Update: As the “CLODs” Turn – “Wind Dust” a Nauticat 44 For Sale

For those of you who are asking–CLOD-?-what the-(hashtag)? Well “CLOD” stands for “Cruiser(s) Living on Dirt”. It’s the term, full time cruisers use to describe the next chapter of life living shore side. In other words, it’s the word that scares the proverbial crap out of most of us who exchanged the rat race of life on land for the blue knuckle adventures on the water. Now don’t take this the wrong way – Cruising full time is not for everyone. The lifestyle is akin to camping with some luxuries. Days are consumed with finding places to land the dinghy, hauling water, laundry, groceries, wine, beer (lots of beer), worrying about the weather or the ‘Jackaxe’ anchored too close. That’s the down side. Not referring to the Mega yachts with unlimited budgets and staff you see in magazines and TV Adds. Just the plain old (and I mean Old) sailing vessels or motor yachts that transport people with a strong wonder lust and modest means. The upside is when the view, neighbors or just plain wonder lust tells us it’s time for “Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitudes”, in short order up comes the anchor (or off comes the dock lines) and away goes the urge for change as the hull slides through the water. Change can come with a short half mile move or a transit taking a day, week or longer. It’s truly about the freedom to move your home from one place to another on a whim, your whim!

“Wind Dust”, our home on the water over the past five years of cruising, has provided safety, comfort and reliability as we transited the East Coast of the US and Bahamas. Her pilot house, with her inside helm provide shelter and comfort underway and on anchor from the cold, wind and miserable conditions that can be encountered by every cruising vessel. 

The aft quarterdeck (covered by a large bimini) and helm station provide a comfortable elevated point of view while sailing, motor sailing or on anchor in good weather.. 

Her deep bullworks, decks and broad teak handrails provide extra safety when the going gets tough and crew has to go forward/or aft to check on sails or anchor rodes. Her flared bow sheds water and her strong 135 hp Ford Lehman diesel pushes her into a head sea with speed and comfort only dreamed about by other larger yachts. Her Finnish design and construction heritage for the North Sea, best helps one understand the type of vessel she is. Her full keel, heavy solid fiber glass hull and deck construction (no wood core), powerful ketch rig, water, fuel capacity and storage makes this vessel a great choice for a long haul cruising vessel.

She has new bottom paint, (May, 2014), Interlux Micron 66. New zincs and paint for Maxipro and SidePower bow thruster. Since we have owned her (September of 2009) this is the 3^rd bottom paint job. Not one blister or bare spot to report or repair. In addition to her soft ablative bottom paint “Wind Dust” is also protected by an epoxy barrier coat. Her thru hulls and cutlass bearing were good at haulout. The cutlass bearing was replaced in October of 2009 and remains tight at the May 2014 haul out.

Some of the upgrades to “Wind Dust” since Sept, 2009.

Oct 2009 New Lifeline AGM Batteries, (3 xGPL 8DL ) - 765ah house bank. – 2 x GLP-31 T Lifeline AGM Batteries for Windless and Bow Thruster, 1 x GLP-31 T Starter Battery for Ford Lehman.

Oct 2009 - Fireboy MA2 automatic extinguisher installed in the engine Room.

Oct 2009 – New Waeco 4 cft 12v upright refrigerator.

Oct 2009 – New Westmarine AIS Transceiver

Oct 2009 – New Garmin 545 Chartplotter

July 2010 – New Xantrex Freedom SW 2000 watt inverter/ 100 amp charger.

July 2010 – New Blueseas Main Panel

July 2010 – New Blueseas Charge Relay for Starting Battery

July 2010 – New Blueseas Charge Relay for Bow Thruster and Windlass

July 2010 – New ProMariner ProSport 20 Amp Charger

Feb 2011 – New LED Nav lights and selected LED interior lights

Aug 2011 – 2 New Stern Storage Boxes

Sept 2012 – New bimini

Sept 2012 – Pilothouse cushions recovered with white pleather.

April 2014 – Main Saloon cushions recovered with tropical pattern stain resistant fabric from Spain.

“Wind Dust” is Listed for Sale through Bow to Stern Yacht Services. Interested parties should contact Joe Wright, broker at 252-671-9494 for more complete information or visit the website

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/pl_boat_detail.jsp?&units=Feet&id=2733207&lang=en&slim=broker&&hosturl=bowtostern&&ywo=bowtostern&


Here are a few pictures of "Wind Dust" - 

Wide Angle of Main Salon Looking Forward to Galley, V-Birth and Forward Head

We will dearly miss views like this.

Update: “Wind Dust” Gets Her Bottom Done!

This week was designated bottom paint week. So Monday morning at 9:00 am the Brunswick Landing Marina travel lift gently lifted “Wind Dust” out of her home in the water. On the way to the blocks, her bottom received a thorough pressure wash and she was resting comfortably on the hard by high noon. 

