On Landfall and Carl Alberg

[John Stone]

It's been rainy, cold, and windy here. We had snow flakes but it did not stick. To be truthful we have had a ridiculously mild winter till this past week.

We are making preparation for repainting the topside between the waterline and the gunwale after some mild bubbling in the Awlgrip paint. I'll write more about that project in a separate post, but in the meantime we are waiting for the right weather which requires even temps and less pollen. Maybe April.

It's been a tough year having the Far Reach out of the water. It was not my original plan but it's the way events unfolded. I can't wait to get her back in the water. I'm sure many Cape Dorians in the upper east coast and the Great Lakes have similar feelings. With the lousy weather, I feel a very strong pull to sail back to the eastern Caribbean as soon as possible! No need to explain more.

As I think back about how I decided to purchase a Cape Dory and develop a plan to modify her for our needs I realize we made a very smart decision. It's not a big boat. It does not have a lot of room, especially in its stock configuration. It does not have a lot of modern shiny hardware or the popular sugar scoop transom. But she is classically beautifully. She is comfortable. She is tough. And, if well handled, she is a very good sailing boat.

I have finally begun to edit some of the GoPro video we took on the trip. It's a slow process. But I ran across the below screen shot a few weeks ago. I think it represents a lot of the Cape Dory's positive attributes--a strong, safe, well behaved sea-boat. We are headed into another squall associated with TS Bonnie. We are double reefed with a working jib. The helm is perfectly balanced. The wide safe uncluttered side decks are evident. There is a simple rigging plan. She has room to carry a 9' hard dinghy inverted on the cabin top. She has a strong heavy duty boom gallows installed. Not only does it secure the boom when not underway or when sailing under just a stays'l, it makes a great handhold during those first few vulnerable steps when leaving the cockpit. I highly recommend adding one if your plans include extensive offshore sailing. The cockpit is not too big and looks safe and uncluttered. She is sailing comfortably without excessive heeling. The log book says we were making about 6.5-7 knots. I'm scanning the horizon for the Cape Lookout lighthouse after 12 days at sea. I remember being pretty relaxed, well rested, and completely confident in the boat to get me home safely. Though I occasionally wear a life harness when it's rough, or anytime I feel it's smart to do so, I obviously felt pretty safe when this photo was taken.

She is quite simply a terrific boat. Thank you Carl Alberg and Cape Dory.

[pete faga]

John
Nice shot.
Camera or I- phone?
Always look forward to the 'offshore posts'
Pete

[Jim Walsh]

Very nice John, thanks for sharing.

[Frenchy]

Well said, John. I especially agree about all Cape Dories being beautiful. There's something intangible
that lights up your soul when you look back rowing away. I feel like I have one of the
most beautiful boats in New Bedford harbor. - Jean

[Paul D.]

Well said. I would suggest your reasons are common to all of us for choosing Alberg boats. I've not felt unsafe aboard Femme once. Any fear during cold, hard times would revolve around my own decisions, not the boat.

I am especially happy you went out of the way to install a traveller on the bridge deck. The 33 has this set up and while it creates a conundrum for any dodger/bimini set up, and may get in the way a bit, sailing with this arrangement is just too much joy.

[John Stone]

Very nice. Kids are going to always find a way to make an obstacle an asset.