HMB Endeavour stripped bare

On 3 June HMB Endeavour headed to dry-dock for scheduled maintenance, and now as we have reached the halfway point in her docking, all is proceeding well. For the last week or so, a team of contractors have been removing the antifouling paint from the ship’s bottom and after nearly 20 years, we are back to bare timber.

HMB Endeavour replica (front) and James Craig (background) in the Captain Cook Graving Dock at Garden Island, Sydney.

A bi-product of the stripping has been dust and grit and the poor old ship looks a little under the weather. Over the next four or five days the topsides will be sanded and oiled and the underwater areas will be primed and repainted.

Endeavour stripped bare.

While in the appropriately named Captain Cook Dock, the opportunity has also been taken to repair some of the timber normally below the water line. In the main these repairs have been minor but a necessary part of remaining sea worthy.

HMB Endeavour replica (front) and James Craig (background) in the Captain Cook Graving Dock at Garden Island, Sydney. Photo: Navy Imagery Unit

An unusual feature of the docking this year was the fact that Endeavour docked down withJames Craig. To the best of anyone’s knowledge, there have never been two sailing ships simultaneously in the Captain Cook Dock.

The ship is on track to undock on 19 June and after a few trials underway, we should be back in the museum early that afternoon.

John Dikkenberg
Captain, HMB Endeavour replica

http://anmm.wordpress.com/2013/06/12/hmb-endeavour-stripped-bare/#more-10601

A CRUISE FEEDS THE SOUL

A CRUISE FEEDS THE SOUL

By Kevin Walters

The docklines are once again tied and my feet plod once more on solid ground.  My body is back in port, but I don’t know if my sailor’s soul will ever make it back to the dock. 

Perfectly peaceful anchorage in Baie Fine, Ontario

Before we left, I did my research.  I read all I could and talked to everyone who would share their experiences about the pros and cons of taking an extended cruise on a small sailboat. Now that we’ve returned, I realize most weren’t honest about the most difficult part of cruising: coming home.  As my family (wife and two young daughters, then ages 5 and 8) and I returned to our home port and stepped ashore, I realized that – after more than 1,000 nautical miles and nearly 70 days spent living and cruising aboard our 28-foot sailboat – I am closer to drowning on shore than I ever was while at sea.  On land it’s not water, but rather the pace and particulars of being a landlubber, that’s stealing the breath of life.

Last summer (2010) I lived a cruising fantasy.  I snatched a dream from my sleep and made it reality.  I now have something to write about, something to recall fondly, and something to build upon.  How can I be drowning?

Cruising gave me a clear goal; I knew where I was headed and how to get there.  I have goals when I’m on land, but I don’t always know how to achieve them.  I also have skills on land, but they pale in comparison to my ability to move watercraft from one place to the next.  I’m not a great breadwinner, perhaps, but I’m the best cruiser, navigator, sailor, and captain I can be.

Bridal Veil Falls near Kagawong, Ontario

As we plied the waters of the Great Lakes and headed to the isolation of the islands in Lake Huron's North Channel, I was alive with freedom. “Sail far and live free!” became our slogan.  I was on fire with ambition.  I was full of the life a cruising sailor longs for in the deep of winter.  It’s not easy to describe how 28 feet of fiberglass suddenly contained all I ever hoped for; my family, my charts, my gear, and my passions were all on board.

Little and Big Point Sable flashed by.  Lonely freighters broke up the horizon. Our voices echoed in the crescent-shaped bay of South Manitou Island.  The passage to Beaver Island was cold and wet.  Grey's Reef amazed us with turquoise water, massive boulders, and abandoned mid-lake lighthouses.  TheMackinac Bridge soared overhead, and the island gave us sights to see as we biked around her shoreline.  We found peace at sunset in Les Chenneaux Islands.  Monarch caterpillars became our pets on Harbor Island.  A storm blew through in Pilot Cove.  We provisioned in Gore Bay.

Family campfire in Pilot Cove, Drummond Island

The anchor held tight during a stormy night onSouth Benjamin Island.  We tied stern-to-shore onHeywood Island. Fish and chips filled our tummies from the old bus inKillarney.  We climbed high in Covered Portage Cove.  We watched a bald eagle soar inBaie Fine.  We welcomed July in Little Current.  Sturgeon Cove’s entrance challenged our piloting skills.  We shared a campfire and new-found friendship on LouisaIsland…blueberries galore on Croker Island…more friends, campfires, and cozy anchorages in the Benjamin Islands.  Freshly caught walleye fillet encrusted with Frosted Flakes cereal was on our dinner menu in Beardrop Harbor.  We enjoyed the same beautiful views as did the megayachts in Harbor Springs. Six-foot waves helped us surf home from Pentwater, Michigan.  I pinched myself each morning when I woke, making sure I wasn’t stuck in a January dream.

