Sailing 9 LIVES

20/11/2023

https://youtu.be/CfAT0hS0lik
A funny thing happened on the way to Charleston, South Carolina. It all started innocently enough, with us motoring down the ICW. We managed to transition to some motorsailing for a while, heading from a swamp to the clear beginning of our seemingly endless time spent in marshland for most of the remainder of the trip. We again saw some dolphins in our anchorage, and Duke said "Well, we're on our way to Charleston" far too many times. We lost a cushion, but Virginia rescued it. Then it happened.

While waiting for a bridge to open, we drifted to port and found ourselves in the mud. Then the tide went out... WAY OUT... and left us high and dry. We had to wait out the tide, and only became unstuck minutes before the final bridge opening of the night. This left us crossing the bay to Charleston in the dark.

A funny thing happened on the way to Charleston, South Carolina. It all started innocently enough, with us motoring down the ICW. We managed to transition to...

17/08/2023

https://youtu.be/jh6wwbgSHbI
We start our journey through South Carolina by crossing the state line in the evening, coming into port from the sea just north of Myrtle Beach. We anchor in a dead boat graveyard and manage to make a semi-permanent fix to the steering before starting our next day of ICW cruising. We find ample mall parking at Barefoot Landing and take the opportunity to stretch our legs a bit and fill our bellies with tacos before continuing on down the ICW to anchor in a swamp.

We start our journey through South Carolina by crossing the state line in the evening, coming into port from the sea just north of Myrtle Beach. We anchor in...

15/06/2023

https://youtu.be/sdptYgWjWtY
Well, we had to slog on down the Intracoastal Waterway with more motorsailing, more grey skies, and more bridges but we made it to the beautiful seaside town of Carolina Beach. And, the beach there was beautiful! It was just the change of scenery we needed for a nice reset. Then it was down the Cape Fear River and out into the Atlantic Ocean for some beautiful sailing south. Of course we broke the steering a bit, but that was easily patched up with a temporary fix.

Well, we had to slog on down the Intracoastal Waterway with more motorsailing, more grey skies, and more bridges but we made it to the beautiful seaside town...

07/06/2023

Well, this is the last bit of water 9 LIVES will see... A team hired by FWC/FEMA has finally extracted our storm-damaged derelict boat and is about to haul her away for final destruction.

We are happy to see the cleanup happening, but a bit sad to see our time with this boat come to an end.

On to the next one!

26/04/2023

https://youtu.be/swFCAjajOtQ
As the sun rose on Oriental, North Carolina we set out across the Neuse River and down the Adam's Creek Canal towards Beaufort, NC. The weather is getting progressively worse as we motorsail the Bogue Sound. Our path takes us into a bombing range near the USMC Camp Lejeune, where we do not ACTULLY encounter any live bombing activity but we do find ourselves battling a squall on a narrow channel.

As the sun rose on Oriental, North Carolina we set out across the Neuse River and down the Adam's Creek Canal towards Beaufort, NC. The weather is getting pr...

17/03/2023

https://youtu.be/904fGfcqWy8
We continue sailing along in North Carolina, choosing the Pungo River / Alligator River Canal for our return to Belhaven, birthplace of the ICW.
We randomly run into our friend Nick crewing another boat (we met him scuba diving near Myrtle Beach a year prior... and he later sent us a photo of our sticker on a lock wall in the Dismal Swamp Canal... #1 Fan?).
Our friends at the Belhaven Marina went out of their way to assist us with some logistical challenges, and then we were off to a day of sailing in the Pamlico Sound and Neuse River on our way to Oriental.

We continue sailing along in North Carolina, choosing the Pungo River / Alligator River Canal for our return to Belhaven, birthplace of the ICW. Our friends ...

09/02/2023

https://youtu.be/RwZ3lvgea7k
We cross into North Carolina while traversing the Great Dismal Swamp Canal. There is no sailing in the canal, so we motor our way out of the swamp and head to Elizabeth City. It is t-shirt weather, at last! We sail slowly across the Albemarle Sound, and enjoy beautiful vistas in North Carolina.

A raw version of Episode 51 was published in the past few months, but this is the finalized version.

We cross into North Carolina while traversing the Great Dismal Swamp Canal. There is no sailing in the canal, so we motor our way out of the swamp and head t...

17/01/2023

https://youtu.be/kfkzirjiXxQ
A dozen dolphins swim with our boat in the Chesapeake Bay! We head south through Virginia towards Norfolk and complete our journey through the Chesapeake Bay. A railroad bridge is stuck down, so we have to anchor early in the afternoon in Portsmouth, VA. Fog the next morning delays our start, but we eventually make our way to the start of the Great Dismal Swamp Canal, where we encounter our first-ever lock and finish our day crossing the North Carolina state line.

