Sunsets and evening moonlight somewhere deep into the Atlantic

Toasting the entrance of the Gulf Stream....and enjoying the warmth of the sun

1,000 miles offshore....smarter!!

Departure Date Sunday, 7 May 06 from Halifax to Bermuda. Approximately five container ships departed and one entered in our time frame. First time sighting a boat was at midnight, large fishing boat in the horizon. Within the next couple of days, the main was reefed and furling shortened. Two hundred miles out and we had dolphins swimming at our bow. Didn’t think our boat would go fast enough to have their company. It’s said dolphins at your bow is good luck. If nothing else they will keep the whales away.

Thursday we have entered the Gulf Stream, our bearings are 39°N 39” and 64°W 25” water temperature at 70.5 degrees and approximately 85 degrees in the cockpit, t-shirt and shorts. We spent the morning squall dodging and sailing around one only to find another behind it. Instant, twenty-five knots or more, and heavy rainfall. Ted while one his watch, said hello to a group of sperm whales and took some pictures. Unfortunately the pictures just look like a bunch of waves in the water.

By late afternoon, the wind dies but the current is strong. The speed through the water is 6.2 knots and the stream is in the wrong direction, causing us to loose 3 to 5 knots. After talking to Herb on the single side band, he informed us of a nasty front coming straight for us. Ideally Herb suggested that we get to 38 degrees and we had eight hours to get into safe waters. Knowing we had engine problems, he indicated that if we can’t make that time frame than our best bet was to head north and go back to Nova Scotia. Prior to this day we have tackled 29 to 38 knot winds and 5 meter swells. Hated to see what this front was going to bring our little twenty-seven foot boat. Ted worked on the engine for about three hours and no go, can’t make the other side in the next 10 hours. For the past few days, there has been no traffic on the water or in the air, not necessary a comfortable feeling. We are well over 400 miles off shore, to be more exact we are directly inline with Philadelphia. Therefore, we followed Herbs advice and pointed the boat north to Nova Scotia. I don’t believe one wish to test our skills on the Gulf Stream to its limits.

The sea conditions remained inconsistent, uncomfortable and beating us to a pulp. Time to rig the Sea Anchor (Parachute), 42°N 31” and 64°W 11” putting our a couple of securitee to all shipping (no response). By this point in time the aft spars for the wind generator and radar rivets pulled out. Ted secured them with any and all extra rope we had on board. We learnt you can never have enough. We read and slept while sitting out the rough weather for the next day and a half. Topaz, was so scared at this point we couldn’t hold her tight enough. In fact, we wouldn’t be surprised if given the chance if
she’d jump ship at that point.

At this point in time, our batteries are very low so all instruments are turned off to conserve energy. However, we did turn the single side band on to contact Halifax Coast Guard Radio, just to let them know our bearings and that we on sitting on our sea anchor. At this time they asked if we required assistance. “Negative”, we were fine and riding it out. Within half an hour, it’s 12:30 p.m. and the rode parted, we were heading home ready or not. Wondering how long before the parachute sinks to the bottom?

Monday, 15 May our power finally gives up the ghost and no longer is there auto-helm. Steering in hand and by 4 p.m. the wind becalms Xcelsior, we are just about fifteen miles from the mouth of Liverpool and all the fishing boats are returning home from checking there lobster traps. In threat of a rocky shore, Ted lowers the Narwhal (inflatable boat) and fires up the outboard and pushes the boat toward Port Mouton, NS while I steer. Eight miles later we arrive at Carter Island, dodging millions of lobster traps we finally dropped the anchor an hour before sunset. A quaint place!!

The next morning between rain and fog, we flashed up the Narwhal and headed into Port Mouton. Dodging lobster traps we found the channel that leads us to the local fish plant. We asked if anyone could recommend a diesel mechanic, and we were given Walter MacDonald’s number. Walter had suggested two fishing vessels that may or may not tow us into the channel to the government wharf. There was no ATM or Bank Machine available in this area; we decided that Brooklyn Boat Club would be a better location. Showers, dock, phone plus a shorter distance to Liverpool for banking and groceries. Next morning conditions were favorable, so hauled up the anchor and sailed to Brooklyn, again dodging more lobster traps and fishing boats. Three hours later, we docked, just in time before a major wind increase.

