The Cruising Kitty

Sea Knowledge And Training - Updated

2013-02-19T17:34:00.000Z

Here’s the sea knowledge and training programme I’ve planned for the Can Opener - with updates:

On the Water

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore

Theory

~~RYA Yachtmaster Stellar Navigation theory~~ - done!
~~RYA Yachtmaster Coastal/Offshore Prep Theory~~ done!
~~RYA Day Skipper Theory~~ done!

Specialist

Diesel Engine Maintenance
~~Marine Radio Short Range Certificate/VHF Operator~~ - done!
Sea Survival/ Emergency Preparedness
Offshore Safety
Veterinary Offshore First Aid
~~RYA Offshore First Aid~~ - scheduled

Other

~~Courses run by manufacturers on servicing and maintaining their equipment~~ - Feb 2013 - done!
Electrical Systems and Solar
Spanish

That should do it... till I think of something more to decree the Can Opener shall study.

The best thing about sailing is there is always something new to learn. Constant challenges and education. What could be better?

We're getting there!

Any other critical courses / topics to add to the study list?

--Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

Red Tabby Cruising Committee Meets

2013-01-23T20:44:00.001Z

The first Meeting of the Red Tabby Cruising Committee has adjourned... and it was fantastic! There were free drinks for everyone, three course meals, cupcakes to frolic in...

Well, possibly not free for everyone - but for beloved guests of honour... absolutely. (The First Mate's strangled choking noises behind me are a tad reminiscent of when he was trying to bift me off the cupcake pile last night. But frankly if I heeded all of the Can Opener's gasping and in articulate overreacting I would never get anything done. And certainly the cupcake count of my life would be dramatically lower.)

The First Mate spent the better part of this morning with Cruising Committee work: drafting emails to Cruising Section Members to publicise upcoming club cruising events this Spring. Tomorrow he'll be compiling the updated Section contact list. Moaning and aching all day, he was. As if he were the only one frenetically employed...

At times, I do find the Can Opener has little regard for real effort - I have been busy all morning filing the leftover patisserie I looted. Filed according to colour, culinary heritage and tastiness... (Oi! WHERE did these come from, Fuzzbucket?? I thought I completely emptied your dreadful sac à main last night! My dear First Mate, that delightful Red Tabby chef absolutely pressed them upon me when I told him I could get him Dee Cafari's autograph. She still remembers me...)

Quality control is my forté.

--Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

Bloglovin

2013-01-21T22:47:00.000Z

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Princess Anne Spotted!

2013-01-18T13:33:00.001Z

Princess Anne Spotting!

Can you find HRH in the photo above?

There we were, just lounging on the RYA benches in the lecture space at the London Boat Show, soaking up all the wisdom on diesel engine maintenance when... the lecturer's eyes bugged out, his voice went hoarse, his words trailed off dry as dust...

Why?

Because Princess Anne, that well-known sailing aficianado, was strolling past our booth, hotly pursued and surrounded by her security scrum.

Instantly I required the Can Opener to stand guard over my lounging spot so that none of the wily diesel hangers-on would nab my place (and to take over photography duties).

Then I sprang into action (cue Mission Impossible music) and began scaling the canopy over the RYA lecture area. With absolute precision I lined up my quarry, then sprang-pounced from the canopy corner, and swan-dived directly into Princess Anne's paper Primark shopping bags...

(CO: You did not! Largely because I knew exactly what might whiz through your demented brain and instantly pinned you in a half-Neilson between my knees...

CC: O yeah? Explain the 'Mission Impossible' music then!

CO: ...That, I cannot explain...)

--Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

Gulliver G

2013-01-17T08:35:00.002Z

At the Boat Show again...

We returned to the Boat Show yesterday for another round of joy and jubilant perusing and learning...

And what did we find in the marina but... Clare Francis' boat that she sailed across the Atlantic in the 1973 Observer Royal Western Single-handed Transatlantic Yacht Race!!

Could we contain our excitement? No, we could not!

