Ready to depart Friday AM. Still not finished, but close enough…
After stopping in New Orleans for a night, and then working on the boat Saturday in Port Mansfield, I launched her Sunday AM.
Oarlocks/ports worked fine to reach my berth for the night around a point in strong winds.
Stan’s Pickup Pram alongside my Mikesboat, now christened Embers Watch, and another night of work to go.
Paul sailing Embers Watch
Me sailing…
The first day had us sailing with Stan/Pickup Pram as he broke his halyard and could not come about to try and fix it properly till we got him to the land cut and out of the following waves and wind. First camp was in the mud, but Embers Watch’s pram bow and shallow draft allowed us to disembarque dry. Tent set up well on 5.5′ by 7′ deck, hope someone got a photo of that, I forgot!
Found two online!
This is Traveler, Charlie and Laura’s tri. Believe it or not, they had trouble passing us; a surprise for all parties, but pass us she finally did and more than once during the 200 miles.Embers Watch out performed my expectations and I suspect maybe Michalak’s as well. She can hold a huge amount of gear by volumn, and we had her heavily loaded with 15 gallons of water, tools, canned food, MREs, camping stuff, etc. We crossed one bay on thursday in 2.5′ to 3′ choppy waves and 20 mph winds gusting 30 mph. Not a problem, though we did get wet that day! She sailed her 200 mile maiden voyage with good manners and deceptive style.
Sailing Shots
Photo and video links
http://www.youtube.com/user/moffittone
http://picasaweb.google.com/WPMoffitt/Tex200
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YdQ55pzFNc
Four on board, stuff still on board, bow too high, but spanking along with a Sea Pearl 21!
On Magnolia beach-all done! Note Bow Passenger!
End
Moffitt's Weblog 
Jun 18, 2008 @ 12:15:32
Thanks for taking the time to put together the great report. The boat looks great, especially in that last sailing video! In some of the still photos, it almost looks as if a low bimini would fit amidships. I’ll bet Jim M will thrilled when he sees your report.
Jun 22, 2008 @ 18:01:36
You bet we had a hard time getting past. Trying to pass to leeward was like trying to go through a huge pillow of bad air off that great big lug sail. We’d get close and just die.
Laura finally learned we had to go past to windward of ya if we were gonna do it at all.
We figured we were MAYBE .2 knot faster in normal winds. In the strong stuff I think we planed more easily, since we were lighter.
Embers Watch looks to be a great sailboat. Nice Job
Jun 22, 2008 @ 18:58:32
Hello Charlie!
Great to hear from you. Embers Watch won’t plane with all that rocker, so you will waltz away when you do plane, and your acceleration in gusts leaves me watching yo go!
Thanks for the compliment.
Un Abrazo,
Bill
Jun 23, 2008 @ 11:18:22
Looks like you have a great beach cruiser there, Bill. Stable, fast, and able to beach her due to the shallow draft. I really like the way you can pitch the tent in the boat.
I love the concept of beach cruising.
Travis Votaw, sailing “Pilgrim”
Jun 24, 2008 @ 14:25:20
I watched the building of your boat via your great website and was keeping my fingers crossed about you getting finished in time. I was amazed that the first time the boat hit the water was at The Texas 200! I was keeping up with everyone’s progress during the trip but was not hearing much about you and your boat. I half-expected to hear about some trouble you might have encountered and had to pull out along the way somewhere, but there was none of that. You have a lot of courage and are quite the adventurer. I’d say all of the Texas200’er’s have courage and a great sense of adventure. I’m hoping next year to be a part of this event. Great job!
Jun 24, 2008 @ 21:26:03
Mike,
Thanks for the kind words. Paul and I were well pleased with the whole experience.
Hope to see you next year.
Un Abrazo,
Bill
Jul 04, 2008 @ 03:06:40
For a boat desgn that I initially didn’t think was very pretty, I was surprised to see how beautiful of a boat this was. I was also amazed at how fast, stable, comfortable looking and sea-worhty this boat was (this point is even more significant when you realize that it was finished at the starting line) . I am rethinking all that I thought I knew about boats. Very good showing!!
Jul 10, 2008 @ 20:38:03
Hello Bobby,
My apologies for responding so late. Some how your comment did
not pop up for approval till today, July 7th.
Thank you for your kind words. I have to agree with your
performance ratings wholeheartedly, but I never thought her ugly.
Then again’ I am partial to seeing beauty it utilitarian things and
admit I was surprised that Embers Watch turned out to be such a
looker.
Un Abrazo,
Bill
S/V Embers Watch
Jun 13, 2010 @ 23:55:45
Fantastic write up, I will bookmark this in my Newsvine account. Have a awesome day.