Tues Mar 31,09
I can’t believe it’s nearly April already.
Well the nice weather didn’t last through our afternoon watch yesterday by 7:00pm it was squally and
raining pretty heavily. After we got off watch the ship really started to roll for a while but settled down by
the time I went on watch at 4:00am.
Our night watch was good. My helm trick was from 6:00 to 7:00am this morning just as the Sun was rising
above a bank of clouds in the East. We are sailing “Full and By” trying to head as close to South as we
can get. I always have trouble sailing that way because I tend to over steer a bit when correcting which
causes us to fall off farther than we need to. Also today we didn’t have the royals set so we have to use
the leach of the T’gallant to determine our closest windward course. It is more sensitive to the rolling of
the ship which mimics the luffing which means we are as close as we can get to the wind. I think I did OK
as I managed to keep the course close to SSE on average which was pretty good. If I do say so myself :-)
We are heading SExE under all sail, except for the Mizzen staysail and gaff topsail, and we may be able to
get to Dominica under sail alone.
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Atlantic Rollers
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Monday, March 30, 2015
Sailing for Dominica Mar 30,09
Mar 30,09
We up anchored and sailed off the hook this morning and went from 8:00am muster to sailing under all
plain sail in about one and a half hours.
Just as we were preparing to get underway a small tanker came into the anchorage which made things a
bit crowded. We also had an inter island freighter anchored beside us. As the anchor came up we backed
the outer jib and set the fore lower topsail aback and we spun around on our heal quite nicely.
The winds have shifted around more to the East which means we will be heading into them going this way
as we were going into them coming North. The Captain says we should be able to sail most of the way
however which will be good.
Yesterday while I was ashore I spent some time reading up on Dominica. There are 9 volcanoes there many of which have been active in the last 10,000 years. Dominica is probably island that has the greatest
concern since it is overdue for a major eruption. My kind of place :-) Since we will be there for about 10
days I hope to get a good look at some of it.
More later…
It’s mid afternoon and I go on watch in an hour or so.
The weather is fabulous with a steady Force 4 wind blowing from the East and we are sailing “Full and
By” as close to South as we can get. The water is an amazingly luminous blue to windward. I noticed on
the way North that it changed from the green that was common around Grenada to blue. Going this way
the bright Sun in the almost cloudless blue sky is making the seas practically glow to windward of us. I’m
continually amazed at the range of colours that the surface of the sea assumes. Sometimes it depends on
the weather or the depth of the sea but other times there doesn’t seem to be anything obviously different
from the day before but the sea is definitely a different colour. Today is one of those days. Beautiful!
Thanks for reading.
KJ
We up anchored and sailed off the hook this morning and went from 8:00am muster to sailing under all
plain sail in about one and a half hours.
Just as we were preparing to get underway a small tanker came into the anchorage which made things a
bit crowded. We also had an inter island freighter anchored beside us. As the anchor came up we backed
the outer jib and set the fore lower topsail aback and we spun around on our heal quite nicely.
The winds have shifted around more to the East which means we will be heading into them going this way
as we were going into them coming North. The Captain says we should be able to sail most of the way
however which will be good.
Yesterday while I was ashore I spent some time reading up on Dominica. There are 9 volcanoes there many of which have been active in the last 10,000 years. Dominica is probably island that has the greatest
concern since it is overdue for a major eruption. My kind of place :-) Since we will be there for about 10
days I hope to get a good look at some of it.
More later…
It’s mid afternoon and I go on watch in an hour or so.
The weather is fabulous with a steady Force 4 wind blowing from the East and we are sailing “Full and
By” as close to South as we can get. The water is an amazingly luminous blue to windward. I noticed on
the way North that it changed from the green that was common around Grenada to blue. Going this way
the bright Sun in the almost cloudless blue sky is making the seas practically glow to windward of us. I’m
continually amazed at the range of colours that the surface of the sea assumes. Sometimes it depends on
the weather or the depth of the sea but other times there doesn’t seem to be anything obviously different
from the day before but the sea is definitely a different colour. Today is one of those days. Beautiful!
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Road Bay Anguilla Mar 26-29,09
Sunday, March 29th, 2009
So it is Saturday March 28th and our watch is working today.
Yesterday and Thursday evening we were ashore.
I went to the opening party of the Moonsplash Reggae Festival which was cool, but expensive.
Our watch was the vanguard of the “Picton Castle Landing Party” and as such was charged with acquiring
the requisite provisions and billeting. Lynnsey found a guest house apartment which was big enough for
the invasion to proceed. I slept on the tile floor that night with the bath mat under me and the towel from
the bathroom as a blanket. Surprisingly the biggest problem wasn’t the hard floor but the cold from the
constant breeze of the ceiling fans.
On Friday morning I got up had an awesome breakfast of bacon and eggs cooked by Geoff, watched the
Great Lobowski (sic) on Ben’s laptop then headed out to find Internet and see what the day would bring.
I met up with the ship’s doctor Eric and David and we decided to go an check out the local Rum company.
They had free samples but their prices were basically retail. Then we took a cab tour of the island :-)
which was pretty cool. We went to Shoal Beach which has been rated as one of the best beaches in the
area and I can see why. The beach is busy but very clean, bright white with the water an intense blue with
brilliant breaking white rollers out on the reef.
In the evening we had a fabulous dinner at a small beach restaurant then headed back to the ship on the
9:00 skiff.
Today I’ve been sanding and varnishing the main and fore fife rails.
Not sure what I’m going to do with my day ashore tomorrow. Being Sunday it will probably be pretty
quiet. Just have to find a shady spot with WiFi and some good rum punches and chill for the day. We will
be sailing for Dominica on Monday morning.
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Here are some pictures from Anguilla.
Posted in Ashore | No Comments »
So it is Saturday March 28th and our watch is working today.
Yesterday and Thursday evening we were ashore.
I went to the opening party of the Moonsplash Reggae Festival which was cool, but expensive.
