This is one of my sextants. It is a 1917 Kelvin & Hughes.   

The marine sextant measures the angle between two points. It is best known as an instrument for measuring the altitude of  the sun, moon, planets, or stars above the horizon. For centuries, it has been used as the primary tool to reliably navigate across open expanses of the world's oceans.

 The marine sextant is an equally useful tool for coastal navigation in the hands of a navigator adept in its use. With the sextant, the navigator can determine the range (distance) from an object of a known height, like a lighthouse or radio tower. The sextant can be used to establish a fix (location) by turning the sextant horizontal and measure the angle between two fixed objects. The sextant can be used to obtain an accurate time of day to set the ship's clock.

The voyage from New York City to Bermuda is planned to take five-and-a-half days. Although Distant Horizon has a primary GPS and 5 other devices that contain GPS receivers, two consecutive days will be dedicated to celestial navigation. The first two days of the voyage will use GPS. This is because the Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver requires a GPS input. AIS provides important information from ships. It will take roughly two days to get far away from the shipping channels leading to NY. So, Safety first!

Happy Birthday

Distant Horizon turns 35 today!

After 35 years of sailing service, Distant Horizon is still taking her crew to the destinations of their dreams. She is as fit and seaworthy as ever and will continue this faithful service in 2012 by taking us through the New York State Canal System; down the Hudson River to New York City; and from there to Bermuda.

Nearing Completion

Anchored in South Bay, Carleton Island, NY

It's been over two years since I entered a Post. Now, as the final stages are being planned, Distant Horizon is nearly ready for her sea trial. So, I decided to re-start the blog.

Seven years of work, sailing, and preparation, have gotten us to this point. There is still work to be done, but Distant Horizon is ready for her sea trial, which has been planned as a cruise from the New York City area to St. Georges, Bermuda.

This past year's enhancements started below the waterline; fairing the keel; rudder rebuild with a new skin, seals and bushings. There was also a barrier coat and new bottom paint. All this work was contracted out to Watercraft Clinic. Their work was masterful. The boat speed was increased by almost half a knot and steerage can be maintained three tenths of a knot slower. Then there was the addition of two new head sails: a 135% genoa and an 85% heavy weather working jib. Next, a rigging change was made: the addition of a jack stay. The new jack stay and heavy weather sail combination moved the center of effort farther aft. This combination worked fabulously! The boat was well balanced even in a moderate gale with sustained winds of 38mph gusting over 50mph!

I'm currently working in Virginia. Being 9 hours from home is not the most enjoyable situation, but this will best provide the funds for Distant Horizon's  next round of enhancements. 

The first enhancement for this year will be the purchase of a wind vane steering system. Hopefully, the purchase will be made around the first of the year. Although, I can not install it until the boat is in the water; probably early April. That will be followed by two more head sails: a drifter for light air sailing and a storm sail for conditions at the other end of the spectrum.

After 7 years, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Distant Horizon  will be going to Bermuda in June 2012! 

Safety At Sea Seminar

I attended the Safety At Sea seminar in Charleston, SC on March 8th. For anyone who has never attended one of these, I would highly recommend attending at least once. You would think this would be more of the same old stuff. However, for this particular seminar the speakers and presentations brought a different perspective to those common topics.
A few of the speakers were:
Capt J.K. Louttit, Norfolk USCG Deputy Commander
Brad Van Liew, Around Alone Champion
Ralph Narajo, Technical editor of Cruising World Magazine
It was a beautiful day and we went outside to fire-off all types of pyrotechnics; inflate a 6-man life raft and climb in with 5 others to experience how much living space there really is.

Surreal Weekend Experience

I flew home to Baldwinsville this weekend. It was a beautiful weekend; sunny all the time, which is uncharacteristic of Syracuse in February. On Sunday morning, I put the blinds up in the sun room to enjoy the warmth of the sunshine while I read.
The phone rang. At first I thought it would be for Matt, but decided to take a message. It was Jet Blue. They were calling to inform me my evening flight was canceled due to the snow storm. I'm north of Syracuse, looking out the window at a beautiful sunny day. Isn't this where I should have a problem with snow?
I ended up getting the early flight out the next day. Again, a beautiful sunny morning in Syracuse. We landed in fog and snow covered runways at JFK. Then the first normal event happened. My connecting flight was delayed one hour. Finally arriving in Charlotte, was awesome; the snow covered landscape with snow just hanging from the trees was amazing, but out of character for Charlotte.
So, after a beautiful sunny weekend in Syracuse, I arrive to Charlotte, North Carolina and have to brush the snow off my car!

Charleston Balconies

Charleston... for those who have been to Charleston will recognize these balconies across from Battery Park; the first house in "Rainbow Row".

In the early 1900s, Dorothy Pocher Legge purchased a section of houses on East Bay Street and painted them pastel pink based on a colonial Caribbean color scheme. Current and future owners followed her lead when painting their houses, and soon a 'rainbow' of pastels emerged that are still there today.

It has also been suggested by locals that the houses were painted in the various pastel colors so that intoxicated sailors coming in from the port could remember which houses were their own!

A day at the beach

Linda, Grace and I took a walk along the beach on Oak Island, NC

Charleston Sailing

I took off for Charleston, SC to go sailing. I hitched a ride with a friend, Captain Will. It was a perfect day; lots of sun, fair winds and good folks.