Wintering

Wintering in Newfoundland

Wishing to be some where warm like this

With the fact that we will be attempting to winter this year aboard the boat many new things have to be addressed, from staying warm and prepping the boat including ourselves, to arranging for showers. As for the boat we have insulated under our forward V berth with 1 and half inch stero foam. We also have a heating blanket which is turned on low or the 2 setting, about half hour before we head to bed.

Our main heating sources are a propane fireplace on only when we are a wake and a radiant electric heater, which is very good and uses very low power. The other thing with heat in the boat at winter time is condensation. To battle this every two weeks the boats inside hull and bilge is washed done, and cleaned, all stopping any mold and giving a fresh sent.

Karin and I are enjoying this new experience, with lessons of living in small quarters and learning how to not get on each others nerves. We are nearing Christmas and so have planned a trip home to see everyone, as will mostly likely be a few years before we will be back seeing we are pushing off in the spring.

There hasn't been to much really happening of late just waiting for the impending winter, daily routines and such. The H1N1 has hit here for sure and think I might of had it back in early September all the things I experienced then with the people are going through now seem so much the same, it actually had me down for a week, had thought it was just a real bad flue but recovered anyway.

We think we might have found our third crew member for when we sail from Halifax to Bermuda, but there will be more on that and our future plans in the next few blogs. Karin and I will, for the months of January through to the end of March be in school taking navigation again with the Power squadron hopefully we will get a better grasp of the navigation thing.

I would also suggest checking out some of the links here and reading of other sailor's adventures, and will be adding some new ones soon as others are getting ready to push off.

Visitors

Visitors

In all the times we've been living aboard Artful we have had many people stop by and say hello. I've enjoyed so much the visiting of new people and friends that I should have been taking pictures and posting them here, just to show how far ranging some people have come to visit. Going forward I'm going to try and get pictures of every person I give our card to and post pictures of them here. Some of the people we have met have become very close friends now and we stay in close touch. With the idea as well of stopping into meet some of our new found friends who live throughout the world. I have to say that its the meeting of people stopping by which has made life even more rich for us.

June and David Fricker from British Columbia, they have a 30ft Yankee.

Gary and Ann Patterson from Ottawa, and Bob and Mary Geroux from Perth

Zoe Avery, Mike Avery and Denise Stamp from Lake Tahoe USA

With some updates on things and how things are going around here, Karin is on a mend for sure and we are settling in with the idea of leaving in the spring. It seems a little bit of a set back but think the extra time helps us get use to really living aboard and adjusting to things ie cooking cleaning and in general living in our small space. With coming of winter and thus the adjusting of the brewery hours we have to solve problems like showering, snow, winds just to mention a few.

All of which we will take in our stride. The months should pass by with not to much of problems as we have things planed for every month right up to and including Christmas, which is only 2 and half months away. Then after that it will be a down hill slide to spring and push off. As you have noticed have said spring and given no real date as it could be any time between May and end of June. We know for sure our first stop will be to Fermuse to haul Artful and do some new painting and chores in order to get on our way.

There is also one other thought which is going through my head of late and that is with all the people who have visited this site and dropped by the boat, trying to figure out how I could get everyone to put there name in a hat and win a trip somewhere in the world for a week with us. The only trick is to figure out the details something of which I will be thinking on, will except any ideas which will make this work.

Patric and Karin

Back on Track

Back on Track

Well today was to be our push off for sailing adventures, but with the little bump in the road with our health issues that has been put over to spring.

All finished with the doctors and having found out that with just a few doctors visits over the next few months to monitor the drugs Karin will be on, leaves us time for an early spring departure.

So with the fact we actually haven't pushed off, our mine set is that we are in the leaving zone. One such aspect of this will be that we will most likely stay aboard the boat, and experience the winter. Guess being we had given up our apartment in the spring and have been living aboard since April we feel comfortable. There will no doubt be some adjustments to making this move. We've also got some more plans for Artful with respect to interior decorations, and making it even more our home, lets just say more homey.

Quick update

Quick Update

Things have been put on hold for the moment with respect to pushing off as we are still seeing specialist, and waiting for results and possible appointments for some small surgery. It has taken a full year to get this issue dealt with, so hopefully all will be done and our date set to head off. I must say it is a little bit of a set back but we are packed and ready to go. Will report back in a few days with the new update.

On another note we went through hurricane Bill weather the other night with Artful completely stripped down. The ride with the wind and rain lasted about 3 hours and at times have to admit I found it scary.

The wind when it came sounded just like a freight train, and the boat would be jerked from the dock and one could hear the lines stretching as well we thought at any moment they might give way.

In the picture you can see how the boat was taken apart and the dock lines set out, I also put lines across to the other side of the channel and tide to huge rocks. Later in the night I tighten those lines and made ready for the up coming storm.

