Clearing grass from the anchor…then discovering an unnamed Greenland anchorage that tops the Dashews’ list of ultimate anchorages around the world.
Posted by Steve Dashew (July 30, 2008) | Comments (0)
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Dashew Logs
Steve and Linda write a regular column for SetSailors from wherever they happen to be. Join in as they cruise the world and discuss topics of interest to sailors everywhere. Here you’ll find their articles dating from 1996 to the present.
Heading South
Having gone as far north as she can go, Wind Horse turns around and heads south again. Her crew is compensated with gorgeous sunsets and sunrises (a couple of hours apart).
Posted by Steve Dashew (July 29, 2008) | Comments (0)
Answering a SetSailor’s Questions about Medical Insurance
At the request of a reader, Linda discusses how she handles health insurance while cruising, some new things she’s added to the medical kit, and her experiences getting health care in foreign countries.
Posted by Steve Dashew (July 28, 2008) | Comments (0)
Ilulissat, Greenland
The Dashews find sled dogs and a soccer match in the quaint town of Ilulissat, at the edge of the magnificent Jacobshavn glacier…worth the 8000 mile trip!
Posted by Steve Dashew (July 27, 2008) | Comments (0)
Disco Bay, Greenland
To the Arctic
A major milestone: Crossing the Arctic Circle.
Posted by Steve Dashew (July 24, 2008) | Comments (0)
Hamborgerland, Greenland
Adventures in Hamborgerland: A treacherous landfall, a mysterious harpoon boat, enormous glaciers, and a dramatic midnight sunset.
Posted by Steve Dashew (July 23, 2008) | Comments (0)
Fending Off
Fending off: Are ball fenders better than tubes?
Posted by Steve Dashew (July 21, 2008) | Comments (0)
Roger and Ben Wallis ofAustralis
The Dashews meet Roger & Ben Wallis of Australis, and check out the cool gear on their boat designed for high-latitude expeditions.
Posted by Steve Dashew (July 19, 2008) | Comments (0)
Fueling Up in Nuuk
Topping off the fuel tanks in Nuuk, Greenland.
Posted by Steve Dashew (July 19, 2008) | Comments (0)
Nuuk, Greenland Work Boats
Design details on some hard-core Greenland workboats.
Posted by Steve Dashew (July 19, 2008) | Comments (0)
A Few Days in Nuuk, Greenland
Linda’s impressions of Nuuk, the world’s smallest capital city.
Posted by Steve Dashew (July 18, 2008) | Comments (0)
Nuuk, Greenland
Greenland: Into the Clear
Tracking icebergs, bergy bits, and growlers the final few miles into Nuuk.
Posted by Steve Dashew (July 16, 2008) | Comments (0)
Greenland Landfall – Just Like the Olden Days
A lee shore, low visibility, and conflicting info from Ice Command make for a difficult Greenland landfall.
Posted by Steve Dashew (July 15, 2008) | Comments (0)
Half Way To Greenland
Half-way to Greenland, with notes on the decision-making process for where and when to make landfall.
Posted by Steve Dashew (July 13, 2008) | Comments (0)
It’s Time to Go to Greenland!
The right conditions have finally materialized, so it’s a green light for Greenland!
Posted by Steve Dashew (July 11, 2008) | Comments (0)
Domino Run, Labrador
Photos from a sunny day traversing the twisting, rock-and-reef-strewn Domino Run.
Posted by Steve Dashew (July 6, 2008) | Comments (0)
The Waiting Game
Weather Watch: A long wait for the optimal conditions to make the passage to Greenland.
Posted by Steve Dashew (July 6, 2008) | Comments (0)
Practicing with Icebergs
Iceberg School: Practicing seamanship tactics, and comparing what the sonar shows vs. the human eye. Great iceberg photos from a rare sunny day!
Posted by Steve Dashew (July 5, 2008) | Comments (0)
Dealing with Condensation when Cruising in Cold Climates
Tips for managing condensation on the boat when cruising in cold-water climates. The Dashews talk about what’s working for them, plus they’ve surveyed several other high-latitude cruisers.
