Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Granddaddy, Dad, Jesse, and Taisy - Father's Day 2015

George W.Conk, Sr. 1985

Jesse and George W. Conk, Jr.
at Stones Point2002

Theresa - 10 days old- 1985

Sunday, June 14, 2015

Like ancient mariners

"Day after day, day after day

We stuck, nor breath nor motion

As idle as a painted ship

Upon a painted ocean"


Friday, June 12, 2015

Committee Boat - EBYRA

Issuma in Southern Chile


Issuma has reached Isla Mechuque in southern Chile.  At 42S and 73W it is due south of New York and nearly the same distance from the equator, but at GMT -4 it is an hour ahead of New York which is 40.7N 73.9W!  Climatologically it's similar to New York- as you can see from the vegetation.
But the austral winter is approaching, rather like Irish winter now - 40's, windy and rainy.

Pretty as it looks this kind of cruising is complicated, as Richard explains in this post Anchorages, Storms & Forecasts.  Taking shelter from a northerly the wind was forecast to swing south at gale force - the exposed part of a harbor.  Wisdom was pointing toward heading out to sea and heaving to for a day or two when the forecast gale dropped dramatically.

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Tying a Bowline - tips from a shipwright

More clever seamanship from Louis Sauzedde.  You do know how to tie a bowline but here are a few practical variations. - gwc

Celebration in magenta | Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015



Celebration in magenta | Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015

by Jon Bramley

Skipper Samantha Davies and her Team SCA crew scored a resounding victory for women’s offshore sailing in the early hours of Thursday morning when they gloriously clinched Leg 8 of the Volvo Ocean Race. The leg is Lisbon to Lorient, France.
The comfortable victory was the first leg win by a female crew in offshore sailing’s toughest challenge since Tracy Edwards’ Maiden clinched two stage wins in Class D of the 1989-90 race, won overall by Sir Peter Blake’s famous Steinlager 2.
At least as satisfying for the first all-women’s crew to enter the race in 12 years will be the opportunity to silence those who suggested that they were looking outclassed in the current 12th edition by their experienced male rivals.

North River 2 - new season



Friday, June 5, 2015

Fishing the Bronx

North River 2 Launch 2015

Splashdown for North River 2 at Barron's Boatyard, City Island.  Prep work by Pat Montalbano.  No drama.