Our watch was the vanguard of the “Picton Castle Landing Party” and as such was charged with acquiring
the requisite provisions and billeting. Lynnsey found a guest house apartment which was big enough for
the invasion to proceed. I slept on the tile floor that night with the bath mat under me and the towel from
the bathroom as a blanket. Surprisingly the biggest problem wasn’t the hard floor but the cold from the
constant breeze of the ceiling fans.
On Friday morning I got up had an awesome breakfast of bacon and eggs cooked by Geoff, watched the
Great Lobowski (sic) on Ben’s laptop then headed out to find Internet and see what the day would bring.
I met up with the ship’s doctor Eric and David and we decided to go an check out the local Rum company.
They had free samples but their prices were basically retail. Then we took a cab tour of the island :-)
which was pretty cool. We went to Shoal Beach which has been rated as one of the best beaches in the
area and I can see why. The beach is busy but very clean, bright white with the water an intense blue with
brilliant breaking white rollers out on the reef.
In the evening we had a fabulous dinner at a small beach restaurant then headed back to the ship on the
9:00 skiff.
Today I’ve been sanding and varnishing the main and fore fife rails.
Not sure what I’m going to do with my day ashore tomorrow. Being Sunday it will probably be pretty
quiet. Just have to find a shady spot with WiFi and some good rum punches and chill for the day. We will
be sailing for Dominica on Monday morning.
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Here are some pictures from Anguilla.
Posted in Ashore | No Comments »
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Sailing to Anguilla Mar 26,09
Thursday Mar 26,09
We really earned our breakfast today!
About halfway through our night watch. The wind was a gusty force 5, the gusts were up to force 6
apparently,and we were sailing “Full and By” as close to the wind as we could go. We took in all sail and
then had to go aloft and stow it as well. While we were stowing the mainsail the Sun came up behind the
island of Saba which we were passing at the time. The Sun cast a shadow of Nick SA, David and I on the
Main Topmast Staysail. We looked a surprisingly salty trio wrestling with the heavy sail as it flogged a bit
in its gear. :-)
The 8-12 watch had some excitement as well, about 3:00am the sheet on the flying jib parted with what
sounded like a gunshot. I woke up in my bunk to the roaring and deep bass rumbling of the flying jib as it
flogged madly. The watch rushed to take it in before it totally shredded itself or wrenched the jib boom
awry. I was glad to still have 45 minutes before I had to be on deck!
We are now motoring into fairly heavy seas and a steady Force 5 wind from the NNE trying to make
Anguilla by early afternoon.
More later…
Arrived in Anguilla around 3:30 this afternoon.
Anchored and headed ashore for the evening.
Believe it or not I am sitting in the Reggae Festival called Moonsplash and thought I would see if there
was Internet and surprise there was!
Should be a cool evening mon :-)
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Posted in On Watch | No Comments »
We really earned our breakfast today!
About halfway through our night watch. The wind was a gusty force 5, the gusts were up to force 6
apparently,and we were sailing “Full and By” as close to the wind as we could go. We took in all sail and
then had to go aloft and stow it as well. While we were stowing the mainsail the Sun came up behind the
island of Saba which we were passing at the time. The Sun cast a shadow of Nick SA, David and I on the
Main Topmast Staysail. We looked a surprisingly salty trio wrestling with the heavy sail as it flogged a bit
in its gear. :-)
The 8-12 watch had some excitement as well, about 3:00am the sheet on the flying jib parted with what
sounded like a gunshot. I woke up in my bunk to the roaring and deep bass rumbling of the flying jib as it
flogged madly. The watch rushed to take it in before it totally shredded itself or wrenched the jib boom
awry. I was glad to still have 45 minutes before I had to be on deck!
We are now motoring into fairly heavy seas and a steady Force 5 wind from the NNE trying to make
Anguilla by early afternoon.
More later…
Arrived in Anguilla around 3:30 this afternoon.
Anchored and headed ashore for the evening.
Believe it or not I am sitting in the Reggae Festival called Moonsplash and thought I would see if there
was Internet and surprise there was!
Should be a cool evening mon :-)
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Posted in On Watch | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Sailing to Anguilla Mar 25,09
Wednesday Mar 25,09
Had a quiet night watch.
We are still motoring North. For a wile this morning the wind picked up to Force 4 from almost dead
ahead and we set the fore and aft sails to try to take advantage of it but soon took them in again as we
came abreast of Guadalupe and the wind died away.
The skies are still cloudy but not as threatening looking as they were at dusk yesterday.
The boat frame that we acquired in Grenada is being worked on. The main hatch has become a boatyard
and by the end of the day it looks like one with wood shavings everywhere.
More later…
It’s now 3:30pm and we are approaching the island of Montserrat. This island has an active volcano that
forced the abandonment of the principle city on the island about 10 years ago. The top of the volcano is
hidden in clouds but you can clearly see the broad ashy looking fan of lahar and pyroclastic flow debris
running down to the sea from the summit.
The remains of the city can be seen rising above the grey ashy concrete like flows. This area is in stark
contrast to the lush green of the north side of the island where most of the people relocated to.
The ash from the volcano seeds the clouds causing them to boil up downwind of the island. It almost looks
like it is erupting furiously but it isn’t at the moment.
The 12-4 watch is busy setting all our sails so we will be sailing by the time I go on watch in 20 minutes or
so.
Later…
Had a workshop on wooden boat building while the ashy coast of Montserrat passed by to starboard. You
could smell the sulphur in the ash plume. As we passed by the island the wind curved around and briefly
headed us then picked up speed so that we were really moving along under all sail by sunset.
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Had a quiet night watch.
We are still motoring North. For a wile this morning the wind picked up to Force 4 from almost dead
ahead and we set the fore and aft sails to try to take advantage of it but soon took them in again as we
came abreast of Guadalupe and the wind died away.
The skies are still cloudy but not as threatening looking as they were at dusk yesterday.
