Buy a Swatch for Pete's Sake!

I don't wear a watch.

I once wore one daily. But then the battery died and it cost more than the watch to replace the battery and then cell phones were invented and since phones now act as ALL small appliances, well, why bother.

But, I have noticed that on each sailboat there is at least one person, usually the captain, who wears a watch.

Most likely because they got tired of fishing iphones out of the water, but also because the traditional method of sailboat time keeping is ridiculous.

I am talking about ... Bells.

You've heard the saying: Four Bells! All's well!

Ha.

All's well because no one really knew what time it was so why argue...

According to boatsafe.com, as well as that lovely tome "The History of Navigation", back in the 15^th century days time was kept with an hourglass and announced with the ring of a bell. The notice was for every half hour of each 4 hour watch.

Time aboard a boat was marked in 4 hour watches starting at 4am as such:

Middle Watch: midnight (0000) to 4am (0400)

Morning Watch: 0400 to 0800

Forenoon Watch: 0800 to 1200

Afternoon Watch: 1200 to 4pm (1600)

First Dog Watch: 1600 to 1800 (6pm)

Second Dog Watch: 1800 to 2000 (8pm)

First Watch: 2000 to 0000

Why First Watch is last on the list and Middle Watch is first should give you a clue as to the next confusing part of this process.

Why the 4pm-8pm watch is broken into two watches was to allow for the evening meal. Why it is called the 'Dog' Watch I do not want to know.

Now this is where the 'Bells' comes in.

In order to mark the passage of each watch a bell was rung for every half hour.

For example:

0030 – one bell was rung.

0100 – Two bells were rung

0130 – Two bells, pause, one bell

0200 – Two bells, pause, two bells

0230 – Two bells, pause, two bells, pause, one bell

0300 – Two bells, pause, two bells, pause, two bells

0330 – Two bells, pause, two bells, pause, two bells, pause, one bell

0400 – Two bells, pause, two bells, pause, two bells, pause, two bells.

Making 8 bells at the wee hours of daylight 4am.

Or, 8 bells late afternoon 4pm.

It was important for the crew to know when their watch was up or starting. And important for navigation as before the days of GPS, travel was done with a sextant and the stars and time was very important in knowing where a constellation should be.

Which makes me wonder...

Was this really the best system they could come up with?

How did they not lose track of how many times they flipped that hourglass and how many bells they were ringing?

It would be like making a triple batch of cookies to take to work at 10pm while watching a particularly exciting episode of Chopped and forgetting if you just measured 5 cups of flour or 6 cups of flour as Ted announced that there were only 15 seconds to go and now you wonder if you actually added 14 cups....

or so I have heard...

According to Rob, they probably made hash marks on the crows nest. But that would be an awful lot of marks on that lovely wood. And wouldn't you lose track of which hash mark was yours? Why couldn't they just use a chalkboard?

When did they invent chalkboards?

I could go on.

But thankfully I have a much better method of timekeeping.

I present to you Laura's Real Time Sailboat Timekeeping:

Time to sail. You can tell we are just starting out by the unrumpled appearance of the sails. And me.
(Blue Skies, our 15 foot wooden sloop.)

1000 – Leave the dock and hoist all appropriate sails to a perfect wind.

1010 – Wish you had a soda, which is below, so you don't say anything.

1012 - Captain is ready for a soda so now I have an excuse to get two sodas and a handful of chips.

1025 – Ipod playlist is started up.

1028 – Captain is asking for a snack.

1103 – Begin regretting the soda and wondering how much longer to restaurant for lunch so I don't have to use port-a-potty.

1108 – Finally ask how far with usual response being 'about 15 minutes' which in driving time is the equivalent of 'just over the next hill'.

1130 – First visual confirmation of existance of restaurant. Wind dies.

Noon-ish.
(Boat, Cool Change - our fixer-upper)

Afternoon time is easier.

1600, or one hour before you need to be back at the dock to clean up and meet friends at the wine bar - Wind becomes perfect, boat is flying with just the right amount of heel (lean) and spray leading you to the decision to make one more run.

