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:
Visit our website at www.nineofcups.com for more photos and info about Nine of Cups and her crew. We also have a more extensive blogsite at www.justalittlefurther.com. Are some of our links broken? Links break from time to time. Please let us know which ones are broken and we'll fix them. You [...]
05 January 2017 | Chesapeake, VA
07 July 2016 | Us: East Walpole, MA / Cups: Chesapeake, VA
06 July 2016 | East Walpole, MA
04 July 2016 | East Walpole, MA
02 July 2016 | East Walpole, MA
01 July 2016 | Virginia Beach, Virginia
30 June 2016 | Chesapeake, VA
29 June 2016 | Chesapeake, VA
28 June 2016 | Intracoastal Waterway from St Augustine to Norfolk
27 June 2016 | Intracoastal Waterway from St Augustine to Norfolk
26 June 2016 | Intracoastal Waterway from St Augustine to Norfolk
25 June 2016 | Intracoastal Waterway from St Augustine to Norfolk
24 June 2016 | Intracoastal Waterway from St Augustine to Norfolk
23 June 2016 | Intracoastal Waterway from St Augustine to Norfolk
22 June 2016 | Intracoastal Waterway from St Augustine to Norfolk
21 June 2016 | Intracoastal Waterway from St Augustine to Norfolk
20 June 2016 | Charleston, South Carolina, USA
19 June 2016 | Charleston, South Carolina, USA
18 June 2016 | Intracoastal Waterway from St Augustine to Norfolk
17 June 2016 | Intracoastal Waterway from St Augustine to Norfolk
Recent Blog Posts
05 January 2017 | Chesapeake, VA

Happy 2017!

Happy New Year, Everyone!

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, [...]

Brew-meister at work

14 October 2012 | Kettering, TAS
Marcie
As if the boat is not already torn apart enough with the battery load testing/charging/equalizing process going on … oh, yes, that's still in process … David decided to make beer today. He's been making beer since we arrived in Australia last November. We initially decided to make our own beer because 1) even inexpensive beer in Australia is very expensive (US$50+/case); 2) beer kits are easy to find and fairly inexpensive in Australia probably because of #1 above, which appeals to our frugal mindsets; 3) it was a fun challenge on a rocking boat and something we'd never tried before; and first and foremost, 4) we like drinking beer.

He gathered together all the ingredients. It's pretty much a kit, but this still took over an hour since things got “put away” six months ago when we left for the States and now finding them again is challenging... some things may never be found. The notion of having a new batch of beer was incentive enough for him to root around and eventually find everything he needed. It wasn't hard to locate the 27 liter/7 gallon plastic cauldron in which he mixes his brew though. It's pretty hard to lose something that big. As he added boiling water to the brew mix and yeast , it foamed up and the steam rose and he looked more and more like a warlock brewing something other than beer. I half expected eye of newt and a few desiccated frogs to be added, but I was disappointed. He's brewing an Australian Pale Ale this time, but there are lots of “flavors” to choose from.

A yeasty smell overtook the boat … overpowering even the smell of the bilge. A pleasant, earthy, bread-ish smell conjured up images of Oktoberfest. He moved the 20 liters of anti-fouling paint, which has been resident beside the mast, to the forward cabin, so he could make room for the 7-gallon plastic container containing the brew. We really need a few more things on the sole next to the mast. There's not nearly enough to trip over yet.

Mixing the yeast and brew mix together is pretty much all there is to it. Now we wait for a week or so. The specific gravity (an indicator of alcohol level) will be tested after that time and once it remains the same for two days in a row, it's ready to be bottled. It will sit another week or so in the bottles and then it'll be ready to drink. Might be done in time for Hallowe'en. You're certainly invited aboard for a taste.

Not spilling or kicking over the 7 gallon container of brew is also key to the process. So far...so good.
Comments

About & Links

SailBlogs Groups
SailBlogs Friends
LONG WHITE CLOUD
Leu Cat
Carinthia
SANGARIS
Migaloo
Asylum
Tiger Lilly
Thorfinn
Hello World
Halekai
Tender Spirit
Valiam
Talacam
MACCABEE
Annecam
HooRoo
Echo Echo