The boat frame that we acquired in Grenada is being worked on. The main hatch has become a boatyard
and by the end of the day it looks like one with wood shavings everywhere.
More later…
It’s now 3:30pm and we are approaching the island of Montserrat. This island has an active volcano that
forced the abandonment of the principle city on the island about 10 years ago. The top of the volcano is
hidden in clouds but you can clearly see the broad ashy looking fan of lahar and pyroclastic flow debris
running down to the sea from the summit.
The remains of the city can be seen rising above the grey ashy concrete like flows. This area is in stark
contrast to the lush green of the north side of the island where most of the people relocated to.
The ash from the volcano seeds the clouds causing them to boil up downwind of the island. It almost looks
like it is erupting furiously but it isn’t at the moment.
The 12-4 watch is busy setting all our sails so we will be sailing by the time I go on watch in 20 minutes or
so.
Later…
Had a workshop on wooden boat building while the ashy coast of Montserrat passed by to starboard. You
could smell the sulphur in the ash plume. As we passed by the island the wind curved around and briefly
headed us then picked up speed so that we were really moving along under all sail by sunset.
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Sailing to Anguila Mar 24, 09
Tuesday Mar 24,09
Had a great night watch.
I was first helm and we were trying to sail as close to NxW as we could get. We had all sails set and she
was steering really well so even though it was a bit tricky to keep from swinging to far into the wind it
wasn’t too bad.
About halfway through my trick, around 4:30 or so I caught sight of a bright light to the NE and when I
glanced over to see what it was I saw what looked like two objects coming down like very bright and slow
meteors towards the East. There was a flash and they vanished. Later as dawn began to break there
appeared to be a band of very brightly lit clouds in the NE about where the flash was. These clouds were
high enough that they were in sunlight before even the cirrus clouds over us were. As the light grew these
clouds spread out into an ellipse almost like a giant smoke ring hanging just over the horizon. They were
no longer visible by the time the Sun came up. I think the clouds were the result of an explosion of
something at very high altitude. Pretty cool!
We took in all square sail and fired up the engine around 6:30 and are currently motorsailing North.
More later…
Just got off my afternoon watch and we are still motoring North. The winds are light, force 3, from the
North. The sky has been cloudy all day and was looking fairly grim at sunset but as we were coming off
watch there were a few stars visible so maybe nothing will come of it.
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Had a great night watch.
I was first helm and we were trying to sail as close to NxW as we could get. We had all sails set and she
was steering really well so even though it was a bit tricky to keep from swinging to far into the wind it
wasn’t too bad.
About halfway through my trick, around 4:30 or so I caught sight of a bright light to the NE and when I
glanced over to see what it was I saw what looked like two objects coming down like very bright and slow
meteors towards the East. There was a flash and they vanished. Later as dawn began to break there
appeared to be a band of very brightly lit clouds in the NE about where the flash was. These clouds were
high enough that they were in sunlight before even the cirrus clouds over us were. As the light grew these
clouds spread out into an ellipse almost like a giant smoke ring hanging just over the horizon. They were
no longer visible by the time the Sun came up. I think the clouds were the result of an explosion of
something at very high altitude. Pretty cool!
We took in all square sail and fired up the engine around 6:30 and are currently motorsailing North.
More later…
Just got off my afternoon watch and we are still motoring North. The winds are light, force 3, from the
North. The sky has been cloudy all day and was looking fairly grim at sunset but as we were coming off
watch there were a few stars visible so maybe nothing will come of it.
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Monday, March 23, 2015
Sailing to Anguila Mar 23, 09
Thursday, March 26th, 2009
Monday Mar 23,09
We up anchored and sailed off the hook, after loading our “flotilla”,all 4 of them, back on board, around
10:00am.
A brief sail under topsails courses and t’gallants brought us to the other side of Union island by noon. As
we approached Union Island I went aloft to the t’gallants to stow the sail. This is the first time I’ve done
that and it was exhilarating and scary at the same time.
The Captain has gone ashore to clear us out of St Vincent and the Grenadines and we will be sailing for
Anguila some 350 miles to the North.
The passage to Anguila will take about three days which, in the words of our Captain at muster this
morning, “For the new people is an epic sea voyage, for those who’ve been aboard longer it’s detox”.
Heh :-)
Actually it will be nice to have a longer passage. I like the normal watch routine and sailing the ship. It’s
quite a comforting routine for me now which is a bit odd but cool too :-)
We hoisted the anchor and sailed off the hook headed North on our passage around 3:30 this afternoon.
That is the first time we have done that twice in the same day, at least whilst I have been aboard. A great
way to get back in Seaman mode for the passage :-)
The night has fallen and left the ky sprinkled with bright white stars and bright green flashes of
phosphorescence along the hull. A great end to a busy day full of seaman’s work on this fine barque of
ours.
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Monday Mar 23,09
We up anchored and sailed off the hook, after loading our “flotilla”,all 4 of them, back on board, around
10:00am.
A brief sail under topsails courses and t’gallants brought us to the other side of Union island by noon. As
we approached Union Island I went aloft to the t’gallants to stow the sail. This is the first time I’ve done
that and it was exhilarating and scary at the same time.
The Captain has gone ashore to clear us out of St Vincent and the Grenadines and we will be sailing for
Anguila some 350 miles to the North.
The passage to Anguila will take about three days which, in the words of our Captain at muster this
morning, “For the new people is an epic sea voyage, for those who’ve been aboard longer it’s detox”.
Heh :-)
Actually it will be nice to have a longer passage. I like the normal watch routine and sailing the ship. It’s
quite a comforting routine for me now which is a bit odd but cool too :-)
We hoisted the anchor and sailed off the hook headed North on our passage around 3:30 this afternoon.
That is the first time we have done that twice in the same day, at least whilst I have been aboard. A great
way to get back in Seaman mode for the passage :-)
The night has fallen and left the ky sprinkled with bright white stars and bright green flashes of
phosphorescence along the hull. A great end to a busy day full of seaman’s work on this fine barque of
ours.
