Sailing Jolly Roger http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com Most recent posts at Sailing Jolly Roger posterous.com Thu, 09 Jun 2011 06:56:38 -0700 Landlocked http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/landlocked http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/landlocked

I know you're expecting this to be an update about Jolly Roger.  Ha!  Tell Captain Dave he needs to brush up on his typing skills and get to it!  Seriously though, we are in the middle of Utah today.  Not really prime sailing country.  We did see a marina at the Great Salt Lake.  I think Dave took a picture of it to commemorate the moment as we drove by.  

So while we're cruising through the landlocked states of Idaho, Utah and Colorado, Dave's friend Phil and his lovely wife are staying on Jolly Roger.  Phil and Dave met in Panama and share a mutual love of all things sailing.  Phil has (or had??) a boat that he was sailing around and living on at the time.  So now Phil is in Seattle and living on the Jolly Roger.  And guess what?  He’s WORKING on the Jolly Roger!  The pesky aft head (now just an aft shower) lights that we hadn’t put in yet?  Phil called us the day he arrived to tell us he’s putting those in.  If this is how much work is going to get done, I’m thinking Phil should live on Jolly Roger for a few months the next year and then the boat will be done!  Oh wait….then we wouldn’t be able to go sailing for a year and I’d have to live with a Dave without a boat.  Nevermind.  I like the Dave WITH a boat. 

Still, I want to publicly say that Dave’s friend Phil (who I haven’t met since we left town the same day he arrived) is freaking awesome.  I can’t wait to see the aft shower with light!!!  I will now be able to put in my contacts in the morning without poking my eyeball and complaining about the lack of light!  Yippppeeee!

Other projects that have been completed since our last update include a working forward head, new faucet in galley, finished paint in the aft shower, cleaned out the really disgusting smelly stinky gross ice box/cooler/fridge and re-wired the electrical.  It may not look like a huge amount but that is some serious progress.  We’re off to drive to Colorado from Utah today but we’ll be thinking about all of you and about our future sailing trips  work parties on the Jolly Roger.

Xoxo

mona

Mona Sterling

www.posterous.monasterling.com

www.monasterling.com

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/721616/DSC09828.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4xg826J8GYh3 Mona Sterling Sterling Mona Sterling Sat, 19 Feb 2011 17:30:34 -0800 We Have Heat!! http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/we-have-heat http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/we-have-heat I will make Dave get on the computer to tell the story of putting in the heater.  My involvement was limited to turning the switch on and rejoicing in the feeling of warm air.  Tomorrow we will check and see if the hot air is enough to actually heat the boat effectively.  But we got it up to a balmy 54 degrees today.  Practically tropical.  

Head Update:  I still haven't painted because it requires so much sanding.  We're now discussing just putting up some vinyl board (or whatever that stuff is called) instead of painting.  We also finally found a faucet to replace the nasty old one.  It was a challenge to find a wall mount faucet with a 6 inch spread and a short spout but Dave tracked one down.

We also bought a new faucet for the galley to replace the leaky one which we will do tomorrow if we have time.  And by 'we' I really mean Dave.  I am not handy so my jobs are mostly cleaning and organizing.  

If I remember I will take the camera down and have some pictures for tomorrow. 

xoxo
mona

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/721616/DSC09828.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4xg826J8GYh3 Mona Sterling Sterling Mona Sterling Tue, 25 Jan 2011 20:34:03 -0800 Coming to a Head http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/coming-to-a-head http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/coming-to-a-head This is the aft head before.  What is that hideous stuff you ask?  It's cork.  Marbled cork.  There are two problems with this.  One, it's the ugliest stuff I've ever seen on a wall.  Even uglier than the blue and red plaid wallpaper my brother put up in his room when he was ten.  Two, it's cork.  Who in their right mind would put CORK in a boat bathroom??  What were they thinking?  So I spent some time (and by time I'm talking in hours and hours) chipping away at the walls and trying not to gag.  I lit some lovely scented candles while I worked, but that just resulted in the small space smelling like lime and vanilla scented barf.  There's a special gross smell that comes from boat heads and the cork had just soaked it up like a big 'ol sponge.  Peeee-uuuuuu. 

