Landlubbers still

Well, the longed-for launch was not to be. Although the cleaning and polishing of the hull

would have been ready by Friday, a fibreglass repair had to wait because it rained in the early part of last week. Memorial Day weekend, a full bank holiday, has just passed, causing further delay to the repair. The good news is that the weather now feels more like summer  (temperatures of 26-29°C have recently been experienced), so all repairs and preparations should be ready for launch in the early part of next week now, weather permitting.

Preparations completed since my last post include: - full polish of hull, see below before and after, see that reflection...

 - full service to main and fore sails- all gas tanks refilled, 

- anemometer replaced atop the mast,  - life raft, wind steering and power-generating equipment replaced in position on stern, - some provisioning for Follyfin’s eventual departure.

Though it might seem that it’s all work and no play for us Follyfinners (and sometimes I do feel that way), there have been a few welcome diversions - mostly facilitated by our hosts Lee and Deborah. First came Mothers’ Day US style on Sunday 12 May; a most convivial event despite constant rain outside. Attendees’ ages ranged from 93 (Caroline - Deborah’s mother) down to 1 (Amelia, our youngest grandchild).  

 

So you see, our own family was also invited! The following weekend we spent in Jersey City with our family, and this was reported in the previous post to this one. Since then there have been two excursions out on the water, not on Follyfin of course, which is still on the land. Mid-last week, Cap’n Lee was delivering a power boat a few miles down the coast and invited us to take a ride with him. Skipper was too busy but I accepted ... cruising at 20kn is very different from our usual 5kn - and much bumpier and noisier. I was even entrusted with the helm for a while, 

 an exhilarating but slightly scary experience. Don’t think I will be going over to the dark side just yet...

On Memorial Day Monday, a couple of days ago, Cap’n Lee was helping the owner of an almost-brand-new sail boat and his wife to take it out into the Sound for an afternoon sail. They kindly invited us to join them.

The conditions were perfect - F3-4 wind, sunshine and calm sea. It was so good to be out on the water under sail again. Roll on launch day for Follyfin! Memorial Day was beautifully rounded off with a delicious BBQ (photo). Our hosts had invited some friends over and we, the lucky house guests, were included. For a few hours we were able to pretend we were on holiday! Back to work now though... 

Still aground!

Now the middle of May, and Follyfin is still on land! Normally by this time of year, the good ship Follyfin is breasting the waves and her crew members have found their sea legs again after the long winter months ashore. Not so in 2019! A family wedding in UK delayed our return to the US until the end of April. Then after a short period spent in Jersey City with son Warren and his family, it was time to head east to Connecticut, back to Captain’s Cove Seaport in Black Rock on the north shore of Long Island Sound.

There we found Follyfin, safely on land in her winter quarters but in serious need of some TLC. So here we still are, busily cleaning and polishing the whole boat - all stainless steel, topside and hull, cleaning and applying antifoul to the bottom of the boat, overhauling/servicing the engine, re-rigging, etc. etc. etc. A lot of work needed to prepare the boat for the season and looking her best. Actually we were not in any hurry to launch Follyfin because since the beginning of May, the weather has been like winter!

On the bright side, instead of being out on the water in the cold, wet and windy conditions, the Skipper and I have been experiencing the wonderful New England hospitality of our sailing friends Lee and Deborah. Although we met them only last year in Maine, they have welcomed us into their home as if we are family. It’s not everyone who would offer the use of their house and all its comforts, for 3-4 weeks, to a couple of somewhat eccentric Brits whom they have known for less than a year. Luckily for us, they took the chance...and it turns out that they are only slightly less eccentric then we are.

Lee, being a very experienced sailor as well as an official US ‘Captain’ (a title that is hard earned), is a mine of nautical information and tips, with a veritable plethora of contacts in the area, so of course very helpful to us. And when not involved with matters marine, he is an accomplished musician and jazz guitarist, who delights the household with occasional spontaneous ‘jam’ sessions. Deborah is a recently retired executive from the corporate world of high fashion and is revelling in her newfound freedom ... although training for a half-marathon may not be everyone’s idea of enjoyment! She makes her house so welcoming and peaceful for us workers - a true oasis of calm after each day’s toil on the boat. So we are indeed extremely fortunate - and eternally grateful - to have such wonderful friends.

The other unexpected bonus from this delayed start to our sailing season is that we are only a couple of hours by train from son Warren, Lara and their three children Noah (5), Bella (3) and Amelia (1) (see above). Indeed, this weekend we travelled over to Jersey City to see them all. Beautiful weather on Saturday enabled a trip to Hoboken to their friends and a walk back  along the Hudson River. 

It was also fortunate that on Sunday we were in the audience to witness the ballet debut of young Isabella (aged 4) on the big stage. From the balcony of a packed auditorium, our binoculars ensured that not a moment of the 4 minutes that Bella was on stage near the end of the full 2¹/₂ hr performance was missed. She was of course brilliant.

Weather is now improving. Today the highest temperature was 27°C. So hopefully, all being well Follyfin will be launched next week. Fingers crossed!