We also left little dodge in the water behind us to ride out the storm as well. I might also point out the wind came on the bow, and so we were placed better for what was coming our way.

Its been a long month of August waiting for answers, but they are now close at hand, we also have some company coming in a few days who I know will give us both a pickup. The person is non other than Karin's mom a real trooper.

I would also say you should check out the Trowbridge link here on my blog as they are a present heading through the North west Passage, and think you might find it a good read, not to mention very interesting.

New Departure Date

New Departure Date

Well its official we have had to set back our departure date until the 10 of September, and of this moment that is 65 days away. The reason is so that we can get some important business taken care of and see Doctors for appointments which have taken near a year to get. Once these are out of the way by the first of September we will then be off. We will leave the gute on the Saturday of 12 of September, sail over to St John's main harbour and stay until the 14th as will not be leaving on the 13th. Our hope is to sail to Fermuse, spend the night there, then at first light around 5 in the morning put out for Cape Breton which should takes us about three days an a bit. This will be our first real test on making everything work. Then with this out of the way we will be sailing through the Canso strait on to PEI to see Karin's father Fred. After a wee visit with Fred and Rose we will then sail on down to Halifax, with a few stops in between to practise our anchoring and Karin being the helmsman. With an arrival of early October we hope then to have Karin's mother come out and visit with us for a few days before we push off for Bermuda somewhere around the 19th or 20th. We will have about a three week window to make this trip, but if the weather does not work out we will winter in Halifax and set off in the early spring. So as one can read we have some interesting and exciting times a head of us in the next few months.

Karin has always ask why I have never put pictures of family on our blog so thought that had better listen and show some so over the next few post will introduce some of our families.

In this pic is Karin's father experienced skipper watching the younger rookie skipper and giving some pointer's. There is a very interesting story about Fred's sail boat and how it came to Canada, and will share that in an up coming post.

In this pic you can see how I do my late watches, as it seems Karin took this picture back in 2005 when we were coming out the St Lawrence early one morning, it was cool that morning and I said I was just trying to stay warm, I wasn't sleeping.

This smiling young lady is Karin's Daughter Jessica who plays a big part in our lives as we try to keep up to date with her life. It seems to be always new an exciting, I must say though she is special and will also be in Halifax for a quick visit as well to see us off. She will be driving her Grandmother back to Ottawa after her visit with us.

Renaming our Boat

Renaming our Boat

Ceremony for Renaming Your Boat by Capt Pat (not me)

Everyone knows that renaming your boat will bring nothing but bad luck and make your boating experience something that you will want to forget. But what happens when, after months of searching, you find your dreamboat with a name that you just cannot live with. For example, my first love was a 28-foot Alden with the most beautiful lines I’d ever seen. She was named Perfidious. How could anything this graceful be named betrayer of trust? Well, I never bought her, but I often thought that if I had, I would have renamed her Magic, after my wife.
Renaming a boat is, of course, not something to be done lightly. Since the beginning of time, sailors have sworn that there are unlucky ships and the unluckiest ships of all are those who have defied the gods and changed their names. So, is there a way to change a name and not incur the wrath of those deities that rule the elements? Yes, Virginia, there is.

