TBC Team Building Sail

We had a few of my co-workers on board to experience sailing. Saturday 3/6/2010 was a beautiful day for a sail. Winds were 15-20 knots out of the North, the sun was shinning and it was a brisk 65 degrees.
Amy, Brandon and Venita arrived promptly at 0800, for a continental breakfast and a quick run to Pineda Causeway to transport their cars. We will be spending the night anchored at the SE corner of Pineda causeway in the ICW (Intracoastal Waterway). So for those not spending the night, their cars were brought to the causeway, before sailing. Brandon stayed behind to help Captian Kev prepare for the voyage. We departed port at 0900 and headed north on the ICW.











1000 we were past the Eau Gallie Causeway and preparing to lift the sails. I don't think Brandon thought it was going to be that hard. He is a true believer now. We first raised the Missen, Main then staysail, while pointed into the wind. After our first tack, Captain Kev decided to furl out the head sail (Jib). We made several tacks heading north and everyone took turns at helm, wenching in the sails, hausting sails, shifting the main sail traveler and pulling on lines. After about 2 1/2 hours of tacking, we figured they had enough, so we lowered the sails and motored to the anchorage. Our crew did very well, I would take Amy and Venita any day as an all women racing team. We only had one accident was Venita getting her jeans caught in the jib line block (that was a first). After getting her free we had a great laugh. Brandon was very good at instructing the girls on how to pull the jib over during a tack.



1200 we reached the anchorage and had a well deserved lunch oh yeah, and some beer. Now it is time to relax and enjoyed the sunshine.

1400 everyone is ready for a nap, forget the sunshine. Kevin spent about 2 hours down in the engine room, trying to figure out why the generator would not work. Everyone else just relaxed, laughed and had a few beers and gingerale.

1600 Dr Susan and Ted arrived to join in the fun and happy hour. Its funny how Ted always shows up for happy hour. We all watched a lovely sunset on the water. 1800 we got ready for dinner and Kevin excorted Susan back to her car, then we all enjoyed dinner.
2100 The party is over and everyone is being taken to shore by dinghy. I was sad to see it end, but would do it again.

We are not in Florida any more

I think some one moved Florida with out telling us. The weather has been either freezing, high winds or rain for the past 4 months. This is suppose to be sailing season, but we have only been able to go out 2 or 3 times.

On the other hand Kevin has accomplished a lot in the engine room. He starts the engine every Saturday and Sunday morning (to warm up his seat) before breakfast and then heads in the engine room for the day. He has identified, labeled and re-routed almost all the wiring, breakers and junctions. We even have a diagram on the computer. The engine room is now missing about 30 feet off unused, cut, spliced or dangling wires. Several hoses have also been removed.

The captain would rather be sailing, but he did make the comment that it is actually nice to go in their now, (I'm sorry, but I still wont enter).

I have to apologize to our reader. I noticed there are all kinds of photos of other peoples boats but none of our own. So here are a few.

A gift from strangers

When we were anchored at Pineda over thanksgiving we had an unexpected guest. While cooking our Thanksgiving Turkey we decided to decorate the boat for christmas. We were all in the pilot house decorating the tree and two kayaks came up beside the boat with two people on each one. They were the people who leaved in the house across from where we always anchor and gave us a gift. It was a picture of our boat anchored during a sun set. They blew up the photo and mat framed it for us. They said they really enjoy watching us and looking at our boat every time we come up an anchor. It was a wonderful gift that Kevin and I will not forget. Kevin and I are thankful for every sunset we have enjoyed and will enjoy in the future. What are you thankful for? HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all who read this.

Late updates

Sorry for the laps in our blog, it has been a very busy summer for me. We had the boat hauled out in July to have the bottom re-painted and I stayed at our friend Dennis and Gay Graham's house to doggie sit for the month of July. August through October are kind of a blurr. We found out late summer that my sister was diagnost with stage 4 Lymphoma and then she past away in October. With taking care of my mom and dealing with my sister, our sailing season was set back quite a bit.
We finally started sailing in october just in time for the Pinedaville with East Coast Sailing Association. We were not up for a party yet but we did go.

Now it is November and we have been out a few times and anchored in our usual spot up on the SE corner of Pineda. This weekend is Thanksgiving and we came up to Pineda for thursday and friday until the winds calm down. Hopefully on Saturday we can sail to Cocoa Village and do some christmas shopping.

Memorial Weekend Raft up

Well we would be having our anual raft up, except for the crappy weather. It has been raining for a week and today looks like we may get a break in the rain. As for Saturday, that was a total wash. George and Terry (Serena) are cruising up from Fort Pierce today, with friends they have been sailing with through the Bahama's. Jerry and Karen (No Agenda) are coming from Tel Mar Marina, they will be heading out this next week to go cruising up to Nova Scotia. Dennis and Gay are suppose to sail up with us, and Charlie will not be with us this year. We may only have Sunday and Monday, but we will make up for lost time tonight.

Passing of a Family Member

May 1st, 2009 my Dad; Willam Patrick Watters lost he fight against cancer. It was a peaceful passing and he had his whole family with him. I learned a lot from my Dad; how to sail, snow ski, my love for wood work and much more. My Dad may not have had great wealth when he died, but played hard with his family while he was alive. We will miss him and have many fond memories of his time on earth.

It's about time

Yes its about time, we went Sailing this past weekend. Poor Serena Rose has not been out of her slip since New Years. I think Kevin and I have been going through sailing with drawl. We set sail Saturday morning and had a lovely sail north to anchor on the SE corner of Pineda Causeway in the ICW. There was about a 10 knot wind out of the SW and we were cruising about 3 knots, it's nice to not be in a hurry. Once we arrived at the anchorage we contacted our friends Dennis and Gay Graham and they came over for Dinner. Gay arrived first, since Dennis was working and we managed to drink a few glasses of wine. Dinner was very pleasant and peaceful.

Sunday morning the winds really started picking up to about 25 knots so we left the anchorage around 9:00 am. Once we arrive back at port we had a little tiny accident. The winds were pushing the boat against the dock and Kevin was trying to cleat off the spring line when his hand got caught between the boat and dock. Lucky for him there was a fender under the dock which saved him from a serious injury and also the help from our neighbor Pat, who was pushing the boat off the dock. I almost fell bad posting this blog, since the rest of the Eastern seaboard is being hit with snow and ice. Until our next adventure this is Serena Rose's crew signing off.