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Maryeau Mar 22,09
Thursday, March 26th, 2009
Had a great ‘mandatory fun’ day :-)
I went snorkeling on the reefs this morning. We used the rescue boat and motored out to three different spots. The first spot was a bit too deep with a fairly big swell running so we moved to a second spot closer to shore which was nice. I haven’t used a mask, fins and a snorkel for probably 30 years or more so it took some getting used to. Once I got comfortable using them I was able to dive down and get a good look at all the multi coloured fish hiding around the bases of the coral mounds. The last place we went had a lot more coral of different kinds and consequently more varieties of fish. It was really cool!
In the afternoon I went ashore with David and wandered through the town. We then went back to the
beach across from the ship and I snoozed under a tree on the beach for an hour or more.
This evening we had a BBQ on the ship and as I write this there is still a boisterous party on the welldeck :-)
A lovely day in a lovely place.
Tomorrow we head North towards Anguila which will take several days as I understand it.
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Here are some photos from my day in Maryeau.
Posted in Ashore, Off Watch | No Comments »
Had a great ‘mandatory fun’ day :-)
I went snorkeling on the reefs this morning. We used the rescue boat and motored out to three different spots. The first spot was a bit too deep with a fairly big swell running so we moved to a second spot closer to shore which was nice. I haven’t used a mask, fins and a snorkel for probably 30 years or more so it took some getting used to. Once I got comfortable using them I was able to dive down and get a good look at all the multi coloured fish hiding around the bases of the coral mounds. The last place we went had a lot more coral of different kinds and consequently more varieties of fish. It was really cool!In the afternoon I went ashore with David and wandered through the town. We then went back to the
beach across from the ship and I snoozed under a tree on the beach for an hour or more.
This evening we had a BBQ on the ship and as I write this there is still a boisterous party on the welldeck :-)
A lovely day in a lovely place.
Tomorrow we head North towards Anguila which will take several days as I understand it.
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Here are some photos from my day in Maryeau.
Posted in Ashore, Off Watch | No Comments »
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Work day in Bequia Thur Mar 19,09
Friday, March 20th, 2009
Spent the day doing lots of different jobs on board the ship.
A short list:
a) Domestics
b) Went ashore with Ben to pick up boxes of oatmeal and ichiban noodles
c) Stored said oatmeal and ichiban noodles in the hold
d) Sanded the varnished rail that runs across the bridge
e) Sorted the enormous pile of cordage stored in various dark reaches of the hold
f) Did the dishes after dinner to help out the galley crew, Susie and Nick SA. (Hi John R )
Whew!
Tomorrow we head out to a small island near the Tobago Cays called Maryeau. It is back South of here
almost all the way back to Carriacou.
This island is 1.5 square miles and has a population of 254! Probably no Internet though
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Update Fri Mar 20: Seems we aren’t leaving till tomorrow, Saturday the 21st. Paul discovered some likely
looking trees to use for the stems of the schooners so another lumber expedition is currently underway.
Aw shucks! I guess I’ll just have to hang out under those damn palm trees drinking more damned rum and
being damned lazy another damn day… Damn :-)
Here are some more pictures from my run ashore. The Royal Clipper came in during the afternoon check
it out!
Posted in Ashore | No Comments »
Spent the day doing lots of different jobs on board the ship.
A short list:
a) Domestics
b) Went ashore with Ben to pick up boxes of oatmeal and ichiban noodles
c) Stored said oatmeal and ichiban noodles in the hold
d) Sanded the varnished rail that runs across the bridge
e) Sorted the enormous pile of cordage stored in various dark reaches of the hold
f) Did the dishes after dinner to help out the galley crew, Susie and Nick SA. (Hi John R )
Whew!
Tomorrow we head out to a small island near the Tobago Cays called Maryeau. It is back South of here
almost all the way back to Carriacou.
This island is 1.5 square miles and has a population of 254! Probably no Internet though
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Update Fri Mar 20: Seems we aren’t leaving till tomorrow, Saturday the 21st. Paul discovered some likely
looking trees to use for the stems of the schooners so another lumber expedition is currently underway.
Aw shucks! I guess I’ll just have to hang out under those damn palm trees drinking more damned rum and
being damned lazy another damn day… Damn :-)
Here are some more pictures from my run ashore. The Royal Clipper came in during the afternoon check
it out!
Posted in Ashore | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Bequia St Patrick’s Day 09
Wednesday, March 18th, 2009
I hope everyone had a happy St Patricks day!
Went ashore in Bequia after we dropped anchor and had agreat afternoon and evening.
Did a bit of Internet stuff and then went and hung out with the crew in two fine beach side establishments
singing sailor’s shanties, drinking rum and generally livening up the neighbourhood.
Bequia is a very popular place there must be a hundred yachts at anchor in the bay here. The town
surrounds the bay with many most things that a yachty could use :-)
The presence of all these yachts makes it feel more “touristy” than the other islands I’ve been to so far.
It’s still really nice though.
I’m going to go and see more of the island today as I also have it off.
More later.
KJ
Here are some pictures from my run ashore in Bequia.
Posted in Ashore | No Comments »
I hope everyone had a happy St Patricks day!
Went ashore in Bequia after we dropped anchor and had agreat afternoon and evening.
Did a bit of Internet stuff and then went and hung out with the crew in two fine beach side establishments
singing sailor’s shanties, drinking rum and generally livening up the neighbourhood.
Bequia is a very popular place there must be a hundred yachts at anchor in the bay here. The town
surrounds the bay with many most things that a yachty could use :-)
The presence of all these yachts makes it feel more “touristy” than the other islands I’ve been to so far.
It’s still really nice though.
I’m going to go and see more of the island today as I also have it off.
More later.
KJ
Here are some pictures from my run ashore in Bequia.
