marine shrink wrap
Teen volunteers from Mystic Aquarium work with Clean Ocean Access to collect and recycle shrink wrap at a marina in Connecticut.Freight train of atmospheric rivers brought record rain, snow in March
March was a turbulent month weather-wise across the United States, as a series of western storms brought record amounts of precipitation and tornadoes ripped through parts of the South and the nation’s midsection.Science Aboard the Research Vessel Corwith Cramer
At 2330, 100 miles out to sea, the Corwith Cramer is a flurry of activity—furling headsails to slow the boat down, deploying equipment into the black water below, logging reams of data into five different logbooks scattered around the ship.SPRING CRUISE 2023: Sailing Solo on the Georgia Coast
March 21/2023: After leaving Lunacy ensconced at Brunswick Landing Marina down in Georgia back in November, I did return to visit her the following month for several days. But I didn’t sail anywhere.Jimmy Cornell asks how much safer has sailing actually become in 40 years?
Cruising legend Jimmy Cornell compares his latest world cruising survey results with findings he first published in PBO 40 years ago…Fire Burns Through FV Kodiak Enterprise at Tacoma Dock
The fire on board the fishing vessel Kodiak Enterprise has nearly burned itself out…New Details on Gulf of Guinea Pirate Attack
Singapore is confirming new details about the tanker that was boarded by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea this week.Sargassum and Icebergs — Threats Warm & Cold
In recent years we have posted about the impact of massive mats of sargassum in the warmer waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic.Saildrone Surveyor USV Discovers a 3,300-Foot-Tall Seamount Off California Coast
The vehicle mapped more than 13,000 square nautical miles during its expedition. “When [the seamount] was found, people got really excited that there was a big feature that no one was previously aware of.”Dramatic South Atlantic Rescue of Golden Globe Race Sailor Ian Herbert Jones
Ian Herbert Jones of Great Britain, competing in the 2022-23 Golden Globe Race, was successfully rescued after his Tradewind 35 Puffin had rolled over and dismasted, with the skipper injuring his back and incurring a gash to his head.
Seamanship & Skills:
Navigation: Currents and Obstacles off Cape Hatteras
Its fame and reputation, however, come not from the Cape itself, but from the succession of ever-shifting underwater sandbars, known collectively as Diamond Shoals.Seamanship: Rethinking Anchoring
Sailing is for the curious. We will never be done learning. Work with your crew to elevate each other and build your skills. Reconsider the best position for everyone on board. And when you make mistakes, as we all do, try to make them slowly, and your crew-mates will be able to help you recover.Communication at Sea
“Done.” Jeremy put the iPad face down on the towel under the dodger. “We’ll have a new set of GRIBs in a few minutes. And Chris’ weather should be in the next time we check too. Did Julian text back yet?”Wrong Way to San Francisco
Every year, hundreds of boats in California turn left like a rite of passage, setting their course for the cruising grounds in Mexico where tacos are cheap, the sea is warm, and tequila flows like water. So why would anyone turn right and sail the “wrong way”…Leaking boat: how one sailor traced the source
When Alan England’s Moody 376 developed an unexplainable leak, he used detective work to find the source... but it wasn’t easy.Prop Walk: How To Manage Your Boat’s Pivot When Leaving the Dock
Be sure to control speed when leaving the dock, and always be on high alert for other boats, swimmers and obstacles.
Maintenance & Projects:
Electrical Current Leakage
BoatUS has an article on measuring electrical current leakage from boats at docks in marinas and how to keep your boat safe from leakage…How to remove mouldy stains from interior woodwork – Ask the experts
PBO reader Kevin Woods wants to know how to remove mouldy stains from his boat’s interior woodwork. Heritage boatbuilder Colin Henwood has this advice…AGM vs. LiFePO4 Longevity
This short article takes a look at two real world use battery banks used on cruising boats, a 2.5 year old 420Ah rated AGM bank and a 13 year old 400Ah rated LiFePo4 bank.How To Change a Fuel Filter
Primary fuel filters can capture a significant quantity of contaminant; the seaweed-like tendrils shown here indicate biological growth.
Videos & Photos:
Aluminum Sailboat Corrosion and Survey
We've been getting lots of questions about corrosion on aluminum boats and how quality yachts deal with this issue. Today we look at some of the methods used…Series Drogue Construction
Make your own series drogue sea anchor.
Wonderful read, thank you! Solo sailing is indeed a challenge, and a lot of work. I am presently solo aboard my Sabre 34, Magic Gal, on the ICW in Georgia. I left Michigan last August, made it as far as the Bahamas, and am now on my way back to Michigan. I've not sailed as much as I would like, mostly motoring. But have learned, and continue to grow, my knowledge and boat handling skills.
And, FWIW, almost every day I use the little wooden cutting board I got Southwest Harbor, Maine in May 2021 and asked all of my MA crew members to sign!