Drinking

LOL. I guess I should only post once I have stopped drinking the Champagne... Hear instaed of here lol. OK. So excited to see my boat. What the heck a few spelling mistakes!!! hehe

The phantom boat arrives!!!!

My boat arrives... Christmas has not even been better than this.... WOW I love my boat.

OK. I got to hear in the unpacking stage and realized that I was missing the mizzen - crap.

OK, now I realize I am also missing the gaff for the main sail - crap.

Still love the boat. Minor wear and tear from the 3,000 mile journey to California.

Bill has been great on this damage and all will be well. Still love my boat!!!

1st Photo of the Nomad

Well, a few issues with the final assembly schedule and shipping has caused delays. The boat is finally in the U.S. in Jacksonville, Florida. This is the first picture of it on it's trailor.

I still have to get the boat to California. Due to some changes to the trailor set up, I lost my spot on the truck and need to reschedule to get it out here. More to come....

A humorous response

I sent the Wordsworth poem to Kevin. He cracked me up with his response below. What a great sense of humor. He knows I am antsy to get my boat here and go sailing. - "Days grow long as time grows short, His new love pines for her new port. Soon she'll rest in his embrace, Vision of beauty and lines of grace." Kevin Poems Vol 1. 2012

Delivery?

Just received word that my boat is built and loaded on the container ready for the ship. Looks like it will arrive July 20th into the USA, Florida. I will then bring it overland to California. Now looks more like August I will receive my boat! Can not wait to splash her in the waters here.

With Ships the sea was sprinkled far and nigh

With Ships the sea was sprinkled far and nigh, Like stars in heaven, and joyously it showed; Some lying fast at anchor in the road, Some veering up and down, one knew not why. A goodly Vessel did I then espy Come like a Giant from a haven broad; And lustily along the Bay she strode, Her tackling rich, and of apparel high. This Ship was nought to me, nor I to her, Yet I pursued her with a Lover's look; This Ship to all the rest did I prefer: When will she turn, and whither? She will brook No tarrying; where she comes the winds must stir: On went She, and due north her journey took. William Wordsworth Poems Vol 1. 1800.

No Boat

Been without a boat for a month now and feeling the loss. Should be out sailing today. Looks like a great day with sun and wind! But no boat... Can not wait to get the Bay Raider on the water here. Good job I have my friend Kevin to go out sailing with.

sail luff pocket

Found out that the luff pocket is not available for the gaff. The sail maker does not want to chance the sail not being made correctly. I am pleased I spoke with them as I do not want to be the one they experiment on. I would rather get a sail they are used to making. It would be a pain trying to return sails to the UK from the US.

Just received a build out date of June 19th. Can not wait. Will then need to bring boat to the USA, Florida. Then over land to California. Should have boat by Mid July!

Sail Magazine review of the Bayraider

Here is a video review from sail magazine. It was taped at the Newport, Rhode Island boat show, I believe in 2011.
Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDW_8JY1Ifo

Some pictures of the Bayraider from Swallow Boats.





I like the dark blue color. Unfortunately, they do not seem to have a dark blue I like. They all seem to be royal blue in the sun! I actually ordered the Platinum hull color with a cream below the water line. Looks nice. This is the color of the boat I took my test sail on in Jan this year. Happy with the color choice. I was concerned I would pay for the dark blue color and would get a color different that I really wanted.
 They sent me additional photos like the ones above, the boats above are in the shade, as these also looked a lot lighter color in the sun!
  Now I just need to see if I can get the luff pocket for the gaff boom. Not able to get  a straight answer on this yet.

April 1st, 2012.

I needed to sell my old boat to free up storeage space for the Bayraider. I posted on Craigs list. To my surprise, the boat sold in a week for my asking price. Well, not sure of my emotions today. They say that a boat owners happiest days are the day you buy and the day you sell. Well, I am not feeling that. Selling the boat is tinged with a little sense of loss? Many happy times and memories sailing this boat. It was the first boat I had actually owned. So, that probably has some sentimental value for me also. Ho well. I liked the person I sold it to and am sure he will also have many fun times sailing off of Long Beach, California.
   Some photo's from a magical November day on Sail Bay, San Diego. Wind a constant 10mph. Temp approx 68 degrees. November in San Diego, 2011. A great sailing day.

I hope Mike, the new owner enjoys her as much as I did.

March 5th, 2012.

Well, I took the plunge and ordered my boat today! I don't think I have felt this excited since I was a kid on Christmas morning 8>)

The Journey begins. I have followed the Swallow Boats "Bay Raider" for over two year now. Time to do something about it.
 Contacted Matt, the boat designer and builder, in Wales, UK. There is a new importer into the USA. Request made to contact. Contact made. Rig Reese is the importer. Good email chain with Rig finding out about the boat and options
Time for a test sail? To cold in Newport RI in Jan for me to see Rig. He has a dealer in Jacksonville, Florida. A much better choice if you are sailing in January. All set for a test sail Jan 28th with dealer - Bill Vogel.
Fun, Fun, Fun..... Great day out sailing on the Bay Raider. Winds started out around 20 mph so good test of the handling with good wind. Tried without ballast first. Yes it is a kick in the pants. Went from 3 knots to over 7 knots in what seemed like a blink of an eye. Heeled over and exciting!
Time to try with the water ballast. Filled the ballast tanks. (An easy operation of just opening the valves). The boat sat down as the water ballast tank filled up. I guess we lost about a knot in speed. But the handling was great. The boat handled more like a full keel boat.