1615, or furthest distance from dock – Wind dies.

1617 – Peevish looks pass between captain and crew. Crew threatens to call friends and decry captain's horrible job of controlling the boat and cheapskate need to not use motor.

1620 – Motor started, sails dropped.

1620:05 – Wind becomes perfect.

1837 – First glass of apres-sail Cabernet served with delightful appetizer of Spanish peppers stuffed with goat cheese and drizzled with balsamic glaze served.

1840 – Plans for sail the following day finalized.

Please note, these times are generalized.

In all honesty, unless you are truly circumnavigating the world, attempting to outrun that threatening lightening bolt on the NOAA app, or have rezzies at the Snook'sBayside, there is absolutely NO reason to tell time on the sailboat.

It is one of those very few places where time can stand still and life truly is in the moment.

Seriously, do you really need to know what time it is?
(Blue Skies)



Come back on Tuesday for C – Catamarans, Cool Change and Cruising – I can't decide....

check out the link: a-to-zchallenge.com

for more A to Z posts!

Ahoy!

Ahoy!

Well, here we go. Twenty-six posts in alphabetical order with Sailing as a theme.

Do Not Be Afraid!

These are not textbook posts of the finer points of sail. Although that will be a post because I love the ridiculously true graphic describing them.

No.

This will be a combination of observations, tales of the Caribbean and an occasional explanation.

So...pull on your lifevest, release the bowline and off we go...

We took up sailing about seven years ago. Theories to why abound – boredom, insanity, a desire to spend money on things like epoxy and rolling furlers and epoxy. What started as a 10 foot wooden bathtub has evolved into a 15 ft wooden sloop which was really just a gateway boat to a 24 foot, 40 year old rehab project.

I have slowly learned enough, and more importantly, convinced my husband that I know enough, to be offered the tiller from time to time. One of the biggest lessons I have learned is this:

There is WAY too much Applied Physics in sailing.

I do not want math and/or science to be at the forefront of my leisure time. Thus, ignoring the math and sciencey explanations, I will give you this very important lesson:

You CAN NOT travel in a straight line when traveling upwind. And of course, the converse of that, the restaurant you desperately want to have lunch at will ALWAYS be upwind.

A Sailboat can't sail directly into the wind. If you turn the boat directly into the wind it will stop.

Dead. (Explanation of such not included here for math/sciencey reasons.)

This usually occurs as you are trying to maneuver out of the way of a large obstacle, say a cruise ship, or into a particular area such as your favorite lunch spot's only open slip or you are just trying to look cool in front of those irritating, hyper, power boats.

Oh sure, a dead stop can come in handy when the wind whips up so strongly that parts of the boat are literally flying off around you and into Lake Monroe, Indiana.

But generally, a dead stop is not what you want.

note Sail M is closest and slightly raised, subSail J is the larger looking sail in the background.

So here is where that math comes in:

In order to maintain Force A of Wind Velocity W with Sail M as the variable, you must constantly reposition Sail M and subSail J,  if subSail J is raised and the wind is not too great.

Or in non-math terms, you have to pick up enough speed in a cross-wind direction to allow release of the Front Sail (Jib) and moving the Big Sail (Main) through the wind to the other side of the boat, thus moving the boat in an opposite yet still forward direction at which time the Front Sail (Jib) is pulled back into place.

If any of these things happens out of order the boat dies.

As do your hopes of a refreshing rum-based beverage with lunch.

Momentum is lost and all this manuvering must start again.

Bringing me to our A-Word:

About

As in –

Ready About?

Coming About!

I Said COMING ABOUT!!

'About' is the last word you won't pay attention to as you sit in the cockpit with your fizzy water, attempting to get the perfect sailing selfie.

Because if you aren't paying attention as the Captain yells 'I said Coming About!!' then Boom B will knock you out of the boat in into Lake L as the Big Sail (Main) swings into place, assuming you listened enough to let the Front Sail (Jib) out and didn't get too eager and pull it in too soon.

This is a view of the boom from a lying on the deck of the boat perspective
don't ask.

