'Faith'

[c_amos]

Newly Christened

[c_amos]

Here is one I took at anchor, I swam out with the camera (not waterproof by the way) :D and took it from water view.

[c_amos]

My Chief Engineer and I in a temporary tender (He steers)

[c_amos]

Here we are in our third race (October)

[c_amos]

The fourth race, I blew it literally.

Gale warnings cancelled the 'official' race, but a few of us decided to go out and race anyway.

A gust blew out the Jib, don't think there is enough sail tape to put this one back together!

[c_amos]

Peek A Boo.

[c_amos]

Here is a monkey aloft.

After the pro-furl carrage refused to slide down the extrusion, I had to be winched up.

Man oh Man it looks much higher when you are up there swinging in the breeze!

[c_amos]

Calmer days

[c_amos]

Here is a shot I took running, heading out to spend a night on the hook.

[Tony G]

Verrrry nice! Shots like these keep me motivated. Pro Furl too :cool: I notice you have an Ariel logo on the sail with an unusually large sail number. what gives? Tony G

[ebb]

probably the cost of the refit. :eek:

[willie]

If so, as suggested by capt'n Ebb, maybe mine will be less! I gotta go sailing!
So, stupid question, but what does the # mean, if anything? And is this sail going on 40 yrs. too? wow! maybe it IS time for a new one! :rolleyes:

[c_amos]

Thanks for the kind words,

as for your question

I notice you have an Ariel logo on the sail with an unusually large sail number. what gives?

I have no idea, they came with the boat. The numbers are a mystery to me, I do like the Ariel logo though. I don't plan to have a number put on my new sails (I am looking at changing both).

I guess some clubs require the numbers, ours does not (Ragged Point Yacht Club).

As for the Pro-furl, I was not very happy with it when I had to go aloft to get the traveler to slide down the extrusion, but I learned that there is a allen key that sets the tension on the slide bushing, and it had somehow become overtight on mine and was preventing free movement.

[Bill]

The sail number appears to be an IOR or other off shore racing number required to compete in those events.

[c_amos]

In addition to the extra storage space found under the bottom step (http://pearsonariel.org/discussion/showpost.php?p=9339&postcount=24) I have added drawers to the top step.

The drawers are original Pearson, they were the drawers from the starboard side (from #338, Thanks Ebb!). :D

Here they are;

http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/dRAWERS_cLOSED.jpg

The trim on top is the front for the galley, and the new trim for the Nav station.

http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/dRAWERoPEN.jpg

[c_amos]

Someone asked me about the hanging organizer I have aboard Faith.
http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/thumb_organizer.jpgClick for larger picture (http://sailfar.net/gallery/displayimage.php?album=16&pos=22)
I checked the tag, and it is a 'Case Logic' organizer. I saw it at K-mart, and thought it would work. It is well made, with heavy nylon, and strong mesh. There are inserts in the corners, and small strips sewn into the front of the mesh pockets to keep them from deforming with the weight of things placed in them.
I understand that K-Mart no longer carries them, but you can order direct from the Case Logic website. (http://www.caselogic.com/search/index.cfm?Ne=100&N=4011+20025995)
They have several different sizes, and they are very reasonably priced. The one I have is the '9 pocket' model
http://a1472.g.akamaitech.net/f/1472/124/4h/img.ebags.com/is/image/im6/56416_1_1?&

[ebb]

Craig,
Incredible prices! Obviously NOT marine equipment.
Yet.

[c_amos]

Was not sure where to put these, so here they are;

Posted the pictures of the topsides in the ‘painting the hull’ thread.

http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/normal_101_9690.JPG


Here are a couple more shots;

This is the original stainless steel rub strake. I removed it and ground out the filler that sealed up the deck to hull joint (back in 1964, it had long since ceased from sealing anything). It was a tough call to put this back on, since it involved drilling over 100 holes in the toe rail I had just finished sealing up. For anyone who has not messed with this, I suggest you tag the pieces with were they came from… even though I filled all the holes, so I did n ot need them to match I found it really only goes back on right one way.

