Wednesday, August 29, 2012

USS Wisconsin BB-64

 


This fearless battleship is located in Norfolk, Va. These photos were taken during OpSail 2012

Monday, August 27, 2012

Another Small Salty Cruiser Crossing The Atlantic

This is a Nor'Sea 27, A very seaworthy and salty looking cruiser
 
Nor'Sea 27, not the one in video though

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Local Farmers Market

 Fresh Fruit and Veggies!
 
 Full and colorful
 
 Smile!
 
 Colorful and Creative
 
 Eat fresh, Eat Local!!!
 
 Fresh Local Tomatoes, Yummmmm
 
Here's what we ended up with for the week. Oh and some fresh broccoli too.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

More OpSail 2012





This was such a good day out on the water. It was really something to see! 

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Small Boat at Sea

Was directed to these videos of a small boat crossing the Atlantic by www.sailfar.net, a great website. This is an excellent video and confirms for me that a small boat was the right choice for us. The boat in these videos is an Albin Vega 27, a great boat with many blue water passages under her belt.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Saturday, August 18, 2012

New Orleans, LA


My job assisting the military often takes me all over the country (and world for that matter). I am often very busy and usually don't have much time off. I don't particulary like traveling without my wife but it's what I have to do to keep food on the table and prepare us for our cruising lifestyle. Recently I went down to Gulfport, MS and had the weekend off, so a co-worker and I headed over to "The Big Easy" for the day. We toured New Orleans, saw the sites and enjoyed some local food. Here is a glimpse of the French Quarter.  

 Bourbon Street

Not sure what this is other than a hotel but looked like a nice photo op

 Here is where we enjoyed lunch! I had the cajun pasta. I actually ate gator!

Street artist

Local street vendors and artists. I loved the colors and variety

Inside the large cathedral

Another shot

Brewing thunderstorm on the mighty Mississippi River

New Orleans river boat.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Photos of the day: Cape Cod, Beaches in Chatham, MA





A few years ago the wife and I visited my home. We were lucky enough to have my Uncle Ken take us to Chatham via boat. These were some newly formed beaches, maybe 5 or 6 yrs old. These beaches were in pristine condition because most are only accessible by boat. Because of the storms, current and shifting sands, these very beaches may not even be there today. If you look closely at the bottom photo you'll see all the seals in the surf, some of them quite large. It's our dream to take our Sal to Cape Cod and the Islands someday, although we won't be visiting these remote beaches with her because they have very shallow water access.  

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Classic Tough Salty Cruiser

   I tend to favor smaller older sailboats. I think the reason why is because of where I was brought up: New England, Cape Cod in particular. I love the look of Albergs, Cape Dorys, Westsails, Bristol Channel Cutters, and the list goes on. I admire these boats for not only their aesthetic but also for their ruggedness and reputation. One boat has stuck in my mind since I first saw it. A Pearson Triton, Berhia, belonging to Neil and Laurie Racicot. This boat caught my eye one day while walking the streets of Oriental. She just looked seaworthy and tough, and best of all, small.





   While standing there telling my wife how much I admired this boat and all the the little things that made her look the way she did, the owners showed up. Neil and Laurie were great people and young like us. We had just met people who were doing what we wanted to do. It was exciting and I wanted to hear about how they had made such a seaworthy vessel. Turns out they built her from a boat that had sunk! They turned this once-sunk boat into a vessel capable of taking her crew anywhere they wanted to go. Here is a link to their build up and adventure across the Atlantic: http://berhia.wordpress.com. Of all the things I like about this boat, the one thing that has stuck with me was it was simple!

Monday, August 13, 2012

Photo(s) of the day


Sun setting on the Concrete Ships at Kiptopeake State Park
Chesapeake Bay, VA




Saturday, August 11, 2012

Pic of the Day

Sorry for delay in posts, work has been extemely busy.




 Tall Ships during OpSail 2012! Many more to follow!