Foghorn Leghorn
Sailing in fog is at times an enlivening experience. While all your senses are muted and you can be disoriented to the point of panic, if you can disconnect your rational brain from your body, there’s a good chance you …
Category: Underway
Aleta and the ICW: A “Hystorical” Rant
Position: Aleta The Valiant is a wonderful boat with a storied history. It was designed by Bob Perry back in the 1970s with the help of some friends. In many ways the original Valiant 40 was probably one of his …
Run for Salvation
North Myrtle Beach lies just over the state line at approximately mile 340 of the ICW. We are at least 17 days behind schedule. The timeline is mostly in my mind because one of our first rules for this adventure …
ICW Endeavors
Position: 33°54’52″N 78°14’13″W There’s a pattern emerging already: almost everything we assumed about this part of the journey has been incorrect. Beginning with our timeline. We left Portland for Baltimore on December 1, and, naïve me, I thought we’d set …
Painting Aleta
Why did we choose red when we painted Aleta? According to Chinese folklore the invisible red thread of destiny binds soulmates together. Traditionally, men and women bound by a red thread will one day become lovers and marry. Adoptive parents …
Shake ’em on Down
Position: 38°41’35.4″N 76°10’29.8″W We woke to drizzle and dragged ourselves and the anchor up to face the day. About two hours after leaving Rhode River it turned out to be the venue of a drama far greater than we’d expected. …
The Adventure Begins
Position: 38°52’56″N 76°31’35″W As they say, the adventure begins when things go wrong. And wrong they went. After a week of figuring out how to make several of the punch list items work, Aleta (formerly: The Beguine) made her way …