Posted by Peter Devlin (devlin_peter@…>)
Hi folks. This past weekend I sailed out to the spectacularly
beautiful Isles of Shoals on “Graceful Rose”. Last year I sailed out
to the islands on the third time I’d ever sailed a boat and, with
incredible luck and a strong North wind made it there and back, each
time in about 4 hours–a round trip of about 30 miles–with ease.
This year, the wind was very light, and my circuitous tacking route
of more like twenty miles one way, took 7 hours to accomplish. I
picked up a mooring in Gosport Harbor and, after inflating my micro-
dinghy, rowed to Star Island where I wandered around in the footsteps
of Celia Thaxter, Blackbeard, and Thoreau. It was around 40 degrees
at night, but I was cozy in my solid ocean-going craft. Mind
you “Graceful Rose” was at least 20 feet shorter than any of the half-
dozen other sailboats in the harbor.
In the morning, I sailed off my mooring–a first for me–and back
toward Massachusetts with a brisk NW wind for about 3 hours at around
3-4 knots, then the wind died completely. I couldn’t manage 1 knot
of forward motion for the next three hours. I could see Salisbury,
but I couldn’t get there. I listened to the NOAA weather report on
my radio and they said the winds would be “light and variable” for
the rest of the day. My vaguely spinning windex had already told me
that much, along with the glass-like surface of the ocean. Eventually
I did make it back to the mouth of the Merrimac, where I motored up
the river to my Marina.
All around a great time, but a bit of a lesson to me about leaving
enough time, and bringing enough gas to motor if I find myself in the
middle of the ocean with no wind and night falling.
Cheers,
Peter
Posted by Sean Mulligan (quadmulligan@…>)
Bravo on the open water trek Peter. Sounds like a glorious time!
I am acquainted with the Star Island All-Stars so I know of the place by the talent I’ve encountered. And Thoreau too…!
How much fuel did you take and what is your burn rate?
Sean— On Mon, 9/22/08, Peter Devlin <devlin_peter@…> wrote:
From: Peter Devlin <devlin_peter@…>Subject: [freedom21] Isles of Shoals Trip 2008To: freedom21@yahoogroups.comDate: Monday, September 22, 2008, 5:58 PM
Hi folks. This past weekend I sailed out to the spectacularly beautiful Isles of Shoals on “Graceful Rose”. Last year I sailed out to the islands on the third time I’d ever sailed a boat and, with incredible luck and a strong North wind made it there and back, each time in about 4 hours–a round trip of about 30 miles–with ease. This year, the wind was very light, and my circuitous tacking route of more like twenty miles one way, took 7 hours to accomplish. I picked up a mooring in Gosport Harbor and, after inflating my micro-dinghy, rowed to Star Island where I wandered around in the footsteps of Celia Thaxter, Blackbeard, and Thoreau. It was around 40 degrees at night, but I was cozy in my solid ocean-going craft. Mind you “Graceful Rose” was at least 20 feet shorter than any of the half-dozen other sailboats in the harbor.In the morning, I sailed off my mooring–a first for me–and back
toward Massachusetts with a brisk NW wind for about 3 hours at around 3-4 knots, then the wind died completely. I couldn’t manage 1 knot of forward motion for the next three hours. I could see Salisbury, but I couldn’t get there. I listened to the NOAA weather report on my radio and they said the winds would be “light and variable” for the rest of the day. My vaguely spinning windex had already told me that much, along with the glass-like surface of the ocean. Eventually I did make it back to the mouth of the Merrimac, where I motored up the river to my Marina.All around a great time, but a bit of a lesson to me about leaving enough time, and bringing enough gas to motor if I find myself in the middle of the ocean with no wind and night falling.Cheers,Peter
Posted by Peter Devlin (devlin_peter@…>)
Hi Sean. I took 3 gallons of gas for my 8 hp Evinrude Sailmaster.
Two gallons in the tank and one extra gallon. If I have a favorable
tide with the Merrimac current, I can go 5 miles on the river in one
hour or less. If I’m going against the tide the same trip takes
about three hours. (I need a mooring nearer the ocean.)
I don’t know what my “burn rate” is, but I’d guess about 3 hours of
engine running/ gallon. Does that sound right? In my very brief
sailing career I have thought “motor-sailing” was kind of lame, but
after spending 6 hours on Sunday to “sail” six miles…maybe it’s
not always a bad thing.
What have you been up to with EmmyLou?
Peter
\
Bravo on the open water trek Peter. Sounds like a glorious time!
I am acquainted with the Star Island All-Stars so I know of the
place by the talent I’ve encountered. And Thoreau too…!
How much fuel did you take and what is your burn rate?
Sean
— On Mon, 9/22/08, Peter Devlin <devlin_peter@…> wrote:
From: Peter Devlin <devlin_peter@…>
Subject: [freedom21] Isles of Shoals Trip 2008
To: freedom21@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, September 22, 2008, 5:58 PM
Hi folks. This past weekend I sailed out to the spectacularly
beautiful Isles of Shoals on “Graceful Rose”. Last year I sailed
out
to the islands on the third time I’d ever sailed a boat and, with
incredible luck and a strong North wind made it there and back,
each
time in about 4 hours–a round trip of about 30 miles–with ease.
