Spring 2017 Commissioning, Maintenance, and The America's Cup

Wow, that was a quick winter!  Now back to Pratique, it's time for commissioning fun!  Fast forward and she's back at her Cove Haven slip:






















New bottom paint, new wax, new canvas, new carbon foam batteries, new boom vang springs and some other hardware, all in time for our June trip to Bermuda to see the 35th America's Cup Finals.  For the passage to Bermuda, Matt and Tim signed up, and they brought a Maine friend, Carl D'Amato.  Great 4 day passage to The Rock.

Tim, Matt

And Carl!  Yummy ceviche snacks!

We spent a few day in St. George's, then went around to the Great Sound.  Just as we turned into the Sound, we got a solo fly-by:

"Thanks, guys!"

Each day of races, we'd check the course map they'd issue late morning, then motor out from our anchorage near Hamilton, to the course.  This strategy proved to be great, as each race we had great viewing angles and front row position.

In addition to the AC Finals, there were other highlighted events including a Superyacht regatta outside St. David's, and J-Class races.  Spectacular!

The  Maltese Falcon

After Carl, Matt and Tim flew out, Susan flew in with our friends Josh and Tiff.  More great race viewing:

Josh, Susan and Tiff at the bow watching Team Emirates fly across us

In between races we toured the whole island by scooter, including the Royal Naval Dock Yard, Hamilton, Horseshoe Bay beach, St. David's Lighthouse, and of course the Swizzle!

Susan behind the camera at Horseshoe Bay

Back at the America's Cup finals, you can see here that Oracle is slightly ahead of Emirates Team New  Zealand.  This particular photo has great historical significance, and kudos to Susan for capturing the moment--because 99.9% of AC Finals photos will show Emirates ahead of Oracle.  So enjoy the moment:

Oracle racing to the finish, ahead of Emirates!!

The eventual winner, Team New Zealand:

They say "Nothing sails to weather like a 747," so I said good bye to Susan, Josh and Tiff who flew back to Providence.  I sailed back with Dick Sweeney and Alec Brecher, two guys I originally had the pleasure of meeting back in Cove Haven through Josh and Tiff.  These guys know how to sail and have a nice time on passage!

Alec

Dick

It still freaks me out that they are not related to each other!

All in all, a great June trip to Bermuda.  Thanks to all who made it happen!!

Winter Decommissioning

For the first time since her launch, Pratique was going on the hard for the winter.  We had to learn a new decommissioning routine!  We did what we could, and Cove Haven unstepped the mast and on the hard she went.  

We traded in our ocean foulies for some winter gear.  Off to Killington for the season!

Back to New England, and On to Nova Scotia

We visited Anguilla for a few days, and then Susan flew home to RI.  Two new crew, Matt Johnson and Tim Walters joined Sam and me for the return passage.  On the way back north I made sure to stay on a course that would allow us to divert to Bermuda should the weather warrant.  Sure enough, a front was coming with predicted gusts to 65kts.  On to Bermuda!  We waited out the storm for a few days, then proceeded north again.  We crossed the Gulf Stream with the help of the "Iron Jenny," and pulled out the early May in New England gear.

Tim, Matt and Sam

Keep the hot coffee coming!

Our summer trip was next! Susan and I planned to sail to northern Maine, then cross over to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, spend a few days there, then round Cape Sable and head north eventually arriving in Cape Breton to cruise Lake Bras d'Or.

At the beginning of our usual overnight passage from Cape Cod to Maine we saw a group of whale watching boats off Provincetown, and decided to investigate. Through the fog this boat emerged:

So we hung around to watch the big show:

For the next hour traveling north, we saw many other whales in the distance:

Pretty spectacular, but we had to move along . . . .

After an uneventful night we arrived at Mistake Island Harbor.  This is a beautiful, isolated spot well north of Bar Harbor, which I had been to before.   Just as gorgeous as before:

Pratique alone in Mistake Island Harbor

Low tide, slippery when wet!

The next day we sailed across the lower Bay of Fundy to Yarmouth, N.S.  As if a switch was flipped, it turned mostly cloudy and cold, so we decided to enjoy Yarmouth until the weather changed.

Welcome to downtown Yarmouth!

Commercial fishing boats in Yarmouth

Despite all the commercial boats, there wasn't a lot of fresh fish to purchase locally.  Plus, Canada closes their waters to lobster fishing this time of year.  Fortunately, lots of meat was available:

Good weekend to visit a Canadian fishing capital!!

Local Raymarine autherized dealer?

Wait, is it cold because we are frozen in time?  

Pratique waiting at anchor for the weather

At least the birds are happy!

After three days we decided it was time to reconsider our plans.  Cape Breton would have to wait for another season . . . .

After a cold overnight crossing we dropped anchor in Bar Harbor Maine, at a familiar spot just north of the sand bar.  We went crashing to sleep, and when we woke up at noon it was 80 degrees and sunny!  Oh, one more benefit to returning to Maine--Lobstah!

Lobstah's back on the menu!

St. Lucia to St. Martin: Dolphins and Orcas

Susan and I sailed back up to St. Lucia and met our trusted and able-bodied crew, Sam Dickson.  You may remember Sam from the trip south! This week Sam is joining us to get back to St. Martin, with touring stops in St. Eustatius and Saba.  We didn't have a lot of wind, but the sights were memorable!

First highlight was a ridiculously large pod of dolphins swimming south off the coast of Martinique.  There were hundreds, so we slowly turned the boat back south to watch them:

"OK, that was cool, but what else ya got?"

Next day we were off the coast of Nevus/St. Kitts, and the sea was glass.

See, glass sea.

Susan was first to spot the "What is that dot?"  We got closer and this is what we saw:

Sam was first to identify them as Orcas.  I must say I was skeptical until I checked the markings against Google.  The distinctive gray saddle patch and the white markings are the giveaways.  Sure enough, there are not one but two types of North Atlantic killer whales.

Sam also captured two pics of two of them swimming under the boat to check us out.  One has even flipped over, I guess for a better view:

Later that evening we anchored off Oranjestad in Sint Eustatius (Statia) and the next day we walked the island.

Steep road to town!

We hiked to the top rim of the dormant volcano called The Quill.  Spectacular!

Deep, lush crater behind us

Sam, atop the Quill, with Oranjestad below and Saba in the distance

On the Quill with Saba and St. Martin in the distance

Final stop: Saba

Looking way down to the airport.

The "beach"

Why we take a taxi here

Then back to St. Martin:

Megayacht "A" and Pratique arriving in St. Martin