Sail True

Fun with Winches

2012-02-12T21:23:00.000-05:00

Sasha had a long day with a couple winches.

He began with an exploded diagram downloaded from the internet and a few tools...

and ended with a little bottle of fresh oil before putting everything back together.

Unfortunatley, there are two down and five more to go!

Skiing!

2012-02-04T10:30:00.001-05:00

Brrrrr! Snow is cold. And fun!!
(Photo by Caroline)

Photo of the small town of Telluride, CO courtesy of the Telluride mountain cams.

On Vacation

2012-01-29T22:47:00.003-05:00

Looks like someone needs a vacation! (photo by Miss Mareck)

So, we are heading to Colorado to experience the same snow we find in our freezer but on a much larger scale. We've left Soterion in really good hands so we expect her to be in good shape when we get back. Check out our SPOT Map to see where we arrrrr! Photos will be posted here.

Merry Xmas from Planet Soto!

2012-01-18T16:15:00.001-05:00

We are aware that it's mid-January... but better late than never, right?

Christmas morning everyone awoke with jaws dropped at our new level of cuteness. After breakfast, everyone took a vote and decided that Sasha was the cuter elf. It's all in the beard :)

Decided that sandmen were much easier to make than snowmen.

Longer sails between the Leeward islands = more time for Tara to do this.

Loved spending the holidays in the French Islands!

Shaking the Boobies

2012-01-18T16:08:00.001-05:00

We had a few friends join us on a very rough seven hour sail from the small rocky island of Saba to the protection of St. Martin.

These birds are known as the Brown Footed Boobies and they are one of the many fishing birds here in the caribbean.

As we were sailing through the choppy seas, the birds would hover above our decks and wait for us to crash into the front of an oncoming wave.

When our bows hit the water, we'd scare up lots of little flying fish and the boobies would swoop in for a meal. This sequence was beautiful to watch... until... We suddenly remembered that as food goes in, poo must come out, and out, and out.

The boat was becoming speckled and Sasha and I did a lot of dodging until we began evasion tactics and finally shook the boobies.

A Well Deserved Surf

2011-12-10T13:37:00.000-05:00

This is one happy guy!

Radar Replace Cont.

2011-12-10T13:27:00.001-05:00

I'll spare you the images and language involved with trying to pull wires through the interior of the boat and out to the cockpit, all I can say is that Sasha forgot to eat lunch and was too tired to eat dinner on more than one day this week. If you know Sasha, this is saying a lot. Work was starting at 7am and continued till about 10 or 11pm.

Here is Sasha on the last afternoon of the project. The new radar display is larger than the old one, so we had to rearrange all the instruments to fit it in the same amount of space. Here you can see Sasha with his jigsaw cutting a new teak panel for the instruments. In the bottom of the frame you can barley see the tip of the black vacuum tube- I sat on the sidelines and did my best to "contain the mess" as he cut. We had to make the cuts in the cockpit because it was pouring down rain!

Here I am fitting all the instruments into the new instrument panel (yeah! they fit!).

After I mounted all the instruments Sasha came and connected the mess of wires, and amazingly enough everything booted right up! Wowza!!

We got everything finished just in time for a day of R&R before we take off for St. Martin. Looks like our best weather window is going to be on Monday Dec 12.

Radar Replace

2011-12-07T09:47:00.002-05:00

After a year of Sasha trying to trouble shoot and figure out why the eleven-year-old radar unit would not work, it was determined that the dome itself had a bad circuit board. Mind you this is after Sasha has checked all the connections, wires, mailed bits and pieces back to RayMarine for diagnostics, and basically ripped the boat apart a few times. Of course, RayMarine no longer makes the replacement parts we need…. hum. Feel like buying and installing a whole new unit?

Here is Sasha aloft, yesterday. Good thing he doesn't mind heights because he was up there for well over an hour as we worked together to pull the old wiring out of the mast and feed new wires through, raising and lowering tools and parts up and down the flag halyards, and finally hoisting the new radar dome up and setting it on its mount. Really glad that was Sasha's job and not mine. Above you can see Sasha giving me a thumbs up on a securely mounted dome.

Tracing the wires through the boat is easy, it's ripping out the old and installing the new that's a bit harder. One wire plugs into the back of the radar dome up on the mast, runs down the mast into the generator box on the bow, then into the back of the saloon couch (bottom left open panel), then along behind the TV (middle open panel), then up to the instrument panel (top right behind Sasha). I do believe that Sasha is trying to hang himself with the old radar cord.

Here you can see Sasha climbing out of the TV cabinet saying "we're almost halfway there!".

UV Damage on the Genoa

2011-12-07T09:31:00.000-05:00

As we were hoisting the Genoa we noticed that the bolt rope was beginning the tear because of UV damage. The protectant wrap must not cover that spot! As we were packing it to take into the sail loft for repair Sasha decided to see how far the tear would travel, about 2 feet is what we found! Glad to have this taken care of before the christmas winds pick up.

Thanksgiving Feast

2011-12-03T09:24:00.000-05:00

Though I flew home to attend to some family business over the Thanksgiving holiday, I did not leave Sasha high and dry. I was planning to make a nice dinner on board Soterion, and since I already had the food I decided to cook everything and pack it in the fridge for Sasha to enjoy. Knowing how boys work, I also left him a detailed list of everything and where it could be found (panrty, fridge, freezer).

MOVEMBER!!

2011-12-02T11:56:00.001-05:00

To help raise awareness for prostate cancer, many charter captains in the BVI participate in Movember. Everyone has one month (Nov 1 - Dec 1) to grow their facial hair as long/ crazy as they can. Some say Sasha has a head start on the competition, we believe that the other captains show a serious lack of commitment the other eleven months of the year.

Beardy Man # 1

Beardy Man # 2

December 2 shave off ... or... just better groomed.

Boat Show 11 Interior Pics

2011-12-02T11:25:00.001-05:00

Cheque little bistro lunch of escargot, gouda cheese, and fresh baked breads.

Saloon snacks were Caribbean mountain mocha fudge, dark chocolate truffles, banana nut bread, and melon salad. Also on display is the first edition of Dining on Deck, a collaborative cookbook published by the Charter Yacht Society. Books on sale aboard Soterion!!