It is bedded in 2 and a half tubes of PL polyurethane (quiet the messy job!).



http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/12Haulout_rail.jpg

Then, here are the new stern cleats There are 6 of these 10" hershoff bronze cleats;

http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/12Haulout_cleat1.jpg

And finally. Saving the best for last.... ;D

Rose wanted to make sure the fish that visited us would have some company... and that when we were diving in the crystal clear water we will be in we would know our boat from below... so she used some extra cans of bottom paint laying around the yard to bring these friends along... ;D

Port side;

http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/12Haulout_keelartport.jpg



Starboard;
http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/12Haulout_keelartstbd.jpg

:D

[frank durant]

looking GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love the bronze:D

[joe]

THe whole boat looks great but I really LOVE the fish !!:) :) :) :)

[ebb]

How many folks have said to you that the boat looks a little fishy?:rolleyes:

[mbd]

Worth the wait Craig! Thanks for the pics. She looks fabulous!

And dang! Those are some MONSTER cleats! Must have lowered your water line at least a couple of inches just putting those babies on...

PS. I also love those fish!

[epiphany]

Hey Rose - great work! Love it! :) Sport fishermen frequently paint the bottom of their boats with schools of squid, hoping that it helps attract some prey. Hope that your paintings work the same way when y'all get out on the briny and are drowning some bait... :D

Good work to you too, Craig! Since I'll be up there in less than a week, I'll have to take a gander up close, and do some ooh- and ahh-ing in person... :)

[c_amos]

Faith has recieved the last of her upgrades before the trip and Rose and I are Bahamas bound.

http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/PostDucks.jpg

See the updates here on the SailFar.net site (http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=72.0).

[mbd]

Fair winds Craig! Keep us updated - and send lots of pics! :)

[frank durant]

Is your keel attracting any fish???????????;)

[c_amos]

Just a quick update.

The trip is going great! The boat is working well, the mods are working out well, I seem to be working on the electrical system alot though.

Here is a link to the thread on the SailFar.net site with some pictures and our progress (http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=72) so far.

At anchor in Calabash Creek on the NC / SC border;

http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10577/SunSet.JPG



Is your keel attracting any fish???????????;)


It's funny, we seem to get special attention from dolphins where ever we go. We really enjoy it, as we both never tire of seeing them. Don't know if it is the fish, or that we are sailing most of the time (most sailboats seem to motor on the ICW, even with good wind).

These are Great Boats! They want to go!

Hope to see you guys out here!

[commanderpete]

Congrats to Craig and Rose on cutting the docklines.

Have fun and send postcards

[c_amos]

Here is an update drawn from the post on the SailFar.net site (http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=72).

Here is the post I typed up from St. Catherine's Island.

Ahoy from St. Catherine's Sound! 16 September 2007
We are lazing here after a nice evening on the hook adjacent to the St. Catherine's Island wildlife rescue center. We stayed here on advice from friends who said the Bronx zoo has released it's retired wildlife here for years. We have not seen any yet, but have had a very nice evening and morning looking at the Island.
http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/StCathIs.jpg

I am getting ahead of myself though.
Beaufort was a great town to visit, the downtown marina staff were friendly hand helpful, and it was nice to use their courtesy car to do some shopping. We only stayed in the marina to top off our fuel and batteries and then went out to a great anchorage just South of the marina. We had a nice time there, but somehow we forgot to take any pictures (sorry). We met a couple of new friends there, LR and his son Micha are heading to the middle east as missionaries. We had great fellowship with them, and might have lingered longer there to enjoy their company.
We headed out to a nice anchorage on the Cooper River. It had been a nice day of sailing in moderate winds so we had dinner and went to bed early for an early start the next morning.
http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/AnchGA.jpg

We did not get far before we were acquainted with the tides here on the ‘Low Country’ coast!
http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/FathHardOver.jpg
Our first grounding of the trip was one for (our) recordbooks. We sailed off of the anchor on the same course we had come in, but with a slightly lower tide. I took this picture about an hour before the low tide, after she had settled a but and Rose put the camera back below where it was nearly impossible to get to before the boat started to right herself. There was dry ground about 10’ from where she lay, and less then a foot of water. She settled easily and righted herself with no problems or damage when the tide came in.
Savannah was a beautiful city and very small boat friendly. The approach was largely undeveloped and scenic right up to the industrial boarder of the city.
http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/SavannahApproach.jpg
We stayed at the downtown docks,
http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/Rose%40Savannah.jpg
Faith at Savannah.
http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/Fath%40SavannahTD.jpg

which were nice but pretty rolly with the large merchant traffic that came through. Our first night there ~ 15 merchant ships came through, but stopped by 1am which was pretty much when the crowds started to thin.
http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/StandBy4Wake.jpg