There are two options when you hear the command Coming About.

The simple one is to duck.

The more complicated one is to grab the line which lets the Front Sail (Jib) out, causing much anxiety producing flapping which you will want to make stop by grabbing the other line and pulling it across to its new home. BUT DON'T! You must wait until the Big Sail (Main) has crossed the center line, along with the boom, before pulling the Front Sail (Jib) into its new, wind catching place, thus maintaining a somewhat drunken straight line to your lunch reservation.

Oh, and those things I am calling 'lines' are called 'sheets' even though they are, in all actuality, 'rope'.

Confused?

Don't be.

The take-away is this:

There are a ridiculous number of names for every part of the boat with corresponding commands that sound nothing like what the intended purpose of those commands are.

Your only hope of getting to that lunch spot in one dry piece is to learn at least the basic ones.

Having a quick ducking reflex is also key.

When all goes well, this is what you get, foreward-ish movement with a nice splash at the bow.

This concludes day one of Alphabetical Sailing for the Easily Entertained.

Come back tomorrow when we will discuss

B – Bells.

Or why can't you just say what time it is?

Want to learn more or read some other entries? 

Click here!

And ps - Happy Easter!!

With Spring comes New Beginnings...so Look Out!

Welcome to the Vernal Equinox....

or

Happy Spring

According to the Farmer's Almanac, today – March 20 – at 1215 – the Earth is not tilted toward the Sun and the Sun passes over the Celestial Equator thus giving both hemispheres an equal number of daylight and nightime hours. Eggs stand on end. Worms begin to crawl. Temperatures begin to warm in the Northern Hemisphere as each day's quota of sunlight increases.

And, I begin to update the blog in a more consistent manner...

I know, I have made that statement before.

However, this week marks the 'theme' reveal for the A-Z blogging challenge which begins in April.

The A to Z challenge is pretty self explanatory. I write 26 blog entries, one for each letter of the alphabet. You, the reader, gets 26 consistent chances to get a little glimpse into my head...

Sorry.

Not sorry.

So, without further ado....

The Theme for this year's challenge will be...

Sailing!

26 posts, from A to Z, giving my take on this wonderful lifestyle.

That's right.

Lifestyle.

Not sport.

Not hobby.

Not obsession...well, maybe a little obsession....

Don't be afraid that this will be 26 highly technical posts on the finer points of a beam reach whilst crossing the International Date Line under full sail. At night.

Please, it was all I could do to finish my Sailing 101 book.

I hope this will be 26 entertaining, slightly educational insights into life as a sailboat owner, novice sailor and eternal optimist.

So, until April 1, keep that elusive Sun over the yardarm!

This is the view from my kitchen Monday, March 19, the last day of winter.
Winter was taking itself quite seriously. Please note the ringlets on the birdbath from the rain, which was coming down at a 45 degree slant. Surprisingly, I was not on a sailboat for this...

Paleo What???

I just finished a workout.

I'll let that sink in for a minute...

Okay?

As I tapped the 'Congratulations! You did it!' button on the app I noticed an actual description of the workout I just completed.

This is not quite verbatim, but close:

Paleo Run

A series of targeted moves interspersed with one minute bursts of cardio, just like our Paleo ancestors use to do.

Really?

Our stone aged, paleolithic ancestors did thirty second rounds of squats, glute bridges and wall planks followed by one minute bursts of running?

I don't ever recall Wilma Flintstone or Betty Ruble doing a single triceps dip.

And the only burst of running I recall from that Paleo time capsule was Fred's tiny feet running towards that huge side of ribs.

But, trendy is trendy.

Thank goodness Wilma and Betty didn't try Brontosaurus Yoga...

I am guessing those creatures had even less respect for personal hygeine than do goats...

(As silly as this workout sounds, must admit, I really did like it. Plus it is only 10 minutes and there is a lot of research out there to support High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). And because of that I will name the app – 8-Fit. It is free on the AppStore. Of course you can pay extra for the full features which include meal plans, shopping list and specific training plans. This is an unpaid endorsement. However, 8-fit did manage to make a few bucks off of me.)

