Good news for the folks in the upper Keys, on the Florida Bay. Isaac was just close enough to create some anxiety but not much damage, thankfully.
GMZ031-281430-
FLORIDA BAY INCLUDING BLACKWATER AND BUTTONWOOD SOUNDS-
430 AM EDT TUE AUG 28 2012
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT...
.TODAY...SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH WINDS NEAR 20 KNOTS AND GUSTY EARLY...
DECREASING TO NEAR 15 KNOTS IN THE AFTERNOON. BAY WATERS ROUGH
EARLY...BECOMING A MODERATE CHOP IN THE AFTERNOON. SCATTERED SHOWERS
AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.
.TONIGHT...SOUTHEAST WINDS NEAR 15 KNOTS. BAY WATERS A MODERATE
CHOP. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.
.WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT...SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH WINDS 10 TO 15
KNOTS. BAY WATERS A LIGHT TO MODERATE CHOP. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND
ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.
.THURSDAY...SOUTHEAST WINDS NEAR 10 KNOTS. BAY WATERS A LIGHT CHOP.
SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.
.THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...EAST WINDS NEAR 10 KNOTS. BAY
WATERS A LIGHT CHOP. ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
.SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT...EAST WINDS NEAR 10 KNOTS. BAY WATERS A
LIGHT CHOP. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.
"Trolls, flamers, meanies, vicious, not nice, unkind, rude, inconsiderate, nasty, whining, bitching, moaning bastards; where there are humans, you will find humans who seem to have more than their share of these personality traits. Blogging is no exception.
Even the most non-controversial blogs, like this one, is the target of the blogging thug, mean spirited bloggers and commenter's who just have to say nasty things when they can, for whatever reason in which they want to revel."
This Blog as stated previously, is about my personal experiences. Most of the information is a direct result of my winter in the Florida Keys, granted, there are many Blog posts that include other areas of my life, that is the Beyond. Twice I have received a mean spirited comment from individuals that don't know Jack of which they speak. My advise to those people is this, keep your comments to yourselves unless you wish to engage in an intelligent discussion, in that case, I have included my E-mail address so you can communicate your concerns. Luckily, I have only received any negative comments from one source, whose identity is know to me.
Thanks to those of you who send me encouragement and intelligent information in the form of comments or E-mail. Unbelievably, my Blog has been viewed almost 34,000 times, much more than I ever expected when I started this endeavour. I guess that I should not let only two negative comments spoil my fun, so I won't. I look forward to posting more of my life in the future and having fun all the while.
"There is little difference in people, but that little difference
makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is
whether it is positive or negative."
Wood Block print of the first Puffin I bought from Marshall back in the Sixties. I conspired with the Artist Russ Miller, with whom I taught, we both worked on the original. We sold these to Catboat owners, changing the name for each boat was not difficult.
I contacted a gentleman named John yesterday and inquired about the cost of having my boat name custom painted on the transom, after a very short few minutes, the deal was sealed. John came back today with his trusty paint set and applied, what I call, a great job of free hand painting to my boat's transom.
The name is Puffin, the letters are 4" High and the length is 24", shading included. Here is John at work captured in various stages of the job. Great job and worth the very reasonable price.
Yes, it's that time of the year again, Duck Boat Worlds hosted by the Mantoloking Yacht Club. Get to the Club or get out onto the water and enjoy the action. Great weather is expected for the event!
Each year scores of little Duck Boats assemble on the Barnegat Bay to race, have fun and help to preserve a class of sailboat that was very popular many years ago.
Peter Kellogg of Bay Head is the driving force behind this preservation, way to go Peter!
Two storms in the Atlantic, one was poised to hit the Mid Atlantic States, now it is predicted to head East and not be a threat to us. On the other hand, Tropical Storm Issac is heading toward Key West and then into the Gulf of Mexico. I hope it looses strength along it's path, I need a home when I head to the Key's in Oct.
A change of direction is predicted, phew.
Key West might be fortunate enough to avoid this Storm
Here is a new acquisition for me, a 1988 Marshall Sanderling. Just acquired, I am busy getting her ready for a Florida winter. She is a beauty and goes by the name of PUFFIN.
Atlantic puffins have penguin-like coloring but they sport a colorful beak that has led some to dub them the "sea parrot." The beak fades to a drab gray during the winter and blooms with color again in the spring—suggesting that it may be attractive to potential mates.
These birds live most of their lives at sea, resting on the waves when not swimming. They are excellent swimmers that use their wings to stroke underwater with a flying motion. They steer with rudder like webbed feet and can dive to depths of 200 feet (61 meters), though they usually stay underwater for only 20 or 30 seconds. Puffins typically hunt small fish like herring or sand eels.
In the air, puffins are surprisingly fleet flyer's. By flapping their wings up to 400 times per minute they can reach speeds of 55 miles (88 kilometers) an hour.