Posted in Ashore | No Comments »
Monday, March 16, 2015
Sailing to Bequia Mon Mar 16,09
Tuesday, March 17th, 2009
After getting the ship cleaned up and down rigging all the lumber hauling gear we up anchored and
motored away from St Georges on a passage to Bequia in the St Vincent Grenadines.
As we were heading North the Royal Clipper cruise ship came in. This is a 5 masted square rigged cruise
ship. the only one of it’s kind in the world. It didn’t have any sails set and as we crossed her bows under
all our fore and aft sails we blasted our horn and waved. She returned the salute in kind. I wonder what her passengers thought when they saw our little Barque
We motored for an hour or so to get North of Grenada and then we set the courses, topsails and t’gallants.
I kinda hoped my glasses would fallout of the sails when the were unfurled but no luck, the sea has them.
The passage to Bequia is 70 miles or so depending on how far we have sail off the direct line and whether
we will need to tack or not. We should get into Bequia tomorrow morning so I will have my first night
watch since coming back on board.
More later…
My night watch was very busy. We wore ship just after we went on watch. I was on helm which was
interesting. Then about an hour later the wind shifted such that we couldn’t keep our course to Bequia so
we ended up motoring in.
We arrived at 10:30 this morning and dropped our anchor amongst a ton of yachts. This is a very popular
place apparently. I’ll let you know how it goes
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Posted in On Watch | No Comments »
After getting the ship cleaned up and down rigging all the lumber hauling gear we up anchored and
motored away from St Georges on a passage to Bequia in the St Vincent Grenadines.
As we were heading North the Royal Clipper cruise ship came in. This is a 5 masted square rigged cruise
ship. the only one of it’s kind in the world. It didn’t have any sails set and as we crossed her bows under
all our fore and aft sails we blasted our horn and waved. She returned the salute in kind. I wonder what her passengers thought when they saw our little Barque
We motored for an hour or so to get North of Grenada and then we set the courses, topsails and t’gallants.
I kinda hoped my glasses would fallout of the sails when the were unfurled but no luck, the sea has them.
The passage to Bequia is 70 miles or so depending on how far we have sail off the direct line and whether
we will need to tack or not. We should get into Bequia tomorrow morning so I will have my first night
watch since coming back on board.
More later…
My night watch was very busy. We wore ship just after we went on watch. I was on helm which was
interesting. Then about an hour later the wind shifted such that we couldn’t keep our course to Bequia so
we ended up motoring in.
We arrived at 10:30 this morning and dropped our anchor amongst a ton of yachts. This is a very popular
place apparently. I’ll let you know how it goes
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Posted in On Watch | No Comments »
Sunday, March 15, 2015
A long day! Sunday Mar 15,09
Tuesday, March 17th, 2009
It was an all hands wakeup at 5:30 this morning!
We were aloft loosing the topsails and courses and then onto the windlass by 6:00am.
We heaved up the anchor, sailed off the hook and are sailing towards Grenada under all squar sails but the
main sail. Our watch had the deck for the first watch. I had helm for an hour and it was really tricky
steering as we are going directly downwind.
They expect us to be arriving in Grenada around 2:00pm. Then, IF all goes according to plan, we will load
the lumber and head out to Bequia on an overnight sail arriving sometime tomorrow morning.
This is going to be a very long day.
More later…
It’s later and it has indeed been a very long day.
The bad side of the day was losing my glasses overboard when I was up on the yard working to furl and
gasket up the sails as we came into St Georges. The footrope from the upper topsail yard swept them off
my head as I was trying to duck under another line. I even had a safety strap on them. Oddly enough I
didn’t notice they were gone until I got back on deck. It’s a good thing I have a spare set even if they
aren’t trifocals :-)
Once we were anchored at St Georges I went ashore with a gang to get the the lumber ready to be towed
out to the ship. This was two very large slabs of wood each one 20′ long 18″ wide and 1′ thick weighing
nearly two tons each!
It was probably a lot like loading an 18 pounder onto frigate, except we only had to move two not 24 :-)
Once we had them at the ship it took nearly two hours and a lot of work with tackles, blocks and the
capstan. Once safely laying on the deck we had to drag one back into the breezeway where it will be lashed down. The other one is currently lying just forward of it and I think we will get to move it in the
morning.
We are staying here at St Georges over night and will sail for Bequia tomorrow after we get everything
shipshape again.
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Here are some pictures of Tyrrel Bay and the massive chunks of wood alongside.
Posted in On Watch | 2 Comments »
It was an all hands wakeup at 5:30 this morning!
We were aloft loosing the topsails and courses and then onto the windlass by 6:00am.
We heaved up the anchor, sailed off the hook and are sailing towards Grenada under all squar sails but the
main sail. Our watch had the deck for the first watch. I had helm for an hour and it was really tricky
steering as we are going directly downwind.
They expect us to be arriving in Grenada around 2:00pm. Then, IF all goes according to plan, we will load
the lumber and head out to Bequia on an overnight sail arriving sometime tomorrow morning.
This is going to be a very long day.
More later…
It’s later and it has indeed been a very long day.
The bad side of the day was losing my glasses overboard when I was up on the yard working to furl and
gasket up the sails as we came into St Georges. The footrope from the upper topsail yard swept them off
my head as I was trying to duck under another line. I even had a safety strap on them. Oddly enough I
didn’t notice they were gone until I got back on deck. It’s a good thing I have a spare set even if they
aren’t trifocals :-)
Once we were anchored at St Georges I went ashore with a gang to get the the lumber ready to be towed
out to the ship. This was two very large slabs of wood each one 20′ long 18″ wide and 1′ thick weighing
nearly two tons each!
It was probably a lot like loading an 18 pounder onto frigate, except we only had to move two not 24 :-)
Once we had them at the ship it took nearly two hours and a lot of work with tackles, blocks and the
capstan. Once safely laying on the deck we had to drag one back into the breezeway where it will be lashed down. The other one is currently lying just forward of it and I think we will get to move it in the
morning.
