The Maiden Voyage of Mini-D

Well it has been some time in the making, but finally the time, and a weather window, had arrived for the maiden voyage of the new to us 7.5’ sailing dinghy Mini-D.  It is one cute little bugger and I was very anxious to see how she handled.  Three very noteworthy comments to consider:

1. a 7.5’ sailboat is very very small.
2. I am so glad no one had a video camera!  Stills are no where near as revelling.
3. I am way to fat to be sitting in such a small sailboat (gotta work on that one).

Well anyway, we were off on the maiden voyage.  With some assistance from Ryan (of Apogee fame) we got Mini-D out of the truck on to the water’s edge.  I had also asked the local photographer to assist in documenting the event!  (All pics by Rhoda Carpenter).

Out of the Truck

Into the Water

From this point we began the process of rigging the little boat.  The mast went up, the sail was bent, when all of a sudden I realized I hadn’t mounted the rudder.  Back to the dock, where Ryan put the rudder on while I sat in the bow to raise the stern.  Now it was back out into the cove (with a light westerly blowing) and finishing the rigging.

Rigging the Sail

Sailing into the Sunset (lol)

And, viola, we were sailing on what little winds was left, which truly wasn’t very much, in fact I could scull with the rudder about as fast as I could sail (please note the ice in the background).  So from this point it was just a matter of learning how to maneuver the vessel, which I propose that we wait till warmer weather sets in.  Later in the day I took her back out but this time without the sailing rig for a row around the cove and she rows much better with the longer oars and after I found the comfortable and appropriate seating arrangement.  She is one cute little sailor and I can’t wait to try her again in the coming days.

Fair Winds Yawl.

Nature’s Wind Chime

Well it’s January 16, 2010, and I find myself at the boat with the cove still partially frozen and truly some kind of Pacific Northwest weather thing going on, not really cold (temps in the 50s and foggy/drizzly type stuff) and yet so beautiful.  I visited with my friend Steve aboard Enchantress for a bit, and then back to the boat to put stuff away for the night.  Following that I strolled up to Mz Rhoda’s to pick up some E-pics for the website (www.applegatemarina.com), then back to the boat to upload them to the hard drive.  Somewhere in that process Steve dropped by for a chat and by that time it was time for dinner and Steve returned to Enchantress for his steak and potato and I settled in for some good ole left over Corn and Cheddar Cheese Chowder!  YumYumYum!

Following dinner, I took a stroll over to visit Kat Bleau and found that no one was aboard.  I looked about the dock and noticed that no one was around so I decided that everyone had gone to Shad’s Catfish Hole or Sallisaw or Fort Smith for dinner.  They should be scared as I am watching and awaiting their return and then they can’t ignore me! Ha!  At this juncture I decide to take a walk around the grounds and strolled on out to the service dock.  While there, I noticed some truly eerie sound that at first took me aback.  As I listened it became obvious that there was a strange sound on the little bit of wind that there was!  It took several minutes for me to pin point the source, but when I did I was amazed!

I should remind the readers that Kerr Lake has been frozen, shore to shore, for the better part of eight or ten days.  We are just now, even after several days of temperatures well above freezing, starting the thaw.  As I stated, I was on the service dock and I could not decipher the sounds that my ears reported.  Initially, I thought it was a bubbler (used in marinas to keep ice from forming in the first place) that had been place on the floating cabin.  So the curious part of me decided to stroll that way and see what was up.  Once on the “floating cabin” I realized it was not a bubbler!

Wow, what was that sound?  Then it hit me!  A small westerly breeze had built, and from that direction, the cove was open to the waves, which built upon that breeze.  The noise I was hearing was the incredible sound of the small, yet steady, waves rippling through the remnants of the lake ice.  Little shards of left over ice were mingling in a soft, yet discernable symphony of “winter’s wind chimes”.  The sound was mesmerizing!  Imagine ice in a fine crystal double old fashion glass as one “swished” the contents, and the ice and the crystal co-mingled.  I am not too sure that there is any comparison outside of nature.  It (the sound) was amazing!

