Sigmachi Views From The Crew

SIGMACHI is coming along...extravagant time has gone into the 99.9% completely new HVAC (Dometic) [formerly Cruiseair] system...32,000 BTU total.  New helm curtains and shades went on October 25.  Dark blue bimini went with the "Ship's Tailor" (Scott Victor) for refurbishing.  Not enough can be said for his company's punctuality, staying within budget, and attention to keeping us informed! DBY yard Foreman, Bobby, was aboard today checklisting the HVAC project.  What a professional!  Not only is he a very knowledgable member of Keith Ruse's team...he is meticulous in how he leaves the boat.  No a scrap, a stain, a wrench, nothing left in disarray! Jeanne and I just appreciate the hospitality of Deltaville Boat Yard and Deltaville Marina. Jacqui Ruse's recommendation of the Ship's Taylor for canvas work was nonpareil. Guess "we shall see what we shall see"  the final results are very soon... Tight lines! Ala...

Thank you EVENT PLANNERS AND MTOA LEADERSHIP! PRUDENCE AND SAFETY DICTATE THAT WISE SEAMANSHIP IS APPLIED TO YOUR DECISIONS TO CANCEL THE RENDEZVOUS ENTIRELY!  SALUTE!....and TIGHT (SAFE) LINES! Alan V. & Jeanne L. Cecil M/V SIGMACHI  757 705 4344

  The end of summer is signaled by  many events in the mid-Atlantic coastal states. For educators and pupils, it means the return to classrooms or academic posts.  For  hunters , it is the opening of dove season.  Coastal fishermen see the southbound schools of tuna appear right after the big billfish tournaments in Ocean City, Md.  On the Chesapeake  Bay , some better sailing starts to pick up with seasonal winds. And for cruisers there are those delightful prospects of cool Autumn nights without air conditioning...maybe coming, not yet in Chesapeake Bay Country, but maybe in Mid-October! For Jeanne and I, summer heat, scorching humid heat, has not broadened our boating venue. One thing after another at Deltaville Boat Yard and us being at the tail end of their list of early Summer Launches has been delayed and delayed because of wet weather and other pesky things have kept us near the marina.....    Use of the boat ...

Ahoy All! Low and Behold...we found the future SIGMACHI in Port Haywood, Virginia at the Horn Harbor Marina...Figuratively in our backyard! With the help of Deltaville Boat Yard, we are refitting the 40-foot Flush Deck Flying Bridge Pacemaker into an America's Great Loop ready vessel.      In September we hope to bring SIGMACHI to our other cruising club's (MTOA (Marine Trawlers Owners Assn)), Northern Rendezvous in Cape Charles, Virginia. One of the rituals of owning a yacht is choosing a hailing port for Coast Guard documentation.   Jeanne and I chose beautiful Hobe Sound, Florida to be our "hailing port" because of its natural beauty, and boating paradise. The cleanest, and most tastefully decorated "loo" that we found on our winter search for a Looper Vessel was in the Hobe Sound area.   SIGMACHI's new Home Port! Hope to see you on our travels! Look forward to our Seafood Feast report soon of ...

Greetings All,  Yes it is time for  a comprehensive summary since our last written post and amplification of our posted video!  Jeanne and I arrived home last Sunday night (July 29th) from a week on SIGMACHI in Deltaville, VA.  Yes, we were to take SIGMACHI on a maiden voyage of about 20 miles  to a Marine Trawler Owners Assn (MTOA) Rendezvous in Kilmarnock at the Indian Creek Yacht and Country Club....but severe winds and monsoon like rains early in the week kept us at or away from the dock.  Away from the dock?  Yep, so far away on the leeward side of the dock that there was a 4 foot gap between SIGMACHI and the wooden dock planks.  Such was the velocity of the wind that the lines on the starboard side of the boat (two forward and two aft, two spring lines, and two breast lines) left permanent line indentations in each of their respective wooden pilings. SIGMACHI has a high freeboard.   We were unable to get ashore for a 33hr. period.  Another time when we had successfully disembarke...

https://youtu.be/2Xf8KOikfLE

Jeanne L. Cecil, Broker Turnock Real Estate Services, Inc. From: Sig Machi <sigmachimaritime@gmail.com> Sent: Saturday, July 28, 2018 6:07:22 PM Subject: From Alan...Our first day under way. Cocaptain Jeanne at the helm of Sigmachi.18.07.28   Jackson Creek and Piankatank River  near our Chesapeak Bay home port...Deltaville Marina.

Saturday night July 21st we are aboard Sigmachi in Deltaville tied in our slip.  Weather report for whole week looks like thunder storms, wind and rain.  If it "lifts" we are supposed to go to a MTOA rendezvous ar the Indian Creek Country Club for 3 or 4 days. If by miracle there is fair weather Sunday we'd like to go around the bend of Jackson Creek to take on about 300 gal of propulsion nurturing diesel for the "hardly broken in" 6-71N twin Detroit Diesels. After the prospective fueling and if the broad navigatable creek is smooth..both co-captains will practice maneuvering and using the twin "screws" to turn the boat without using the steering wheel. It has been years for me and I'm not sure if Jeanne has ever had the opportunity.  Let me share this...as a former equestrian barrel racer she has no compunction nor lack of ability in accurately backing a pickup and trailer!  I marvel at her talents, tem...