After years of daydreaming about an extended cruise, I fooled myself into believing I’d feel fulfilled when I returned to the dock.  I thought the itch would have been scratched and the hunger inside would have been fed.  I was wrong.  I am now full of memories but somehow empty.  It took months of planning and preparation for a small old boat to carry a family of four over a thousand miles of Great Lakes water in the period of about three months.  My life on land was focused during months of pre-cruise preparation.  My life at sea for three months was intense and full of passion, challenges, beauty, and closeness to my family.  I won’t forget the quiet reflection during my solo-sailing days at the beginning of the journey, or the sight of my daughters sleeping snugly in their berths below as my wife and I battled through waves and rain in the early hours of morning, or our first night anchored at a deserted island.

I was completely fulfilled while cruising in the wilderness of the North Channelwith few amenities, yet I find life can be lacking back here on land.  The great irony is that on land I’m surrounded by high-definition televisions, cell phones, high-speed Internet, cars, DVD players inside of cars, restaurants, shopping malls, and every other “luxury” of the 21^st century ashore in America.  If I learned anything from cruising, it’s that material things cannot fill the soul but memories and experiences can make it overflow.

My wife wonders how I can be in such a funk after having lived another of my dreams.  I wonder how I let prudence guide me back to our home port when reckless abandon and my sense of adventure could easily have had the bow headed for the Erie Canal and ultimately the Intracoastal Waterway.  From there, the whole world is just over the horizon.  As I sit at home writing, planning next year’s sailing adventure is what will make the weather a bit warmer and the winter sky brighter until that spring day when our bow once again points away from our life here on land.

http://www.sailfarlivefree.com/2012/01/awakening-from-cruisers-dream.html

Sailing on a boat with big waves

7 Things to Expect During Your Sailing Lessons

Sailing is an activity that is not popular among the masses. It is only for the rich, and they can't afford to buy a new boat, or just plainly have no time to do it, these are myths of sailing that until now hover over people who want to or might just actually take an interest in sailing. Sailing is not just any kind of sport or activity, it is a love, a passion and for some an obsession. Now that you are on your way to taking the first step to discovering what it is about sailing that aficionados love, here are some things to expect during your first couple of sailing lessons. 1. You will be taught and introduced to the basic skills of sailing involving safety, seamanship and boat handling. Rigging is taught as a process of setting up your boat and necessary equipment before launching into open waters. 2. Water safety training. This is not your ordinary safety learning for common watersports such as wakeboarding and surfing. Sailing water safety training covers swimming, first aid, cold-water survival skills, and basic capsize skills. Activities and drills include treading, putting a life jacket in the water, swimming from under the sail of a capsized boat, and artificial respiration. 3. Dinghies are light boats that respond quickly to wind, waves and crew balance. They can easily tip over and capsize, but they also can easily be righted and drained. Since these vessels are more sensitive than bigger yachts, they are the ideal classroom for sailing lessons, and provide a solid ground for sailing basics. 4. Expect a range of weather conditions. You will be out in open waters, and wind gusts added to the sun's heat can only be some of the various weather conditions you will face during your sailing lessons. Layered clothing is advised and a pair of closed light shoes that will not leave marks on the boat's deck. 5. The principles if sailing are simple, but it's the mastery that defines a weekender to true sailing enthusiasts. So, do not expect to have perfect skills in your first few sailing lessons. Sailing is an art and it takes time and a lot of practice to perfect it. 6. Mal de Mer. Motion sickness is the most common spoiler of a perfect sailing day. If you are prone to it, expect that you may encounter this feeling during your sailing lessons and it is best to execute preventive measure. Motion sickness medications are convenient, on top of adequate rest and hydration before each class. 7. Expect a spectacular view of crystal clear waters, and great panoramic landscapes. Discover your passion for this well loved activity that has transcended generations and is part of any family's heritage. What to expect during your sailing lessons can only go so far as what you hear about it, you need to experience it. Make your own sailing story and go beyond expectations.

http://ezinearticles.com/?7-Things-to-Expect-During-Your-Sailing-Lessons&id=5527879

Dragon Boating Can Be A Strong Team Building Experience

Dragon boat racing is an ancient sport that is thought to have originated in China in about 500 B.C. It was originally used in festivals and was thought to bring luck when celebrating the planting of the summer rice crop. Dragon boating gets its name from the particular shape of the boat. The boat itself is a long craft, shaped somewhat like a canoe that holds 22 people. The head and rear of the boat are carved to mimic a dragon's head and tail, and the body of the boat is painted in reds, gold and other colors to mimic the dragon's coloration or scales. The crew of the boat consists of twenty rowers or paddlers, one drummer, and one steersman. The paddlers sit in the mid section of the boat, facing toward the front of the boat, and each have one large paddle. The drummer sits at the front of the boat, facing the paddlers, and pounds out a rhythm for the paddlers to row to. This role is considered to not only be beneficial to the paddlers, but also important when observing the ceremony of this traditional sport. Sometimes, instead of a drum, a gong will be used to sound out the rhythm of the paddling. The steersman stands at the back of the boat, facing the front, and uses a long paddle to steer the boat. The paddle acts as a rudder would in a larger boat. Although the sport of dragon boat racing originated in China, it is now practiced all over the world. Some areas still consider a ceremonial event to be held during festivals or important times of the year, while other areas simply see it as an exciting competitive sport. Because the paddlers, drummer and steersman must work in concert in order to win a race, or even propel themselves very far, the sport can be a real team building experience. Getting to know the other people on the team can mean a better rhythm, as each person uses their strengths and encourages their team, which can lead to a better time or more wins for the team. There are two kinds of dragon boat races held in modern times. These are called sport races and festival races. Festival races are usually about 500 meters long, but because they are informal, the distance and rules of the event can vary from place to place. Sport races have stricter rules and are held at distances of 200, 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 meters. The International Dragon Boat Federation presides over these competitive races. Longer races, up to 100 kilometers or more, are also held in some parts of the world. Dragon boat racing is a great way to get outdoors, get a bit of exercise, and meet people. The electric excitement of the sport is captivating and invigorating. Dragon Boating is a great team building activity, it is both physically exhausting and rewarding. GWN Dragon Boat 577 Wellington Street West Toronto, ON M5V 1G3‎ (416) 962-8899 provides corporate Dragon Boating events as well as official Dragon Boating fesitval. For more information be sure to click here.http://ezinearticles.com/?Dragon-Boating-Can-Be-A-Strong-Team-Building-Experience&id=7259894