At this point I froze out and decided to return to the boat for a good round of Leon Russell’s Will of the Wisp.  A great Leon Russell album it you are not familiar with him.  Anyway, what an evening, at least most of ice is gone and tomorrow I shall launch Mini-D, my new Cape Dory 7.5’ sailing dinghy.  I am pumped!  Fair winds and good night to everyone!

Off Topic, yet important non-the-less!

WOW!  Recently I was having a conversation with a friend concerning our military retirement.  Well low and behold that evening when I checked the mail, there it was?  Yea, the Department of Defense sent me my application for retired pay!  Although this is just step ONE, I am pumped!  Obviously, it is not a good thing to “wish time away”, but I have now began the process of preparing for retirement. Have I mentioned I am pumped?

While it is not happening soon, in the great scheme of things two years in not that long of time.  The instructions state that I have to have the documentation into the DOD computers at least nine months prior to my first check, so I will definitely make that deadline and then two years from now, automatically, miraculously, on cue and without delay the checks start to roll in and will not stop until that sad day when I depart this world.  Not only that, but the insurance is wonderful as well.  I can carry the entire family (to include a cancer survivor) for way less than most retirement plans allow.

So yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus!  And two years later, I’ll be drawing the good ole’ Social Security, and still have two more pensions to tap into on top of that!  WOW!  The house is ours (as it should be at this time in our lives) and minimal credit card debt (read one card under $2K) and only one car payment!  Life is Good!  This alone should be incentive enough to force me to get off my lazy arse and get some weight off and get in at least some semblance of physical condition.

Fair winds and keep a stiff upper lip (and warm feet) my friends, spring is just around the corner!

Sail on.

S/V Rhapsody at Decade’s End

WOW another decade under the belt and to think I didn’t even realize this was the case until very recently!  And what a tumultuous decade it has been with the planet seeing changes none of us could have imagined at the turn of Y2K!

Well it’s been a bit since this blog has had any additions.  That is not to say that Rhapsody and crew have been resting on our laurels.  Fall in Oklahoma is a wonderful time to be on the water and there were several raft-ups and individual outings.  Unless you have had the pleasure of moving from spot to spot, dropping the hook, and enjoying a pleasant evening/night/morning on the water you need to add that to your bucket list.

One of the more memorable outings was a follow up overnighter for a Space Shuttle/ISS watch party.  Although it was less attended, those in attendance had an enjoyable evening with clear skies and a wonderful view as they flew overhead.  Alas, the timing was less than optimal for swimming, in fact, one needed to reach for the sleeping bag before the evening was over, but none-the-less it was a grand time with Rhapsody, Apogee, and Anejo′ and their associated crews.  On another evening, the able ship Rhapsody returned to another favorite anchorage and enjoyed a chilly but very comfortable evening on the hook.  That last overnight outing was towards the end of October and since that time, time has been scarce what with the holidays approaching.

And now as 2010 fast approaches, I was aboard last evening in one of the few weather windows we have had recently.  The last few weeks have been a blur.  The first weekend in November found Rhapsody’s Captain in Havre de Grace, MD for the 2009 Cape Dory Sailboat Owner’s Annual Meeting (www.capedory.org), and then came Thanksgiving, and then on the weekend before Christmas, Rhapsody’s crew had an extended weekend in New York City (a surprise Christmas present for the Admiral), then home for two days, then to Fort Worth for Christmas with the Texas Family, then home for Christmas with the Oologahans (my son, his wife and the three grandkids), Kim, Alisa and Will!  We had a great time.  Then Sunday afternoon, the Admiral headed back south to Fort Worth to spend the week with her mother and father.  She just returned today (12-31) and we are trying to decide what, if anything, we are going to do tonight in the way of celebrating the new decade (is that correct, a new decade starts tomorrow OR is it next year?).  I have fire works and a sailing friend of mine from Georgia has suggested that in light of the fact that it is a blue moon tonight, we should all dance around naked in the moonlight (as another blue moon on New Years Eve will not happen for another 19 years).  I am giving fair warning!  “Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid”!  However, I must be very very careful with the fireworks!!!!!