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Here is what they chose to accent the hideous cork board wall.  It appears to be painted on marble or marble wallpaper.  Classy, real classy.

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So now that I have stripped down the walls, my next project is to fill the holes and then sand everything down and paint.  Eventually we'll probably put up some white laminate, but for now we just want to get the walls treated so they're not bare wood.  It's been satisfying to rip the stuff down and I can't wait to get to the painting it white part.  But now I have that whole boring in between part.  Which I'll probably be working on this weekend if anyone wants to come help or keep me company.  

Dave also removed the actual head from the head since we decided you really don't need two on one boat.  I mean it's not THAT big.  So is still called a head if it doesn't have a head?  

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/721616/DSC09828.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4xg826J8GYh3 Mona Sterling Sterling Mona Sterling Mon, 10 Jan 2011 02:13:33 -0800 memories of the summer http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/memories-of-the-summer http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/memories-of-the-summer I just received an email from Todd of Sugata.  He was one of the boat that was sailing the pacific when we where. He compiled a video of the passage from Hawaii to California.  It is a great little video, and just watching this make me long for the open ocean... maybe i will be back out there sometime soon.

He also has one of the trip from Mexico to Hawaii  just incase you can't get enough of seeing!

Dennis on Shamaness was also out there sailing with us (on his boat) and here is his video. 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/488272/very_random_020.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5erGNls68m5P geoff gamsby straightturn geoff gamsby Fri, 05 Nov 2010 07:08:00 -0700 Rescue at sea! http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/32562008 http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/32562008

Geoff, and Stan Rescued at Sea.  Oct 2

By Capt Dave

 

October 2, my wedding day.  We had moved the Jolly Roger up North for my bachelor party (see blog post) and she was sitting calmly on a mooring off the beach at the Guemes Island Resort. 

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After our great delivery sail, Geoff and Stan decided it would be fun to sail  Geoff's boat Solana up for the wedding.  They would have a place to stay for the weekend and like myself, Geoff just loves sailing.

Geoff and Stan had left Thursday night to allow some extra time to make the trip with a goal of arriving Friday night for the pre wedding party.

 

On Friday afternoon I get a call from Geoff,  they are near Point No Point.  That puts them just West of the SOUTH end of Whidbey Island, or more accurately, a long way from Guemes Island!   The wedding was the following day.  If they sail on through the second night, they should still make it in time for the wedding(?).  They are fine, have lots of food, but are low on fuel.

 

The following day, October 2, I get another call from S/V Solana.  They are near the island, but it doesn’t look like they are going to make it in time for the wedding without some assistance.  They are out of fuel, batteries are low, it is a lovely day with sunshine, and only a whisper of wind on the water.

My first thought is to row out to the Jolly Roger and go rescue Solana.  They were not in danger, and would have made it to the resort sooner or later, but they had come a long way, been out on the boat for two days just to miss the wedding. I don’t think so!

 

I started asking around to see who wanted to be on the rescue crew and it became apparent that my judgment was under attack!  “You are getting married in a few hours, what in the heck are you thinking?!”  We didn’t know how long it would take to tow in Solana and no one seemed willing to risk missing the wedding to save Geoff and Stan.  This was just not going to do!  The first rule of a mariner is to lend assistance to other mariners and I was not going to just let them drift out in the Sound without at least trying.  I was able to convince a few friends that they had 3 hours and that they could head out for an hour and a half, and if they didn’t have Solana in tow, they could turn around and head back without them and still make the wedding.


