Spencer
05/20/2012, Dismal Swamp Lock

We were there...

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Spencer
05/20/2012, NC

A shot from the Dismal Swamp.

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Spencer
05/19/2012, Neuse Harbor Marine

Work has started with the removal of the outboard motor. The plate attached to the motor that holds the throttle cable and steering attachment was very loose. I broke both of the bolts while trying to removed them, so now the motor is removed and I will attempt to drill out the broken bolts and get the plate attached tightly. I will also bring the motor to a local Honda dealer to have it checked out and have some maintenance completed.

We also learned that Mozzie is 17 feet wide, not 16.1 as the seller thought. We were very lucky to be able to haul out at the yard close to our house. We only had a couple inches on each side - just enough to get the straps from the lift underneath.

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Sperncer
05/17/2012

Mozzie in the sling... scary!

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Spencer
05/17/2012

It turns out that Mozzie is not 16.1 feet wide... but 17!

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Spencer
05/16/2012, Sandy Point

Now begins another refit...haul out tomorrow

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Spencer
05/16/2012, New Bern

Here are some of the highlights from our fantastic trip aboard Te Mozzie from Annapolis to New Bern over 8 days.


Dragging Anchor on our first night
Sailing at 13 knots with long bursts of speed up to 18 knots all day long
Watching the port ama (bow) go through a 6 foot wave at 18knots - completely underwater!
Drifting in the Chesapeake Sea Lane for over an hour with no wind and a failed engine
Hitting a branch hanging over the Dismal Swamp Canal with the mast
Engine failure when a large fish got jammed in the prop in the Dismal Swamp
Joining in Prom Pictures while tied up in Elizabeth City
Crashing a waterfront wedding in Elizabeth City
Tacking into 15 knot winds and 3 - 4 foot seas at 3.5 knots with our little 15 horse outboard going wide open and our sails in very tight all day long
Getting attacked by large, vicious, biting flies while motoring down the ICW
Dealing with water in our fuel and a failing engine again and again
Waking up to a swarm of mosquitos, 5 knots of wind and the engine wouldn't start... we sailed out of there at 3 knots in 5 knots of wind
Snagging not 1, not 2, but 6 crab pots during the trip - one broke the depth and speed sending units - making anchoring a bit more difficult
Sailing at 10 knots up the Neuse River in flat water on our final day with 80's music playing loudly
Anchoring in front of my house

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Kathleen
05/05/2012, New Bern, NC

Well! Hello there! I know we have just left you all hanging out there in Vicarious sailing land, but we didn't want to jinx the buying of our NEW BOAT!!!

Yes, we have taken the plunge and with a boat loan purchased a unique boat called a G-Force Catamaran, only 7 built and it is FAST!

We got a great price and she needs a refit, but since it is more simple than Vicarious in every way, (ex., no thru-hulls!), we won't lose our shirts. The 4 years of back breaking work we did on Vicarious will make working on Mozzie seem easy...I hope!

We applied for a mooring permit, had our neighbors sign off on the plan, the state guy came out we handed him a small one-time only check and now we are waiting for the three 200# pyramid moorings that S will tie together with thick chain to keep our new 6,500 pound boat from dragging in the frequent 30-40 knot winds we see here on the Neuse! It may be time soon to hook up some wind generators out on the dock the winds are so frequent these days!

SO, now we need to keep you all, our Vicarious friends, in the loop! We closed on her yesterday on Chalk Point in MD, near Annapolis. She has been stored up on a lift for 10 years. She was built in 1993. Spencer is going to be going back up there on Tuesday with our friend Jay who just got his captain's license and wants the delivery experience, ( how perfect is that:-??), and they will bring her down in about a week's time. Spencer has lists and lists of lists to make the journey as uneventful as possible, but even thinking of every contingency doesn't guarantee that something may not break down, so he has back ups to the back ups and if those don't work there is always unlimited towing from Boat US! ;-)

I, in the meantime will be painting full time. I got into the Village Gallery in Oriental and need to come up with 5 new pieces every month! Whatever paintings don't sell you may be seeing them on Etsy and the subjects all, for the most part, are from our 18 month trip from NC to Maine to Grenada to Maine and back to New Bern NC. I have to say I am THRILLED to have a home base and an art room where I can realize one of MY dreams!

Spencer is still thinking of going around the world, now on Mozzie, but not for a few years. I will join him here and there, but that is HIS dream and we are both determined to each live our respective dreams together and looking forward to the adventures they will bring!!

This is going to be so much fun!!!

Stay tuned, dear ones!

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Spencer
04/11/2012, New Bern - Oriental

Vicarious sails tomorrow!

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Spencer
03/12/2012

Vicarious will be in the Oriental Boat Show! If you would like to get up close and personal with the boat that is featured in the Sail Vicarious DVD series, we will be on display and providing tours and more at the Oriental, NC Boat Show, April 13 - 15.

http://www.orientalboatshow.com/

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