Here comes the old girl now
Sometimes she sails this-away
Sometimes she sails that-away
That was fun, time to put her to bed
Many people have asked me how I got interested in sailing.
Growing up, I had my heroes like any other kid.
Mostly, I learned to sail by watching this video
Spring Launch Party, 2003
Still room for a few more I'd say.
Pete I see you have answered the question on how to balance the boat. Wish I would have thought of that.........ed
I need to chase some of those tykes up forward.
Here is little Grace, ready to re-christen her namesake.
All right, I give up.
Time to haul the boat.
~sigh~
C-Pete,
Sail down to Texas. We're just getting going down here. ebb won't like you bringing an Alberg to this state for fear Grace might get cut up ----- but I promise, it won't happen.
So, C'Pete, have you gotten Grace on the hard yet?
Grace cut her way through the ice and was hauled out.
Sun has set on another season.
Can't wait till April.
Once more, into The Drink.
Grace was splashed on April 4th--a new record.
First I had to settle up the bill with the Boatyard Manager
Air Show in the Atlantic off Jones Beach
The Blue Angels
And Home Again
Grace flies the big flag on the 4th of July
Pulled the boat out on December 9th. Another good season.
Taking the mast home for some work this year.
Caution: This vehicle makes wide turns
You pics are far above average and an unexpected pleasure.
Thanks
Any time you wanna run for something, you get my vote. C'pete.
What are you going to do with the big stick?
I've got big plans. BIG, BIG Plans. Same plans I had 2 or 3 years ago, but now I'm serious.
1) Replace standing rigging;
2) Replace spreader brackets. One of them is cracked. I think I broke it standing on the spreader brackets during one of my trips up the mast. (Learn from my mistakes people);
3) Rewire/replace broken steaming light;
4) Install masthead VHF antenna;
5) Install little masthead light for wind indicator;
6) Remove halyard cheekblocks at base of mast, one of which is bent and broken. Install new system to run lines down and across the deck and back to cockpit;
7) Maybe paint the mast;
8) Buy new hat
Wow. YOu're still #1 Pete. Was the stick a little springy on the ride home? lol
You must have a little farmer in ya.
Hey, about the steaming light, I need one. Mine just kinda fell apart. Hummm, wonder if i can get that light to work.......guess not! Where do smart shoppers go for something like that?
Merry Christmas all. ;)
Hey, that's great! If we can apply numbers 7 & 6 to the latter portion of number 2 you could save some of us a bit of time and money. :D
C'mon Willie, what do you need a steaming light for? We know you don't use no stinkin' engine.
Maybe I'll start a new thread on fixing navigation lights.
I still need some fashionable head gear, like my crew has.
Ahh-in the days of faux finishes and furs, it's nice to see that some still cling to traditon and are not afraid to don the near extinct, 100% Samoan coyote hat. ;)
P.S. Nice boat!
Grace is wet, but still no rig.
We are very sad.
She calls to me and says...
"You complete me"
ah, but do you whisper back the same?
I like your photos of the Navy Blue Angles. I flew in a Blue Angle F-4 J Phantom, tail number 839 when I was a young airdale sailor at NATC Pax River, Strike Aircraft, more years ago then I care to remember. The base had a small fleet of rentable sailboats and one of them may have been a Commander. But there was little freetime to sail. When I became frustrated repairing my Commander I thought back to what it was like hanging J-79's in a Phantom at o-dark-thirty, fighting the everpresent Maryland mosquitoes, on night check, then standing watch, or doing it on the ship. My little ol' boat is no problem what so ever. :rolleyes:
The skill you must need to fly those planes. Amazing.
I suppose we all need to keep our little frustrations in perspective.
Here's another pic. This one is Homeland Security after chasing Grace out of the exclusion zone.
Back in business again. Been sailing alot, making up for lost time.
