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, [...]
Ushuaia - Bottom of the World
Originally built by the Argentines as a penal colony for their worst prisoners (political and otherwise) at the “uttermost part of the earth”, this lovely little city with a backdrop of the scenic Martial mountain range, is a welcome respite for cruisers sailing down the Patagonian canals and an exciting destination place for land travelers.
Ushuaia is a great jumping off spot for trips to Antarctica, sails around infamous Cape Horn and treks for mountaineers and hikers. The city itself and nearby areas, however, also offer lots to see and do. The well-developed tourist infrastructure provides lots of hotels, backpackers' lodges, restaurants and tour opportunities. You can get there by boat like we did or via plane (like we also did) or bus.
The old prison now houses a great museum highlighting the native Yamana people, early Argentine and British settlers and the prison colony itself. We particularly enjoyed the inexpensive “tenedor libre” restaurants, literally translated as “free fork”, but actually all-you-can-eat restaurants, offering fine Argentine beef and lamb as part of the sumptuous fare. We watched tango shows, drank Argentine wine (try the Malbecs) and tried calafate berry ice cream. Get your passport stamped at the tourist bureau proving you've visited the “southernmost city in the world”.
Close by is Tierra del Fuego National Park which can be reached by highway, train (Tren del Fin del Mundo) or by boat into Lapataia Bay. Birdlife and marine life are abundant with penguins, orcas and seals easily identified in the Beagle Channel. There are tours galore.
Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse sits proudly in the Beagle Channel and is supposedly the most photographed lighthouse in South America.
We also anchored in beautiful Bahia Relegada just off the Beagle Channel in order to visit Estancia Harberton, an historic “ranch” dating from 1886 which included Museo Acatushun, famous for its interesting collection of skeletons, primarily marine mammals and birds of the area. Originally built by the Bridges' family, the ranch is still owned and operated by Tommy Goodall, great-grandson of Thomas Bridges. You don't have to sail there; there are tours available or you can drive yourself from Ushuaia.
If you want to read a first-hand account of life in Tierra del Fuego back in the 1940's, read The Uttermost Part of the Earth by Lucas Bridges. It's hard to find, but still available. We also found Lonely Planet Argentina a terrific guide.
A word about calafate berries. They're native to the area and legend has it if you eat them, you'll return one day. We thought this improbable, but I'll be darned if we didn't return to Ushuaia to help a friend move his boat to Uruguay the following year. So be careful what you eat!
Lots more beautiful pix at www.justalittlefurther.com
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