Atlantic puffins land on North Atlantic seacoasts and islands to form breeding colonies each spring and summer. Iceland is the breeding home of perhaps 60 percent of the world's Atlantic puffins. The birds often select precipitous, rocky cliff tops to build their nests, which they line with feathers or grass. Females lay a single egg, and both parents take turns incubating it. When a chick hatches, its parents take turns feeding it by carrying small fish back to the nest in their relatively spacious bills. Puffin couples often reunite at the same burrow site each year. It is unclear how these birds navigate back to their home grounds. They may use visual reference points, smells, sounds, the Earth's magnetic fields—or perhaps even the stars.
New Catboat for me!
She'll look good on the Fl. Bay
Sheer keeps the waves from coming aboard except in very choppy conditions
Working on the Bright Work
Great lines...a Catboat ! Gaff Rigged and fun to sail.
Two weeks ago Marshall Marine, the noteworthy builder of Marshall Catboats, celebrated their fiftieth Anniversary in conjunction with the annal Padanaram Catboat Regatta. In a normal Regatta year, the Village of Padanaram, holds a Catboat Regatta, side walk sale and other interesting events. This year, Marshall Marine celebrates fifty years in existence and decided to host a rather large party to commemorate the occasion.
Tent set up and ready for the celebration to start
Bad Bob Reddington
Cat boaters, one and all
The weekend started on Friday night with a gathering of Catboat enthusiast, under a large tent, provided by Marshall at their Marina and Boat Building Workshop. Barbecue grills, soft drinks, beer and appetizers were provided for all. Once the grills were fired up, the guest went straight to work cooking the food that they chose to bring. My choice was Yakitori chicken with a tropical Teriyaki glaze, fresh NJ corn cooked in its husk, potato salad and a noodle salad. Every thing turned out great and after all the grilling, imbibing and general socializing, attention turned to the next day and the Regatta.
From my days spent in Japan
The bricks keep the chicken off the grill surface and have two adjustments for height
Jersey corn this year has been amazing and cooked in its natural cover imparts a great flavor to the corn
Fran Baker and Paul Smith enjoying their meal and each others company
Eileen Smith (blue blouse), Paul Smith and Capt'n Bob enjoying some of Bob's bull $(-)!+.
Course charts, special calenders, boat numbers and a small brass plaque was given to each Skipper. All in all I think about 36 - 40 Catboats signed up for the event, they wanted to reach 50 to coincide with the fifty years of existence. Catboat's of all sizes, new and old, wood and fibreglass showed up to compete in the rather friendly race that was to take place on Saturday.
Saturday,after a Skippers meeting, owners and crew members went to their respective little vessels to prepare for the Catboat parade through the inner harbor, the Padanaram Swing Bridge, through the mooring field of the outer harbor and finally into the open Bay where the race was to take place. The race was divided into classes that would vie for first place trophies, although each year the last boat in the fleet to finish receives a prize as well.
Outer harbor Mooring area
Parade of Catboats coming through the Padanaram Bridge
Some sailed out to the Bay
Skippers and crew ready their boats for the day's Regatta and Parade
Marshall Marine
My girlfriend Fran, me, Bob Reddington Paul Smith and his wife were invited to enjoy the parade and the days activities aboard a beautiful Legacy motorboat owned by Eric Peterson and his wife Dawn. This was the first time Fran and me met the Peterson's and I must say that we were treated like Royalty aboard their vessel Dawn Marie. Bob, Paul, and Eileen have known the Peterson's for many years and it was just another great boating day for them.
Paul Smith of Beaton Boat Works
I have known Paul and his Bride, Eileen, many years, I was the Best Man at their wedding
Fran and me aboard Dawn Marie
Fran in the Wheelhouse
Our Host, Eric Peterson and Fran discussing "Sensible Yacht Designs", I'm sure
Eric, Bob's head and Fran
Eileen (seated) and Eric's wife Dawn enjoying some down time
Our vessel for the day
Eric's son placed first in the 22' class
Boat's name Loose Cannon
Eric's Father and Stepmother aboard their 22'
Distinct honor? The boat that finished last of the fleet
Saturday night brought everyone together at the Marshall facility for another great evening of fun and frivolity. There was a raw bar, that featured oysters and clams on the half shell and a delicious New England Clam Chowdah. The grills were once again fired up, the Keg of beer tapped and then came the Awards for the winning boats. Awards were also presented to the oldest Catboat, the boat that travelled the farthest to participate, and a variety of other humorous presentations. Capt. Bad Bob Reddington was presented with the Marshall Spirit award for his many contributions to the Catboat family.
Annual awards for the Marshall Catboat Regatta
Paying homage to Breck Marshall, the founder of Marshall Marine
My first 18' Sanderling was built by Breck Marshall
Geoff Marshall, son of Breck, announcing the awards
Bad Bob receiving the Spirit Award for his contributions to the Catboat Community
Geoff Marshall receiving his own award for his work and dedication to building Catboats
This says it all!
While staying in Padanaram, Fran and me stayed at a nice B&B right in the center of town, the owner Louise Sylvester, made us feel right at home and provided us with great meals and a comfortable room.
