12/24/20

 Wishing you health and happiness for the holiday season and 2021 from Christmas Cove, St. Thomas.

We've been anchored in the same spot for a couple of weeks!  It's a popular place - every day charter boats come and go, the Pizza Pi boat (which we're downwind from) creates wonderful aromas for us, and the sun shines.

We have an unobstructed view of the sunset from here.

Anchored in Christmas Cove - mainland St. Thomas off the in distance.

We've had mostly sun, some showers, and plenty of rainbows.

This is our water catcher we've used a few times with the heavier showers.  Nothing like fresh rainwater!

Send news when you can!

Karen & Jerry

SV Persephone

December 2020

 

Wild ponies on Carrot Island, Beaufort, NC.

Our sail from Beaufort, NC to St. Thomas - a record 8 days!  With light winds we motor sailed across the Gulf Stream.  As luck would have it there were 2 other boats within 100 miles of us heading to the Caribbean and calling Chris Parker's weather routing service on the single side band radio.  We listened as Chris Parker said to make a rhumb line for your destination in the Caribbean as the winds would be turning to the NE and N by mid-week.  No need to make our initial "easting" towards Bermuda as we usually do turning south once approaching 65 degree longitude.  Our normal route that sets us up for easterly trades.  But no need to do that this year.  

Jerry took 3 videos during the passage but they're too long to fit on this post.  Click this link for the first video: 1st Video

We barreled on in a southeasterly direction for 3 days before we decided we were going to have to turn up into the wind in order to not end up in The Bahamas.  No northeast or north winds yet.  A low pressure system off Bermuda set up 10-12 foot swells that broke over the cabin top covering everything with salt and made us grab for hand holds when moving around on the boat.  We encountered a couple days of squall after squall which means continued reefing the sails. 

Here is the link for the second video: 2nd Video

We added a lee cloth to the port cushion in the salon to keep from falling off onto the floor as we sail!  Nothing like a good book to put you to sleep when you're not on watch.

Link for the last video: 3rd Video

Our last day of sailing was perfect!  The seas had calmed down, the wind finally backed to the northeast and the sun came out!  Our salt encrusted boat had been rinsed clean with all the rain.  St. Thomas, first a twinkle of lights poking up on the horizon, came into view as the sun came up.  So different than approaching The Bahamas where the land is flat and low lying.  St. Thomas and the outlying islands jut up into the sky covered in green.

Water Island, just off St. Thomas,  our home-away-from-home for many years beckoned us.  It was more crowded than usual.  Every Thanksgiving a fleet of big sport fishing boats from Puerto Rico invade the island.  They anchor along the beach with their bows facing out and sterns anchored towards the beach.  A festive atmosphere for 2 bedraggled sailors!  We prepared a late Thanksgiving day meal with turkey, stuffing and the works listening to latin music blaring and people celebrating all around us.  Thankful to be here!

Persephone anchored at Water Island (sport fishing boats from Puerto Rico went home).

Persephone at Water Island, Honeymoon Beach in the background.

November 2020

 From NY to Norfolk - Plenty of wind from the NW when we left from Sandy Hook, NJ!  When the wind died down we had to motor sail down towards the Chesapeake.  We were entertained by a couple of birds that hopped onboard for part of the trip. They must have been blown out to sea with the high winds..

This bird hopped all over the boat inside and out!

We've never had a Yellow Flicker onboard before. 

After a brief stop in Norfolk we continued south.

The Albemarle Sound was like glass - 

After crossing the Albemarle we anchored at East Lake at the top of the Alligator River.  

Nothing here except trees and birds….or so we thought. 

Sunset at East Lake, Alligator River

  Just before dark the boat was covered with some kind of bug.  Not a biting bug just a nuisance bug!  They covered the screen over our aft hatch and we could hear the flutter of their wings as if a fan were on!  In the morning the decks and bimini were covered with green spots where the bugs died and left a stain.  So as Jerry got the sail up and headed down the Alligator River I worked on cleaning the boat.

On to Broad Creek to Donna and Jerry’s………..

Wing on wing on the Neuse River down to Broad Creek

We’ve had a fantastic time, as usual, here at Donna and Jerry’s.   Time to visit and spend time with Jerry and Donna.  And plenty of time to work on projects (cleaning winches, changing the oil in the engine, repairing our wind instrument (you know - the cuppy spinny thingy on the top of the mast), cleaning, stocking up on supplies, rebuilding a water pump, making a new cover for the dinghy, replacing our toilet base, working on outboard motors, and more.   Persephone has had more TLC this summer/fall than ever!

Jerry and I in the cockpit cleaning winches.

We always try to find ways to help out with Donna and Jerry’s projects if we can.  They're preparing Bluejacket to sail south to The Bahamas for the winter.   Our first winter in some time where we won't be together!

My sister Susan flew in from Maine and we’re patiently waiting for a weather window to head to the Virgin Islands.

Susan focuses on cracking nuts........

Susan and I picked up pecans from the tree near the town dock in Oriental.  It takes a long time to crack all those nuts!  We got out the cheese, crackers, and wine while we sat cracking nuts.  We ended up with almost 3 pounds of pecans that we vacuum packed to keep them fresh.