Soon we had the docks lined up with interior cushions drying out along with bedding hanging from the sheets. During the last ten days, the wind, sea and weather had tested every seam of the boat. We found many small leaks that never before developed until going through the Gulf Stream and back have tested this old boat. She handled well and gave us more faith in her abilities. The railings were under water 90% of the time, water coming in by the buckets through the bow. Windows leaking, deck fittings from the installation of dodger and other deck equipment such as the anchor windlass and chain haws pipe (the hole the chain passes through the upper deck). The rain and sea soaked us and everything else. Each locker had about six inches of water in the bottom soaking the can goods. A local member, Louie was kind enough to lend us a heater to assist in the drying out.

Walter came on board and we bleed the fuel system. Then we fired up the engine, it ran flawlessly for about six hours charging the dead batteries. It seemed, the procedure I was using for bleeding the engine fuel system, was incorrect. I learned a new trick, to decompress the engine and turn it till the hp fuel pump was able to be moved manually and bleed the air from the fuel system. It was all to simple for us to return 400 miles to find out that was all there was to this job and we would be on our way. Frustrating!!

After almost two days of dry sunny weather the cushions and boat were reasonably dry. The weather forecast seemed favorable (Southerly 10-15 knots increasing to 20 late in the evening). It was time to head seventy-five miles to Dartmouth Yacht Club. So far, all was going well, this should only take 12-14 hours. So we fired up the diesel and untied the lines and headed out from Brooklyn. Forty five minutes later in the mouth of Liverpool Harbor the engine coughs and spits then quits. Yet once again she dies and there we bounce about in light winds, so light that you couldn’t sail in any one direction. Adrift again!!! After two hours of drifting and dodging lobster pots and fishing boats, the wind started to fill in from the south and we were making 1-2 knots. We started to make some speed, however, still to slow to make Halifax by dark.

Tried the engine one more time, and it started. This is becoming a haunting experience, as it only runs when it wants to. Is it possessed by demons or what? After motoring one half hour through the maze of lobster pots, the inevitable happened and one of the pot lines got wrapped around the prop, shut down the engine right away. Approximately forty-five minutes, of hanging over the stern of the boat with the boat hook, the rope was finally cleared. No trap was attached to the end of the line. But some fisherman will be looking for this trap for along time. We tired the engine again and it would not go. The wind however started to increase and soon we where going six knots towards home. It is now 2 p.m. and the wind is decreasing, so it looks like it will be a longer run to Halifax.

An hour later the wind started to increase again as the forecast predicted 20 knots from the south and we are now flying towards home once again. The sea has picked up to about 3 – 4 meters and the wind is backing to the south east, this is making this small trip a hard ole passage. With the wind on the nose and having to reef the main, shorten the jib. The wind now has increased to 25 and gusting to 33 knots. Now we were only making four knots or less and being pushed into Sambro ledges and some very unfriendly water. In normal conditions we would sail through here and not give it another thought. But in these conditions if we had some break down of our rigging, we would be in serious trouble as a million rocks the size of apartment buildings. Three to four meter’s of seas and a very unfriendly rocky shore. We tacked out to sea to go around Sambro. The wind changed direction and came right on our nose again and we were not making any head way in the direction that we needed to go. We stayed on this course for an hour hoping to be able to tack back towards Halifax Charlie (the buoy we were headed for to enter the harbour. After heading to sea for an hour the wind seemed to change to a more easterly direction and increase to 30 knots gusting to 38 and 40. We tack back towards the harbour mouth and can almost hold the course we need to make the mark to turn down wind for the entry. HAVE WE MENTIONED THAT BY NOW IT IS PAST MIDNIGHT and it is so dark all we can see is the Sambro Lighthouse, we can not see the mark we are headed for and it is less than two miles away. There is so much cloud cover we can’t see the lights of Halifax which we can normally see 20 miles or more in fact it is so dark we can’t tell were the ocean stops and sky begins. It seemed like hours before we finally got a visual on the mark and the wind was pushing us down below it, I had to make a decision head out to sea again or chance the entry by going inside by a hundred yards. At this time we’ve been on our feet for 18 hours. We head in anyway and yes we are cutting the buoy short (We’re here to write this story so we must have made it without hitting anything.)

We are cold, wet, tired and hungry at this point. There was one container schedule to depart within the next half hour, which should give us lots of time to get out of the traffic lane. We are cold, wet, tired and hungry at this point. Its well after midnight, Pat radio’s Halifax Traffic to be advised of any Harbour traffic. There was one container schedule to depart within the next half hour, which should give us lots of time to get out of the traffic lane. About forty-five minutes later we are on the radio telling Atlantic Express we will be crossing her stern. Just shortly after the harbour was so dark that at one point we littery didn’t know where we were. Finally, Major’s Beach Lighthouse, and we closed our sailing plan with Halifax Coast Guard Radio.
Six a.m. we finally approached Dartmouth Yacht Club, grabbed a mooring ball and called it a night. By noon Saturday, we were towed into the marina and along side to complete repairs.

