Gone With The Wind

Vessel Name: White Wings
Vessel Make/Model: Catalina
Hailing Port: Mount Pleasant, SC
Crew: Laurie and Frank Thigpen
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Recent Blog Posts
28 July 2021

Travel to Tashmoo Lake

We departed Marblehead and motor sailed to Plymouth, MA. As we were sailing past Boston and down the coast, we couldn't help but notice the haze. Then, when we were anchoring, we saw this incredible SUN. This is not your typical "red sky at night, as sailor's delight". It looked more like a rising full [...]

26 July 2021

Marblehead

As I mentioned, Marblehead has become one of our favorite cruising destinations this year. We arrived Saturday) of their big "Race Week". We knew it was going to be crowded and we also new that it was going to be rainy on Sunday. So, we dropped the DINGHY in the water, mounted the engine, changed our [...]

24 July 2021

Isle of Shoals

So, we left Maine today (sniff). We spent our last night in Isle of Shoals. It's a wonderful little atoll about 10 miles off the coast. A couple of the islands are in Maine and a couple of the islands are in NEW HAMPSHIRE!

22 July 2021

This Ole Boat

Old is a relative term. Twenty eight years old doesn't sound too bad by my standards, but for a sailboat that has spent its 28 years in the corrosive environment of salt water, 28 years is older than dirt! Everything metallic (think engine, transmission, mast, cooktop, oven etc, etc) is subject to corrosion [...]

21 July 2021

Final Trolls

21 July 2021

Trolls

Travel to Tashmoo Lake

28 July 2021
Laurie Thigpen
We departed Marblehead and motor sailed to Plymouth, MA. As we were sailing past Boston and down the coast, we couldn't help but notice the haze. Then, when we were anchoring, we saw this incredible SUN. This is not your typical "red sky at night, as sailor's delight". It looked more like a rising full moon, than a setting sun. We learned the next morning that it was caused by the tremendous wild fires on the West Coast. Can you believe it?

We were thrilled with the beaches in Plymouth! I wish I had gotten a pic, but we didn't bring our phones with us when we went ashore. However, they were just beautiful and ALMOST warm enough to swim in. We took a looong walk along the beach, to the end of the island and all we could keep saying was, "It looks so much like the Pensacola Pass scene".

We had timed our departure from Plymouth so that we would reach the Cape Cod Canal at the peak tidal current time. In this situation the water in the canal is flowing like a fast river and we are carried along by its force. It's quite fun and doubles our speed thru the 8 mile canal. We spent that night in Onset and were awakened in the dark of night by howling wind and rain. The boat nearest us had dragged his anchor and he was fighting to get control of the situation. His boat passed within 6 feet of ours and I was sure his dragging anchor would pull our's up off the sea bed. It did not happen but I stayed up for an hour as the poor guy tried again and again to re-anchor his boat. Finally he did get it to hold and we were able to retire to our cozy bed.

We sailed on to Hadley's harbor (all owned by the Forbes family) but there was no room so we opted to try a new place we had heard about - Lake Tashmoo on Martha's Vineyard. More on that for the next edition!

Marblehead

26 July 2021
Laurie Thigpen
As I mentioned, Marblehead has become one of our favorite cruising destinations this year. We arrived Saturday) of their big "Race Week". We knew it was going to be crowded and we also new that it was going to be rainy on Sunday. So, we dropped the DINGHY in the water, mounted the engine, changed our clothes and went to Mass in record time! It was a beautiful afternoon and goodness knows, we needed the walk. We went from Mass to our favorite restaurant, The Barnacle, and then strolled around the beautiful town.
Yesterday was spent doing boat chores and waiting for the rain to stop. I have to confess, it's not bad doing laundry here. It's a waterfront, airconditioned facility. I was able to shower, do laundry and then chat with a friend (or two!) on the phone while watching the rain come down on the harbor! Not bad!
This morning we went on a walking tour of the beautiful historic district. Marblehead has quite an interesting history. Ask Frank all about it. I've already forgotten most of what was said!!! The pic is taken on Lee Street looking up at "Abbott Hall" in the background.

Isle of Shoals

24 July 2021
Laurie Thigpen
So, we left Maine today (sniff). We spent our last night in Isle of Shoals. It's a wonderful little atoll about 10 miles off the coast. A couple of the islands are in Maine and a couple of the islands are in NEW HAMPSHIRE!
We are retracing our path from a couple of months ago. Remember the spot that I loved so much on a river that had white sand beaches at the southern end? Well, we went back through it this morning. It was a picture perfect summer Saturday and the place was packed!!! There was so much boat traffic, that I couldn't get a pic because I needed to help Frank navigate. It was absolutely nuts!
We anchored in Marblehead which has become our new favorite cruising destination!
Picture is of the lighthouse at The Isle of Shoals

This Ole Boat

22 July 2021
Laurie Thigpen
Old is a relative term. Twenty eight years old doesn't sound too bad by my standards, but for a sailboat that has spent its 28 years in the corrosive environment of salt water, 28 years is older than dirt! Everything metallic (think engine, transmission, mast, cooktop, oven etc, etc) is subject to corrosion and sudden failure. On our way to Maine, one of the key blocks (think pulley) that controls the position of the mainsail failed totally. After some frantic searching and calling we got ahold of one of the senior folks at the company that made the original block in Oregon (Gauhauer). Amazingly, they agreed to make one up for us on the spot! Can you imagine that! 28 years ago, they sold a block to a boat building company called Catalina and now, all this time later they were agreeing to make one for us and put it in the mail for delivery further up our route (Salem, MA). Not only that, but when we arrived in Salem, we could not approach the marina where the block was delivered, due to shallow water. The marina folk immediately put one of their dock staff members in a launch and ran the box out to us. So many people who just want to help out. It does your heart good! You'd think that fighting old parts and corrosion was enough to deal with, but you have to add in the access factor. You can't get to anything without removing something, a substantial portion of some shelf, bulkhead, bed or water tank just to get to the problem. This makes it hard to diagnose a problem and then fix it. I often end upside down in a small hatch trying to fit a new part into some system such as the engine exhaust. On this trip we had our engine exhaust system fail, the propeller drive shaft fall off the transmission, the mainsheet block mentioned above, the auto pilot, the electrical connections to the refrigerator, the 5hp outboard motor and many other items too small to mention. Thank goodness for the internet and good mail delivery as they are our lifeline to find these old discontinued parts. All in all though, it is not a bad trade off to have to work on the old boat while swinging at anchor in some remote cove in Maine! Ah, the tough life!

Final Trolls

21 July 2021
Laurie Thigpen

Trolls

21 July 2021
Laurie Thigpen
White Wings's Photos - Main
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Created 20 January 2016

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