It's a Nicholson 32, still in great shape and with some new improvements added (we are sure the solar panels on the deck were not there when Clare was on her 1973 voyage!).

We can't believe how small it seems. And we love it.

We puttered straight over to the Nicholson 32 Owners' Assocation at the Show and loaded up on more information there. They sure were a nice bunch.

The Nic 32 shoots straight to the top of our 'favourite yacht designs to consider' list!

--Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

It's All About The Journey

2013-01-15T20:53:00.001Z

In the Marina at the London Boat Show 2013

It's All About The Journey...

Okay. So if it's all about the journey... what are these things doing at MY boat show??

We'd get to wherever we're going in these monsters in about two seconds, no - three seconds absolute max.

No time at all to relax and smell the tuna. Or the mahi mahi.

It must make sense to somebody, because these machines are here. It does not make sense to yours truly.

--Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

At The Boat Show 2013

2013-01-14T20:26:00.000Z

At The London Boat Show 2013...aaaaaaall day!

FanTAStic! ...And now for a restorative snooze...

I will require the Can Opener to capture my reflection, opinions and unparalleled genius on the morrow.

To the silk cushion!

Your humble (yet ever perfect) servant,

--Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

Sailing 2013 Begins!

2013-01-01T13:00:00.000Z

Spring Events Schedule

What's on in Spring 2013?

We've scheduled ourselves for every lecture we can find in our area, some good courses, special events and even some brave-the-elements sailing!

If we can find more, we'll add to the list as we go along.

Here's our list for Spring 2013:

Boat Show lectures
Cruising Association lectures
2 Cruising Association seminars
Red Tabby lectures
Red Tabby's Boat Show Cocktail Party
RYA first aid course
RYA sea survival course
Red Tabby Sailing Forum!
passages with Cap'n Davie
Red Tabby J80 sailing?
and, of course, the Red Tabby Cruising Committee dinners!

(OY! There's research, organising and work to be done for the Cruising Committee too, Furrball! Not just mealtimes! Speak for yerself, Oh Opposable-Thumbed-One...)

Great Bastet, it's gonna be great!

--Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

Something Magical

2012-12-31T13:00:00.000Z

New Year's Eve...

There's something in the air that keeps telling us that 2013 is going to be a busy - and we hope a very productive - year.

Some little frisson of magic that's making our fur stand ever so slightly on end.

We're going to do our darnedest to make it that way anyway!

Best wishes to all and to all a very

Happy New Year!

--Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

Cruising Kitty's New Year's Resolutions for 2012

2012-12-30T16:16:00.000Z

New Year's Resolutions for the Can Opener

100 days on the water in 2013!
finish researching yacht designs on the short list
start actively viewing potential yachts
study Spanish 5 min/d (down from last year's goal of 15min/d - which did not work out at all)
keep on going to the gym 4x/wk

This year, we're going with the theory that doing a few things well is a better strategy than aiming for a giant impossible list.

New Year's Resolutions for Captain Cat?

Mmph? Naaaaaaaaah.

(Audible, agitated, but indecipherable commentary from the Can Opener off stage...)

Okay, okay. Here we go:

Be EVEN nicer to the Can Opener if that's possible (further indecipherable commentary from the Can Opener off stage)........ Apparantly, this is possible.
Share my Jackie Chan and Cameron Diaz DVD collections more often (Why? See #1 above.)

(...Indecipherable commentary becomes less agitated.)

Well. I suppose that'll be exhausting enough for one year... Must find my silk cushion now to recover upon.

--Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

Cruising Kitty Sailing Events List 2012

2012-12-28T13:00:00.000Z

The Cruising Kitty's Sailing Events List 2012

Here's a list of the sailing and cruising events the Can Opener and I participated in in 2012:

Highlights

yacht delivery from Malaga, Spain to Poros, Greece in a 40 ft catamaran
Red Tabby Cruising Regatta
team racing with the Red Tabby Yacht Club
Cowes Week
Junior Offshore Group racing
Sigma 38 racing
passages with Cap'n André on Un Tigre Beau
lectures at the Cruising Association
RYA courses

Total number of events:

exams/courses: 2
cruising lectures: 25
cruising and sailing celebrations: 25
books read: 22
different boats sailed on: 9
deliveries: 1
days team racing: 1
days on delivery: 21
days fleet racing: 7
passage days: 18

Total days on the water: 47

Sea miles gained this year: 3600

Next year... we'd love to double it!

