Hove to off Swan Point – Page 43 – and sailing as slow as I can….

Chilly today,

but warm below. Continued with Tilman’s Mostly Mischief, covering his voyage to Bylot Island from Upernivik, Greenland. It’s a significant chunk of rock and ice next to Baffin Island, at about 74 degrees North. It’s Tilman’s desire to cross the glacier covering most of Bylot. A map of the island and Tilman’s camps follows along with other recent pics:

A map of Bylot Island showing (trust me) Tilman’s camps across the island.

Tea today
Tea this morning.

Lotus mast
Herreshoff like straping on Lotus’s refinished mast.

Dawn
Dawn at our house last week.

Russ

Had a February sail yesterday

in about a 6 to 10 kt breeze from NNE. I went out for about hour or so Saturday morning. Chilly enough so the stove was welcome. Reached from the dock to just inside Swan Point, heaved to on the Port tack, then went below for tea and warmed up sausage bread. Finished the first chapter of a new Tilman book, Mostly Mischief. This one covers several voyages to the west coast of Greenland starting in 1963.

Came about near the Mantoloking Yacht Club after coming within 100′ of shore and then had a broad reach back to the slip. Got in put her away just as it started to rain. Sat below with the last of the fire as the rain kept time with the chortle from Sjogin’s laps.

01.04.06
My view yesterday.

02.05.06
No sailing today, blowing 15 to 20, gusty from the SSW. Had a fire and tea and more Tilman.

Another warmish weekend,

but cool enough for a fire and tea both Saturday and today. Wind today SSE, 12 to 15kts. Pics follow but first a link to something new and probably inevitable, Blog TV . Yes, now you can watch noted Bloggers debate on your computer.

Lotus boom end
Lotus has a new boom. Note the outhaul sheeve and box. The working end of the outhaul is led internally and exits near the gooseneck.

One of the “moaning chairs” in the wood shop at Beatons.

Tea today
Todays tea and the usual healthy splash of Pussers.

GTTLD
Truly! The quote visible next to the cup reads as follows:

“I will tell you naught for your comfort,
Yes, naught for your desire,
Save, that the sky grows darker yet
And the seas rise higher.”

This is from the concluding part of Mischiel in Patagonia which describes the leg home from Bermuda. The weather became very nasty, eventually resulting in the boom breaking. In classic Tilman fashion, after the broken boom was secured on deck, he sawed off about a foot or so from each end to save the fittings. The rest was tossed overboard as they were only a week or so from home.

This is more like it…

…brisk breezes from the NNE about 8 to 10 kts, about 45. Water too low to consider going for a sail.

Also today is my first born’s Birthday. Happy B-day Jeff!

Finished another chapter in Mischief in Patagonia with Tilman and crew sailing from Valpariso to Panama. A soldiers breeze after a refit from the abuses suffered in the channels. Had a fire and tea as usual.

More progress on Lotus with work on her new boom. Pics follow:

Lotus boom
Here is the aft end of the boom showing the solid plug with a slot for the outhaul sheeve. This boom will rectangular in section with walls of 3/4″ Sitka spruce. Note the tapered ends facing forward. This is done to avoid a hard spot.

Lotus boom
Here is the center plug where the forward end of the sheet block bridle is attached.

Lotus boom
And here are the three other sides, ready to be fit. They are scarfed to make up the 29′ length of the A-Cat boom.

Unseasonable today…

..but more Winter like tomorrow. About 45 degrees today, wind 8 to 10 SSW, building later. Had a quick fire and tea after restocking the wood basket with shop scraps. (Nothing like shop dried cedar and white oak for a quick fire.) Pics from today and last weekend follow:

Fire
Today’s fire. The note paper has plans for a galley box to be located on the bulkhead.

First snow
First significant snow of the year last weekend.

The form for the next Flatfish is now in the woodshop and the patterns are being sorted out. Charlotte will soon have a sister. In the foreground is the bench seat for Lotus

Lotus
Varnish build-up on Lotus.

Sjogin’s chain plates. Note the letters stamped into each one; AP is aft port, PF is port forward. This was done by the builder.

Julia
Julia in front of the fire last weekend.

Lotus progress

Took a few pics of the progress on Lotus this past weekend. She’s almost ready for the varnish and paint shop.
No sailing this weekend but the Bay is still open. Had a fire and tea both days. Finished another chapter in the Tillman book; check out the chart of the Calvo glacier. Rough country.

Lotus
Note the size of the centerboard trunk.

Spanish Cedar seat
New Spanish Cedar cockpit seats. Light and hopefully strong enough.

Tools
Random tools. Check out the custom scraper blade handle.

Calvo Pass
Finally, here’s a snap of the area in Patagonia H. W. Tillman and his climbing party explored.

First sail of 2006

An auspicious start to the year. No wind at 10:00 so I installed the new float switch. Job done, the breeze filled in from the SE at 3 to 5 kts. About 35 with signs of the approaching front. Out for about three hours, two teas and some nuts. Started on the next chapter of Mischief in Patagonia where the shore party starts the ascent of the Calvo Glacier, just off the Straits of Magellan. Very peaceful. (The Bay that is, not Patagonia.)

Reflection
Very calm this morning.

Approaching front
Approaching warm front.

Flooded marsh
High water, the marsh is starting to flood. This is the south side of the entrance to Jones Tide Pond, where Beaton’s is located.

Calvo glacier
The first line reads, “It is a curious fact that although knowing full well that one will soon be wet through, one always shrinks from starting out wet.”

Last sail of 2005

Went out with Tom Beaton for the last sail of 2005. Also some late Christmas pics.

Sjogin
Ready to go, stove drawing well, waiting for Tom. Wind was ENE about 4 to 6, 34 degrees with an occasional spritz of drizzle.

Beaton's astern
You’re looking at David Beaton and Sons, West Mantoloking.

Here’s Tom Beaton, David’s grandson, watching Sjogin take care of herself as the family boat yard is framed in the open hatch.

Tree
Our Christmas tree this year. Use by date of January 1st.

Party elf
“OK, her eyes are covered, let’s PARTY!” Inspired decorating by my son.

Boxing Day

Here are some pics from this Christmas weekend:

We were 10 today for Christmas Dinner.

Sjogin has a new seat; a Christmas gift from my son, David. Suprisingly comfortable.

Jeff and Sasha
My other son Jeff and his girlfriend, Sasha. We went out this past Friday afternoon, after the Beaton’s Christmas party. Again hove to off Swan Point, stove warding off the chill.

Julia and Muriel, sharing secrets.

Sunday, December 18th

Had a near perfect late Fall/early Winter sail on Sunday. About 30 when I set sail. Bay water level down about a foot or so. Very light SW breeze; 2 to 5 kts at first, later up to 8 to 10. South going current so when hove to on the port tack, Sjogin stayed almost in one spot. Went below for about an hour, read another chapter in Mischief in Patagonia and had a cuppa.

Here’s some boat pics, also one of our Muriel:

Mast swag
Swan Point is visible between the mast and jib.