Para Anchor with 300 feet of rhode...sitting out some rough weather...38 knot winds and 25 foot swells

Drying the boat out in Brooklyn, NS...we took on lots of water through the bow and railings were under water constantly

We are off to Bermuda again. Under the cover of darkness.

Baths Are no Fun

Topaz is not Happy about the Bath

See the top right corner. That soot covered the entire ceiling and the fall out all over the Upholstery and clothing.

Pat's Offshore Fashions

See You Later

Headed for Bermuda

Wednesday, 3 May at 1:35 Xcelsior throws it's dock lines on the boat…stowed them away with intentions of not being required for at least ten day, when we arrive in St. George Harbour…Bermuda. Horn’s were honking, Wendy and Bill (adopted Sister and Brother for 30 years) along with a large number of fellow sailor’s from Dartmouth Yacht Club, were waving at the end of F dock. We motor off, secure the boat for sea and raise our jib pointing towards the Atlantic.

As always the wind shifted going through the narrows, which meant we’d be tacking all the way up…therefore we hauled the jib in and motored to the mouth of Halifax Harbour. The local weather report was not entirely correct as the winds were blowing at Chebucto Head 35 knots with sea conditions 8 to 12 feet. This meant pushing us back into Halifax Harbour and gaining nothing. We both agreed that it’s foolish to go into those conditions (different if we were already out 100 miles and had to where to duck). One of our favourite places to anchor is up the North West Arm at Dingle Towers…so there we settled down for the night with intentions of getting a fresh start early morning.

For the past twenty years, Xcelsior has had oil lanterns as a source of heat. Never had a problem with them until…..sometime through the night while we were all tucked away and sleeping like babies, one had began to give off black soot. I can’t stress how much and how far this soot covered the entire interior of the boat. Topaz, was a brilliant white and gold tabby….soon became a dull gold and dark grey cat. Her paw marks were everywhere! She doesn't care for a bath and I soon learned that her claws dig into fibreglass and wood, strong as anything to get away from me. We should count our blessings that we even woke up to tell this story. I need not say that our boat no longer has oil lanterns on board.

While at anchor, after two hours of cleaning, we decided that we’d may as well turn back and dock at Dartmouth Yacht Club. There was a minimum of two days clean up ahead of us. The ceiling took four scrubbings, the floor three, all setee (seat) covers and drapes had to come off and get dry cleaned, four bags of laundry came off. There wasn’t an item or spot on the boat that didn’t get covered with soot.

Saturday, and the boat is starting to get back together….most of the soot came out of the setee’s, however, there are a few spots that tell the tales. We went through seventy-five gallons of water, $75 dry cleaning, $27 laundry, $25 miscellaneous cleaning supplies and about twenty hours of labour each. WHAT A !!!##!!! MESS!

Now that that’s behind us…we hope to try again tomorrow. Everyone keeps asking when and what time…we’re just saying “next time we will go for a trail sail…if we come back that’s the way it is…or if we continue to sail south…we’ll let you all know when we arrive and update the adventures’.

As soon as we get this squared away we will be on our way????

Fully Custom Lifejacket

The building of the ladder

The ladder is complete and wind vane installed.

Finally Happening...

Three years planning and it’s finally happening
Final touches are now being done on the boat, for us to be able to call it HOME. We have given up all of our possessions from clothing, furniture and the apartment. The weather hasn’t quite given us our ten day comfort zone just yet. It’s 14th of April, 2006 and a mild winter in Nova Scotia (snowed only twice so far this winter).

Xcelsior doesn’t look like the same boat at all. I’m sure the manufacturers of CS would still recognize the hull lines but the whole interior and exterior has been modified. The mast has just received the ladder rungs, we have built a propane tank locker forward of the mast (holds two 25lb tanks). Just in front of the dodger we have the jerry jugs (four diesels, one gas for the outboard and two water) rather than along the lifelines.

Up forward in the V Berth we have installed a seven foot bookcase for all the country guides and cruising manuals one needs for this journey. Topaz has a new hammock, in hopes to keep her off our feet.

Members of the Dartmouth Yacht Club all have had a good roar…as a friends ½ ton pulls up…chalked full of provisions to go on the boat. “You need a larger boat”, “When are you hauling to paint a new water line?”. All I could say was “It’s not as bad as it looks!”…..”Worst case….we’ll have a flea market here on the jetty before we sail.”