Rough few months
The Air Show this year featured the Air Force Thunderbirds
My local lighthouse, Fire Island Light ca. 1858
Just another sunset
I get a kick out of the name of my neighbor's boat
There's my girl
Bone in her teeth
Pushing water
Cpete - Soon it will be time for your annual "I took the boat out for winter" post. Too bad. You can come sail down here anytime, though, our water stays soft.
post #39
Portrait of a gorgeous boat!
A whole different animal from the Ariel. Really gotten to admire the Commander's topsides, a handsome lass! Grace would hold her own next to that new in-your-face 38' Alerion daysailer.
Who's your muslin tiller person? :rolleyes:
Who is that mystery man? Nothing like Kurt's picture
More of a debonair man-about-town, I like to think
Then I wake up :)
That little boat looks downright powerful
Buh Bye......
Jones Beach Air Show is now a yearly tradition
First we salute the Air National Guard 106th Rescue Wing
Heritage Flight
P51 Mustang, F16 Falcon, F15 Eagle, A10 Thunderbolt
Blue Angels
Go Navy.....
See ya again soon
Great photgraphs Commanderpete, yeh go Navy.
Nah man, it's "Yeah Army , Go Navy " !
Grace takes vacation on Fire Island.
View from the top of the Lighthouse, looking east. Great South Bay on the left, Ocean on the right.
30 knot winds makes for a romping good sail, and interesting docking
That's more like it
was that this past sat? (6/10) The chesapeake was hopping, least the upper. Friend went out on a AMC paceship 4-6 swells.
I was still at the dock plumbing my exaust.
Hey! You installed the sea hood! Very nice CP! It'll look really good with that new front hatch you're fabricating...
Oh no, I'm not accepting applications for any new projects until the next fiscal year
Nice pic, Pete.
I'm with Mike - the seahood (what we can see of it in these pics) looks sharp!
and I bet that was some "fun" docking! :D
Indeed, yer coamer cover, very bristol!
I guess docking wasn't so bad. No other boats around to terrorize.
I do have a plan to make things easier
Where is Cowboy Willie when you need him?
Rounding out my photographs of planes is the F-14. Went to a little retirement ceremony for the Tomcat yesterday. Long Island's aerospace industry has really declined over the years. During WWII, nearly half of all fighter planes were built here. Just history now.
C'pete, When I was a kid Grumman Hellcats did practice dog-fighting over Babylon. They were my favorite plane, next to the Flying Boat which I never saw.
Don't know if Grumman built all the Navy's VF-31 Felix the Cat fighters, but that Panther or whatever looks too spiffy for a playground.
I was a Krazy Kat / Ignatz fan (had no idea what was going on with the brick) from that same time period. Only Felix went to War. Great Cats, them - and they gave way to a mouse and a duck.
They're retiring the Tomcats? Wow. I must be getting really old. Guess them new high-falutin Hornets are gonna take over now... :p
(All the 'Cats have been great planes, but for sheer lovely lines in an older gal, the "Ariel of the Air" has got to be the Chance-Vought F4U... :D )
As a further aside, this comely lass was in our marina for a couple of days... the "Compass Rose" (http://www.seadragon.com/compassrose/page1.html). I wonder if Ebb's crows nest will look anything like these... :D
(http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/IMG_3849_web.JPG)
(http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/IMG_3862_web.JPG)
Tough plane that Grumman Hellcat. Nineteen to one kill ratio.
In 1964, Grumman Aircraft acquired a controlling interest in Pearson Yachts. The beancounters promptly forced out the stubborn Swede.
Looks like good times on the Compass Rose. Here's Captains Ken and Madeline.
Other boats usually get out of my way.
I got out of his way
Hello Mr. Fish
That striper jump into the cockpit? Humm I'd say Dinner.
Yep. Invited the fish over for supper. Yummy.
Here we are in trolling mode. Can be a bit of a fire drill when I do end up hooking something.
Might I ask what your using at the end of that line, seems unless theres a light wind nothing I have will stay under water.
That is a problem. Try letting out about 150' of line.
Umbrella rigs work well, but they're awkward. Fish seem to like the gummy shad type lures. Always biting the tails off them. Lately I've been using a 4-5 oz. crippled herring.