A raw version of Episode 50 was published in the past few months, but this is the finalized version.

A dozen dolphins swim with our boat in the Chesapeake Bay! We head south through Virginia towards Norfolk and complete our journey through the Chesapeake Bay...

22/12/2022

https://youtu.be/F9-kh5mcPiA
We made it to Virginia! Still heading south in the Chesapeake Bay, we cross the state line on our sailboat into Virginia as we pass the mouth of the Potomac River. As we make our way further south, we finally encounter our first reasonably warm weather of the trip sailing from New York.

This is an edited version of Episode 49. A raw version was published earlier to YouTube.

We made it to Virginia! Still heading south in the Chesapeake Bay, we cross the state line on our sailboat into Virginia as we pass the mouth of the Potomac ...

15/12/2022

https://youtu.be/5TvHxZkxSJk
When decorating an old boat to try to make it more your own, you can't just go down to Walmart to buy new curtains and upholstery. They all have to be custom made. So, Virginia got some sewing lessons from Grandma and then started her first sewing machine projects ever. DIY boat curtains and DIY upholstery!

When decorating an old boat to try to make it more your own, you can't just go down to Walmart to buy new curtains and upholstery. They all have to be custom...

08/12/2022

https://youtu.be/d3pfSQuIJI4
Our sailboat, 9 LIVES, came with an old Avon Redcrest hypalon inflatable dinghy from 1983. We have since named it Cloud 9. The dinghy is a very old design. It is not a RIB with a solid fiberglass hull and flat transom, though it does have a wooden floor insert and a small motor mount on the back that can handle up to 2.5 hp. Though outdated and slow, it does have some benefits. It is fairly lightweight, and can be disassembled, deflated, and easily stored in a locker when rolled up.

So, we decided to give it a new lease on life. It had one small hole in the front tube, so I cut out a small hypalon patch and used a special UV-inhibited glue from Weaver Adhesives. I used this glue to reattach some of the loose edges of the rub strips and rubber hardware on the boat, as well.

To cover up the old registration numbers and names painted on the stern, we prepared the hypalon on the top of the dinghy and then painted it with white Flex Seal! It is good for hypalon, after all, and provides a nice white coating that is waterproof and also provides some UV protection to the most vulnerable parts of the dinghy.

Our sailboat, 9 LIVES, came with an old Avon Redcrest hypalon inflatable dinghy from 1983. We have since named it Cloud 9. The dinghy is a very old design. I...

01/12/2022

https://youtu.be/Oy-24oGMBko
9 LIVES came with an old Avon Redcrest inflatable dinghy and a 2.5 hp Yamaha Four Stroke engine. The dinghy is a very old design, and without a solid transom it can only handle a small engine, like the little Yamaha. The engine had been sitting, full of old fuel, for years... and so the carburetor was gummed up with residue from bad gas and would not run. So, I quickly disassembled the motor so I could remove the carburetor and clean it out. Now, the engine runs like new!

9 LIVES came with an old Avon Redcrest inflatable dinghy and a 2.5 hp Yamaha Four Stroke engine. The dinghy is a very old design, and without a solid transom...

17/11/2022

https://youtu.be/26JK_Z1oF78
We have to improve the way we carry our dinghy on our sailboat, 9 LIVES. So, we ordered a custom-built aluminum arch from Nautical Creations in Kentucky and added some very simple davits made from schedule 80 aluminum pipe and some stainless steel hardware. We added some nylon rope and slings plus some stainless steel block and tackle to create a 3:1 mechanical advantage, and our DIY dinghy davits system was complete!

We have to improve the way we carry our dinghy on our sailboat, 9 LIVES. So, we ordered a custom-built aluminum arch from Nautical Creations in Kentucky and ...

10/11/2022

https://youtu.be/uMeSCAcJvVI
We woke up next to the old Spanish Fort Matanzas, and continued heading south along the ICW. Of course, this meant more bridges, but we eventually end up on the Halifax River and made it to the Daytona area. We cross over to the tiny Reed Canal in South Daytona where the water is almost always too shallow, and here is where our journey to the Bahamas comes to an end... a failure in many ways, but we had fun and built upon a future to be filled with adventure!

This version of Episode 61 includes minimal edits to video and audio. This is intended to allow us to roll out more videos weekly in order to encourage greater engagement with our audience, and also to allow us to catch up to current time a bit quicker. We will still end up releasing a more fully-baked version of Episode 61 a bit later.

