SO WHAT DID YOU DO WITH OR ON YOUR C-DORY TODAY??

One more sunrise...

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The wind was up early this morning... so were we. It was 16-18 at 7:00 this morning as we headed out of the canal. The sailing was good... reefed before we went out, and it was a good thing - the wind built steadily to 24G32. Big fun - I have the windburn, wet clothes, and aching smile muscles to prove it. I shot a 21 second video while at the tiller - you can hear the wind shrieking in the rigging.

Another warm one, upper 80s today. That same cold front that has been hammering the west is supposed to make it's way to us tomorrow. Our low tomorrow night is forecast to be 51º; 20 miles inland at Brownsville, it is supposed to be 39º. Thank goodness for the warming influence of the Gulf.

I visited Wild Blue again today; barrier coat and primer are done, the first coat of bottom paint was in process. I was concerned that the wind would add some "texture" to my bottom paint due to blowing sand... all was OK, though. Supposed to be some rain with this system, so the paint may be delayed 'till it blows through.

If anyone has time, here's the YouTube links...

SunCat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-dZsn2IhlE

C-Dory: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TyrIoJgRDI

They uploaded OK, but I can't see them on my Mac. Can anyone else see these? TIA

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Jim - both played ok on my pc. I see Charlie made it over here also. I think we both needed a break from the previous thread we were on.
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Thanks Charlie and Dave,

This computer is a MacBook Pro with the Intel chip. Safari and the latest Flashplayer. I never get past "loading..." on YouTube.

I'll keep trying. Thanks.

Best wishes,
Jim
 
oldgrowth":2wjj97fi said:
Jim - both played ok on my pc. I see Charlie made it over here also. I think we both needed a break from the previous thread we were on.
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You betcha. I'd rather go play in traffic on the freeway.... Unfortunately here, it's a toll road... :shock:

Great vids Jim, I love to sail as does my bride...

Charlie
 
Captains Choice":28ldj7xn said:
... I love to sail as does my bride...

Charlie
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I saw that in your photo of Sally's Choice in your album, Charlie. Also noticed that great garage with the apartment. I used to say that all I needed was a one bedroom apartment above a 6 car garage... these days, I'd prefer a 4 slip marina. What was that thing El and Bill said about "minimalism"? :wink:

After the sail today, the Blonde said, "I'm spoiled. I'll be glad when the C-Dory is done."

Best wishes,
Jim
 
Thanks Jim.... Mine's a Brunette, or am I hers? :disgust

I've really got an apartment above a one boat/tractor two car garage and a 4 slip marina...the best of all worlds. Sounds like you've got a pretty neat setup there too, I love catboats... and cats too...

My bride's great uncle was the coppersmith in the Hereschoff Boat Yard in Rhode Island in the 20's, that's where she learned to sail...

Hope we get to meet sometime, gotta get down to Byrdman's place at some point. If I can only get them to fire me or quit paying me so damn much to buy toys....

Charlie
 
JamesTXSD":1cze4b53 said:
Thanks Charlie and Dave,

This computer is a MacBook Pro with the Intel chip. Safari and the latest Flashplayer. I never get past "loading..." on YouTube.

I'll keep trying. Thanks.

Best wishes,
Jim
Click to expand...

I've got the same computer and can view both videos just fine. However, I do have Flip4Mac installed to handle wmv files in the browser. Go to http://www.microsoft.com/windows/window ... nents.mspx to download the MS wmv player for quick time and see if that doesn't solver your problem.
 
We had the pleasure of taking Georgs Kolesnikovs for a sea trial in the Tom Cat 255. Georgs is the originator of Trawler Fest, the Trawler and Trawlers list, Power Cat List, Great Loop and Passagemaking lists. He writes many articles on passagemaking and various boating subjects in many magazines. He also has founded a number of boating journals. His credits also include several trans Atlantic Passages on Sailboats, and setting the sail record between New York and San Franscisco aboard his 60' Trimaran "Great American" in 1989.

We spent close to 4 hours on the boat, running most of the time at 25 to 30 knots in chop up to 1 foot occasionally more. Did a bunch of hard over turns--and I think that Georgs was surprissed on how stable the boat was in comparison to other small cats which he had tested. The real trial came as we went out Perdido Pass on a ebb tide with a current of 2 knots and seas of 4 feet plus or minus. The boat perfomed beautifully--we dropped down to from 8 to 15 knots going at various angles into the seas--and then came back in on the backs of the waves at up to 20 knots. He felt that the ride of the TC 255 was outstanding in those conditions.

He also commented on the layout and functionality of the boat. Basically the best small cat for cruising bar none. We'll see what he writes up and what he posts. But I would say it was a plus day for Tom Cats.
 
No, not Christmas presents. Both boats are now out of the water, safely tucked away, and all that's left is the packing before we head west for the holidays. I thought, perhaps, some of you from the frozen northland could use some images of sunny days and blue water...