Why count up where we've been? You gotta know where you've been to know where you're going. At least, we figure it can't hurt. And it feels good too.

Next up: I've got the Can Opener working on our Cruising Resolutions for 2013.

When he's done, he can have the smoked oyster I've got waiting for him, riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight here!

--Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

Cruising Kitty's Lecture List for 2012

2012-12-27T13:00:00.000Z

The Cruising Kitty's Lecture List for 2012

Here's the complete list of the cruising lectures the First Mate and I attended in 2012:

London Boat Show: Electrics for Boaters
London Boat Show: Diesel Engines
Cruising Association: 35 Years of Cruising Sailboat Design with Chuck Paine
Cruising Association: Sail Away
Cruising Association: Jimmy Cornell Speaks
Cruising Association: La Dolce Vita - Cruising the Islands of the Central Mediterranean
Cruising Association: Hostage - A Year at Gunpoint with Paul & Rachel Chandler
Cruising Association: Cruising in Oceania
Red Tabby Yacht Club: Ocean Passage Making
Cruising Association: Mid-Ocean Things That Could Spoil Your Day
Cruising Association: Power on Board
Cruising Association: Communication At Sea
Cruising Association: Victualling and Food Care
Cruising Association: Fuel Care - Biocides and Bugs
Cruising Association: Grenada
Cruising Association: Yacht Preparation and Equipment
Cruising Association: Medical Matters on Board
Red Tabby Yacht Club: Southern Adventure
Southampton Boat Show: On The Water Training!
RYA VHF Course
Cruising Association: Spain and Back in a Summer
Cruising Association: Bora Bora and the Pacific Islands
Cruising Association: Cape Horn and North to Alaska
Red Tabby Yacht Club: Racing Rules for 2013~2016
Cruising Association: Cruising to Arctic Norway

Huh. It didn't seem like so much at the time, but when you write it all down... it adds up nicely!

--Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

Merry Christmas 2012!

2012-12-25T13:00:00.000Z

Merry Christmas!

from

The Cruising Kitty

(& the Can Opener)

Dear Santa

2012-12-24T13:00:00.000Z

Dear Santa Claws,

Well, the year draws to another close - and in just a few hours, I get to see you again!

First off, a super big scoop of appreciation for last year. You really delivered big time - on everything!

The foul weather gear, booties, life jackets, catnip and the sea miles!... We got in more sea miles than we had ever hoped for. It was a great year! And if you were in on that Mayan Apocalypse passing us by, well - thanks for that too.

The patience that I asked for, however,... the Can Opener still could do with a bit more.* Also the peace on earth. But I realise these things take time.

This year I ask for but one big thing for the sailing agenda:

double the number of days on the water as last year.

I realise that you could just as easily email the above as a gift certificate/coupon, but I do hope you'll show up anyway tonight to shake paws all 'round and lend us a few scritches by the tree.

I'll have your favourite smoked salmon and oysters laid on. And I've saved a few of the Can Opener's famous almond star cookies for you too this year.

But I'll be drinking all the milk, of course, as you're driving.

Yours devotedly,

Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

*Though notably he did re-alphabetise my entire Jackie Chan DVD collection without a single complaint.

Boat Hoist

2012-12-22T16:17:00.000Z

Un Tigre Beau rises from the waters...

...and is on the hard for the winter for good now...

--Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

Ready For Christmas!

2012-12-21T13:00:00.000Z

So, we're ready for Christmas!

We have hung our stockings by the chimney mantel. The holly's been stolen from the local park and tossed around the stairway banisters. No white Christmas snow in sight, which is fine - just as I decreed.

