2013 Pirate Fest

Thursday, 19 September

We're here, at Beaufort dock. It's Thursday night the 19th of September. The weather today was perfect for our activities. Spent many hours packing I think everything from my refrigerator, pantry, and bathroom. I was surprised it took so long since yesterday I spent several hours with the non-refrigerator stuff.

All the access doors and the bunk storage that Bill did makes a world of difference! You can actually sit down without having to make room for your butt! The cabin looks more comfortable and serene.


Thursday, 19 September

We launched from Taylor's creek ramp and got to the docks just before sunset. Settled into our slip next to Ron and Deb Mohler and their Mac 26M "First Step."  So far were the only ones in this section. Most are coming tomorrow.  The four of us headed out for some dinner, but once we got  back on board, were ready to hit the sack. 

Friday, 20 September

Great day. Walked down the boardwalk a bit and had coffee on the restaurant's upper deck.  Lovely morning. Got our colors and pirate flags up. Assisted as others arrived; visited a bit. Of the 19 boats in our group this trip, 11 are Macs. So it's fun to visit and tour to see what others have done in their cabins and with variations of equipment.   A little down time for me in the afternoon as I fought off a headache. Then the parade to the showers began as the time for dinner grew closer. Not as many were in costume as in the past, but the pirate spirit was among us all. Fun!  We met a new couple who had just bought a 2013 M a few months ago -- Kim and Bryan Nix on the "Gypsea," -- and they were anxious to see the mods we had done. We all sat together at dinner. And I'm anxious to see the changes on their 2013 compared to our 2008. After dinner we took our time getting back to BB2 with a leisurely walk on the boardwalk, turning a few heads with our costumes.

A lovely evening.  I thought it would be a quiet evening at that point, but as people left the restaurant the "tours" began. We were tickled, really. But everyone really loved the mods we've made, especially what we are calling our "closet" under the bunk where we have room now to store all our clothes.  As I said earlier, it is a very comfortable feeling on board now, with places for all gear to be stowed away.

And now I'm sitting listening to the oldies, drinking a little sherry, blogging.  Life is very good indeed! I have many blessing that I'm counting tonight!

Generator bubble

Summer 2011

Bill fabricated a generator "bubble."  Using the space where the anchor would normally sit, he used a new hatch cover for the base of the bubble.  The bubble is made of fiber glass.  It took a couple of tries to get the final bubble.

                                          

This shows the open hatch.  Bill used a 3/4" fuel line as an exhaust pipe that will extend into the water by about 6".  

You can see that Bill made some vents in the bubble, but it turns out there is not enough room for the heat to escape with the bubble closed, so when we run the generator we keep the bubble top open.
The generator plugs into the shore power connector.

                                   

October 2009 Pirate Sail

My husband Bill and I are part of the NCSail.ORG group who include in their yearly activities two "pirate sails" to Cape Lookout, heading out from Beaufort NC.  Members are widespread, around the Triangle and Wilmington and the coastline of North Carolina.  Many members have their boats in slips in Oriental.  We keep BB2 in our driveway :o)

There are a number of MacGregors ... 26X and 26M ... in this group.  We get a kick out of lining up all the Macs along the shore on our excursions, or try to get them in adjacent slips at the Beaufort docks.  We usually number 5 or more Macs. 

All Macs lined up off shore.

Lined up at the launch site at the end of the weekend.

As mentioned, twice a year we head to Beaufort NC on a Thursday or Friday.  We sometimes have as many as 20 boats in slips at the Beaufort docks, all flying our pirate flags.  It's all just so much fun. 

We call our Spring trip the Flamingo Sail, and the Fall trip is our Pirate Sail.  Friday night we dress up like pirates and have dinner at the Beaufort Docks cafe.  We take lots of photos and act really silly, and then spend the night dockside.  

end end end end end

Saturday morning after a captains' meeting, we all head out for Cape Lookout.
		Some of us beach our Macs, because we can, while the larger boats in the group anchor off shore.
Several of us have dinghies so we all work together to get our provisions on the beach for a BBQ and bonfire in the evening.  Good times.  Really good times.
		Sun setting as things come to life on the shore.
If I wake up in the wee hours, I try to take a photo.  It is so peaceful, just mast lights twinkling, along with the lighthouse of course.
Last Spring the trip back from Cape Lookout was very rough as we tried to outrun on oncoming storm. Tried to get a photo of the 4 foot swells, but the camera really couldn't catch the ferocious rocking and pounding.
		The storm passed, and back at the launch site everyone gets busy breaking down their boats and getting ready for the drive back home.

Another great experience -- more memories.  And hopefully more clear skys ahead.