River Bend Marine Center - Day 1- 2

 Location: River Bend Marine Center - Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Weather:  80 and sunny. 

Update: I sit here completely exhausted from a hard day's work, barely able to move my finger tips, it feels, or keep my eye-lids up. Here's how the day went. 

8:00 am - Safely maneuver When And If from our docking space to the lifting slip. Not an easy task with less than 80 ft of turning space and 6 people yelling different instructions at you, all of which think they know exactly how it is you are supposed to maneuver a 50 ton, full keeled schooner and none of which actually do. 

I know Seychelle and I look young, but we are professional yacht crew and we are good at what we do. Every once in a while we run into people who want to treat us like children and not professionals. This place is full of them. Needless to say, it was a frustrating morning.

10:00am - When And If  is blocked and snung in the Southeast corner of the yard.

We procure some scaffolding from the resident painter and spend the rest of the day building a platform to work from around the entire boat. Tough job, but it will pay off in the end to have all the prep work done right. 

Day 2 - Saturday - 

Decide to work through the weekend to take advantage of the good weather and the fact that the yard staff are not around. Make a Home Depot run for a few supplies and manage to sand the entire port side. Feels pretty good. 

Check out Facebook for a few photos of today and yesterday. I will keep posting them as work progresses.

 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vineyard-Haven-MA/SV-When-And-If/24782432236?ref=ts

I hope the link works. 

:)

Ft. Lauderdale

Location: Ft. Lauderdale, Fl

Weather: Sunny, cool, Northwest breeze. Very pleasant. :)

Update: We had a lovely sail today down the south Florida Coast. Condos as far as the eye can see and fishing boats everywhere. The water is deep right up to the beach so you can actually sail so close that you can see the people swimming on the beach.  Much more fun than the South Carolina coast.  It was blowing about 15 knots out of the West. Perfect for a beam reach with no fetch or wind chop that close to shore.  

   Now I have to say, Ft. Lauderdale is wild! It is "The Venice of America." Narrow, deep rivers and canals extending throughout the entire city. We managed to navigate our way a few miles down the New River to our destination, The River Bend Marina. There are so many canals and sharp snake turns in the river and no channel markers past the first mile, it is easy to make a wrong turn. Heaven forbid if you do, there is definately not enough space to turn around. Then you have the worry about meeting the Jungle Queen, a huge river cruise passenger ferry that takes up the entire channel and doesn't slow down. Oh, and there are 5 lift bridges to go under as well and the charted depth is only 6 ft. in places. (we never saw less than 10, phew!) This all makes for a very exciting afternoon. 

   The best was the bridge tenders. Although they were very quick to open for you, they all use different, far from standard operating procedure for radio communication. My personal favorite... 

"SE 3rd St. Bridge, SE 3rd St. Bridge, this is the Schooner When And If approaching. requesting a lift. over"

"keep a' comin"  

uhhh... and just as I was going to call back, because I thought it couldn't have possibly been the bridge responding, we look up and see the lift start to open. Amazing ... radio skills that is. 

   Viewing the houses that are on this river is quite an experience. Multimillion dollar homes with pool, patio, jungle gym, lawn decorations, fountains, huge trees, private canals, docks, and your very own yacht parked outside. 

 So, we are all set to haul at 8:00am tomorrow morning. I'll post pictures and keep you updated as to how it goes. 

 Cheers!

Savannah, GA to Fernandina Beach, FL

11/2  1400

Position: 31.40.01N

                  80.50.12W

Weather: Winds NW 15kts Seas 2-4 ft partly cloudy 70 degrees

                   Absolutely gorgeous sailing  conditions!!

 

Update: 20NM east of the Georgia coast and life couldn’t be better right now.  We are sailing at 7-8 kts.  Just finished a champion’s lunch of chicken soup and black olives out of the can. (Seychelle’s secret favorite) The sun is shining, the dolphins are jumping, and the Lonely Island’s “I’m on a boat” is blaring.  Like I said, it couldn’t be better.

   We plan on pulling in just North Blackbeard Island and finding a spot to anchor for the night.  Savannah was fun. Old-world elegant.  Colonial houses and everywhere you look large oak trees covered in spanish moss. We especially enjoyed the haunted pub-crawl. Savannah is apparently the second-most haunted city in the United States.

   Next Port-of-call is Fernandina Beach, Florida where we will re-provision, re-fuel, and hopefully pick up some crew for the trip to Ft. Lauderdale.

