Only a little 300 mile trip---I shouldn't be in so much pain!

[SchoonerRat]

Guess I'm just not as young as I used to was.

San Francisco to Ventura. A nice little sail down the coast of sunny Cal. YEAH RIGHT!

The weather wasn't as bad as I was prepared for, but it was bad enough. I probably did about 75 to 80 percent of the driving. My arms feel like they're going to fall off. The rest of my body is worse. Only my knees feel OK enough that they don't really seem to hurt.

First delivery I've done in years. I was vividly reminded of why I quit.

Even typing is a chore. I'm gonna quit now and go have a lie down.

[Willin']

Non-stop? How about a little trip synopsis/ travelogue?

I've made that trip upwind in September and it didn't take much weather to make it unpleasant. I imagine November could be pretty rough, even downhill.

[Concordia...41]

You're just not delivering the right boat my friend

I just did about that mileage from Stuart to St. Petersburg. The autopilot was off by about 15 degrees, but that just made it a good math exercise. Want to go 203 magnetic? Just set it for 188

The chart plotter at the helm didn't want to dial down to the detail level so for depth we had to look at the big honking flat screen on the salon wall (involved leaning over and cocking your head to the left). You could also look at it without putting your glasses on.






It doesn't show it in this picture, but the TV has a connection to the chart plotter and that is a NICE TOUCH! It was actually easier to sit in the cockpit and look below to the screen than to stand up and look at the 13" model at the helm.

Hot showers daily, freezer (x2), AC underway!, three flat screen TVs, DVD player(s), Bose sound system, microwave - you get the point by now.

Negatives to the trip: it sprinkled a couple of times (both on my watch...) and I forgot my pillow and the side of my head feels flat from using one of those thin gold square things in the picture.

I also took a pretty good spill in the beginning as we were making our way out of Stuart. I had just started down the companionway when we hit a spot containing particularly thin water. I told Claudia I started out doing an impression (not so good) of a flying squirrel but landed at the base of the stairs a la Mr. Bill Ow.

Actually, it was a big ow! It got better, but it was the third day before I was putting my full weight on the leg I landed on.

This yacht delivery business sure is a tough life

- M

[JimConlin]

Man, that's pimped!
How many live-in technicians does it take to keep the 'modern inconveniences' working?

[Concordia...41]

Man, that's pimped!
How many live-in technicians does it take to keep the 'modern inconveniences' working?

I must admit the technology was a challenge (and partially responsible for the bump that sent me flying).

These boats are especially confounding because they're generally spent a few months sitting at a dealer's dock and possibly done a boat show or two. During which time anyone and everyone has come up and hit buttons and turned stuff on and off and tried their hand at how they think things should be set.

The secret is to go back to the factory presets and then dial in your particular preferences. The Raymarine stuff is pretty simple to do. My boss could do it in his sleep, but we were trying to make it out the cut before dark and doing too much underway.

I haven't used any other systems so I can't say if Raymarine is actually easier or better, but it seems fairly intuitive. Some things require the manual, but a lot can be gained just by scrolling though the menus.

Note to everyone reading this: When you're at a boat show, don't hit the buttons...

[S/V Laura Ellen]

Note to everyone reading this: When you're at a boat show, don't hit the buttons...

But that's half the fun. The other half is leaving shoe scuffs on the deck.

Besides, a real man doesn't need the manual.

[willmarsh3]

Margo it sounds like you had quite the fun trip. Judging by the size of the boat you must have gone by way of the ocean rather than Lake Okeechobee?

[John B]

Margo, you're ruining yourself sailing on luxury items like that. Next you'll be going on multihulls and that'll ruin you (speed wise)too. I studiously avoid both owing to the fact I need to stay happy with what I got.



What sort of boat was it Schooners?

[Concordia...41]

Margo it sounds like you had quite the fun trip. Judging by the size of the boat you must have gone by way of the ocean rather than Lake Okeechobee?

Yep. We went outside all the way. There was some discussion about cutting across at Marathon - Moser Cut or somesuch? But it was going to be after dark and no one aboard had done that route. Lots of crab pots and the risk of an unlit mark kept us going south. We made the channel at Key West about 2 am instead.

These deliveries it's just about going and going fast. Offshore only. No ditches or canals. It is Florida after all, so you go out a cut and head North or South.

And John, Yes. It does spoil me, but my beautiful girl is (and always will be ) the belle of any dock she graces.

[SchoonerRat]

Non-stop? How about a little trip synopsis/ travelogue?

