Blessed Lady

This is the cruising blog of the sailing yacht Mabrouka. The Favorites in the side bar allow those with discriminating taste to filter for just the stuff you want to read. Thanks for visiting, Roy.

13 September 2015
21 August 2015
21 August 2015
20 June 2015 | Marina Mazatlan, Mazatlan, Mexico
15 June 2015 | Marina Mazatlan, Mazatlan, Mexico
15 June 2015 | Marina Mazatlan, Mazatlan, Mexico
15 June 2015 | Mazatlan Marina, Mazatlan Mexico
13 April 2015 | Off Club Nautico, Mazatlan Commercial Harbor, Mazatlan, MX
15 February 2015 | Marina Mazatlan, Mazatlan, Mexico
13 February 2015 | Marina Mazatlan, Mazatlan, Mexico
25 January 2015
06 January 2015 | Mazatlan, MX
24 December 2014 | Marina Mazatlan, Mazatlan, Mexico
24 December 2014 | Mazatlan, MX
22 December 2014
21 December 2014
18 December 2014 | Playa Isla de la Piedra, Mazatlan, MX
18 December 2014 | Mazatlan, MX
15 December 2014 | Ensenada des los Muertos, Mexico

On to Powell River

11 September 2013 | Westview Boat Basin near Powell River, Canada
Roy / Clear and warm
Why is it that describing something as "plain vanilla" implies its dull? I happen to like vanilla, ...well, second to raspberry cheesecake or pralines and cream. Anyway, the trip from Harmony Islands Marine Park to Westview wasn't pralines and cream.

Wires across the Jervis

I enjoyed this geometrical view as I passed under the high tension wires that feed electricity from the mainland across Jervis Inlet to Nelson Island. It reminded me of those planetary model projects most kids have their parents do for them in grade school.

Then the boisterous bull seals I passed at Nelson Rocks on the way here upgraded the trip to vanilla bean. I could hear their bellowing easily a nautical mile before I could see them, and I approached these rocky islets very carefully so as to avoid bumping my keel on unaccommodating underwater objects AND to keep from disturbing their proud posing and bellowing. Cool, huh?

Bull seals on Nelson Rock

As I rounded Grief Point (Huh? Who named that?), I radioed ahead to Westview Harbour to ask for a slip. The dock master answered promptly and, with the clear understanding that Mabrouka boasted an over-all length of 50 feet, told me to take any spot I wanted on fingers 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9. Now, what's the impression you get from that, ...plenty of space, right? WRONG-oh! Even with two other boats exiting as I approached, I turned into the tiny marina to find NO open spots. Well, one, but it was barely room enough for Mabrouka's 50 foot length. Rafting up to another boat was a possibility, but they would also have required me to tie-up stern to the main dock and I just didn't feel like dealing with those complications. In the end some (I must say) very skillful maneuvering, two gracious line handlers on the dock, and some KY jelly got me into that one spot with a foot or so to spare at bow and stern. It was the end of the day, Mabrouka was unscathed, and I was happy.

Safely wedged in at Westview Marina
Comments
Vessel Name: Mabrouka
Vessel Make/Model: CT-41
Hailing Port: Seattle, WA
Crew: Roy Neyman
About:
Mabrouka and I have been partners in crime since October 1998, hanging about in West Coast waters, first in San Diego, then in Seattle. All of that time we've lived together aboard. [...]
Extra:
I've called this blog "Blessed Lady" because that's my preferred translation from Arabic for "Mabrouka". She's a 1980 CT-41, one of several clones of the original Bill Garden design Mariner ketches. At 50 feet from the tip of her mizzen boom to the tip of her bow sprit, she's 16 tons of [...]
Mabrouka's Photos - Main
Photos 1 to 10 of 10
1
On the streets of Freemont
Street art edited.
Elvis the stuffed cat is a memento of my daughters at the age of about 5.  The peace sign was a gift from good friend, Karyn Borcich.  Thanks to both!
This is Swan as I knew him, though in a more rugged environment than we ever shared.  We usually met at the coffee shop or at Voula
This is of Swan as I would also like to have known him, ...cigarettes, cameras and wine.
This is Steve hosting our Elliott Bay Design Group company picnic at his vacation home in Darington.
I never went fishing with Steve, although he let me try out his fly casting rig in the river by his house during one of the company picnics he hosted.  I
The winter slip on Lake Union
Temporary raft up with Molly Bella near my old slip at Stimson Marina
 
1
This album shares photos from mainland and Baja Mexico.
1 Photo | 3 Sub-Albums
Created 1 March 2015
The beginning of the South Pacific cruise, heading to San Diego and Mexico
1 Photo | 6 Sub-Albums
Created 15 August 2014
Killing time with local sailing and projects before heading south with the Coho Ho Ho cruiser's rally
56 Photos
Created 29 June 2014
Kathy and Karyn (with a "Y") used me as an excuse for a party. I was just fine with that!
25 Photos
Created 31 May 2014
On Lake Union where Mabrouka and I spent the winter
20 Photos
Created 31 May 2014
Shakedown cruise to Port Townsend
7 Photos
Created 25 May 2014
Gunkholing in the Seattle area, with me and Mabrouka getting our sea legs back under us.
50 Photos | 28 Sub-Albums
Created 14 April 2013
Custom made sailing skiff hand-built by NW School of Wooden Boatbuilding in Port Hadlock, WA
18 Photos
Created 21 March 2013
Pre-retirement cruising pics
27 Photos
Created 21 March 2013
Photos accompanying Projects blogs.
43 Photos | 1 Sub-Album
Created 12 March 2013