Anchors Away, and Away!

Well it's been a month since our last update with much more of the same, which does not leave a lot to report. We are ending our Summer with some cooler weather and overall it's been a great one. Time does appear to be flying by quickly and our 1 year mark is quickly approaching.

Friday afternoon Peyton and I pushed off the dock and motored out from the marina with almost no wind but a close destination, we headed for a nice cove around the shoreline. Shortly after Peyton and I arrived at the cove Jessica and Colby motored in with the dinghy and we setup to stay for the next couple days. Some people from work were having a get together and had decided on the same cove which made it very convenient and meant 2 days of relaxing, so we thought..

Friends of ours Jimmy and Cheryl came out and tied up to us for a long overdue dinner we had promised for helping repair some things on "Red Solo Boat" and we cooked a meal I've aptly named "Cajun Fajitas" which include Andouille sausage, red peppers, green peppers, a full onion and some special spices! Those along with some mixed drinks made in the magic bullet meant I had an extremely early night and was asleep before 9:30, actually I fell asleep in the cockpit while talking with Cheryl and Jimmy. We had a peaceful night that was cool and comfortable for sleeping and the kids slept outside in the cockpit.

Morning came right before the rise of the sun and Jessica and I enjoyed some coffee thanks to a kettle and Starbucks VIA Instant Coffee. Now I have become somewhat of a coffee snob and between the storage and the grinding of my beans only minutes before brewing, I've developed a taste for a good cup of Joe. I didn't exactly have high expectations or much hope for a cup of instant coffee but lets just say it was better than most drip coffee I've had. This means while out sailing I"m sure we will have a section of the boat dedicated to some of these since they are both convenient and easy to store, making daily coffee not a task. After coffee and a breakfast that consisted of eggs & sausage we settled in and enjoyed the sunrise.

We received a text from the person coordinating the EMS/Fire get together and they decided the chosen cove was too far from where the boats were rented. Another cove was picked out but it meant pulling anchor and sailing halfway across the lake to the new cove. There was a slight wind around 5mph and we decided to raise sail and slowly make our way over there. Sails up and rushing along with no sound but the water,,,, well that and me barking orders *whistle* We sailed into the cove with everybody already there and we anchored just off to the side. We enjoyed the afternoon with old friends and some new ones and the day wrapped up around 2pm. Now the forecast had called originally for no rain, but  that afternoon it sprinkled a little and I rechecked the forecast and it said 10% of showers, however the radar showed a system off to the northwest that I thought was odd considering the above. About an hour after everybody left we noticed the thunder and lightning moving in and the sky began to darken. Attempts to recheck the rader were thwarted by crappy AT&T cell service but I could tell this was not going to be good.

We were anchored in about 20 feet of water and I had originally let out around 100ft of rode with our anchor that afternoon since there was hardly any wind. At night I always let out far more than necessary for piece of mind and I went on deck to do it before the weather got to bad. I let out around 150ft of line and closed everything up to ride out the storm. I wasn't familiar with this cove but while swimming earlier I checked the bottom and it was pure muck and silt with no real substance, it occurred to me this could be a problem but at this point we had to let it ride. Right before going below the rain began to fall and the lightning dancing all around us I thought I felt the feeling of drift and the anchor dragging. Jess insisted I was paranoid and we buttoned up the hatch.

After making a sandwich and listening to the howling of the wind, which I later found out topped out around 35 to 40mph, I opened the hatch to check since it had switched direction. Well it's a good thing I did because the direction it shifted (also not the forecasted direction) was blowing us toward shore, and well lets just say shore was less than 30ft away! We were as close to grounding our boat as you could get without doing it! I had Jess open the seacock for the engine intake, Colby flicked on the battery and I had the motor fired up in a matter of seconds. Now there were two critical jobs at this point that needed to be done. 1. keep the boat off the rocks and 2. Get the anchor up.