Our friends on SV Ada, Dustyn and Brandon with Rita the black lab arrived here at the Luh’s.  (Dustyn performed the wedding we attended in the Ragged Islands - you can see the ceremony on SV Delos' Youtube Channel Here's the link).  

Playing cards aboard Ada with Brandon and Dustyn

Our hostesses with the mostest!  Donna and Jerry host a dinner when Ada arrives.  

Susan in the kayak with Luh's dock in the background.   Look at all the boats!  Persephone, Ada,  Hi Flite, Bluejacket, Dyad.

And another boat from our time in the Ragged Island, Hi Flite, arrived with Cori and Dale aboard.  We’ve been so fortunate to be able to keep in touch and even meet up with the boats from our “covid crew” we quarantined with down in the Ragged Islands! 

Our social bubble group at Luh's - each couple at the table has a boat at the dock.

Jerry and Brandon work on Brandon’s Torqeedo - his electric outboard motor.

 

The resident blue heron landed on the dock between Persephone and Ada!   Jerry and Cori have the best view - they're standing on the dock about 8 feet from where it landed.

We are patiently waiting for a weather window (with no east winds!) to head out across the Gulf Stream and to the Caribbean.  Maybe Thursday or Friday next week?   You'll have to keep checking SPOT to see if we've left.  We love to hear news of what's going on with you and your family!

PS. Please make sure your contact list shows me as kpakk25 or kpack8888 at yahoo.  As you already know, someone used my contact list to send out requests for money.  Sorry for any troubles it caused.

October 2020

 

 What a short summer in NY!  No Erie Canal trip back to Pennellville this year for Persephone.  Persephone spent the summer on the hard in Kingston, NY on the Hudson receiving some TLC.  We made a number of trips by car between Kingston and Pennellville.  There are a number of spots along the NY Thruway where we could look over at the Erie Canal and we always joked how it takes a week by boat and 3 hours by car.  We launched my 25' Albin trawler “mouse” in Pennellville and lived onboard at Brian and Deb’s docks when we were not in Kingston.

Here’s Deb and I aboard their “Sir Richard” a 1955 wooden cabin cruiser on one of the river cruises Brian took us on.

We took the boom “home” so Jerry could use tools and space at Brian’s to make some improvements.  Do you like our boom transport vehicle?  The boom has never traveled at such speed!

Here’s Jerry taking apart the engine to see what parts need replacing.  It takes some contorting for him to get in there.  From this point on Jerry has spent the summer in pain due to piriformis muscle syndrome. 

Here’s our new exhaust elbow on the engine.  From HDI Marine in Washington and it’s stainless steel!  New hose too!  We also ordered many parts from England and were amazed at how fast service and shipping are from the company parts4engines.com.

One of the projects I accomplished - sewing new curtains for Persephone.  The gazebo on the river at Brian and Deb’s is my favorite place to sew!  I not only made curtains.  I helped Deb’s granddaughters complete sewing projects.  Ava made a blanket and Emma made a bucket hat.

 

Our friend Jim took us apple picking at his neighbor’s place.  We made and canned 24 pints of applesauce, made a couple of pies for Vince at Hideaway Marina, made apple crisp a few times and brought a box of apples with us.

It’s always a challenge to make and can anything on a 25’ boat.  It’s amazing what you can do with 2 burners and 2 feet of counter space!

Our 7 weeks in NY went by so fast!  In a blink of an eye it was time to start packing up and putting away in Pennellville.

Here’s “mouse” at Brian and Deb’s launch ramp dock with the frame for the winter cover which is rolled up on the foredeck.

In the backyard behind Brian and Deb’s house you’ll find my boat under cover, my 10’ Trillium camper under cover next to that, and our car under cover.  It’s easy to find…just follow the moth ball smell (although we’ve found the mice sometimes like to build nests next to the bags of mothballs)!

Jerry’s brother Dan again provided transportation service for us and a truckload of supplies back to Kingston after we stored our car.  Thanks again Dan!  Our family and friends, as you can see from this update, help out in so many ways.  Thanks Brian and Deb!  What would we do without you?

Persephone now has new bottom paint, a boom with new fittings, an engine with many new components in the cooling system, and more. After baking one more apple pie for Vince we sailed off down the Hudson.

New York City - we stay safe from contracting Covid by not stopping but enjoying the sights and the sun.  Our summer was spent in this fashion - trying to get tasks done, the boat provisioned, and limiting exposure.  We look forward to a healthier nation next summer and visiting all of our friends and family we did not see in 2020.

So off to the ocean from NY to Norfolk (where I will try to post this from) headed for Oriental, NC.  Our plans are to sail to the USVI for the winter from Beaufort, NC.  My sister Susan surprised us by asking if she could come along!   We’ve never had crew for a passage before!  I’ll try to send an update before we leave!

PS Thanks D for finding an Uber ride for the outboard motor from Jacksonville, FL! 