Starboard Forward cabin, set up to look like typical day use.

Port Forward cabin set for the start of a charter.

Master Cabin set for a quiet evening on a mooring.

Culinary Competition

2011-11-12T14:35:00.000-05:00

Last minute plating- always a scramble. Sasha kept look out and gave me a 2 minute warning so that the food could hit the table hot just as the judges arrived. Here you can see that I'm plating dessert, I have the salt baked red snapper on the stove, along with the rack of lamb. YUMM!

Here are the judges and professional photographers running a muck in the saloon. The three dishes I made were:

Appetizer - Island Bites

Tostone w. jerked pork & passion fruit

Pappadon under salt-baked red snapper w. tomato-avocado salad

Caribbean spice pumpkin soup w. spicy seeds

Entree - Island Elegance Rack of Lamb

infused w. rosemary, thyme, and garlic supported by minted pea croquettes, over cassava sweet potato puree with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg.

Dessert - Cafe au Lait Pavlova

Coffee flavored pavlova with vanilla bean whipped cream and mocha fudge bites.

At the Governor's reception awards were given to the culinary contestants. Sasha and I took first for Entree and Appetizer. The loot that was scored were two beautiful glass plates made by Green VI, two bottled of Veuve champagne each with a little cooler bucket, and two Wanger rolling duffel bags.

Broker Hop Party

2011-11-08T14:18:00.001-05:00

This year, as in years past, there was a broker hop party where boats volunteered to host brokers to a themed party of their choosing. This year the overall theme was "travel the nations". Brokers spent the evening hopping from one boat to the next sample foods, beverages, and playing games that corresponded to each boat's chosen nation. This one was a no-brainer for us.

We served three different types of home infused vodka- pineapple, ginger, and pear. Tara made peroshki, blini with salmon and caviar, and beet salad. The brokers were also encouraged to play our russian translation game! We had clipboards hanging in the cockpit with russian words and a hint in english as to what the word might be.

Here, we see Capt. Sasha in his stylish fur hat serving a bit of vodka to Ellen Stewart- a local St. Thomas broker.

Stern tied at the CYS Boat Show!

2011-11-07T13:44:00.002-05:00

For the 2011 CYS Boat Show at Village Cay Marina, Tortola we were placed on C dock… which ended up being a total powerhouse dock!

All said and done…

Soterion swept the Culinary Competition, taking first in two of the three judging categories.

Secret Oasis was voted "best in show" last year, and threw the most imaginative broker hop party.

Nutmeg took first in the Multihull under 50' category.

Catsy took first in the Multihull over 50' category.

Caribbean Dream took first place in one of the three culinary competition categories.

We had three of the four new inducted CYS board members.

And, to top it off, we had the highest participation in the broker hop parties!

Yeah, C dock pretty much rocked it!

Yeah for mail!

2011-11-05T13:34:00.001-04:00

Over the summer months Sasha and I always ship supplies to our St. Thomas mailbox. This summer we shipped a number of books, new crew shirts, flags, electrical supplies, etc. I'm not sure if our mail lady was happy to see us, or just happy to clean out her storage room. All our empty mail boxes doubled as headliner props, too! A little quick cure 5200 proved to be just what the drooping ceiling needed!

Soterion Yard Work

2011-11-03T13:27:00.000-04:00

Sasha, as he makes his first walk around the boat when we arrived in the yard. (check out the new paint job!)

Showing off her new shine! Soterion got a new paint job this summer and she looks killer!

Captain Sasha gives the paint on the coach roof a big thumbs up.

Upgraded the entire propane system from aluminum tanks and copper pipes running to the galley, to carbon fiber tanks and rubber hoses to the galley. Just keeping us safe!

Foame's days were numbered (our old electric cockpit cooler), so we decided to have a custom fridge mounted in the transom. Huge space saver!

Summer Vacation

2011-08-03T00:02:00.000-04:00

SailTrue is on summer vacation! Relax, enjoy, we will be back soon.

Locked and Loaded

2011-06-10T19:31:00.000-04:00

It was time to chip some ice off the ol' holding plates in the bottom of the fridge. He he he. Guess who got a face full of snow 6 times?? Unfortnatley there is no picture of Sasha's reaction to being hit with a snow ball while he was going about his usual routine of generator maintinance. It was priceless. Hope the ice builds up again soon!!

Closing Down Another Season of Happy ARRRR!

2011-06-05T08:14:00.000-04:00

We are very proud of all our King and Queen Conchs from Soterion this year!! I think all the practice leading up to the show night really paid off :)

My Mom and I both knew enough pirate trivia to make it up for a dance!

This is what my Dad thing of conch blowing... or in his case "conch farting"!!

Spring Rolls Step By Step

2011-04-26T22:26:00.000-04:00

Step 1: Chop & bag. Chop & bag. Chop & bag.

In this photo you can see my usual ingredients which are (left to right) chopped peanuts, mixed herbs & garlic, purple cabbage, pineapple, carrots marinated in lemon juice, mango, and spicy bean threads/ rice noodles. I top everything with peanut sauce and sesame seeds before rolling. If you are cooking for a crowd it's fun to put all the ingredients on the table and let everyone roll their own!

Step 2: Soak your rice paper until it's soft, then spread it on your work surface.

Step 3: Begin to pile the ingredients. I like to layer the meat (jerk shrimp, seared tuna, hoisin chicken) in the middle of the veggies.

Step 4: Top with a shake of sesame seeds, peanuts, or peanut sauce.

Roll!

Goat Eyeballs??

2011-04-26T22:20:00.000-04:00

Found an interesting recipe for cold brine red grapes. Humm... was more of the sentiment instead of yummm... Great in a salad, overpoweringly weird for any other application. I liked them, but then again I also liked Mom's crab casserole :)

Hike on Great Camanoe

2011-02-27T13:58:00.001-05:00

After dropping our last charter in the Trelllis Bay area, Sasha and I decided to go for a hike on Great Camanoe. The island was settled by a couple plantation owners, and today there is still very little in the way of "development". We tied the dingy on a small dock on the south east side of the island and hiked up to the top. Sasha made friends with a local woman whose father was an astronomer in the area and she invited us to hike up to their houses/rental properties for great look out points.

Tara with Marina Cay in the background.