We are staying here at St Georges over night and will sail for Bequia tomorrow after we get everything
shipshape again.
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Here are some pictures of Tyrrel Bay and the massive chunks of wood alongside.
Posted in On Watch | 2 Comments »
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Hanging out on Carriacou Mar 12-14,09
Saturday, March 14th, 2009
Have had a nice couple of days ashore on Carriacou.
This morning we up anchored and sailed off the hook at Paradise Beach and sailed around the coast to
Tyrell Bay on the other side of Carriacou. This anchorage is more sheltered and we will be here till
tomorrow morning.
We are waiting for some of the crew to return from Grenada where there has been a lumber expedition in
progress. They are getting some specific hardwood to be used for a new schooner. They will get the logs
shipped on an inter island freighter to Tyrell bay so we could load it on the ship to take back.
Yesterday was pretty relaxing, I spent it on the Internet and hanging out at the Hardwood on Paradise
beach.
I’m currently in a great little bar/cafe right on the waterfront which has free WIFI so I’m good for the
afternoon :-)
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Posted in Ashore, On Watch | No Comments »
Have had a nice couple of days ashore on Carriacou.
This morning we up anchored and sailed off the hook at Paradise Beach and sailed around the coast to
Tyrell Bay on the other side of Carriacou. This anchorage is more sheltered and we will be here till
tomorrow morning.
We are waiting for some of the crew to return from Grenada where there has been a lumber expedition in
progress. They are getting some specific hardwood to be used for a new schooner. They will get the logs
shipped on an inter island freighter to Tyrell bay so we could load it on the ship to take back.
Yesterday was pretty relaxing, I spent it on the Internet and hanging out at the Hardwood on Paradise
beach.
I’m currently in a great little bar/cafe right on the waterfront which has free WIFI so I’m good for the
afternoon :-)
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Posted in Ashore, On Watch | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Sailing to Carriacou Wed Mar 11,09
Friday, March 13th, 2009
We sailed off the hook this morning which was a fine bit of coordination IMHO.
The anchorage is surrounded by reefs with a relatively narrow entrance passage. The ship was head to
wind and the wind was coming in from the NE directly towards the entrance. So we had to spin the ship
around inside the anchorage using the sails once the anchor was off the bottom. It went without a hitch
and pretty smoothly. I was on the fo'c'sle head assisting with catting the anchor as we set all our sails
except the gaff topsail.
Very cool!
I understand that we will be doing a tacking exercise which should be very interesting as we have not
tacked the ship since I have been aboard. This will get us back into seaman mode in a big way. as you can
imagine it’s important to put aside “beachcomber mode” as quickly as possible when we get under way
More later…
The tack went pretty well. Tacking a square rigger is much more complicated than tacking any fore and aft
rigged vessels as bringing the wind across the bows will throw the square sails aback which puts a lot of
strain on the masts. Also unlike a fore and aft rigged vessel if you “miss stays”, ie stall out going into the
wind without enough way on to get across, the ship will start to go backwards which can damage the
rudder and steering gear.
The key to a successful tack in a square rigger is timing, all the steps must be done briskly and in the right
order to make everything work. My station was on the fo'c'sle head to help bringing the jibs across to the
other side.
The procedure for doing the tack is fairly simple really but it takes coordination. First the head sail sheets
are cast off allowing them to flog, this removes their resistance to the turn. Then the helm is put over and
the spanker sheeted to windward to help the ship turn up into the wind. Then the order to “raise tacks and
sheets” is given. This means to pull the mainsail halfway up to the yard. Next the order to “mainsail haul”
is given and the main mast yards are braced around to the new tack. The timing on this is tricky as it has
to be done just as the ship comes across the wind but before all the sails on the mainmast come aback.
When done right the order is given just as the windward side comes aback and the leeward side is still
blanketed by the sails on the fore mast, this helps the yards come around faster. Apparently if the whole
mast goes aback it can be very difficult to swing the yards around. Once the main mast yards are set the
order to “let go and haul” is given and the yards on the foremast are swung around onto the new tack.
Then the head sails are passed and sheeted home on the new tack. The main sail is reset and we are away!
With the whole crew on deck we did it pretty well and had no trouble. We never got close to “missing
stays”. Very cool.
Being on the focsle head when the jibs are flogging is a awesome but frightening thing. Each sheet has a
block on it that flings around madly, hence the reason they are know as widow makers, plus the sails make
a deep low frequency booming that rattles my whole body. It takes a lot of force to pull the sheets across
to get them set on the new tack as well.
The whole procedure takes only a few minutes or so when done right but if you miss stays it could be a lot
longer process.
I case you’re interested, the alternative to tacking is to “wear ship” which is to turn keeping the wind
behind the sails. This is much easier because it is only necessary to brace the yards around as she turns. It
takes much more sea room however and puts the ship farther to leeward of where she started the turn so is
not a good option if in a narrow channel or where loosing ground to leeward isn’t an option.
We have done that maneuver, wearing, several times while I have been aboard but this was the first tack.
We arrived back at Carriacou around 3:30 or so and anchored off of paradise beach as the anchorage at
Hillsborough still had too big a swell running.
My watch mates and I jumped on the first shore going skiff. One of the new trainees and I walked into
Hillsburough to get some money and then spent the evening on the beach at a great little bar/restaurant
called the Hardwood. They have “dangerously yummy” rum punches there :-) It was a fabulous evening
under a bright full moon on a magnificent beach.
Ahhhh… Paradise Beach indeed!
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Posted in Ashore, On Watch | No Comments »
We sailed off the hook this morning which was a fine bit of coordination IMHO.
The anchorage is surrounded by reefs with a relatively narrow entrance passage. The ship was head to
wind and the wind was coming in from the NE directly towards the entrance. So we had to spin the ship
around inside the anchorage using the sails once the anchor was off the bottom. It went without a hitch
and pretty smoothly. I was on the fo'c'sle head assisting with catting the anchor as we set all our sails
except the gaff topsail.