We had a great time there. We took the 'back channel' down to the ICW from Savannah. The bridge is 35' high, and our mast is 35' high with a 3' antenna. We were closer to low tide, but with no tide board we had to have 'Faith' that we were at low enough water.... it was close.
http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/BackChanBridge.jpg
We left the town dock after 3 days, and went to Thunderbolt GA, where we planned to wait for a new propeller my dad had ordered for us. We had spun the hub on the old one heading up the Cooper river. We checked into the marina planning to spend up to a week waiting, but after doing some laundry and walking into town I remembered a friend from SailFar’s offer to stay at their dock nearby. They deliver fresh Krispy Cream doughnuts and a paper to your boat at Thunderbolt marina which was nice. We had breakfast and got underway for Dan’s (‘Psyche’ on SailFar) house.
The Ogechee was a bit of a challenge, but had I printed out Dan’s directions, or come into the river at high tide it would have been less stressful 15 mile detour.
We got to Dan’s house at dusk and rafted outboard of his Columbia 8.7 where he greeted us and had a wonderful dinner of fried chicken on his dock.
http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/Faith_Psyche.jpg

As I mentioned earlier, you really need to take a look at the work he and James Baldwin have done on this amazing boat. I knew that with James experience the modifications would make great sense, but I did not expect the craftsmanship. The fit and finish of the interior are amazing. It was a great couple days enjoying Dan’s hospitality and the beautiful surroundings were only added to by the Alberg 30, and James Baldwin’s Triton ‘Atom’ moored near by. Our last day there we rode back into Savannah with Dan. We had a great day walking around especially with ‘local info’ to help us find the treasures. We met the owner of a small family vineyard We tasted his wonderful Muscadine wines and he even found a couple that Rose liked!
We left Dan's place on the Ogeechee (it is 14.54miles from the ICW marker 98) and sailed to St. Catherine's Island (Walberg creek) making 28.6 miles mostly under sail. We had heard from friends that there were wild animals there that had been 'retired' from the Bronx zoo. I did not see any, but we had a nice night there. Getting there was a bit breezy, we had 25-25k all day and even saw a 60' piling with a day marker floating by (called the CG, they were not too interested.... i had to talk them into copying the lat/lon... ::)
Anyway, we had a nice night there, we sailed across the sound and anchored near marker 180, for a long night in 'back river' with little protection from the wind.
We made it through 'Mud river' fortunately we made it at high tide, because at low water (our depths - the 7' tide) there would have been less then 3' in the middle of the channel!
From there we made a detour to the Frederica River, where we stayed for 2 days (at 455.5 miles from our start) to wait out the weather and see the Fort. It was a great Anchorage,
http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/FtFredanchor.jpg
and we really enjoyed taking our time to see the Fort and settlement. We were really close.
http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/FtFredFaith.jpg
The day we were there a local school was taking a tour and the rangers were dressed in period costume. Faith made a good backdrop as he explained the ships approach to the fort
http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/FtFredStudents.jpg
http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/FtFredGuard.jpg
We sailed down the Frederica river, and out to the sea buoy to go up to Brunswick. Here is the Bridge, and Roses thumb. ;D
http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/BrunsBridge.jpg
We sailed up the East River to Brunswick landing marina, and passed the shrimp fleet coming in;
http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/BrunsApproach.jpg
The marina is nice, with free laundry, and wifi. The nicest thing so far was meeting James Baldwin and his wife Mei (http://www.atomvoyages.com) this afternoon. They are coming by in the morning to take us shopping.
Will update more soon.

[c_amos]

17 October 07

Ahoy from Lake Worth FL!

FL! We awoke this AM at the anchorage right at the 'Manatee pocket' just off of the St. Lucie inlet, right off of the public boat launch. The cruising guides talk about this place like it is a great stop.... the problem is the entire shore line is either public homes or $100 a night marinas (many of which 'do not accept sail boats').