Sasha, also with Marina Cay in the background. We took some video footage while we hiked and we hope to have it up on YouTube soon!

Delicious Caribbean Cobb Salad

2011-02-25T14:25:00.001-05:00

Chef Tara's latest creation: Featuring grilled jerk shrimp, local organic tomato, avocado, pineapple, shaved carrot, bell pepper, over a bed of mixed greens, with a mild balsamic vinaigrette.

Ceviche

2011-02-24T19:00:00.000-05:00

I love Tara's presentation of her local red snapper ceviche in a cabbage leaf topped with lime wedges and a sprinkle of Chardonnay-smoked sea-salt.

Beans is Back!

2011-02-21T11:49:00.000-05:00

We have always throughly enjoyed taking guests to the Michael Beans Happy Arrr Show and this season is no exception! Beans has begun playing in a new location up in the North Sound at Leverick Bay and he has recieved a very warm welcome.

The Sea Angels were guests of honor a few weeks ago, helping to raise funds for Beans's mission over in Haiti.

The star of the show teaching everyone how to blow the conch!

Further Proof

2011-02-09T11:58:00.001-05:00

Further proof that Anegada really IS the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow...

Steadwin

2011-01-27T11:34:00.000-05:00

Back at the Soggy Dollar today, where Steadwin, a local gentleman, assists some tourists in beaching their dinghy.

Of course we clean them!

2011-01-23T17:38:00.002-05:00

Whenever a guest asks if we clean the masks and snorkels between charters, and I say "Yes, of course we clean them!" I feel like nobody ever believes me. Especially when they then go straight to the sink and wash out their mask and snorkel!

Well, here is proof that we clean and sanitize the snorkels and masks after every charter. Also, we let them enjoy a pretty sunset while they soak.
We are off charter for at least a week. Not a true vacation, as we have to run a hundred errands and fix a dozen things around the boat. If we get all that done and have time to spare, will get at least a day or two to relax.... YAY!

Dolphins!!

2011-01-17T19:41:00.000-05:00

Dolphins in Great Harbour, JVD, doing tricks just for us!

Yeah, I did that

2011-01-08T18:14:00.000-05:00

So, this post is a blast from the past that I just found on a camera from our storage unit. Last season, there was a request for full coverage shade on the bow. There was also mention that orange was a favortie color. Orange 4-way stretch spandex is not in great demand so I was able to buy a bolt for a pretty low price... and this is what I did.

I bought a sewing maching for Diadem because I was also making pillows and curtains for the interor, but the largest project by far was this bow shade. I'm a little curious how the material has held up to UV degradation. It was beautiful when it was completed! No flapping in the breeze, it looked like it was breathing as gusts of wind passed from bow to stern because the material would silently expand and contract. Sasha and I really enjoyed lying under there in the late afternoon.

I've had requests from other crew to make these for their boats, but having no idea how long the material will last I'm hesitant.

Happy New Year 2011!!

2011-01-01T07:38:00.000-05:00

New Year's Brunch is accompanied by fresh fruit, mimosas, and a bloody mary bar.

Our Lil Crush

2010-12-30T14:49:00.001-05:00

The Christmas winds have offically arrived! We've had about 22kts for the past few days and the seas to match. We are seeing the effects of the same snow storms that buried our family and friends during the holidays. We spent the night in Leverick Bay and as Sasha was preparing to get our guests ashore, he spotted this little guy swimming in circles alongside our boat. With our handy dandy fishing net we scooped him out of the water and he seemed very glad for a rest.

After contacting several people who work in various hatcheries, conservation departments, and fisheries, we were told that he was a hawksbill hatchling that was a little lost. The only advice we recieved was to get him out of the marina and into a current that would take him out to sea. It's amazing that something so small can survive in the ocean!

A Lull between the Fronts

2010-12-19T23:31:00.000-05:00

Literally NO wind the other day. We had maybe 2 knots for a few days straight. It was such nice ski water :)

Soggy Dollar

2010-12-14T10:20:00.000-05:00

Check out Soterion on the Soggy Dollar webcam right now!

Sunset in Christmas Cove

2010-12-12T23:12:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays from Christmas Cove.

Prep Work

2010-12-10T05:55:00.000-05:00

It is often said that when a crew is on charter the days are much more stressful for the girls and off charter the days are much more stressful for the guys. This is true. So I've decided to keep myself busy while off charter by prepping, cooking, and freezing!

Roasting red bell peppers on the stove.

I bought a pork belly to try out in the Sous Vide. Only problem was that I had to buy the whole 5# belly and I want to serve little starter portions. I had to borrow Sasha's hack saw (yes I cleaned it really well before I cut the belly). I cut it and vacuum sealed it into enough portions to last me 3 charters.

One Charter Down

2010-12-09T21:34:00.000-05:00

Our first charter went without a hitch!! We had 8 guests for a quick 5 day cruise. Being their first time to the islands I was hard to hit all the good spots, but we did our best. The above pic was taken at White Bay on Jost. Sasha is giving the lay of the land before everyone headed for the beach.

This was one sandy charter! Sasha was cleaning filters almost constantly.

Making the galley work!! I was excited to really see what this galley set-up was capable of. It really worked well. It looks like Sasha took this pic while I was plating up during Fish Taco night. I was really nested in there among the plates, bowls, pots, and pan!!

Thought this shot was really neat. I am plating the calamari and seaweed salad.

Sous Vide Carrots

2010-12-01T22:13:00.000-05:00

Step by Step Sous Vide

2010-11-24T21:11:00.004-05:00

This post has been on the back burner for awhile (pun intended, hehe). I invested some of last season's earnings into a home Sous Vide machine with high hopes that it will simplify my job this season. Less time in the galley and less stress about meal timing will be a welcome relief. I have been playing with cooking different foods, and it's usually as we are sitting down to eat that I say, "Shoot! I forgot to take pics... again!" This time I remembered.

Step 1: Thaw and season meat as you wish. The only hard part is not using olive oil in the seasoning, because of the long and low cook times it can turn a bit metalic tasting. Other fats I've been using are butter and rendered lard.

Step 2: Bag it up. The picture of the food in the bag did not make the blog because I managed to smear all the seasoning all over the bag and mysef. This is harder than you'd think!