We woke up next to the old Spanish Fort Matanzas, and continued heading south along the ICW. Of course, this meant more bridges, but we eventually end up on ...

03/11/2022

https://youtu.be/wBOHvNTYFgc
Well, we came in on the Intracoastal Waterway, motorsailing with heavily damaged gear, but we made it to Florida! We made a stop in Jacksonville to hang out with Dan The Man and the extended gang for Thanksgiving, and then set off across the St. John's River and continued down the ICW. We saw lots more bridges, a few more dolphins, and plenty of marshland. Once we passed the St. Augustine Inlet, it was on to the Matanzas River where we hung out near the old Spanish Fort Matanzas... such a great little anchorage with a nice beach and scenery!

This version of Episode 60 includes minimal edits to video and audio. This is intended to allow us to roll out more videos weekly in order to encourage greater engagement with our audience, and also to allow us to catch up to current time a bit quicker. We will still end up releasing a more fully-baked version of Episode 60 a bit later.

Well, we came in on the Intracoastal Waterway, motorsailing with heavily damaged gear, but we made it to Florida! We made a stop in Jacksonville to hang out ...

27/10/2022

https://youtu.be/36PsmTIsH7U
Stuck on the ICW through Georgia, we weren't offered much in terms of novel views. As we crossed the Savannah River into Georgia, we saw more marshland on the ICW, had more bald eagle and dolphin sightings, and we did our best to at least motorsail our way south. We did get to witness the recovery efforts of the capsized Golden Ray cargo ship, a disaster which resulted in more than $200 million in damage, caused by incorrect calculations about the vessel's stability.

This version of Episode 59 includes minimal edits to video and audio. This is intended to allow us to roll out more videos weekly in order to encourage greater engagement with our audience, and also to allow us to catch up to current time a bit quicker. We will still end up releasing a more fully-baked version of Episode 59 a bit later.

Stuck on the ICW through Georgia, we weren't offered much in terms of novel views. As we crossed the Savannah River into Georgia, we saw more marshland on th...

20/10/2022

https://youtu.be/GVxXXo6dMyM
We make our final push through South Carolina and head south towards Beaufort, SC. There's not a lot of wind on the ICW, but there are plenty of marshlands and the occasional pod of dolphins to see.
As we hang out awaiting a bridge opening, we notice that the steering pivot on the motor broke, leaving the motor dangling from the boat by the gear shift rod. Duke tied it back in position with rope and we passed through the swing bridge into Beaufort, SC. 9 LIVES no longer has engine-steering and we no longer trust the engine as an auxiliary, so it is no longer safe to take the family out into the ocean. This sets off a wave of depression, but we still manage to make it to the Savannah River and cross into Georgia.

This version of Episode 58 includes minimal edits to video and audio. This is intended to allow us to roll out more videos weekly in order to encourage greater engagement with our audience, and also to allow us to catch up to current time a bit quicker. We will still end up releasing a more fully-baked version of Episode 58 a bit later.

We make our final push through South Carolina and head south towards Beaufort, SC. There's not a lot of wind on the ICW, but there are plenty of marshlands a...

13/10/2022

https://youtu.be/Xs920PtgS3k
We find ourselves enjoying the iconic mariners' port of Charleston, SC a bit and take the opportunity to catch up on some boat chores and self care. Virginia reveals that she has a secret, in the form of being pregnant with Baby #2! When we do leave port, we find a very strong current against us in Elliot's Cut, but we manage to get through and arrive at our anchorage.

This version of Episode 57 includes minimal edits to video and audio. This is intended to allow us to roll out more videos weekly in order to encourage greater engagement with our audience, and also to allow us to catch up to current time a bit quicker. We will still end up releasing a more fully-baked version of Episode 57 a bit later.

We find ourselves enjoying the iconic mariners' port of Charleston, SC a bit and take the opportunity to catch up on some boat chores and self care. Virginia...

06/10/2022

https://youtu.be/OngysidO0z8
A funny thing happened on the way to Charleston, South Carolina. It all started innocently enough, with us motoring down the ICW. We managed to transition to some motorsailing for a while, heading from a swamp to the clear beginning of our seemingly endless time spent in marshland for most of the remainder of the trip. We again saw some dolphins in our anchorage, and Duke said "Well, we're on our way to Charleston" far too many times. We lost a cushion, but Virginia rescued it. Then it happened.
While waiting for a bridge to open, we drifted to port and found ourselves in the mud. Then the tide went out... WAY OUT... and left us high and dry. We had to wait out the tide, and only became unstuck minutes before the final bridge opening of the night. This left us crossing the bay to Charleston in the dark.