I really don't expect to catch anything. The only time I'll slow down is if the birds are really working and the fish are jumping out of the water and taunting me. This I can't abide.
Faith is a fishing boat. At least that is what my First Mate says. :D
We use live bait at anchor, but have had good luck with clark spoons when going out the inlet (spanish mackerel) and were able to pick up a nice striper on the Chesapeake when we brought Ariel Spirit down. We got spooled on that trip too, don't know what it was.... but it was THIS big.;)
I agree that 150' of line helps them stay down, light winds help too. pointing up as soon as you get a bite is very helpful, as is the ability to heave too quickly.
Funny about "Faith", 97's First mate here too, persoanlly I hate fishing, damn rotten buggers never bite what I have out.
Moving in for the kill
Sometimes you can only pray
Wakebuster
Pete -
The cockpit on that boat is almost as big as yours. You guys should have a nun-carrying contest...
No way. Those Nuns used to whack me pretty good back in Catholic School. Kicked me out after 5th grade.
Not saying I didn't deserve it.
Commanderpete, she -who-must-be-obeyed does most of the fishing on my ol'boat. It is a fire drill when she hooks on to something in the boat..a line, a cushion or me...or some big stripper. But she catches them, cleans them and cooks them. The problem I have is where to store all of her rods and tackle. By the way I went out to the Grumman airfield (Indian head or River...at the end of Long Island) to put an engine in an Navy F4j back in the early 1970's. I was an aircrewman, Navy A3d 's (all three dead) but also served with Strike Aircraft Div. Pax River (test center) we had A6's, A4's, F4's (even a Blue Angle Phantom 839) F-14's, F-8's, Harriers,. I even put together an Army Bronco..oh and when we were attched to the test pilot school had a B26 or 17 the two engine one from WWII, painted red, used to test something. Great photo of your good ol' boat, she looks great. I like the flag flapping on the stern, nothing looks as good as ol' Glory on a sailboat underway.
That's a good woman.
For rod storage, I have to see if somebody makes a rack that I can mount in one of the Commander's giant cockpit lockers. Otherwise, I'm planning to install some PVC pipes back there. Maybe suspend them from the ceiling, and figure out a way keep them from banging around.
I really need to get back in those lockers and make all that storage space more usable.
Might get one of those canvas covers for the fishing net, which tends to get hung up on things.
Then I'll be ready
Quote from: Robert Lemasters;14479a cushion or me...or some big stripper.
:eek:
Too good.
Hah!
You know I have a picture for any occasion. But I'll refrain
Old and new warbirds, and a video sample
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYmQ4drnTJE
Friend of mine painted this for me
The Mighty Grace
Well gang, I've been busy with my new boat
Still have time to take in a sunset.
Off Point Lookout
A head-turner
Cool tug....
Sailing is thirsty work
Booosshh..
The Big City
Just like I pictured it
Sun peeking, and setting the pole
cool pictures... was that a day trip or overnight?
Sadly, I haven't had time to take the boat into the City in quite a few years.
These photos were taken from my other Yacht
Oops, wrong picture
Molly the Melonseed Skiff
You get a bit of chop in the harbor
But the camera survived
Great series, C'pete, every shot!
But it's very curious that the only 'proof' pic is the one of the Apple over the bow of the Molly?
I'm positive you just don't go down to the boat in Brightwaters and say, I think I'll go to NYC today for lunch. By lunchtime you'd be off Amityville or Jones Beach maybe.
So if Grace towed Molly up that-a-way as your dinghy of choice, it must have been a sight to see in itself
and you had to have spent three or four nights camping?
Or stopping at linen and cloth serviette restaurants in upscale marinas along the way. I mean, once you get to New York where do you tie up for the night? Liberty Marina?
Always a pleasure to be along for an outing!:cool:
Molly is a very fast boat
She'll do 65 mph to windward on her trailer
Also equipped with twin outboards
There is a launch ramp at Liberty State Park behind the Green Lady
I've launched there twice, docked up in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Hope to get back before Winter
that looks like Adirondack II. She's a charter boat out of Newport RI.
