Retired guy with wife that works and son in college and works part time so I have plenty of time to sail but don’t get to sail as much as I would like because I don't like to go out alone.
I got my first sailboat, an O’ Day 22 around 1975 that I had for a few years. Got a Hunter 30 in 84 and had that boat and a Pearson 23C for a few years. Then in 1996 had a Northstar 25 for two years.
Then around 5 years ago started back to the beginning with an O’Day 22 again! Moved up to an O’Day 28 and last fall to our current boat a Marlow Hunter 33.
In spite of all those boats over the years I am
Not a great sailer and never race. But have fun cruising and put a high priority on safety first.
I took the USCG auxiliary sailing course back in 1975 and again in 2017. Also took the navigation course in 2017.
Finally got out on the bay the past couple of days. It has been so long that I almost forgot what to do, ha ha. But, today we took the boat out for a short sail just to make certain everything is working ok. I was very pleased at how easily the Main Sail furled into the Selden in mast furler. The ke…
The Pentagon on Friday morning released a memo from Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks informing Department of Defense (DOD) personnel that masks are no longer required indoors or outdoors on DOD facilities for those who are fully vaccinated, in accordance with new Centers for Disease Control (…
If you want to go sailing and are in the Newport RI area or will be I am always happy to take my boat out. I don't like single handing so I don't go out alone. If you aren't very experienced don't worry you are welcome. You are also welcome to invite your friend(s) to join you. O…
Well it's finally May and the Coaster Harbor Marina is officially open for business. I had the boat bottom painted and she is almost ready to go cruising. Just have to put the jib on and the Bimini canvas. It's still cool but if the sun is shining it isn't to bad out there. The Newpor…
I wrote about how I ended up starting to ski a few years ago and it is a great winter activity because its to cold to sail. I went to Newport this week to pay for summer storage and to check on my boat that we keep in the water year round. On the way across the Newport Pell bridge I noticed a sail b…
This time of year I used to look forward to going to the boat shows. The big one was the New England Boat Show in Boston, but I would also go to the Rhode Island Show in Providence, and the Defender show at the dealer where you could meet the reps and take advantage of the deals on everything for yo…
It's one of the coldest days of the year and the forecast is for snow on Monday and Tuesday. Of course I like snow because a few years ago at the age of 70 I decided I needed a winter activity so I started skiing! I wanted to upgrade to a bigger boat and saw the Elan boats at the boat show in B…
The Newport to Bristol RI parade was unique in that there were some sailboats in it. Of course Newport is known for sailing so that wasn’t a surprise. The organizers even tried to accommodate us by asking the motor boaters to keep the speed down to six knots, but I didn’t want to rev the engine up t…
My wife isn’t a fan of sailing in the first place and hates it when it is windy so she was excited yesterday to see the big flag at the Naval War College hanging limply on the flag staff. Her brother met came down for the weekend so she was ready to go sailing. By the time I went through the routine…
Storm passed by without doing any damage to our boat in Newport, but knocked down a bunch of limbs in my drive way in Western Mass. Spent hours with a chain saw cleaning up the mess. Hauled about five small pickup truck loads of debris to our lot in the back of our property. Fortunately there was no…
Sunday I added a couple of extra dock lines and a bumper. I took the canvas off the Bemini and wrapped some bungee cords around furling jib so wind won’t catch it and unfurl it. I hope that will be enough to protect her. I hope that by the time Tropical Storm Isaias reaches Newport RI it will calm d…
Our boat came equipped with an optional high water bilge pump. Only problem was the switch was so high and the wire connections so low it would have shorted out before pump would go on. On top of that wires were corroded and some not connected. My brother in law spent a lot of time to lower the floa…
Do you know the rules of the road? I don't know why I have had so much trouble remembering them, but I am making an extra effort to memorize the rules for Sailboats. For other vessels they are fairly simple and obvious, but all of the stand on stand off, windward, leeward, and port and starboar…
Yesterday after we docked our sailboat my wife Mary accidently loosened the jib sheet while I was forward tying up the bow line and the jib unfurled in a strong wind, starting flapping about, and the furling line came out! The only solution was to release the jam cleat on the jib halyard and just pu…
Even though it was a great day for sailing yesterday I didn't have anyone to sail with so I decided to make a 2 + hour drive up to Liferaft Services in York, Maine. I bought Crewsaver lifejackets from them at the New England Boat Show in Boston a couple years ago and this year bought one for on…
I got this email when I was trying to figure out why my Quiet Flush Electric Toilet would take water in, but not flush up to the holding tank. It was something I thought I would try, but thought it best to double check with the pros. I also got the same advice from Head Flush in Newport RI. They spe…
I am going to make a "pre-flight" check off list like an aviator would use before taking off with his airplane. I hate it when I am rushed and remember that I forgot to do something when I am underway. The list will make it easier to remember. I posted some photos in my pictures of some of…