We selected Interlux Micron 66 paint and the 1^st coat was applied Tuesday morning after some minor scrapping and bottom prep. 

Wednesday morning the running gear (MaxiProp and BowThruster) were cleaned, painted and new zincs installed. Wednesday afternoon the second coat of paint was applied. Thursday, Mother Nature handed us heavy rain all day so launching was delayed. Friday afternoon at high tide “Wind Dust” with her new bottom settled in as the BLM travel lift lowered back in the water. The yard staff assisted our departure from the lift bay and “Wind Dust” was back in her slip on dock 8 within 10 minutes of departing the yard.

As many people know, Brunswick Landing Marina and the Yard are under new management and it shows. We want to thank Jim and his staff for a professional job delivered as scheduled and on budget. Great experience and very convenient! 

Happy New Year

Update: Brunswick Landing Marina 2013 Cruisers Thanksgiving

The Brunswick Landing Marina 2013 Cruisers Thanksgiving gathering was fantastic. Approximately 75 cruisers enjoyed a potluck Thanksgiving meal in the brand new captains’ lounge which is a 2200 sf addition to the original lounge. The dockmaster Sherry Jackson cooked 4 turkeys and two hams on marina gas grills. Both the turkey and ham were excellent along with the many dishes cruisers brought. After the meal many laughs and funny cruising stories were shared. Many thanks to the marina for a great Holiday gathering. 

  

Captain JP Launches Weather Blog for East Coast and Bahamas

Know the Marine Forecast before you Get Underway!

Captain JP launches Blog for Marine Weather along the U.S.East Coast and the Bahamas including Abaco, Exuma, Long Island, Cat Island and Eleuthera. Offshore Forecast for the Typical Gulf Stream crossing routes are also included.

Promoting Safety on the water.
http://captainjpweatherblog.blogspot.com/

Happy Thanksgiving!

Update: 1st Fish of the Summer Season

We returned from our Driving Miss Ginny Tour to find lots of mullet in the marina. Time to pull out the cast net and rod & reel. With bait in the bait bucket and a live mullet of the hook we caught our 1^st Fish of the summer season. It was a 18” Blue that provided two big fillets for dinner. Didn't expect to catch a Blue in the marina, however with all the bait swarming around in here there's no telling what predator fish we might catch. 

Time to wet the hook again.

If I Only Had a Mast !

You guys who have followed our blog know how we feel about some bridge tenders along the Atlantic ICW. Well, apparently one of these tenders moved to Norway. Watch as the Bridge closes as the two sailboats approach. Lucky that someone didn't get killed. Whose at fault here?

Bonehead Move of the Week

UPDATE: Andrea – Out-a-Here

Noon Today at Brunswick Landing Marina

Tropical storm Andrea paid us a little visit here in Brunswick, Georgia yesterday and last night. She started yesterday morning by delivering lots of rain and continued delivering the rain until the late afternoon.  The wind came in the afternoon and continued through this morning. The max wind we clocked was 38 kts and experience sustained winds in the high twenties to low 30’s.  The eye of the storm came over us after midnight.

It was a good day to sit by the grill and slow cook some baby back pork ribs with Bill on “Memento Mori” and his visiting sister Carolyn. Good company, good food and a little wind and rain. Not a bad day.

We’re glad Andrea is through with us. To our friends up north, hold onto your hats and pull out the rain gear.

UPDATE: Back to Brunswick, Ga.

We arrived in Brunswick, Ga. at Brunswick Landing Marina on Friday, May 31, 2013. We were greeted on the dock by Sherry and Cindy and given a warm welcome back. These ladies always make it feel great to come home to Brunswick for hurricane season.  As an added surprise we had dinner with our sailing buddies Sandy and Ray McCoy on s/v “Megerin” and Dave and Laurie on s/v “RJ Greenstone”. Ray and Sandy  were passing through via car headed north to Pittsburgh, PA for the summer after moving “Megerin" to the British Virgin Islands. They flew in from the BVI and picked up their car Ft. Pierce. It was great to see them and hear about their adventure. What a trip they had sailing from Miami all the way to the BVI in the Caribbean. 

Left to Right - Ginny, Sandy, Laurie, Dave and Ray - at Foxx'x Pizza

More to come on our lazy trip north from Miami.

UPDATE: Miami Area Photo Tour

Not a great deal to write about lately so we will let the Photo’s do the talking. 

Espanola Way, South Beach

 Collins Canal along Dade Ave, South Beach

              Dink Ride Back to Wind Dust

Sunset View of Miami

                     Brickell Area of Miami

                   Views Riding the People Mover 

                            Views from Star Island 

                 Noname Harbor and Cape Florida

                                  Bayside Shops

                               Moon Over South Beach