13.07.2008, Tied up at Yankee Boatyard, Yarmouth, ME
As I will have to disconnect our SSB antenna (read: insulated backstay) tomorrow in preparation for unstepping Namani's mast, this will likely be the last blog post from aboard Namani (at least for this trip - more wrap-up to follow once we're land-locked again). We had nice afternoon sail last Thursday up to Yarmouth on the Royal River where we are now tied up at the Yankee Boatyard (again a very likeable family business). Since Thursday we've been busy getting Namani ready for haul-out and storage on the hard - freshwater washing all sails and about half a mile of lines and running rigging, plus all anchors and chains, cleaning all the nooks and crannies, ...
Despite all the clean-up we're very happy to be "back home" on Namani again, even though it will only be for a few more days. We'll have a sailmaker take measurements tomorrow morning (it's Sunday evening now) for a new suit of sails (main plus #1 and #2 genoa) which we will need before we do any more extensive cruising aboard Namani again. Haul-out will likely be on Tuesday.
Aside from all boat business we've also fallen in love with Yarmouth - a beautiful little town. We've slowly started running again two weeks ago (after a year no aerobic exercise...) - first on Peaks Island and now in Yarmouth - and every time we set out from the boatyard here we find some new little treasure around the town.
Back in Gibraltar, Peter Crouch from "Jenny" had called Namani a "tough little boat" - which is definitely the way we've come to think of her and like her. Provided we can ascertain over the next two weeks that she still is "structurally sound", we will look forward to ready her again for some extended cruising in a "few" years time. Stay tuned...
PS: Picture above shows our well worn German ensign which just made it to Yarmouth before fully disintegrating...
| 04 - Puerto Rico to Maine |
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09.07.2008, Moored off Peaks Island
We have had a busy two weeks in Maine so far - mostly with family and friends. We have delayed and delayed hauling Namani out and instead spent our time doing short, fun harbor sails with cousins, guests, nieces, nephews, uncles from age 4 to 72. Portland harbor is a beautiful place with stone 1800's forts, and the near islands of Casco Bay are our home waters, the place where I learned to sail. My father loved sailing (and dreamed of doing a trip like we have just completed) and it always fell to him to sail Portland harbor and the islands with his cousins, nieces, or guests on board. Now we have the boat, we host the rides, and we coach the little ones as they take their turn at the wheel. So in a way the torch has been passed. It is sad that my father (who died 24 years ago without fulfilling his biggest sailing dreams) can't join us on Namani, but he was aboard in my thoughts throughout our trip and a major inspiration to go, and go now.
When we first came to Maine two weeks ago, we had more or less completed our planned route, but we were eager for one last mini cruise to the northern end of Casco Bay. "Aren't you dying to get off your boat?" asked one person, incredulous. Well, no, actually; I am dying NOT to get off my boat! The other question we hear a lot of is "How was your trip?" 10,000 miles at about 5 knots makes for many varied impressions. The quick answer we all settle for is "Good" or "Great!" I suppose reading the entries to this blog would provide the longer, more thorough answer to that question. Malta, Arearea, Gibraltar, Sea Bright, the Grenadines, US East Coast - where to begin? We have been lucky to have this fantastic year, and, may I say, smart to have done it. I don't think we will regret the fact that we might never own a house or that our retirement savings didn't grow over the past year. What we do own is precious experiences, what did grow were our family bonds.
Tomorrow we will sail Namani to Yarmouth and ready her for storage until we are ready for our next trip, which I hope is sooner rather than later. We will write our last blogs (for the moment!) from there soon.
| 04 - Puerto Rico to Maine |
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25.06.2008, Anchored off Snow Island, Casco Bay - 43-49N 069-54W
After two days on Peaks Island we used the nice weather today for a sail a little further north and are now anchored off Snow Island in Casco Bay. It's very beautiful and quiet up here - definitely among the the nicest places we have dropped the hook in. There is a group of 12 seals hanging out on a rock that's awash at low tide about 30 meters from our boat.
This spot is also said to have the warmest water in Casco Bay (at 15-16�C that's a very relative statement...) so Nicky and Papa even braved a swim... Unfortunately, the weather is expected to get worse again before summer finally arrives so we may just head back to Peaks tomorrow and start to get the boat ready for haul-out next week. Stay tuned...
| 04 - Puerto Rico to Maine |
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