Our Journey Begins

June 15, 2013

We've been waiting for this moment for such a long time and now it is upon us.  Dave is feverishly gathering  charts, making lists, planning our course and creating a general sense of adventure. Tractutus/Mystic will be launched on Wednesday, June 19th.  Dan Branson of Vinette boatworks will be available for rigging questions and maybe, for a sail.  Dan has raced Tractatus/Mystic; he knows and loves this boat.

Tractatus/Mystic out in the sunshine

Tractatus/Mystic

In the Cradle - Ready to Launch 2013

There has been a flury of activity.  Dave spent a lot of time researching charts and found a website which opens NOAA Navigational charts.  It is called OpenCPN, a free navigational software created by sailors for sailors.  It has all the capabilities of any other navigation instruments including GPS interface, course plotting, and way points.  Dave is a detailed guy.  He purchased a new 17" screen laptop to use this program.  He also, painstakingly, printed out hard copies of the charts that mark our course and placed them in a neatly bound, 3-ring binder.  I showed him how to use Photoshop to load the pages, re-size and then print.  He's becoming a computer techie in his own right.  I am blessed to be first mate and backup captain with a guy I trust without reserve.

This is not his first rodeo.  Dave's virgin cruise was back in 1981 aboard Keewatin, our 23 foot Coronado.  He planned the same way, with minute detail.  It is fascinating to read his ships log which started with the supply list.  He was planning for a 6 month journey which ended up being a two year adventure.  I laughed as I read through his provisions list.

Boston Marathon 2013

It's April; spring has been loath to arrive in MN.  We continue to suffer snowstorm after snowstorm with temps well below average.  We complain, mostly about the lack of sun, but we stick to business. Hardy folks, we are, those who live in the Great White North.

Every year, we take notice of the Boston Marathon.  Anyone who runs can understand our infatuation with the mother of all races...the ultimate goal of 'running goals'; heartbreak hill, Sweet Caroline, the fans, the finish.  This 2013 race would be like no other...this race would begin with joy and end with tragedy.  By now, everyone knows of the attack at the finish. Two bombs exploded in the fan section about a quarter mile apart injuring over 100 people and taking the lives of three innocent bystanders. This tragedy was filled with heros, rescues, courage and strength as well as incredible pain and sorrow. 

Some events leave us speechless, without words to express our emotion. Our minds and voices are filled with sadness and confusion. We try to make sense of a senseless act but we cannot articulate our pain so we cry, and some of us, we run.  

I ran for Boston tonight.  Still, I have no words...

Apostle Sea Caves Winter Hike

January is almost over.  June seems like eons away but Dave is online checking out distances from Knife River to exciting locations on Lake Superior.  We spent some time in the Apostle Islands aboard Keewatin, our 23 ft. Coronado back in the 90's with kids in tow.  It's a magical place, protected and somewhat untouched by the influence of modern day life.  The Islands are referred to as the Jewels of Lake Superior.  In the winter, the water crashes into sea caves and creates magnificent  ice caves that are a treat to view.  Dave and I have visited them twice now and each time we were in awe of natures artistic flair.

Dave thought the closest islands were 70 miles away from our slip in Knife River but discovered that it is actually only about 35 miles away.  This opens up lots of possibilities for us to fill our summer weekends.   We look forward to exploring the area aboard Mystic.  Since we have kayaks, we'll be able to check out the caves during the warm season.

It is -35 in Stillwater today.  It takes only 10 minutes to suffer frostbite on exposed skin in these temps. It's even too cold to go snowboarding.  Today is for dreaming...

Securing Dockage for 2013 Sailing Season

We just arrived home from Florida after running the Miami to Key West Ragnar Relay with Team Boner.  It was a GREAT trip; lots of nice anchorages in the Keys. We can't wait to have our boat there.

Got a call from Dave Gould at Knife River Marina.  A 40 ft. slip opened up. We put $350.00 deposit; balance due in April $2,700 total for the year.  Things are looking good for Spring.

The slip is on their center dock at the far south end; last slip on the dock.  It will be very easy to get in and out of, but a long walk from shore.

http://www.knife-river-marina.com/

By Dave Rogers

OUR NEW BOAT

Tractatus

On October 27, 2012 we became the new owners of a restored 1966 Alberg 35 saiboat named Tractatus. We purchased the boat from William Wildman, a gentleman and sailor from Escanaba, MI. We drove 6.5 hours each direction in order to seal the deal.  We sure got more than a few second glances at the 15 ft lovely spruce boom that was tethered to the top of our Expedition on the return trip.

The journey has been long but worth the distance.  Dave can count 20 plus boats that he/we looked at during our search.  In the beginning there was the Cape Dory in Afton, MN, left open to the weather. This former beauty was full of water with a four foot tree growing out of the companionway hatch. And, it was for sale; sad!  Then there was the Ericson 29 with decks so soft that the Marina wouldn't put it back in the water for fear that the mast would fall on a neighboring boat.  Dave looked at every available boat, 28 to 35 feet, that was within reasonable cost and driving distance.  We looked at boats that were beyond our means and we looked at one boat that was FREE!  Most boats would have been too much of a project boat at too high of an expense to make any sense.  Many of the boat owners we encountered had a unrealistic view of the condition and value of their vessel.  The Allied Seabreeze we visited in Bayfield is a good example.  The owner obviously loved his boat.  It was on a cradle at a small boatyard under repair for damage to the keel.  The owner offered to let us sleep on board during our visit.  We were amazed to find a unkempt, home handiman, project boat with so much crap aboard that there was no place to lay our head had we wanted to.  Sailboat people are funny people. Disclaimer:  I can say this because Dave and I are sailboat people too!