We headed out to Jolly Roger where I was going to fire up the engine and head back to the shore.  It was clear that I was not allowed to go on any rescue mission with my wedding only hours away.  From the deck of the Jolly Roger, we looked North and there, just past the island were Geoff and Stan slowly sailing in a light wisp of wind.  Judging the distance to Solana, I figured it would take me more time to row back to shore than to go on the rescue, so I tied the dingy to the mooring bouy, fired up the motor and with me on board, motored over and threw my friends a towline.

 

Back on shore, Mona was frantically working to get the reeption tent sent up when she noticed Jolly Roger sailing away from the mooring buoy.  Someone told her that I had decided to take some people out on the boat.  After a brief moment of wondering if she would be walking down the aisle alone and a brief moment (or so I'm told) of yelling a few obscenities about guys who go sailing three hours before their wedding, Mona decided that if that's what I needed to go (go sailing) three hours before my wedding than that was what I needed to do and it was all going to be okay.  This is one of the many reasons I am glad to be married to Mona.

 

The rescue was successful and we all made it to the church on time.  And best of all, I got to go out on the boat on my wedding day!!!

Stan Geoff Bride_and_groom Trio
See the full gallery on Posterous

 

Capt Dave

 

 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/579002/IMG_87882.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AGqkLbC0lBn Dave Perchlik Capt Dave Dave Perchlik Thu, 28 Oct 2010 21:03:00 -0700 Bachelor Party!! http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/31868351 http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/31868351

 

Bachelor Party!

I asked myself what I wanted to do for my last hoorah as a single man.  Wild night in Vegas? Dancing girls? Wild party with Jell-O shots and waking up in jail? No, the first and only thing that came to my mind was a weekend sail with a few good friends.   Not only would I get a weekend out on the boat and a night of drinking beer in some salty dive bar, I would also be able to move the boat to Anacortes so that the Jolly Roger could be part of the wedding plans. So I assembled a crew of “willing” able-bodied seamen as pressing unsuspecting men into service went out in the 1800’s.  Damn shame too.

The willing crew:

Geoff   - Live aboard sailor who crossed the ocean on Jolly Roger

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CB – Live aboard sailor and all around great storyteller

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Rich  – Live aboard sailor with a vast rum collection and cigars to match.

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The plan was to sail from Shilshole North towards the Swinomish Channel and La Conner and on to Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes.  It’s over 50 nautical miles to La Conner and with a cast off time of 10am it was prudent to plan somewhere to stop for the night along the East Side of Whidbey Island.

We had two choices, Coupeville or Oak Harbor and if the going was really slow, we could possibly stop at Langley for the night, which would make for a very long day #2.  When you plan on sailing, you are at the mercy of the wind. 

We left just after 10am with a nice South wind and an out going tide.  We raised the sails and the Jolly Roger took off North.  What a fantastic day!!!  Soon we were doing over 7 knots and we kept on going at over 7 knots all day long.  The sun came out a couple of times and the wind kept us moving along and before we knew it we had passsed Oak Harbor and were at the entrance to the Swinomish channel. 

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We stowed the sails and motored through the calm water to La Conner and tied up at a street side dock where we toasted to our day sail with a shot of rum.  We had made it over 50 nautical miles in only 8 hours.  We averaged over 6 knots for 8 hours straight!  What a fantastic day!  This was topped off by us finishing off a bottle of rum, a great pizza dinner and a few rounds at a local bar where the bartender had a laugh that reminded me of the Wicked Witch of the West.  A bit un-nerving and I was happy to head back to the comfy confines of the Jolly Roger to find Geoff asleep in the cockpit. 
 
Some time in the night it started to rain. Sunday morning was as gray as our communal hang over.  We motored on to Anacortes, each in our own thoughts, hardly saying a word.  A nice hot meal and 10,000 motorcycles welcomed us to Anacortes and the annual Oyster Run weekend.

My Bachelor Party was everything I wanted.  A great weekend sail with a few good friends.