This year, the wind was very light, and my circuitous tacking route
of more like twenty miles one way, took 7 hours to accomplish. I
picked up a mooring in Gosport Harbor and, after inflating my micro-
dinghy, rowed to Star Island where I wandered around in the
footsteps
of Celia Thaxter, Blackbeard, and Thoreau. It was around 40 degrees
at night, but I was cozy in my solid ocean-going craft. Mind
you “Graceful Rose” was at least 20 feet shorter than any of the
half-
dozen other sailboats in the harbor.
In the morning, I sailed off my mooring–a first for me–and back
toward Massachusetts with a brisk NW wind for about 3 hours at
around
3-4 knots, then the wind died completely. I couldn’t manage 1 knot
of forward motion for the next three hours. I could see Salisbury,
but I couldn’t get there. I listened to the NOAA weather report on
my radio and they said the winds would be “light and variable” for
the rest of the day. My vaguely spinning windex had already told me
that much, along with the glass-like surface of the ocean.
Eventually
I did make it back to the mouth of the Merrimac, where I motored up
the river to my Marina.
All around a great time, but a bit of a lesson to me about leaving
enough time, and bringing enough gas to motor if I find myself in
the
middle of the ocean with no wind and night falling.
Cheers,
Peter
Posted by Sean Mulligan (quadmulligan@…>)
Hi - I am doing the prescribed “burn-in” on my new Tohatsu 6. Plan to sail into the cold weather. Emmy will be be an the water ready to sail all winter here on LIS.
Sean (photos soon)— On Tue, 9/23/08, Peter Devlin <devlin_peter@…> wrote:
From: Peter Devlin <devlin_peter@…>Subject: [freedom21] Re: Isles of Shoals Trip 2008To: freedom21@yahoogroups.comDate: Tuesday, September 23, 2008, 8:44 PM
Hi Sean. I took 3 gallons of gas for my 8 hp Evinrude Sailmaster. Two gallons in the tank and one extra gallon. If I have a favorable tide with the Merrimac current, I can go 5 miles on the river in one hour or less. If I’m going against the tide the same trip takes about three hours. (I need a mooring nearer the ocean.)I don’t know what my “burn rate” is, but I’d guess about 3 hours of engine running/ gallon. Does that sound right? In my very brief sailing career I have thought “motor-sailing” was kind of lame, but after spending 6 hours on Sunday to “sail” six miles…maybe it’s not always a bad thing.What have you been up to with EmmyLou?Peter- In freedom21@yahoogrou ps.com, Sean Mulligan <quadmulligan@ …> wrote:>> Bravo on the open water trek Peter. Sounds like a glorious
time!> > I am acquainted with the Star Island All-Stars so I know of the place by the talent I’ve encountered. And Thoreau too…!> > How much fuel did you take and what is your burn rate?> > Sean> > — On Mon, 9/22/08, Peter Devlin <devlin_peter@ …> wrote:> > From: Peter Devlin <devlin_peter@ …>> Subject: [freedom21] Isles of Shoals Trip 2008> To: freedom21@yahoogrou ps.com> Date: Monday, September 22, 2008, 5:58 PM> > > > > > > Hi folks. This past weekend I sailed out to the spectacularly > beautiful Isles of Shoals on “Graceful Rose”. Last year I sailed out > to the islands on the third time I’d ever sailed a boat and, with > incredible luck and a strong North wind made
it there and back, each > time in about 4 hours–a round trip of about 30 miles–with ease. > This year, the wind was very light, and my circuitous tacking route > of more like twenty miles one way, took 7 hours to accomplish. I > picked up a mooring in Gosport Harbor and, after inflating my micro-> dinghy, rowed to Star Island where I wandered around in the footsteps > of Celia Thaxter, Blackbeard, and Thoreau. It was around 40 degrees > at night, but I was cozy in my solid ocean-going craft. Mind > you “Graceful Rose” was at least 20 feet shorter than any of the half-> dozen other sailboats in the harbor.> > In the morning, I sailed off my mooring–a first for me–and back > toward Massachusetts with a brisk NW wind for about 3 hours at around > 3-4 knots, then the wind died completely. I couldn’t manage 1 knot > of forward motion for the
next three hours. I could see Salisbury, > but I couldn’t get there. I listened to the NOAA weather report on > my radio and they said the winds would be “light and variable” for > the rest of the day. My vaguely spinning windex had already told me > that much, along with the glass-like surface of the ocean. Eventually > I did make it back to the mouth of the Merrimac, where I motored up > the river to my Marina.> > All around a great time, but a bit of a lesson to me about leaving > enough time, and bringing enough gas to motor if I find myself in the > middle of the ocean with no wind and night falling.> > Cheers,> Peter>