Dave took an inventory of all the new items on Tractatus.  The list (in no particular order), includes:

30 hp Nanni diesel

all new tanks and lines

water heater with pressure water

cockpit coamings
toe rail cap

standing rigging

running rigging
roller fuller
all deck fittings had balsa removed and replaced with apoxy and oversized backing plates
mast step rebuilt and strengthened
larger chainplates installed

interior completely removed to allow for new and larger engine compartment

all bulkheads strengthened and tabbed to the hull with epoxy

hull was insulated and covered with teak

new interior sunbrella upholstery
completely rewired with new main panel and batteries
new teak and holly sole
custom bowsprite with dual anchor rollers

windlass

custom bobstay

auto pilot

new tiller

exterior fireproof propane box

new gimballed propane stove and oven

bottom stripped and any voids epoxied with epoxy barrier coat and fresh bottom paint

topside allgripped

non-skid redone and cabin and deck allgripped

spruce boom replaced with aluminum boom and new main sail

new 150% roller furling jib

North Code Zero cruising spinnaker

custom wooden swim ladder

Dave was able to contact the former owner who verified all the work that was done to this Alberg.  He gave Dave more details on the history of the boat and was happy to hear of our plans to put her name back to Mystic.  He asked Dave about the price we paid for her and told him that we got one hell of a boat for the price.  We are so happy that we found Tractatus/Mystic and can call her ours.  Next spring...the fun begins!

Starboard galley with gimballed stove

Cabin Heater

Tractatus at anchor

Boat Names

Boat names are important, at least to us they are.  That said, all boats can be renamed but I've wondered if it's proper to change the name of a boat. While looking for our dream sailboat, Dave and I certainly paid attention to the name on the stern.  One of the first boats that drew our attention was the 30 ft. Columbia named "Yes Dear".  The name made me laugh but the more I thought about it, the more I liked it.  

Dave believes that a beautiful boat should have a feminine name.  There are a lot of boats with "Lady" as part of their name.  "Windswept Lady" was the boat we visited in Michigan City, IN.  The St. Croix River has a line of cabin cruisers with names like "Lady Luck".  I don't think there was much luck involved in owning these monstrosities.  One of the Hallberg Rassy's we liked had the name 'Nabulous'.  Did the owner "Nab" a fabulous deal?  We liked the name of the other Hallberg Rassy we visited, "Annabelle" and the name of the beautiful Allied Seabreeze we visited in Noank, CT, "Arabella".  These two boats were older classic models and had grace just like their names.  

In October, 2012 we took a day trip to Escanaba, MI to see a boat that had no name, or so we thought.  This 1966 Alberg 35 was a surprise for us.  We'd seen so many boats that were described as beautifully maintained, mindfully restored and worth top dollar.  This boat was listed at $37,000, some $7,000 over our budget and $17,000 over the original budget we set for ourselves two years ago.  We found the "marina" that this boat was stored at.  It was an interesting place, not really a marina at all, rather more like a boatyard.  We met the owner, Billy Wildman in Escanaba and followed him to the North Shore Boat Launch and Vinette Boatworks.  He led us into a large building, chatting lightly about the improvements made to this almost 50 year old vessel.  Right away, I liked Bill.  He had a kind, warm face and a gentle handshake.  He looked into our eyes when he spoke and he had a passion for sailing and his vessel.  We have met so many people who we felt we couldn't trust.  Finally, we'd found a kindred spirit.  Bill had spent his life sailing.  In addition, he was in a blues band, the harmonica player.  He spoke, fondly, of his days aboard the Alberg 35 and was proud of the simplicity and beauty of her.  We had a lot in common.  

The Alberg 35 was on a cradle so we walked around and looked at the hull.  Bill pointed out a spot that had been repaired after the boat bumped a rock.  The hull was smooth and you could not tell there was a repair.  This boat had a beautiful paint job.  This was the prettiest boat we'd seen so far.  Both Dave and I noticed that this Alberg DID have a name, after all.  We each made a mental note that the name started with a T and had a lot of consonants but, later, we both commented that the word was strange and difficult to pronounce.  Bill led us up a set of open stairs to a landing so we could see the boat from above.  There were 3 boats in a row, the Alberg was in the middle.  Bill boarded the boat closest to us and we walked from that boat to the Alberg.  Bill asked me, "Beth, so you like to sail?"  I responded, "Yes, I do, but I don't like heights!"  Once I had made my way across the first deck and had boarded the Alberg I was OK.  I think Bill liked my answer, "Yes, I do like to sail."

