UPDATES FROM MAI LING

The picture below was taken in June of 95 as the SPRAY of St. BRIAC left Jamestown for the Bernardins' intended duplication of the original route. This SPRAY is considered to be the most authentic of all the replicas.

UPDATE: 25 Aug 98 from Wickford, RI.

MAI LING is safely hauled out at Wickford Cove Marina to paint her bottom and minimize any possible effects from Hurricane Bonnie.

UPDATE: 13 Sept 98 from Jamestown, RI.

Yesterday afternoon we sailed back to our mooring in Jamestown from Brewers Wickford Cove Marina. Our 19 days working on the dry (on hard top: not gravel or dirt) was made enjoyable by George, Brent, Mike and the friendly competent staff....And the fresh roses in the clean shower/bath rooms, and the free laundry machines, and a customer telephone inside the air conditioned office (and a pay phone outside), and a hookup for a computer modem at a comfortable work station, and the flower gardens, and the marine consignment store on the premisis, and the courtesy dock following launching.

Weather permitting we expect to leave the mooring in Jamestown by mid week and head for Shinnecock Inlet on the south side of Long Island stopping at Hampton Bays. Our next stop is planned at Oak Island farther west on L.I. From there the next probable overnight will be at the Shrimp Box Restaraunt dock in Point Pleasant, N.J. Then we may choose to transit the inside passage via Barnegat Bay to Atlantic City. We must go outside from there to Cape May. Catching a favorable current up Deleware Bay into the C&D Canal can give us a two hour lift. We will pass Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge on upper Deleware Bay where we have seen thousands of migrating SNOW GEESE flying and "loafing" on the ground in the Refuge. We almost always stop at the Corps of Engineers Basin in Chesapeake City, a dinghy accessible tiny restored town at the west end of the C&D Canal. In Annapolis we always lay over, sometimes for several days. Look for next UPDATE from Annapolis. It could take us a week to get there from Jamestown.

UPDATE: 26 Sept 98 from Annapolis.

Made it taking two extra days to avoid headwinds as we rounded south Jersey. En route off the Hamptons we saw a plane practicing mid air refueling..... a first for both of us. Just like it was describe in THE PERFECT STORM. Also was surprised to see a submarine dead in the water just south of the Annapolis Bay Bridge. Circled it and took some pictures. Official people around and on sub did not mind my curiosty.

Norfolk will be next stop over. Then on through the North Carolina Sounds to Little River, SC where we will stop again and will be able to post another UPDATE.

UPDATE: 6 Dec 98 from Little River, SC.

This has been a very long stopover. We are enjoying perfect weather.

My current technical challenge is to get 3 photos (taken on the way down) posted here. One is the submarine mentioned above and posted this week with the help of my web site host, Bill Leonard. The second is Bob at the Annapolis dinghy dock which may be too big to post, and third is a shot of two swans who visited MAI LING while anchored in Solomons, Md.

UPDATE: 17 Jan 98 from Marco Island 'Tween guests.

Even though we were on a tight schedule getting to Key West we took time to stop at Palmer Johnson in Thunderbolt, Ga. to replace part of MAI LING's Adler Barber refrigeration unit which is now working flawlessly. And we left MAI LING overnight at the Franklin Lock in the Caloosahatchie River on Christmas Day as we were able to make last minute arrangements to spend the holiday with our youngest daughter and her family in Englewood, Fl. Inspite of threats of severe weather complicating air travel our guests arrived in Key West only a few minutes late for our leisurly 10 day trip up the Keys, through the Everglades and to Marco Island. We anchored almost 10 miles up the Little Shark River away from light pollution on a starry night, shelled and swam at East Cape Sable on the isolated southwest tip of the Florida peninsula, and sighted the elusive roseate spoonbill on a sand bar off Flamingo at the Everglades National Park Headquarters.

Also got several more photos from MAI LING including a sunset over the ICW (below), dying malaluca trees, a foreign invasive noted for water consumption and prolific propagation abilities which are being deliberately killed by the Army Corp of Engineers on the rim route of Lake Okeechobee, and dolphins leaping in MAI LING's bow wave.

UPDATE: 2 Feb 99 from Englewood/Lemon Bay, Fl.

