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, [...]

Luderitz to St. Helena - Day 11

31 August 2015 | Enroute to St. Helena, South Atlantic
Marcie
Day 11 - 252 nm to go

A rip-roaring night of strong winds and big seas that tossed us around like a toy boat in a bathtub with a toddler making waves. A full moon gazed down on us from a clear, star-filled sky. Waves broke over the side, dousing the on-watch crew with ice cold sea water. Down below was no place to be unless you were snug in a bunk. In contrast to the still, warm afternoon, these 25-30 knot winds were cold and penetrating. We recovered the layers we'd shed and bundled up once again.

On a broad reach, the wind smacked us hard in the face and our eyes teared up constantly. With a brilliant moon illuminating the seas, we could see the building waves coming at us, their frothy, white-capped crests rising and breaking, and then the loud, nerve-wracking thud as they crashed into the hull. Cups would hesitate and shudder for a moment like a boxer shaking off a well-placed right hook, then get back to her course. To add to the merriment of the evening, it showered off and on, BUT we were at last covering some miles. And then a grey dawn broke and the wind settled down to 15-18 knots. The sea maintained its waves and chop till late morning, then it, too, cooperated in getting us on our way a bit more comfortably, though with a definite chill.

Much of our time lately has been consumed with long chats about our future because after getting across the Atlantic and eventually up to the Carib, we have no plans. This is unlike us. We usually have a zillion plans which admittedly change frequently, but we do have plans. Big world, so many things to see and places to go. We've considered heading to Europe ..expensive and crowded, but it's Europe. Or maybe hanging out in the Carib for awhile...visiting Cuba now that it's legal for Americans or spending time in Central America. Of course, we could head through the Canal again and cross the Pacific, the easy way this time...on the Coconut Milk Run and end up in Asia. Or maybe just head up to the States for awhile and enjoy easy sailing on the East Coast and up to Maritime Canada. Then what?

We're not getting any younger, but we're healthy and not feeling all that old. We're pretty blessed and we know it. There's still some sailing years left in us and in Cups. David said it so well the other day ...sailing on Cups defines who and what we are right now. Closing that chapter on life isn't something we could easily do. So stay tuned...we'll figure it all out.

In the meantime, with any luck, we should be in St. Helena in two days.
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