Sailing

Learn to Sail for Newbies - Five Sailboat Mast Safety Secrets

Learn to sail like a pro with these sailing safety tips. Each year, you can read another story about a sailboat that tried to sail under a bridge and got into trouble. Or, you might read a story about a sailor electrocuted when he or she attempted to pass under a low hanging overhead power line. Follow these five easy sailing tips to avoid marine accidents like these and keep your sailing safe, fun, and worry-free. Do You Know Your "Corrected" Mast Height? Know the height of your sailboat mast for safety. Your sailboat mast height tells you how much clearance --called "vertical clearance"--you need to pass beneath bridges or power cables. Locate your boat sail plan (drawing) or call the manufacturer. As an alternative, you might log on to a trusted Internet forum with experts on your specific sailboat. Ask about the mast height. Remember to add several feet to account for radio antennas or wind instruments at the top of your mast. If unsure of the height of attachments at the top of your mast, add 10% (rounded up to the next foot) to the mast height. Look over this example: You look at your boat's sail plan and note a mast height of 42 feet. You have a VHF radio whip antenna at the top, but are unsure of the height of this antenna. How much clearance do you need for safe passage? 42 feet x 10% = 4.2 feet. Round this up to the next whole foot. 5 feet + 42 feet = 47 feet corrected mast height. Write this down in your boat log for reference. How are HEIGHTS shown on Your Chart? Find the printed chart note on any nautical chart that says "HEIGHTS" in all capital letters. Read the note below that title. On US charts, heights are shown at mean high water (MHW), or the average of high waters over a period of years. On British Admiralty charts, heights are given at mean high water springs (MHWS), or the average of spring high tides over a period of years. Know the Four Nautical Bridge Symbols Fixed bridges Fixed bridges span a waterway from one side to the other. On you chart, these bridge symbols form unbroken lines across the water. Find the vertical clearance of the bridge marked near the charted symbol. Bascule bridges Imagine those old movies of the drawbridges on castles, where one side of the bridge lifts up. Bascules are the modern name for "drawbridge", and always lift up on one or both sides on a hinge. On your navigation chart, bascules show an open section in the middle of the waterway. Most bascule bridges are too low for sailboats to pass beneath, so you must call the bridge tender on your marine radio and request that they open the bridge. Swing Bridges These bridges rotate in a horizontal motion on a central pivot. Swing bridge symbols show an opening in the center, with a small, slender, oval shape in the center of the opening. This slender oval shape will be drawn perpendicular to the span. Most swing bridges are too low for sailboats to pass beneath, so you must call the bridge tender on your marine radio and request an opening. Lift Bridges These rare elevator-like bridges rise in a vertical motion between two giant legs. The symbol shows an unbroken span, but near the center, you will see two small arcs next to one another. Each arc faces the nearer river bank. Lift bridges have limited clearance when in the down position. Call the bridge tender on your radio and request an opening. Double Check Clearance Before You Pass Through Look for a tide gauge, shown on a board or in some cases, a digital display near the entrance on each side of the bridge. This shows the actual amount of clearance at that moment. Make sure that you have plenty of clearance before you attempt to sail through. If necessary, wait for a lower stage of the tide to pass though in safety. How to Identify Deadly Overhead Power Cables Few symbols hide like the overhead power cable. These high voltage wires span narrow waterways from one bank to the other. Look for dashed magenta colored (purple) lines on your chart. You will sometimes see a circle on each side of the waterway, that represents the power cable towers. Use a bright colored highlighter and mark power cable symbols on your chart. That way, they are easier to locate at-a-glance. Look on one side of the waterway for the vertical clearance of the cable. Make sure that you have lots of spare vertical clearance before you attempt to sail under any cable. If necessary, find an alternate route or anchor and wait for a lower tide before you attempt passage. Use these easy sailing tips to learn to sail with confidence in areas where bridges or power cables exist. Keep your sailing safe and worry-free--wherever in the world you choose to sail!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Learn-to-Sail-for-Newbies---Five-Sailboat-Mast-Safety-Secrets&id=7060669