This is a very belittling time as we reduce ourselves to the confines of a 27 ft sailboat. You can’t imagine trimming from two large closets and the six drawer dresser to two 12” by 18” plastic containers four pairs of underwear a couple pair of shorts 1 favorite sweater, two shirts and pants then our sailing gear. No room for non essentials just necessities.

SUMMER OF 2005 SHAKEDOWN....

SUMMER OF 2005 SHAKEDOWN..….


Pat has not sailed single handed watches before, therefore, summer of 2005 was the practice time. We planned to sail straight through, from Halifax to New York, back to Boston then home. Mid July one would not have thought you’d need so many layers of warm clothing to cross the Gulf of Maine. Now...that’s one cold body of water! In fact, I don’t believe I have enough clothing in my wardrobe.

It was an interesting shakedown…..we were doinig 3 hour watches. My first watch Ted slept in the cock pit...just incase, plus reassurance. Second watch I insisted that he sleep down below. However, it didn’t take long for me to have a comfort zone of doing my single hand watches. The auto helm and radar were comforting, especially having the radar as a third eye. This kid has night blindness, so I was not comfortable with night sailing at the best of times. During the entire trip, Ted and I were challenged in in every sense of the word. We utilized every aspect of sailing knowledge and skills. Every little trick and judgement. The only challenge, we didn’t have, was dodging the lobster traps in Maine…but we were prepared to do so. Engine problems, along with no wind, fighting the tide of Fundy and the Gulf of Maine. After being becalmed for the fourth night, we decided to turn around and head into Yarmouth, NS. At least there was wind in that direction. We knew Canada would honour the warranty on the engine and weren’t too sure about the Americans. Not wanting a shock to our wallet, we decided it best to be in Canadian territory. At least then Ted can work on the engine himself. While in American marina's you are restricted from doing your own work while tied to their marinas.

By now, we came to terms and knew New York and Boston were no longer in the picture. Both of us had to return to our place of employment within eight days. The winds were fair until we entered the mouth of Yarmouth at 6 p.m. or 1800 hours. Not planning to travel the coastal waters of Nova Scotia, charts were on board even though cruising books were not. I then radioed Fundy Traffic, to request info of where we’d tie up for the night. Once again the wind died. The engine was not reliable, did I tell you this was a new engine not enven 100 hours of running time. It would heat up then quit. We wanted to save it until the worst part of the channel. Yarmouth Harbour, is not a friendly harbour to come into at night. The city lights reflecting off the water was more hinder and the unlit channel markers. Often, if it weren’t for the flash light shining on reflection tape (to identify the solid concrete channel markers) we could have some nasty bumps in the hull. Fundy traffic contacted us twice in the nine hours. Puzzled as to why we haven't reported into them for a while...0300 hours we finally come along side. Found a finger to tie up to, the tide was high and we could see the restaurant and other buildings. It didn’t take long, for Ted and I, to tuck ourselves into bed and go off into the dream world. We woke up about ten hours later to low tide. The railway track, that the marina system is on, for the tide levels, is ideal. Meant you don’t have to man the lines regularly, but made for a very noisy visit. However, twenty-eight feet tide, meant a long climb up with a weeks worth of laundry.

To make a very long story short…the next morning we made a call to the engines dealer. After Ted describes what the engine is doing, we were informed that it sounded like we had taken on gas rather than diesel. Sure enough…after sniffing the three remaining jerry jugs…gas it was. Now we had to find some method of emptying the tanks and disposing the contaminated gas/diesel. Our search is on. Lucky the owner of the Ultramar Gas Station, a few blocks up the road was very accommodating. Two days later we got provisions and ice to head back to Halifax via anchoring every night along the coast. Discovering new anchorages that we’d not anchored before from Yarmouth to Liverpool.

To my disappointment we didn’t view as much wild life as I had hoped to see. There where lots of seals, many sunfish, along with one huge leather back turtle. In fact, he was so wide, we figured he was too large to fit in our cockpit area that is six feet wide and eight long. Its head alone was the width of channel spar. As we grabbed for the camera he dove…so we never did get a picture. Lots of pilot whales, at the mouth of Liverpool harbour…but we didn’t get close enough to see the big whales breach. Only blow and break the surface with their humps and tails. All in good time I guess.