Step 3: Vacuum seal. I've been known to use ziplocks and suck all the air out with a straw to seal meats before I freeze them (yeah for small fridges). I've move up in the world with my new electric vacuum sealer.

Step 4: Sous Vide. For anyone not familiar, sous vide is french for "under vacuum" because you vacuum seal everything before you cook it. It is a process of cooking that brings food to a specified temperature by submerging it in a precisely temperature controlled water bath. (more info here) This meat was in the water bath for 2 hours.

Step 5: Finishing the meat. Yes, this meat is cooked and safe to eat. No, it does not have the crisp outer crush most humans are accustomed to seeing on their cooked meats. Quick fix is the torch I borrowed from the tool locker. My little brulee torch was no match for a rack of lamb. I can also finish the meat with 10 minutes in the oven, or a quick sear on the stove or the grill.

Step 6: Cut. Yummmmm...

Step 7: Plate.

Final Touches

2010-11-21T21:47:00.000-05:00

I don't think that there are such things as "final touches" on a boat. No maintinance or polishing is ever final on a yacht this size. BUT she is really coming together. Sasha spent about an hour on the mast connecting the spreader speakers and adjusting the deck lights. He decided to leave this project for the evening when the sun was not blazing down. The one thing we did not take into consideration was the ferry schedule. Sasha was hanging onto the mast with his toes because he was swaying so much from the evening rush hour ferries and water taxies. Frustrating? Yes.

I've been testing a lot of the galley equipment. There is a learning curve to every stove, oven, and counter configuration. We had Kris and Lizanne over for a "thank you for helping us straighten out the boat" dinner. As we sat down Lizanne commented that it looked like a small bomb had gone off the the galley!! I told her to cut me some slack as that was the first real meal I had cooked in my new space. We both had a good laugh while doing dishes.

Above I am making a balsamic reduction in preparation for our upcoming charter. This season I'm really focusing on plating and general meal presentation. Bring on the garnishing youtubes!

Some Boat Shows are Like That

2010-11-21T21:29:00.001-05:00

Just came across these pics. The night before the Tortola Boat Show, most of our fellow crew friends had just put the final polishes on their yachts and were busy catching up with each other after the summer away. We had other plans for the night. We talked another couple, Kris & Lizanne into "hanging out" with us.

While Kris and Sasha helped to put the boom back on under the glow of our super bright decklights,

Lizanne and I hung curtains and generally organized/polished the interior.

We even took it a step furhter and hauled the 3 foresails up - mainly because we figured brokers would ask questions about them being in the middle of the cockpit floor. Thought, no one commented on our lack of a mainsail :)

A fellow Hoosier named Captain Mike who just happens to be a yacht broker these days wandered on board at the end of one of our viewing days wearing a coconut bra and somehow convinced me to grab my tutu. OF COURSE Sasha only took pictures after Capt. Mike took off the coconuts. Fantastic!

Test Sails... Check!

2010-11-17T06:38:00.000-05:00

After a day of running around town, we were happy to sail off into the sunset. We'd worked with all the other sails in the past week but didn't have the right conditions to use the Code Zero until yesterday evening. We had light winds during a down wind sail from Road Harbour, Tortola to Waterlemon Cay, St. John. I snapped this pic just before we furled and tucked into the the bay for the night to show off this beautiful sail with the Soterion Logo.

Mud Pies

2010-11-17T06:31:00.000-05:00

My old Kitchen Aid has hung in there through a few adventures but she has developed a clunk. This summer she was stowed in a friend's warehouse that flooded during one of the many storms. The bottom Tupperware in our tower of stuff has wheels (and therefore holes) in the bottom, it was full of scuba gear and my mixer. Fortunately, the motor is located in the top and the water doesn't seem to have crept up that high (judging by the mud left behind). But somehow, the water seems to have been salty so there was a good amount of corrosion developing on the bowl, arms, and motor. As Sasha and I left the warehouse our friend Rodger asked if we were making Mud Pies. We got her back to the boat and cleanen her up- she is still running but clunks a bit at low speed.

Continuing Education - Yum

2010-11-15T18:43:00.000-05:00

Huge thanks to our local wholesale meat provider "Supa Valu" for providing a very educational steak seminar today. Supa Valu put together a fantastic panel of experts in the Certified Angus Beef export business to better educate a select group of foodie professionals in the area. I was joined by the executive chefs from Peter Is, Cooper Is, Scrub Is, Brandywine Bay, the BVI Culinary Team, and other serious local chefs to learn about all that Certified Angus Beef has to offer.

Below you see our 40 yr. veteran master butcher from Florida trimming down Ribeye, Strip Loin, and Top Sirloin Butt sections. Loads of great tips on how to use lesser priced cuts of meat to achieve serious wow factor in a high class dinning room. The whole idea was to use less expensive cuts of meat, rather than lower quality meat to weather this economic recession.

The seminar ended in a steak lunch for all! What else would you do with all the demonstration steak??

Busy Little Bees

2010-11-12T12:52:00.000-05:00

Sasha has become a blur in his attempts to fix and upgrade systems hidden beneath the floorboards and below the bunks. In this photo he is adding a flow switch to the port aft bilge pump.

Loads of outdoor pillows are fantastic for lounging on sunny days. Less fantastic when it has been raining the majority of the days for a week solid. This our meandering mound.

I may not be too handy with power tools (or post hole diggers). But give me a scrub brush with simple green and watch out!! I've been emptying every storage compartment and scrubbing it clean. The rain has been an added bonus- free fresh water rinse :)

Cozy Crew Quarters

2010-11-12T10:54:00.002-05:00

As you all know, we've lived through our fair share of interesting crew quarters. On the new yacht Soterion we have made a few small modifications and are quite happy with our little home.

Before we even moved in, we did a little spring cleaning and found that simply moving the bathroom door (to the storage unit) did wonders for making the cabin feel more spacious. We went to Kmart and picked up a $10 shower curtain, cut it in half and hung it across the doorway. Much better!
In the photo below you can see the hatch and ladder we use to access the cabin.

One thing this crew cabin has that most others lack is serious storage! The shelves along the wall are about 8" deep 4' long. At the bottom right of this photo you can see a large hatch which allows us to store more stuff on the other side of the wall (under the master cabin bed). In addition we have two large drawers at the side of our bunk and the bed also opens which allows us a little more storage between aircon units and a water heater.

