Bristol Channel Cutter Elizabeth

Forecast: SE 25-35kts with gusts to 45kts. Lets Go!

I kept a close eye on the weather, and found a 36 hr window of light winds, calm seas, and 60º highs nestled in between two New England Autumn Gales. Perfect! Once again Passageweather.com was my main source of weather info and proved to be very accurate.

We had the good intention of leaving Thursday afternoon to get a jump start on the trip. But by the time I discovered the fresh water had been shut off to the docks, had moved the boat to another dock and run out 5 hose extensions, the sun had set, and I decided the first time out on my handicapped boat would be better left for daylight. Our last line came aboard at 0612 on Friday while the kerosene heater melted the frost off the cabin top. We motored out through the crisp 35º mist, as the sun rose above the trees on the eastern shores of the Danvers River. Read more »

I spent the last week doing a few things getting her ready for the launch. Decided to compound, glaze and wax the hull. Not sure why I didn’t do this earlier in the season to protect against the harsher summer sun, but like most things, better late then never. Rebuilt the raw water pump. Took apart a few seacocks and regreased them. Finished installing the new bobstay chainplate. Sent the alternator regulator out for repairs.

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Captain Garth Wells contacted me a few weeks ago, when his mate quit unexpectedly. I agreed to fill in for the last two trips of the season on the Lewis R. French out of Camden, Maine. The LRF is the first boat I ever worked on, and is still my favorite schooner around.

We had a pretty rainy 10 days, but the trips were excellent inspite. My poor little computer arms and hands suffered hard when I had to pull heartily on the throat halyard those first couple of days. How soft we get. The trip was a re-awakening for me, a reminder, a fresh breath of air. Read more »