We left there early, and today will be called ' The Day of the Bridges ' There were something like half a dozen lift bridges today, and we were balancing their schedules against the currents all day. We got to Lake Worth, and immedately went out the inlet as a 'dry run' for the crossing to the Bahamas.

Peter's pet import certificate arrived at St. Augustine, so I called and had it faxed to a local copy place.

The stores are laid up, the tanks are half full (for trim) and the boat is as ready as it is going to be.,,, Lord willing our next post will be from the Bahamas.

Gotta go, thanks to everyone who helped get us here and to this point. G O D Bless you all!!!



http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/Monument.jpg

You can see the past updates and read more here. (http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=72)

[frank durant]

A ..harrrrrr Craig...hav ya ever been to sea ?? I'm sure the butterflies are going ;-)...Rose,Faith and you will do fine !!! Enjoy the crossing..the Bahamas awaits!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Have fun ! I may see you around Green Turtle mid november if you're still in the erea.

[commanderpete]

Great going! Have a fun and safe trip. All the best to Craig, Rose, Faith and Peter (the dog)

[frank durant]

Craig,Rose and crew dog have made it and are playing in the Abacos at this time.Word is " all's well and havin fun" link to his posts http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=72.0

[c_amos]

Faith has made another passage, and has left the Abaco's. Here is a picture of her at Hopetown.

http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/FaithHopetown.jpg

The link Frank posted above has lots of more pictures as well as details of where we have been.

These are GREAT cruising boats!

[commanderpete]

Fantastic Craig. Keep 'em coming

[c_amos]

Faith is back in US waters. Here is the latest post. I wanted to make sure to post here that we ran into Barry aboard the Commander 'Winky' (forgot to ask the hull number, sorry Bill);

Ahoy from Lake Worth, Florida 31 January, 2008

The last couple of days have been something of a blur of passages. We dropped the hook here behind Peanut island in Lake Worth this morning after our second day of all night passages…. Neither Rose nor I were entirely ready to be back.

First, here are some pictures I had taken earlier;

Here are Connie and I surfing SailFar;
http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/connie.jpg

This was Thomas Cay, near where we met up with Connie;

http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/Thomas.jpg

http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/thomasbeach.jpg

http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/Thomasanc.jpg

Peter was as sad to leave as we were;

http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/sadpeter.jpg

While we were in Nassau, we watched a race of the Bahamian boats like the one Connie had crewed on.
http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/race.jpg

We also watched a Haitian sloop sail in. They had no motor, and had to short tack their way up through the crowded harbor. They seemed to have some cargo on deck;

http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/hatiansloop.jpg

They did not stay long. They were escorted by a police boat back up the harbor, but their head sail had a huge hole in it as they sailed past. I did not know if there was an accident, or if it was an attempt by their crew to get some time ashore.

We left Nassau harbor on Tuesday morning as the sun was coming up. We had watched a small boat sail into the harbor the night before and although it was a ways away we thought it looked like an Alberg design. We decided to sail over to it before we left. As we came near we saw that it was a pretty Pearson Commander, the sister to the Ariel with a smaller cabin and longer cockpit.

http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/winky.jpg

We hailed ‘Ahoy Commander’ a head popped up. Before Faith’s stern came into his view he asked if we were aboard Faith. Astonished, I said yes and we learned that the mans name was Barry and he had read about our trip on the PearsonAriel.org (http://PearsonAriel.org) owners site and SailFar! He told us that our trip had been an encouragement to him as he bought ‘Winky’ and that he had hoped to run into us in the Bahamas to let us know! Had we not had a long passage to make and an indefinite weather window I would really have liked to stay and talked longer with him. As we sailed away we both were very affected to have run into someone to say something as wonderful to us and we talked about all the people who had encouraged our journey. What a great farewell gift as we sailed away. Barry, fairwinds to you. We look forward to reading all about your trip.
http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/barry.jpg

We had planned an ambitious passage schedule but ended up pushing it farther then we had intended. Chris Parker (4045mhz USB, 0630 every day but Sunday) had given us hope for a day of the trades between cold fronts. We sailed the first leg to Chub Cay in the Barry islands (~ 35nm) with perfect winds of ~ 15k from the SE. The wind was holding so we took Peter ashore and were back underway 10 minutes later. We passed from the ‘tongue of the Ocean’ to the Bahamas Banks in the night and the ocean swells were replaced by short chop. We must have passed 40 boats in the night, a few fishing boats but mostly cruisers headed south. We watched the sun come up as we rounded the north end of Bimini and came up into the Harbor which was ~ 90 nm from where we started when we watched the sun come up the day before.

