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! |
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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, [...]
St. Helena to French Guiana - Day 14
A crappy night watch. It rained and poured throughout the night. It's stuffy down below when it's all closed up, and it was definitely stuffy as I groused through my watch, waiting for the rain to quit. A ship appeared out of nowhere just after midnight...the Yeun Hrong, apparently bound for Brazil. The AIS/CPA alarm went crazy, shattering the calm of a brief respite between showers. Cups was bobbing and bouncing and sometimes it appeared the ship was on a collision course (loud, annoying alarm) and other times showing it would pass 3 miles away. The CPA alarm alternated to distraction with the wind vane alarm advising me that there'd been a wind shift. No peace, no quiet, no contemplation, no stargazing. The ship passed within 2.5 miles, but it took forever. Finally, though, I was able to sit for a few minutes topside in peace and quiet..
Something was clunking below...the strainer in the sink was rolling around. Then, a can was loose in a locker and the tea kettle was rattling against the side of the stove top. It's amazing that we can no longer hear the whir of the spinning prop shaft or the sing-song cry of the autopilot, but let a new instrument join the orchestra, and it drives us nuts.
The rain stopped, the wind shifted and we were heading away from the Equator instead of towards it. Other than reefing, we rarely make major sail changes during the night...like re-rigging the pole. If a change is required, it waits till morning. Neither of us slept well on our off-watches. And then, a new, resplendent day dawned, the wind behaved and clocked more southerly, we were on course again and all thoughts of a crappy night were forgotten (except in this blog).
A little housekeeping was in order today. For short passages, we wait till we arrive at a new destination, but during longer passages, things get out of hand if we don't keep up. The night showers had loosened up more of the Luderitz dust and grime, and the cockpit needed a wipe down. Some dusting, sweeping and general tidying up down below did wonders.
The highlight of the day? We 're half way to French Guiana! We 're sailing almost parallel to the Equator, at just under 2 degrees south. It's only about 100 miles north now, but on our present course, it will still take couple of days to cross it. Good it's not too close, they'd be too much to celebrate all at one time. We like to spread out the partying a bit. Surprisingly, the trades are still with us, though less strong. The ITCZ is evidently further north enjoying the vestiges of the Northern summer.
As for us? It's Half Way Alfredo with smoked trout for dinner tonight to celebrate.
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