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Sig Machi < sigmachimaritime@gmail.com > Date: Sat, Jul 21, 2018, 11:27 PM Subject: 18.07.21 Aboard SIGMACHI at Deltaville Marina...getting ready for our Maiden Voyage to a Marine Trawler Owners" Association rendezvous near Kilmarnock, Virginia To: < sigmachimaritime.jeanne09@blogger.com > Saturday night July 21st we are aboard Sigmachi in Deltaville tied in our slip.  Weather report for whole week looks like thunder storms, wind and rain.  If it "lifts" we are supposed to go to a MTOA rendezvous ar the Indian Creek Country Club for 3 or 4 days. If by miracle there is fair weather Sunday we'd like to go around the bend of Jackson Creek to take on about 300 gal of propulsion nurturing diesel for the "hardly broken in" 6-71N twin Detroit Diesels. After the prospective fueling and if the broad navigatable creek is smooth..both co-captains will practice maneuvering and using the twin "screws" ...

Good Saturday morning from our "land home" in Randallstown, Md! Today we travel to Deltaville, Va. and SIGMACHI.  Tomorrow, if the weather cooperates,  we are "practicing " maneuvers in Jackson Creek and docking...at our home port, Deltaville Marina.  Though there are some more things to do on the classic Pacemaker flush deck fly bridge 40..like new air conditioners and generator work...Deltaville Boat Yard's Keith Ruse has pronounced her "good to go"...for the short run of about 18 miles northward toward Kilmarnock. On Monday, we anticipate rounding Sting Ray Point and crossing the mouth of the Rappahannock River and veering NW into Fleet's Bay and then entering Indian Creek ...one of 4 beautiful tidal navigatable arteries that pierce into the Lancaster County, Virginia heartland from Fleet's Bay. Our destination, Indian Creek Yacht and Country Club, for the occasion of the Virginia Rendezvous of the Marine ...

Thank you Waterway Guide Publishers!  It has been a while since I've made an entry in my journal of SIGMACHI.  Briefly,  I had a bout with pneumonia and a flare up with a bad back that the excellent doctors at Kaiser Permanente South Baltimore County Medical Center were called upon to mend right after Jeanne and I were aboard  SIGMACHI for the first time for an extended period of time at the fantastic Deltaville, Va. Boat Yard. Finally, I've seen something that all of the monsoon rains in t he Middle and Northern Necks of Virginia have brought other than delays in getting recreational vessels commissioned from boat yards everywhere in the region;  Jeanne and I are participating in a MTOA ( Marine Trawler Owners Association) mini Rendezvous at a beautiful 200 slip marina and recreational area surrounded by verdant and meticulously tended green grass.  Though I'd met Fred and Cas Olverson at the Southern Chesapeake Bay MTOA Christmas...

All packed up and ready to roll!  I finally have my house back again, but I think we need a bigger boat! From the co-captain, Jeanne

Good Tuesday morning!  SIGMACHI is supposed to "splash" at Deltaville Boat Yard later today and we will be there by late afternoon!  Our front room looks like a staging area for flood relief!  Boat supplies...  It is all the first provisioning stuff for our "new to us" 40 ft Pacemaker  Flush Deck, Fly Bridge, Motor Yacht that the team at DBY is readying for us!   The "monsoon like torrential rains"  that have plagued much of the East Coast have not spared slowing the outside operations at DBY...Jeanne and I are so thankful for a clearing in weather to get us launched for the Southern Chesapeake Bay Chapter "cruise in/drive in" for 4 days at Deltaville Marina.  Even though refitting is just 1/2 complete we are happy to start our cruising adventure with such a pleasurable and knowledgeable camaraderie  of folks!  'tis boating, beach and gardening season in Tidewater, Virginia.  My favorite educationnal entity...

Many friends, both long time and more recent, have helped me in my life journey.  My still new bride, Jeanne, shares my enthusiasm for travel and cruising on a seaworthy vessel  with an aim of visiting places in the "waterfront heartlands" of the eastern USA & Canada...and hopefully the Abacos.  Only time will tell. Thanks to all, but in particular to the AGLCA family of Janice and Steve Krommer and their astutely shrewd and gregarious daughter, Kim Russo, who now is the head of the organization.  I must give credit to master of all blogging, Paige Caldwell, who gave her all in creating the most detailed and technically enhanced land and travelogues I've had the fascinating pleasure to read.  I miss her blogs on "Golden" so very much... Curtis Stokes, Joe Pica, Pat and George Hospodar gave me so much support and advice... No amount of appreciation is enough for the teaching, fellowship, and professionalism besto...

Life begins anew when we board our new marine home, Sigmachi, the week of June 4, 2018.  I have accumulated piles and piles of "must haves" to begin our waterway journey.   Is our boat big enough for everything?  Where will I put it all?  How do we get our dog on and off the boat when she is too small to jump and doesn't like to be picked up?  I guess we'll find out!