Where is ORION?

[Jeff and Sarah]

Are your preventers just shackled to an unmodified stanchion base or did you beef them up at all? If unmodified, have the bases proven solid enough over time?

[jen1722terry]

Hearty congrats on your safe passage, Jim. And great photos, particularly of one very handsome 31.

I did that run from Newport almost 40 years ago. Not the nicest weather, but was it ever a pleasant landfall. Sadly, I had to fly home after only two days.

Enjoy that very elegant British hospitality, and do have a safe and happy run home. Are you doing a reciprocal, or heading more west for a bit of sweet June in the Chesapeake?

Terry and Jenn

[Sea Hunt Video]

Are your preventers just shackled to an unmodified stanchion base or did you beef them up at all? If unmodified, have the bases proven solid enough over time?

That would be my question as well.

Also, did you sail solo or with crew

Inquiring minds want to know.

[Jim Walsh]

Are your preventers just shackled to an unmodified stanchion base or did you beef them up at all? If unmodified, have the bases proven solid enough over time?

Shackled to unmodified station bases. My preventers are 3/8 three strand nylon so they have some stretch. The bases are rock solid.

[Jim Walsh]

Hearty congrats on your safe passage, Jim.

Enjoy that very elegant British hospitality, and do have a safe and happy run home. Are you doing a reciprocal, or heading more west for a bit of sweet June in the Chesapeake?

Terry and Jenn

If the wind if favorable I'm heading home, if the wind were more favorable to head toward the Chesapeake I'd be inclined to get out of the Gulf Stream and coastal cruise home from there.

[Jim Walsh]

Are your preventers just shackled to an unmodified stanchion base or did you beef them up at all? If unmodified, have the bases proven solid enough over time?

That would be my question as well.

Also, did you sail solo or with crew

Inquiring minds want to know.

Single handing, as usual. It builds character, wait a minute, I'm already a character.

[Steve Laume]

"Single handing, as usual. It builds character, wait a minute, I'm already a character."

It also lessens the chance of a mutiny.

[Jim Walsh]

Free boat wash service provided today by the Bermudian government. Pretty nice of them.
Wonder if they'll stop by to empty my dink later

[Jim Walsh]

Here's a beautiful picture I took the day I arrived. What caught my eye was the little yellow Vertue (?) class, junk rigged sailboat. That's something you don't see every day. She hails from Hong Kong and was singlehanded by a very thin, very mature woman, by way of the Cape of Good Hope. How's that for an intrepid mariner.

[Jim Walsh]

This photo was taken at 3:00pm this afternoon (2:00pm EST). This is Avocet, hailing from Oak Beach, NY. It's a tired old Grampian 30. When she arrived around noon I noticed two fellas were dropping the hook and hadn't cleared customs. I hopped in the dink to advise them of the requirements and they showed me a four foot piece of tiller. Seems they snapped their tiller a day earlier.!They steered through the "cut" into Georgetown harbor with one guy piloting and the other guy on stump duty. Their remaining tiller was about a foot long.
After asking if I could do anything they said they would effect some tiller repairs but other than that they were fine. Bermuda radio governs all vessel traffic and keeps a close eye on all movements and customs clearances. Knowing this I advised a quick call to advise them what they were doing and to alert customs as to the nature of their delay.
Within an hour or so they waved as they passed me on their way to customs.
Not everyone who has a blue water dream has a blue water dreamboat. They had mentioned that their bulkheads were creaking alarmingly all the way across. They also asked what the make was of ORION, I told them Cape Dory. They both said she looked beautiful. It is true, these Cape Dory's are truly beautiful boats, and.....my bulkheads don't creak

[Bob Lascelles]

Hi Jim

Congratulations on your trip down to Bermuda, super impressive! The pictures look great, Orion sure is a beauty. You will be getting some more company very soon. The lead boats in the Newport Bermuda 1-2 should start arriving this evening. I don't think there are any CD's but at least one Alberg design

All the best

Bob

[Jim Walsh]

Thanks, Bob. I'll take time out from my busy schedule and watch for them as they arrive.

[distand]

Congrats Jim

Took my 31 out for first sail this weekend in Noank. Was thinking about your trip. To Bermuda . Glad it went well

Don

CD31 Jambee

[Oswego John]

Not everyone who has a blue water dream has a blue water dreamboat. They had mentioned that their bulkheads were creaking alarmingly all the way across. They also asked what the make was of ORION, I told them Cape Dory. They both said she looked beautiful. It is true, these Cape Dory's are truly beautiful boats, and.....my bulkheads don't creak

Jim,

Wait a few more years and then let us know how your bulkheads are doing. Personally, since the last five or so years, my bulkheads
sound like my dear old grandmother's rocking chair. Pepto Bismol helps sometimes.

Thanks for the great post and the pictures.

O J

[Jim Walsh]

Congrats Jim

Took my 31 out for first sail this weekend in Noank. Was thinking about your trip. To Bermuda . Glad it went well

Don

CD31 Jambee

Thanks Don. The boat performed flawlessly. These CD31's are better built than their owners.

Not everyone who has a blue water dream has a blue water dreamboat. They had mentioned that their bulkheads were creaking alarmingly all the way across. They also asked what the make was of ORION, I told them Cape Dory. They both said she looked beautiful. It is true, these Cape Dory's are truly beautiful boats, and.....my bulkheads don't creak

Jim,

Wait a few more years and then let us know how your bulkheads are doing. Personally, since the last five or so years, my bulkheads
sound like my dear old grandmother's rocking chair. Pepto Bismol helps sometimes.

Thanks for the great post and the pictures.

O J

Thanks for the advice O J
As George Bernard Shaw stated "youth is wasted on the young"