Archive | July, 2011

Barefeet Party – Meeting Antares Circum-navigators

July 8, 2011 by

In 2008 while we were still living in London I started surfing the web for sailboat articles.  This was when I started reading sailing blogs. I can not remember when I first ran across the blog for Barefeet, but once I saw the blog I was hooked.   I was excited because their background seemed similar to mine and Gail’s.   Chris also worked in finance and neither  Chris nor Erin were life-long sailboat mechanics.  The final clue was the Backroads T-shirt he was wearing. We loved everyone of our 5 Backroads trips.

Have I mentioned that one of my larger concerns is “can I fix this floating city?”   I do not know what a stuffing box is or how to adjust engine mounts.  So here were two people of similar backgrounds and lack of mechanical experience, who got on a boat and were sailing the world. Maybe we can do this. I finally got Gail hooked on the web site too – I think their early experience swimming with pigs in the Caribbean is what did it. We read every post and thought about what it would be like if we were in their place.

They happened to have sailed on a 44 foot Antares so once we decided on the same boat, we became even more engaged in the blog. When their sailing adventure was over and they had returned to New England, the Antares team organized a welcome home party on Barefeet and, since we were future owners, we were invited.

It was really great to hear their story.  They started off as novices and made it around the world with great adventures along the way. It was evident that their happy demeanors got them half way there.

Of course we had lots of questions. Some of the advice Chris gave me was: Get a longer rode with more anchor chain, add the ability to move fuel between tanks, get a bigger watermaker, and, if you are going to the Med, make sure you can lower the anchor from the helm.  The couple gave a great lecture on their years aboard and it’s on You Tube!











If you do not get excited by watching these videos you lack the cruising bug.   Every time I re-watch them, I get more antsy to start our own adventure.

Manhattan Yacht Club – Sinking at Sea

July 4, 2011 by

I have become a cruiser as opposed to a racer.   As a result, I have become focused on building the skills of crossing oceans safely and comfortably instead of being the first around a collection of orange marks.   I was dragged, kicking and screaming against my will into racing again for the company sailing team.  Who can turn down an early evening sail in NY Harbor and the chance for some friendly competition? The team needed a skipper so I did what any good employee would do and said yes.  They already had a very slick corporate spinnaker and a great crew.

Now you might think the story would end there, but it does not.  Your next thought might be that we ended up winning the series.   Not that either,  but we did have an adventure.   One Wednesday evening, as we were nearing the leeward mark I noticed some very evil looking clouds.   I am not much of a meteorologist but can tell when bad stuff is coming my way.  I decided to ask the crew to douse all the sails and stow them below.   This was not a tough decision since we were doing poorly in the race and some of the crew had never been on a sailboat before.   Safety first.   Despite the precautions, when the 50 knot breeze hit our boat it was quite exciting on board.  (No fish tale,  the speed was recorded on a nearby weather station).   The real action was aboard two other boats.  One was dismasted and the other sunk.   Never to be seen again. The crews of both boats were safe and no one was hurt but it did make an impression on people. One of the club members took some great photos of the rescue.