May 30

This day was a mixed bag. We left the Wentworth marina in a thick fog and navigated out using chart plotter and radar. After clearing the channel and setting course for Portland (45+NM) we realized we had forgotten to return the electronic keys. Gary radioed back and got the OK for us to mail them back from our next stop. There was no wind and visibility couldn’t have been more than a couple of hundred yards. It looked as though it would be a very boring run with nothing to see and the engine and autopilot doing all the work. Since no one could see us I rigged a line and hung out my laundry.

 Soon a small bird pitched on the lifelines looking rather frazzled. It sized us up and then tucked its head under its wing and went to sleep

. After about 20 minutes it woke again but hung around for several hours catching insects on or near the boat. Without much to do I tended to drift off and nap. Then, shortly after lunch Gary yelled me awake. The engine was overheating and black smoke was coming from the exhaust. We shut the engine down and waited a few minutes then started it up again. Everything seemed fine. We figured some kelp or debris had gotten into the raw water intake and had come loose when we stopped the engine. Nevertheless we ran the engine at lower speed the rest of the way to Portland. Now I’m paranoid and I plan to have the engine checked over before we go on. Anyway we got to the Spring Point Marina in one piece and walked off to get groceries. I cooked dinner while Gary contacted some friends and invited them over. The first guests on Galefilero!

Gary:

Otto (autopilot) is a terrific crew.  He does the work I hate doing when we motor. Don’s optimism is to be admired … hanging clothes out in fog and mist hoping for it to dry.  The warbler stayed with us for about six hours.  In fact it left when the engine gave us the little problem … I guess it wasn’t taking any chances.

In Portland I contacted old friends, Angie and Joe, who came to the marina for a visit.  It was great to see them.

First A Note…

You may note four separate posts for four separate days, all on today’s date. On the 26^th we had weak internet and lost our blog three times before we finally gave up and went to bed. After that we decided to write everything in Word then cut and paste it to the blog. We don’t find access every day but we’ll write them and post the lot whenever we can.

Today is May 29^th.

Yesterday evening we ended our run by going up that really neat canal that cut through Cape Ann Peninsula and picked up a mooring. Despite the fact that I burned the chicken we had a really good evening. The night… Not so much! Despite the fact that Gary had tied back the halyards we got just that right wind that caused one of them to hammer on the mast. The sound of it down below was unbearable. I went on deck and repositioned the halyard then went back to bed. The next thing I knew there was a vicious BASH against the hull right next to my head. I thought we were stove in. It turned  out to be the mooring buoy. I tried to push it away from the hull but it kept coming back and we had to live with it all night long. This morning we had breakfast and headed out for Portsmouth.

There was coastal fog with visibility of about one nautical mile. Very little wind from well astern. We motored but put the main up and Gary tied it to port with a preventer to keep it from gybing. Seas at the outset were one to two metres (mostly one). Later the wind came up and we unfurled the jib and shut down the motor.. We made good time but saw more two meter swells on the starboard quarter. With the wind blowing from offshore the seas had room to grow. By the time we were an hour out of Portsmouth we had to be careful to hold on.

By around 2:30 we got to the first buoy marking the channel. We motored into Little Harbour and pulled up to the fuel dock at the Wentworth by the Sea Marina. Surprisingly over the last three days we only burned three gallons of diesel. The marina is really nice. It has shore power. WiFi and SHOWERS!!! I haven’t done that since the morning of the 25^th. Gary has used the shower on Galefilero but I haven’t resorted to that yet. Anyway following a dinner of Barbecued steak, sautéed vegetables and portabello mushrooms, we hied ourselves to the showers. As I write this entry Gary has been reviewing the charts and preparing our long cruise to Portland tomorrow.

Gary:

Despite Don’s indication of having to hang on, it was no more than just another day would be in Trinity Bay.  In fact with the 1 to 2 metre seas and the fog, we could just as easily have been in Trinity Bay.  Overall the leg was not terribly eventful … the way passage making should be.

As Don indicated, the marina here is great … glad I’m not the one paying the bills.  We walked for a while before dinner to stretch the legs.  Visited Fort Constitution which was taken from the British in an overthrow in 1774.

I am happy Don has finally had a shower!

May 28

Today we said our fond farewells to Hingham and started the long journey home. We made a run to the grocery store for our fresh food for the trip. Without a car we had to borrow the shopping cart to get everything back. Gary stowed the victuals while I returned the cart and dropped the marina key back to EYS. At 11:15 we pulled away from the dock and motored away from Hingham and out of Massachusetts Bay.

 At 12:40 we made our turn and headed for Gloucester. It was a 20 NM run. We sailed part of the way but winds were light so we mostly motored.

 Around 5:00 p.m. we arrived in Gloucester and then motored up the Blynman Canal. 

At 6:00 we picked up a mooring at the Annisquam Yacht Club. Barbecued chicken, rice pilaf and corn on the cob followed a celebratory drink. Tomorrow the plan is for another short run to Portsmouth.

Gary:

We were warned of the current through Hull Gut, but we struck it at low tide and nearly slack water.  Boat neighbours Charlie and Ashley Lieberman gave us a tide and current book for the area … we are very grateful for that.  After passing Boston light and then going on to Gloucester, the run through the Annisquam River was a highlight.  The river and environs are beautiful, but the channel meanders through what is essentially a mudflat and has to be traversed very carefully.  Certainly not something I would want to do at night.  We had no knowledge of how we were to make our way into the river, but just as we arrived at the Blynman Canal the bridge was raised and we just motored through … quite fortuitous.

