29 May 2008 : Newsletter 29 may
By : Stéphane
Hello everybody!
Here is the last newsletter before the crossing!
In the last week, some interesting story happen. First Keith and his wife Florida came for a visit (They found me via the website).
Keith was suppose to arrived via the little beach at the marina, but with no real confirmation.
Working and spreading caulking everywhere on me and Joshua when doing some repairs, I begin to believe they will not show up.
Then finally relaxing fixing up the winches, a Yachtclub boat come close and a men asking if I have Channel 9 on my VHF. I poke my head inside, grabbing the VHF microphone and switching to 9, when I turn my head back these people are jumping on board. I'm asking to myself, what the hell is happening, and the boat is leaving, confusion for several minutes I discover it was them! After running everywhere to clean a bit, we had a great time chatting, story telling and boat talking. It's always nice meeting other people sharing the same passion.
Catherine came again for the weekend too, and just like the previous one we got a great time. Relaxing, talking and walking around (The head stay was being rebuild and needed to cure so no sailing! Sorry ). She is a really nice person, and I should see her again in Europe.
William Zellman given me for a third time a donation. If it continue that way he will became my main sponsor and I will need to put is face on my sails ;). Thanks William, I really appreciate.
All the major work are done. Food, kerosene, water is filled and everything ready to go. Believe it or not, the third part for fixing the computer didn't work either. It's almost ridiculous and frustrating and turn out to be a quest. I think I can found a way around it and make it work, will see.
So the big departure is Sunday or Monday, the weather look good and me & Joshua are ready.
I've put a little video online about the departure: http://www.peacefuljourney.ca/video.php
Starting Monday, for the next 20/25 days: when you will go to work, go to the bathroom in the middle of the night or relax during the weekend I will be out there sailing east. Funny isn't! ;)
Take care everybody
27 May 2008 : Newsletter 26 May
By : Stephane
Hello everybody,
just a quick email for now, I will send one more complete in a couple of days.
The computer part that I was waiting for was the wrong one, I almost left without one but doing so, I will not be able to take more then 16 pictures of the crossing and no videos. I order a new one from a different store and it will arrive within 2 days. (If that one doesn't work either, I will leave without it).
I also finish all work on Joshua, just need to buy last minute supply, kerosene and ready to go. The weather is clearing too, and Joshua begin to shout at me everyday to go for a long sail.
Everything is done and ready to go, my next message in 2/3 days will be my last one before the crossing.
Have a great day everybody!
20 May 2008 : Newsletter 20 may
By : Stéphane Tremblay
Hello everybody, a little update .... quite strange ...
The last week was fill with good and bad things, I can go for over pages to explain everything but let's try to do it simple with a little list! :)
-My computer broke down, no detail charts anymore. Order a new piece to fix it!
-The new piece for the computer was not working, get refund. Order a new one quite more expensive!
-Climb up the mast to remove all wires making noise inside (2 years i dreamed of that), finally done after some cursing and 2 days going up and down.
-Discover up the mast, the 14 pop rivets that hold the shroud were all broke. Replaced with 7 bolts going through
-Didn't received my last paycheck, repair a lot more expensive then expected and will be my only money to go. So I hope to received it really soon!!
-My main GPS broke down, will go with a sextant and my old handheld.
-Just finish printing some backup paper charts for the crossing, all nice and ready!
-Received my new manual bildge pump, installed and work great!
-Installed the new VHF cable, from the top of the mast, around the back stay to the radio. Simple and work great!
-Gale after gale after rain after rain. The weather is quite not cooperative. I guess i will need to leave in a gale!
-Only 2 more things to do on the boat to have the TODO list done. But both require somebody to hold some bolts on the other side.
-Boat clean inside out, food ready, almost ready to go!
Except these little things, I have 2 nice visit this week. Donna Lange who come for a nice talk and sail on the harbor. We got a light breeze and enjoying that sailing under full sail. It was really nice to spend some times with another sailor and friend. I'm glad she didn't complain about the boat too much. Joshua was really dirty inside out, and to make it worst Bird was having a shi!#$% party on the boat during the night! I learned she was coming 1 hour before going to bed, and she arrived at 6h30 the next morning ;) But this didn't stop us to have some fun!
