Fri Jun 11 18:01:00 EDT 2010, Stonington, CT
We got a bunch of things done on the boat while waiting out the gale that was offshore. While there wasn't much wind in the harbor, the clouds looked interesting.
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Thu Jun 10 18:01:00 EDT 2010, Stonington, CT
Offshore, there was an easterly gale coming, so we went into the picturesque harbor of Stonington, CT and sat out the gale at anchor.
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Mon Jun 7 18:01:00 EDT 2010, Long Island Sound
After an all-too-brief visit to New York, and a short delay sitting out a cold front on the other side of the harbor, Issuma set off again. Aboard are myself, Chris, Gabriela and Ted. We motored around the Battery, through the East River to Long Island Sound, where we set sail on a beautiful day.
In the picture, Gabriela is filming the view of the sails aloft, ahead of Issuma is the marconi schooner Summerwind, heading northeast like we are.
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Here's a shot of Summerwind under full sail just off Kings Point, her home port.
http://georgeconk.blogspot.com/2010/03/summerwind-kings-points-new-flagship.html
Fri May 21 11:08:11 EDT 2010, New York, NY, USA
I've had no time to blog lately, because the sailing just got that busy. Also the Iridium satellite phone network apparently did a switch upgrade which had problems, so my email-at-sea connection has been and still is down.
After a short gale on the New Jersey coast, which kept me busy dodging fishing boats and wet from the many waves dumping aboard (the water is shallow, so the waves get high), the wind died out and I motored 40 miles to Gravesend Bay. There I anchored and slept for a few hours. The following day (yesterday), as the flood current started, a light wind came up and I sailed off the anchor in very pleasant conditions. The wind wasn't strong enough to take me all the way, so I motorsailed through the bay, and then sailed up the river, and anchored at 79 Street Boat Basin (they do not have moorings big enough for Issuma).
This morning I went through the US Customs & Border Protection entrance procedure at the Passenger Ship Terminal in Manhattan (it was too late to go there yesterday when I arrived), where the officers were very pleasant and helpful.
It's great to be back in New York, and it would be very nice to stay longer. My intentions are to buy a bunch of boat stuff here, make some repairs, take crew aboard and sail for Nova Scotia.
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How long will you be in port? Would love to stop by and say hello!
And whaddya know...! So, Welcome back Richard! Glad to know you're able to come up through Brazil coast line.
Cheers,
Mel
Mel
I heard thru the grapevine you were in town and it looks as if I may have missed you. Went by the boat basin Sunday to see Issuma. Are you close by or on your way North? Either way I wish you fair winds.
Best,
Scott
I am in New York for a few more days, working on the boat. Issuma is anchored north of 79th Street Boat Basin (they don't have a big enough mooring for her), around 98th Street.
Tue May 11 12:01:00 EDT 2010, Maceio, Alagoas, Brazil
The Jangada is steered with the oar in a kind-of-slot seen on the back of the boat. There is one of these slots on each side at the back of the boat, so tacking the boat involves moving the steering oar from one side to the other. The steering oar can be used standing up on the deck, or sitting on the blue steering seat.
The almost vertical blue poles are not part of the steering system (more on them later).
Ahead of the owner can be seen the blue fishing seat, with anchor ropes coiled on it. The fish box is below the fishing seat, the bait box (not shown) is ahead of the fishing seat.
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Mon May 10 12:01:00 EDT 2010, Maceio, Alagoas, Brazil
The mast is the unpainted vertical pole. The owner is holding the boom. The bottom of the mast is put into one of several holes (being pointed to) depending on wind strength and which side of the boat the wind is coming over. Since the sail can't really be reefed (made smaller), changing the mast rake (angle) is done to compensate somewhat for stronger winds.
The tack (lower front corner) of the sail is tied to one of the vertical blue poles that are part of the mast step.
Just behind the mast is the daggerboard trunk (the slot in the white wood).
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Sun May 9 14:02:00 EDT 2010, Maceio, Alagoas, Brazil
Jangada used for fishing, see below.
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Sun May 9 10:01:00 EDT 2010, Maceio, Alagoas, Brazil
This jangada is made of plywood (I understand they were originally made as log rafts), and is used for fishing. Hopefully the labels on the picture are readable. The blue chair aft of the Bait Box is where you sit when fishing. Under the blue fishing chair is a box where fish are stored. The blue bench at the stern (back) of the boat is where the jangada is steered from.
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Sat May 8 13:01:00 EDT 2010, Cabedelo, Paraiba, Brazil
Jangadas are traditional wooden sailboats still in use today, along the Northeast (and possibly Northwest--I didn't go there to see) coast of Brazil. This one is in the harbor of Cabedelo. Many jangadas are used to go fishing at sea.
Sails (and most parts of the boats) are generally made from whatever is available.
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Fri May 7 13:01:00 EDT 2010
Freighter Norasia Alya passing one mile astern.
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