Finally, an Update!

Well, it has been a week since my sister and I set out on the first leg of our journey, and what a week it has been... We set off from Fairpoint Marina with my father Friday morning around eight or nine (I forget which.) My dad had to get picked up for work by two that afternoon, and as the wind was so light we had to motor most of the way to a ramp half way to our intended destination, Sodus Bay. Well, after dropping him off we anchored in the bay for lunch, then sailed all the way to Sodus, anchoring for the night. It turns out that the bottom where we (I) chose to anchor was a little more weeded than expected and I don't think we ever got a proper set on the anchor. Luckily the night was relatively calm.
After going over out options of ports headed west we decided to turn around and see what the Eastern coast had to offer. The next day we sailed off the anchor and all the way into Oswego Harbor.
While I was very pleased with this performance it masked an unfortunate truth. Jackson was not well. When motoring the last couple hundred feet to the dock he coughed a few times and finally was silent. One sharp pull was enough to revive him and I was not concerned, he just doesn't run well at low rpms, I reasoned. We spent the night there due to forecast thunderstorms, and the next day as well. When we finally went to leave I started Jackson only to hear an unfortunate studder which would not go away. That morning was spent attempting to solve the problem but to no avail. When we finally left oswego we sailed to a lovely little place, the name of which escapes me. The day after we sailed into a lovely inlet south of Southwick Beach to wait out further storms. This provided us the luxury of walking up the beach to Southwick for well deserved showers.
Another night was spent in the inlet waiting for weather. When We finally left Jackson was not behaving. He died on the way out of the inlet at a rather inopportune moment, but was kind enough to start again on a single pull. He nearly died at least two more times from swallowing the caps of waves on the way into the lake, and I was quick to get under sail and save him from choking. My sister and I had a rather invigorating sail in large (to me) waves up to White's Bay up by Henderson Harbor. That night was the first we shared an anchorage with anybody. We had two other sailboats pull in with us and anchor for the night. We were the first out this morning at 8:15. Our objective for the day, make it to Sackets Harbor and meet Mom there for Christine to take her leave.
Well, all has gone according to plan, and I am now sitting at Chrissy Beanz in Sackets Harbor drinking a hot chocolate and stealing their wireless and electricity to write this. I'm not sure where I will go next or what I will do, but from now on it seems I'm single handing it. I won't lie, I'm afraid. Christine handled raising and lowering the sails, as well as cooking and dropping anchor for me. I'm not sure how I will manage without her, but rest assured I will. I hope to get to a computer more often from now on, but I cannot promise it. Until then, I want everyone to know I am well and that I will see them and be thinking of them as much as ever. Look to facebook for occasional status updates and pictures.
-Brian McB.

This. Should Not Have Been Removed.

Jackson

After spending the night on the boat in moderate comfort amongst all the things that still have to find a home we killed time waiting for the rain to abate by chasing small deck leaks. When finally the rain cleared we made a satisfying breakfast of French Toast, then hunkered back in for another small squall, after which the rain and winds died off. Perfect for a shakedown cruise. We thought.
Now, you remember the outboard issues we were having yesterday, well, they weren't done.
We got everything ready, started the outboard, and as I put it in gear and began to motor out of the slip a mysterious crunching noise was heard, and the motor's tiller slipped away from my hand. I grabbed, just as the power head dunked itself in Little Sodus Bay. It turns out there is a LOT of torque generated in my cob job outboard mount and the wood mounting plate couldn't take it. It just decided it couldn't take the stress and let my all important mounting bolts slip through it's fibers, dropping poor Jackson in the drink.
So, God be praised, we drifted across the marina and ran lightly aground before hitting anything important, and by the time I looked up there were already marina personnel ready to give a hand. They got a rope around Jackson and hoisted him out, then pulled Cassandra back for another night in the slip where she'd been staying.
Both old an new mounts are at home in the garage now being modified so this will never again be a problem.

LAUNCHED!!