Capt Dave

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/579002/IMG_87882.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AGqkLbC0lBn Dave Perchlik Capt Dave Dave Perchlik Sun, 10 Oct 2010 20:21:48 -0700 C-C-C-Cold http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/c-c-c-cold http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/c-c-c-cold We've gone sailing a few times this fall.  We didn't really have much of a summer so even if the boat HAD been here for the summer we wouldn't have had a whole lot better weather.  I'm slowly getting to know the JR and starting to feel a little less overwhelmed.  But I keep running into one problem.  I'm cold.  Not just a little uncomfortable kind of cold, but COLD.  Crabby cold.  Freezing cold.  Numb fingers and toes kind of cold.  Here's a picture of me before I got cold.  I'm wearing long johns, long wool socks, jeans, foul weather pants (these are like ski pants) long sleeve shirt, sweatshirt, another sweatshirt and a hat and gloves.  And for a moment when I was in the sun and there was no wind, I was comfortable.  Then I put on my heavy jacket and was comfortable for another few minutes.  And then I was cold.
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Here's Dave that same day.  Dressed in about half what I was wearing and perfectly comfortable.  Jerk.

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So obviously I need better clothing to keep me warm.  I want your opinions.  What's the best way to keep warm?  I'm not a warm person in general (I mean, really...can't you tell how ice cold and bitchy I am yet??) and the wind just seems to cut right through me.  This is going to put a damper on our winter sailing and I KNOW that Capt. Dave is itching to take her out again.  So please give me suggestions on how to stay warm.  And no, we won't be trading her in for a cozy warm power boat any time soon.  

xoxo
mona

Mona Sterling
---

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/721616/DSC09828.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4xg826J8GYh3 Mona Sterling Sterling Mona Sterling Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:42:22 -0700 A Three Hour Tour http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/a-three-hour-tour http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/a-three-hour-tour What started as a casual day sail on a warm sunny Saturday  became a spur of the moment trip to Liberty Bay.  The weather was warm, the wind was just enough to get us going somewhere and we were both ready for some serious time on the boat together.  So we just kept going.  Despite the fact that we did not have pillows, blankets or much in the way of food, we sailed off into the sunset.  We arrived at Liberty Bay at sunset and set our anchor.  Then we enjoyed some steak, a bottle of wine and we may or may not have played adult card games.  I forgot how much fun it can be to not have a television or a clock or a toddler.  

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At about 3am the wind kicked up a bit.  Dave had to get up numerous times to keep halyards from clanging and just to check on the boat.  We checked the weather report and it says light winds 5-10 mph from the South for Sunday.  We stayed relatively warm and were ready to head home the next morning.  That's when the fun began.

7:30 a.m.  -  There's no coffee on the boat.  And no hot water.  And no propane for the stove.  And no bananas for breakfast.  
8:00 a.m. -  Firing up the engine to leave anchor.  Engine won't start .  
8:01 a.m.  - Set sail and tack back and forth between other anchored boats in harbor.  We don't hit any boats.  
8:30 a.m.  -  Still no coffee.  
9:30 a.m. - Wind is flukey and it takes forever to cross small bay. 
11:30 a.m. - Wind is still flukey and it's still taking forever  
11:31 a.m. - I NEED COFFEE!
12:00 p.m. - Entering Puget Sound.  Winds 5-10 my ass.  There are whitecaps on the waves and the boat is steadily heeled over.  The wind is freezing.  I am freezing, despite my foul weather gear.  -
12:05 p.m. - Still....no....goddamned....coffee.  
12:30 p.m. - Boat handles weather well.  We make good time across the Sound.  
1:00 p.m. - Shilshole is in our sights.  Get motor started.  Hooray!  
1:30 p.m. - The dock!  Get docked without crashing.  Neighbor helps.  
1:31 p.m. - I sprint to the car and head to the nearest coffee shop.  Two sips later, I'm in heaven.  God I love coffee.