The First Mate's in our land galley rustling up endless Christmas cookies. Including some for guests. Mulled wine's a-mulling. Presents wrapped. Many seem to be book shaped and one might even be a new sextant. The Can Opener did get quite unsettled when I began pouncing and rattling it...

Yes, Yuletide 2012 is just around the corner.

So... exhausted from putting final touches on the Can Opener's last minute to-do lists, I'll just settle down here under the tree, next to this marine pressure cooker-shaped object and dream of magnificent fish chowders to come.

I can't think of anything better to do on the night-before-the-night-before-the-night-before-the-night-before Christmas.

Can you?

--Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

Cruising Kitty's Reading List for 2012

2012-12-20T22:39:00.000Z

The Cruising Kitty's Reading List for 2012

Here's what the Captain snoozed on during 2012
(and that were subsequently assigned to and read by the Can Opener too):

Maiden Voyage, by Tania Aebi
How to Sail Around the World, by Hal Roth
20 Small Boats to Take You Anywhere, by John Vigor
The Racing Rules 2008-2012, by Bryan Willis
Psychology of Sailing, by Michael Stadler
Care and Feeding of the Sailing Crew, Lin Pardey
World Cruising Survey, by Jimmy Cornell
Sell Up & Sail: Taking the Ulysses Option, by Bill and Laurel Cooper
RYA VHF Radio text
The Seaworthy Offshore Sailboat, by John Vigor
Day Skipper for Sail and Power, by Alison Noice
Yachtmaster for Sail and Power, by Alison Noice
RYA Day Skipper course book
RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster course book
RYA Weather Handbook, by Chris Tibbs
The Reluctant Mariner, by Joana Hackett
Come Hell or High Water, by Clare Francis
Come Wind or Weather, by Clare Francis
Cruising in Seraffyn, by Larry and Lin Pardey
Against the Flow, by Dee Cafari
Taking on the World, by Ellen MacArthur
The Racing Rules of Sailing, by Paul Elvestrom

--Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

On The Hard

2012-12-14T13:00:00.000Z

On the hard

All lined up and waiting for Spring...

--Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

Cruising Committee

2012-11-28T13:00:00.000Z

The Cruising Committee meeting cake... of the The Cruising Kitty's dreams

News flash:
The Can Opener has been invited to join the Cruising Committee at the Red Tabby Yacht Club!

What does it mean? Well... actually we don't know.

They said we just had to show up for 6 dinner meetings in 2013 and maybe do some other committee type stuff. Like research and organising for upcoming events and event planning.

Sounds pretty ominous to me.

I immediately volunteered to take care of the dinner-eating end of things and the Can Opener can do the research and organising end of the stick. We like to help the First Mate out wherever possible. Especially in the specialist area of desserts.

And we'll get to meet a lot of other cruising cats which should be great! I wonder if Pussy Galore has signed up...

--Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

Cruising Norway - Destination Dreamin'

2012-11-27T13:17:00.001Z

Howard Steen, at the Cruising Association two weeks ago, spoke about his voyages around Norway over the last 3 years. He did it in a fine craft of a Vancouver 27 called Martha Maria. The clubhouse at the Cruising Association was filled to 'standing room only' capacity to hear him.

Howard started sailing about 20 years ago, but since retiring bought in his own boat and has been sailing intensively solo or with friends around Norway ever since.

He has sailed from Oslo to Tromso above the Arctic Circle - and about 1000nm and 50+ sailing days per year.

Great Reasons to visit Norway according to Howard

inspiring scenery - hills, mountains, glaciers
midnight sun, northern lights
100,000+ km coast
types of sailing is vaired - from open ocean to archipelago to pottering in fjords and along coast
Norwegians are very hospitable
English spoken almost everywhere
history and culture for example, stave churches only exist in Norway, the Viking museum in Oslo
multitude of empty and unspoiled harbours and anchorages
usually can anchor in <10m water
there are also busy harbours near busy cities if you want them
excellent transportation connections: 16 primary and 29 regional airports, ferries, trains, fast ferries, buses...
skiing and great system of mountain huts to stay in if you like hiking in the mountains
nearly no insects!
...aaaaaaaand he crossed the Arctic Circle!