 

11/3   1600

Position: 130.48.89N

                  81.15.63W

Weather: Winds N 20kts Seas 4-6ft Sunny 70 degrees

 

Update: Currently making for St. Mary’s Entrance. (also the entrance for Fernandina Beach). Surfing along at a nice 8 kts.  We will make it by nightfall.  Exhausted and sun burnt, but thankful for the last two days of sailing. I think we needed this.  It’s nice to disconnect every once in a while for a couple of days, anchor far away from everyone and watch a beautiful sunset.

   Last night was fun getting in. We had to head up quite a bit to make it through this narrow, poorly marked channel fraught with shoals. Our speed shot up to 9.5 knots as we caught the flood in to the sound.  We healed her over and thought, “here we go.”  It must have looked quite incredible, When And If flying in to this channel in all her glory, everything up. But, there was not a soul in sight to witness our feat. (okay, so I admit, I’m a little vain.)  ;)

Savannah, GA

Location: Well, the title says it all. 

Weather: Warm, sunny, beautiful.

Update: Kicked the boys off in Charelston (Lyle and Harry, that is) and Seychelle and myself headed down the coast Savannah bound. The conditions were not quite what we expected and a bit hectic for just the two of us on a 75 mile day sail. 15 knots from directly behind us and steep rollers due to the shoals all along the SC coast. We jibed back and forth all day and finally pulled into Hilton Head for the night.  We found a good spot to drop the hook. No other boats around and no one to tell us not to anchor where we were. It was a quite, starry night. We left in the morning in "Pea Soup" as we like to call it. Fog so dense you can't see the foredeck. Gotta love that chart plotter.  Made it up the Savannah river on a foul tide and are currently on a down town floating dock.  I told the dock master our length was 80ft and that's how much dock space they gave us. 80ft exactly. They really pack them in here.  I managed to squeeze the old girl in with a crowd of about a hundred passerby's watching. They all applauded when the job was done. 

We will probably head to Cumberland Island on Monday. Check back for and update this week. 

Cheers! 

Ships log from Hampton to Charleston

10/26 0800

Position: 35.05.62 N

                   75.24.22W

 Weather: ENE 20kts  6-8ft seas 60degrees  and overcast. Threatening to rain.

 

    0800 and we are due East of Cape Hatteras, just as was predicted. We are making a good 9-10 kts, headed for Charleston, SC.  It’s been an awesome evening’s sail. We are skirting the North Carolina Coast so as to stay inside the Gulf Stream- a current of warm water that rushes North at 3kts along the coast of the US and Canada.  

    Big sets of rollers keep coming in from the North Atlantic. Boom dippers we call them. We could be miles out to sea, but when I look off our starboard, I can see the beach.  It’s an interesting feeling.

    On Board, we have Seychelle at the wheel; Lyle Zell, our former 3^rd hand; Harry Ricciardy; and Myself.  A little short handed, but it’s a short trip at this speed.  We can also pull in to several other ports along the way should we run in to unfavorable weather or exhaustion, whichever comes first.

 

10/26 1800

Position: 34.22.48N

                   76.20.15W

Weather: E Winds 10-15 3-5ft seas 70degrees and mostly cloudy

 

     When And If has been sailing like a dream. We are currently 20NM off of Cape Lookout. I find myself awed once more by the genius of yacht design, When And If in particular.  I could never describe the way a boat rides on the ocean swells. It is something you have to experience for yourself, a magical, sensual dance. When you catch a wave just right, it’s more than just physics and formulas.  It’s awesome. Provided you are a romantic like myself, and are not prone to seasickness, of course. 

     We have been visited by two pods of dolphins today. One of them was at least 50 strong. There were 30 of them around the boat and many more jumping up to a mile away. (check our facebook for a short video of the second school) Also, a yellow-breasted bird no bigger than a humming bird sat and ate kiwi with us in the cockpit while his wings dried out. Probably the cutest ocean visitor ever. (camera battery was unfortunately dead)

     Now the sun is setting and the dolphins are gone. Are little birdie friend is hopefully on his way to the safety of shore and it’s time for me to get some rest before my next watch.  Hopefully we hold this good weather for the rest of the night.

 

10/27 1600

Position: 32.56.52 N

                  79.18.57 W

Weather: E Winds less than 10kts 75 degrees with scattered showers

 

 The wind has all but died out on us. A motor-sailing we go. It’s been a very uneventful day. It sure beats a hectic one, but it makes for a bored crew.  The sails are all strapped in. 30nm to go. ETA 2200.  Should be fun coming in to a busy commercial harbor at night, one that we’ve never been to before.

Then it’s a good night sleep for the four of us. 