Tortola Boat Show

2010-11-05T21:42:00.001-04:00

Each season starts off with a four day boat show hosted by the Charter Yacht Society. The purpose of the show is to reacquaint vacation brokers with the local yachts and crew in the area. From the crew side of the show, it is imperative that the yacht be in top condition because vacation brokers will decide to list you on their site based on their impressions during the show. From the vacation broker prospective, it is important for to get a feeling for each crew so they can make good matches with their clients.

The cockpit- We have had our wrap around canvas shades down most of the day because of rain! :(

Festive table settings.

The saloon.

Tortola Boat Show 2

2010-11-05T21:30:00.000-04:00

Port Aft Cabin

The Head

Port Forward Cabin

Our NEWS

2010-11-04T21:38:00.001-04:00

The first question most brokers ask when they arrive on the yacht during a boat show is, "What's new??" Below we have photos of a few of the new items on the list.

This season we have new rigging! The mast was removed (you knew that) and all the standing a running rigging was replaced. The mast was also painted and there are new deck lights and speakers mounted.

Our tender is new! She is a 15.5' AB tender with a 60hp engine. The deep "V" hull makes for a smooth, dry ride.

The teak trim is newly sanded and varnished. Here Sasha is hard at work with his little brush.

The galley counter tops are new! E&S shipwrights did an amazing job fabricating the new counter tops, and also refinishing all the wooden trim molding. The boat looks brand new.

Stepping the Soterion Mast

2010-11-02T17:38:00.001-04:00

Sasha holds the furling unit that will support the Genoa sail.

Sasha helps to guide the base of the mast as the crane lifts.

I took photos and kept an eye on the crane operator's daughter. She liked to be in front of the camera so she was easy to keep track of :)

Sasha workes into the night to get everything hooked up. Here he is connecting the power winch.

We love mast-less boats!

2010-11-02T17:29:00.000-04:00

After our experience with taking off and putting back Diadem's mast, doing the same with Soterion was a breeze! We love boats that are missing their masts.

We have a mast!

2010-10-28T22:41:00.002-04:00

The mast is up. Details at 11.

Birthday in the BVI

2010-10-25T22:22:00.014-04:00

To celebrate my birthday this year, some friends who are working in the yard alongside us took a break from commissioning our yachts and went out for dinner. Afterwards, we all went bowling in Road Town, Tortola. A good time was had by all!

Fly Day!

2010-10-20T08:51:00.002-04:00

Sunscreen has been purchased, bags are nearly packed. Sasha and I fly back to the virgin islands TODAY! We'll be posting pictures of our next yacht when we arrive. There was a lot of work done on Soterion over the summer, so there is some assembly required before the Tortola Boat Show begins Nov 4. Our thin blood is looking forward to the long sweaty days of work ahead.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

2010-10-16T11:18:00.002-04:00

If you drive through Monterey, California - you MUST stop at the aquarium!

This place was amazing.

In the two story tall kelp forest, scuba divers are equipped with full face masks and aquacoms so they can talk about conservation while feeding the fish. In this photo the diver is talking about the importance of eating "safe fish" according to the Seafood Watch cards that are given out.

Sasha was amazed. He was also very hungry for sushi when we left.

Esalen

2010-10-16T10:55:00.004-04:00

Sasha and I were out in Big Sur for a conference at Esalen that looked at Russian & American relations- something we all agreed was our "Laziest Asset". The conference was fantastic. I was sitting in a room with great minds from both countries talking about ways to bridge the gaps between citizens using art, literature, sustainable projects, and community based programs.

View from the lawn.

The future generation!!

Sasha stops to smell the roses (not really roses).

San Fran

2010-10-16T10:22:00.000-04:00

We took the audio tour of Alcatraz- and learned a lot. The tour was narrated by the prison guards with audio clips from prisoners. Really gives you a feel for how things were run in the prison.

Outside the front entrance of the prison. Notice the beautiful weather we were having?!?!

It's official, Sasha is a tree huger :)

Rode bikes all around the north east side of the city and parks. This photo was taken at Land's End.

West Coast Trip

2010-10-14T23:12:00.001-04:00

Our trip to California was a great success. We saw many friends, both old and new, and traveled to many amazing places.

We visited Big Sur.

And Alcatraz.

More pictures and details to follow!

Please vote for Grokfeast New York

2010-10-08T14:19:00.000-04:00

We roasted a whole pig in a hole in the beach at the party, and now we have a chance to win a whole grass-fed cow! Please vote for us TODAY at http://www.marksdailyapple.com/contest-poll-the-2010-grokfeast-challenge/

Beach Party 2010

2010-09-27T21:21:00.001-04:00

The twelfth annual Beach Party was a success.

Complete with a 16' tall dinosaur and 16 intricately lighted spandex pyramids that were programed to pulse in constantly changing hues to the live deejay.

At sunrise we set fire to our dino friend with loud cheers over thumping music.

Our fearless leader in his fur hat brings another palette to burn.

Shot taken from half way down the village of tents.

Sawmill Tournament

2010-09-21T08:56:00.000-04:00

Sawmill Lake (near Columbus, Indiana) was built by my sister-in-law's father, John Cord, back in the 1990's as a private waterski lake. The ski club hosts tournaments a couple times a year, which attracts some of the top talent in the nation. This past weekend I flew home for the fall competition.

Cale is one of the best out there- skiing into '41 off this past Saturday.

Adam is an engineer for O'brien Watersports and is reinventing the way high peformance skis are made.

HC sailing with dad

2010-09-15T09:54:00.000-04:00

Finally got to go sailing with my dad.

Beach Art

2010-09-15T00:44:00.000-04:00

WGB had a group of local Brooklyn artists paint the underpass walkway to the beach. How very modern of them.

The following pics are various pieces of "surf art". Enjoy.

Breakfast In Bed

2010-09-15T00:39:00.001-04:00

After a long week and a half in the desert, what more could a boy want than breakfast in bed? Just out of the oven Banana/Pistachio bread, farm fresh peaches and berries with whipped cream and coffee. Sasha has me well trained.