Last weekend Catherine from Quebec come for a visit too, we got a great time and a great sailing in 15/20 knots of wind. Joshua was doing great with some 30 and 40 degrees of heel over upwind, with Catherine trying to walk straight inside to search some more warm clothes (Are you make it worst because I go inside? She said. No, No i answer back with a big smile in my face seeing her trying to stay straight!). She spent 2 days on board, and we really had a great time despite of my bad cooking, some rain and crazy wind the next day.
So mainly I'm waiting for parts again, somebody with free time to help me with the 2 last work, and the weather to settle a bit!
Have all a good day!
14 May 2008 : Newsletter 13 may
By : Stephane
Good evening everybody!
Here a little update since the last crazy diesel spill!
On the next morning of the last adventure, I was heading to the marina, the tail under my leg, to found a way of disposing that “contemned material”. After asking to meet the right guy and talking with him, he look at me with a smile and said: "Go throw that in the garbage bin in the back!" All that for that?!!
I finished all the major work on the boat, and for a first in the Marina … I’ve sail out of the travel lift to the mooring on a beautiful 20/25 knots breeze. Joshua sail really well with the new bottom clean, no prop and 5 thru hull removed.
I’ve make the major grocery and pretty much ready to go, I’m mainly waiting for weather and a Manual Bilge pump that I bought a little while ago and long to arrive!
Take care all
PS: I've put some pictures when the boat was on the hard.
07 May 2008 : Newsletter 7 may
By : Stéphane
I was working on Joshua all day, nice and sunny on the hard(Joshua been haul out).
At the end of the day I decided to remove the "keel plug" to let the water still in the bilge to drain out. I removed the plug no problem. Water is coming out, good!
When I go back to work in the cockpit, a guy from the marina pass by and said:
Him: Hey you have diesel spill.
Me: Oh! Sorry (I guess some diesel left from the old engine, a small quantity)
Him: Well we will need to take care of that (And I ear a guy curse in the back).
Me: Do you need help, something I can do?
Him: No it’s ok, they will just throw some sand over the whole thing.
I’m going back to my work and all of the sudden 2 polices car, 2 fire truck and another car arrive. Around 15 peoples all dress up ready to rescue a 500 gallons spill. All the people looking at me; with the light all open and flashing (Great it's Christmas!). Everybody attracted from the Marina and come asking questions … I’m the guy pointed out … (Damn … it was not even a pint! But with the water it make it spread out). They throw some sand on it when a Police officer comes again to ask me more questions:
Him: You know that in the states you will need to pay for that
Me: What?
Him: Well somebody got to pay for all this; they decide the price so be nice with those guys.
Me: (I’m thinking, I don’t want to spend the little money I have for a Diesel spill, I don't even have an engine anymore!).
Those guys left and didn't talk about money (Good, I hope!), so I've take my stuff and was heading for a much needed beer. But I needed to stop to the police station to give my and Joshua ID. Seth (A friend) comes with me to the police station.
We answer some questions and the guy say well my Sergeant wants you to go at the scene (Oh great! Sound's like I commit a murder!). After driving there, I discover that I need to found a way to “dispose of this contemned material" (The fu@#$#@ sand) and he will need an Invoice from the person who will do it. Great … I'm still waiting to know if the Marina can do it for me … this happen 2 hours ago!
Except that, Joshua is out of the water and the work is going forward ….If I stop spilling not even a pint of diesel ;)
Take care all
Stéphane
04 May 2008 : Website Update !
By : Stephane
New page on the website, a list of equipment on board: http://www.peacefuljourney.ca/equipments.php
Enjoy!
03 May 2008 : Newsletter 2 May update ...
By : Stephane
Hi again everybody ... sorrry for the fast second newsletter!
So after talking with a new person on the marina. We were talking about price again, and she said you are the 46 footers Joshua right ..? 46 footers ? (Joshua is getting bigger without notice!!) ... So after correction the haulout will be 240$ instead of 500$ ... So change plan! Haulout plan Tuesday at 10am, to Friday 8am.
Take care all!
Stéphane
http://www.peacefuljourney.ca
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