Posted by Steve Dashew (July 5, 2008) | Comments (0)
July 4th, 2008 – Squanto Run, Labrador
Labrador Gunkholing: Squanto Run. Photos of the fascinating rocks and flora from this inside passage.
Posted by Steve Dashew (July 4, 2008) | Comments (0)
Hawk Harbour
Labrador Gunkholing: Exploring the abandoned settlement at Hawk Harbour. Also, learn how the Dashews are improvising with charts, as they hadn’t expected to be cruising in this part of the world.
Posted by Steve Dashew (July 3, 2008) | Comments (0)
Mary’s Harbour, Labrador
Coastal Explorer Charting Software
For the past few months Steve & Linda have been testing the new Coastal Explorer charting software from Rose Point Navigation. Here’s their review.
Posted by Steve Dashew (July 1, 2008) | Comments (0)
View from the Bridge: Visibility Tips for Yachts from a Ship Captain
In Lunenberg the Dashews met Evans & Becky Hoyt. They’re world cruisers, and Evans is also the captain of a 1000-foot passenger liner. Here’s an interview with Evans about how to maximize your boat’s visibility from the bridge of a ship – plus, details about their own fascinating sailboat equipped for long-distance high-latitude cruising.
Posted by Steve Dashew (June 30, 2008) | Comments (0)
History and Icebergs in Battle Harbour, Labrador
Through a tight entrance into the restored historic village of Battle Harbour.
Posted by Steve Dashew (June 29, 2008) | Comments (0)
Henley Harbour, Labrador
Practicing witih sonar in the abandoned ghost town of Henley Harbour, Labrador.
Posted by Steve Dashew (June 28, 2008) | Comments (0)
Straits of Belle Isle: First Icebergs
Wind Horse encounters her first East Coast icebergs in the Straits of Belle Isle – larger than a football field, and much larger than Alaskan bergs.
Posted by Steve Dashew (June 27, 2008) | Comments (0)
Red Bay, Labrador
Testing extremes, and exploring a 16th century shipwreck in Red Bay.
Posted by Steve Dashew (June 26, 2008) | Comments (0)
Life in Red Bay, Labrador
What it’s like to live in Red Bay: The Dashews find out when a friendly local gives them a tour.
Posted by Steve Dashew (June 26, 2008) | Comments (0)
Passage to Red Bay
Passage to Red Bay, Labrador. Navigating in fog, and greeting a huge pod of humpback whales.
Posted by Steve Dashew (June 25, 2008) | Comments (0)
Port au Choix, Trois
Port au Choix, Part Trois: Local sights, flavors, and personalities.
Posted by Steve Dashew (June 24, 2008) | Comments (0)
Port au Choix, Deux (impressed with our French?)
Port au Choix, Part Deux: Getting to know local fishermen and their fishing boats in Port au Choix.
Posted by Steve Dashew (June 23, 2008) | Comments (0)
Port au Choix
A short hop past notorious Point Riche to fascinating Port au Choix.
Posted by Steve Dashew (June 22, 2008) | Comments (0)
Bonnie Bay, Newfoundland
Cruising in Newfoundland: Interesting sights and people in Bonnie Bay, with news of polar bears.
Posted by Steve Dashew (June 21, 2008) | Comments (0)
Lark Harbour, Newfoundland
Cruising in Newfoundland: Fine dining and other surprises in the quietly prosperous fishing village called Lark.
Posted by Steve Dashew (June 20, 2008) | Comments (0)
Cabot Straits
The Dashews cross Cabot Straits and witness a breathtaking half-hour sunset. (They also find out why the local nickname for this body of water is "The Chuck"!)
Posted by Steve Dashew (June 19, 2008) | Comments (0)
Baddeck – Bras d’Or Lakes – Cape Breton Island
Nova Scotia cruising: Exploring Baddeck, the "big city" at the northern end of the Bras d’Or Lakes on Cape Breton Island.
Posted by Steve Dashew (June 18, 2008) | Comments (0)
St. Pierre – Cape Breton Island
Nova Scotia cruising: Wind Horse goes through the tidal locks at St. Pierre, on Cape Breton Island.