I've made that trip upwind in September and it didn't take much weather to make it unpleasant. I imagine November could be pretty rough, even downhill.

Yes, non-stop.

I would like to have spent a couple more days working on the boat, but I got some serious "Get the heck out of Dodge orders" from the weatherman. Gale force winds were predicted for the Northern Bay Area for Thursday night. I don't even like being tied to the dock in a gale.

I'll fill in some details when my hands feel more like typing.

[Michael s/v Sannyasin]

I say, over and over again, how thankful I am to my junior high school gymnastics class for teaching me how to fly through the air and tuck into a shoulder roll. I got hit by a car once, at about that age, flew about 20 feet through the air, tumbling over and over in the air, and somehow managed to land on my shoulder (not my head), and rolled back up onto my feet. (only a slight problem because of my then busted leg).

Folks, just for fun, you should try to slowly kneel down and roll over your shoulder and at least lay flat on your back, or come back up onto your feet if you can. Practice until you get really good at it. It could really help you out some day.

In some cases, rolling is not an option, so, it would be good to learn to do the counter-intuitive move of allowing yourself to do a complete belly-flop. Much better than trying to put one arm or leg down to break your fall... as you will undoubtably end up breaking that, instead. Landing flat on your chest or back, and slapping the ground with your palms at the same time can take a lot of the shock out of the fall. Just watch the guys on Pro Wrestling... they know all the tricks.

[SchoonerRat]

You're just not delivering the right boat my friend

I just did about that mileage from Stuart to St. Petersburg. The autopilot was off by about 15 degrees, but that just made it a good math exercise. Want to go 203 magnetic? Just set it for 188

The chart plotter at the helm didn't want to dial down to the detail level so for depth we had to look at the big honking flat screen on the salon wall (involved leaning over and cocking your head to the left). You could also look at it without putting your glasses on.

It doesn't show it in this picture, but the TV has a connection to the chart plotter and that is a NICE TOUCH! It was actually easier to sit in the cockpit and look below to the screen than to stand up and look at the 13" model at the helm.

Hot showers daily, freezer (x2), AC underway!, three flat screen TVs, DVD player(s), Bose sound system, microwave - you get the point by now.

This yacht delivery business sure is a tough life

- M

Great Googelymoogely!!!

I had great respect of your choice of boats, but that thing is off the wall!



Poor little Wandering Star didn't even have a working head for the trip.

The only showers we got were frequent freezing salt water drenches when we got pooped.

Our entertainment center consisted of an iPhone hooked up to a small amp.

Freezer---We had a small AC refer, but our extension cord was too short to use it for long. That wasn't a problem though. We just left our food out in the open where it stayed frozen quite nicely.

As for steering, our autopilot was a Schooner Rat--not terribly reliable towards the end of a long watch.

The biggest problem with the boat was that somebody put the masts on bassackwards.

[JMAC]

Synchronicity! I've been asked to do an inlay of the Southern Cross on a tabletop on a boat called (drumroll.........) Wandering Star, but I've been contacted by someone other than the owner about this. A few hours ago I did a search on Google images for Wandering Star and believe I saw pics of your boat! Are you the owner?

[JimConlin]

Margo, you're ruining yourself sailing on luxury items like that. Next you'll be going on multihulls and that'll ruin you (speed wise)too. ...

Margo, the invite for a multihull ride is still open.
Jim

[SchoonerRat]

Synchronicity! I've been asked to do an inlay of the Southern Cross on a tabletop on a boat called (drumroll.........) Wandering Star, but I've been contacted by someone other than the owner about this. A few hours ago I did a search on Google images for Wandering Star and believe I saw pics of your boat! Are you the owner?

I'm not the owner. The current owner bought her about 2 weeks ago. I've spent the last year or so helping him find a boat, largely by doing "pre surveys" and showing him why the boat he fell in love with wasn't even worth a survey.

How long ago were you contacted about the inlay? It may be a different Wandering Star.

[JMAC]

I bet it is a different boat with the same name that I'll be fancifying, but I do think that the boat I looked at in Google images is the one you've shown here. The boat I'm working with is a Little Harbor.

[SchoonerRat]

Definitely a different boat. Great name though.

The boat I delivered has been in Berkley Marina for a number of years, and will live in Ventura with her new owner for a further number of years.

[JMAC]

For your aches and pains have you ever tried Arnica- a homeopathic remedy available at health food stores? It'll either work or not, but is pretty inexpensive, has no side effects and does seem to work for me.

