Started Cruising Again

We left Carmen and Drydock yesterday morning.

The wind is right on the nose for the first leg. We thought we could make the 45 miles to Malapascua Island. By noon it was obvious that we wouldn't make it before dark so we tried the main channel at Bogo still on Cebu island.

We motor sail into the channel and took a small side channel just a little ways. It looked 1/4 mile wide and enough swing room. The bottom turned out to be sand and mud. But the holding was POOR! We drug the anchor 3 times. Once while setting the first time, then during the middle of supper a big squall came up. Lots of rain and wind to maybe 30. It was still light, but couldn't see much for the rain. We managed to move back to where we were at first by guess and watching the GPS/depth finder.

Then again about 12:30 the wind came up again. The low water on the depth alarmed and we jumped to action again. Could see NOTHING this time, so guessed again and got back to about the same place. It held the rest of the night. Trinda sat up and made sure.

Off again this morning hoping that last 16 miles of the first leg go OK. At Malapascua the route turns westerly and should be downwind and we can sail.

Camotes Trip Summary

I posted the photos I took on Facebook. Meredith posted hers too and I shared them too. I think April will upload her photos too. I will share them through Facebook too. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2627567205420.148686.1142497870&type=3

So here is the summary that should have accompanied the pictures.

We moved the Katie Lee out of Pepe's yard about 1:30 Friday cause the tide has been really low during the day lately. As it was, even at high tide, we caught one of the lines in the prop. The boys had to dive under and untangle it. The lines hold each boat in its place next to the ramps.

We spent the evening cooking, cleaning and getting ready. About 7 AM I started ferrying the guy out. and we left by 8. Only a slight breeze on the nose (as always!) so we motored across to the islands. The new GPS says 17.5 miles overand motoring only 5 knots took all morning. A half hour of hunting an anchorage that I thought I knew where was found us over a quarter mile off the beach.

As soon as the boat was secure, the guys started questioning the local fishermen about a fish. I had a little trouble following. Soon they wanted to take the dinghy. Off they went and followed a fisherman to the beach up a ways.Edith, April and Trinda, having just sorta recovered from the "sea passage", began cooking rice and lumpia (a pork spring roll). The guys came back and said they had arranged a grilled fish and we should eat it on the beach so the girls could enjoy the solid ground under their feet at least while they ate. It seemed to take forever, but we got everyone on the grassy ares just up the beach.

Part of the reason it took so long was the dinghy. It has been mostly idle for these 6 months. It hasd gotten water in the fuel a few times so I had cleaned and re-caulked the fittings on the tank. It is still hard to start. A couple of the boys were trying to bring the dinghy back and gave up starting it. They rowed the quarter mile back out to us. They took turns counting out 100 strokes each before switching places and doing it again. Turns out the "new in Majuro" safety kill switch had failed and basically turned the motor off! I opened the top and disconnected a wire. Closed it up and it started on the second pull. They wished they knew how to do that!

A few beers and Tanduay Ice and the fish arrived and disappeared before anyone got out a camera. Thus the photos of the bones. And a few creative photos as well. The fish turned out to be Trinda and my favorite, darado or mahi-mahi. It was cooked perfectly and was so good that we unanimously voted to go negotiate the other half for a late night snack. That took until dark and low tide, so the trip back out to the boat was slow over a very shallow reef.

The wind came up during the night and made the anchorage a little rolly. April, Edith and son Merjohn  in the V-birth had a little trouble sleeping. But the boys were fine. They had tried gallantly to finish the beer that Jimmy and Trinda had acquired for the trip. Rumor was one was "pole dancing" on the staysail around 2AM.

We moved the boat around to the NW point of the island where there is a tiny off-shore island for protection from the waves. Again the guys took off in the dinghy to explore some. We got the dive-board out and when the got back most of us took a turn diving behind the dinghy. As usual it was enjoyed.

Trinda got out some balloons for Merjohn. Naturally soon one was floating toward the main shore where several islander kids raced after it. The guys got into the swing of that quickly enough. soon most of the balloons were gone and the kids on shore had one each. Several swm out toeward the boat to get one. Some even got tehir father to come in hei canoe to get one ahead of the others.

Later I found that the guys had put a few pesos in some of the balloons for the kids. They really are a pretty good bunch of boys.

We had to leave by 1 PM to get back to Carmen and DryDock before dark. We let loose the mooring ball and headed home. A nice breeze was still blowing, on the beam this time. So up with the sails and off with the motor! We sailed at 6 to 6.5 knots all the way back. So they did all get to see the sails up and experience the smoother ride of sailing vs motoring.

I think we all had a good time.

Tomorrow The Internet Will Begin to Die

Check this site and sign the petition:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_the_internet_d/

Send letters to your congressmen at this link
https://wfc2.wiredforchange.com/o/9042/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=8173
Ill conceived legislation is dangerous to us all.

Closer and Closer

Not finished yet! I first set the month I'd be finished, then the week and now the day. I have missed each by more than the unit of measure. At HP we used to say "if they said fall, expect it spring. If Aug, then Sep, and 3 weeks meant at least 4.

I told everyone we were going to the Comotes Thurs, but now it looks more like Saturday. 3 of the 4 sails on, but the mizzen needs a special shackle that I don't have. Genoa to go up in the morning.

Looking from the 'gang plank', its looking white!

Trinda having a hard time getting off before I took her picture!

The deck is painted, the teak trim is polyurethane varnished and the topsides are waxed. Only one storage closet left to stow aboard and ready! Of course all my tools are mixed with 'their' tools so we'll have a tool sorting party tomorrow too. Still a few brass things below not re-installed and lots of Trinda's nets to keep things in their closets while sailing, but they will keep!

I noticed Trinda's treasure chest was not as shiny as the rest of the teak and asked. No they didn't spray the ultraviolet protective coat on it. Didn't realize it stayed outside. So while they painted some coats on it after quitting time, they installed the last outside fixture in between coats.

Lyndon, Don-don, Rico, Louie and Mike with a last minute fix. Off with the ninja masks in time for the second photo!

Backwards and T-shirts

I usually write a note here then Facebook picks it up. Today I uploaded the pictures to facebook first.

So I'm all backwards today.

Servers me right I guess. We installed the new(ish) wind generator on the new bracket on the mizzen mast. I decided it was too flimsy and took it back down. Not sure how long it will take to replace it. Or even if I'll replace it yet. There is a severe shortage of welders here capable of aluminum.

I have needed lots of rags with all the cleaning and painting. At the paint store, they sometimes have rags, but they are generally not good for painting. Mostly tiny scraps of 100% polyester sewed into a pot lifter shape. So I bought cheap T-shirts at the used clothing shops. Trouble was the 25 cent shirts were preferable to what the guys were working in, so I'd buy 10 and get to use 5. This happened some. So Trinda noticed a sale on new T-shirts at the local dept store and bought them all one to take home.

Lyndon, Chris, Mike, Louie, April, Rico, Me, Don-don and Rene

You can zoom the picture to read most of them.