I know some of you think we don’t do anything except run around with our boats. Check out the pile of palm leaves in the foreground of this photo. Our neighbors aren’t here yet, so they let us park our boat trailer in their driveway for a few days. In return, I offered to trim their palm trees. Now I enjoy yard work about as much as I like shoveling snow, but somehow trimming palm trees isn’t so bad. Except, it is a lot of physical work, cutting the branches by hand with a saw. Good for the triceps!

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We got out for a few hours on Wild Blue on Tuesday. It was another typical gorgeous day: upper 70s and a nice breeze. We ran into the Gulf for a bit, but the waves were 5-6 feet, closely spaced, and confused; it wasn’t particularly pleasant, so we came back in and cruised across the Laguna and up the ICW. As usual, we had dolphins playing alongside the boat.

Wednesday, December 6th. I took Joan to breakfast on the island. The Laguna looked like a mirror and you could see beyond the island and out into the Gulf. We shoved off and went up the ICW. Along the way, we dumped our fresh water and hot water tanks; time to think about putting the boat away. From there, we poked our nose out into the Gulf... the water was much calmer than yesterday and a beautiful blue.

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We took our time in the jetties area, soaking it all in. It was a real “Chamber of Commerce” day here: temperature around 80º, sunny, a nice sea breeze. We are going to pull the boat out at the end of this ride, so it will be a while before we get to feel this way again. Here’s a shot looking over the jetties, with the condos of South Padre Island in the background.

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The ship channel always has some activity, and today was no exception; no big stuff, but a classy work boat and a sailboat making their way towards the Gulf.

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We made our way down the ship channel, heading for home. Joan’s favorite time of day is “sparkly water”, mine is anytime we are on the boat. Today, we both got a chance to enjoy our favorite times.

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As we got close to the ramp, Joan prepared dock lines and fenders. I pulled us up to the finger dock at the ramp, and we tied off. Joan walked to the Welcome Center (a block or so away) to get the truck and trailer while I put down antennas and got the boat ready for the trailer.

Here is a look at the ramp on our island; yep, a “one holer.” It’s no wonder we were so impressed with the ramps we encountered in the PNW, with up to 8 lanes. Works good, though, and it is right here on our island.

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This view shows how close some of the houses are to the ramp. I visited for a moment with a guy out on his deck; I said, “You must get to see some interesting antics here.” He responded with, “Yeah, it’s very entertaining. Most days I don’t bother turning the TV on - this is better!”

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We had a scare here locally. While we were rinsing the boat at the ramp, a tug with 4 barges went through our swingbridge (right next to the ramp). As he came around a tight turn in the ICW, two barges broke off - one hit the causeway. Five years ago (three days after the 9/11 tragedy), a barge accident caused the collapse of part of the causeway, resulting in 8 deaths. The causeway is the only way on/off South Padre Island; the local economy was devistated for quite a while. We were much more fortunate this time, the barge only did some damage to the concrete pilings that now protect the causeway.

And here is Wild Blue at the storage yard. It's tough leaving her behind, but that leg from the west coast to Maui is a bit beyond her range.

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No more boat reports for a while. Merry Christmas, C-Dory friends.


Happy Holidays,<br>
Jim B.
 
Jim & Joan - both of you have a Merry Christmas also, and I look forward to you getting back and continuing your adventures and reports.
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Jim-

I noticed your windlass on the photos and looked through your album to identify what brand./type it was, but found no direct photos close enough to get a positive ID. Looks like the rode is all on the spool above deck???

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Joe.
 
Hi Joe,

The windlass is a Lewmar Pro-series. Not sure what you're seeing, but the rode feeds down into the anchor locker. On that photo you posted above, Joan had tied one of the fenders to the bow cleat.

This is the first electric windlass we've owned, and I've been pleased with the performance. The bow person (aka the Blonde) has been especially pleased. :wink She still goes to the bow to give me directions for where the anchor is lying (hand signals, btw, no shouting 8) ) and up/down. No heavy gloves, no grubby hands. It sure takes the physical work out of anchoring. While we can both handle the various boat tasks, we have our "usuals"... and for anchoring, I'm usually on the helm, she's on the bow. More info than you asked for? :xnaughty

Happy Holidays,
Jim B.

PS - on all of the images in my previous post, there were no PS enhancements like layering, retouching, airbrushing, etc. Just pretty water.
 
Jim-

Thanks for the note! I thought it looked like one of the Lewmar horizonal series windlasses or maybe a Quick Genius, but couldn't see enough detail to be sure, and the picture above makes iot look like the windlass body is kinda "floating" above the deck. That appearance is probably caused by the reflections in the chromed surface of the windlass body. Thanks again! Joe.
 
Hi Ken,

Lahaina or Kihei? We'll be in the Kahana area, but will wander Front Steet (and the harbor) from time to time. I'll be looking for that hat! :D

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
the director of land based recreation has us staying at both ends of the island....I think we're headed to Kihei first. If you find me, I'll buy you a beer :)
enjoy your trip
 
JamesTXSD":svxkxuz4 said:
PS - on all of the images in my previous post, there were no PS enhancements like layering, retouching, airbrushing, etc. Just pretty water.
Click to expand...
Jim – if that is the case then what kind of airplane is that in the second photo landing on the water.
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