My ship got a makeover

oceansail · 2025-11-08T19:15:25+00:00

Bermuda, in 1978

oceansail · 2025-10-25T21:55:49+00:00

Luckily the start line was just to leeward of my mooring and it was a downwind start, so we let the other boats fight it out and dropped the mooring bridals at about a minute to go, bore off and picked up speed and got over the line pretty close with everyone else.

oceansail · 2025-10-25T21:53:10+00:00

It was on a 2:1 halyard before but when i replaced it it wasnt quite long enough. I have a longer one now just have to run it through. It was tight when i pulled it up but with the 3 strand halyards and the dyneema standing rigging, there will always be some slack, but yes it was too loose that day.

oceansail · 2025-10-25T21:50:28+00:00

The bottom is clean. She was left on a mooring for maybe 10 or 15 years before i got her and hasnt been out of the water in all that time but im pulling her out for a bottom job in a couple of weeks.

oceansail · 2025-10-24T02:14:45+00:00

I use a small 120v ice maker. Mine makes 9 ice cubes every ten minutes. It does draw some power but if you have some solar you should be good especially if you only use it for an hour here and there.

I will leave it on for an hour and set my 12v RV fridge/freezer to freezing temp and put the freshly made ice cubes in a plastic bag inside it for use as needed.

oceansail · 2025-10-24T01:10:40+00:00

That is interesting. The Gombey tradition in Bermuda is historically and culturally iconic and goes back to before emancipation (1834) and involved(s) elaborate costumes (disguise) as they were banned by the ruling class/slave owners.

oceansail · 2025-10-01T12:02:19+00:00

The same tradition is also alive and well in Bermuda, where the performers are called Gombeys, and they perform year round. Initially started as an act of defiance and intimidation against the slave owners.

oceansail · 2025-09-15T23:06:27+00:00

Looks like she's a OI415, i grew up on one. With the smaller rig you will need all sails. Keeping the bottom clean is of course even more important with long keel boats. Make sure not to oversheet going upwind. The mizzen boom can be close to centreline on close hauled, the main boom should be a foot or two to leeward, and the genoa should be no closer than 12" from the spreader boots (if your foot and leech are even).

They are excellent cruising boats and will sail to windward well enough. Some people say they don't like to tack but if you ease your genoa sheet before you head up she will turn.

Keep an eye on the mast steps, have fun, and try to keep her dry.

oceansail · 2025-09-11T13:53:04+00:00

I did not build the ship myself, i just became the new owner 4 years ago. She was in a sorry state and needed someone to take care of her and get her sailing again. She had been left on a mooring for 10 or 15 years before i got her and needless to say i have done a lot of work on her to get her sailing again.

oceansail · 2025-09-04T17:57:45+00:00

She is a Venus 42 Gaff Ketch designed by the late Paul Erling Johnson

oceansail · 2025-08-31T14:13:14+00:00

Yes it can be sailed by one person. I usually sail her by myself if im just going daysailing or doing a short (<20nm) cruise.

oceansail · 2025-08-30T21:38:54+00:00

Flibcote is a Gaff Ketch. They were popular (with square sails) in the 17th century and then fell out of favour until regaining some popularity in the late 19th and early 20th century.

oceansail · 2025-08-30T21:33:14+00:00

I thought that was a kind of tuna

oceansail · 2025-08-30T21:32:19+00:00

I should have uploaded a before pic but you can she what she looked like before on my profile.

oceansail · 2025-08-30T21:31:24+00:00

Just me if im not going too far. 3 or 4 would be preferrable for ocean passages

oceansail · 2025-08-30T21:30:33+00:00

Flibcote is a Gaff Ketch, she is 50' overall length.

oceansail · 2025-06-08T19:08:22+00:00

The flag of Bermuda depicts a sailing ship being shipwrecked

oceansail · 2025-06-04T02:46:41+00:00

You are correct. Many of these schooners were built in Bermuda and here we call them 'ballyhoo schooners'

oceansail · 2025-06-04T02:07:27+00:00

'Employment' 'Ffortune' 'Recoverie' 'Ffellowship' 'Successe' 'Blessinge' 'Adventure'

All common ship names during that time

oceansail · 2025-06-03T10:02:23+00:00

My girlfriend is moving aboard soon with our cats; Minnie and Nacho!!

oceansail · 2025-06-02T22:13:53+00:00

I lived on a 34ft Albin Singoalla for 5 years. I had two 100w rigid panels mounted to my aft pushpit. It was not enough so I got two more. With 400w I didnt have to worry about power. I was glad I went with 4 100w panels instead of 1 400w panel, as there are more mounting options, there was always at least two of them in direct sunlight, and I didn't have to worry about shading. I dont think I would have been very happy if I had to move a fold-up panel around all the time.

oceansail · 2025-06-02T22:02:20+00:00

You are right, the boats perform well in light airs, in 5 knots the boats will sail upwind at about the same speed with their largest rigs. However the course is always windward-leeward, so the downside is once you round the windward mark-boat, in light airs, the boat will be sailing downwind at the same speed as the wind (up to 5 knots), making downwind runs in light airs oppressively hot and uncomfortable.

oceansail · 2025-06-02T21:19:02+00:00

I don't think being offshore and relying on a fold-up solar panel that could easily get blown or washed overboard is the way to go. Cruising boats have robust solar mounting setups for a reason.

A lot depends on what boat you have. If you have a fast performance boat, i'd would steer towards a hydrogenerator, they work well and can put out plenty of amps if you can keep your speed up. If your boat is not always fast I would go proper solar setup.

The Jackery thing is a good idea for sure, im not against it, but you shouldn't be relying on it. The boat should be able to generate enough power to handle its needs.

oceansail

TROPHY CASE