Posted by Steve Dashew (June 16, 2008) | Comments (0)
A Look at PRB
Wind Horse’s neighbor in Halifax is PRB, perhaps the most advanced Open 60. The Dashews jump at the chance to take a tour.
Posted by Steve Dashew (June 12, 2008) | Comments (0)
Open 40s
Checking out interesting design details on some Open 40s that just raced from Boston to Halifax.
Posted by Steve Dashew (June 10, 2008) | Comments (0)
Halifax
Due Diligence on Greenland
Greenland represents some of the most challenging cruising on the planet. The Dashews meet with high-latitude sailing experts John Harries and Phyllis Nickels to discuss safety and seamanship considerations.
Posted by Steve Dashew (June 5, 2008) | Comments (0)
Lunenberg Connections
Lunenburg – It’s About the Light
Photos of the picturesque old fishing town – it’s all about the light!
Posted by Steve Dashew (June 2, 2008) | Comments (0)
Lunenberg – New Chapter Begins
Arrival in Lunenberg, Nova Scotia. The next chapter begins.
Posted by Steve Dashew (May 31, 2008) | Comments (0)
Towards Lunenberg Day 5 – The North Wall
An extreme water temperature change at the North Wall of the Gulf Stream.
Posted by Steve Dashew (May 30, 2008) | Comments (0)
Towards Lunenberg Day 4 – Back to School
Bahamas towards Lunenberg, Day 4. Wind Horse gets a reality check in the Gulf Stream.
Posted by Steve Dashew (May 29, 2008) | Comments (0)
Towards Lunenberg, Day 3
From Bahamas towards Lunenberg, Day 2
Day 2 towards Lunenberg. Will a series of lows force a change in plans?
Posted by Steve Dashew (May 27, 2008) | Comments (0)
Departure Weather, Bahamas to Lunenberg
A final check of the weather just before departing the Bahamas for Lunenberg, Nova Scotia.
Posted by Steve Dashew (May 26, 2008) | Comments (0)
Bahamas to Nova Scotia: Ready to Roll
Steve and Linda have decided to move on to Nova Scotia. Here are some notes on the weather logic, as well as preparations they’re making for what could be a tough passage.
Posted by Steve Dashew (May 25, 2008) | Comments (0)
Turtle Cay
Turtle Cay: A charming taste of how the Bahamas used to be.
Posted by Steve Dashew (May 24, 2008) | Comments (0)
Marsh Harbor
Marsh Harbor: Interesting boats and shallow water.
Posted by Steve Dashew (May 23, 2008) | Comments (0)
Yellow Banks
Navigating through the coral heads of the Yellow Banks.
Posted by Steve Dashew (May 22, 2008) | Comments (0)
Warderick Yet Again
One more report from Warderick Wells – this time with an underwater angle.
Posted by Steve Dashew (May 21, 2008) | Comments (0)
Warderick Wells
Spectacular photos from the pristine Bahamian National Park of Warderick Wells.
Posted by Steve Dashew (May 20, 2008) | Comments (0)
Interesting Boats in Staniel Cay
More on Staniel Cay
More on Staniel Cay, part of the protected Exuma National Park in the Bahamas.
Posted by Steve Dashew (May 18, 2008) | Comments (0)
Staniel Cay, Bahamas
Photos of Staniel Cay in the Bahamas – a place where words cannot do justice.
Posted by Steve Dashew (May 17, 2008) | Comments (0)
Staniel-Warderick Wells Preview
A preview of Staniel Cay and Warderick Wells in the Bahamas – a top ten pick for the Dashews after 30+ years of cruising.
Posted by Steve Dashew (May 16, 2008) | Comments (0)
It’s Getting Warm: Awnings at Work in Georgetown, Bahamas
We’re anchored off Georgetown in the Bahamas. Water is 87F/30C and air about the same. Today the breeze lightened up and awnings, always important in the tropics, became critical. So we took a ride around the anchorage to see how folks were keeping their cool.