May 27

This morning we did the first breakfast on board; oatmeal, OJ and coffee. 

After that we went up to the marina office where we got directions to the West Marine where we hoped to be able to get the right oil filter for the Westerbeke. On the way we stopped off at a Walmart for some final bits of gear and basic groceries. Glory Be, we also found the right oil filter in their auto section. We still went window shopping at West Marine and then ran back to EYS to meet Peter and make arrangements for him to explain the holding tank system to us. Right after lunch Gary and I finished the oil change and then took the boat out for a test run in Massachusetts Bay.

With me at the wheel and Gary tweaking the sails and running rigging we got her up to 6.7 knots. When we got back to the marina I ran the rental car back to Logan airport so we wouldn’t have to do it in the morning. I expected to be back early and actually got back to Quincy by 8:30 but I couldn’t get a taxi. I finally got a bus but didn’t get back to the boat until almost 11:00. Gary had given up waiting for me and was cooking a late supper when I arrived. We got to bed late but with hopes of beginning our homeward trek in the morning.

Gary:

Don has hit the highlights.  While at EYS, I toured an out of the box Jenneau 44 … such dreams should be forgotten before they drive you mad.  Don’s late return at night nearly had me calling police.  But after a late supper we settled down with our night-caps, then into bed.

May 26, 2011

Today Faye flew back to Newfoundland and Gary got to Boston. I got Faye to the airport at 6:00 then went into Boston and strolled around Boston Common until it was time to pick Gary up. We went straight to the boat and began getting things ready for the trip back. Most of the work fell to Gary as I was running around getting the remaining bits and pieces. The biggest job turned out to be changing the oil. The filter was frozen in place and while we ultimately got it off we destroyed it in the process and had a lot of oil to clean up around and under the engine. Then the new filter couldn’t be used because it was too long and blocked the dipstick tube. We finished the day by going to the Schooner in Hull for clam chowder and ribs. By the time we got back to Galefilero we were so tired we just collapsed into our berths.

Gary adds:

I woke shortly after 0400 to catch the 0600 flight through Halifax to Boston arriving about 0900.  Hot and humid, but a long day’s work lay ahead.  We worked through the day, breaking for lunch and supper.  Bent on sails, changed oil after hearing the mechanic who was supposed to do it had died, assembled new dinghy, bought groceries … just a few of the things accomplished.  Bed came round midnight nearly 20 hours after getting up.

SPLASH!

Today was really eventful. We got to Eastern Yacht Sales to find several people working to get everything ready so that our boat could be launched as scheduled today. I was going to paint the bottom but found that the marina policy does not allow boats to be painted and launched the same day. We didn't want to wait and the bottom paint is in good shape so we opted not to paint (except for a couple of touch ups we snuck in). Faye did some cleaning inside and I took measurements for a cradle. Two other guys detailed the hull and took the old name off the transom. When it was ready I read John Vigor's denaming ceremony (up to the libation, which we couldn't do as we were a long way from the water). After that I put the new name and home port on.

Soon things slowed down as all the work on our boat got done. At 4:00pm the truck showed up with a hydraulic transport trailer. It was nerve wracking watching them remove jack stands as the trailer backed into place but soon she was up and being towed to the Hingham Dockyard Marina.

The boat was transferred to a travel lift and lowered into the water. This was an important moment! And the battery in my camera DIED! Of course the spares were back at the hotel. Faye and I made a quick run back to get them and stopped off at a market for rum, sugar, lemons and a bottle of champagne.

Back at the marina we met Peter Galvin from EYS, who sold us the boat and Sean, one of the EYS boat wranglers. We invited them to join us for the Christening. First we finished the libation part of the denaming ceremony with a batch of Grog; some for us and some for King Neptune.

Next Faye took to the bow and Christened our new boat GALEFILERO, pouring champagne over the bow but leaving enough for us to toast her future. Right now she's docked at one of the EYS berths until Monday when we plan to start our homeward odyssey.

Tomorrow we check out of the hotel. Faye and I make a run to CT to pick up an order of boat bits from Defender and make a pilgrimage to Mystic Seaport. Tomorrow night we spend our first night on board. On Saturday Faye heads home and Gary arrives.

Stay tuned for the next installment!

Hi all,
Sorry for taking so long to get this out but everything has been really hectic. Faye and I got to St. John's Airport at 4:00a.m. to catch our flight. Everything went well. We got to Boston at 9:00, picked up our rental car and found our way to Hingham by around 10:30. We were disappointed to find the mast was still down. The radar was installed on the mast but the new shrouds were still to be delivered. Nevertheless a whole crew was working to get her ready and by the end of the day the mast was in place and a pile of other things had been taken care of.

We went to our hotel, The Nantasket Beach Resort. It's right on the beach and our room has a view over the ocean right out to the Minot Ledge lighthouse. Gary and I may sail there as a test run before we begin the homeward trek.

After checking in we made a run to Quincy to find a Walmart and pick up some gear. It was late when we got back so we had a late supper of Clam Chowder at a great little place called the Schooner then went and hit the sack.  I've attached a couple of photos:

First Post!

Hello, world!