At first Jess tried to pull the anchor up but it had grabbed ahold of something, which was probably a rock since we were so close to shore, and she couldn't raise it. As we very quickly switched positions Jess took the helm and I began to pull. Now I"m not a little guy and if I throw my weight into something it's normally moving but this anchor was locked down! Pulling a 14,000 lbs boat against a 35mph wind in the driving rain aint fun, and it isn't something I wanna do again. (Anchor windlass is being moved way up the list now lol ) After managing to pull up all but the last 30 feet I had Jess drive over top of the anchor to try and pop it, it finally broke loose and I got the last bit in. The rain was driving so hard it felt like hail and visibility was down to almost nothing. What really makes you mad in the middle of a situation like this, is the fact that the whole reason we had to do it was because the damn anchor wouldn't hold, now it doesn't want to come up!

Maybe it was all the idling, driving in circles or just something that needs to be addressed but the engine began smoking and the snap decision was made to raise sail and kill the engine, after all this is a damn sailboat! I had Jess point us into the wind and I raised just the main sail, once up she fell off to a starboard tack and the boat heeled over hard. Here we were full sail in strong winds but moving away from land. The kids were below and the only thing they had to do was make sure everything was secured and put away so things wouldn't fly around. Not 5 minutes into our sailing we caught a stiff gust and the boat heeled over, that's when I heard Peyton scream as an entire jar of salsa along with a full tub of potato salad took flight in the cabin crashing to the floor.

Then just as quickly as it all started it was over, the winds died down and the clouds parted. Jessica and I looked like two drowned rats, cold, wet and left wondering "What the hell was that about!" The decision was made to head back, clean up the boat and regroup. The rest of the sail back was uneventful and docking was a breeze. We enjoyed the rest of the night with some friends at the dock and all was right with the world.

This was actually a great experience for us and we all did well under pressure, I'm proud of my family and how we got it done when we had to. I'm sure a few years from now we will look back and chuckle at how tame it was compared to what we have yet to face. It's hard to explain but it's moments like this when you truly feel alive, and unless you've had moments of pure excitement you won't understand.......

 

Big update, big fun!

Well this past Monday was a great day of sailing, with consistant winds and blue sky. The kids and I pushed off the dock around 9:30am and sailed her back into the dock around 5:30pm. In between was a great time and the kids did all the sailing! We set off on a port tack and sailed for almost an hour without changing a thing except adjusting a sheet or two here and there. Colby was at the helm the entire time including as we sailed right through the narrow & shallow channel at Andersen beach swim area. The winds swirl and change direction quite frequently in there and with not much room for error it was a challenge. This narrow pass is a challenge for many people that choose to sail in between the land masses, many don't even attempt it. 

After passing through the channel and rounding the island Peyton took over and without much help was able to sail us through past Bear island and Party cove. Peyton was at the helm for quite a while and several times I was below deck and not even up in the cockpit. She is beginning to lose her fear of heeling the boat and is starting to gain much needed confidence in both the ability of the boat, and in herself.

We then anchored in a new cove just around the corner from our marina and spent the afternoon swimming and listening to music the kids wanted ( God help me, I can only handle so much Boy band stuff ) We had a great lunch and the kids and I got plenty of sun and fun. We raised the main sail and I put Colby at the helm while I raised the anchor and we sailed off the anchor and all the way into the slip, pfft who needs a motor ;-)

Several years ago our digital camera broke and we hadn't replaced it, and to give you an idea how old it was I think it was 3 megapixal. Well after much research on the subject and reading I decided it was time to spring for a new one, and considering where we are going next year I don't want just "ok & so/so" pictures of this. I picked up a nice digital camera to help chronicle our trip in super detail, every bead of sweat and every grain of sand ;-) We are now the proud albit confused and overwhelmed owners of a Nikon D5100 SLR camera. These are a couple shots taken yesterday.

Today the kids and I went for a hike that consisted of several miles of rocky trails that we foolishly did all wearing flip flops. We had a great hike and got several shots with the new camera of nature, the kids and some really neat creative shots. 