9/10/20

 Quick update - We are on the hard at Hideaway Marina in Kingston on the Hudson River.  We've been working on 3 projects - sanding and painting the bottom, repairing the fitting at the forward end of our boom, and the cooling system on our diesel engine.  After many hours of hard work and lots of money we've been able to conquer all 3.  The bottom is painted, the cooling system is almost done (had to buy one more part!), and the boom is better than new and back onboard with the stackpack and mainsail in place.  If we weren't so busy we'd have pictures to show you!  That will be in the next post!  Stay tuned!

8/7/20

 Here's a collage of photos going northeast from Block Island......

Cuttyhunk

We walked with Ryan and Jax to the top of Cuttyhunk.  This is looking down at the anchorage.

Delos (on the left) at sunset at Cuttyhunk.

Persephone and Zinzi sail off from Cuttyhunk towards Woods Hole.

From the Ragged Islands, Bahamas to Hadley Harbor, Woods Hole, MA - (left to right - Avalon, Persephone, Delos, Zinzi and Keelin' It.

Charli and I go for a kayak at Hadley Harbor.  These small bridges connecting the islands have lots of current!  We never made it through though it was fun trying.

A perfect New England scene with the traditional sailboat in Hadley Harbor.  There is a gray-bearded gentleman sitting in the cockpit of the boat reading his newspaper.

The next morning we watch as Avalon (55' catamaran) zips by Zinzi.  He must be sailing at 10 knots!

Next stop Vineyard Haven Harbor on Martha's Vineyard....

Lots of fancy old boats here at Vineyard Haven Harbor.  Check out the varnish!

There's a famous wooden boat restoration place right here in Vineyard Haven Harbor - Gannon & Benjamin.  The harbor has many examples of their fine work at anchor.

From Vineyard Haven Harbor it's a short sail over to Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard.  We sailed past Edgartown and hundreds of boats on moorings to Katama Bay.

 We found a spot to anchor nestled in a small boat mooring area.  No other sailboats here.

 

We took the dinghy south to a strip of land that connects Martha's Vineyard to Chappaquiddick Island.  A beautiful place to walk the beach and look out at the ocean.

From Katama Bay we sailed to Nantucket.  Jerry had the fishing line out on the way and he caught a bluefish.  We shared the bluefish with Ryan from Zinzi and Charli and Andy from Avalon when we arrived.  Bluefish for hors d'oeuvres and homemade pizza for dinner!

The streets are brick and cobblestone in downtown Nantucket.  Here's a picture of the waterfront not far from the grocery store.  We wander around town, past the shops and tourists, and find historic and New England architecture.

And a beautiful sunset of the Brant Point Lighthouse, Nantucket taken from the anchorage.

As always, we have our eyes and ears tuned to the weather.  After watching Isaias turn into a Cat 1 hurricane with a path towards Nantucket we had to actually make a decision as to where we were going.  That choice was made when we arranged to buy new anchor chain from a sailor on Long Island and we got a call from Vince at Hideaway Marina saying that we could haul the boat there.  One overnight under a beautiful moon we made our way from Nantucket to Mt. Sinai Harbor to pick up our new anchor chain.  It's hard to capture the feeling in a photo of sailing along with the moon reflecting on the water the stars overhead no traffic no people.  Heavenly...

 After picking up the anchor chain we positioned ourselves in Manhasset Bay to head for the East River with a favorable current.

Here we approach Throgs Head Bridge at the north end of the East River.

A classic boat heads north under the Hell Gate bridge.  Some sailors may think it was named Hell Gate due to swift current that makes navigation difficult if not timed right.  But it is from a Dutch word, Hellegat, meaning either bright strait or clear opening.

Interesting architecture along the way.

South Street Seaport I believe.  We watched the news the next day and they were putting up barriers for the possible effects of Isaias.

We turned north at the end of the East River to head up the Hudson River.

Another interesting project we've been watching construction of over the years on the Hudson River.  It's going to be a park.  Here's a link for more info. https://newyorkyimby.com/2020/06/landscaping-work-continues-on-thomas-heatherwicks-little-island-at-pier-55-in-chelsea.html And another project by the same designer just north of the pods....

https://www.hudsonyardsnewyork.com/discover/vessel

When we were in Nantucket on Friday Isaias was forecast to come through Nantucket.  As we headed up the Hudson River the forecast changed - Isaias would be heading further west impacting the Hudson River.  It's following us!  We decided not to stop and anchor for the night but to push on to Kingston, NY where we'd be further north away from Isaias.

Another beautiful moon-lit night to travel.  With the radar, chartplotter, good binoculars and moon it was easy to make our way north up the Hudson.  The surface of the water was lit up!  We only passed one tug and barge the entire night with our passage ending at 2 am when we arrived in Kingston.

Isaias was a non-event for us here in Kingston with gusts up to 20 maybe 25 at the most.  Lots of rain but no flooding.  Now, let the projects begin!

Jerry is drilling out the rivets that hold the boom bracket onto the mast.  It was loose so we've ordered new parts.  Just one of the tasks on the list.  So, that's it for now!  If you have any recommendations for long-lasting, growth inhibiting hard bottom paint let us know!