Today is the start of a new journey
21 June 2012 | Port of Darlington
Sunny and Hot
We started with looking at sailboats in the water and in ports just about 5 years ago. It started like a dream, watching boats sail past, wondering where they were sailing to, what adventures are they in store for? It starts like that, then you find yourself looking at any and every boat. Then for the past two years it almost consumed us. Looking at every sailboat you see for sale. Heck I would even record a thirty minute TV show called "Distant Shores" a show all about a couple from the Toronto area sailing around the world. It was all about sailing, it's like a calling.
And it all comes down to this, today. Today is LAUNCHING DAY!! Today is the day, dreams become reality, today is the start of a new life. The boat hauler "Greg " from On Shore Boat hauling will be here in a couple hours. After a marathon of painting and small repairs, Goin Baroque will be in the water this afternoon. What a journey. I can't even begin to tell you the feeling.
So somethings we know will be a problem today, I have no electronics yet. I have to see where the prev. owner left off. I called the Prev. owners best friend Tek to ask about some of the newer installs that were not completed. as it turns out all the navigation is brand new and Colin was just about to hook it to power when he passed. I have his plans that he was following and I have most of everything needed to finish, just need the masts up to connect to the system and power up. Simple? we will see. I have painted all the blue trim ( hence my new smurf look) I have 4 coats of varnish on the toe rail and bow spit, (Admiral really like the wood work) I did not get the white paint done (this can be done while in the slip). Engine fluids checked and greased, the Admiral has the cabin put back in place and start packing some of our things away. I need to put the anchors in the cockpit, remove the green paint tape fill the water (100 gals) and wait for the hauler. Yes friends, today is launch day, perhaps one of the most exciting days in our lives.
This has been one of the wildest journeys that we have been on, but the funny thing, I am sure there will be wilder things ahead, but today, this tops the ranks.
Stay tuned to see what happens today, I will update tonight. Until then,
Fair Winds
Bill
It's launch day
18 June 2012 | Cavan, Ontario
Rain, go figure. Just becaue I need to paint.
Ok, so I just confirmed with Greg the boat hauler, and it is Thursday morning. Thursday is just a few days away to finish everything that has been started. In forty short God lovin hours, I need to finish the top side paint, one more coat of blue and two coats of white. Re-sand the tow rail and give it two coats perhaps three. Check masts and make sure rigging is good. Do one coat of bottom paint, we figure there are still two coats on it now. And all that in 40 hours. Not to mention we need to provision the boat as well. We gave our notice here so it will be live aboard in a month and a half. So it is putting our stuff onboard now rather than have to do it by the car load. Oh yeah, the Admiral needs surgery July 5th for a blocked femoral artery in Peterborough, so worried? yes perhaps I am just a little. So many things going on, and I have no real click or clue how things will go. The engine is another story on it's own. It has sat now for the better part of three years. Will it start? Nothing on Goin Baroque has been operational in the same time, what can I expect with any of this? What about the new things installed that have never been tested? Now I am thinking, perhaps I have bitten off too much. I have the guy at the boat yard to help me with rigging, but then we are on our own. Then what? I think I have read everything from every book, website, blog, heck I even bought a DVD just for something at night. And still my stomach is twisting and making more noise than the admiral in the morning. The best sites I have seen are
www.cruisersforum.com and
www.activecaptain.com and
www.aboutsailing.com and not to mention the plethora of sail blogs that the Admiral says cause me more worry than good, I say I live vicariously through them so I don't suffer the same mistakes. I am reading a blogger now that we know, doing the reverse trip that we hope to do later this year, so following them helps me understand what is in store for us. But that's all off in the distance, I am worrying about the next 40 hours, that's all I can think of right now. Then one day at a time. That's all I figure one can do at this point, one day at a time.
Till then, Fair Winds
Bill
Repairs are fun
13 June 2012 | Cavan, ONtario
Sunny finally
So the real work has begun on Goin Baroque, nothing real major, just things the prev. owner didn't get around to doing. We made another trip to Hamilton to get more things from Irene (the prev owner) I can't thank her enough for everything she has given us, we are set up for safe sailing, thanks to her. So the weather has not been great, but as it clears we work. The Admiral has been work most of the work below deck, installing the cabinets, seat cushions, looking/ learning what makes things down there work. Oh yeah, the leaks, remember the leaks, well they are a thing of the past. The window screws were not tight, not even close. And the front hatch just wasn't sealed properly. So after the torrential rains that we had for almost a week, we have had no leaks.
I have removed the cockpit floor and sanded it. The toe rail is ready for the first coat. I just need the weather to cooperate, it hasn't yet, but the weather man has said we will get nice painting weather for the next week. I want to have her in the water next Wednesday by the latest. The Admiral now says we have to move faster. But really we don't have that much to do before the launch. I will have all the painting done, and everything on the masts that need looking after, and the Admiral will have everything below deck figured and finished. I can't wait for launch day, it's been like having this giant toy and you want to play, and you can't. Ok I will admit it, more than once, I have found myself with a beer in hand sitting up behind the wheel wishing all I can see is water, nothing but blue skies and water all around. One week friends, that's the deadline. Then a day to put the mast up and get everything with that connected, and a day or so getting everything rigged and set, then we will sail. And that day my friends can not get here soon enough.