[SchoonerRat]

Haven't tried Arnica, but I'll get some tomorrow. Right now just hitting the Naprocin.

[SchoonerRat]

So I got home from San Francisco, Sunday evening, with that post delivery feeling that I never wanted to be on a boat again---only to check my email and find a Tuesday invite to go schooner sailing. I found myself thinking "Let's see how I feel tomorrow. Of course I felt worse Monday, and found myself compelled to work on an old ski boat that I've been helping to restore.

Feeling even worse after that, I greedily accepted and found myself sailing a beautiful old schooner off the coast of Dana Point, CA. Sunshine, blue sky, 72°, 10-15 kts. of wind. It was the nautical equivalent of climbing back on the horse that threw you.

Anyway, to come to the point, feeling is returning to my hands. If there really is any interest in a blow by blow of the trip, I might soon be up for some more serious time at the keyboard.

Anybody really care?

[katiedobe]

Arnica works best when taken immeadiately after the impact injury.
It is a homeopathic medecine. My Naturopathic/Homoepathic doctor wife always carrys some with her.

I too learned how to roll in Karate Class and it has helped me after I had to leap off of my motorcycle just prior to t boning a car that turned in front of me. Great long jump, 20 feet airborn, then three huge leaps then a wonderful roll. A bystander came over and told me it was "amazing to watch". Only had a sore knee.

[Concordia...41]

Anyway, to come to the point, feeling is returning to my hands. If there really is any interest in a blow by blow of the trip, I might soon be up for some more serious time at the keyboard.

Anybody really care?

Yes. And sorry for the thread hijack earlier.

- M

[katiedobe]

I care, I care. Please tell us more about your adventure!

[SchoonerRat]

Yes. And sorry for the thread hijack earlier.

- M

Thread hijack? If you really want to apologize for something, I didn't need to have all of that luxury thrown in my face after spending 3 days getting battered and bruised on a 35' ketch with no head!!! It could have been just a bit too soon.

Anyway, your vote has been tallied along with the others. A few more will be decisive. Both thumbs are still excruciatingly painful with the slightest pressure. Sailing has never before given me this particular affliction--it takes much of the fun out of typing. A little more interest could convince me to work through the pain.

[S/V Laura Ellen]

A little more interest could convince me to work through the pain.

It's worth the pain to sail a pretty boat, so stop complaining.

[SchoonerRat]

It's worth the pain to sail a pretty boat, so stop complaining.

It's my pain and I'll complain if I want.

Besides which it's quite possible to sail a pretty boat without the pain.

[Willin']

Bring on the travelogue already! You've had plenty of tease time!

FWIW, I've heard from numerous dependable sources that cold weather arthritis (which is what I call it for lack of anything resembling real knowledge) can be remedied by a generous application of the universal cure-all, you guessed it, urine, not that I've ever intentionally tried it. wink wink

[Bob Triggs]

Reminds me of the saying:

"If I had known I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself when I was younger."

I would tell you that I feel your pain buddy, but unfortunately I have more than enough pain of my own. I hope you are on the mend.

[John B]

Same here.

She looked trimmed wrong Schooner, How did she handle?
( and I'm keen on hearing more)

[SchoonerRat]

She looked trimmed wrong Schooner, How did she handle?
( and I'm keen on hearing more)

Yeah, she's a bit down by the stern. We've got lots of carp back there. Couple of extra batteries, couple of tool boxes, ice box full of goodies, not to mention a Schooner Rat and friends. I didn't realize she was out of trim till I got home and found that pic in my email. She handled quite admirably except for a bit of a problem getting to weather. In retrospect, I see now that this could have been a good deal of the problem.

[Hughman]

another vote for the travelogue. but no whining! :P

[tomlarkin]

We've got lots of carp back there.

Sea rations?

[SchoonerRat]

OKAY, OKAY,

I apologize for all the whining! But in my defense, LOOK AT THE THREAD TITLE! This is a whining thread. Sharing the pain with boaters; who could possibly empathize seemed somehow to make me feel just a little "less awfuler" during the mending process.

I'm almost back to where I'm only suffering through my normal aches and pains and would like to thank those who actually listened (if there are any). Tender thumbs is about the only physical remnant of the trip. I seem to have somehow gotten an infection in both thumbs at the same time. The right is slightly worse, but almost ready for a good typing session.

Look for a new thread. This one is has been tainted by "somebody's" crybaby attitude.