Log of s/v Bellerophon

Ahhh, another Opening Day

2009-05-17T08:25:00.002-04:00

Opening Day 09 started like so many others... cloudy. The sun soon burst through the clouds, though, no doubt due to Peter Michaelson's heavy lobbying efforts with the christian god. This first image is of Moxy against the lifting fog.

Getting ready for the opening day salute, Pawtuxet Ranger style.

Morning visitor

2009-05-09T06:44:00.002-04:00

It's fine if you want to chill for a while, but no nesting in the boom. And the minute your diet includes little fishies, you're outta here.

Transit completed ahead of schedule... let the season begin!

2009-04-28T13:11:00.001-04:00

Jim and I got the sails on in record time, with only one clevis pin overboard (of course I had a spare) and no torn sails. We realized we had plenty of time so we went ahead and moved the boat Friday evening. Slept onboard Saturday night. The hot water heater works!

Launch moved up to Friday April 24

2009-04-23T14:18:00.000-04:00

Looks like we're good to go for launch tomorrow. Have to make a quick trip down there this evening to get a few things wrapped up. Transit to EYC on Saturday or Sunday.

26 days to launch

2009-04-04T13:54:00.003-04:00

26 days left and work progresses slightly ahead of schedule. Last weekend Nick, Ragi and I got the first of 2 coats of cetol on the teak. This weekend we varnished the doors and the table. Nick sanded down the reefer cover to bare wood and we put on a coat of cetol. We also set up the nav system and tested all of the electronics, reinstalled the laptop (hence the blog), updated software, etc etc. Brought the new gennie onboard, did some general clean-up, cleaned the stancheons, took the dodger to have the awning fitted, brought the cigars and poptarts onboard. Cleaned up the windlass solonoid, replaced the cabin lights with LEDs, replaced 2 of the fixtures, installed the ipod, activated the xm radios.

95 days til launch!

2009-01-26T11:34:00.001-05:00

And off to Houston to talk about composting!

121 days til launch - Mid-Winter Inspection

2008-12-30T16:03:00.003-05:00

I dragged Ragi down to the boat this past Sunday (it was 62!) to plug in the battery charger and generally check things out. The boat looked great, and I am amazed to say that after all this rain and snow and melt, there was no evidence of any water in the cabin. Somehow I find that too good to be true, but there it was.

The guy next to me had conveniently run an extension cord to his boat. I, of course, was armed with a three-to-one adapter. I think you know the rest.

We'll be getting the spring work list ready soon, but it really is quite short compared to years past. Given the economy, that's a good thing for me, maybe not so good for KG.

180 days til boating season begins

2008-11-02T14:49:00.001-05:00

Pig sticks secure, boat hooks put away, table and electronics stowed. Boat looks fine. Sigh.

Only 186 days left

2008-10-27T13:48:00.001-04:00

Until the 2009 boating season begins. Carmen and I beat the weather Saturday and drove the boat over to Bullock Cove. Easy transit, great dock landing, no issues other than Carmen's foot going through the dock. But that happens to someone each year so it hardly deserves mention.

One more visit to the boat around the first just to put away the pig sticks, boat hooks and dodger. Then off to the yacht club to clean out lockers... Sigh...

Columbus Day Weekend - Edgewood Homeward Bound

2008-10-13T15:07:00.001-04:00

We arrived back at the Club at 8 bells in the forenoon watch. 20 yards off of the north T we decided to stop briefly and calibrate the depth sounder. Having done so we discovered we were hard aground, so we followed the standard Bellerophon Soft Grounding Protocol. We requested the assistance of Theo, Sue and Pablo to begin emptying wine bottles in an attempt to lighten the vessel. Our efforts must have been successful for not less than 2 hours later we were afloat!

Many thanks to our makeshift crew and their able assistance.

Columbus Day Weekend - Monday

2008-10-13T10:34:00.001-04:00

We got up relatively early (it being a Monday and all) and left Wickford at 2 bells in the forenoon watch. No wind, so we motored home to Edgewood.

Columbus Day Weekend - Sunday

2008-10-13T10:32:00.004-04:00

We met Bill, Donna and Gabe in Wickford and surprised Bill with a fabulous birthday cake. Unfortunately we lit so may candles that it was mistaken for a distress signal. (Just kidding, Bill!) Ragi and Patrick made their way by land yacht from Providence, and we cooked a generous batch of steak tips for dinner.

Unfortunately 2 glasses of wine, a sliver of walnut and an emergency dose of benadryl took Ragi down for the count.

Wickford

2008-10-12T13:41:00.000-04:00

We wired for extra provisions. Apparently both of our bottles of vodka were leaking and there's nothing left this morning.

Coincidentially, we had an early night last night. We both conked out at 8 bells. Must be that sea air.

Slept in this morning and got under way at around 1 bell in the forenoon watch. We made a valiant attempt to catch a breeze but were thwarted by the sea gods. We motored to Wickford and arrived at 2 bells in the afternoon watch.

We decided to give the wickford diner another try since neither of us felt much like breakfast this morning.

5 bells in the 2nd dog

2008-10-11T18:34:00.002-04:00

Oh great, let me guess... it's the "dog watch" again.

Saturday, 2 bells in the first dog

2008-10-11T18:30:00.002-04:00

Shannon, Dave and Mulligan came over for a little refreshment.

Columbus Day Weekend - Saturday

2008-10-11T10:39:00.003-04:00

After a relatively tame Friday night at Edgewood, we set sail Saturday at 3 bells in the forenoon watch. The northerly died before Bullocks so we turned on the iron gennie and motored to PC.

Saturday, October 4th - dog watch

2008-10-11T10:38:00.004-04:00

That's red-right-returning and red-left-leaving

Saturday, October 4th

2008-10-04T12:19:00.003-04:00

Tugboat Scotty joined the boat last night at Edgewood, and we left this morning at 4 bells for Potter in a nice westerly. We set the jib and settled in for a nice leisurely sail. Arrived at 8 bells, picked up Nick and Dave's mooring in the inner cove, and waited for the Commodore to arrive. Our new portable propane heater is working like a champ, and so is the carbon monoxide detector. Cabin temp about 70 degrees and climbing.

Scott and Jill Weekend - Sept 20

2008-09-20T16:54:00.002-04:00

Ya gotta know that's just gonna make one hell of a mess on deck.

Scott and Jill Weekend - Sept 20

2008-09-20T14:56:00.003-04:00

Left EYC at 5 bells in the forenoon watch. An uneventful motor down to Wickford followed by a hat-overboard drill in Wickford Harbor. Arrived at 3 bells in the afternoon watch. Met Hunky Dory and Duchess at Wickford Marina.

Labor Day Weekend - Monday

2008-09-01T19:34:00.003-04:00

While Pablo slept, a group of masked men and women swung his boat around so it was stern to the dock instead of bow to. Shown here are Sue Toland and Dave Saunders, their photos carefully edited to hide their identities.

Hey! Who moved my dock?

2008-08-31T15:51:00.000-04:00

Oops.

2008-08-31T15:49:00.000-04:00

Gabe Crusoe

Labor Day Weekend - Saturday

2008-08-31T11:48:00.003-04:00

Gabe has forgotten the first law of sailing... never forget your meds. In consequence he's been banished to the foredeck to fish for his own dinner.

Labor Day Weekend - Saturday

2008-08-31T11:43:00.002-04:00

Down East joined us at around 6 bells in the afternoon watch, and we settled in for an afternoon of companionship and frolic in the Kicky.