Staying put
Sunday evening in Leverick Bay must have been something special because while the anchorage was packed with boats then, last night there were very few left at anchor. In fact, it is now about as busy, or as quiet, as I had actually expected it to be.
Clearing in to customs yesterday morning was relatively pleasant but once we were all legal, we set about completing some tasks, not sailing to some other harbor. Unlike the vacationers who typically move the boat every day, unless we have somewhere in particular that we need to be, and we’re happy where we are, we just stay put.
It was not a great day to be sailing.
Racing? Perhaps, if you’re kind of crazy. Cruising? No.
In addition to the boat work that we had on our list (yes, we still have a big list), I also had to invest some time in writing an article for Sail magazine that I had promised to have submitted by November 1st. Writing doesn’t typically take too much effort for me so long as I’m in the right frame of mind. I hate being under a deadline to do it though. In case the folks at Sail are reading this, I can report that a lot of progress was made so we should have no trouble submitting the piece according the the timeline that I agreed to. 🙂
While shopping for groceries back in St. Maarten we came across this issue of Multihull Sailor Magazine (by the people who publish SAIL). We did not write this but they did do a tiny “interview” on us. Our friend Cindy also had an article in the magazine (pages 30-34).
What’s on today? Our next big boat improvement is having the entire rub rail on our stern replaced. This was another of the items on our Moorings Phase Out list but at the time we were doing that, they had no rub rail in stock. They promised that when they received it they would put some aside for us and complete the job when we returned to the Virgins. Well, here we are. The work should be done either later today or if their schedule doesn’t allow it, tomorrow.
In addition to that, we also need to pay a visit to our lawyer to pick up our official boat papers. We left the BVI with only temporary “running papers” which are good for 90 days. It’s time now to acquire the real ones though.
Once all of that is completed, we’ll be off to the USVI. We have a lot of stuff being shipped to us there, including the replacement O-rings for our watermaker. Rich, the owner of CruiseRO, has been excellent at keeping us abreast of the shipping status for the replacement parts. Kudos to him. I’ll be happy when I get that system up and running for good as I’ll have one less thing to concern myself with.
What do you think of our new neon blue LED cockpit lights? They are only temporarily rigged at the moment. I’ll wire them permanently later this week.
Honestly, these neon lights make your cockpit look like a stripclub. I really prefer a natural kerosene/petrol/candle light glow. Just not my taste at all.
Well, they can be turned off, of course.
It might be a good idea to check how your blue cockpit lights affect some things such as women’s make-up. For example, if someone puts on lipstick for an evening social in the cockpit, if her lips look a horrible green, or something, she won’t be happy!
Mike
make-up?
We just spent this past weekend in one of our favorite local marinas, surrounded by large power boats adorned with those garish blue lights. Above decks, below decks, and even underwater, the air and sea around us positively glowed blue. Personally, I think they’re pretty cool for the first few minutes, but then they start to make my eyes ache. I can’t imagine them appealing to any true sailor, but I realize that true sailors are not your target market. I vote with Patrick – do something different, drop the blue glow, and load your cockpit up with dozens of soothing LED candles in various shapes and sizes. The ones with the warm orange glow and soft flicker… 🙂
Or both (not at the same time).
Both could be a great look, especially if the blue lights are on a dimmer. Candles or oil lamps will look great with the blue glow in the background.
Food on the table will look much more appetizing with the warm light too.
They are dim-able. I just need to acquire a dimmer switch.
I personally don’t know much about Strip Clubs– I do like the blue hue though…
Maybe red would of been better though– It doesn’t impede night vision…
One Love is defiantly getting ready for her first charter!! Well at least for when she has you two aboard…
If I had a spare 10G’s– I would be your second charter… The money faucet has turned off in the last few years though!! I have been to St. Barths and other FAB Islands down your way…
I’m not a fan of red lights. I’d rather not confuse those looking for nav aides. 🙂
I like them! Seems it would make it easier to see the surrounding view at night as opposed to something “whiter”.
Perhaps. Of course there are white lights there too.
I think it’s the poles that give it the strip club look. 🙂 Really though, some guests will like them, some will not. You can please both with a flip of the switch.
Exactly. Easy.
If there is anyway to hide the actual LED strip, that would be better in my opinion. I like the blue, a lot, but it does seem like there is a lot of it in that pic. If that strip can be below the seat cushions shining at the floor, mounted to the underside of the table shining at the floor, mounted in some recessed portion of the roof in the area where it is now, or something along those lines I think it will give a better blue “glow” rather than blue “light”.
I think you should carry that blue lighting scheme underwater also. I have blue OceanLED’s and they make the water look REALLY cool at night. Plus the fish love them, so your charter guests will love them too.
I hear you but no, there isn’t really.
I like the underwater lights too. They are not cheap though!
Mike,
I think they look modern and classy and match well with a modern cat.
Thanks for your very educated opinion. 🙂
I don’t know? Lakeview Manorish maybe? lol Those were the good ole days….as much as I can remember anyways…..
It’s tough to remember that long ago, isn’t it? 🙂
I like it.
Someone else with good taste. 🙂
We have LED lights that can be switched between blue and white (They start off blue. When you turn them off and back on again within 3 seconds, they come on white). We love them. I find the blue soothing yet just illuminating enough at night.
That would be nice too.
Some down tempo chill out music along with good wine and cheese seems just right for that look. Potentially a very classy and relaxed vibe for charter guests. Nice touch.
🙂