Hope you all had a great Independence Day, got to do some sailing. We celebrated the national holiday in Newport hanging out on the Mary E III most of the time. Because restaurants are open in Rhode Island we did go out to eat a couple of times. Once at the Gulf Stream Bar And Grille in Portsmouth l…
Went down to Newport on Sunday to test the Selden In Mast furling after I got help from a sail rigger to put the sail back in. I was going to take the boat out on the water, but my wife Mary suggested we try it from the dock in case there was a problem. That sounded like a good idea even though the…
The Navy Marina at Naval Station Newport is starting to open up. On June 15th they allowed people to stay on their boats, including summer liveaboard, overnight. They also opened up the head from 08.00 to 17.00. But, there are still restrictions about having work done on the boats and on the station…
If you have are a USA registered boat remember to dress your boat up and host your ensign on Flag Day Sunday, June 14. In US Naval services flags are flown from 0800 until Sunset. That’s what I do. As my boat is docked at a US Naval Station every morning at 08.00 they play the National Anthem and at…
Managed to get jib on. Real struggle alone. Will wait for help to do Main. No wind this early, got to Newport at 06.55, so that’s when we need to be here. it would be easier if I could have just come down night before and slept on boat. Not allowed. But, I guess it would be ok to go to Providence an…
Well, June 1 is around the corner and the Coaster Harbor Marina will finally be open for recreational boating. But, there are still a lot of rules that are going to make it hard to invite non family members to go boating. Also, no one is allowed to live aboard including staying on the boat overnight…
Sailing is still going to be a pain, but looks like restaurants will begin to open if you don't mind sitting outside. The Officers Club at the Naval Station only has outdoor seating anyway in the Spring-Summer anyway It will be interesting to see if they open in June? Problem with that restaura…
Rhode Island is the Ocean State and really encourages sailing. If you buy and keep a boat in Rhode Island you don't have to pay sales tax on it or anything you buy with it! That can mean big savings in a state with a 7% tax so you could easily save hundreds or even thousands of dollars in taxes…
I got an update from the Coaster Harbor Navy Yacht Club today and it looks like the marina is still on track for June 1, "barring any significant changes in world (state) events", but it will be a phased opening and there is no explanation about what that means? The Commodore of the club p…
Taking a break from mucking out two stalls. If anyone needs any compost you are welcome to all you can haul away. I mentioned going to the boat last Saturday. Wanted to reconnect some of the plumbing but boat was rocking to much so I just relaxed and watched Netflix show. No rush because water is st…
Hopefully the marina will open up on June 1 as promised and we'll be able to work on my boat and take it out sailing. But, how do we social distance? I want to invite members out on the boat, but I don't want to make anyone sick or get sick myself. It would be nice if there was some easy t…
We went down to Newport yesterday to shop at the commissary and check the boat out. It was cold and windy and had snowed in Western Mass. Could see patches of snow covered ground off the Mass Pike. Didn't see any snow on the ground in Newport, but did see some snow flakes. Shops were finally op…
My marina still has a June 1 date. In the meantime all I can do is visit Rhode Island Member UpdateDear Safe Harbor Members and Guests – We hope you, your families, and friends are staying healthy and safe during the COVID-19 outbreak. It has been and continues to be, an enormous privilege and honor…
Got an email today with this information from BoatUS, this won't apply to me as I paid my premium in full. Had to as a requirement to dock the boat at the Naval Station Marina, but it is useful information. I already got a small rebate on my car insurance because accidents have gone way down be…
If you are not from Massachusetts, and even if you are, you may not know that today, April 19, is Patriots Day. It used to actually be celebrated on the date but like so many other holidays it is celebrated on Mondays. It is marked by the world famous Boston Marathon. Of course this year it won'…
No change in the marina policy yet.Didn't think so. At least I can go down and look at the boat, ha ha. I don't mind because my wife likes to go shopping at the commissary on the base. They have some very good social distancing policies and unlike civilian super markets the patrons are ver…
“The governors of three Northeastern states have announced the reopening of marinas and boatyards -- as long as they follow social distancing and sanitation protocols during the coronavirus crisis.” I hope Rhode Island and Massachusetts are next!
The darn virus cut my ski season short and has now delayed my boating season, but that is just an inconvenience. I really feel bad for people that were and are sick, out out of work, and most of all died. Those are real tragedies. It’s just strange that Rhode Island has such severe restrictions on o…
I found more news about pleasure boating in Rhode Island related to the Corona Virus if you are a resident it isn’t as bad But, even if you are there are issues. My boat neighbor had work done in his mast and he told me he has to have his boat quarantined for four days before the yard will work on i…