And to top off the New Year (and decade), Rhapsody’s new tender, Mini D, arrives from the east coast sometime Sunday afternoon.  She is so cute and has her own sail and is also a Cape Dory (hence Mini D)!  Anyone want to buy a good little dinghy, I may sell her?  I can hardly wait to sail her around the Marina (www.applegatemarina.com for the inquiring mind) and the anchorages.  Also, I can’t wait to see the grandchildren sail her either!

Well that is about the size of it all in the eastern reaches of Oklahoma.  We hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday season and we wish each and everyone the happiest of New Years.

Fair Winds, Following Seas from the Deck of S/V Rhapsody.

Truer Words were never published!

After all, the mishaps are almost the best part of small-boat sailing. Looking back, they prove to be punctuations of joy. At the time they try your mettle and your vocabulary, and may make you so pessimistic as to believe that God has a grudge against you — but afterward, ah, afterward, with what pleasure you remember them and with what gusto do you relate them to your brother skippers in the fellowhood of small-boat sailing!  (Written by Jack London:  Published in Yachting Monthly 1912.)

The Great Labor Day Raft Up Addendum:

During the course of our wonderful weekend afloat, one particular incident occurred which has resulted in high crimes and misdemeanors on federally controlled navigable waters, resulting in a Courts Martial for High Crimes, Misdemeanors, Dereliction of Duties, Failure to Obey a Lawful “Order” and Conduct Unbecoming a River Rat. To wit: one each Splash Bob Quackenbush, aka Umberto, aka Brilliant Bob, and aka Round Bob, did willingly and with malice of fore thought, fail to fulfill an order place at approximately 0930 hour on Sunday September 6, 2009. Said order being: eggs cooked to order con bacon, hash browns and toast for a party of nine delivered to the Raft Up in Sallisaw Creek at his earliest possible convenience. Thus having the resources at his command (i.e. grill, pontoon boat for transport, victuals in adequate supply) one each Splash Bob Quackenbush, aka Umberto, aka Brilliant Bob, and aka Round Bob did fail to comply.

Charges thus brought before the combined Captains of the vessels thus assembled did at approximately 2000 hours on September 6, 2009 hear such evidence as presented by numerous plaintiffs and being their solemn and sworn duty to deliberate on such evidence and testimony did, in accordance with their afore mentioned duties, find the Defendant guilty as charged. However, having leniency in their hearts, the afore mentioned Captains of the Vessels thus assembled, did offer the Convicted sole one day of grace within which he had but one opportunity to redeem himself, thus by delivering the afore mentioned order AGAIN on the morning of September 7, 2009 to the Llama Cove Raft Up. Having done so to be considered as if the afore mentioned charges were never filled nor deliberated by this High Court. To Wit: one each Splash Bob Quackenbush, aka Umberto, aka Brilliant Bob, and aka Round Bob, did AGAIN fail to comply, thus sealing his fate for all eternity.

Courts finding: You are to be SHUNNED for the immediate future,or at least until such time as you are found to be preparing breakfast at the service dock, at which time you shall be place on probation for the duration of that breakfast and thence immediately placed back in a “SHUNNED” status until further notice.

Signed

THE CAPTAINS OF THE VESSELS THUS ASSEMBLED

SEPTEMBER 6, 2009

The Great Labor Day Weekend Raft-Up

Well the Labor Day Weekend is over and thus draws to an end of another season on the water.  And what a bizarre season it was weather wise.  It has been a long age since an Oklahoma summer passed with such mildness.  Daytime highs in the low 80s and overnight lows in the 60s even on Labor Day Weekend!  WOW!   Now don’t fret because we did have our hot weather with temperatures over the century mark, but they were the exception not so much the norm (as one would expect).

Anyway, we were off to the Lake for the long weekend afloat and what a great time was had.  On Friday night, S/V Rhapsody and her Captain shared in a rare pleasure.  The Admiral was aboard for the evening.  Following a wonderful steak and wine dinner we were off to run the docks and visit with friends.  It was a wonderful evening.  The overnight temperature made for some very nice sleeping and any sleeping afloat is very relaxing.  With the sunrise, came one of life little known treats and pleasures.  Breakfast with Bob (aka Splash Bob, Brilliant Bob, Umberto).  Eggs cooked to order, peppercorn bacon and Texas toast.  YUMYUMYUM.