Bill went over the entire boat with Dave and showed him improvements and modifications.  There was a spotless new motor, nice cushions, a bowsprits had been added to keep the anchors away from the the boat and it reduces weather helm, the tendency of a boat to round up into the wind while.  It has a cabin heater and two booms, the original spruce boom and an aluminum spare.  The spruce boom is equipped with the one of the first roller reefing systems ever made.  The former owner who was preparing the boat for an around the world cruise thought that the spruce boom was difficult to reef single handed so he replaced it with the aluminum and a simpler reefing system.  The boat was immaculate.  Dave commented that this was the cleanest boat we'd looked at.  We were intrigued.  

Bill left us to allow us to look around for a bit.  When he returned he brought paperwork on the boat. This is a USCG certified boat which means it is certified with the Federal Government.  Bill told us about the former owner and the history of the boat as a racing vessel.  He had a photo of the boat racing in Lake MI just last year.  Bill looked at me and said, "I want you to have this."  I wasn't sure about taking it but I felt like he really wanted us to have it.  It seemed like he liked us and maybe, just maybe he thought we would make good owners of this lovely Good Old Boat. 

Back to boat names; after leaving the boat launch we realized that we hadn't written down the name we saw on the stern.  We both had an idea of what it was but it was a word that neither of us recognized.  When we got home, Dave started doing searches on what he thought the name was.  It took a while but he finally found it.  TRACTATUS, yep Tractatus is the name of this beauty.  Now, I mentioned that names do matter, especially to us.  We had to know what this meant.  Dave found the word in an old spanish/english dictionary.  It is a math term that means to work things out by talking them through.  We were not sure what this had to do with sailing and we have no idea who named her.  It also is Latin for Treatise.  At this point, we were pretty sure we would change the name if we bought the boat.

Later, while looking up the USCG certification online, we we were both delighted and surprised to learn that the boat was originally named "Mystic".  Mystic is a beautiful, soft word that conjures up fantasy and mystery and adventure.  In addition, it is the name of a beautiful town in CT, near where I grew up.  This news made us both smile.  It seemed to be a sign or karma.  This was OUR boat and it was meant to be.  Although this may truly be the boat of our dreams, now Dave has to make it happen during the negotiation phase.  Dave likes the name Mystic but is also tossing in the option, "Madeline", which is very sweet since it is my legal name.  I was named Madeline Elizabeth Dailey at birth but was always called Beth.  Madeline is a beautiful name worthy of being on the stern of a beautiful boat.  We have time to decide and we have time to learn more about the name Tractatus.  Maybe the owner has a great story to tell about how the boat got this name.  Time will tell...

Nabulous...Halberg Rassy on Lake Champlain, VT

It's July and we've traveled to Mystic, CT for some R&R with family and friends.  Our trip is packed with plans including a family reunion, celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary, my birthday, and running a marathon in VT.  All of our family commitments were scheduled in the first week of our trip.  We had a fun filled week enjoying the Chapman Family Reunion and a 4th of July celebration. Independence Day festivities were in honor of my Niece Alexa's 18th birthday, my mother Jacklyn's 73 birthday, my 52nd birthday and the 25th anniversary of our wedding day.

At the finish line, Mad Marathon, Waitsfield, VT

We left CT for Waitsfield, VT on Friday, July 6th.  The marathon was on Sunday, the 8th.  We had plans to view a  Halberg Rassy, named Nabulous on Lake Champlain on Saturday after attending the marathon packet pickup.  The boat was essentially identical to Annabelle, the Hallberg Rassy we visited in Traverse City, MI, including the asking price of $35,000.  We drove to Burlington and found the marina we had been directed to.  As we walked along the waterfront I picked Nabulous out, sighting her on her mooring in the harbor.  She was beautiful.  Boats always seem to look better when they are in the water.  We had viewed Annabelle on the hard with a tarp that created bad lighting and a sense of  claustrophobia.  Bill Algiers, the broker, took us the a short boat ride out and rafted up to Nabulous.  Once we boarded her, Bill couldn't find the key but Dave realized that the boat was not locked so we were grateful to be able to go in the cabin and really have a look at her.

Nabulous had a nicely finished teak interior.  It was clean and orderly for a boat that was being sailed all season.  You could tell that the owner took care of the boat and it had a lived in, homey feeling about it.  It had full canvass with a enclosed dodger and awning.  The brightwork had a jell stain which actually looked okay but was not as pretty as true brightwork.  I could tell Dave liked this boat.  Later Dave told  me that he liked Annabelle more because her topsides and jell coat were in pristine condition. He was shocked that a boat of that age could have the original jell coat look that good.

Annabelle

Bill took us for a boat tour of the harbor.  He gave us the local boating lore, describing the different personalities that went with each boat in the harbor.  We had a lovely time with him.  We chatted on our return trip to Waitsfield.  Dave shared his opinion of the two Hallberg Rassy's we'd visited.  He clearly would have purchased Annabelle had the price been more within our agreed upon range.  However, we both agreed that the biggest reason we would not consider either Rassy was the logistics of getting them back to MN.  Soon after our trip we learned that Annabelle had sold.  I think Dave may have grieved a little over that news!