Malthus Launch Success

2010-09-13T19:52:00.002-04:00

My trip to the desert was a great success. Here is a beautiful dusk picture of the "Official Transport of the Royal Institute", The Malthus.

Creative Cooking for 1

2010-08-30T22:36:00.002-04:00

When you are living thirty minutes from a grocery store and only have to cook for 1, food gets . . . creative!

I had some leftover black bean mush from making burgers the other night so I threw it in a pan and made a hash. I topped that with a couple bits of leftover bacon, two farm-fresh friend eggs over easy, a couple slices of local tomato and avocado still sitting around from sandwich making, and a handful of oyster mushrooms sauteed in sesame oil.

For dinner I sliced up one local yellow squash and sauteed it with a dash of Lawry's. Bundled some asparagus and steamed it with lemon pepper, and threw some leftover grilled pork tenderloin medallions in a sauce pan with a mix of (real) maple syrup and dijon mustard until it was heated through and the sauce thickened. I was really impressed with the presentation. Not to mention the flavors.

For those times when you run out of leftovers, but are not yet brave enough to make the trip all the way into the store. I am officially obsessed with Tazo Organic Chai tea. It is prefect.

More at the Lake

2010-08-30T22:26:00.001-04:00

Predawn at the ski course. Five mornings a week begin here.

Just making our way back home for breakfast as the sun comes up. We had a short ski session because I pulled my shoulder and was driver only for my Papa.

We lost (misplaced) yet another credit card over the weekend. Mom was less than thrilled. Photo evidence that the card by some miracle washed up on our beach (instead of being found in my sweatshirt pocket). This also doubled as a test as to whether or not you should cancel a credit card that has fallen out of your pocket in a lake. Don't bother, they sink very quickly.

RibberFest

2010-08-21T10:21:00.002-04:00

Down in Madison, IN they have the annual RibberFest each summer. There is a professional and amature BBQ cook off. Chefs cook everything from poultry to pig and there is even a game category. We enjoyed some award winning dinner while listening to live blues musicians.

Once the sun was down they also have a balloon glow on the banks of the Ohio River. This is to build excitement for the big balloon race the following day.

Sasha wanders through the vendor stalls sampling their goods.

Miss Piggy has some good looking BBQ pork chops.

Meanwhile

2010-08-16T15:46:00.005-04:00

Sasha has been working on a mutant vehicle. This is a whole new breed of land yacht:

This vehicle was, at one point, a boring old 24' long 1993 U-haul Box truck. It now appears to be a totally awesome urban assault vehicle, thanks to the efforts of many, many people.

However, looks can be deceiving. The truck is not designed for violence, in fact it is wired to party! The primary weapon is sound, and lots of it: 3,000 watts of music. And the interior is as stylish as can be:

Yes, that is a detail of the interior of this box truck. Imagine us sitting inside sipping snifters of brandy around the fire. If you want to see more, you'll have to go to Burning Man.

Diving Board Picture!!

2010-08-16T12:31:00.000-04:00

While home visiting family in Indiana my cousin and new wife flew in from Barcelona and had a wedding reception for all the local family and friends. In attendance was the Laughlin-Chaille family and as tradition goes... the kids were forced into the "diving board" line-up. (long story which used to include an acutal diving board) This year we were missing 2 people - which brought our cousin count down to 25 in all.

First Adventure with Baby Food

2010-08-16T12:13:00.001-04:00

I've only read the reviews on the Beaba Babycook and now that I've finally had a chance to use one I approve! My sister has a little boy who is almost 6 months old. She and her husband are just starting to introduce real foods to his diet and they want to do it right. Megan and I spent an afternoon whipping up some healthy (freezable) options.

We used a brownie bite pan to make individual portions of broccoli, green beans, and melon. The most fantastic part of this home-made food is that each type took about fifteen minutes to prepare and everything tastes like it should!

Gardening on LI

2010-08-12T11:03:00.002-04:00

Back in the U.S. of A.

2010-08-10T23:51:00.002-04:00

I am working on a top-secret project. Tara is too. We will keep you posted as soon as we can, and we will also post some pictures from our recent summer travels as well.

ttfn,

sasha

Finally, BIKES!

2010-07-26T06:24:00.004-04:00

Since I am typing this on q French Keyboqrd; I hope you zill ignore the occqsionql typo or mis-punctuqtion:

Ze visited the Eiffel Tozer:

qnd q funhouse (zith some very good friends),

The next dqy ze zent to see the Tour de Frqnce:

we waited

and wqited

and zqited

and waited

and zqited some more

Finally; BIKES!!!!

Thqt zqs it: I think ze saz Lqnce Qr,strong: Nobody fell dozn: So ze left qnd zend to the Gqrdens of Versqilles:

It zqs beautiful111

kisses!

Vive lq Frqnce1

2010-07-23T17:38:00.000-04:00

The keyboards are all wrong here.

San Sebastian, Spain

2010-07-22T16:24:00.002-04:00

During our five hour drive this morning we watching the landscape slide from the hectic city of Barcelona, to the rocky Rioja vineyards surrounding Navarra, through the mountains and into the lush San Sebastian. Today was rainy on and off and. . . cold! We were in jeans and jackets all day!

Sasha and I walked thought the park overlooking the harbor.

FYI all of the above are strictly forbidden in this harbor. hummm...

Small but ride-able surf today-- if you brought your wetsuit. Air temp is 14*c and water is colder.

Hump. Oops.

Watched three great street acts- this one was two acrobats! So much talent.

Dinner of pintxos and wine. I LOVE the food culture in this town! You grab a plate and pile on the little finger foods. At the end of your feasting, the bartender has magically kept track of what you ate and the price is often very reasonable. (notice the iberian hams hanging behind the bar, they are my new favorite food)

Gaudi

2010-07-21T05:29:00.002-04:00

Antoni Gaudí was an architectural mastermind of his time and still is today!

The buildings he constructed were so well thought out and every detail was given great attention. He was big on excluding the use of straight lines and believed in using nature as his guide. His use of color and natural light were two pillars around which much of his architecture revolved.

We took hundreds of pictures but have only posted a few here.

Click here to see highlights of Spain.

Barcelona take 1

2010-07-20T05:03:00.000-04:00

Arrived in Barcelona in the afternoon so we parked the car at Bill's place and trained into downtown. We walked along the harbor and stopped in a chandlery to check inventory and prices (old habits die hard). Below is a haul out facility like none we've see before- ask Sasha for details.

