Hove to off Swan Point

Thanks to Capt’n Charley we now have some pics of Sjogin tacking out of the basin last Friday. He keeps an interesting Flickr page going. Check out the winter sailing pics in Florida Bay.

…

And ready to go. With the tiller tied to starboard, a push off the pilings will see her through on the starboard tack.

…

Easing sheets to see what Charley wants.

…

Only about 3 feet inside the barge wreck. She’s kissing the bottom here.

…

An even rarer pic of landing Sjogin. When the winds out of the ENE, there’s barely enough room to come head to (mostly) wind. This approach was a bit brisk but just a slight bump. With the wind in the NE through W by N I land downwind.

Off the usual topic but I thought I should share this:

One of our digital (and binary) friends from the WoodenBoat Forum who sails in Mobile Bay was supposed to join us all at the WoodenBoat Show in Mystic next weekend. He posted the following today:

“I will not make it afterall. It is hard to explain and maybe you guys won’t understand, but my wife and I are going to go stay at the beach for a few days, eat in local restaurants, and do the stuff that our tourists around here do. Probably somewhere in the Florida panhandle.

I am disappointed about missing the trip up north, but we both feel that it is important to support our friends and neighbors right now during this tough time. It won’t be a lot of money that gets spent, but I am pretty sure that they can use every penny of it.

Just the fact that my wife feels that she can get away for a couple of days in the middle of the season speaks volumes. And I am going to go down and spend a day tinkering on the Dragon. I miss my boat so much it hurts, so this will give me a little time with her, and I will also probably go speak with my boatbuilder buddy about my next boat.

Sorry guys. I look forward to the stories.

ML

Here was my response:

“Sorry to hear you won’t be joining us. We truly understand and weep with your neighbors. Julia and I went in to Lower Manhattan as soon as we could after 9/11 and tried to help support the local business people. We stayed at the Regency, a luxury hotel a few blocks away from Ground Zero, where I sought refuge that awful day.

Apart from the death of the eleven workers on the rig there is not the horror of 9/11; but there is certainly a loss of a way of life.

…
Maybe we can all try to throw a few dollars their way. Let’s go visit Mobile.

Next year in Mystic, ML.

Russ

Just wanted to take a moment to thank my readers for their comments and e-mails. I’m so very pleased to be able to share Sjogin and such with you all. Hard to believe it’s been almost five years.

I heard from a reader in South America the other day and wanted to share this. He was interested in plans for Sjogin so he could build a detailed half model. He added:

“And thanks again for sharing, your site is one of those little gems which make our lives and this world better.”

Thanks, E.

Fair winds all,

Russ

And I wouldn’t leave you without a pic:

…

Here are a few pics from the last few weeks at Beaton’s. The racing season on Barnegat Bay begins in two weeks and the A Cat fleet is getting ready for battle.

…

Three in a row. Closest is Ghost, then Lotus and Mary Ann. Ghost is from the Francis Sweisguth* design, The other two are by Charles Mower. Note the different bow profiles.

*Edited to correct spelling. Thanks Charlie.

…

Nice view from Sjogin’s slip. They’ll be gone soon, off to the the A Cat wars.

…

Here’s Ghost’s cockpit showing some of my now 17 year old handiwork. When I worked at Beaton’s and helped build Ghost, I made the seats, tiller, cleats and coaming. (Proud of the ogee.)

…

Raven about to be rigged. The masts are about 50′ long.

…

Mary Ann, one of the originals from 1926, and her “tennis racquet” tiller.

…

Spyder, heading down Bay. The “Y” is there referencing her home base, Seaside Park Yacht Club. One of the other originals, Spy, was named for that club.

…

Empty shop except for the moaning chairs.

Went down for a morning sail on Memorial Day. On the ride to Beaton’s I wondered when the Silent Maid would show up. I’ve been following John Brady’s Blog and expected her any day as she starts her Summer cruise this week.

I got to Beaton’s, walked down the dock and there she was; tied up on the T Dock, across from Sjogin.

…

Right there for my viewing pleasure. Almost as good as seeing her coming up the Bay under sail.

…

Acres (seemingly) of varnish. Damn near perfect. Nice Job John and crew.

…

Tacking out of the basin. The original Maid had a varnished hull in her early years.

Just checked John’s Blog and they are in New York harbor today, with a circumnavigation of the Statue of Liberty planned.

Once again my benign neglect has allowed our perennials to flourish. As always there was a list of plants to move and divide and prune but they remain pretty much untouched. I did do a little pruning around the edges but the center of the beach roses are six foot tall.

…

Self sown chaos. This started with a few of this and a half dozen that and time has done the rest.

…

Once cleared of volunteers the beds will hold summer herbs, vegetables and such.

…

Eventually it all fills in. Coreopsis in front of the Barberry.

…

Let there be roses. I remember when they were a grid of six inch plants.

…

That common Bayberry on the left. There’s square yards of Onethera, a kind of semi-wild primrose, ready to bloom in a week or so. Bright yellow, here for a month or so.

Here’s a bit of boat stuff:
…

Spyder tacking out of Jones Tide Pond, fresh from Beaton’s and ready for a new season.

…

The Beaton’s built tender to the Silent Maid. I hope to see her under sail this weekend. The photo is from John de Rouville’s shop on Toms River.

Her Summer Cruise to Maine starts soon. John Brady has started a Blog. Follow along here.

Took advantage of the light air Monday before last week’s Northeaster set in and after it left for a pair of quick sails. Monday had a strong current from the north with a light ENE breeze allowed little speed over the ground. Thursday had a 5kt ENE breeze fill in just after I rigged the sculling lock. Good reading conditions both days.

