Sjogin – Page 16 – Hove to off Swan Point

First sail of 2009 today

Broke my barnacles visible rule and sounded my way out and in. Touched for a bit where I half-expected on the way in. Hung my not inconsiderable mass off the lee side and reduced the draft enough to tack an sail up to the dock. Was able to use the tiller line to steer while hanging to leeward. Kind of like reverse hiking. Video later.

First sail of 2009. Reaching up to Swan Point.

Happy Skipper
Well at least we got out of the basin. About three and a half feet inside, five where I’m at in the pic.

Back safely
Back after having a semi-grounding. The judicious use of my mass hanging from the lee shrouds and the use of the tiller line saved the day.

Steward! Breakfast stuff waiting for the next watch.

al fresco
Breakfast as fresco. First breath of Spring. Clocks advance tonight. Ahhhh… post work sails.

New rowboat abuilding
New boat project at Beaton’s. They’ve taken the lines off a rowboat built by David Beaton for Mrs. Colie and plan to start selling a few.
Glowing Hazlenut
Photo by Julia. Our Henry Lauder’s Walking Stick (Contorted Hazelnut) being full of it’s bad self in fresh snow last Monday morning.

February is exiting and still no sailing.

Perhaps the water in the Bay will return in March. Down today for a check-up and a cuppa and the barnacles were still showing. They usually need to be covered to have enough water in the basin for sailing in and out of the slip.

It was almost high enough today but falling on brisk breezes from the west. Big front coming through with the promise of snow tomorrow.

Still in the slip
Here’s hoping March will be a little kinder and bless us with gentle southerlies.

That’s my Phil Clarke Duckboat Speedwell viewed through the lumber shed. She was built in 1951 and the last boat Clarke built before selling the plans and patterns to David Beaton, Tom’s grandfather.

There’s a great story in the new issue of WoodenBoat about the resurgence of the Duckboat fleet on Barnegat Bay. Thanks Mr. Kellogg.

Photo by Suzanne Beaton of Tom and Meghan Beaton on the way to the starting line in B-10.

Still no 2009 sailing yet

We’ve had the wind out of the west for a while now and the Bay is lower then last weekend, down about two feet. Breeze backed into the SW this afternoon so hope springs eternal.

More water please. About another eighteen inches would do it. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.

Of course the lack of a sail didn’t stop me from the usual weekend ritual.

Happy Skipper
Enjoying the warmth and wafting smells of breakfast at the sizzle.

Quest is finished (for now). She’s been moved out of the shop and awaits a few minor details before launching. Hope to snag a sail this Spring and report accordingly.

Ice free!

The lengthening daylight has worked it’s magic and the ice has left the Bay. Last weekend saw the last ice in the basin and now it’s time to continue off-season sailing.

One of my WoodenBoat Forum friends, Steven Bauer, is here from Maine on a family visit. He’s coming by tomorrow and we’ll try to squeeze in a sail, conditions permitting.

Reflections
From last weekend. Meltwater on top of the ice make a perfect mirror. Looks calm though it was blowing over 25kts last Sunday. Here’s a bit of video:

It was neat seeing the gusts ruffle the melt water while the ice moved due to the wave energy. Getting thinner.

Here’s another one. What a perfect mirror.

Ice free
Taken this morning. And now the Bay beckons. Maybe tomorrow will see my first sail of 2009.

The duckboat is Speedwell, our 1951? Phil Clarke duckboat. She needs a bit of work to get her back on the Bay. I’m going to give her a lug rig to make it easier to sail for those north of fifty. The standard rig is a cat with a leg-o-mutton sail with the foot almost as long as the hoist. The boom on the standard rig is only a few feet off the deck, which is fine for an eight year old. You really need to “duck” when tacking these boats.

And a Happy New Year to all

No 2009 sailing yet but had a pleasant visit yesterday and today. The bilge pump float is off as the bilge water is cool enough to freeze. If the float isn’t disabled it may rise with the ice and not drop and shut off the pump. Also the discharge hose is probably frozen as well.

So I warmed up in the cabin before pumping by hand. She’s not leaking too badly now and can be left alone for a day or two. And when it gets cold enough the leaks freeze!

