2012 Launch

Sunday, April 29th was the day we launched 65 Roses along with Dave and Mary Lou lauching Evenstar.  It was a cool day with temps in the low 50's and winds in the teens so made for some chilly times, but it was much nicer than trying to launch in hot weather.

We left home around 8:30 in order to rendezvous with Dave and Mary Lou just south of Findlay at the rest area.  We met there and arrived at the public boat launch on Catawba Island just south of Herl's Harbor Marina around 12:00.  My nerves had been uptight all morning as they are every year when it comes time to launch and pulling the boat at the end of the year.  This year they were even more uptight because it would be the first time Elaine and I would raise the mast using a new a-frame system used by many others.  Unfortunately we got all involved and didn't get any photos of us actually raising the mast, but it went very smooth under the watchful eye of Dave and Mary Lou and their guidance. 

After all was prepared for launch we meandered down to the ramp and launched both boats, again too busy and not enough hands for photographs.  However I did snap a photo of 65 Roses in her slip at Herl's Harbor Marina.  You can see right behind her is Al and Eileen Clark's boat Leprechaun and the 3rd mast back is Evenstar.  With the boat secure we called it a day and headed to Crosswinds for beer (not me but everyone else) and pizza.  Got back home about 8:00 p.m. so it was a long but very productive day.  Can't wait to get back up and get the sails on and get on the lake.  More to come of the 2012 season.



Put-In-Bay

The weekend of June 12th we took our first trip with the boat over to PIB and spent the night on a mooring ball.  On the way there Elaine and I discussed how we would get hooked up to the ball and decided that she would man the boat while I took care of getting us tied up.  Our first attemp, wahla we did it, Elaine did a great job handling the boat.

Once we were settled it was time to go into town for a bit and for Elaine to experience a water taxi for the first time.  Al and Eileen snapped the photo of the taxi at our boat.

Elaine wasn't feeling the best as the ride over was just a little wavey, she went below deck to get some things and that didn't set to well.  So we headed to shore to get some stable ground under her feet and it didn't take long before she started feeling good. And of course a goofy picture of us too.

Once Al and Eileen came ashore we headed to the Brewery for some lunch and some drinks. It is a very nice place and we enjoyed it very much.  The chicken sandwich is excellent, by the way.  On the way out Elaine decided to kiss the doorman.  Do you think the beers made her feel better?



 

Al and Eileen Clark, our tour guides.



 We walked the main streets for awhile and then headed back to the boardwalk along the shoreline.  Elaine spotted the ducks along the way on a rock.  As all of you know animals make her very happy so between the beer and the ducks she was one happy lady. 

As we headed back out to our boats the skies presented a really nice photo of 65 Roses nestling in for the night on mooring ball C1.  However the night was interrupted by our boat deciding to play tag with the mooring ball a couple of times during the night. 

As we woke up we were blessed with a very nice sunrise to start our day.  For some reason sitting on the water, viewing a nice sunrise makes one realize that life is very precious and we should make sure to take time to enjoy that which is given to us through natures wonders. 

We cooked breakfast on the boat, scrambled eggs and english muffins along with some fruit.  Then we readied the boat for our sail back to Catawba Island and our dock at Anchors Away.



Thanks to Eileen for taking this photo and thanks to both Al and Eileen for the invitation to join them on the trip to Put-In-Bay.  We really had a great time and learned how to get hooked up to a mooring ball too!

More sailing adventures to come.





Mayflies and Birds

We took a trip to Port Clinton on Father's Day just to get us out of the house and to stop by the boat to do a final fit on our boat cover.  We have never experienced the mayflies, today we introduced to them full bore.  We had to be careful as we stepped on the boat as it there were plenty of them taking up space.

On the way back to the car we passed by a boat that showed the mayflies much better than our boat did.

Needless to say we weren't too happy with our first experience with mayflies. 

Then we took a short walk out to the trailer storage area to check on momma killdeer to see if her babies had been born yet.

Not yet, but she was ready to attack my camera for sure.
 





Changes to 65 Roses

                New table in 65 Roses

With the decision to dock 65 Roses at Anchor's Away on Lake Erie we made a few changes to our cabin to make it more useful and take advantage of the shore power available to us.  We removed the original table, stole the components and built a new table that didn't take up so much room and one that we could leave in place while sailing, other than the optional leaf. You can see that the leaf stores up under the main table (left photo).  We utilized the space above the keel box for storage, just happens to fit a wine bottle nicely. 

                                                  Cooler and Counter Top

With the dock providing 110v we invested in a cooler that runs off of 110v/12v. However to add this we need to make a space for it so we built a cabinet to hold it during our sailing trips. The cabinet then allowed us to add additional counter space. The new counter has proven to be a great asset. A super place for preparing meals, doing dishes etc. and the space it takes up was previously nothing but open air space. On the backside of the cabinet there are 3 vent holes allowing ventilation for the cooler and also providing a silver ware drawer that faces towards the table, very convenient.

A photo of the galley with and without the new counter top. As you can see the conversion makes a very nice U-shape galley with lots of space for goodies.

Changes to the cockpit area.

We removed the original crib boards and built new doors to include glass, screens and take-apart hinges which allow us to remove the doors for storage.

We like to eat out in the cockpit a lot as well as inviting guests for some tawny port and chocolate.  With that a table become necessary that was easy to install and to store.

While we are out sailing we didn't have a place for some snacks or someplace convenient to hold our drinks.  This snack tray fits directly in front of the companion way allowing ease to bring snacks from the galley to the snack tray.  We dropped the sails, cranked up the grill and this little tray worked well to hold the hot dogs and condiments while we were drifting.

We enjoy our time on 65 Roses and look forward to many hours of sailing experiences and thank all the previous owners for taking care of her. 

Elaine's Life on the Boat

Just a snapshot of Elaine's boat life.

Her first dinner to test the new table arrangement.  Our boat was still in the driveway, but we decided to make sure the table would work well, and it did.  I think the beer was the most important thing.  Oh if could have set the air horn off behind her. 

Sometimes the day just requires one to block out the sun and take a snooze.

Just let me finish my game of solitaire.

Of course the most important part of it all, eating and enjoying the sunshine.





Ready for Spring

Ok, Christmas is over so now it is time to bring on the warm weather.  I am ready to get the boat out and do some sailing.  I know, I know there is a lot of cold left to go yet.  Been surfing the net today just looking at boats, parts etc. which just makes me ready even more.  Counting the days.

Port wine to crazy clouds.........

Enjoying some Port Wine and snacks on 65 Roses

A couple weeks ago we invited our SMBC North group (Dave, Mary Lou, Al, Eileen) to the boat for some Port wine, snacks and conversation.  As you look at the photo you can see there were some very colorful clouds in the west.  Of course at this time we didn't know what we were about to see.

Not realizing Eileen left the boat only to take a photo of the rest of us staring at the sky like southern gentlemen walking through New York city.  There we were in awe, our mouths open except Mary Lou, she continued with her drink.  But just what was it, and should we head to the basement of our boats? 

So as we continued to watch, the cloud continued to swirl and form this nice little tail.  As we watched it became larger and lower, then it began to dissipate until it was completely gone.  Was it a water spout, I don't know as I have never seen one before.  No matter what it was it added to the evening and our weekend of enjoyment with a toast of port wine.

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