http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/bimini.jpg

[c_amos]

I went ashore intending to clear out with customs. As I walked down to the office I first learned that there was a long line of people waiting to clear in, and then learned that the forms we received when we cleared in could be mailed back after departure. I was able to confirm this with a few people and decided to just head back. We napped for about 2 hours and just before leaving we met a couple on another boat. We gave them our Batelco ‘sim card’ and they bought our remaining air time exchanged our Bahamian money for US. As Carol and Tom sat in our cockpit and chatted the last couple of minutes before we left I thought how appropriate it was that we should meet some new friends in our last minutes in the Bahamas. Rose and I agree that while the waters and islands are great, the friendship and helpfulness of the Bahamians and other cruisers were the best past of the Bahamas. We did not strike the Bahamian courtesy flag when we left, preferring to fly it until we were back inside US waters.

The sun rose shortly before we reached the inlet at Lake Worth, and dropped anchor in the crowded harbor after another night and another 80nm. We had traveled the last 170 miles in just over 2 days. Peter handled it very well. He seems to know when we are making passages and does not eat or drink as much. We get him to eat with special treats shortly before we get him ashore and get him to hydrate by adding water to his food and even giving him soup once we reach shore. He mostly sleeps below or on the cockpit sole and seems not to mind the passages much at all. Our concerns about bringing him with us were unfounded and the trip was much more fun with him along. He turned 7 on the trip but spending nearly every day running on the beaches seems to have brought out his inner puppy again.



The instructions for clearing back into the US say that you must call the 1-800-432-1216 ‘within 15 minutes of arrival’ so after a quick trip ashore we fired up our cell phone and called customs. During that call, and the process that followed I get the distinct impression that no one had ever done this before. It was a long and frustrating phone call as I recited all my and my wife’s personal information to the agent. At the end he said we had to report in person to the closest office within 24 hours. When we went through the questions about declarations we figured out Peter was the only ‘thing’ to declare.

“Is the dog onboard the ship with you now?”

‘Yes’ I answer.

“Is in in a suitable container?” he asks (I could not make this stuff up).

‘What?’

“Is he in a suitable container? You have to present him to the customs officer when you check in.”

‘ok’ (?) !

The cell phone call was dropped several times over the conversation and at least 3 times as I tried to copy the long entry number I would need when I checked in. I called at 0809, and it was after 9 when I finished. I was exhausted and wanted to sleep but decided that I should get the check in completed first. After taking Peter ashore on Peanut Island I began my quest. I had learned that there was a boarder control office in the Ports authority building so I dingied the mile or so over there. I was surprised to learn that there was no dock anywhere near the building in spite of it’s prime location in on the water. The dock next door had official looking boats there, and signs warning that it was not for public use. Every island in the Bahamas we visited has an official public dock in front of the customs office. Apparently not so in the US.

I searched until I found the municipal marina dingy dock. I tied up there and went to the office to speak to the dockmaster. I asked if I could leave my dingy while I cleared in with customs. I was told that there was a $10 charge to use the dingy dock. I asked if there were another dock I could use nearby as I only needed to check in with customs. The man replied that I already owed the $10 since I had tied up there while I asked the question.

The mind is a funny thing. They say that one of the most effective methods of torture is sleep deprivation. I fear that defense would have been lost on the courts had I allowed the response that was welling up so I just offered up a $10 bill and bit my tongue. The man said it was $10.64…. the municipal marina was charging me sales tax on the $10 I owed for tying up my dingy to clear in with US customs…… There was no sticker or anything to say I had paid.

Apparently the section of town the marina and ports authority office are in was a pretty bad part of town. Either that or there was some kind of experiment going on (not the first time that thought crossed my mind) because the series of locked gates and alleys that separated me from the Ports Authority office made the walk well over a mile even though it was next door… I am not exaggerating.