According to legend, each and every vessel is recorded by name in the Ledger of the Deep and is known personally to Poseidon, or Neptune, the god of the sea. It is logical therefore, if we wish to change the name of our boat, the first thing we must do is to purge its name from the Ledger of the Deep and from Poseidon’s memory.
This is an involved process beginning with the removal or obliteration of every trace of the boat’s current identity. This is essential and must be done thoroughly. I once went through the ceremony after the owner had assured me that every reference to his boat’s old name had been purged from her. A couple of weeks later, he discovered he had missed a faded name on her floating key chain. I advised him to start over, perhaps with a little extra libation for the ruler of the sea. Unfortunately, he declined. Since then, his boat has been struck by lightning, had its engine ruined by the ingress of the sea, been damaged by collision and finally sunk! It pays to be thorough.
In purging your boat, it is acceptable to use White-Out or some similar obliterating fluid to expunge the boat’s name from log books, engine and maintenance records etc., but it is much easier to simply remove the offending document from the boat and start afresh. Don’t forget the life rings and especially the transom and forward name boards. Do not under any circumstances carry aboard any item bearing your boat’s new name until the purging and renaming ceremonies have been completed! Once you are certain every reference to her old name has been removed from her, all that is left to do is to prepare a metal tag with the old name written on it in water-soluble ink. You will also need a bottle of reasonably good Champagne. Plain old sparkling wine won’t cut it.
Since this is an auspicious occasion, it is a good time to invite your friends to witness and to party.
Begin by invoking the name of the ruler of the deep as follows:
Oh mighty and great ruler of the seas and oceans, to whom all ships and we who venture upon your vast domain are required to pay homage, implore you in your graciousness to expunge for all time from your records and recollection the name (here insert the old name of your vessel) which has ceased to be an entity in your kingdom. As proof thereof, we submit this ingot bearing her name to be corrupted through your powers and forever be purged from the sea. (At this point, the prepared metal tag is dropped from the bow of the boat into the sea.)
In grateful acknowledgment of your munificence and dispensation, we offer these libations to your majesty and your court. (Pour at least half of the bottle of Champagne into the sea from East to West. The remainder may be passed among your guests.
It is usual for the renaming ceremony to be conducted immediately following the purging ceremony, although it may be done at any time after the purging ceremony. For this portion of the proceedings, you will need more Champagne, Much more because you have a few more gods to appease.
Begin the renaming by again calling Poseidon as follows:
Oh mighty and great ruler of the seas and oceans, to whom all ships and we who venture upon your vast domain are required to pay homage, implore you in your graciousness to take unto your records and recollection this worthy vessel hereafter and for all time known as (Here insert the new name you have chosen), guarding her with your mighty arm and trident and ensuring her of safe and rapid passage throughout her journeys within your realm.
In appreciation of your munificence, dispensation and in honor of your greatness, we offer these libations to your majesty and your court. (At this point, one bottle of Champagne, less one glass for the master and one glass for the mate are poured into the sea from West to East.
The next step in the renaming ceremony is to appease the gods of the winds. This will assure you of fair winds and smooth seas. Because the four winds are brothers, it is permissible to invoke them all at the same time, however, during the ceremony; you must address each by name.
Begin in this manner:
Oh mighty rulers of the winds, through whose power our frail vessels traverse the wild and faceless deep, we implore you to grant this worthy vessel (Insert your boat’s new name) the benefits and pleasures of your bounty, ensuring us of your gentle ministration according to our needs.
(Facing north, pour a generous libation of Champagne into a Champagne flute and fling to the North as you intone:) Great Boreas, exalted ruler of the North Wind, grant us permission to use your mighty powers in the pursuit of our lawful endeavors, ever sparing us the overwhelming scourge of your frigid breath.
(Facing west, pour the same amount of Champagne and fling to the West while intoning:) Great Zephyrus, exalted ruler of the West Wind, grant us permission to use your mighty powers in the pursuit of our lawful endeavors, ever sparing us the overwhelming scourge of your wild breath.
(Facing east, repeat and fling to the East.) Great Eurus, exalted ruler of the East Wind, grant us permission to use your mighty powers in the pursuit of our lawful endeavors, ever sparing us the overwhelming scourge of your mighty breath.
(Facing south, repeat, flinging to the South.) Great Notus, exalted ruler of the South Wind, grant us permission to use your mighty powers in the pursuit of our lawful endeavors, ever sparing us the overwhelming scourge of your scalding breath.
Of course, any champagne remaining will be the beginnings of a suitable celebration in honor of the occasion.
Once the ceremony has been completed, you may bring aboard any and all items bearing the new name of your vessel. If you must schedule the painting of the new name on the transom before the ceremony, be sure the name is not revealed before the ceremony is finished. It may be covered with bunting or some other suitable material.

So as one can see we have quite a task ahead of ourselves to rename Artful properly, something of which we will be doing in a few short weeks.

Now on another note here is Butch and trouble, as he has taken to walks on the underside of the dock when our backs are turned, he is becoming more comfortable in his surroundings.

Here is the final out come of our complete cock pit enclosure, which is going to work well as for an extra room, not to mention the protection from sun and rain.

In this picture we have just finished up the bright work to the toe rails all sanded and re varnished, boy we are glad we don't have a wooded boat and not a lot of bright work on Artful

The days for approaching departure are getting close and we have found we will be setting the date back by a few days until the 10 of September, as we find we have some few things do deal with, such as closing up our job commitments and medical appointments which have us seeing doctors up until the first of September. It seems Karin has developed some arthritis in her hands and she was able to finally able to get to see some one and the last appointment will be Sept. then we are our way.

Over the past week we have been visited by many tourist, who have been here at the brewery. It's been great talking with you all and sharing our plans, not to mention trying to encourage some of you to follow your dreams and make the big move.

We've added a comment part to our post now and look forward to your comments, so please drop us a note and let us know where your at so we can add you to our contact list.

The Artful Dodger

The Artful Dodger

This a quick update, which we will have more early next week but we thought it would be best to pass along this new information.

First the name of The Artful Dodger has been change to

The Artful Dodger II

The reason for this is that Artful is now an official registered boat of Canada, and thus her name is now also registered, making we can now remove her previous number and only be recognized by the title of

The Artful Dodger II

There will also be a call sign shortly as well for using our Marine radios

All of this had to be done so once we are in foreign ports we will not get in big trouble. There will be more info and pictures in a few days but thought should post this info.