END OF SAILING SEASON 2012

As I sit in our lovely, waterfront condo, dogs at my feet and sleeping on the couch, I muse about our ending sailing season of 2012. As many readers remember, we have traveled many thousands of miles in our loved Phaeton motorhome. However, in the past 1 1/2 yrs. we have changed to water travel in our also loved "0 Regrets" trawler.

Our newly painted boat is now back in her slip at Green Turtle Bay Marina on Lake Barkley.

We enjoy this pier in that we only have slips on one side and have a great view of the harbour. Green Turtle Bay is a central part of Grand Rivers, KY. a small, quaint community between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. A great location for boating with access to large lakes and 4 rivers. This is our home port and we call this home for 0 Regrets. We have help from many sailors at the marina along with a good drink. We begin and end each cruise from this marina, always happy to return.

We have spent many evenings at anchor aboard 0 Regrets in various bays along the shore of Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. We have been serenade by the coyotes in the Land Between the Lakes, a lonely song while the moon rises. Not a soul around and the clear skies to view the milkey way, satelites and dream of cruises in the future. These dreams are not only those of children but of older folks, (like me) who want to be children once again. No cares except making port the next day.

Who cares about world affairs when you enjoy the simple pleasures of sailing waters new and old with the one you love. We long to cruise to the Gulf of Mexico and later the Bahamas on our way around the Great Loop. This is top of the bucket list for me.

This view of us at the stern of 0 REGRETS is a good image of the fun we have enjoyed and hope to expand during the coming cruising years. I dread the winterization of 0 REGRETS for we will not have any cruising till March 2013. However, I need to leave you with the latest view of our cruising in November, last weekend. I ask you to think of the people waiting in line for days to "enjoy" black Friday and ask your self where the crew of 0 REGRETS will be enjoying themselves. Come along and sail with us.

Happy sailing, Adm. Denise, Capt. Barry and deckhands Bailey and Bella

CONDO REMODEL

Now as I have mentioned in this blog, we painted the "0 Regrets" and were in the process of remodeling the condo. WELL ----- The process is complete with much work and check writing. I found the best way to remodel the condo is to write checks. I should say Denise wrote checks, I just played the part of the General contractor. Our little condo is very warm and homey now. The new paint, trim and floors just set the unit off. While we purchased the unit "remodeled" the nesting just had to continue. We removed the carpet as this is not good for even the best dogs and husband. We installed hardwood laminate which gives us the warm look but is so easy to maintain. Even the dogs can sweep and "swifter" the floors. Although they seem to just lay around.

We hired a well recommended painter, Mike, who speaks with a soft voice and handles a mean brush. Here I am offering to paint baseboard prior to installation trying to help. Mike just shrugged and said install it and I will paint. NO PROBLEM. I would make one hell of a mess of the floor. Painting baseboard above a new floor would just not fly with my painting skills. So, that is why one should hire the professional. Mike did a great job and probably uttered 10 words during the project. The flooring guys were a real "pair". I had worries about them moving furniture etc. while trying to install wood flooring. Not a worry. They expertly piled up furniture, layed the floor, moved furniture back and layed more flooring. Just another day in the park. Rodney was the leader of the pair. I watched as he cut and measured and measured again. I had to run him off one night to reduce the saw noise for the neighbors. Rodney wanted to work till complete. To sum up, Rodney and helper did a good job, working hard and putting up with me and the dogs. Again, Bailey and Bella did little to help. Speaking of dogs. After completion of the remodeling we are enjoying our fireplace. Each unit has a wood burning fireplace. A luxury we enjoy and Denise is very experienced at chopping and splitting wood. What a girl !!!!

Finished Condo remodeling via Lady Denise.

0 Regrets Facelift

There comes a time in a boat's life that the age starts to show. You know, like the forehead wrinkles, crinkle eyes, 2nd chin etc. Not that any of my friends or I have these maturity scars. At least a bit of sanding, paint and care can erase much of the Regrets badges of maturity. So, to help our 0 Regrets a paint therapy was scheuled.

Watching my new, best friend dangling from the tentacles of the travel lift is a bit of a nail biter. 0 Regrets is a small boat compared to the 61 ft. boat lifted the next day, but that is not my boat. The yard crew, Rotterings, were very professional and helpful thru the process. We must remember, two old guys are going to paint this most valuable boat and we will need all the help we can find. First things first, SANDING. The boat was blocked close to the ground which made for belly flop painting. Our plan is to paint the hull and bottom with the most expensive paint known to the universe. Damn the $$$$.

The photo does not show the 3 days of sanding required to reach this stage of the facelift. Like when the doctor says this may make you a bit sore. I could not lift my arms over my shoulder after this event. Fortunately, I had expert help. Albin Bill lives on a 36 Albin, just like ours and has year of experience. He agreed to be my mentor and captive slave during the process. I discovered after 1 day that I was the captive and he called the shots. Well, Mr. Smirf, (blue color) worked like a young man preping the 0 Regrets for the surgery.

As I mentioned, Bill is the expert and spent several hours sanding in a 3 ft. area where the most damage had occurred. The painting was to soon begin. But, every moment I thought we would paint Bill said "no we have to -------". Like when the Dentist drills, drills and drills, takes a break and you thing Oh My God, he is done. Only to return with a new drill and fresh from his break. We finally began the painting after the 72 hr. sanding.

We sectioned off a portion of the hull to make the job a bit more organized. The picture indicates 1/2 of the hull with two coats of new paint. This section proved to be the easiest portion. The upper portion reqired many steps on the rickety ladders to apply the new paint. By the way, the paint only costs $250 per quart, yes that is correct, $1,000 per gallon. Fortunately we only needed 2 quarts.

This photo gives an indication of how low the boat was blocked. The skag under the prop protects from those time when I stick 0 Regrets in the mud. The paintng of the bottom is not glamorious but a real necessity. This required the old guys to lay on backs and bellies to paint the keel and botton. Getting down is not hard it is the getting up "I have fallen and cannot get up". Without further Nobel award winning prose, or continue whinning, the finished product can be revealed.

Needless to say we are very proud of the new look. The stripes are now teal in color and she really shines. Fortunately, we should not have to paint the hull again in my lifetime and the bottom need painting about every 5 years. Next time the bottom may be painted with a check book. Oh the joys of boat ownership. Next major task will be the improvements to the cabin and flybridge. Next year after a rest and more $$$$. Happy Sailing, Adm. Denise, Captn. Barry, Deckhands Bella and Bailey