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Maiden Voyage Complete! LIS to Gansett

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hubbardbilly
1st Mate

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USA
44 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/20/2013 : 04:48:55

After getting her spruced up this spring, we finally got our C25 up to her mooring in East Greenwich, RI. It was a long 3 day cruise from Branford, CT (we could have done it in 2) and it was a blast!

I posted the photos from the cruise in my sailing photo album below my signature.

When I have some time I'll share the details of the cruise later on this thread. I've got to get to work

. In the end, I honestly relied a ton on the knowledge from everybody on this forum to get her seaworthy this spring. There are still a few more items to take care of but she sailed like a dream and my family already has a ton of memories from the first weekend!

Billy H.
South Kingstown, RI
FMR Navy SWO(N)
Owner 1978 C25 SK #776 "Hubbard Hull"
PO 1981 C22 SK #10057 "Spring Fever"

MY C25 SAILING PHOTO ALBUM:
https://picasaweb.google.com/hubbardbilly/C25BranfordCTToEastGreenwichRI?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCNquqaL8mpDBHw&feat=directlink

Edited by - on

hubbardbilly
1st Mate

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USA
44 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2013 : 05:56:36

Captain's Log:

Day 1 5/17/13: Underway around 0745 from Branford, CT (Brewer Bruce & Johnson's Marina where the boat was stored for the winter). Unfortunately, we managed to catch the current at the worst time and we fought it the whole way east through the Long Island Sound. The weather started OK but then the winds shifted out of the WSW by the afternoon and we had 4' swells following us while motor-sailing. It was just a bunch of 2-stroke fumes and rolling seas. I almost "lost it" a few times, but we managed to make it to New London Harbor around 1700 where we tied up at "On the Waterfront". My wife and kids had driven down from RI to join me for dinner. It was great to see them but I was just fried from the weather and constant rolling seas. The original plan was to pull into Mystic harbor, but one of my crew had to be somewhere that evening so we decided to pull in early to New London.

That evening my "new" crew arrived, a co-worker whom also served in the Navy. He was a master helmsman on a submarine, so I knew we were in good hands!

We slept on the boat at the harbor (the restaurant manager gave me the slip no-cost since we had dinner there.) It got VERY cold and I slept in the forward berth with all my clothes on and huddled up in my comforter. Of course, we used the ice box for it's intended purpose...a case of Corona bottles and some ice.

Day 2: Underway from New London at 0730 after some coffee and bagels. This time the weather cooperated! We had following current through the Fishers Island Sound and we were making almost 7.5 kts under motor as we passed through "the race" and into the Atlantic. Once we hit the atlantic, the winds started to pick up and we made a nice starboard beam reach around Point Judith and then a run into the Newport Harbor. We decided that instead of heading to the mooring for the evening, we would pull into Newport and my wife and kids would sail the remainder with me on Sunday. We made it to Newport Harbor (Fort Adams floating docks) at about 1530, took a nap, and then my wife picked us up. We crashed at my house and took one of the nicest hot showers I've had in a long time!

Day 3: The wife and kids climbed aboard for the first family cruise on our new boat. It was amazing how much more the kids enjoyed it with the larger cabin. They had a blast playing in the quarter berth and coloring at the dinette. My wife got the opportunity to really sail her pretty hard on a port reach as we turned west around prudence island and headed to East Greenwich. We made about 6kts that whole leg of the trip. Made it to our mooring in the East Greenwich Cove at 1500 and dropped off everything at the pier, cleaned her up, and called it a day!

Fair winds and following seas!

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2013 : 09:56:23

Great start!

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2013 : 11:56:01

Sure beats our initial 90 mile delivery cruise from Mystic to Darien in 30+ kt. winds and 3-5' short seas on the nose, with occasional rain, for two days. I was lucky my Admiral would sail with me after that! Sounds like your break-in was perfect! (...except for the oil smoke, and we have a solution for that!

)

Edited by - on

shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2013 : 12:14:04

Yeah, 4 stroke it or use a LEHR propane outboard! That sounds like a terrific trip to me! Very jealous of bigger waters.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2013 : 17:16:53

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by shnool
 ...Very jealous of bigger waters.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Yup--point toward Block Island, run into a fog bank, miss the island, and I'm headed for Casablanca!

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2013 : 11:39:10

Billy,

Congratulations on a successful maiden voyage!

The Narragansett is a great place to sail. If you would like, I could introduce you to another Catalina 25 sailor on a mooring in East Greenwich. We're meeting up to sail down to Newport this Thursday and back on Saturday.

I sent you a personal email message through the Association Forum system with my contact info.

In any case, happy sailing!

To clarify, my C-25 is on the Chesapeake Bay, and my friend's boat is in East Greenwich.

Edited by - JohnP on 05/21/2013 11:42:05

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2013 : 12:02:08

And so it begins... those additional 3' makes a huge difference in handling and liveability/comfort. As does the next 3', as does the next and so on, until you wind up cruising on a 39'. Great area... A couple good hurricane holes are up in Swansea. Or further up Battleship cove... The anchorage in Newport is superb and the availability of a launch makes it so easy. Numerous dinghy docks, showers and only a daysail away! Block Island and martha's Vineyard! Just buy a good hook and lotsa chain... The koolaid is addictive though...

sten

Edited by - on

diySailor
1st Mate

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USA
39 Posts

Response Posted - 05/24/2013 : 18:15:26

Great way to start the sailing season. We'll hopefully be splashing in at Warwick Cove in a few weeks and heading up to Boston via Block Island and the Elizabeth Islands in a few weeks (if I can get the projects done). We use to moor over at Norton's years ago and the Bay is a great place to sail. 4' following seas are tough with an outboard especially if the engine starts to cavitate. Glad to hear you kept it together! Look forward to hearing more about your cruise.

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