Very cool!
I understand that we will be doing a tacking exercise which should be very interesting as we have not
tacked the ship since I have been aboard. This will get us back into seaman mode in a big way. as you can
imagine it’s important to put aside “beachcomber mode” as quickly as possible when we get under way
More later…
The tack went pretty well. Tacking a square rigger is much more complicated than tacking any fore and aft
rigged vessels as bringing the wind across the bows will throw the square sails aback which puts a lot of
strain on the masts. Also unlike a fore and aft rigged vessel if you “miss stays”, ie stall out going into the
wind without enough way on to get across, the ship will start to go backwards which can damage the
rudder and steering gear.
The key to a successful tack in a square rigger is timing, all the steps must be done briskly and in the right
order to make everything work. My station was on the fo'c'sle head to help bringing the jibs across to the
other side.
The procedure for doing the tack is fairly simple really but it takes coordination. First the head sail sheets
are cast off allowing them to flog, this removes their resistance to the turn. Then the helm is put over and
the spanker sheeted to windward to help the ship turn up into the wind. Then the order to “raise tacks and
sheets” is given. This means to pull the mainsail halfway up to the yard. Next the order to “mainsail haul”
is given and the main mast yards are braced around to the new tack. The timing on this is tricky as it has
to be done just as the ship comes across the wind but before all the sails on the mainmast come aback.
When done right the order is given just as the windward side comes aback and the leeward side is still
blanketed by the sails on the fore mast, this helps the yards come around faster. Apparently if the whole
mast goes aback it can be very difficult to swing the yards around. Once the main mast yards are set the
order to “let go and haul” is given and the yards on the foremast are swung around onto the new tack.
Then the head sails are passed and sheeted home on the new tack. The main sail is reset and we are away!
With the whole crew on deck we did it pretty well and had no trouble. We never got close to “missing
stays”. Very cool.
Being on the focsle head when the jibs are flogging is a awesome but frightening thing. Each sheet has a
block on it that flings around madly, hence the reason they are know as widow makers, plus the sails make
a deep low frequency booming that rattles my whole body. It takes a lot of force to pull the sheets across
to get them set on the new tack as well.
The whole procedure takes only a few minutes or so when done right but if you miss stays it could be a lot
longer process.
I case you’re interested, the alternative to tacking is to “wear ship” which is to turn keeping the wind
behind the sails. This is much easier because it is only necessary to brace the yards around as she turns. It
takes much more sea room however and puts the ship farther to leeward of where she started the turn so is
not a good option if in a narrow channel or where loosing ground to leeward isn’t an option.
We have done that maneuver, wearing, several times while I have been aboard but this was the first tack.
We arrived back at Carriacou around 3:30 or so and anchored off of paradise beach as the anchorage at
Hillsborough still had too big a swell running.
My watch mates and I jumped on the first shore going skiff. One of the new trainees and I walked into
Hillsburough to get some money and then spent the evening on the beach at a great little bar/restaurant
called the Hardwood. They have “dangerously yummy” rum punches there :-) It was a fabulous evening
under a bright full moon on a magnificent beach.
Ahhhh… Paradise Beach indeed!
Thanks for reading.
KJ
Posted in Ashore, On Watch | No Comments »
Monday, March 9, 2015
Petite Martinique Mar 9-10,09
Friday, March 13th, 2009
Spent yesterday painting the starboard side of the ship. The last day that she was alongside in Grenada a
big swell was coming directly into the harbour making her bump and rub against the big rubber fenders on
the dock. In some places these fenders had rubbed the paint right off the ship down to bare metal and had
even dented the thinner bulwark plates.
She looked much better by the time we finished.
After we cleaned up we had a brief workshop on knots and I learned two new ways of doing standard
knots, clove hitch and bowline, and anew one whose name I don’t remember but which is like a tugboat
hitch and can be tied really quickly.
The evening I spent watching The Empire Strikes Back on a PC that was setup on the main hatch. Pretty
cool watching that under a full moon with a warm tropical breeze blowing through the rigging
Today I’m off to see the sights ashore, such as they are, and I’ll let you know how it goes.
The plan is to leave here early tomorrow morning to SAIL over to Carriacou for day or so.
More later…
It’s 9:30pm and I just climbed into my bunk after a fabulous day ashore. I went in on the 10:00am skiff
and joined up with a bunch my crew mates. We then tried to get some local cash but the two banks were
closed. Luckily the grocery store took U$ and Euros so I was able to get some snacks. Then after lunch
we hired a water taxi and went across to a nearby island called Petite St. Vincent. This island is officially
private but according to the hotel/resort people their business is so slow they don’t mind other people
hanging out.
We found a beautiful beach and just hung out for the afternoon and evening.
I fell asleep in a hammock I found setup in a thatched shelter far along this deserted beach. It would have
been fatally easy to stay there all afternoon but luckily I woke up after half an hour or so.
Rory had managed to rent a boat so we had our own transport back which saved us a bunch of ECDs.
So we are off to Carriacou tomorrow morning. I imagine it will be a lot quieter than last time.
Thanks for reading
KJ
Here are more photos from my run ashore in Petite Martinique and Petite St Vincent.
Posted in Ashore, On Watch | No Comments »
P.S. This video taken while I was lying in that hammock is why it would have been very easy to have slept the whole afternoon away...
Spent yesterday painting the starboard side of the ship. The last day that she was alongside in Grenada a
big swell was coming directly into the harbour making her bump and rub against the big rubber fenders on
the dock. In some places these fenders had rubbed the paint right off the ship down to bare metal and had
even dented the thinner bulwark plates.
She looked much better by the time we finished.
After we cleaned up we had a brief workshop on knots and I learned two new ways of doing standard
knots, clove hitch and bowline, and anew one whose name I don’t remember but which is like a tugboat
hitch and can be tied really quickly.