Following breakfast the Admiral departed the scene opting for home and attending to the Hounds of the Slaterbills.  Those two mutts are way more trouble than they are worth.  But they are entertaining, loving and always they’re when you need to talk.  I guess they are worth their hassles.  Plans had been laid all week long for a Saturday night Pot Luck Dinner on the Hook, IF the weather held.  Well it held and held very well.  Rhapsody headed for the anchorage early for a swim and boat nap.  For non-boaters, truly one of life’s little pleasures is a nap as your vessel lies at anchor and you are gently rocked and swayed by the wave as you nap.  Rock a bye Baby indeed.

Saturday Night Sunset, Sallisaw Cr

Anyway, later that afternoon the others began to materialize, MV Anejo’, MV Aubrey Rose, MV Katbalieu, SV Angel, SV Apogee, and SV Rhapsody.  As final preparations for dinner continued, the captains and crews were enjoying the libations of choice and finally it was announced that the meal(s) were ready.  At this juncture everyone retired aboard MV Anejo’ for the meal and après-meal festivities.  It was a wonderful evening with friends and banter lasting well into the night.

Sallisaw Cr

The morning brought a beautiful sunrise (for those coherent enough to see it) that was peaking out between the strata formed by the clouds and reflecting off of the Dark Blue hull of Apogee.  Beautiful!  Over breakfast snacks, the combined captains and crews all decided that such a large time had occurred that we needed an encore was in order.  So after some discussion and consideration of the logistics involved and who might participate it was decided.  We would have another evening of fun on Sunday night and have a Space Shuttle/International Space Station “Viewing Party” in Llama Cove.

During the day S/V Rhapsody lay at anchor in Sallisaw Creek awaiting the move across the lake to Llama Cove.  Rhapsody wasn’t returning to the Marina.  Well at some point Rhapsody’s Captain decided the Admiral was needed in order to maintain sobriety of the charges and to enjoy the festivities as well.  And low and behold she cleared her calendar and agreed to be picked up at the Marina at 1730.  The other participating vessels departed the Marina as S/V Rhapsody was entering the harbor and following the rendezvous to pick up the Admiral, she headed for Llama Cove some five miles distant and arrived at 1840.  Dinner was prepared, eaten and put away and it was time to join the other crews again aboard Anejo’.  The shuttle/ISS were schedule to flyover at 2050 and they were right on cue.  What a site!  They reached an altitude of 72˚, which gave the impression of flying directly over the raft.  We saluted the brave men and women aboard STS 128 and the ISS with a round of Tequila and wished them peace and joy as they continued their mission.  We even thought we saw them waving to us!!!!!  Well needless to say the Tequila continued to flow and the Margarita’s were mixed and all had a large time.  Vessels present on Sunday Night were MV Anejo’, MV Aubrey Rose, MV Milady, SV Angel, SV Apogee, & SV Rhapsody.

Llama Cove

The next morning brought a wonderful day.  Following breakfast the Admiral and I boarded N Blew and headed for Eagle Island to view the Eagle’s Nest.  Well unfortunately the nest tree was down and the nest gone.  But not to fear, they’ll build another in a new neighborhood.  Upon returning to the raft we took some photographic evidence of the event and then Rhapsody and her crew headed for port.  It was a wonderful weekend and to borrow a phrase from “the Tale of Two Towers” and “Treebeard” “there has not been such a gathering in an Age”.

I hope everyone had as large a time as I did, we MUST get out more often!

A Hot and Dry July (Kinda)

Well as we approach the end of July it can truly be said that the weather has been somewhat odd.  Upon our return for the Bay (late June), we felt as if we had descended into hell.  It was one hot muther in Oklahoma, and to boot it stayed that way with a couple of notable exceptions.  While we have had little if any significant rain fall during this time, the weather has proven to be somewhat of a roller coaster ride, hot one week and extremely pleasant the next.  On each of these down turns in the temperature we (Rhapsody and I) were able to swing on the hook and wake up to 62° and searching for covers, WOW in July do doubt.  We have been very blessed in that way this month.