It was around 100 degrees today and after that hike the kids couldn't wait to hop in the water. It was a great day and the kids are whipped... Of couse so is their father lol.. 

My day..

Today was a nice day to chill out on the air-conditioned boat.

We went out to go and see if we got any mail in the P.O. box and we did get some mail so we now know it is working. 

We went to the Old Hickory Dam and saw the water was stirred up a little bit. We saw the locks and found out where we are going to come out and explained to Peyton how it works.

Then we came back to the boat and we took a long nap.

We woke up and me and Peyton did the dishes in our bathing suits. After we finished we both jumped in the lake then rinsed the lake water off. I cannot wait for dinner tonight, we are going to have fajitas, they will be so delicious.

Tonight we might do some cat fishing and might get a good sized one. Also a 3D movie to watch tonight. I cant believe summer is almost over =,(. But i am glad that we are going to leave in one year, on my BIRTHDAY!! Its a great birthday present!

New plans, new departure date

Well after reading the book "Simply Sailing" it made me realize we will never be "ready", we will never have "enough money" and we are wasting valuable time with our kids while we try to attain those two things. With that in mind Jessica and I have revised our plan and departure date.

Our original plan had us leaving TN on Windsong Sept 28th 2014 which would be soon enough, however not soon enough for us! Our new plan is a departure date of Sept 28th 2013.. That's right 14 months from now!

Our lease here at the current marina expires in April/May at which point we will move Windsong to Old Hickory Lake and to a marina there. Red Solo Boat will be put up for sale and we will live in Windsong as we finish preparing.

We plan on shoving off early morning, Sept 28th 2013 on Colby's birthday with friends, family and any well wishers to see us off. We will be motoring down the Tombigbee waterway through countless locks, twists and turns. The trip to Mobile Alabama will take around 3 weeks or so and we plan on taking our time, after all we have no schedules, clocks or restrictions holding us back from doing whatever we feel at the time. Once we enter the Gulf Of Mexico the options are limitless. This should put us in the area at the very end of hurricane season and give us the winter to enjoy as well as plan what to do next. 

We have talked about doing our refit work in Marathon but recently other options have presented themselves and might be a better choice. Ft Meyers, Merritt Island and a couple others are intriguing as well while we work on the boat and prepare her for the salty drink. Getting the required work done as efficiently and cost effectively as possible is a high priority. 

From there I don't know, but I do know that St Croix is high on the list of places to get our feet wet. It has several advantages for us including being part of the US. This gives us the chance to work a little if we choose and stay as long as we want without any restrictions. 

I guess the clock is ticking, speaking of which it's time to re-oil the teak wood!

GET OFF THE BOAT!

So the weather hasn't exactly been great the past couple weeks with temps over 100 degrees (up to 109) and lack of winds. Well today at 5:30 I woke up to the sound of the halyards clanking in a 10kt breeze. I rolled over, told Jess good morning and then promptly told her to get her stuff for work and get off the boat!. Peyton woke up to the sound of the engine starting as we pushed off from the dock, we waived goodbye to Jess and off we went, just the kids and I. 

We went out and raised the main sail with Colby at the helm, the kids had pulled up the fenders/bumpers, secured the safety lines and stored the dock lines. The weather window was about 2 hours before another front had a chance of moving in and we wanted to make the best of it. After raising the main and getting started we forced Peyton to get up, come topside and then take the helm. Peyton spent the next hour at the helm with very little intervention from me. While sailing we had some cinnamon buns, drinks and just enjoyed a windy day. 

Now Peyton still has some fear of heeling over so we kept it just main sail only without deploying the jib. It kept the boat pretty much upright with very little lean, while slow it was a great way to help her build confidence in her ability. At one point I was inside the cabin up in the vberth while Peyton steered Windsong through a 10kt breeze. At another point I was up at the bow pulpit (very front of the boat) up in the what I refer to as the Titanic scene part of the boat, while I looked back at her. 

