Where is ORION?

[David Morton]

Great pics, Jim. One day I'd like you to tell me in detail how you prepped and managed your CD31 for the trip, the sailing details of the passage and how you managed your dinghy. I dream of such a voyage. One of these days...

David

[Jim Walsh]

You are in a very nice neighborhood
I bet the owners of the Shannon and of the Hinckley are admiring Orion and posting pictures of her to their boards too.

wouldn't that be a hoot! I have had lots of nice comments. I've been keeping everything shipshape and flying the CDSOA burgee every day.

[Jim Walsh]

Great pics, Jim. One day I'd like you to tell me in detail how you prepped and managed your CD31 for the trip, the sailing details of the passage and how you managed your dinghy. I dream of such a voyage. One of these days...

David

David, I'd be happy to share once I return. I'm keeping a detailed log so I can keep track of what works and what could have been improved. The rhumb line here is 640 nautical miles from my slip in Noank, Ct. My distance travelled was 850 nautical miles. By the time I return I'll have lots of blue water experience and will be a reasonable judge of what works, for me and a CD 31 anyways.

[RLW]

Looking at the great photo of Orion, I'm curious...which windlass is that? Also, I see that your secondary anchor is a CQR; what do you have down as a primary? I hope I'm not asking you to repeat yourself...

[Jim Walsh]

Looking at the great photo of Orion, I'm curious...which windlass is that? Also, I see that your secondary anchor is a CQR; what do you have down as a primary? I hope I'm not asking you to repeat yourself...

It's a Lofrans Royal manual windlass. I have a 33# original Bruce anchor as my primary (the Brits use the term "bower") with 92' of 5/16" BBB chain spliced to 161' of 5/8" three strand nylon and I have a 25# original CQR as my backup (the Brits use the term "kedge") with 20' of 5/16" BBB chain spliced to 205' of 1/2" three strand nylon.
As an aside I've been keeping track of every boat which I see drop anchor since I've been here. Nearly 80% have a CQR (or a copy) as their primary anchor. Makes you wonder where all these sailing magazines get their information from. I think the advertisers are dictating how their products are represented in the "independent" studies.

[tjr818]

A very interesting survey Jim. Where do most of these CQR boats hail from? Maybe it is just U.S. Sailors that are being advertised to.

[Jim Walsh]

A very interesting survey Jim. Where do most of these CQR boats hail from? Maybe it is just U.S. Sailors that are being advertised to.

Norway, Denmark, Germany, New Zealand, France, U.S.A., Great Britain, South Africa. I read an article once that said many cruisers were still outfitted with old CQR anchors but that could easily be attributed to the availability of old CQR's at cheap prices since the new generation anchors were replacing the old standards. I now believe this was a lot of bunk. I have only seen two boats that I would say would be characterized as less than well maintained and equipped blue water cruisers. One American and one German. The American boat had a Bruce "style" stainless steel anchor and the German boat has a plow "style" anchor (perhaps a Lewmar Delta). Neither seemed to have any problems holding in winds up to 32 knots.

[Astronomertoo]

Large sport fishermen have started arriving from the State's and are headed to clear Customs. Must be a fishing tournament scheduled here soon. The Shannon this big guy just passed is 53' so the sport fisherman appears to be 60' or so.

Good morning,
You know you have many of us daydreaming and living vicariously out here trying to imagine what it would be like to be there meeting new people, and swapping tales at your cross roads.
The Bermuda 40 is a class act, and if this is its owners's swan song, perhaps this is your opportunity to pick it up? Sounds like a good dream.
The Shannon is way out there in dreamworld and reminds me very much of a custom built Bristol 56 (Point of Sail) that I used to spend some time on in Lauderdale and Bimini with my old best friends who used to operate it on charter out of St Thomas for the NY owners. The Shannon really is a dream, and I love the hard top.
I will have to stick with my old CD 25 in this life (sigh).
Btw, your own CD is still one of the prettiest and classiest out there, and you know it well and own it! Let them be jealous.
One question -- have you heard how long it takes the bigger sport fish boats to cross over from the states?
Bob C

[Jim Walsh]

Large sport fishermen have started arriving from the State's and are headed to clear Customs. Must be a fishing tournament scheduled here soon. The Shannon this big guy just passed is 53' so the sport fisherman appears to be 60' or so.

