04 June 2012
No sailing this weekend, but we did manage to get the port side toerail sanded with 2 coats of sealer. Now if this rain would stop I could move on to varnish...
Block Island Shake Down
28 May 2012
With hurried preparations last week, Elixir was ready to go for its shakedown cruise - an ambitious one to Block Island - even though we only had half the toe rail varnished. Friday night we sailed from Pirate's Cove Marina, where she was splashed to Third Beach Newport, our usual take off point. There we met up with Jammin' and the Eslingers. Thankfully Mike was ready with his air horn, as dense fog made finding Jammin' an interesting task, but we connected and rafted up for the night. Saturday we headed to the Block at 8:30, still in fog with wind on the nose, our autopilot malfunctioning and our wind indicator spinning in circles. We motor-sailed for a while, connected with Toodeloo via radio, and finally turning off the engine by lunchtime, and arrived Block Island about 5 and anchored with winds building. Unfortunately while we were inflating the dinghy, the wind caught the edge of our not-perfectly-furled jib and began to unwind it from the middle. We had a devil of a time trying to unfurl and re-furl a few times in 22 knots of wind, but at least we entertained the harbor in the process. At last, Toodeloo announced cookies and cocktails and we headed over for a raucous night with good friends. Sunday was for chillin' on the island, and Monday we set sail for home, again with dense fog and very light wind. Visibility about 1/4 to 1/2 mile. We tried to set spinnaker and had a halyard malfunction, causing the sail to land in the water. We quickly hauled it in before it got caught under the keel. Fog finally lifted by lunchtime and we had a lovely broad reach through the sound to the mouth of the Sakonnet River. All in all, a productive AND fun shakedown cruise. Time to go make a list of things to be fixed.
We're in!
24 May 2012
Brought the sails over to the yard last night and found Elixir had been splashed! We managed to get the main and lazy jacks on before darkness and mosquitos set in. One step closer to getting to Block Island for Memorial Day Weekend.
New Beginning
19 April 2012 | Tiverton
As another sailing season begins, Jammin' and Toodeloo have inspired (read: shamed) me to start blogging. Looking forward to a summer full of adventure.