Sailing in Norway

fjord sailing depth can be >1000m deep
need to know your mast height accurately in Norway because there are so many bridges between the islands
need to use your engine a lot - only sailed about 30% of the time due to low winds
used SIM card and a dongle for communication
fuel is mostly by hose
they have an excellent Coast Guard
not allowed to discharge holding tanks within 300m of shores

Wintering in Norway

the water is warmed by the Gulf Stream so you can leave the boat in the water over winter
but you get snow on the boat so you need to cover it to protect the decks
you need to get permission to overwinter from Customs
he used a diesel heater and an electric fan heater to keep warm in the winter
overwintering in a small harbour afloat was 500£ (Tromso was much more expensive)

Harbour fees

only approx 100-150 krone/day (£10-15/day or $16-24/day)
in a big city like Tromso they were 200-300 krone/day
(£22-33/day or $35-53/day)
often harbours were free to stay in in isolated harbours

Some info sources

weather info at www.yr.no
sea charts at www.kart.statkart.no
cruising guides from the Cruising Assocation - free!
RCC Pilotage - Norway Guide, edited by Judy Lomax
Norway Cruising Guide - ebook, by Phylis Nickel and John Harries

We love it all! Norway's on our list...

--Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

Destination Dreamin'
Previously: Cape Horn And North To Alaska

Rules, Rules, Rules!

2012-11-26T13:00:00.000Z

Goodbye 2008~2012, helloooooo 2013~2016!

One of the books always on the First Mate's bedstand is The Racing Rules of Sailing, by Paul Elvestrom. And last week at the Red Tabby Yacht Club, at the racing section's most recent lecture, this was exactly the topic of the day.

So I spruced up the Can Opener, climbed up on his shoulder and steered him downtown to the club. (My ears are still stinging from your firm grip on them, Furrball!)

The discussion, led by a most able and illuminating umpire old cat, focused on what's new in the rules for 2013~2016.

So what's the big deal?
As usual, there are some significant changes coming down the pipe. And it's not just that there's new rules to learn. It's that the interpretation of these rules takes a while to iron out. It's not a speedy process or all cut and dried. It's a seeing and doing on the race course.

How hard will your competitors push the rules? How will the umps interpret them this time? Will the umps in other countries play them the same way? Or even the umpires at the next yacht club...

Once things settle down and there's some kind of precedent established then you can really get down to figuring out how to use these rules to best advantage tactically.

So what's new?
Some highlights:

inclusion of a new section on environmental responsibility
new definition of boats overlapping
changes to definitions of mark room and room to round it - again
'ownership of the zone' is gone
clarifications on 'room to hail', responsibilities, hailing at the finish line and hand signals added
more clarifications to the definitions and implementation of 'un/seamanlike' conduct

The new The Racing Rules of Sailing 2013~2016, by Paul Elvestrom is already on sale. The Rules in Practice 2013-2016 by Bryan Willis goes on sale Friday. We'll be honing our boat handling skills next year on racing boats as well as cruising boats so I am requiring the First Mate to zip online today and order new copies of both.

This is detailed stuff to absorb and he'll need the winter to absorb it.

Have you got your new copy of the rules? Mmph? - not yet?? That new toy rodent may be good, but these rules take ages to sink in... Time to get cracking and assign it to an adoring and motivated underling like I did.

--Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

Come Wind or Weather - Reviewed

2012-11-24T15:47:00.001Z

Book the Captain has snoozed upon:
Come Wind or Weather, by Clare Francis

Good news! The Can Opener has just finished another great book by Clare Francis. Come Wind or Weather is her second book - her first book, Come Hell or High Water, was so good we assigned this one to the Can Opener to read as well.

But wait - who is Clare Francis?
Clare studied at the Royal Ballet School, graduated in Economics from University College London, worked in marketing, excelled at offshore yacht racing, was the first woman skipper in the Whitbread, became a BBC presenter and then... oh yeah, morphed to an international bestselling thriller writer. Not bad. Not bad at all.