So, note to self.  ALWAYS have coffee on the boat.  I'll drink it made with cold water if I have to, but I have to have it.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/721616/DSC09828.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4xg826J8GYh3 Mona Sterling Sterling Mona Sterling Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:05:00 -0700 It's All About The Gear http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/its-all-about-the-gear http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/its-all-about-the-gear New sailing jacket:  Check
New bibs (that's what they call sailing overalls apparently): Check
Mustache: Check

I'm ready to go sailing.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/721616/DSC09828.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4xg826J8GYh3 Mona Sterling Sterling Mona Sterling Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:09:00 -0700 Rainy Day on the Jolly Roger http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/rainy-day-on-the-jolly-roger http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/rainy-day-on-the-jolly-roger

Is the Jolly Roger filling up with water? Are those little leaks getting worse and dripping on the teak? Is the wind picking up and did I do a good job with my spring lines (rope running fore and aft used to tie the boat to the dock)?  These are thoughts that go through my head as I lay awake at 6:50am on Labor day. 

I didn't have to think about these things with five people on board out in the Pacific.  I knew there was nothing I could do about it and that they would take care of getting her home and they were nowhere near a dock! 

I roll out of bed and drive the 45min in the gray morning to the marina.  It isn't raining. "They" said it would be raining, but it is just gray and overcast.  I am not sure who predicts the weather in Seattle, and I am finally getting comfortable with them being unable to predict the weather.  Sometimes it seems they must not even have windows in the weather center.

On the Jolly Roger I light the three oil lamps to take the dampness out of the air.  The oil lamps are an addition since getting her to Seatle, thanks to Geoff!. Those little lamps put off some heat that would not be welcome in Central America. So far, these lamps are the only heat on the JR.  They also provide a nice warm light without electricity. Jolly Roger hasn't been plugged in to an electrical outlet for over 5 years now. Go Green! Go Off Grid!  She uses her three solar panels to charge the batteries. It will be interesting to see how she does in the short days of the pacific NW.

Looking around the boat I do not know where to begin.  There are a few puddles of water, but without the rain it is hard to tell where some of them came from.  I walk throught the galley and notice that the ice box once again has the smell of a swamp with water the color of ink.  It is clear that the project for today is pulling out the old insulation that has become water logged and slowly releases its contents from behind the fiberglass barrier.  Yuck! Gross water logged 30 year old insulation!

I spent three hours and filled three big black trash bags and it's all gone!  No more black water, no more smell. It feels good to have one more thing checked off the long list of boat projects.  Time to head home.

As I pull into the garage it starts to rain.

Capt Dave

Swamp

Cartoon Source: http://fuffer.wordpress.com/2007/12/04/swamp-thing/

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/579002/IMG_87882.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AGqkLbC0lBn Dave Perchlik Capt Dave Dave Perchlik Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:53:09 -0700 This Time with Feeling http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/this-time-with-feeling http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/this-time-with-feeling We took the boat out again tonight.  It was just Dave, me, Turtle and my lovely friend Allison.  And by lovely I mean ever loving and patient.  Good GOD that woman is patient.  We sailed for about an hour and a half and for at least the first hour my darling Turtle was whining and I was alternating between hissing things at her (Remember when your parents would do this.  Like they were thinking that nobody would notice that they were telling you to "SHUT UP" but in their best whisper/hiss.  Yeah, it's still noticeable.  Right Allison?) and blatantly losing it with her.  Turtle wanted to go below.  She hated the life jacket.  She was cold.  She kept hitting her head from falling over with the life jacket on.  She wanted to go below.  She didn't like the wind.  She wanted to go below.  She couldn't stand up.  She wanted to go below.  I swear. to. God. I. almost. killed. her.  Seriously.  My anxiety this last month has already been mounting.  The pressures of the boat and the wedding have been adding up and with less than a month to go, I'm pretty sure I'll run out of Xanax.  And yet Allison smiled and chatted and did a lovely job of pretending not to notice my meltdowns.