Another Llama Cove Sunrise

Anyway, we have had some great sailing days as well.  On our last outing I had decided to give the Asymmetrical Spinnaker a try.  Now I hadn’t flow the “chute” in some time so prior to heading for the boat I did a bit of reading on the subject.  I found an article (somewhere on the internet) and it called for a slightly different setup than I was acquainted with, so I thought what the heck I’d give it a go.  Well the day definitely started as a spinnaker day.  The winds were NNW (really and it’s July), and I had told Round Robert that I was going to fly the “chute” and he asked if I could sail by the marina so he could see the boat with the spinnaker up.  Sure, why not.  So I motored upwind in order to gain the proper position for the downwind run, hoisted the “chute” and away we went.  We were doing 5.5-6.1 kts in 8-10 kts of wind.  What a RUSH.  I flew by the marina, yelled at RR (see above) to ensure he got a look and quickly ran across the lake.  Now came the “new technique” in gibing the boat.  I had run the lazy sheet outside the forestay and the luff of the spinnaker.  The plan (according to the article) was to release the working sheet, allow the spinnaker to fly straight downwind, then haul away on what was the lazy sheet.  Sounded good, but no luck.  The next thing I knew I had the AS wrapped about the forestay.  I love flying the chute, but man it is difficult.  I need to rig it differently and I need a dousing sock for it as well.  One of these day maybe.  Anyway, it was quite the fiasco getting the thing back where it belonged as the wind had piped up a bit.

Finally, the “chute” was back in the bag and out came the #1 jib.  We immediately took off hitting 5 – 5.5 kts beating to windward.  Now one important bit of information heretofore not mentioned was that this all took place in the HEAT OF THE DAY, 1400-1730.  The high temperature for the day was 87°!  IN JULY, IN OKLAHOMA, OH MY GOD WHAT A DAY.  I kept trying to entice other sailors to join the fun, but alas no takers.  I ended up sailing about 13 miles averaging 4.3 kts.  The day ended in the Llama Cove Anchorage on San Bois Creek at 35° 19.4´ N 095° 54´ W.  It was a wonderful evening and I had hoped for a sighting of the International Space Station and the Shuttle Endeavor, but I fell asleep before the fly over.  Oh well there’ll be other sightings next week.

The next morning I arose to more “Smoke on the Water” and took some pics with my good camera (see smoke on the water below).  I headed back to the marina at 0920 and the lake was flat.  There was one other sailboat trying to milk some type of action from the very light and fluky winds and I chased them down just to take a few pics.  It was Bill & Jenny aboard their Compac 19XL.  It is a pretty little vessel and would make a great trailer sailor.  I would not mind having one, but alas one boat at a time!

Bill & Jenny aboard their day sailer

Well that was the end of a perfect outing aboard the good ship Rhapsody.  There should be plenty more to come.

Fair Winds.

Smoke on the Water

The little grey "puffs" are fog aka "Smoke on the Water"

Since our return from the Chesapeake we have had some damn hot weather around Oklahoma. Temperatures have been running well above 100° and pretty humid. We have had two breaks in the heat, the latest of which has just occurred. I spent Friday night aboard Rhapsody and because I have some pretty rude dock neighbors down at West Spadra Creek (actually they just don’t know any better) I was awakened at 0435 Saturday morning to their TV playing. Now it was pretty chilly, and I kinda thought that the break of dawn and sunrise might be neat, so I went ahead and mixed up a pot of coffee and decided to watch the scene unfold.

While in the slip, Rhapsody is facing due west, meaning that her stern is facing due east, so she affords a wonderful platform from which to view the sunrise. Just two days before the temperature was 101° and at 0500 the temperature was 62° according to the thermometer on the boat (61° by NWS). It felt GREAT!   In fact it was a bit chilly!  As I sat there the “light” fog (formed by the temperature differences between the water and air temperature) was amazing. It ghosted just above the surface of the water and rose only to a height of two or three feet at most. At first it was wafted from the east by an ever so slight breath of air, meandering this way and that, just ghosting along. Then it would shift directions and drift back into the cove, all the time just spiraling, and in some instances, lifting higher and higher in columns very reminiscent of campfire smoke. At other times it seamed as if there were competing winds currents and the whiffs of “smoke on the water” would gently collide or swirl around each other kinda like stepping aside and letting the other continue on its path. As the scene progressed, the birds chimed in, the sun rose and the day was off to a glorious (albeit very early) beginning, and the temperature reached a “scorching” 91°. Now this is the way summer should be.