And here is the First Mate's book review of her second sailing account, Come Wind or Weather ...

Topics Covered

Clare describes skippering ADC Accutrac in the 1977-78 Whitbread Around the World race with 11 crew, thus becoming the first woman ever to skipper a Whitbread team. She covers preparation, refit, funding and the race itself.

The Best Part
Come Wind or Weather is not just a record of events. Hands down, what we loved best about this book is her detailed descriptions of the characters on board.

Actually, were her descriptions so detailed? No. It was her choice of details presented that made the character of each teammate so clear. She interlaced humourous quotes from the Sea Log with concise but vivid accounts of crew interactions and events. Brilliant.

And her description of racing through the Antarctic Ocean is thrilling - and terrifying - in its own right. Oooo, we do love a thrilling tale.

Wishes

Okay. All right. Again, we wish this book were longer. Or that it had a sequel. Hey, wait! It has a pre-quel! It's called Come Hell or High Water. We loved that one too.

Conclusion
We said we'll read any book Clare Francis has written - and we did. And we weren't disappointed.

Post- ballerina-ing, marketing, dominating the yachting scene and BBC presenting, Francis began writing psycho-thrillers that debuted on the NY Times Bestseller list right out of the gate.

We've got a list of her thrillers as long as my whiskers to read. But reviews on those are for another blog...

Ever read Come Wind or Weather, by Clare Francis? How did you find it?

Any good recommendations for other books for the sea library?

--Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

In the US

Amazon.com Widgets

In the UK

Amazon.co.uk Widgets

Book Reviews
Previously: Taking On The World , by Ellen MacArthur

Cruising Fitness - Progress Review

2012-11-22T21:23:00.000Z

This is NOT the Can Opener. But if Captain Cat were human, he would look JUST like this.

How's the First Mate shaping up these days?

It's good to know where you've been. Looking back at my scrupulously kept records, I was surprised to see just how far the First Mate has come in one short year.

While we will always press on, we are pleased with his progress thus far. Three stars and a catnip free-for-all for the Can Opener!

(Hey, Furrball - it's supposed to be about rewards that I would like! Mmph? Who would not like catnip?? The First Mate doth speak in riddles...)

Current Training Plan 2012

Strength Training: 4x/week, 30 minutes per session, 25% increase in weights carried over last year
Cardio: 4x/week at the gym, 45 minutes per session, includes 25% intensity increase 2x/week (ie interval training begun). Treadmill, bikes, x-trainer
Crunches: 3x/week, 150-200/day
Flexibility: stretching before and after, 5 minutes x2

Last Year's Training Plan
Here's the point that he started from in 2011...

Strength Training: 3x/week, 30 minutes per session
Cardio: 4x/week at the gym, 30 minutes per session. Treadmill, bikes, x-trainer.
Crunches: 100/day, 3x/week
Flexibility: stretching before and after, 5 minutes x2

Could I push the Can Opener harder? Of course, I could! But I know this guy. Slow and steady wins the race.

Could he cruise without this fitness training? Of course, he could. Many - even most - cruisers probably do. Seems like a good idea to get him in shape though. I may need some tuna crates hefted out of the bilge-bottom depths of a boat locker someday. He needs to be prepared.

Cost so far

I have moved the Can Opener to a gym that only costs £216/year ($344/year) or just £18/month ($29/month)! It doesn't have a pool though...
(Last year's gym was a little dearer: £360/year ($593/year) ie. £30/month for gym membership on special offer. It didn't have a pool either. This was a pretty average cost in our town.)
£50 ($82) - last year's training shoes, on sale

What sports/exercise best translate to a live-aboard life?

What else should I add to the Can Opener's fitness programme? Yoga? T'ai Chi? Any suggestions gratefully received.

--Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

Super Smoothies for Power Training

2012-11-21T14:44:00.001Z

Can Opener: Hey! Captain C, your sard--

Captain Cat: You interrupt my karate lesson.

Can Opener: --sardine smoothie arrives. With 10% froth as decreed. I'll just put youtube on pause then, shall I?