Good morning,
You know you have many of us daydreaming and living vicariously out here trying to imagine what it would be like to be there meeting new people, and swapping tales at your cross roads.
The Bermuda 40 is a class act, and if this is its owners's swan song, perhaps this is your opportunity to pick it up? Sounds like a good dream.
The Shannon is way out there in dreamworld and reminds me very much of a custom built Bristol 56 (Point of Sail) that I used to spend some time on in Lauderdale and Bimini with my old best friends who used to operate it on charter out of St Thomas for the NY owners. The Shannon really is a dream, and I love the hard top.
I will have to stick with my old CD 25 in this life (sigh).
Btw, your own CD is still one of the prettiest and classiest out there, and you know it well and own it! Let them be jealous.
One question -- have you heard how long it takes the bigger sport fish boats to cross over from the states?
Bob C

I've never had the chance to speak to anyone on the sport fishermen. They cruise in, clear through customs, and leave immediately. I presume they are all headed to Hamilton, at the opposite end of Bermuda, since it's loaded with marinas and the "big" city atmosphere. I've seen huge bladder fuel tanks on several. The really big guys, 65-75 footers, apparently have the range to make it without resorting to bladder tanks.
It's been blowing 22 to 28 knots here for the last three days and I've still seen seven big sport fishermen arrive. I was told the blue marlin and tiger sharks migrate here for the summer, and the wahoo are a big attraction.
I've had wahoo taco's twice so far and they are fantastic. Way better than mahi mahi.

[Jim Walsh]

Waves always get flattened out in photographs but here's one anyway. It's gusting to 28 knots right now. Makes for a damp dingy ride ashore
Nice and peaceful in the cabin though....time for lunch

[Jim Walsh]

This was my neighbor for one day. They arrived yesterday morning and were taken to task by Bermuda Radio for not contacting them when 30 miles out (effective VHF range). They negotiated the "cut" and entered St.Georges harbor before switching on their VHF and asking about the customs clearance procedure. Bermuda Radio is the marine traffic authority and is very careful about the traffic on their waterways. They ensure that the commercial and pleasure craft do not do not hamper one another on these narrow, confusing (without the proper charts), and busy waterways. They go so far as to guide you from buoy to buoy if you are unsure of your position or do not have the proper charts to negotiate the numerous reefs. Big brother is always watching on radar, and it's a good thing.
"Sir Ernest" is a 10.75 meter (36') ketch which appears larger. I don't know the make or model but she looks pretty seaworthy and has obviously proven so. She hailed from Bale, Switzerland, of all places. Must be well constructed to have sailed over the Alps she has a husband and wife crew and left at 6:00pm for Horta, Azores.....that's a 2,000 mile journey. I couldn't have much of a conversation with them as they spoke French and I just barely speak English
One interesting thing was their anchoring procedure (an original Spade). He stayed at the helm and picked a spot, she dropped the anchor. When they left, he again stayed at the helm and she used the manual windlass (he helped with the engine) to bring the anchor up and secure it.
I also have a manual windlass, I'm just missing the "operator", well not really, it's just me

[Skeep]

Jim, you've been out there for quite a bit or have you returned? Was wondering what the duration of stay is for visiting vessels such as yours?

[Jim Walsh]

Jim, you've been out there for quite a bit or have you returned? Was wondering what the duration of stay is for visiting vessels such as yours?

Still here. Preparing to head back, probably in the next couple days. Once you arrive visiting yachts are given 90 days.....not a bad deal for $35.00. They have all the amenities close at hand so it's tough to leave. Beautiful place, very nice people, great place to spend a month, or more

[Astronomertoo]

Ha, I love to read your comments and observations from there. And "Sir Ernest" looked like a cool boat to travel on, especially over the Alps.
Keep your eyes open, and best wishes on your return trip. Your boat is indeed gorgeous!
Bob Cuberly

[Jim Walsh]

Where is ORION? Headed back home in an hour or two. Decided to take advantage of the moon and this S-SW wind. It's blowing 22 to 28+ currently. I'll put a reef in the main and drop it till I get outside the "cut" and the initial channel marker through the surrounding reef. I have to head east for a mile or so to clear the reef then I can head directly out to sea and home.
I still have several hundred sea miles to go, but hey, I have a Cape Dory to take care of me. I'll also do my part to the best of my ability