Ice season. Between Beatons and my regular visits we’ll keep her afloat.

Current read
Currently reading a collection of stories from the world of shoal water sailing in small boats. Read an excerpt from Four Months in a Sneakbox by Nathaniel Bishop. He made a voyage in 1874 from Pittsburgh to the Gulf Coast in a 12′ by 4′ sneakbox similar to my own Speedwell.

Solid comfort indeed for this frozen fingered sailor.

Dry below.

Finishing details
Finish work on Quest, still a way from the first coat of varnish.

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Cardinal
Visitors returning to the rehung feeder. No squirrels yet…..

A dusting this week, no real snow yet. Click on the pic for a larger size.

Quest progress

Beatons is moving along on the restoration of Quest, a 1922 Watch Hill 15. Built by the Herreshoff Mfg. Co. for service in Watch Hill Bay, RI, she’s been given a second ninety years on our Bay.

Coamings in
The coamings are in place and await final trimming and fairing. The hull’s had the first of several finish coats applied.

Deck jewels
Deck hardware being installed. It will all turn a nice soft green over time.

Paul Smith of Beatons, lead builder on Quest. Note the original bronze knee.

Sleet!
Sleet! And rain and snow and blowing 25 out of the ENE. Definitely Sardine weather.

Crispy
Though the weather outside was frightful….

The weather for the Winter Solstice was decidedly more benign. About 4:00 yesterday.

Yet another semi-rainy weekend

Down to Sjogin yesterday for the usual. Again a Saturday morning spitting rain out of the SSE, blowing 20 or so. Not too cool but raw enough for a fire. Noisy below with the chop raised in the basin. Plenty of water too.

Shop scraps
Prime dry Jersey White Cedar makes fine kindling. Off cuts from the Quest planking job.

Comfort food
Classic Saturday morning ritual. Finished going through John Stilgoe’s Shallow Water Dictionary. It’s a slim book that ranges over the meanings and origins of “estuary” english.

Quest
Speaking of Quest, the Xynole deck covering is on and the hull’s been faired. Expect paint soon.

Sjogin
Plenty of water, plenty of wind and in between showers. Not a very pretty day.

Irene Tansy dancing back and forth on her mooring.

Happy Brant
High water in Stockton Lake last Friday. The Brant seem to like the easy in and out.

Hole
Something interesting in the shop at Beatons. It’s a new bottom plank with a hole for the propeller shaft for the Bunker and Ellis picnic boat Cats Whiskers.

We truly did

Sailed as slow as we could last Friday morning. Julia and I were off to prepare for our party celebrating 20 years in Ourhouse but snuck in a few hours on board,

There was a lot of sun but limited wind. Calm on deck, 2-4 kts aloft, just enough to sail and heave to for a bit off Beatons. Cool enough for a fire below where Julia spent most of the sail.

Julia and Serena
Tacking slowly through the fleet. Just enough way to tack with sufficient precision. Serena’s still in commission.

Shooting the pier
Ghosting up to the dock. Slow motion sailing. Not another boat on the Bay so no wakes.

Warming up the last sips.

Party pics later….

Barnegat was out for a sail today

Went down to Beatons after work today to check on Sjogin. As I walked out on the dock Barnegat glided by after a sail on a beautiful October day. She’s a 1930’s Charles Mower design that’s been around the Bay for years. I did some work on her during my Beaton interlude.

Barnegat
If she looks like there’s a bit more freeboard then usual for a 1930’s design, it’s because there was an explosion on board in the 50’s. When the owner decided to rebuild he added a few extra planks to gain headroom. Comfy boat.

Sunset
And yes, Sjogin’s doing fine. Her leaks seem to be diminishing and she’s drying out nicely inside. Waiting for new sail covers from Mark Beaton.

Sjogin floats!

Sort of. She’s sitting in the slings in the pit in the big shed at Beatons. She can hang there for a few days, out of the way, while her planks swell shut. Julia and I went down this evening to check on her. Looking forward to the off season and the first hot stove session.

She floats!
Floating with a little help from the straps used to launch her. Hope to rig her this Friday.

Familiar reflections. One of a recent series of shed framed photos.