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I'm On A Boat

Actually

I'm next to "I'm On A Boat"

—Never Say Never

A Huge Day!!

As of this day, 3-3-2013, we have a baby Granddaughter.

Happy Birthday, Maddox Dawn Taylor... aka Maddie

Congratulations, Lindsey, Mason, and Silas.... and Murphy.

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Happy Friday!

From the focus of this pic, it appears we may have started the weekend... early.

 I know, I know.... It also appears we're not doing anything other than posting pics from our past adventures and blogging about such mundane crap as the Grammy Awards, but there is motivation for our slothiness... returning this boat to as near new shape as possible has been our goal for the last year or so. 

She just rounded 10 and in boat years, most of you know — that puts her at about 50+ in human years. So a little work is prudent... a nip/tuck here and there, the replacement or rejuvenation of a few vital organs, and she'll not only be looking good, but also ready for whatever we throw at her. And, where in the world can you get better nip/tuck work done than Palm Beach, the beaches of the rich and famous.

We've now been the caretakers/occupiers of Istaboa for 8 years and she's become a much loved part of our family. She's never let us down and due to lots of love and attention, money and sweat, she's prettier and more capable than she was when we first spotted her — here in Palm Beach oddly enough.

I'll do some pics of the interior soon, she's really looking good. An update to Istaboa's Refit is due.

New cushions that have been done very nicely, we cleaned the carpet after deciding to do one more cruise with little Mud before replacing it. (He's made no mistakes in quite a while, but let's not tempt fate by purchasing new carpet.) I've bought a new 17" Raymarine Ultra-bright display off Ebay (That's a story.) for the navigation system and a Mac Mini off Craigslist (yet, another story.) that I'm testing for the Nav system. So far I've only used the Mac Mini for streaming "House of Cards" off  Netflix that our new Rogue Wave WiFi amplified antenna's download speed has allowed us to enjoy. While in Stuart we had a fellow fabricate a sunshade that didn't stand the test of time so we're having it redone properly and permanently because we enjoy hanging out in a shaded cockpit so much. Of course, there's been lots of polish and shining on stainless, a few more coats of AwlBrite on the teak cap rail, A/C waterlines replaced and re-plumbed, hydraulics checked out and some lines replaced, flushed out the keel cooler and fresh coolant, clean fuel filters, a load of 2000 gallons of diesel, and all motors have fresh filters and oil.

We're almost ready.

Now we sit doing our due diligence, tying up loose ends, and trying to focus on a plan. 

So far the plan goes like this:

1. We're going for a boat ride soon.
2. ... ?

These days:

We have our nose pointed out toward Lake Worth. This vantage point gives us a front row seat's view of the anchorage that many cruising folk use as a staging area just before jumping over to the islands. During these typical northern blows that, like clockwork, plague the east coast during the winter, Lake Worth can really fill up with Bahama bound boats. Then the wind dies, we wake up... look out... and they're all gone. 

Off they go, bounding across the gulf stream heading to the Bahamas where they will sit on anchor being blown around or tied up at an expensive marina, buying Bahamian water and electricity, only to have island hopping weather a day or two a week... or sometimes a month. 

We know, we've done it and had a blast, at our liver's expense, but a lot of fun and we wouldn't trade anything for the friends and memories(?) we made while enduring what one of my Bahamian friends calls, "Whiskey Weather". (Junior operates Seaspray Marina in the Abacos where he does a lot of business when the wind blows and we boater types just sit at the bar and drink for entertainment.)

So, now we're tied up at a fancy marina in the US and enjoying all that Palm Beach has to offer. That's a lot—and it's not nearly as expensive. Who can complain about sitting in Palm Beach? Who would listen if we did? Our time is coming, we're not sure exactly when yet, but soon. 

So today... We'll drive our car downtown to a theater and catch a matinee, then stop at the grocer and pick up something fresh to make for dinner or go enjoy one of the many fine restaurants in the area.

Simple pleasures? 

Thanks for checking up on us.

Here's to a great weekend!

Cheers,

Istaboa

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Our living room in Memphis.

My old Fender P bass with sailboat and the ruins of the Tennessee Brewer in the background.

It'll be nice to return home, whenever we do.

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 Flying over Andros, Bahamas... Looks a bit sci-fi

Bounty Hearings Begin – Chief Mate Testifies

 Photos of the HMS Bounty replica sinking during Superstorm Sandy Image: USCG

I learned this morning, after reading a message on the Nordhavn Owners Group Forum, that USCG hearings, investigating the sinking of the Replica of HMS Bounty, have begun.

In case you're unfamiliar with this tragedy at sea...


In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, when I first read of Bounty's demise, I puzzled over what the Captain was thinking... obviously others, including his peers, were too.

Cut from Gcaptain.com.
An article By Mario Vittone On February 12, 2013

With bruising and cuts to his face, broken bones in his hands, chest trauma, a twisted knee, and a dislocated shoulder, John Svendsen swam toward a strobe light.  The tall ship Bounty had just sunk underneath him. It was early in the morning – just after midnight really – of October 29th, last year.   He was likely the last person to see the ship’s captain, Robin Walbridge, alive as both men crawled across the foundering ship.  Several hours (and probably miles) later, Svendsen – the last Chief Mate of Bounty – was pulled from the Atlantic by a Coast Guard MH-60J – lucky to be alive.
This morning he was sitting alone at a desk at the Renaissance Hotel in Portsmouth while Commander Kevin Carroll – the man assigned by the U.S.Coast Guard to investigate the incident – engaged him in hours of Q & A.  Today’s testimony – that included the details above – ended at about 4:00 PM Eastern.  By the time I drove home from the hearing, local reporters had already misrepresented Svendsen’s testimony.
Link to the article here.
 
Within this site are daily accounts of the inquiry to date. After reading most of it, one thing Mr. Vittone wrote about Captain Walbridge's decision to leave port and take Bounty to sea in a deadly storm sticks out.

He had faced down storms before and won, he had tangled with hurricanes and made it home, his experience was that if he headed into harm’s way, he would get away with it. He had clearly confused the lack of failure with success, and may have begun to truly believe his own advice. Maybe it was something else, I don’t know. Robin Walbridge, the last captain of Bounty, isn’t here to ask.

Istaboa

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Coffeeville Lock

Coffeeville, AL

The last lock on the Tenn-Tom... we haven't been back.

Oh Shit's Right!

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 Highborne Cay