The evening I spent watching The Empire Strikes Back on a PC that was setup on the main hatch. Pretty
cool watching that under a full moon with a warm tropical breeze blowing through the rigging
Today I’m off to see the sights ashore, such as they are, and I’ll let you know how it goes.
The plan is to leave here early tomorrow morning to SAIL over to Carriacou for day or so.
More later…
It’s 9:30pm and I just climbed into my bunk after a fabulous day ashore. I went in on the 10:00am skiff
and joined up with a bunch my crew mates. We then tried to get some local cash but the two banks were
closed. Luckily the grocery store took U$ and Euros so I was able to get some snacks. Then after lunch
we hired a water taxi and went across to a nearby island called Petite St. Vincent. This island is officially
private but according to the hotel/resort people their business is so slow they don’t mind other people
hanging out.
We found a beautiful beach and just hung out for the afternoon and evening.
I fell asleep in a hammock I found setup in a thatched shelter far along this deserted beach. It would have
been fatally easy to stay there all afternoon but luckily I woke up after half an hour or so.
Rory had managed to rent a boat so we had our own transport back which saved us a bunch of ECDs.
So we are off to Carriacou tomorrow morning. I imagine it will be a lot quieter than last time.
Thanks for reading
KJ
Here are more photos from my run ashore in Petite Martinique and Petite St Vincent.
Posted in Ashore, On Watch | No Comments »
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Motoring away from Grenada Sun Mar 8,09
Friday, March 13th, 2009
We had a 6:15 all hands wake up this morning and we took on the pilot and were underway by 7:00.
We are currently motoring North towards Carriacou however the anchorage there is apparently unusable
due to heavy swell. The alternative is Petit Martinique which would be cool.
I’m suffering a bit from “climatic whiplash” 30c to 10c to 27c in 6 days is tough on the body. But then so
is the 17 hours or so flying :-)
I believe I’m on the same 4-8 watch but Mike hasn’t posted the new list yet.
We arrived at Petite Martinique around 3:30 and anchored off the small town here. Looks like a very quiet
place. I detect NO wifi signal at all which is odd although there are two locked ones on the island to the
North which is actually part of the St Vincent Grenadines.
If I’m on 4-8 I work tomorrow which will be OK, I haven’t rust busted or osfo’d in a whole week after all :-)
Thank for reading.
KJ
Posted in On Watch | No Comments »
We had a 6:15 all hands wake up this morning and we took on the pilot and were underway by 7:00.
We are currently motoring North towards Carriacou however the anchorage there is apparently unusable
due to heavy swell. The alternative is Petit Martinique which would be cool.
I’m suffering a bit from “climatic whiplash” 30c to 10c to 27c in 6 days is tough on the body. But then so
is the 17 hours or so flying :-)
I believe I’m on the same 4-8 watch but Mike hasn’t posted the new list yet.
We arrived at Petite Martinique around 3:30 and anchored off the small town here. Looks like a very quiet
place. I detect NO wifi signal at all which is odd although there are two locked ones on the island to the
North which is actually part of the St Vincent Grenadines.
If I’m on 4-8 I work tomorrow which will be OK, I haven’t rust busted or osfo’d in a whole week after all :-)
Thank for reading.
KJ
Posted in On Watch | No Comments »
Friday, March 6, 2015
On my way back to the ship. Mar 6-7,09
Friday, March 6th, 2009
After a great week at home in Calgary, I’m on my way back to Grenada to join the ship for the next 2 1/2
months of WARM sailing through the islands of the Caribbean.
I should arrive back in Grenada on Saturday evening at 7:00pm. This assumes that all my flights and
connection work properly :-)
Stay tuned!
Thanks for reading
KJ
Here are some photos from my trip home
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
After a great week at home in Calgary, I’m on my way back to Grenada to join the ship for the next 2 1/2
months of WARM sailing through the islands of the Caribbean.
I should arrive back in Grenada on Saturday evening at 7:00pm. This assumes that all my flights and
connection work properly :-)
Stay tuned!
Thanks for reading
KJ
Here are some photos from my trip home
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Monday, March 2, 2015
More Videos!
Monday, March 2nd, 2009
A nice little compendium of scenes from aboard the ship taken by Spenser’s Grandfather Hal while we
were at anchor at Mindelo.
I was on galley duty setting up the dishes along the rail as you can see
Check it out here.
Three minutes before the mast!
Here is a video I took from the Focsle head just before we got to Fernando de Noronha. That’s Marie on
lookout and you can briefly see David hanging out at the end of the jib boom taking pictures. Notice the
color of the water!
Here are two of the pictures David took while he was out there on the end of the jib boom.
A nice little compendium of scenes from aboard the ship taken by Spenser’s Grandfather Hal while we
were at anchor at Mindelo.
I was on galley duty setting up the dishes along the rail as you can see
Check it out here.
Three minutes before the mast!
Here is a video I took from the Focsle head just before we got to Fernando de Noronha. That’s Marie on
lookout and you can briefly see David hanging out at the end of the jib boom taking pictures. Notice the
color of the water!
Here are two of the pictures David took while he was out there on the end of the jib boom.
 |
| In the Trade Winds By David Bellows |
 |
| Bowsprit Cap By David Bellows |
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Back home in Calgary for a bit. Mar 1-7,09
Sunday, March 1st, 2009
Flew back to Calgary via Barbados, then to Toronto with a 6 hour layover, then on to Calgary.
Quite a contrast between Grenada and Calgary!
From:
To: :-/
On the plus side I have a good Internet connection. :-)
Thanks for reading
KJ
Posted in Musings | No Comments »
Flew back to Calgary via Barbados, then to Toronto with a 6 hour layover, then on to Calgary.
Quite a contrast between Grenada and Calgary!
On the plus side I have a good Internet connection. :-)
Thanks for reading
KJ
Posted in Musings | No Comments »
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