I entered the 5 story building which is all mirrored glass and chrome. The smiling TSA agent required me to empty my pockets, take off my sandals and pass through a metal detector before telling me to go to the second floor. Before I could leave I had to remove my hat so she could see that there was nothing underneath….. a fact I thought I had already established by calling to clear in the first place…..

The small entry to the office had an unmanned desk behind bullet proof glass on the left, and a large pane of mirrored glass on the right. If you looked closely you could see shadows of human forms looming through the one way glass on the other side. The reception office was (by design or flaw I could not know) an interrogation room. There was a young couple sitting in the chairs when I came in. An armed agent came through the locked door to talk to them as I was entering. He asked me ‘what I needed’. I told him I was not sure if I was in the right place and that I needed to check in. He told me to ring the small dinner bell in the slot under the bullet proof glass. I reached through and rung it while he talked to the couple. They spoke for a few minutes and the agent took out his keys and unlocked the door to return to the office. He appeared not to notice that no one had appeared to answer the bell.

I would say that it was about ten minutes later when he returned and spoke with the couple some more. When he finished he turned to me and asked me what I was here for….. I handed him my and my wifes passport and said I had called the 1-800 number and was told I had to check in. He held the two passports in his hand and asked me if there were any crew on the boat. ‘Just my wife and I’ I answered. He asked if she was here. I suppressed the urge to look around the small room and replied that no, she was on the boat. He asked why she was not with me, and I said that in the Bahamas no member of the crew was allowed ashore until the Captain had cleared in… that I assumed it was the same here. He took the passports and again passed through the locked door. I should probably mention that each time he took out a large key ring and searched through a couple keys before finding the right one. He came back out (holding the door with his foot this time) and asked me if I had been given a number when I called. I said yes and gave it to him. The couple and I waited for about 20 minutes and then he came back out. He talked to them again and they left. He unlocked the door and was in the back for another 20 minutes. When he came back with the passports he asked if I had a dog with me. Again suppressing the urge to look around the office I said that he was on the boat. I had decided not to bring him, having no ‘suitable container’. I did bring the USDA health certificate and all his vet records going back to when he was a puppy. He just nodded, and handed me my passports back. He said he had taken care of everything and that I could go. I looked at the passports on the elevator and noticed that they had not been stamped. I briefly considered going back up the interrogation room to ask about this, but decided against it. The passing doubt that has crossed my mind about this since has, for me, brought new meaning to theat old song that pines “no, no, no, ‘It’s no fun being an illegal alien….” I do wonder what indignities the TSA screener might have subjected Peter to had I shown up carrying my 75# lab in a cardboard box. Probably best not to have found out.

I walked back to the marina, dinged out to the boat. It was almost 1pm.



Now, I am better.

I took a nap for a couple of hours. That, and typing this up, has helped. I have been surprised and pleased to hear some nice things about the posts we have made. I hope I have not posted too much, (especially this one). It has been fun to share some of this trip, and I appreciate the opportunity to sit and reflect on things. Thanks to everyone, all the help and encouragement and especially to Kurt for keeping this place going. I have to go now, I think I hear a boat…. Might be boarder patrol….

;D

[mbd]

Peter handled it very well. He seems to know when we are making passages and does not eat or drink as much. We get him to eat with special treats shortly before we get him ashore and get him to hydrate by adding water to his food and even giving him soup once we reach shore.Thanks again for all the posts Craig! And again, many kudos for getting out there and doing it. Very inspiring!

I have a question on Peter: how did you manage the pooch's potty on board while on long voyages? I've been thinking maybe a small roll of astro-turf that could be washed out over the side after he's done? Seems over optimistic to think he'd hit the target, being a boy and all it seems like it could get pretty messy... :confused:

[c_amos]

Mike,

Now, you have done it.. you when and asked about Peter.....


I have a question on Peter: how did you manage the pooch's potty on board while on long voyages? I've been thinking maybe a small roll of astro-turf that could be washed out over the side after he's done? Seems over optimistic to think he'd hit the target, being a boy and all it seems like it could get pretty messy... :confused:

Like many other aspects of this cruise, we were told we were nuts to take our 75# lab with us on the Ariel. It worked out wonderfully well.

http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/PeterHappy.jpg

We were concerned with his health and safety and determined to make plans that got him ashore as needed. Discussions with our vet confirmed that a dog can be injured by 'holding it' too long If you think of the average house dog's life, there is a morning break before folks go to work and then one or two in the evening. We made this our minimum for Peter and kept to it on all but one occasion.

