Captains Log Nina

Vessel Name: Nina
Vessel Make/Model: Classic Schooner 1928
Hailing Port: Panama City Florida
Crew: Captain David, Rosemary and David Nelson Dyche Also Tom Cremean, Tom Stockpole and Monica Jacobs and a Good friend Brad Hiller when ever he can join us.
About: Captain David, Rosemary and David Nelson are sailing there private yacht around the world on a four year journey
Extra:
Nina was built by Paul Hammond in 1928 for the King and Queen Cup of Spain. She sail against the famous schooners like the Atlantic. She then sailed to England and won the Fastnet Race. She has had one longest racing records in history. The following is a true account of an adventure story of [...]
23 June 2009 | Colon Panama
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23 June 2009 | Colon Panama

First Leg

It is a beautiful winter afternoon sailing down the coast off New Jersey, with 30 knots of wind on the starboard quarter, racing along at 8 to 10 knots under storm sails. A storm trysail, main staysail and a storm jib, a safe combination under these conditions.

First Leg

23 June 2009 | Colon Panama
Captain David A. Dyche III
It is a beautiful winter afternoon sailing down the coast off New Jersey, with 30 knots of wind on the starboard quarter, racing along at 8 to 10 knots under storm sails. A storm trysail, main staysail and a storm jib, a safe combination under these conditions.

The wind was coming out of the same direction as the sun, with long shadows and the spindrift shinning in the sun. The typical crispness and sharpness to the air of a high pressure after a frontal passage. No place to be in December, but circumstances are what they are. Our departure was delayed by preparation, ship yard duties and the need to say good bye to good friends.

We had perfect departure out of New York Harbor and Sandy Hook, maximum ebb and a strong northwester setting in, making way at 14 knots out through the narrows.

Five miles out at sea the waves were running high and the lingering tendency to sail father off the wind. By night fall, there was a high seaway running and the temperatures were dropping.

We had experienced cold weather already and were adapted to it. The first night out of New London, there was a over whelming doubt of the validity of sailing this time of the year. After a late start in the afternoon, we left sailing down Long Island sound, bound for City Island. It was dark, snowing and the wind blowing right on the nose. The tides were with us and against us as we made our way down Long Island Sound.

The morning arrived with the wind hard on the nose. We were trying to make a safe haven before a strong winter storm was going to hit us. With Huntington Harbor to port, it seemed like the best place. Bountiful hillsides and large mansion and of course all white with snow. The wind was going to blow out of the south around 40 knots and it had already started its rampage upon us. This was as far as we were going to get. Nina has a 150 lp fisherman and 300' 3/8 chain for 59 foot of vessel. Quite adequate for the circumstances.

Snugly tuck under the lee, we found rocky bottom in twenty feet of water. To make this short, it came to blow so hard that night that we violently swung on our anchor so hard that I was doubtful everything. If we were to break anchor then we would never be able to steer the boat back up into the wind to set another. Under these circumstances' I could only start the engine and have the crew ready. After an hour or so the feeling of stability set in. We stood down and hoped for the best. I was able to determine that the winds were accelerated by the hills and valley of the area. Evan with good ground tackle we dragged over a hundred and fifty yards.

Back to the Jersey Coast and our sleigh ride south. We were overhauling a large tug and barge unit out of New York heading south. It seem that we were both enjoying the opportunity to get south with the prevailing northwester. It was our plan to catch a cold front and take advantage of the two days or so that it would blow in our favor.

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