Luckily Dave and Allison teamed up to successfully sail the boat while I sat and held Charlotte and occasionally threatened her.  The wind was good, the weather was gorgeous and the boat felt pretty damn good.  Getting her into the dock was a bit more challenging.  There was a lot more wind than there was last time.  And by a lot more, I mean there actually WAS a breeze.  So though I did the part I was told to you (loop this line over the aft cleat.  done!) the bow of the boat started quickly drifting into our neighbors.  Who were, of course, up on their boat eating dinner.  Thankfully, Dave launched himself off the boat and grabbed the bowline and pulled her in.  Phew. Still, I have to wonder how we will ever sail this boat when it's just me, Dave and Turtle.  Maybe we need to wait until Turtle is old enough to crew.  Nothing like a little child labor to keep the boat going.  Here's a picture that does not capture the push and pull of mother vs. daughter.  Instead it makes it look like WE'RE HAVING A GREAT TIME!!!  You really don't even need photoshop do you?  Because though a picture tells a thousand words, nine hundred and ninety nine of those words are lies.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/721616/DSC09828.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4xg826J8GYh3 Mona Sterling Sterling Mona Sterling Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:29:03 -0700 Leaving the Dock http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/leaving-the-dock http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/leaving-the-dock I finally got to sail Jolly Roger Monday night.  We had intended to go out on Sunday but we actually couldn't get crew so we did more cleaning instead.  Monday turned out to be a lovely sunny day so we cobbled together a crew (thanks to Jill, Melinda and James!) and headed out.  Capt. Dave is an expert on getting the boat out of the dock so that all went just fine.  We motored out of Shilshole and I started learning what's what on the JR.  I'm used to sailing on smaller, skinnier boats so this was a definite change.  First of all, I need to hit the gym and build some biceps if I'm ever going to effectively help sail this sucker.  Dave must have bought the sails filled with lead!  They were incredibly heavy and took some good muscle to get moving.  Second of all, wind really does help when trying to practice tacking and jibing.  The night was warm and perfect.  Perfectly wind-less that is.  We bobbed along.  Then we bobbed along backwards.  Then we bobbed in place.  

Though it was not good sailing, it WAS good for barbecuing and our crew had brought some good food, including fresh picked blueberries for dessert!  Right as we turned to take down the mainsail the wind finally picked up.  So we had ten seconds of good sailing before we went back to the dock.  I tried to keep the cussing to a minimum and I think I only said "We're going to die" twice.  That's not too shabby for me.  Scott and Angela (who also own a Formosa down at Shilshole) were magically there when we arrived at the dock to help bring us in.  I was able to successfully loop my line around the cleat and we were in.  Just like that.  Which is quite a feat considering the size and scope of Jolly Roger.  It was a bit like parallel parking a full size Cadillac on Capitol Hill.  But Dave pulled it off without even bumping the other car...err...boat.  

Our next outing is coming up and I'm hoping it will be just as successful and maybe include a little bit of actual sailing.  And maybe, just maybe, I'll remember my damn camera this time and be able to provide you with pictures.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/721616/DSC09828.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4xg826J8GYh3 Mona Sterling Sterling Mona Sterling Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:47:53 -0700 Sailing Jolly Roger is more like Cleaning Jolly Roger http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/sailing-jolly-roger-is-more-like-cleaning-jol http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/sailing-jolly-roger-is-more-like-cleaning-jol Jolly Roger has settled nicely into her new dock at Shilshole.  We have started the process of taking everything off of her in order to clean her out and get her fixed up.  This has resulted in about a dumpster full of gross-ness.