Captain Cat: In a leaded crystal bowl! Yes, that will be fine, Can Opener. All is good in paradise. Muscle rest and recovery is key to maximising... protein after training fuels muscle building... blah, blah, bla. Whatever. Bottoms up!

Captain Cat's Super Smoothie for Power Training

Total time to prep: 10 minutes

# Servings: 2

Level of difficulty: Even the Can Opener can do it

Into a pitcher big enough, dump the following:

1/4 cup milk
3/4 cup yoghurt (or frommage frais)
1 cup ripe bananas (3 medium bananas should do it)
1/2 cup strawberries, blueberries, nectarines, peaches, kiwis, mangoes, any kind of frozen berries, or for the very mild palate, pears

Use a potato masher and a fork on a boat (if, like most people, you don't carry the hand blender on board) - an extra bonus for the biceps. Otherwise, on land and for the fortunate, the handheld mixer is best.

Directions: Peel. Dump. Blend. Slurp.

Options: If you can stand the taste, adding a tablespoon of brewers' yeast packs a huge vitamin B punch. My observation is, however, that given the choice between brewers' yeast and more strawberries - most humans will take the strawberries.

Favourite options you've added to your smoothie?

--Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

Note: Most cats are lactose intolerant. They love cheese, treats are good - but they shouldn’t be carving out a new food group for it. This recipe is intended for humans.

Captain Cat, on the other hand, can eat anything, anywhere, anytime. My smoothie was still, of course, made with sardines and water. Obviously. Bring it on.

Cape Horn And North To Alaska

2012-11-20T23:15:00.002Z

Nick Pochin spoke last month about his voyage around Cape Horn And North To Alaska in a Discovery 55. The clubhouse at the Cruising Association as usual was packed to hear him.

I didn't need to direct the Can Opener to take notes - he knows the drill. Legible notes scrawled on the pad he rested on my backside were double quick and with absolute precision. Well done, First Mate!

(Yeah, too bad this write up is weeks after the fact Furrball - because somebody shredded them while playing subdue-the fake-mouse games on his sofa cushion...

Like I said, Mate. You leave 'em on the cushion, you take yer chances...)

The Plan
In 2009, Nick said he knew of only 3 boats going this way at this time. He didn't speak Spanish, his planned route was against the prevailing winds and current, and his boat was GRP (fibreglass) which many advised him against using for this project. Sounded like a challenge and fun to him ( to us too!), so he sat down and planned his voyage in detail.

He selected a crew with a mix of useful professional skills, that would get along well with each other. He bought a Sat phone, provisions, insurance and tools. He did extensive research with his reading list...

The Reading List
He read an astonishing number of books (many from the Cruising Association library), including:

Brazil And Beyond, by Annie Hill
World Cruising Routes, by Jimmy Cornell
RCC Pilot, by Andrew O'Grady
The Ice Master, by Jennifer Nibe
A Voyage for Madmen, by Peter Nichols
Rounding the Horn, by David Slavitt

The Route

UK
Madiera
Canaries
Cape Verde
Brazil
Falklands
around Cape Horn
Beagle Channel
Magellan Straits
Peru
Galapagos
Acupulco
San Diego
San Francisco
Vancouver
Alaska!

The Highlights

scuba diving
most officials very friendly - though not all that speedy.

(One aid to speeding up processes is to have a Swiss crewmate on board if say, the spouse of the local quarantine officer is also Swiss. Somehow paperwork seems to melt away...)

spectacular waterfalls
beautiful easy weather window to get around Cape Horn!
minke whales
sea lions
dreaded kelp
williwaws
Falkland Islands have 486,000 sheep and 1500 people
spectacular scenery
...aaaaaaaand they passed a Vendée Challenge boat on the way!

We are mighty respectful of Nick's achievement. Does Captain Cat want to go to such a cold and inhospitable place? I think not. At least, not unless it's summer...

Would you consider such a grueling voyage? What ever would possess you to do so?

--Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)

Destination Dreamin'
Previously: Bora Bora
Next: Cruising in Norway