Some folks do amazing voyages with kayaks and in open boats. Others cruise for a lifetime on big ketches and other impressive vessels.
We fit somewhere in between. For us a small sailboat with sitting headroom and a portable galley seems pretty luxurious, if not downright decadent. Anything more and the experience quickly turns to a nagging concern about cost, hassles and, ultimately, safety.
For 5 seasons we owned a Nimble 20, and while enjoying her tremendously, the actual process of moving the boat from place to place lacked a bit in, dare I say, excitement. The centerboard, flat bottom, small rig and high windage was likely part of the reason.
We found an enthusiastic buyer and also a near perfect replacement in the almost vintage (1955) Alberg design he named Sea Sprite. Our version is from the last production run in the eighties, and fulfills all our requirements from stunning good looks over spirited performance to adequate accommodations for three.
Being basically conceived as a stout racing class of the a bygone era, the boat needed a bit tinkering to convert to cruising. A few aspects were already in place, like a sizable chain locker and, at the other end of the boat, a motor well. But otherwise we installed an anchor roller, bronze thru hulls and seacocks, pulpits, life lines, fresh water storage, reefing conveniences, cockpit tent, etc, etc. Other projects are in the works, off course. Like all the standing rigging, which currently is at the rigger.
So enough banter, here's some pics from a recent 17 day outing:
The Carl Alberg designed Sea Sprite on a mooring near Doe Bay, Orcas Island. This amazing little 23 footer has the rare quality of sporting a visual appeal often attributed to much bigger vessels. Off course you don't get anything for free, and the flip side of these aesthetics is limited room below. Limited, but not too small.
The crew busy on a rare warm day.
First year cruising with a GPS. The exciting speed over bottom readings was the only info we extracted with any regularity. But, since these speed records were indeed record-like, we grabbed the little device with trembling hands and more anticipation than such a extraneous, almost superfluous apparatus should warrant in the hands of traditional minded sailors like us.
Evening below, in our cold cruising water, result in regular donning of wool caps and early insertion in the bags.
Staged, yes, but the feelings are there.
Light air, the bane of Northwest sailing in the summer. As we have experienced over the years, it's either too boring or too scary up here.
After slowly sailing thru the narrow Pole Pass, in the process holding up 2 or 3 massive powerboats, the wind came back for a beautiful evening cruise. Here Bjorn is successfully solving yet another navigational enigma, using pilot book and compass.
Our main was brand new when we took ownership of the Sprite, made by Vermont Sailing Partners or something like that. Being fully battened we are happily avoiding the violent flogging resulting from sailing light winds among incessant power boat wakes. The genny, by Kappa is also newer and set equally fine, besides the leech rubbing on the lower jumper stays at most points.
Good sailing, again. The dreaded summer time calms evaded us for many stretches of our 17 day cruise.
The tug boat traffic surrounding us inspired some surprisingly effective attempts of our own. Our previous cruising boat did not respond well to such antics.
Luxurious accommodations in these here Sprites.
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