With last guests we anchored at the mouth of the Little Shark River again. Lingering after leisurly breakfast in the cockpit and in less than a half hour's time we observed a FLORIDA PANTHER, not a bobcat as previously reported, slowly walking on the tops of the red mangrove roots adjacent to MAI LING, a loggerhead turtle gasping for air from time to time as it repeatedly played in the current around the MAI LING's hull, and a roasete spoonbill feeding on a more distant mud bank. Ofcourse, there were the playful dolphin seemingly on partol along the nearby mangrove lined shore line. A Park Ranger who stopped his patrol boat to chat with us related that with the increasing efforts to protect and restore the Everglades there has been a noticeable return of wildlife in the Park in the last two years.

We've had a wonderful week long interlude with our daughter's family in Englewood, attending our granddaughters'highschool theater presentations, and getting caught up with mail, paperwork, email, and UPDATES. Now we are heading back to Marco to meet our next guests who are coming in on the Kew West Ferry. Will stop at Pt.Ybel at the south tip of Sanibel where the numerous gulls, herons, egrets, and skittering sandpipers seem to enjoy the beach walkers and do not fly away as we walk amongst them. And, no, Bob and I never tire of returning again and again to such unique environments inorder to share our appreciation and delight with each other and with each new set of guests. The wonders of nature in southwest Florida continue to surprise us each time visit our favorite places. We are still looking for our 1st manatee sighting this winter.......and the green flash of the setting sun over the Gulf of Mexico. Incidentally, the weather has been ideal this winter with temps 10 degrees above normal, lots of sunshine, and nice breezes for sailing.

UPDATE: 13 Mar 99 from Turkey Creek/Caloosahatche River.

A whirlwind of activity has enveloped us since the last Update. With the last four sets of guests we have been treated to a manatee sighting at the entrance to Everglades City, found a RARE shell off Indian Key, had an early morning sighting of two ROSEATE SPOONBILLS feeding at low water in the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, checked out two remote unmarked new (to us) anchorages amongst the mangroves, assisted a grounded sailor to free his vessel from an unmarked shoal, observed four lined up planets including MERCURY just after sunset thanks to our granddaughter's instructions and sketch, and learned to shop, cook, and dine vegan style with our last guests. The grand finale for Bob and me was attending a Fine Arts Series program produced and performed by our granddaughters highschool drama and music departments. The variety show consisted of quickly paced very brief numbers by talented students, both solos and groups. Kim was next to last with a flawless and heartfelt rendition of her own composition. At a grand piano on a softly lit stage Kim played and sang LOS NINOS, which she explained was inspired by the little boys she had met on a recent mission trip to the Dominican Republic......The next day we pulled up anchor and motor sailed most of the way (with assist of favorable current) to the Franklin Lock on the Okeechobee Waterway and are now visiting friends just east of the Ortona Lock. Our next stop will be with friends in the Melbourne area.

UPDATE: 20 March 99 from Grand Canal off Banana River, Melbourne, Fl.

Coming across the Okeechobee Waterway we noticed a fragrance that wafted through the air for miles not unlike the lovely scent of honeysuckle on a country lane up north... While tied up at a friend's dock in the Grand Canal we were entertained by a resident family of manatee, the usual dolphins and pelicans, and numerous passings of the Olympic training crews for kayaks and canoes. They like the Grand Canal for their practice as there is no current, no tide, and very little boat traffic. Unfortunately, our hostess was unable to share these delights with us. She fell and broke her hip shortly before we arrived... The picture below (posted 25 Mar 99 from Jekyll Harbor Marina) was taken shortly after I had enjoyed a refreshing dip in our hosts pool. We had untied the lines, motored around the "Dragon" at the south end of Merritt Island and arrived at our next stop only a few miles away at Diamond 99 Marina before my bathing suit was dry. Captain Ed Carter took the picture on a Sony digital camera and later that day gave us a photo quality print and a floppy. Guess what is on the top of my wish list now?

UPDATE: 30 May 99 from Little River,SC.

Family affairs and dockside work on MAI LING have kept us busy these last two months. On an otherwise leisurely trip north renewing old friendships in Hilton Head and Beaufort, we found 4 missed calls on our cell phone one morning (in a fringe service area). We had anchored out in the South Edisto River about halfway between Beaufort and Charlestown and were about 40 miles south of the closest marina. The four calls all concerned my mom which I was finally able to find out only with the assistance of patient cell phone operators trying to help me overcome the fringe area problem. Long story short and 3000 miles on rentals cars later, Mom (in R.I.) who will be 90 in July is back on an even keel so to speak and we all enjoyed the highschool graduation activities of Mom's great granddaughter and namesake, Cathrine Elizabeth Kinnecom (in Englewood, Florida). Katie's graduation gown was proudly festooned with symbols for the highest attainable Thespian award (Katie was outgoing president), volunteer service, and academic honors.