Great pictures, it is nice to tag along on another's journey. Looking at those pictures makes me realize all over again that Alberg really did design one boat. In a lot of ways it looks just like a big Ty. Cool! Keep them coming.
Good eye Bill, that's her indeed
Random pics
Nice light this time of year
Mellow sea and sky
Beautiful Pete, some can only dream of trips like that!
mike
Little boat, Gardiners Bay
More little boats, Shelter Island
A bit windy, at "The Sore Thumb"
Scrubbing the bottom again.
Not a pleasant job, but necessary to crush the enemy
The enemy is any sailboat bigger than Grace
Always nice to get pictures of your boat.
I like the splashy ones
Commander Pete,
I hope you don't mind, but I put that last pic you posted (the splashy one) on my desktop. Not only do I think that it is a great picture but it reminds my wife how nice a Commander would look if we owned one.
Jack
Quote from: Jack;16669...it reminds my wife how nice a Commander would look if we owned one.
Jack! Brother! Keep the faith... "WHEN we own one!"
Yeah Jack, someday your ship will come in.
Only about two more weeks of sailing for 'ole Grace this year. Starts getting dark around 4:30 p.m.
On the positive side, don't need ice for the beer anymore
World's largest compass
This picture gives me a headache
Much better
Beautiful picture. How often do you use that 2nd reef? LD has one reef point and I go to it at about 18-20kts.
I use the second reef all the time. This way I can carry the full genoa longer. Boat actually goes fastest this way
If I'm fishing, I'll furl the genoa and sheet the main in. Then I can do a very slow troll
Still have enough control to avoid crashing into the bridge, where Striped Bass tend to congregate
Does make for some crazy looking GPS tracks
This buoy is known locally as "Crazy Charlie"
Taken a few pops recently
Ice on the decks.
It's getting painful
Egads?!!? Are you still IN THE WATER AND SAILING??? It got up to 30 degrees today and we're expecting 6-12" of snow tonight!
You're my new hero Pete!
PS. Tell me those aren't HOLES in your coarch roof along the starboard side. I'm going to have nightmares tonight. :eek:
I had removed the old jib track and filled the holes. Going to replace that.
Hopefully there won't be any more bashing to windward this year
Of course I could drive to the fish market instead, but I'm doomed to suffer for a nice fatty
That striper looks to be a shade smaller than 28 inches. Hope you know an attorney.;)
Tim-
I am sure that your assessment is simply caused by an optical anomaly based upon the perspective of the photograph.
Right Pete?
Read
Yeah, Tim is used to looking at an Ariel's cockpit floor - not a Commander's. That fish is probably 4 feet! :p
Man, I never thought I would find a character witness around here :D
Yes, that was a Legal Pelagic. And the evidence has been disposed of.
I know my rights
You can tell this is an artsy photo, since its black and white
Pete: cool picture... is that a carbon fibre jib??
is that a new main sail? it looks great!
Same sails this year, except that Grace will now be flying a borrowed spinnaker. Yee Hah
Wouldn't be another year without some Air Show pics
Sailor's Haven N.Y.
Get that fender up already
Rockin the boat
I've been a little lax posting photos this year
My computer crashed and my camera drowned
Somebody is out to get me I think
Eye on the sky
1964 Rhodes Meridian
Washing the deck
Goin like a freight train!
You must have avoided capture with the coming of nightfall....:cool:
Well, I do tend to engage in suspicious activity
The Manhattan Bridge
Say hello to my little friend
Trying to take a little better care of this camera
burr that water looks cold.... ;)
Only good thing about this time of year is the ample free parking
Here we are at Watch Hill, N.Y.
"Hey man, somebody's supposed to watch that hill - where'd it go?"
C'pete, looks like a scene from 'On the Beach'!!! Scary.
Wow! Great pictures!
I'll bet you do a lot of solo sailing this time of year. No one wants to go with the crazy guy in the sailboat.