Today was the big day. We loaded everything into Cassandra and took her up to Fair Point Marina for a 1PM launch appointment. By 2 she was floating in a slip nearby. Those of you following closely may be asking yourselves, "But Brian, why weren't you sailing her?" Well, I'll tell you. It turns out that the outboard bracket I welded up was too high to actually get my outboard (Jackson) into the water enough. Despite having figured and plotted where is should go, the bracket just was too high. Luckily a friendly fellow who's name I'm afraid I've forgotten offered to sell us a swing down bracket. It was a great deal and a God send. The rest of the day was spent figuring out how to mount it to the boat. The Jackson is too big to just have the new bracket bolted to the stern, and removing the old one would have left seven holes to be filled. So, we opted to instead bolt the new bracket onto the wood plate on the back of the old bracket. Lost yet? Good. Finally, after finagling and tweaking the thing with all manner of wedges and a few busted knuckles we got Jackson sitting nicely in the water. By then it was 11PM and we were all ready to crash. Christine and I spent the night in the boat hoping to leave early the next day.

Launch Day Approaches. For Real.

Ok, so despite a few setbacks, things appear to be on track for a Tuesday launch this week. The weather is cooperating for the next week at least. Cassandra is aching to step into the water again with a freshly painted name and newly buffed and waxed hull. And, her captain is surprisingly not panicking despite the fact that in two days, my whole life gets flipped on its head.
I think I might actually be ready for this.
Anyways, the plan is to get Cassandra hoisted in at Fairport Marina in Fairhaven where I will step the mast and then sail and motor around the bay for sea trials. I can then pull up at the docks at Fairhaven State Park to finish provisioning and hopefully take on any passengers who would like to go for a short sail with me. I'll be spending the night at anchor there, and set off the next day to begin this insane dream I call adventure.

Launch day. Or not...

Well, this was supposed to be a post about launch day, and how everything went according to plan. Unfortunately, however, it did not. In fact, launch day never happened. The first planned launch was the 26th of May. Nothing was ready. The second was Tuesday, the weather didn't cooperate and nothing was ready. Tuesday we went supply shopping, and I did some more work on Cassandra. Wednesday the supplies and weather were ready, but the boat and her captain were not. Thursday, what was supposed to be launch day, the boat is nearly ready, but her captain is not. And so, since I have to be back in Baldwinsville on the 12th I made what my father called a "Captainly decision." I'm not leaving until June 14th. This gives me the time I need to make sure everything is in order before I leave, and doesn't have me rushing or leaving on a Friday or weekend. After the 12th I have no commitments and will be heading off for certain.

Launch Day Approaches.

Well, the time is nearing when I must throw off my bowlines and sail away from the safe harbor. I graduated from SUNY Albany on May 16 and have been home for the last two weeks, working on Cassandra. I’ve made significant progress on the to-do list re-coring soft deck sections, bedding hardware, wiring in my radio and various electronics. Holes have been patched, lifeline stanchions have been installed, and bottom paint has been re-applied. Now there is very little left to do. Which is a good thing as the launch is scheduled for this week. Most likely I will put the boat in the water and sail off Wednesday, dependent on weather and supplies. Cassandra, when I bought her, came with a 300’ anchor rode, but no anchor. Two weeks ago I ordered a danforth fluke anchor, and I am still waiting for it to come in. My father and did not feel comfortable having only one anchor, so I also ordered a navy anchor which I am also still waiting for. So, providing everything comes in before launch day I will be heading off into the wild blue yonder. There is question whether Cassandra will come off the trailer at the launch ramp, so where and how the launch will be taking place is up in the air right now. The other important bit of information is that I will not be sailing alone for the first week or so. My sister has agreed to join me for the start of my voyage. She has been quite helpful in preparing supply lists, cleaning Cassandra, and keeping me company as I work.
Those are the plans, and from here on out I hope to be posting at least a weekly update of progress.

Spring Shopping

Well, the snow is melting in Albany and the air is getting warm. Now is the time when I start getting antsy. I was home for my birthday and cut plexiglass covers for some of the holes in the deck. I got the covers on where the old engine vents were. I have to install the remaining covers for the old fuel fill and the engine gauges. Sunday I bought 100' of Nylon line from Home Depot and spliced up four 25' docklines for nearly $30 less than buying them pre-made.
West Marine has been having a spring tune up sale, and lucky for me there is a store withing a few miles of SUNY Albany. So today I went in to check it out. I picked up a VHF radio on sale And clearanced for a very good price. I also bought some fenders, flares, and a signaling whistle. Cassandra will now be Coastguard compliant. I also picked up a compass, something Cassandra was conspicuously previously lacking.
And as a final act I've ordered new lower side stays from D&R Marine that I should be able to install when I'm back in Baldwinsville for Easter break.
Progress is being made, and more will come. There is a lot of buying yet to be done, and plenty of fixing and fabricating too. More soon.