Coming in we had a little bit of a incident where the main sail got stuck up as we sailed into the marina, but we managed to recover and it turned out ok, however we did have to start the engine to finish docking. Our main halyard had a bad spot in it where the sheath was worn but the core was fine, well this time the sheath got caught up on the mast and wouldn't let the main fall. So today we will run into WestMarine and pick up a new halyard for replacement, about a 150.00 fix. (OUCH) 

Overall great day with the kids so far and it's only a little after 9am. Coffee on the porch with them and their little cream and sugar doctored cups, then washing dishes and getting the boat all bundled up and ready for the rain that is headed our way. 

So remember, unless your sailing, if there is wind and I haven't been out in a while "GET OFF THE BOAT!" lol. 

Red Solo Boat

WELCOME HOME Colby & Peyton!

We present to you the Red Solo Boat

1970 Gibson Drifter

Well we managed to keep the secret and surprise the kids! When they left for Michigan they had no idea what or where they coming home to live. They were not sure if they were moving into an apartment, house, or a tent, and trying to keep all the secrets we had in store for them was really tough, but it was all worth it in the end. 

My Grandparents brought Colby & Peyton home on the 4th of July, early in the morning. They thought they were coming to the marina because we were hanging out there, they had no clue it was their new home.

So we are adjusting to life on the Red Solo Boat and even better yet, we have moved Windsong directly next to it so we can have more space and privacy when needed *wink*

This move will allow us to cut time off our overall departure and maybe leave much sooner, as well as give the kids a small taste of the life we are moving towards. They spend the days Kayaking, swimming, fishing and of course sailing. They will have the biggest classroom of all, full of adventure, fun and much needed time together as a family. 

We keep pushing towards our goal and finding more ways to get there quicker. So far this journey has been amazing and all along the way things have just been falling into place as if this was what we were meant to do. Thank you to all of you that have been supportive of what we are trying to accomplish with our children and our lives, you are all a part of this.. 

Partner in crime

Fathers day started off with a few errands and a beautiful day on the lake. There was the threat of a little foul weather later on in the day but it turned out to be very nice. Around 1pm I looked at Jess and said "hey lets sail, forget the weatherman!" So less than 15 minutes later we were raising sail and cruising away. We sailed to a secluded cove we have been to a couple times and sailed the boat right into the little cut without a hitch, dropped the sail and turned into the wind right as we dropped the main sail. Windsong's anchor snatched the muddy bottom and got a good bite securing us in place. The water in this particular cove is around 10ft deep and with the chance of bad weather coming I let out 100+ Ft of anchor rode to give me the scope to hold whatever came through.  

We were out there for several hours and watched everything go north of us on the radar. We enjoyed a few beverages, lunch and a dip or two in the lake sans bathing suits! We decided to pull up anchor and sail back to the marina, but at this point the wind had died down substantially. There were a couple good runs where the wind would hit 15 to 20kts for 10 minutes then drop back to 5. They were much better than gusts, I just wish they would have lasted longer. The photos above show a little bit of heel and great sailing. 

Overall one of the best Fathers days ever, the only thing missing were the kids!. They are still enjoying their time up north in Michigan with Grandparents. There is a big surprise coming but it can't be unveiled until they get back so the cat doesn't get let out of the bag early. 

Sailing has been a therapeutic venture for our family and has really brought us closer together, not just in living space (lol) but in our family dynamic. There is so much to learn and there are so many aspects to this sport you could never master them all. I saw a quote once that said "You spend such a short time learning to actually sail and the rest of your life trying to perfect it" Every time we raise the sails we learn something. Either we learn a new skill, trick or we just learn something about ourselves. I have learned that different people learn in different ways and I need to have more patience while passing on what I learn. 

Jessica is just about the best first mate I could ask for, she keeps me on an even keel.. I think every day how lucky I am to have found a women that not only puts up with someone as crazy as me, but is almost as crazy herself, it really makes for an interesting life ;-) Love ya Jess!