A Bit Later in the Morning

I did not have my big camera on the boat, but I did have my phone. Using the camera function, I tried to capture the grandeur of the morning, but I am afraid the camera phone just doesn’t have the necessary optics to do the scene justice. I love being on the water, even if I am just in the slip.

Chesapeake Bay 2009 – Epilogue

Well I have decided to sit down and critique the trip to the Bay.  First and foremost it is a VERY long drive (1,235 miles) from here to Lancaster, VA and considering that there was only one driver, well it was one long trip.  Having another responsible driver would make a huge difference; however, towing Rhapsody requires constant vigilance and focus.  You can never let your guard down.  It is stressful and tiring to say the least!  Anyway, I think the drive was definitely the biggest down side of the trip.

I am continually amazed with Rhapsody’s design, performance and stamina.  We took two difficult poundings and she and her little Yanmar just kept on ticking and all I had to do was hang on and see to her needs (from a preparation/maintenance point of view).  On June 17 we motored for 5-6 hours dead into 25 + knot winds and she never faltered.  There were times when I would think:  What do I do if the engine quits?  Or What if we loose an impeller?  But to her credit nothing failed and nothing broke.  What a great little boat.

 There are some limitations which are mostly due to lack of funding.  First she is not setup for big water and for anyone who has never sailed Chesapeake Bay, it is BIG water.  She needs a dodger and depending on the day probably a bimini as well.  Those two pieces alone would be in the range of two grand so it a matter of funding.  Additionally, especially solo, the 150 gennie scares me to death.  That is just a me thing!  I fly it all the time on the lake, but one the Bay I was afraid to use it.  Having said that, there were only one or two days when I could have used it.  Now for the unaware my gennie is a hank on.  Obviously all of my head sails are hanked on, which can get a bit dicey depending upon the weather and waves.

 Also, it is time to upgrade my Garmin 128.  I need to move up to something that includes a color chart plotter or a charting handheld.  I know which is cheaper.  Then I could do away with the 128, use the fairly new to me GPSMap 76 as a back up and then have a nice hand held.  That sounds like a plan.  Additionally and speaking of navigation, I need a radio that can at least be heard in the cockpit.  Preferably I could communicate from the cockpit as well.  Maybe I need on of the newer radios that have a remote microphone.  That would do the trick.  I’ll put that on the wish list as well.

Much to my surprise my Blackberry was served a very important role on this trip.  Yes, I could text and talk which was important, however that is not the role I am mean.  Using the web browser and weather underground, I was able to receive current looped radar views of any storms in the region.  It didn’t take long to be able to identify where we were on the radar screen and using the loop feature, to see what if anything was heading our way.  Very cool and soothing OR frightening depending upon the circumstance.  Anywhere I could get signal (and that was almost everywhere) I had radar!  Way cool.

Finally, it was great to have my grand daughter aboard for most of the trip.  However, she was a passenger not crew.  She did assist when needed and asked, but in all honesty she was just a passenger.  Having someone else aboard who is capable of sailing the boat would be invaluable.  Assuming that the personalities match, it would make for an excellent trip, however any kind of mismatch would prove disastrous.  So maybe next time I recruit me a crew member.

The truck and trailer performed flawlessly (excluding the separated tire tread on the trailer).  Some how I need (and I have an idea on how) I need to get the weight of the mast off of the bow and stearn pulpits.  I need to make a crutch for the stearn and have an upright fabricated out of metal tubing for the bow.  I’ll work on that prior to hauling her about the country again.

 Well that about sums it up.  All in all it was a fun and educational trip with no significant equipment failures or mishaps.  What more could you ask for?  And my grand daughter had fun and we were able to reconnect, which is the important thing.

 Fair Winds.