Sailing with Nine of Cups
| Vessel Name: | Nine of Cups |
| Vessel Make/Model: | Liberty 458 |
| Hailing Port: | Denver, Colorado, USA |
| Crew: | Marcie & David |
| About: | We've lived aboard Nine of Cups since 2000 and have managed to accumulate 86,000+ nm under the keel since that time. We completed a circumnavigation in April 2015 and managed to sail around the five great southern capes. Come along with us for the ride! |
| Extra: |
07 July 2016 | Us: East Walpole, MA / Cups: Chesapeake, VA
Taking a breather ...
Since we'll be off the boat during July and August, we plan to post only three times per week. The Captain will continue writing a practical Blue View post each week, we'll keep you up to date on what's happening with us and then throw in some cruising nuggets as well.
06 July 2016 | East Walpole, MA
Keeping fit
We’ve written before about keeping fit on the boat. David is so much better at a regimented exercise program than I am. I have all the best intentions, but I can always think of something better to do than sit-ups, push-ups, leg lifts and running in place. It doesn’t take much to distract me. Walking, [...]
04 July 2016 | East Walpole, MA
Happy 240th Birthday, America
Growing up in New England, I took for granted just how lovely a summer’s morning can be in Massachusetts. It’s comfortably cool and everything smells clean and fresh. Spider webs glisten with morning dew and it’s just great to be alive and breathe in the new day. Being back at Lin’s house conjures up wonderful childhood memories of summer mornings past. And this is not just any morning … it’s the 4th of July, the best holiday of the summertime in the USA.
02 July 2016 | East Walpole, MA
Leaving Cups and a Road Trip
Leaving Nine of Cups is never easy. We know she’ll pout while we’re gone and so we do our best to make sure she’s as comfortable as possible before we leave. We were whirling dervishes trying to get everything ready.
01 July 2016 | Virginia Beach, Virginia
Hunting & Gathering - Virginia Beach
We had lots to do before leaving Cups. David was intent on getting as many chores done in advance of our departure as possible so that once we return in September, we can spend time sailing in the Chesapeake rather than doing repairs and maintenance. Much of what we needed in the way of parts and supplies, [...]
Friggaphobia
Evidently, the Norse goddess Frigga, for whom Friday is named, was considered lucky until the Christians changed all that by convincing everyone she was a witch and subsequently, Friday became an unlucky day. Not just Friday the 13th, any Friday was considered unlucky and not just for boats....for getting married, for moving, for haircuts, even for doing laundry. It's a good day for hanging and convening a coven though.
The superstition was so firmly entrenched with sailors that there's an urban myth floating around that the British navy went to great lengths trying to dispel this notion and allay the sailors' fears. In the 19th century, the British Admiralty commissioned the building of a new ship, the HMS Friday. Her keel was laid on a Friday; they launched her on a Friday; her captain was James Friday and she set sail on her maiden voyage on a Friday. And she was never heard from again. Just disappeared off the face of the earth.
Actually, according to records, there was never a Captain James Friday in the British navy and there was never a ship named the HMS Friday, but it's a great story, isn't it? Or … is this just a conspiracy to cover up the misadventures which occur on Fridays? Makes no difference, we don't haul on Fridays.
Anyhow, when I talked to Phil, the marina owner, his response to my request for a new date was “Oh, it's a Friday, is it? Even the farmers around here won't plant on Fridays. No worries. We'll do it Thursday.”
Whew...another catastrophe avoided.
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