Doing coastal cruising we would make sure to take him ashore first thing in the morning, and then again when ever we would anchor for the evening. We would often go back ashore after dinner or later in the evening as well.

On off shore passages we were fortunate to either leave in the morning and arrive the same evening, or to depart in the late afternoon and sail through the night (when he would normally sleep anyways).

He slept well onboard;

http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/PeterCrash2.jpg

Peter on the passage to West End;

http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/1peterCrossing.jpg

The 'mat on the foredeck' idea seems like it is good for larger boats, but on board an Ariel there is no part of the boat that is not Peter's 'den'. We did not try the mat, or the 'box of sod' as some suggested. We did find out that Peter would go on the foredeck once. He was taking Prednizone for an ear infection which makes a dog drink lots and lots of water (kind of like I drink coffee in the AM). We had only been underway for a couple of hours but he gave me the sign that he needed to go ashore (for him, a paw on the arm, and a soleful look). I was crossing some bay at the time, and land was a few miles distant. He paced the deck, and then paused on the foredeck. In spite of our praise (which seemed to confuse him) he sulked and acted embarrassed afterwards. A couple of buckets of water later the deck was fine, but as we use the deck for water collection I would not want that to be an onging thing.

Having Peter with is made a wonderful trip all the better. Here he is surveying the rocks outside of Hatchet Bay, Eleuthera;

http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/HatchetBay.jpg

I enjoyed exploring some islands I might not have seen otherwise, and took some walks I might have missed had he stayed home.

One of our beach walks;

http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/PeterBeachP.jpg

Looking at his home, Man O War harbour;

http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/Mooring%7E0.jpg


If I were going to make multi-day passages I might not want him with me, but for island hopping or coastal cruising it worked out just fine.

He really enjoyed the trip as well, and the only time he was upset was the night before we had to rent a car and drive him home. Rose's mother passed away while we were near LaBelle FL. The funeral was in Michigan, so we had to rent a car and drive him ~1200 miles round trip home to Pensacola and get clothes for the funeral. (this was how he looked when we told him that the cruise was over for him);

http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10577/normal_SadPeter.jpg

[mbd]

Awwwwww! What a good boy! Thanks for the info Craig. I can only hope that our new addition will become a fraction as sea worthy as Mr. Peter! Dogs rule! :)

______________________________________________
PS. Sincerest condolences to your family for their loss.

[mbowman]

Thanks for sharing your memories with us! Welcome back to the states. We now have at least 2 Aerials in Alabama now. Mine here in the Birmingham Area and another in the Huntsville Area. And since Pensacola is really LA (thats Lower Alabama) that makes three. Welcome home!

mike
Ariel 233

[c_amos]

Just a note to say that 500 posts later, I still believe that Carl Alberg and even Pearson did a wonderful job with my little ship. :D

[mbd]

You're preachin' to the choir, my friend! :p

So Craig, any more big cruises planned for Faith and her crew? It's been about a year now, hasn't it?

[Chance]

Hello,
I read in some other post that you were not satisfied with the Tohatsu outboard that you have and may part with it. Do you still have it, and if so, are you still selling it? I'm interested if so, just let me know.

Thanks.

[c_amos]

I will probably hold on to it until I find another 6/8 HP 2 stroke Yamaha.

[c_amos]

I have been saving up for her next haul out. I need to refresh the rig, and am looking at getting the cabin top sprayed with a 2pt poly (I can not be anywhere near this). :(

Of course this will require I remove every bit of hardware from the deck, and repair the small soft spot on the port side (when oh when will these deck repairs ever end!).

The logical thing to do would be to find a place to do this locally, but I have never been accused of that. :)

Anyone on the Gulf coast (or east coast) have a good recommendation for a place to go get the spray job done? I would love to go to someone who has a known good reputation....

[Tony G]

Craig,
You have no idea how much I wish I could come down there and help out with Faith. She is, without a doube, one of my all-time favorite boats barr none. While they may look a lot alike to many others, she stands head and shoulders above the crowd.
I hope someone has a lead for you as far as a yard goes.
Best wishes,