Guy, what kind of hobbies do you have?

[crfriend]

Kirbstone -- Those are astounding photos; thanks for sharing. That looks like a good sail, and your conservatory is positively gorgeous!

[Milfmog]

If you ever get into these here parts 245 feet might get you to a rather notable wreck that's off Nantucket Island -- the Andrea Doria. That, however, is claimed as a very technical dive and quite dangerous from all the reports I've heard of it. Somehow I always find it amazing that the ship sank in a depth less than its length, and that as the last portion slipped below the waves its bow may well have already been on the bottom.

The Doria is on my wish list, however there are issues with the boats diving the site and it is unlikely that I could make up a charter to gain full control of the people on the boat,without that a wreck like the Doria is too risky for me to contemplate.

There is however a bigger problem... The draw of the great lakes which contain a number of beautifully preserved wooden wrecks, some of which (The Gunilda springs to mind) are upright, intact and still have their masts and primary rigging in place. Now let me see... a dangerous pile of mangled tin or an in-tact wooden work of genius?

Have fun.


Ian.

[crfriend]

Now let me see... a dangerous pile of mangled tin or an in-tact wooden work of genius?

We have a clear winner -- the Lakes.

[Since1982]

All ANY boat needs to be to be acoustic is to be hollow. Even a quarter inch wide pipe can be acoustic if it's hollow, we might not be able to hear acoustics in it, but they'd still be there for smaller ears to hear. Ever wonder of the various sounds tiny ears are attuned to?

I'm afraid I'm too large to use my guitar as a boat tho...it'd probably sink immediately. I'd rather save my B-25 Gibson as a keepsake if I don't play it often enough.

Addendum: My boat hasn't been untied from the dock for 5 years.

[Big and Bashful]

All ANY boat needs to be to be acoustic is to be hollow. Even a quarter inch wide pipe can be acoustic if it's hollow, we might not be able to hear acoustics in it, but they'd still be there for smaller ears to hear. Ever wonder of the various sounds tiny ears are attuned to?

I'm afraid I'm too large to use my guitar as a boat tho...it'd probably sink immediately. I'd rather save my B-25 Gibson as a keepsake if I don't play it often enough.

Yep, but I haven't got long enough arms to blow in one end while fingering the holes at the other on my boat!

My boat must be missing me, three days since I said hello to it and today the forecast is a bit evil. Force 8 gusts inshore and possible force 11 offshore, I think I will keep my feet dry for the next day or 2!

[Milfmog]

...today the forecast is a bit evil. Force 8 gusts inshore and possible force 11 offshore, I think I will keep my feet dry for the next day or 2!

Sounds like a sensible plan B&B. Hope you have a good set of mooring lines on the old girl. (Is she in a marina or on a swinging mooring?)

Have fun (and stay out of that weather),


Ian.

[Big and Bashful]

She is on a swinging mooring. with some shelter from souwesterlies, which are the prevailing thingies hereabouts. At the moment it looks like good sailing weather, force 4 ish, but I don't think I'll risk it after last weeks problems.

[Stuart]

Wrenching. Latest project was an engine swap in our big (15 passenger) van. In the distant past, I've rebuilt some engines &etc. We have an old speedboat ("stinkpotter" to my sailing betters ) that I maintain. I've done some minor remodeling over the years; some carpentry and drywall, lots of electrical and plumbing, including some gas piping (all with permits and inspections!).

stuart

[AMM]

If by "hobbies" you mean what you do when not doing what you need to keep body & soul together:

• Looking after my kids (ages 17 & 20 -- yes, they still need looking after!)
• Dancing, mostly contra dancing, but some English and occasionally Scottish
• Singing & guitar playing.
• Music for dancing -- guitar and flute.
• Sewing (mostly skirts and related clothing.)
• Bicycling (when the bike paths aren't icy)
• Hiking
• Skiing -- downhill and (locally only) cross-country.

I've discussed pretty much all of these activities at greater length in other posts, so I won't bore you by repeating myself.

Downhill skiing is the only activity I don't mostly do skirted.