 10/27  2300

 Location: Anchored inside Charleston Harbor. No problems on the way in. Safe and sound. Having a glass of Chimay, then sending the crew off to shower and sleeeeeep.

The Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race

Greetings!

Location: Hampton, VA  - When And If is currently docked at Bluewater Yachting Center making plans to head south.

Weather: Mid 70's and mostly sunny. -thank goodness- Last week was in the 40s and rainy!  definitely time to head south

Update: When And If just competed in the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race. A 130 mile race benefiting the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. "Racing to save the Bay" is the motto. The race starts in Baltimore, MD and ends in Portsmouth, VA. 

It is a complete blast. Run almost completely by volunteers, the race really exemplifies Schooner Camaraderie among owners, captains, crews and all participants. 

There were 53 schooners racing this year.  When And If came in 5th place out of 13 boats in her class. Not too shabby for a 70-year-old lady...

The pre and post race events are worth checking out even if you don't have a Schooner to race on. There are free concerts, open boats, and a huge Pig-and-Oyster-Roast. 

check it out for next year www.schoonerrace.org

Here's a peak in to what's ahead for When And If... 

 next move: Depart Hampton, Va for Charleston, SC 

                      Exact departure date unknown. Possibly this week

 Eventually make it to Ft. Lauderdale for a quick haul and some paint

Spend the months of December-January in Key West, Fl

And February-March in the Bahamas. It's going to be tough on a boat with 9ft of draft, but it sure beats being cold!

Ships News: I know this is kind of old news but I have not posted it on the blog yet... CONGRATULATIONS to Mr. and Mrs. Hattingh!! We were married on September 19th at Gannon and Benjamin Marine Railway in Vineyard Haven

I'm sure there was more and I will post it when it comes to me. 

Until then, for more information on classic sailing aboard the Schooner When And If visit our website at www.schoonerwhenandif.com or find us on facebook - I'll figure out how to do a direct link one of these days. :)

Cheers!

 

Summer's Closing

Gosh, I am way behind on my blog.  Sign of a great summer!

Update and recap: Started out the month of August with an annual visit from the Coast Guard. We hauled out for a hull inspection in which Emyl spent the entire time explaining and re-explaining the construction of When And If  to the inspecting officer. Not that knowing what double planked, double sawn frames and bronze floors are is common knowledge, but you would think someone who is trying to give you an 'official Coast Guard' inspection would have an idea.  Or know the difference between a ceiling board and the hull, at least.  SO, of course, they passed us on our hull, but flagged several other things that just 'caught their eye.'  Like brand-new fuel lines and our all-time favorite, stability.  Would we have made it safely through the knarliest of North-Atlantic gales last November if stability was an issue? But it's no use explaining that to the big man on a power trip. It's all protocol to them.   

When And If attended the 2009 Opera House Cup in Nantucket. www.operahousecup.org The weather was absolutely perfect this year. We had a blast sailing around the race course and definitely had the most fun. Check out our pictures on facebook and the newest addition to the When And If apparel line.  (for those of you who were there..."bikini!!!") :)

Thank you to everyone who came out sailing with us! All of our Sail MV friends and charter guests.  

Sorry if we missed you.. We'll see you next summer or maybe somewhere down the coast. 

 Our Schedule for the next couple of months (which can also be found on our website) is as follows...

Sep. 2nd When And If departs for Newport, RI to be a mothership to Sprig for the 6 meter world cup championships. www.6metreworldcup.com 

Also in Newport at that time is the Museum of Yachting Classic Yacht Regatta, which we will spectate with our charter guests. Look for us in the parade on Sunday Sep. 6th!  http://www.moy.org/NewsEvents/ClassicYachtRegatta/tabid/478/Default.aspx

Sep 14th Return to the Vineyard

Sep 19th  22nd annual Gaff Rig Race hosted by Gannon and Benjamin 

           and Wedding of Emyl and Seychelle  crew of the When And If 

Sep 25th Depart Martha's Vineyard for the season. :(  

Sep 28- Oct 5th  Nyack, NewYork

Oct 8th Annapolis, Maryland

Oct 13th Baltimore, Maryland - Start of the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race www.schoonerrace.org 

Oct 16th Arrive Norfolk, Virginia 

...and begin our passage down the East Coast. This year When And If will be leisurely sailing down to Key West, Florida for the winter season. Let us know if you can suggest any nice stops along the way. We hope to make it to the bahamas as well this winter. 

 visit us at www.schoonerwhenandif.com or on Facebook! 

Its a beautiful day for sailing!  (actually it's not. right now we are getting pelted with rain from Tropical storm Danny. :/ )

Cheers.