Then we took a FUN-icular ride across the harbor for great views of the city.

The funicular dropped us in the park so we walked back into town and found a cervasaria and tapas place for a late lunch.

Did a little window shopping.

Walked La Rambla and admired the street performers.

Almost bought some flowers..

Almost bought some chipmunks...

Decided to buy some coffee instead.

For a good time, drive the N-II

2010-07-20T01:55:00.000-04:00

The pics are all blurry but you get the idea. The girls are not allowed to "do business" within the city limits, so they set up shop along the highway.

Sasha was amused.

Maps and Photo links

2010-07-19T04:55:00.002-04:00

Be sure to check the SPOT Map. We try to check in at least twice a day. You can see where we are!

Also, our Google Map highlights some of the places with a little more information.

Finally, there are a lot more photos uploaded on our Picasa Web Albums.

Dali & Llafranc

2010-07-18T04:31:00.002-04:00

Today we drove from Chateau Le Bouis to Costa Brava which was a short drive so we made a few stops. One stop was at the Salvador Dali theater. This place was nuts. The photo above was taken in the large foyer area. The painting on the left viewed close up is a nude looking out a window and at this distance is Abe Lincoln.

This was a ceiling painting.

View from our hotel in Costa Brava.

Our local wine with dinner.

This picture should make my parents happy! We've actually slept separate more often than not- between crashing with family and staying in a couple economy hotels.

Sunday Church

2010-07-18T04:23:00.000-04:00

Well, it's Sunday and we are off to church! We decided to visit a chapel that was reccomended to us by a staff member at Chateau Le Bouis. When we followed our directions and pulled into a parking lot, but did not see a church. Until we got out of the car and looked up the hill behind us. We hiked about 20 minutes up a pretty steep hill to reach the church and found out that it was well worth it!

The church was a dedicated sailor/ seamen church. The walls were covered with paintings of different boats and photos of sailors and fishermen who sought the lord's protection along their work and travels.

It was an ornate chapel.

Sasha was very happy to have found this place.

Another weird name connection/ coincidence.

All the way up the hillside leading to the church are memorial plaques for sailors lost at sea.

After visiting the church we took a few hour hike to a look out tower- picture are included in the France highlight link.

Chateau Le Bouis

2010-07-17T19:03:00.000-04:00

Sasha found Chateau Le Bouis online a couple years ago and has always wanted to visit. When we set our route for this trip it became obvious that we would be in the area and, therefore we had to book a room! The chateau is a 300 year old domaine consisting of multiple vineyards, a small production facility, six nicely furnished rooms for rent, an on site wine caveau, and a fantastic restaurant.

The view from our room which overlooked the restaraunt and caveau.

Sasha enjoying a glass of house rose with dinner. Vineyards in the background.

More of the eating area- notice the sign!

I have never tried fresh caught sea snails- made me think of the locals on Jost Van Dyke who eat whelks (they've got the right idea)!!

Our evening entertainment. Oliver and Alexander were traveling musicians/ artists/ comedians who quickly decided they liked us and so spent most of the evening at our table . This photo was taken just after they found out that Sasha was a boat captain. Alexander launched into a whole long sketch with his little captain hat!

Breakfast was included with the room and served on the front porch of the hotel building. It was good food with another gorgeous setting.

Yes. We bought a little wine!

Had to get a photo with the sign! Sasha tried to hard to get a discount because of his name, everyone was amused and couldn't believe the coincidence- but no discounts were given.

To see more photos from Chateau Le Bouis click here.

Nice, Roquebrune, and Italy

2010-07-17T03:48:00.002-04:00

As our friend Jay knows, Sasha and I may be in the market for a boat. Well, Sasha found just the one for us! It's a cozy little thing :)

Water falls in Nice.

The little Medieval town of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.

This is a seriously old city.

Home made pasta with traditional Sicilian sauces.

Looking out from the Piazza in Roquebrune.

Tara was renamed Sophie by her new friend and taught about making pasta.

YEAH!!

Sasha got a latte in Latte.

Paris to Beaune

2010-07-16T05:17:00.001-04:00

We are going to make a real effort to use our SPOT as we travel so be sure to use the link on the side bar to see where we are!

The flight from Moscow to Paris took about 4 hours. We landed around 11am, rented a car, booted up the Gramin and got under way. The drive from Pairs to Beaune took about 3.5 hrs with one little rest stop along the way to change out drivers. Our car is a manual so it's tons of fun to drive at 130km/hr on the auto route! We arrived in Beaune around 5:00 and found our hotel with little trouble.

Our hotel is in a little side town called Savigny-les-beaune. The majority of the local population tend the vineyards surrounding the town and sell their harvest to the wine producers of the Beaune Region.

We stopped in a local Cave and visited with a wine exporter. He buys wine from the producers and exports most of his stock directly to NYC! Small world. He filled us in on a few regional secrets and history of the local vines.

Sasha outside the local chateau.

We stopped along the road out of town and (without touching the grapes) took a few pictures with the main attraction.

This is only what would fit into one frame. It takes a lot of vines to produce world class Burgundy!

Coming from Indiana, I've seen my fair share of farm equipment but this is a while different game out here.

Moscow Churches

2010-07-14T04:58:00.001-04:00

Even though religion was banned under Soviet rule, its importance has not been lost. There are many historical churches that have undergone extensive renovations, including ones on our family's former estate of Troitse-Lykovskoye just outside of Moscow.

First, we visited two beautiful churches near Putin's house.

Then, we visited Troitse-Lykovskoye.

Through the entrance gates of the property the newer church is visible.

Father Stephan is in charge of everything, from church services and mass, to overseeing reconstruction of churches, to tending the goats, rabbis, geese, and fish on the local farm, and new construction on the property including a "soup kitchen" as well as additional housing and a school. Below, he shows us one of the many fish growing in his ponds near the Mosvka river.

The restoration of the older church is ongoing.

The interior is fantastic! Several new bells were cast.

Here is Father Stephan releasing the fish back into the pond!