[Kirbstone]

Gardening, after a fashion. The wife has the green fingers, but Monty Don didn't mention in his BBC gardening programmes that a positive army of weeders is required the keep ahead if the garden is any size, which ours is.
Solution: Mow the paths between interest areas and don't get paranoid about the odd thistle. (I'm the chief under-thistle-puller anyway...a sideways career move, not well paid!)
My function is mainly 'architectural'. so structures, mainly arches & gateways are my thing. Last long weekend was lovely for October, so I got out there & enjoyed myself constructing surprises to earn brownie points. (Difficult !)

[Kirbstone]

ChrisM,
It's a Verl 27, a fibreglass 27 foot 6 berth masthead rigged yacht. 35 years old but sails really well. I was out last Sunday sailing with a friend who took his Sadler 26. I had to keep turning back to let him catch up as my wee boat was sailing over a knot faster. That was in very light winds (force 2 ish)
I have a fair amount to do to it but I like her already!

B&B,
That's a really lovely boat you have there, sails well set and nice scenery in the background. From 1975 to '84 I shared a Westerly GK 29 'Get Kool' with two other guys, based in the Hamble River, Hampshire. One Summer we ventured North in relays and got as far as Skye, calling at Camuscross and Portree.(no bridge to get under, then). On the way back we encountered amazingly calm conditions at Staffa and managed to row our dinghy right into Fingal's Cave!
Tom K.

[Big and Bashful]

ChrisM,
It's a Verl 27, a fibreglass 27 foot 6 berth masthead rigged yacht. 35 years old but sails really well. I was out last Sunday sailing with a friend who took his Sadler 26. I had to keep turning back to let him catch up as my wee boat was sailing over a knot faster. That was in very light winds (force 2 ish)
I have a fair amount to do to it but I like her already!

B&B,
That's a really lovely boat you have there, sails well set and nice scenery in the background. From 1975 to '84 I shared a Westerly GK 29 'Get Kool' with two other guys, based in the Hamble River, Hampshire. One Summer we ventured North in relays and got as far as Skye, calling at Camuscross and Portree.(no bridge to get under, then). On the way back we encountered amazingly calm conditions at Staffa and managed to row our dinghy right into Fingal's Cave!
Tom K.

I have only seen Fingals Cave once, from the Brig, Royalist. I didn't go ashore because I wasn't feeling at all agile, joints and things keep letting me know I could be healthier. I love the idea of taking a boat right in to the cave, wow!

[Since1982]

B&B said: but I can't even picture a sailing guitar!

Take a normal cheap guitar, climb to the top of a high cliff looking out over the water, or the roof of your house, if you have a pool, grasp the guitar by the neck, swing it twice over your head, and let it fly over the sea/ocean/river/lake/pool and you'll have a "sailing guitar~~~~~

[Big and Bashful]

B&B said: but I can't even picture a sailing guitar!

Take a normal cheap guitar, climb to the top of a high cliff looking out over the water, or the roof of your house, if you have a pool, grasp the guitar by the neck, swing it twice over your head, and let it fly over the sea/ocean/river/lake/pool and you'll have a "sailing guitar~~~~~

You got a point there! But, I like my guitars and can't resist a sly pluck on most days, I ain't gonna teach them how to fly any time soon!

I feel a strum coming on see you around!

[Kirbstone]

The TS Royalist I have seen a few times and she is a handsome ship. Problem when aboard such a vessel is that one can only do what's on the programme. There's no room for private excursions.
On that very still day so many years ago we added another Wow to the experience.: As we quietly rowed deep into the cave a group of young lads, one carrying a large 'Ghetto Blaster' tape machine clambered in over the rocks and proceeded to play Mendelsohn's 'Fingal's Cave Overture' at volume, thus filling the actual place with the very music it inspired. That experience will be with me forever. It is an amazing co-incidence that we were there at that exact time.

I have had the pleasure of sailing on four windjammers: The Dar Mlodziezy, the largest Polish three master, the Alexander von Humbolt, financed by Becks beer and sporting unique green sails, and the Koenigen Elizabeth, a three master with a very fast fore & aft rig. These were out of Bremerhaven, near where I worked for seven years. The connection being that I sang in a Shanty Choir, and we were guests on board all three, at different times.
The fourth one is the Daddy of them all....the Royal Clipper, 5,000 tons, 42 sails on 5 masts. She's a cruise ship and we spent a week on board her cruising the Grenadines in the Caribbean out of Barbados.. She can make up to 17 knots under sail.!