Sailing With Kids

Alchemy has Set Sail

It’s been an intense and challenging few days. Only fours days before the start of the Caribbean 1500 rally to Tortola, BVI, we discovered a fracture in our headstay chainplate. Somewhat important, as it keeps the mast up.

After heroic efforts by the crew, Scott, Jere, Rick and Jim, we have five new chainplates fitted and a well-found boat ready for offshore.

As the sun starts sinking towards the horizon, we chase the fleet, past Navy aircraft carriers and out of the Chesapeake Bay.

We are ready for offshore, and excited for the 1400 mile passage to Tortola in the BVI’s.

Alchemy
http://www.sailingwithkids.net

Halfway to the Caribbean

After some nine weeks of travels and trials, we have made it to what I consider is our halfway point to the Caribbean, Portsmouth VA. This is the staging and departure point of the Caribbean 1500, our rally to the BVI. It’s been pretty crazy. I had this idea that I’d be able to blog about our travel south, but the long days have been filled with other more important stuff, like unclogging my kid’s poop from the head. So, apart from throwing some pictures and thoughts on Facebook, it’s been quiet. Here have been some highlights of the over 500 nautical miles from Lake Champlain to Portsmouth.

Continue reading “Halfway to the Caribbean”

Fun With Your Sat Phone

Less than two weeks away from the Caribbean 1500, and I have been working hard to get things ready. One important tool is our satellite phone, used to get our weather forecasts.
Continue reading “Fun With Your Sat Phone”

Fun With MacENC Navigation Software

After (roughly) 392 nautical miles miles of sailing, halfway down the US East Coast, the deepest we have been in has been in the first few minutes of the trip. Who-da-thunk?

What am I talking about? After considerable effort, I have my navigation instruments talking to my laptop. We have two mac’s, and the only real choices are MacENC and Polarview. I have been testing both (future post).

Continue reading “Fun With MacENC Navigation Software”

Installing an Atlantic Tower’s Arch

Alchemy has a really nice ~~rear end~~, er, stern. But this leads to a problem in that we have all sorts of stuff hanging off it. MOM module, Lifesling, stern anchor, GPS, VHF, outboard mount, etc. The problem is that Alchemy’s skinny butt means that there is not enough room to mount it all on the small stern rail.

Continue reading “Installing an Atlantic Tower’s Arch”