Until then
Fair winds
First time in since setting her here at the house
02 June 2012 | Cavan Ontaario
Bill, Temps cool and windy
Ok so yesterday was so wet we didn't even open the hatch. We set a rainfall record for our area, so we figured we would just sit tight and not open the hatches yet.
So today I run to Canadian tire and buy a ladder, yes I didn't even have a ladder to crawl up and open up. So I go looking at ladders, a six foot was $54 and the eight foot was $97. I thought an eight foot would be easier for Lou to get in and out, but the six foot was so much cheaper and even easier to stow while underway. So I bought the six foot. I will go back later and get the eight foot, this one is too hard for Lou to do.
So I open the front hatch and poke my head in, doesn't look too bad., nothing shifted during the move. I begin to move things to the cockpit so I can stand on the sole. The Vee and the cabin were completely jammed with spare things, wood from the bulkhead cabinets that the P.O. had removed during the refit and had not had the chance to put them back, and more things that will either need to find a place to stow or leave the boat. After clearing the galley and vee birth this is when I found the leak. Yes our boat leaks. But I guess if there are good and bad leaks, this one is a good sort of one, just not sure where it comes from. It is coming from the bulkhead near where the solar panels are on the top. And one in the vee at the front hatch. This one is an easy one to fix, it just needs a seal and some silicone. Nothing that bad, just something to make it a little more interesting. So I have a list of thing that we will need to start putting things back to where they need to be.
Now to do something with the weather, for the past month it has been beautiful, now it's cloudy, wet, windy temps are +14
until next time fair winds
Bill
And So It Begins
01 June 2012 | Port of Darlington
Bill
And so it begins. It has been said purchasing a boat is as hard as buying a house. After searching brokers, websites, Kijjii adds we finally bought our baby.
Introducing "Goin Baroque"
Going Baroque is a 1987 Westerly Pentland Ketch. 32.5'
She is not only a tried and tested seaworthy vessel but she is also our new home.
A little description of our vessel. A ketch with an aft cabin and center cockpit, with a twin keel that has a draft of 4.5'. Below deck and forward to the V-berth, aft port side is the head across the starboard is the hanging locker. The galley is mid-ship on the starboard side with dining on the port side. The aft on port is the chart table and quarter berth, starboard is another quarter berth. Up three stairs to the roomy cockpit, with a teak table and benches on either side. Aft is the mizzen sail and the captain's seat (my seat). Aft to that is the double aft cabin (where the dishonorable will be stowed).
Now we bought her from a lady in Hamilton Ontario. She has been extensively refit from bow to stern for the past year and a half. Her previous owner had started everything and was just about done, when he unfortunately passed away. We brought her home to finish the refit, things Colin (prev. owner) didn't get done. We have our survey (Geoff Archibold) and just going with what he recommends. Not a lot of grunt work to do, just some finishing, like bulkhead cabinets, navigation systems, and some other small things.
The anticipation, lets talk about anticipation. It's like Christmas, no other way to describe it. You look on web sites, yacht brokers, drive thru marina's, heck you will be driving and see one in a driveway and look. It like looking at catalogs in the toy section and making your list to Santa. Really no different, we had the same sort of list. Things we needed, things we could live with out, and a dream list. Then with all this, you hunt, and you hunt. After a while, boats are part of everything you do.
Then you find one, yes it always comes to one. We drove to Hamilton 4 times, 2 hours one way, and traffic seemed endless. We had looked at her, went back again and looked at her. Then the survey, like waiting for the Dr. to give you the news. Then back to pay for her, and start to pack her up. We were given extra things for the boat, ropes, special rigging tools, spare parts, you name it we probably have one. We are so thankful to Irene (prev. owner) for everything extra. The cabin is now completely full as is the aft cabin. Then like Christmas morning, you get to pick her up. Yesterday seemed to be the worst, with an accident on the 401 at the 427 ramp, had the hwy closed for a couple hours. This makes sailing appealing let me tell you.
So we spend a couple hours loading her onto a trailer. The hauler (will insert name when I can think of it) did an amazing job. Then the drive. I can't understand when you need to get somewhere, the traffic just seems to be horrible, it was a mess. So now we are home, and wait for the arrival, and we wait. I had a beer and we waited again. And here she is, this is one of the best feelings yet. Problems getting it in the yard were starting to take it's toll, combined with a narrow road and a narrow driveway and a cemented mail box, things were touch and go. Triumphed alas, she proudly sits in our driveway, only for a few weeks to finish her off and load her up with everything we will need. For what? you ask, well friends, that's part of the journey you and us will embark on together. Stay tuned for our adventure and follow us where we go.
till then, fair winds.
Bill
p.s. photos may or may not come. I am still deciding if I want to spend money on this site or just post to facebook.