This trip was hard on a couple of our instruments…mind you they owed us nothing. We did the math and realized they served us for a number of years. Both the auto helm and GPS gave out. So needless to say, by the end of the summer, both had been replaced. However, not thrown out, I’m sure we can get a couple of more ventures from them, if we ever need them in emergency.

Shake down cruises are very beneficial from the Skipper down to the last Crew member. If you don’t test your emergency plan. How will you know if it works? Five hundred miles out to sea and a broken fuel pump in a gale, then blow out your main sail. This should not be an emergency. UN planned and UN comfortable (Not an Emergency). Our plan for a situation like this will be told in another BLOG entry to follow.

DELAYS HAPPEN FOR A REASON..…

Ted and I have been cruising the coasts of Nova Scotia for over twenty years…on the same boat. Xcelsior handles very well; she’s forgiving and loves the open waters. Three years ago, we were to have headed south…but Mother Nature turned against us. Hurricane Juan, hit Nova Scotia and damaged the marina system at Dartmouth Yacht Club. The morning of Sept 29,2003 Ted and I ventured the quiet streets of Dartmouth, power lines down everywhere. We didn’t speak to much, as we both feared the worst. One had to question, if it were safe driving these roads? I can not describe the eerie quiet…not a bird or a cricket made a sound…I don’t believe anyone, of the few people down the marina, were even breathing. As we tried to shine as much light, as our flashlights would put out, on those like Ted brave enough to try and find their pride and joys, as they climb over the rubble of boats. All I could feel is the loss of our life long dreams vanish before us. Not having any control on the situation. There were a few sinking boats and broken marina in the water, sat amongst the floating debris. While others up on shore, sitting if not on their sides or keels…on top of each other in a giant heap. It was like a chain reaction, once one of the heavier powerboats gave way, it all gave away. There was only one trunk that held up and that was the trunk that Xcelsior was tied to. She sat where we left her the night before. However, one of the other trunks got caught up underneath her. We weren’t sure if it damaged the shaft or not. The cleat on the finger in the middle of the starboard side (right), rubbed almost through the under water hull. This was caused by the boat oscillating back and forth during the storm surge and wind.

It didn’t take long for every available member to chip in and help clear the mess up. Those boats that could be were towed out to safer waters and rafted up to a couple of others. The trunks that could be savaged, were trucked out to property in the industrial park area (owned by one of the members of the club). Then boats that could be safely taken off the shore line and the break water (rock) were then towed to the mooring field for mooring or travel lift camber to be hauled out, which ever was the best solution.

Before long boats were ashore and safely placed in their cradles, to survey the damage and to expedite repairs. Through the fall and into late summer various companies hauled boats away, for repairs. Xcelsior was amongst them, she was trucked out in May and returned mid August. Therefore, another year delayed our departure. Delays happen for a reason, November 4th Ted had a heart attack and in February had a stent repair his artery. Giving us more time to prepare the boat and research our trip. The following year we planned to depart April 5th…the new engine we installed vibrated so bad…thought the vibration might stop once it hit 100 hours of running…break in time. April 5th came and the engine was lifted out of the boat. One year later and we are still living here in Dartmouth. Last week of March first week of April 2006 which ever gives us the best 10 day window will be our departure date…we are now ready.

More Mod's and Seasons Greatings

More Xcelsior Mod’s:

We are now working on building and installing an upper deck propane locker for forward of the mast. This will provide a nice place to sit when at anchor and enjoying a nice full bodied glass of Cabernet and Crimson and Gold sunsets. This box is partly finished on the spare room table very near completion, the cat seems to like to hide and sleep in it and then observe what is happening outside the window from this vantage point.

Over the years we have observed a number of long distance cruisers who have stored spare fuel and water in jerry cans lashed to the safety lines on the upper deck. I never liked this practice as so many boats have been surprised to find every thing they stowed on the upper deck, missing due to sea state conditions at sea or pirates when in anchorages. I hope to make two large covers that bolt to the deck and properly secure our valuables and make it as difficult as possible to lose from either of these problems.

Our next project, we hope, is going to be refrigeration.
I have made the decision,
Refrigeration and that is my final answer. There is no way we will be down south with out ice cubes for our rum.” No way, never, naah, naaahhhaaa”
There is still the possibility we would keep our fresh food, fresh fish, milk, margarine, and the like, in the icebox. There are life support items we will not go with out. Sunsets must be toasted whether you see them or not, they still occur close to the western horizon every evening.

We will throw in a few pictures here to show what is happening.

We also want to pass on to you all, our very best wishes this Holiday Season and the Absolute Greatest NEW YEAR