an infrequent repository of mostly new stuff
For me, a trip to the lower Rapphannock now entails a stop at Merroir. It’s a requisite ritual reward, a local Mecca for oyster worship, a station of the cross whereupon to leave an offering when I visit the Church of the Sea. This is the first time I’ve brought Terri, however – a duty I have neglected for several years, and of which she has reminded me repeatedly.
Continue reading “Urbanna ~ Pearl in the Sky”
Every year for our anniversary, T and I try to go somewhere new. We don’t need to go far – west is the mountains, east is the Bay. We can arrive within a few miles of a place we’ve been before and have it feel completely different. This year – just upriver from Deltaville, and Gwynn’s Island, within sight of the creek that leads to Irvington, and beyond that Windmill Point, all places we’ve been before – Urbanna gets the nod.
This is kind of crazy. A timelapse of boats swarming into Amsterdam for a sail festival.
Billed as the largest free nautical event in the world, Sail Amsterdam is aquinquennial (every five years) gathering of 600+ boats and tall ships that sail in a circuit in the Netherland’s North Sea Canal before mooring in Amsterdam. The 2015 event was held just last week and according to the NL Times a record-breaking 2.7 million people arrived to watch the maritime spectable that included at least 50 tall ships and hundreds of smaller watercraft. This aerial photo and a timelapse filmed by Boyd Baptist really captures the enormity of the event. (via Jeroen Apers)
Eddie and his sons in the Sooty Tern Una
We first attempted to get together like three years ago. Maybe four. He said he wanted to build something, a boat, and wondered if I thought he could build a Melonseed. That’s a funny question, like someone asking if you think they can dance. When I learned he had built a kayak, I was like “Oh sure, no problem. If you can do that . . .” He lives in Richmond, only 90 minutes away, did a lot of sailing, and we said on several occasions by email we’d get together, it just never happened.
A bunch of folks got together to make some noise for a totally amazing and totally illegal show in Richmond, Virginia last weekend. Two bands came down from DC, one from Richmond. Friends from way back, and some new. Continue reading “Live Jazz in Richmond VA”
Navionics Boating USA HD, showing Tides, Currents, Navigation Aids, and marinas.
One of the benefits of sailing with other small boat people is sharing information. Small boaters are resourceful and inventive by choice and necessity, so any trip with others always sends me home with new ideas or info. Everything from camping gear, to boat maintenance and building tips, to tricks for doing even basic things you’ve always done one way. The trip around Gwynn’s Island was a good example. Curt has fitted out Annie with many small details that make life easier aboard, especially for single-handing. A home-made roller reefing system for his jib, a folding boarding ladder is another, bungie cord mounted on the cabin bulkhead to hold charts, etc.. Steve shared the pros and cons of using his new GoPro camera. I still use an inexpensive LED lantern he recommended, for both a general purpose camping and anchor light.
Continue reading “Good Gear: Navigation & Weather Apps for Small Boats”