RE: post #154 - Must put an awful strain on your auto-tiller!
Sometimes I wonder what I'm doing out there with the crazy guy too
Should go on a nice Caribbean cruise ship instead. Lounge around, do a little gambling
Maybe they'll even let me drive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rgiumz3RRhI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPJP6OrcJ9A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRCxZ_p5sY4
http://www.louisiana-offshore.com/article4005.html
Good to know it was a 'heeling accident' with poor 'rudder economy' on the part of the cruise ship driver.
Must admit I've given a thought to a lounge cruise because my friend doesn't relate to small boats - you know, so I might be persuaded - and Bill does it!
But after seeing that carpet in the casino,
I'll never get there, never! The decor on the floor looks like PRE mal de mer - casinotosis - the worst - UGH.
And the idea of being stuck on board there like a grouper in an aquarium......
Here are some Groupers
Summer at Cedar Beach
Winter at Atlantique
Table for one?
Ocean Beach
Headed south for the Winter today
I'm done :(
Commanderpete - Certainly the ducks have flown back North and the docks at the marinas are at least a bit busier that shown above.... And it certainly must be warm enough for you to be sailing by now!
Is it that you are too busy sailing to post???
Same thing with "Lucky Dog"...
How about some pictures!
I've noticed your absence too C'Pete!
For Lucky Dawg, it's been a slow sailing season. I try not to divide operating costs by number of sailing days... That number is uglier than in years past. Sailing with a 17mo. old isn't easy or necessarily pleasant. It's that vs. dumping the old boy at a babysitter's house. I figure the Dawg has had on years and off years over the past 45 or so of her life - this is the latter. I think she understands.
Sorry, I have been neglecting my friends here. Feels good to catch up on all the stories and projects. Some fine work going on.
Hey Kyle, I feel your pain
Its been a pretty good year so far. Unfortunately, I have no photographic proof. Scratch yet another camera. The next one will be waterproof.
Just a few Melonseed pics
Been racing quite a bit with my friend Harry again this season. We could always use some good crew
http://vimeo.com/5181317
LOL! How did I miss that video??? Good one Capt Pete!
On the hook
No soup for you
Don't see an anchor ball too often
I figure it keeps law enforcement away
That and the flag
More at anchor
Coast Guard approved
Night time version
No soup for you either
Mirror image
A couple more
Nice diggs
S/V Crabcrusher
Fill 'er up
Draining the beverages
Draining the battery
USCG 25-foot Defender Class Patrol Boat
Twin 225 Honda outboards
46+ kts
Armament: 1-3 M-60 or M-2 machine guns
More peaceful
Here's the Robert Moses State Park water tower, 202 feet high.
On the right is the Fire Island Coast Guard Station and their new 400 foot radio tower
That's the "single span" bridge and the "double span" bridge in the background
This might be of interest to low flying aircraft
In the hunt again.
I don't have any actual video of me slaying the giants, but it looks something like this, to my mind
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDpJoykyfOE
Moving along now
Slowly.....
Blink Blink Blink
I guess we can continue the theme of bridges
Sunsets...
Lonely docks
The odd bit of chop
Swirly skies
Had to get in one last night at the beach
Love the beach
Down in the backcountry
Duck season
I'm afraid sailing season is over.
The redneck Sushi Bar is closed. Fresh bait and $2 cans of beer
Brief pit stop.
Last man standing
Disposable cameras make for some strange pictures
Off to hibernate
The inflatable kayak I got off craigslist was lots of fun. They move pretty well.
Some late entries
Hang on boys
It's getting sporty
About time I started taking some pictures this year
Here we are at "The Sunken Forest"
You've got the Bay on one side, Ocean on the other
And trees in the middle
Lots of trees
And deer
The wildlife still aint getting a handout.
They're multiplying anyway, and getting uppity
Big flag/ little flag
Pete,
I was viewing you jealously from the 1800 Ferry to Ocean Beach last Friday. Grace was looking as pretty as ever.
