I HATE SHOES

Today I went sailing on Weatherly , as I have for half the summer, but it was no ordinary Monday on Narragansett Bay. We had a pretty standard charter and sailed back to the dock but, fifty years ago, to the day, Weatherly was sailed into Newport harbor as the 18th defender of the America's Cup. To commemorate this feat, as well as give recognition to a very historic vessel, Weatherly has been placed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks. There's more info here:  http://news.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/2012/09/defender-of-ame.html Tomorrow we leave for New York for some charters and a regatta. Photos to follow!

12 meter legend Intrepid  went out for a sail trial of their new carbon main yesterday. It marks the first 12 meter in history to use one. Manufactured by Doyle sails, it will go back to the loft for adjustments before making its racing debut this weekend for the 12 Metre North American Championship.

I am a firm believer in a higher power at work in the universe. Like of a flow of energy, akin to a current in a channel or a trade wind, you can either go with it or try to beat against it. And when you're going with that flow, the universe responds in kind. Back in July I posted  about a couple, Scott and Kitty, who made their way around the world in an Allied Seawind called Bebinka . It took them 4 years and they took a lot of pictures. Recently, they posted them all to the web , complete with captions, which I read in its entirety before purchasing Soveraine .  I returned from my cousins wedding in New York last Monday night and was up early that next Tuesday, determined to get my engine running. I went out and bought a new fuel tank and the materials to install it and got back to the boat at about 11 am. I was below when I heard a knock on the hull and someone say, "Allied Seawind! You in there?" I popped up to see an older man in his dinghy who told me that

I've decided to spend the winter in Newport. We're just not ready to make the trip yet. I've only had her out sailing twice and I need to get more time with her before I spend my limited resources on a 1,500 mile trip to Florida. Not to mention, when I got to Florida I'd be broke and back in a state with limited employment opportunities. I got the engine started a few days ago, after a new fuel tank, filters, lines, a rebuilt water pump, cleaning the heat exchanger, changing the oil, etc, but the gearbox is stuck in forward. According to people in the know I've talked to the discs are warped and it needs to be rebuilt. The bowsprit and bobstay still need to be replaced as well. Again, she's not ready and I'm not either. I'm going to spend the winter here, save money and get Soveraine exactly the way I want her. I had considered taking the boat to New York; I found a slip for $300 per month right across from lower Manhattan in Jersey City. However, my n