'I went down to Captain Tony's
To get out of the heat.
I heard a voice call out to me
Son come have a seat.
I had to search my memory
As I looked into those eyes.
Our lives change like the weather
But a legend never dies...'
Photo by: Jen Lawinski
Nighttime
11:18pm. We're back on NYC time since departing Bermuda this morning. After only one full day ashore, we're back to sea again on Blue Heron for the return journey to the USA mainland. The short respite was pretty nice actually - not enough time to get fully acclimated to land life again, so we still have our sea-legs.
Land Ho!
Less than ten miles to Town Cut now and St George's harbor. It's the first real calm morning we've had the entire trip, or at least since turning the corner off Hatteras and aiming for Bermuda. We're unfortunately motor boating this last home stretch. There is a boat behind us under spinnaker, part of the Bermuda 1-2 Race. He's putting us to shame, and he's sailing solo!
Blue Heron - 2015.06.08
Blue Heron 2015.06.07 Update
The Weather Gods
Blue Heron Sailing - New York to Bermuda
Guest post: Feeding the offshore racing or delivery crew
Imagine tossing a chicken carcass into a cage of hungry wolves, I think that’s a good idea of what feeding time looks like on a lot of offshore racers and delivery boats. As cook, on a sea going racer, you need not worry about comparisons to the finer restaurants in town. The ingredients for success are simple; two large deep pots, garlic and onions, a little planning, and variety, and watch your fingers at feeding time.
Sailing with the girls from Team SCA
Enjoy some photos from the day for now, and look for a couple of podcasts to follow in the next weeks. One other cool, unexpected person we met was sailing photographer Billy Black, whom we ate lunch with on the TP52 after the day's sailing. He was in the chase boat. Hope to have him on the podcast too, so stay tuned!
Selling Arcturus
Mia and I never really thought this day would come. But just yesterday, we delivered Isbjorn to Annapolis from Connecticut, and our sailing careers officially evolved. Alas, like a good woman, my heart can't be with two boats. I only hope I can find the perfect owner for Arcturus so she can continue the adventures we started on her.
Motor Boatin'
It's another late night on watch while I type this. 0121 on Saturday morning. Weather in the 50s, a definite chill in the air, lots of lightning on the horizon in the south. Downwind, a few stars out overhead. But I'm not sailing...rather am in the wheelhouse - sitting in the leather helm seat to be specific - of the MY 'Azure', a 53-foot Selene Ocean Trawler. We're steaming south on the Chesapeake, abeam of Point No Point now and bound towards Portsmouth.
If you've been following my recent posts you might wonder if I've entered some kind of time warp. Only two days ago I was offshore of Virginia Beach, on the final leg of Sojourner's trip north and back home. We'd crossed the Guff Stream and saw the water temps drop from the 80s to the 50s and then high 40s quite quickly.
Sojourner trip North - Day 5
'Just need a mermaid sighting now,' said Jim from his bunk.
---
0340 Tuesday morning. That conversation happened yesterday. I was on watch in the afternoon, alone, the rest of the crew napping down below. It was great napping conditions...warm, calm sea, broad reaching, just a gentle rocking to knock you right out. 'Whale!'
Position 7 April 2015, 8.30 am
35° 39’N / 075° 22’W
Sojourner trip north Day 4 - "Without the Bitter..."
Mmm, hurricane eggs! Just polished off the last of the fresh Bahamian bread we got from Tom's baker Vernon in Hope Town. Man that's good!
We knew the weather was coming long before we ever left Marsh Harbor.
Position: April 6, 2015 8.30 am
33°00’N / 075°51’W
Wind: ESE 15-20kt
Boat Speed: 8 kt (can you tell they are riding the Gulf Stream?)
Sojourner trip north - Day 3
Sojourner trip north - Day 2 blog from at sea
3:05 am, April 4. I'm sitting in the cockpit, facing aft. The full moon is lighting up the boat from the port stern quarter - you can easily do any deck work without a flashlight and could probably read a book by the moonlight. There are some puffy clouds scattered about.
Like to come along on a trip, check out the 2015-2016 calendar.
Sojourner trip north - Day 1
Zero hour - Sojourner trip north!
Chatting with Senator Harkin in Hope Town
Yesterday, before the guys got here, my dad and I took the ferry over to Hope Town. It's known for the old 1800's lighthouse with red and white stripes, that still burns a kerosine light to this day. Retired Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa lives there when he's not in DC. Tom sailed with me on both legs of the Serenity passage from BVI-Tortola and back in February, and I've gotten to become pretty good friends with him.