On the Sjogin plans front, Paul Gartside has been receiving deposits and I had a nice note from him yesterday. Next step is The Measurement of Sjogin. I spoke with Tom and I’ll be able to put Sjogin in the Paint Shop this Summer to take off her lines. It will make it easier with painted plywood on the floor for the grid. I’ve had a few offers of help so I’ll try to set up a weekend in July for a version of Tom Sawyer and the fence.

…

Beating up the Mantoloking shore last Monday. Lite, dry northeaster.

…

With the breeze in the ENE I can raise sail in the slip. The temporary spring line holds her just so. Cast off the bow line, pull her forward with the spring and away you go. With the wind out of the NE to E I need to make downwind landings. More on that later.

…

No boat traffic makes for nice light air sailing.

…

The warm stove felt good below with a chilly Northeaster blowing over the barrier beach. Carried the Starboard tack up to the Mantoloking Bridge.
…

Thursday’s sail provided a good reading breeze.

…

This is Spyder, the Seaside Park YC A-Cat ready for a new season.

…

The latest Beaton’s rowboat glowing in the Duckboat room.

Went out for a bit in the morning; nice NE breeze about 6 to 10 kts, bright sun but chilly as the wind off the ocean is blowing across mid 50′s water. Went down to Sloop Point and hove to on the Port tack for a good draw on the stove. A cup of tea and another chapter in Seven Sisters took care of the tack back to Mantoloking.

Semi-retirement has arrived so I hope you’ll look forward to more sailing pics, checking up on the Osprey families, reports on what’s new at Beaton’s, yet more garden pics and such.

Progress on the Sjogin sister-ship program. Paul Gartside has agreed to produce a set of plans for a Sjogin replica; both for traditional construction and for the modern glued lap method. Perhaps there’ll be a plan for a gaff yawl. I’ve mentioned here and on the Forum that Sjogin would look good with such a rig. And here’s a vote for jack yard topsail!

I sent my deposit in yesterday. I’ll let you know how you can buy a set. Suitable for framing and dreaming.

New garden pics as well. Happy Almost Summer.

…

Nice classic dry Northeaster.

…

Reaching back to Beaton’s. Had a successful downwind landing; it’s easier with Sjogin in her Summer position.

…

Put away for the day. Her battery went flat so a bit of exercise with the hand pump was needed.

…

Jim rigging Myth. Nice to see her back in the water.

…

The Oak Leaf Hydrangea is ready to pop; upper left. Roses too.

…

Pretty full. Pay no attention to the shabby shingles.

…

Beach roses ready to put on a show. Do stop and smell the roses.

Meet Giacomo De Stefano, a Venetian on an improbable voyage from London to Istanbul to promote sustainable tourism and low carbon traveling. He and his crew Jacopo are now in Whitstable in the Thames estuary waiting for favorable weather to cross the Channel. They built an Ian Oughtred Ness Yawl in Venice in an art gallery. His Blog can be found here. He’s had a few other adventures, the last being a voyage up the Po to draw attention to how abused that river has become.

…

He’s a delightful host with a serious message; follow along on this grand adventure.

No sailing this weekend. Huge pressure gradient with Westerlies a steady 20 gusting to the 30′s. Here a few recent pics from Beaton’s:

…

Myth, just launched after an extensive refit. She’s a reproduction of the original Myth, a long time Bay Head native.

…

Marilda, a classic Jersey skiff.

…

A project interrupted. Nice dory skiff; an Amesbury I think.

…

Paul Smith prepping for varnish work on this pulling boat from Canada.

…

A long way from the Abacos. This little jewel has been around Beaton’s for years. Hope to see her restored one of these days.

And another designer signs on board. Paul Gartside of Nova Scotia has expressed interest in doing a version of Sjogin. Rod Brink has been in touch with him and it seems he may be able to have a design done by the Fall. Here’s a bit from Rod’s post on the WoodenBoat Thread:

“I talked with Paul Gartside just this morning and he agreed to develop plans for a close version of Sjogin for $2000. His plans would also include a couple of extra sheets for building an original Sjogin traditionally. Sailplan … gaff sloop most likely. Obviously the quality of Mr Gartside’s plans are well known along with the superb detail he provides.”

Here’s an example of Mr. Gartside’s work; a day boat with lots of strings to pull:

…

He will certainly do justice to Sjogin. I can see a copy of his sail plan framed on our wall next to the one from Francios Vivier. What joy. Let a thousand Sjogin’s bloom.

Here’s a link to a delightful announcement of Mr. Gartside’s 2009 wedding and how he met his wife at WoodenBoat.

…

Ghosting home. Took off Friday to practice non-weekend sails. Nice, fairly empty Bay.

…

Sailing as slow……. Could have used a bit more breeze.

…

Just cool enough for a fire and a cup of coffee. Read another chapter of The Voyage of the Seven Sisters. A book about a 1950′s raft voyage from Peru to Samoa by William Willis. Grueling to say the least but a good read.

…

I changed Sjogin to her Summer position today. Tempted to go out, but it’s porch season and we need to get the screens up. No bugs on us now.

…

The Barn Swallows have returned. They love Beaton’s with many many nesting spots. This one seems to be saying “You looking at me”?

…

Speaking of birds, I found this perfect nest with three pending Robins while taking down some winter damaged limbs from our soon to be gone Dogwood.

…

Money plants in all their glory.

…

Variegated Solomon’s seal. Very happy in our shade garden. More garden pics to follow.