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Tangier Sound Ahead of a Storm ~ Video 4 of 4

direct Youtube link

 

We dallied too long over lunch in Ewell. A message from home said the storm knocked out the power, and was coming our way. The radio said it was bringing rain and wind, with gusts to 30+.

Still calm on the way out, in the lee of the island. But the tide was out now, and we kept getting stuck and bumping bottom on the three mile trek out Big Thorofare. Short tacking across the narrow channel delayed us more. By the time we reached the Sound it was blowing pretty good and spitting rain.

Thanks to Kevin Brennan for the clips of Obadiah.

The companion article appears in the July 2015 issue of Small Boats Monthly, a WoodenBoat publication. A month of access to the current issue and the full archive is $2.99. You can cancel a subscription at any time.


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Within Smith Island ~ Video 3 of 4

direct Youtube link

 

Leaving North End Bottom in the morning, we sailed past Tylerton, through Rhodes Point and on to Ewell.

 

Thanks to Kevin Brennan for the clips of Obadiah.

The companion article appears in the July 2015 issue of Small Boats Monthly, a WoodenBoat publication. A month of access to the current issue and the full archive is $2.99. You can cancel a subscription at any time.


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Smith Island in Big Thorofare ~ Video 2 of 4

direct Youtube link

 

Arriving at Smith Island from the Eastern Shore of Maryland, we enter Big Thorofare. A quarter mile wide and very shallow, this main channel into the heart of the island is over two miles long. Beautiful sailing as the sun was getting low.

Once inside at North End Bottom, we sailing up Tyler Ditch before the wind gave out, and the light. Then rafted up in the center of the island for the evening, before anchoring there for the night under clear skies.

Thanks to Kevin Brennan for the clips of Obadiah from across the water.

The companion article appears in the July 2015 issue of Small Boats Monthly, a WoodenBoat publication. A month of access to the current issue and the full archive is $2.99. You can cancel a subscription at any time.


 

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To Smith Island ~ Video 1 of 4

direct Youtube link

 

Leaving Janes Island State Park, past Crisfield, and across Tangier Sound to Smith Island. A beautiful afternoon crossing in light but steady wind and warm sunshine for a mid-Spring day.

The companion article appears in the July 2015 issue of Small Boats Monthly, a WoodenBoat publication. A month of access to the current issue and the full archive is $2.99. You can cancel a subscription at any time.


 

 

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Smith Island ~ American Venice

Sailing for Smith Island, Kevin Brennan in his Navigator Slip Jig 

 

From the ramp at Janes Island State Park it’s a half mile down a straight and narrow canal to open water. Separating Janes Island from the mainland, the canal is just wide enough for small boats to tack into a breeze. Tall pines line both banks, making a trough that channels the wind, so in the canal it blows only one way or the other. We have a light headwind, but the tide is with us.

 

Sail tracks for Days 1 & 2


 

Passing Crisfield aboard Obadiah 

Continue reading “Smith Island ~ American Venice”

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Site Change and RSS Feed update

Click to Proceed to the Site

 

For a long time now, the blog portion of this site has been by far the most active. Started as a side project, I had no idea whether it would carry on or fizzle. That was over 8 years and 470 posts ago. Meanwhile, the old EyeInHand portion of the site has remained all but static.

Probably should have done this a long time ago, but over the next few days the site will change, making the blog the new Homepage. All links to www.eyeinhand.com will arrive at the latest blog post on Marginalia.

The only downside is this could change the URLs of the RSS feeds. A number of people subscribe this way, which is why I’m making the announcement in advance – this may be the last post that comes through the old feeds.

If you’re a subscriber, thank you. Please return in a few days and resubscribe. There are a number of new posts queued up, including sailing trips, videos, exploring the Columbia River Gorge, and sailing and hiking around Monterey, California.

Cheers,
Barry

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Smith Island ~ Withholding Evidence

 

Silence since the trip to the Inner Islands is not without good reason. I returned with over a thousand of photos and video, better than most trips, and good stories to tell. A draft write-up and sample images were sent to Chris Cunningham, editor of Small Boats Monthly, and he wants to use them in an upcoming issue of the online magazine, probably July.

Chris rightfully wants first dibs on the photos and video, and I’m happy to comply. That means I won’t be posting whatever he doesn’t use until he’s made his final selection and the story is published. A longer delay than usual, even for me, but well worth it. A very good reason indeed.

The grid of thumbnails above is just a small sample – the first 24 – of roughly 200 select shots and video clips culled from over1126 photos, and more than an hour of video. A lot to look through. The article will display the full frame of whatever shots are used, and the story of what it took to get where the photos were taken.

Clearly, a great trip.

More on this soon . . .

 

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