This version of Episode 56 includes minimal edits to video and audio. This is intended to allow us to roll out more videos weekly in order to encourage greater engagement with our audience, and also to allow us to catch up to current time a bit quicker. We will still end up releasing a more fully-baked version of Episode 56 a bit later.

A funny thing happened on the way to Charleston, South Carolina. It all started innocently enough, with us motoring down the ICW. We managed to transition to...

29/09/2022

https://youtu.be/B6U4HJoS_Mc
We start our journey through South Carolina by crossing the state line in the evening, coming into port from the sea. We anchor in a dead boat graveyard and manage to make a semi-permanent fix to the steering before starting our next day of ICW cruising. We find ample mall parking at Barefoot Landing and take the opportunity to stretch our legs a bit and fill our bellies with tacos before continuing on down the ICW to anchor in a swamp.

This version of Episode 55 includes minimal edits to video and audio. This is intended to allow us to roll out more videos weekly in order to encourage greater engagement with our audience, and also to allow us to catch up to current time a bit quicker. We will still end up releasing a more fully-baked version of Episode 55 a bit later.

We start our journey through South Carolina by crossing the state line in the evening, coming into port from the sea. We anchor in a dead boat graveyard and ...

29/09/2022

Well, 9 LIVES didn't float away. The bank it washed up on is strewn with rocks, so I imagine the wave action rocking the boat has already holed the hull or will likely do so soon.
I know how to patch up a hole and pump the boat out, enough so to get it to a marina for a haul-out and proper repair. Getting the boat off that bank will be the real problem... it will be days (weeks?) before I can hire a crane. This should be interesting.

29/09/2022

Neat.

22/09/2022

https://youtu.be/OXEDettDoj4
Well, we had to slog on down the Intracoastal Waterway with more motorsailing, more grey skies, and more bridges but we made it to the beautiful seaside town of Carolina Beach. And, the beach there was beautiful! It was just the change of scenery we needed for a nice reset. Then it was down the Cape Fear River and out into the Atlantic Ocean for some beautiful sailing south. Of course we broke the steering a bit, but that was easily patched up with a temporary fix.

This version of Episode 54 includes minimal edits to video and audio. This is intended to allow us to roll out more videos weekly in order to encourage greater engagement with our audience, and also to allow us to catch up to current time a bit quicker. We will still end up releasing a more fully-baked version of Episode 54 a bit later.

Well, we had to slog on down the Intracoastal Waterway with more motorsailing, more grey skies, and more bridges but we made it to the beautiful seaside town...

15/09/2022

https://youtu.be/JHxfaziX1_w
As the sun rose on Oriental, North Carolina we set out across the Neuse River and down the Adam's Creek Canal towards Beaufort, NC. The weather is getting progressively worse as we motorsail the Bogue Sound. Our path takes us into a bombing range near the USMC Camp Lejeune, where we do not encounter any live bombing activity but we do find ourselves battling a squall on a narrow channel.

This version of Episode 53 includes minimal edits to video and audio. This is intended to allow us to roll out more videos weekly in order to encourage greater engagement with our audience, and also to allow us to catch up to current time a bit quicker. We will still end up releasing a more fully-baked version of Episode 53 a bit later.

As the sun rose on Oriental, North Carolina we set out across the Neuse River and down the Adam's Creek Canal towards Beaufort, NC. The weather is getting pr...

09/09/2022

https://youtu.be/57jX0-VDYXk
We are not dancers. But, that didn't stop us from putting together a swing dance for our wedding reception 5 years ago! Virginia made a quick costume change out of her wedding dress and into a hot little red dancing dress, and we did the best we could! We had nearly perfect rehearsals in the days before, but managed to let the stress get to us during the performance... we made quite a few mistakes. But, we laughed it off and recovered fairly well. It was a fun little dance, and it has been an amazing 5 years since. I love you, Baby.
-Duke

Choreographed dance to Dance With Me Tonight by Olly Murs

We are not dancers. But, that didn't stop us from putting together a swing dance for our wedding reception! Virginia made a quick costume change out of her w...

08/09/2022

https://youtu.be/oU8PwxdwzfA
We continue sailing along in North Carolina, choosing the Pungo River / Alligator River Canal for our return to Belhaven, birthplace of the ICW. Our friends at the Belhaven Marina went out of their way to assist us with some logistical challenges, and then we were off to a day of sailing in the Pamlico Sound and Neuse River on our way to Oriental.