I am hoping to luanch in August
Hey Jake! Good to hear from you and look forward to seeing you out there
Busy fireworks schedule this year. Went to shows at Bay Shore, Point 'o Woods, the Pines and Davis Park
Long Island--home of Grucci Fireworks
Hard to photograph with the shutter delay on a digital camera though
Quote from: commanderpete;21738Long Island--home of Grucci Fireworks
Hard to photograph with the shutter delay on a digital camera though
Time for a DSLR . . . NIKON DS 40 (or maybe it's the 3000 now) is relatively inexpensive. COSTCO sells'em in a kit with two lenses, case and an SD card.
Cannon has some similarly priced models. As our poster of the most photographs . . . we expect more!:cool:
I've suggested to my friends that they buy the Nikon. They're a bit camera challenged too.
Labor Day with the A/Spin
You have to use your imagination
That's a good one
That last shot is really beautiful. One of the nicest pictures of a Commander I've seen.
The size of those Ariel / Commander spinnakers seem gigantic. They must be a little exciting to fly on a windy day.
Really beautiful photo!
If you find yourself near New Suffolk, keep a look out for my commander!
This boat has been here for a few weeks, at least. She's a goner
Drifting along. Dressed up in our Fall colors
There's the money shots
Pete,
Very, very nice evening sail with that radiant drifter your flying, ghosting along. Must have been a magnificent! Thanks for sharing.
Reefed down in these pics
I can't take credit for taking any of these shots of course
Very, very nice! Hey Pete, looks like there's room for crew, too bad I wasn't in the area, I could be your deck hand. What size is the lapping head sail your flying in these last posts, and what light house is in the background?
Thanks.
Hey Chance
That's the Fire Island Lighthouse, a frequent subject around here.
My genoa used to be about a 135. It's a little shorter now after the repairs. I had a bit of a disaster earlier this year. The boat was anchored and we were ashore when a nasty squall blew through. I watched in horror as the genoa unfurled and started beating itself to death. Only took about 10 minutes to do this damage
Coming and going
Okay Bill, now you'r really rubbing it in. Good to see some Commanders are getting the best use. "GRACE" sure does compliment the water. I'm just sail sick! Kind of like home sick, but lacking that of a good breeze, and a tiller in hand. One would think that after 20 years in the Navy I would have gotten my fill of being on the water, not so.
Thanks for the response and enlightening me on Fire Island light house. I can just imagine what it must felt like seeing your Grace's headsail unfurl and succumb to nature's furry.
That incident with the sail was a bit harrowing.
Trying to paddle a kayak into that storm was real difficult. As I got closer to the boat, the genoa sheets got hung up. The sail filled and the boat took off. She would blast along to the end of the anchor rode, tack around and careen back the other way.
Now I had to avoid getting run down by my own boat and pick a spot to intercept the ghost ship. Got dragged alongside a bit before I could clamber aboard. Quite an adventure.
I was glad the anchor held and the boat didn't end up on the beach somewhere.
Speaking of the Lighthouse, its getting a new look. They're putting a building for displays, including the original 1858 First Order Fresnel lens. Have to see how the construction turns out.
Lighthouse with sundog
Sunset Bridge
Hello again my friends!
Here's the 1888 Oyster Sloop "Priscilla"
Lifting her skirt
Glad to see you on the frequency again. It's been a while.
Welcome back. Thought maybe you were in the pokey.
Hey what has happened to our guy Pete. I miss the shots of Grace under sail around the Bay. Been so long I suspect the family has grown a bit older. Hope all is well with you, drop us a note if you get the chance.......ed
FYI - There's been no response to messages sent to Pete's Email. About a month ago, I sent him a letter, but as yet there has been no response. The letter, BTW, was not returned.
He must have gone out and bought a Hunter and is too ashamed to post here now...
Kidding aside, I hope all is well. I was wondering if he and Grace weathered Sandy OK.
Thanks, Bill, for going the extra mile. I, for one, have become way too complacent about contacting old friends. Having not embraced social media, yet, I have limited options to reach most people outside of email.
I miss you too, CPete! 'mon back!