River Drift Dive - Preparing

This photo was taken after the River Drift Dive in the Niagara River (Spring 2008).

Ruth, James, Susan and I (NAUI Advanced dives) - 54F water temperature is the reason for the 7 mil wetsuits... BRRRR.... Lot's different than diving off of Key Largo this winter....

We now carry four (4) scuba tanks on board the AB, (for pleasure, and for that occasional emergency when we might have to go under the boat [crab/lobster pot leads; etc].

Space Shuttle Lift off - Titusville FL

Space Shuttle lift-off as seen from Titusville FL (while anchored out); 0228 hours;

Nice week spent with friends (Brian and Shiela Strutt - fellow full time cruisers - They winter at Westland marina in Titusville, FL).

Anchorage outside Titusville has good holding, and is fairly protected (Indian River).

Home for the Summer 2008

Catskill Creek: Home for the AB for the Summer of 2008; Hop-O-Nose Marina (about 30 miles south of Albany, NY)

Autumn Borne anchored out

Descriptions

The Autumn Borne is a cruising sailboat and our home.
The vessel is a CSY-44-Antigua; cutter rigged sloop.

Sails: Three reefs available in the full batten mains'l, one hanked on Stays'l (very strong - almost a storms'l); and one roller furling Yankee (high cut fores'l); Asymetrical Spinaker.

Engine: 85 HP Perkins 4236 with 71-C BorgWarner transmission - pushing 24 inch fixed blade prop. (like a tug boat).

Fuel: 195 gallons (Diesel) - in two tanks with dual Racor secondary filters, separate transfer and filtering systems (polishing);

Water: 240+ Gallons of fresh water for pressure potable water system; Salt water or deck (anchor) washdown pump system.