Countdown, 10, 9, 8, 7 Abort Abort Abort

Ken and Will Flannery have been planning the trip south and were ready to head out to the ocean and make a run for it sometime later this week.  Jerry cans, heaters, strobe/spot lights, EPIRBS all on board.

BUT FATE INTERVENED.

The beautiful Sally Lightfoot (pictured in the 2/12/10 blog post) was dismasted today as she tried to sail under the Oriental bridge.  Photos of the boat are posted on the towndock website.  http://towndock.net/on-the-cover/dismated-ct-yawl.  Ken was not on the Sally Lightfoot for this trip.  Just Will and Don (the owner).

Unfortunately, Will Flannery was injured in the accident--he is now in the Greenville hospital and doing well.  Definitely an injured leg that will take some time to heal.  I do not know much more at this time.
After Will had EMT treatment (including something for pain), his last comment to Ken (before being whisked to Greenville) was "I will still be ready to leave tomorrow."  Despite his hopes, that is not likely to happen.

Ken is driving back to Oriental from Greenville right now and will take some time to evaluate whether to close up the boat or try to make the trip in another fashion.  Remember that post at the end of the year that said "Let's see what Murphy (of Murphy's Law) has to say about our plans!"?

Seriously, we are so glad that Will was not more seriously injured and wish him a speedy recovery.  Since Will's life is the water, a cast will not likely be much fun. 

The Sally Lightfoot--a gaff rigged yawl

Ken and Will went out today (in the very cold) on the Sally Lightfoot (owned by one of Will's friends that recently arrived in Oriental).  Ken said it gave him a much greater appreciation of what it took for sailors to go around the world on only sail power in all seasons.  This is a photo of Ken at the helm.

Dolphins, Dolphins, Dolphins

Two short videos of dolphins in the Neuse today.  (Videos from Will Flannery).  Absolutely amazing.


http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=301157428333

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=301094923333

Dolphins at Work!

Yesterday, 0n the way back to River Dunes, we encountered about 12 dolphins, including a couple of babies. They frolicked around the boat at the Broad Creek Entrance. Very Cool!


(It was 38 degrees, we were triple reefed and still managed about 7.5 knots on a beam reach.) We went out towards Adams Creek and then returned to the River Dunes Entrance where we noticed the dolphins. At their closest, the dolphins were about 10 feet from the helm along the starboard beam

Patina's First Sail of 2010

After installing the sails this week, Ken and Will took Patina out for a sail in the chilly Oriental Weather.http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=297042433333

November, December, January....

Okay, so we are behind schedule.  We had hoped to have the boat in the Southern climes by this time.  Ken was delayed in his return to Oriental and the weather is certainly not cooperating.  The boat is almost ready to go.  Ken is working on the details.  Looking for a weather window.  Gay is debating whether to join in on the migration or just meet him when he gets to the sun!  We will keep you posted (pun intended) on our progress.

Oriental--what happened to the weather?

Ken has returned to Oriental to get the boat ready to head south.  Someone forgot to enlist the cooperation of Mother Nature.

Because the mainsail needed some repairs (remember Ken, the waves crashing over the bow, Burke?), the sails had been taken down and sent to the manufacturer for repair.  As Will and Ken attempted to install the sails this week, they had to abandon the effort because the winds were too strong to allow them to get the job completed.