I HATE SHOES

And it begins. After flying to Florida two days ago for the sole reason of grabbing my little three cylinder Metro, charts from Maine to Florida, an EPIRB, a sextant, tables, books, all my tools and a few other essentials, I leave tomorrow. It's going to be a 1,355 mile solo road trip without a working radio, air conditioning, functioning windows or locking doors. I'll be driving up to Watch Hill, RI, where she (my small yacht I have yet to choose a name for) is waiting, at a maximum speed of 60 miles per hour. The car is 19 years old and handles like a skateboard, as well as for fuel economy. This is a voyage and from now on, I'm on a budget. It's the name of the game, stretching every last dollar to maximize my freedom. Because for ever $15 or so dollars I can save, it equates to one less hour I have to spend making someone else money. I suppose I've been "voyaging" ever since I left the desk job, or purchased Winchelsea or wherever you'd want to ...

Sumurun and I have parted ways. I won't get into the details publicly, but if you ask me in person I'll give you an earful. Unfortunately, the schooners are full for crew for the summer, leaving me up the creek as far as employment. Looks like it's day work for a bit until I can find something more regular. As always, I'm constantly looking at craigslist, yacht world and sailboat listings just to see what's out there and what boats are going for. I have been using the good old boats list  as a reference as to what my ideal boat would be. I had been looking at a Tartan 27 a friend owns, but decided it was just a bit too small for my needs. I wanted something in the 30' area, definitely no larger than 32', with a full keel and, if possible, a transom hung rudder. Then I saw her. An Allied Seawind (first generation, not the second) in Rhode Island, for $10,000 or best offer. I called the guy and he gave me the back story of sailing it with his kids when they ...

When I got to Newport, I had gainful employment within an hour of clearing customs on schooner Madeline  with Green. This was a great gig, one I had done before and knew well. However, some bizarre new policy was implemented that only allowed 30 hours, spread over 6 days, of work per week. Something about us not getting "burned out". I had worked 12 hour days previous seasons and didn't know why this was any different. I was keeping my options open for something else to come along and by sheer luck the captain of Amerigo  put me in touch with a friend of his who then forwarded my info and experience on to her captain on Whitehawk  who then got me in touch with the captain of Sumurun , who was looking for deckhands as well as a mate. I met him the very next morning and he immediately asked if I would come for a sail on Friday and Saturday. I accepted graciously. Sumurun is an amazing yacht. I remembered it from two summers previous since we would...