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, [...]
Day 3 - Cape Town to Luderitz
A quiet night, one ship is all the AIS picked up and it was so far off, I could barely pick it out visually. The setting moon around 0615 was an amazing orange globe in a pitch black sky that seemed to just plop down beyond the horizon, heavy and tired from being out all night.
With the icy Antarctic wind came a biting cold that left me numb after my watch. The waves had increased and we were bouncing around with them. Why not stay below where it's warm? Well, seasickness finally got to me with its signature headache followed by nausea. The Stugeron obviously worked since I wasn't yacking, but I felt miserable and being cold and topside trumped being warm and nauseous and awake below.
When I climbed into the bunk for my 1500 nap, my head was pounding �... think migraine. David made dinner at 1800 and gave me another half watch to sleep. What a guy! I felt much recovered when I took over the watch at 1930. I think he wasn't feeling all that well himself since I saw him take another Stugeron as well. We do take care of each other and I must admit that extra half watch and the captain's dinner service was just what the doctor ordered. During this watch, we passed the entrance to the Orange River and entered into Namibian waters.
David's new prop generator is doing a great job. We're getting an extra 8+ amps just sailing along and it's keeping up with the electronics power drain just like it was intended to. In fact, he had to shut off the wind gen earlier because we had too many amps coming in! I'm sure he'll tell you about it in a BV in the near future.
Despite my whinging about the cold, the cabin has stayed warm AND we're making good time. We're hoping that the wind continues as predicted.
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