According to JoeySaber-Tooth-TigerKatt, this is really how our Paleo ancestors made it through the winter.

No Plan

2018.

A New Year.

I have been pondering today for a while. Trying to come up with a clever 'word' for my new year. Attempting to find a new way to write that first post of the new year.

But I have been unable to devise a plan.

And in looking ahead at the blank Island calendar hanging on the fridge No Plan seems to be the phrase for 2018.

Ordinarily we have at least one trip in the works for the new year.

We have ZERO.

There is a very big maybe hovering over a possible California Wine Country train ride, but so far it is only a random google search for ridiculously overpriced hotels in San Francisco where I am pretty sure everything is coated in chocolate...

I find this lack of travel itineraries unacceptable.

Although I must admit, I am looking forward to many weekends on the fixer-upper boat with a new emergency motor and non-leaking port-a-potty which will allow us to venture past MM4.

I have no real fitness plan. Except to eat more fruits and veggies and avoid any more angioedema episodes which were plagueing me this time last year.

I have no writing plan. Except to really, really, really utilize the wonderful notebook my son gave me for Christmas. And post more routinely here. And post daily at the BRAND NEW Coast of Illinois Facebook page!

(please 'Like' me! https://www.facebook.com/CoastofIllinois/ )

I have no dates marked on the new calendar, save for a dentist and hair appointment on the same day in late January.

There are no landmark events, outside of a 60^th birthday for a dear friend in 4 short days....and Dad's 80^th birthday...and my niece's high school graduation...and Mardi Gras Party day..

But no real plans on how to celebrate any of these things.

Except for Mardi Gras.

That just plans itself...

We entered into this new year with no real plan to celebrate New Year's Eve. The intended movie was sold out. There was no music playing at our favorite local place. It was too dang cold to drive up the coast to a favorite winery. So in an impromptu moment we drove across the rather thick – but not quite frozen – Mississippi to the Broadway Oyster Bar for a snack.

one of those rare days when the Muddy looks more Oceany

It was noted that Rob has been hanging out here for 37 of the 38 years in business claimed on the back of the menu. I am a more modest 35 years.

And in all that time BOB has not been a disappointment.

We wandered in, found a spot at the bar, discovered some interesting 'mountain' music played real strong by a woman on a ukelele and a guy on a drum, and dined on the best BBQ shrimp in the world.

food served on tin plates. has to be good. 

On the way home we both noted that when we don't have a plan we still manage to have the best time.

And it has now occurred to me that my word for 2018 is

IMPROMPTU: Living a life open and ready for anything.

That is exactly the sort of year I wish for each and everyone of you.

Happy New Year 

from the 

Coast of Illinois

A Very Merry

It is 7:02 AM on Christmas Eve and I am sitting alone in the kitchen. The Christmas Tree is lit, the kitchen holiday lights are on. Yesterday's very heavy, very wet snow is practically melted away although from the color of the sky this will be rectified. If you have ever lived where it snows you know the color I mean – that grey white color which blends perfectly into any existing snow giving the impression that we are just a giant snow globe covered up in a heavy blanket of white.

The weatherpeople have promised a white Christmas here on the Coast of Illinois.

I am holding them at their word.

I want a snow covered Christmas.

I know people are traveling and weather can be dangerous. My parents are getting older and are just waiting to take a nice slide on a patch of ice. I don't even have the required fixings for French Toast. But I don't care.

Its Christmas and I want a blanket of snow.

Why this sudden selfishness?

Well. This is the first year my little family won't be all together on Christmas. Our girl is off to spend the holiday with her special person. And that's okay. We love him like family. His parents are delightful and I know his mom will take good care of 'our' girl. Plus we got him for Thanksgiving...

I keep telling myself its okay that she is away. I remember very well that first Christmas I spent with Rob's family. It was different, and slightly weird but wonderful all the same because he was the person I wanted to be with.

And that's how it should be.

We raise our children to become self sufficient adults and want nothing more than for them to be happy.