We started with the cushions which were so waterlogged that you had to put plastic down before you sat on them.  Ewww Factor: 7. 
Damp towels, rags and assorted things hiding in cabinets.  Ewww Factor:  4
Cleaning out the galley and finding something that was growing that shouldn't be.  Ewww Factor: 7  It was sealed in a jar so it was only gross to look at.  That brought the score down to a reasonable 7.
Water that had been sitting in the ice box since GOD KNOWS WHEN and had turned black with mold, soaked into the foam core AND smelled like a binge drinker's vomit after a hard night of tequila.  Ewww Factor: 10.  I had to leave the boat and go for a walk while Dave emptied it out.  

A few hours of orange scented linseed oil later and the JR is starting to breathe.  She's going to be a gorgeous, gorgeous boat and I'm so excited to be a part of owning her.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/721616/DSC09828.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4xg826J8GYh3 Mona Sterling Sterling Mona Sterling Sun, 08 Aug 2010 16:49:32 -0700 Celebration! http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/celebration http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/celebration There is going to be a welcome back party, for the Me, and the rest of the crew,  the location is yet to be determined, but the date is the 14th of aug (saturday)

Email me if i missed putting you on the list.  I can't wait to see everyone again and share the stories, and hopefully the pictures

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/488272/very_random_020.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5erGNls68m5P geoff gamsby straightturn geoff gamsby Thu, 05 Aug 2010 13:06:22 -0700 Did I say 5pm? http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/did-i-say-5pm http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/did-i-say-5pm Jolly Roger is making great time and will arrive at Shilshole about 3:30pm.  I won't be able to get there till 5pm.  
You are welcome to head down there to welcome them and help them tie up.  You will have to ask someone to let you through the gate, tell them you are meeting the Jolly Roger at slip F35.

  Journey of 5,000 miles and 5 years is almost over.

  -Capt Dave

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/579002/IMG_87882.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AGqkLbC0lBn Dave Perchlik Capt Dave Dave Perchlik Wed, 04 Aug 2010 21:54:04 -0700 Welcome home the Jolly Roger Crew 8/5/10 http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/welcome-home-the-jolly-roger-crew-8510 http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/welcome-home-the-jolly-roger-crew-8510
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Come down to Shilshole to welcome home the Jolly Roger Crew.  They spent a month crossing the Pacific Ocean and are ready to share some fantastic experiences.
 
The Jolly Roger will arrive at precisely 5pm.  OK, it is a sailboat and is at the whim of the wind, but she has a motor and will attempt to arrive on time.
 
There will be cold beverages , free tours of the Jolly Roger, and  crew autographs, it doesn't get any better than this!
 
"F" DOCK is where we will be.   We will be checking the gate at the top of the dock to let you in, just say you are there to meet the Jolly Roger, offer up a bottle of rum or some other booty and you will be allowed on to the dock. 
 
Capt Geoff, after handing over the command of the Jolly Roger will put his time and energies into planning the "I crossed the ocean and you didn't" welcome home party, which is planned for the following weekend.
 
See you on the Dock at 5PM!!!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/579002/IMG_87882.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AGqkLbC0lBn Dave Perchlik Capt Dave Dave Perchlik Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:29:44 -0700 What would be the first thing you did after an ocean crossing? http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/what-would-be-the-first-thing-you-did-after-a http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/what-would-be-the-first-thing-you-did-after-a
Shower

 
These are the things the Jolly Roger Crew plans on doing in Port Townsend:

SHOWER!!
have fresh food & beer
dispose of garbage & recycling
buy some food for the last leg of the trip
find & sort crew's personal gear
Clean up the Jolly Roger (I added this one)
say farewell to bob
 
The shower photo is in reference to the SHOWER and not the farewell, just in case you were wondering...

 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/579002/IMG_87882.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AGqkLbC0lBn Dave Perchlik Capt Dave Dave Perchlik Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:12:58 -0700 Jolly Roger on the Cell Phone http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/jolly-roger-on-the-cell-phone http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/jolly-roger-on-the-cell-phone
Fresh_food

THEY ARE ALVIE!!
 