Moscow Food

2010-07-13T05:03:00.002-04:00

As I was informed, the supermarkets did not always look like this. Back in Soviet times the stores were empty of food and full of lines. People waited a long time for a loaf of bread or can of food. Not to say that there were no stores like this, you just had to hold a certain rank to be granted access.

Looking back I wish I'd taken more pictures of the plates in restaurants. I tried to stick to typically Russian food when ordering and was never disappointed! The food was awesome every meal. Starters were usually a mix of cold salads, cured meat, pickled vegetables, and meat pies. Entrees included seafood, wild game, and your typical chicken and steak options. I was impressed with the quantity of food coming from within Russia-- considering that the country covers eleven time zones you can find almost everything locally.

Pushkin Cafe was our favorite mid-day stop, for obvious reasons!

The last pic is from Nina's family's estate which was given to the church. Father Stephan has a whole gaggle of geese and I can easily picture them one day ending up on the table!!

Russia Photos

2010-07-11T15:25:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, we met up with a dear friend and wandered the streets of Moscow, through parks and past churches, visiting art galleries and parties.

We blazed through golden tunnels to cross below giant boulevards.

The sun did not set until after 10PM!!

Sunset over Red Square.

The following day, we consulted our map...

And found a boat to take us down the Moscow River.

Past the same church (and of course past Red Square!)

I found another boat that took me nowhere.

Sailtrue in Russia!

2010-07-10T04:45:00.005-04:00

What visit to Moscow is complete without a trip to Red Square?

In Russia, everything is bigger.

Interior of The Cathedral of Intercession of Theotokos on the Moat, aka St. Basil's.

Changing of the guard at the Eternal Flame

Family Bouis (and Tara) by the Moscow River.

From Russia With Love!

Gone... On Vacation!

2010-07-01T10:26:00.002-04:00

Russia bound on July 5: Moscow from the 7-13th; and then backpacking through Spain and France to visit family and friends until July 27. Then NYC for a week and my mom's birthday, then back to the midwest for most of August.

Grandview

2010-06-30T09:48:00.004-04:00

Sasha skis on ONE!
After a few...
tries!
My little Brother JR is also back skiing again-- we are all amazed!

And we had a little fun, too!

2010-06-21T08:25:00.002-04:00

It's not been all polishing and cleaning! I've been doing some intro diving with guests- this photo was taken in about three feet of water (notice we are not even wearing fins!)

With young kids on the boat everyone was keen on a treasure hunt followed by a visit (and sword fight) with a real pirate!! Sasha's beard was a great add to the costume :)

The King's Ransom

2010-06-20T11:04:00.006-04:00

We have already completed one fantastic charter and are partway through another. We can't tell you who the guests are or show any pictures of them, but we can assure you that they had an excellent time!

King's Ransom was built in South Africa by a company called Matrix Yachts.

As Stewardess, Tara is in charge of interior service and presentation. In addition to making up the rooms in the morning and turning down the beds in the evening, she sets the table for meals, while of course keeping the entire interior of the boat clean and tidy.

As First Mate, I am responsible for keeping the exterior clean and shipshape as well as help the captain sail the boat. I also do most of the table service -- drinks, food, water, and wine!

We still find time to enjoy some gorgeous sunsets,

get wet,

and of course, smile!

The crew of King's Ransom enjoying some Rhum from downisland! (from left: First Mate Sasha, Captain Euros, Stewardess Tara, and Chef Emily)

The Banana Boat and her drivers

2010-06-20T09:19:00.002-04:00

King's Ransom

2010-06-05T16:38:00.004-04:00

We are spending the next couple of weeks sailing in the BVI on board King's Ransom, a 76' catamaran built in South Africa by Matrix Yachts. Two of our friends who normally crew are on vacation so we are filling in for them for a couple of charters. We are pretty excited!

More info available here and also on the official website.

Temporary Pad

2010-05-30T18:23:00.000-04:00

These are a few shots of our temporary pad. Also known as "the house for wayward sailors". The guest house belongs to a new found friend who is used to having all types of sailors pass through her doors. The guest house is exactly what we needed- just a little space to land for a few nights. We've had TONS of rain down this way and according to the local reports it's supposed to be much of the same coming at us. Roads are flooded, sisterns are spilling over, every dog in town has been wet for a week. Please make the rain stop!!

Crew Hand-Over

2010-05-29T10:08:00.004-04:00

The hand over went well! We have never had a crew hand a boat over to us, so twice now we have just made it up as we went along. The process is really a one-man-show starring Sasha. The first three hours were spent talking about toilets, until I reminded everyone that the entire process should take a day (day and a half if needed). Sasha was a saint and gave the owner a huge binder lovingly referred to as "the bible". The binder is an organized mash of schematics, electrical coding lists, trouble shooting guides, daily task lists, etc. Some of the info was found around the boat, other material downloaded off the net, a few pieces ordered from Catana, but Sasha wrote most after the refit and again after finding that we were being let go. There is no way he could turn this machine over without detailed to-do lists and a certain level of trust that the next caregiver will understand the level of maintenance all the brand new equipment deserves.

We are now staying on land- moved into a wonderful little guest house owned by a friend of a friend on Tortola. Except for the flash floods and roads being washed away it is the perfect spot!

Today will be spent taking a ferry to STT in order to collect the last of the mail for Diadem. Hope to have it delivered to the boat this evening as they plan to depart Sunday morning for an island-hopping adventure.

Last few of the Cabins

2010-05-24T11:04:00.002-04:00

Just before the boat show I was able to finish up a last little sewing project. The boat had great little privacy curtains when she came off the line and the tracks were still in good shape so I searched and found some simple bamboo leaf print material for new curtains and a matching (but smaller print) material for pillows in red, java, and onyx. Love the cool calm feeling it gives the cabins!

The Great Quiche Challange

2010-05-18T18:37:00.000-04:00

To make a quiche you have to plan ahead and set aside the proper amount of time. Now, I’m not talking about a store bought piecrust in which you throw some eggs and spinach (not that I don’t love those in a pinch). I’m talking about a real deal proper quiche. For whatever reason all the time and steps involved have put me off of really wanting to make quiche, even thought Sasha LOVES them. Well, finally I’d been teased enough! ☺ I planned to make the quiche for breakfast, but it wasn’t until… about 11:45 before it was done and ready to eat. It was soooo good, or we were just really hungry.