Tomorrow we head north on MAI LING. Her hull and topsides are freshly scrubed. The hull has a new application of Penetrol which minimizes the "Waterway Mustash". The Bimini is washed and rewaterproofed. The digits on the COMBI unit all light up again so the 4 and 9 are now distinguishable. Repairs have been made to the head sail. And the lettering on the boom sail cover now reads MAI-LING.com.... We will be meeting guests for the trip through the N.C. sounds and may get to Ocracoke on the Outer Banks if the winds are favorable. What ever our route we are certain to be entertained by playful dolphin. Oh! It will be good to be underway again after a long hiatus dockside.

MAI LING Northbound in Little River, SC May 30, 1999

Just after we got underway from the Myrtle Beach Yacht Club in Little River,Theran Miller took this picture. And there I am taking his picture!

UPDATE: 10 June 99 from Annapolis

With our guests still on board we arrived here yesterday afternoon after a long day from Readville, Va. Saw two groups of playful dolphin enroute. As we were entering harbor we noticed many boats preparing for a race. We picked up a mooring by the Naval Academy in time to see the entire race. The approach to the finish line took all the boats through our mooring field and right under our noses. The down wind finish line was remarkably close to the downtown bridge. We were all surprised there were no collisions what with all the colorful spinnakers flying by us at the exciting finish.

UPDATE: 23 July 99 from Jamestown, RI

Annapolis and our friends there are so inviting that we stayed 4 days resting and enjoying the familiar places. The sidewalks in downtown Annapolis are festooned with clusters of large clay pots and hanging baskets brimming over with artistically chosen, colorful, and well cared for annuals and greenery.

We waited out strong northeast and easterly winds in a new (to us), quiet and safe anchorage just north of Cape May. Leaving at first light after a 4 day layover, we arrived at the Manasquan (NJ) Inlet in time to ease into the last free space of dock at the Shrimp Box Restaurant. As other less experienced boaters watched admiringly, slowly and steadily Bob nonchanlantly manuvered MAI LING sideways to the dock without moving her forward or aft. Bob concluded the explanation of his amazing feat to his appreciative audience with a big grin admiting, "I like to show off."

Swimming and snorkeling in Narragansett Bay are delightfully invigorating. The cooler water temperature here almost assures us of comfortable evenings and nights on the boat even on the rare occasions when the thermometer reaches 100 during the day. And ofcourse there is almost always a perfect breeze for sailing in the protected waters of the Bay. Indeed we are in a sailor's paradise.

On our personal agenda is the celebration of my mom's 90th birthday on July 27th. Family members are coming in from all over. Mom's 84 year old brother comes from Tennessee. Our Florida grandchildren will stay with their younger RI cousins, Kelly and Abby who are taking time out from their busy softball league schedule for this grand event. Others cousins may come from the Birkshires. Mom and my uncle are looking forward to the promised boat ride around Newport Harbor on MAI LING. This will be a repeat for Mom. When my younger brother and 10 year old niece were here earlier this month from California, we brought MAI LING to a high stable dock so Mom did not have to climb up...just step across to the wide deck and over the coamings into to cockpit. My uncle who has very bad arthritus said, "If Kitty can do it, so can I!"

And so it goes.

UPDATE: 13 SEPT 99 from Wickford, RI

The summer was wonderful. It whizzed by. Had an absolutely perfect sail to Cuttyhunk and back with guests from the midwest who have signed up for a January Everglades cruise. We attempted to take our next guests to Chuttyhunk but opted instead for a smooth ride up the Sakonet River when a beam sea and the lack of wind made motoring too rolly for our guests. One night we anchored in a quiet cove at north end of Prudence Island which is in the morning shadow Bristol, RI. We spent the morning ashore at the Herreshoff Museum and America's Cup Hall of Fame. We met the former owner of S/V BELISARIUS, the last designed and built Herreshoff boat (circa 1935). It is now on display in the main buiding of the museum. Atfer a dockside seafood lunch with Charlie and his museum friend, we sailed down Narraganset Bay on an outgoing tide amongst breaking bluefish back to our mooring.

MAI LING is hauled out for routine maintainence at Brewer's Wickford Cove Marina in RI where we hauled out last year at this time. George, Brent, and Mike are as competent, helpful, and friendly as ever! We plan to leave MAI LING just where she is until Hurricane Floyd is history and Gert is no longer a possible threat to us.