I just got off the phone with Geoff on the Jolly Roger.  They are 10 miles out of Neah Bay.  They are going to pull in for some fuel. The wind is light and from the East so now is a good time to fill the tank just in case they need to motor through the night to get to PT.
 
Geoff reports that the crew is in good health and high spirits and looking forward to some fresh food and to soon be home.
 
Capt Dave

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/579002/IMG_87882.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AGqkLbC0lBn Dave Perchlik Capt Dave Dave Perchlik Tue, 03 Aug 2010 13:42:19 -0700 Jolly Roger in the Straits!!! http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/jolly-roger-in-the-straits http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/jolly-roger-in-the-straits  48 30N 124 43W ENTERING STRAIT! 80NM TO PT. 120 T0 SEATTLE. FOGGY BUT CAN SEE LAND. LOTS OF BOATS & FREIGHTERS

  There is that feeling you get after being away, when you come back to the reality that the adventure is almost over.  Instead of miles of sky and sea, there are mountians and ships, all kinds of ships all with crew going somewhere, doing a job.
Thats right, the Jolly Roger is in the Straits of Juan de Fuca and no longer a small ship in a big ocean, they are now a small ship in a sometimes crowded major shipping lane.

  The long trip from Panama is almost over.  She has put a few miles under her hull and deserves a good cleaning and a restful dock with time to finish up the projects needed to bring her back to bristol condition.

  I am sure the Crew is ready for land.  5 people trapped within 47' of each other for a month is something most of us will never know.  Bob will be leaving the Jolly Roger in Port Townsend and hopefully we will get to see him when the JR arrives at Shilshole on Thursday.

  I am so very excited to introduct the Jolly Roger to my Fiance and the love of my life.  She has shared in the stress and cost of bringing the boat up from Mexico but has only ever seen her in photos.  I am sure the two of them wil spend many wonderful days together and I can't wait to see her at the wheel with the wind in her hair and that lovely smile on her face.

  Hope you can come out to Shilshole on Thursday and welcome home the Jolly Roger and her ocean crossing crew.

  Capt Dave

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/579002/IMG_87882.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AGqkLbC0lBn Dave Perchlik Capt Dave Dave Perchlik Mon, 02 Aug 2010 21:19:00 -0700 walls of water http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/walls-of-water http://sailingjollyroger.posterous.com/walls-of-water

48 46N 126 23w 0330z 3 aug

The seas have picked up, and we are in the weather i expected. It is cold but windy.

We have watched as the seas grew from a few inches to a couple feet and now we look out and the seas are above my head when i stand on deck (that is almost 12ft tall from trough to peak) these waves are powerful, able to push the boat around like a child's toy. throwing us 15 sometimes 30 degrees off course. It is easy to understand the power of nature when you see these ambivalent giants. But Yet there is beauty in these giant walls of water. I have sat for hours watching them march toward the horizon, they build, jump, twist and turn... then they slowly recede. As night falls, the world loses definition, the fog closes in, enveloping everything with a cold stoic embrace. The world once again turn colder, and everything looks bleak. But then the moon slowly pokes it's head above the horizon, dancing behind the shadows of the fog, the world start to light up... the marching giants start glowing and flashing, they seem to be alive from within, almost speaking to everything around through flashing a faint green light and glowing white tops. The world has once again come alive. Morning slowing creeps across the horizon, the walls of giants dance across the ocean, and the sun peaks through the fog for the first time in countless days. it is a welcome change. The cold oppressing moisture is chased to the far reaches, and the world starts to sparkle and shine. We are approaching home. with only 70 NM until we enter the straits we are all anxiously awaiting see land and more importantly beloved friends and loved ones again. It has been a fantastic voyage in one of the most magical places on earth. so much grace, power, and beauty. This is my last post Via SSB. Hopefully soon the Jolly Roger and Crew will be safely in harbor with friends and family all around.

-cpt Geoff


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