Posted by Steve Dashew (May 12, 2008) | Comments (0)
Conference Calls from the Boat Using Skype
We’re anchored a mile from a beachfront restaurant to the west of Georgetown in the Bahamas. Amongst the services offered (in addition to cold beer) is WiFi. $15 for the week – not bad by cruising standards.
As it is the beginning of the slow season and there are not a lot of users right now, the connection is robust. And with our hi-gain WiFi antenna and “access point” we are able to enjoy the benefits of being connected to the world while anchoring away from the crowd (thank you for installing the system, Troy Bethel!).
One of the biggest benefits of this solid WiFi connection is the new (to us) Skype phone system for calling over the Internet. We are just getting up to speed with this 21st century marvel.
Today, after digesting the latest metalwork drawings on the FPB 64 from New Zealand (the 3Mb file arriving by WiFi) we had a two-hour phone conference with Dave DeVilliers and Ed Firth who are doing the detailing. Both our drawings and theirs were open on the computer, and we could refer back and forth as various details were discussed. Exactly as would have happened if we were standing at the desk in our land office. The big difference is that we are out here, actually using the product as it was intended to be used.
This is the only way to run a business!
Posted by Steve Dashew (May 11, 2008) | Comments (0)
Passage from Panama to the Bahamas
Wind Horse’s passage from Panama to the Bahamas.
Posted by Steve Dashew (May 8, 2008) | Comments (0)
Panama Canal Transit
Dock Walk in Balboa
The Dashews check out some cool gear on the neighboring boats in Balboa.
Posted by Steve Dashew (May 1, 2008) | Comments (0)
Balboa, Panama
Learning About Expedition Routing – Comparing Weather Models
We’ve been using the new (to us) weather routing software to which Troy Bethel introduced us. As cruisers, on an Unsailboat no less, many of the race-oriented features sit idle. But the weather functions are wonderful. This is especially true now that the combination of Sailmail SSB and Iridium are working so well (more on this in a future update).
What we like in particular about the Expedition software is that it allows us to easily compare files from different world wide weather models. In some weather patterns one model may be working better than another, and this new flexibility is a huge boost in our ability to understand what is going on, the risk factors, and how to make the fastest and most comfortable passage. If that sounds enthusiastic it is because we are stoked on this product.
Lets start with the weather models. Using either Expedition connected to an Internet source such as Iridium, or Sailmail (with the SSB radio or Iridium) the first step is to select a model.
Posted by Steve Dashew (April 27, 2008) | Comments (0)
Outlook for 2008 Hurricane Season
The unusually warm water has the Dashews wondering about the upcoming hurricane season.
Posted by Steve Dashew (April 25, 2008) | Comments (0)
Towards Panama, Day 11
Day 11 towards Panama – lots of traffic, and the vessels observed are a study in contrasts.
Posted by Steve Dashew (April 25, 2008) | Comments (0)
Cool Tool for Hot Work
Our recent foray into replumbing our hydraulic cooling system under way brought to the fore how valuable these heat resistant gloves can be. We picked them up in an Ace Hardware store some years ago. They are made from Nomex or Kevlar (cannot recall which), and for hanging on to fittings which are at 125 F (52 C) they work great.
They are light enough to retain a bit of feel, enough so we are able to wrap Teflon sealing tape around small fittings (albeit with some difficulty).
For jobs where it is really hot and/or the risk of being scalded exists (as with cooling circuits on the engine) we carry a set of welding gloves. These are not easy in which to work, so they remain new in appearance.
The gloves above are worn in the engine room when it is warm, even for casual inspections.
Posted by Steve Dashew (April 24, 2008) | Comments (0)
AC Power Management
With AC power consumption aboard at a personal record for us, we are experimenting with different management schemes. To begin with, we now have all four air conditioning units running. That is a total of 54,000 BTUs of capacity. In addition, the wash cycle is in full swing as this is being written. As the washing machine heats its own water, and the drier is a full sized unit, they really consume the Watts. In addition, it is breakfast time and the microwave is periodically using its 1000 or so Watts.
Posted by Steve Dashew (April 24, 2008) | Comments (0)