UPDATE: 18 SEPT 99 still in Wickford.

Phew. For us, Floyd only caused a delay. Thank goodness! Gert appears not to be a threat to us. So....We'll get launched Monday (20th), clean the topsides, provision, and be on our way asap to Annapolis.....

UPDATE: 7 Oct 99 from Atlantic Yacht Basin in Great Bridge, Virginia 12 miles south of Norfolk on the ICW.

Before we left Annapolis we saw the Boat Show set-ups arrive. It was fascinating to watch the preparations for a complicated and well thought out plan for masssive temporary changes in land and water useage.... En route we have had the benefit of a newly installed Auto Helm which Bob bought from a sailing buddy years ago. Bob was able to get the missing part from the manufacturer this past summer. It still looked like a Chinese puzzle to both of us even with all the parts but Bob figured it out (as usual) and it works wonderfully. Much better than the old auto pilot it replaces.... The graceful swans visited us again in Solomons. Sighting of our first pelicans is always a great delight to us. Saw them off Readville, Va. just below the Potomac River. That is our northern most sighting! Our next lay over will be in Little River, SC.

UPDATE: 18 NOV 99 from Melbourne, Florida

We have avoided all the '99 hurricanes so far. Thank goodness! Katrina only rained on us in Little River the day before we "set sail" with our last guests for Daytona Beach. Though north bound sailors gave us warnings about shoaling south of St. Augustine, especially by Matanzas Pass and at Ponce Inlet, we have had no problems with the bottom. (Well... there is the one exception at the entrance to the Frederica River off St Simon's Island when I hit an uncharted shoal an hour before low water)! At Matanzas Pass the channel was clear and we noticed that the spoil banks were less than half as high as they had been in the Spring. The tops had been blown away by the hurricane winds. Now we are watching the course of Lenny.... With our guests we detoured to the mouth of the North Edisto River, anchored near the beach, and dinghied ashore to go shelling on a deserted (except for goats) island. We all found beautiful welks!

UPDATE: 14 JAN 00 from Marco Island.

Happy New Year Friends! MAI LING's crew and eager guests cheerfully ignored all the Y2K nonsense in the remotest place we could find....The Shark River in the Everglades. We did not need fire works. The clear skies revealed a spectacular luminous display of sparklers, the herons squaked, a turtle swam past, the dolphins puffed, and the tall mangroves were majestically silent! Our talented guest played his guitar for a sing-a-long in the cockpit and at midnight our pallets were treated to a delicious no bake key lime pie prepared by our guest from her grandmother's receipt. For New Year's Day we sailed to Northwest Cape (Sable) to collect shells on a long stretch of beach accessable only by boat. On our return to Marco Island, just north of the shallow Coon Key Pass, we came across a mudflat exposed by low water and were delighted to see several roseate spoonbills spotted by our camera bug guest. We circled back. Got off to the side of the channel as close as we could for a photo session. (Actually, Bob carefully put us aground in the mud.) A great time was had by all!

UPDATE: 15 Feb 00 from Anna Maria Island

Coming through Sarasota Bay north bound, we spotted a bright pink flamingo on a low spoil island near Long Boat Key. It was with a zillion smaller pure white wading birds. Too far away for a photo but not too far for a positive identification. Our friends on Anna Maria drove us to the Mote Aquarium near Armond Circle in Sarasota Bay. A beached dolphin was flown in from the Outter Banks for treatment while we were there. Two people had to hold the dolphin and walk it constantly in the shallow tank at the research center until it could swim again on its own. We saw the whole thing live on closed circuit. Although we went by car, the Mote Aquarium is accessable by big boat with only short dinghy ride from the anchorage to the dock. Having had a relaxing visit with our friends and tending to a transmission problem we will be heading slowly for Dry Tortugas (weather permitting) and Key West later this week.

UPDATE: 12 Mar 00 from Key West

We got the good weather for a sail from Marco Island to Dry Tortugas. We were not disappointed! That is the best place for snorkling in the USA. The water there is all shades of blues and greens depending on the depths....just like the Bahamas! Aside from Fort Jefferson there is nothing else man made on that small protected island group at the west end of the Florida Keys...No TV, no cell phones, no news papers, no stores. What a vacation!

Bob and our Key West friend, John, inside the Parade Grounds at Ft Jefferson

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