This version of Episode 52 includes minimal edits to video and audio. This is intended to allow us to roll out more videos weekly in order to encourage greater engagement with our audience, and also to allow us to catch up to current time a bit quicker. We will still end up releasing a more fully-baked version of Episode 52 a bit later.

We continue sailing along in North Carolina, choosing the Pungo River / Alligator River Canal for our return to Belhaven, birthplace of the ICW. Our friends ...

07/09/2022

https://youtu.be/_UvnD7HgbGY

You may have noticed that the last few videos we've published have been of fairly low quality, but they have been published steadily at one per week. You may...

01/09/2022

https://youtu.be/Iz5Sc-VeVts
We cross into North Carolina while traversing the Great Dismal Swamp Canal. There is no sailing in the canal, so we motor our way out of the swamp and head to Elizabeth City. It is t-shirt weather, at last! We sail slowly across the Albemarle Sound, and enjoy beautiful vistas in North Carolina.

This version of Episode 51 includes minimal edits to video and audio. This is intended to allow us to roll out more videos weekly in order to encourage greater engagement with our audience, and also to allow us to catch up to current time a bit quicker. We will still end up releasing a more fully-baked version of Episode 51 a bit later.

We cross into North Carolina while traversing the Great Dismal Swamp Canal. There is no sailing in the canal, so we motor our way out of the swamp and head t...

25/08/2022

https://youtu.be/YKkSb6ZzM-4
Lots and lots of dolphins! We head south through Virginia towards Norfolk and complete our journey through the Chesapeake Bay. A railroad bridge is stuck down, so we have to anchor early in the afternoon in Portsmouth, VA. Fog the next morning delays our start, but we eventually make our way to the start of the Great Dismal Swamp, where we encounter our first-ever lock and finish our day crossing the North Carolina state line.

This version of Episode 50 includes minimal edits to video and audio. This is intended to allow us to roll out more videos weekly in order to encourage greater engagement with our audience, and also to allow us to catch up to current time a bit quicker. We will still end up releasing a more fully-baked version of Episode 50 a bit later.

Lots and lots of dolphins! We head south through Virginia towards Norfolk and complete our journey through the Chesapeake Bay. A railroad bridge is stuck dow...

25/08/2022

https://youtu.be/wSueiZNsbH8
We made it to Virginia! Still heading south in the Chesapeake Bay, we cross the state line on our sailboat into Virginia as we pass the mouth of the Potomac River. As we make our way further south, we finally encounter our first reasonably warm weather of the trip sailing from New York.

This version of Episode 49 includes minimal edits to video and audio. This is intended to allow us to roll out more videos weekly in order to encourage greater engagement with our audience, and also to allow us to catch up to current time a bit quicker. We will still end up releasing a more fully-baked version of Episode 49 a bit later.

We made it to Virginia! Still heading south in the Chesapeake Bay, we cross the state line on our sailboat into Virginia as we pass the mouth of the Potomac ...

04/08/2022

https://youtu.be/oJsHMenM7oM
Part 2 of 2 of our progress sailing through Maryland! We set off from the Annapolis area and enjoy the cold and wet October weather on the Chesapeake Bay. We hang out in Solomons, MD for a few days awaiting a decent weather window, and finally set off on our way to the Virginia state line.

Part 2 of 2 of our progress sailing through Maryland! We set off from the Annapolis area and enjoy the cold and wet October weather on the Chesapeake Bay. We...

05/05/2022

https://youtu.be/IwHEkqp9om4
Part 1 of 2 of our progress sailing through Maryland! We finish up the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal (C&D Canal) and enter the Chesapeake Bay. We spend a night at anchor, then a night at a marina making repairs. We set out in terrible weather and anchor for the night near Annapolis.

Part 1 of 2 of our progress sailing through Maryland! We finish up the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal (C&D Canal) and enter the Chesapeake Bay. We spend a nig...

11/04/2022

TAP-TAP-TAP
Is this thing on? 🎤

We are making a comeback!
Things got... busy... quite busy. But we are all doing well. The more senior members of the crew are back to editing, and a new video is coming soon!

28/12/2021

https://youtu.be/bnwREc8iBII
After waking up at anchor on the edge of the Delaware Bay in the southern marshlands of New Jersey, we point our catamaran Northwest up the Delaware River. The wind and the current are against us, so we make very slow progress towards the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. We turn to Southwest and travel the Delaware portion of the C&D Canal, going insane along the way.

After waking up at anchor on the edge of the Delaware Bay in the southern marshlands of New Jersey, we point our catamaran Northwest up the Delaware River. T...