And really, that's the best Christmas present I could ever hope for.

I would like to leave you all with a paraphrased quote from musician Peter Mayer, spoken during his Stars and Promises concert earlier this week:

Home is where you go to find peace, love, joy, hope.

May each of you be that place...

Happy Holidays

from

the Coast of Illinois

If All the Kids Ate Kale Ice Cream....

I admit it.

I am a 'foodie'.

I love food – eating it, reading about it, shopping for it...

Okay, that last one may be an exaggeration, although I have been known to drag people to farmer's markets while on vacation in hotel rooms where there is no hope of cooking that artisinal, heritage, kombucho-tomato-peach hybrid.

You give me a Buzzfeed list of TWENTY-THOUSAND CROCKPOT DINNERS UNDER FIVE MINUTES or a Tasteeee list of BREAKFASTS THAT WILL REVOLUTIONIZE YOUR MORNING ROUTINE AND MAKE YOU LOSE FIFTEEN POUNDS IN FIVE MINUTES

and I immediately pin-it, make a list, plan meals for the next seven months and spend way too much money at the grocery.

All to forget where I hid the list and wind up making my famous ground beef and broccoli with garlic salt.

I do pride myself on actually being somewhat ahead of the game:

Greek yogurt? First person to request it at our local market.

Hummus? Tried making my own with garbanzo beans and peanut butter for some vegetarian friends in the late 80's.

I even made borscht way back in 1979, long before it was politically trendy to be associated with Russia.

But all buzz about 'overnight oats'?

I have resisted whole-heart-healthily. There was nothing about 'overnight oats' that appealed to me. Oats, milk, fruit mixed and placed in the fridge for twelve hours, then eaten cold???

Sounded like the fixings for a container of cement at worst and a soggy bowl of cold soggy grain at almost worst.

I am that person who barely pours milk on regular cereal, let alone marinate my flakes in it.

Frankly, oatmeal in my opinion is best hot, and as cookies.

It took Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman of Food Network fame, to convince me to attempt 'overnight oats'. Her pleasant, sweet optimism as she poured heavy cream, fresh chopped strawberries, half and half, brown sugar and oats into a mason jar, tightened the lid, shook it up and place it in her perfectly organized refrigerator gave me hope that if I too gave 'overnight oats' a try, my morning would greet me with a lovely pink sunrise over a beautiful field of horses.

This is what my breakfast looked like: 

There is not a photo filter in the world that could improve on this picture.

I concede, I did not use a mason jar and I did not have fresh strawberries. And while I did have heavy cream in the fridge, I opted for slightly lighter almond milk and a splash of half and half with blueberries and banana standing in for the fruit component.

You can never convince me that there is some special Mason Jar Alchemy that magically turns this pile of goo into a creamy bowl of deliciousness.

And its ice cold.

I took a couple tastes straight from the fridge before dumping my Rubbermaid container into a bowl and microwaving for a few minutes.

Which succeeded in putting the missing component of heat into this messed up experiment and turned the cold bowl of goo into a warm bowl of slightly banana scented plaster. And since I was short one monkey with a broken leg in need of casting, or a fracture in the New Madrid Fault line in need of shoring up, I tossed the entire mess into the trash and opted for what may be the new breakfast trend: 

Peanut butter and those fantastic cookies Southwest Airlines passes out with Pour Over coffee on the side. That's right, I am that person...

Rob took the trash out later that day and commented on the heftiness of the bag comparable to the actual amount of trash in the can.

I kept my mouth shut and read up on SEVENTY TWO INGENIOUS WAYS TO USE KOHLRABI. 

*Those 'Southwest' cookies are made by belVita. They boast a hefty dose of protein to keep you full all rolled into a delicious cookie. This is, in fact, true.

 

***I am very excited to announce that Coast of Illinois will be included in an upcoming list of Best Blogs to Follow in 2017! by Wendy Dressler. And if you are a blogger go on over to my Because Friends tab for info on her Guest Posting Sites guide.

You can find Wendy at http://www.outreachmama.com.****