My first 3 boats were named “On Location” 1, 2, and 3. My voice mail always said “ Hi, I’m not in right now as I’m on location, please leave your name, phone number, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can”.
So I was either at work or out on the boat and didn’t want to be bothered. Pagers & cell phones were for work and if I was on the boat they were off!
Well here are a few photos from the “TMS” (The Minimalist Sailor) set. Not such a bad place to be working on the tiny one palm tree island. I was discussing the differences (pros & cons) between hard & soft dinghies.
Well it’s been holiday season onboard Splendid. Before we left Linton, I didn’t remember to get Carla a birthday present so I had to 
make one.
I decided to surprise her with a Tagua necklace. Tagua is a large seed that grows in the rain forest. People often refer to it as “vegetable, or poor man’s ivory” as it looks like ivory and is used for jewelry by various indigenous cultures. Truthfully I like it better, and think the ivory should stay with its rightful owner, the elephant. 
The necklace is a simple scene of a whale’s tale diving. I wear a whale’s tale necklace carved from whale bone that I picked up in Tonga a few years back. I had been thinking of making Tagua jewelry a few years back to supplement my income, and I’m thinking about it again after making this piece. I’m really happy with the way it turned out.
We have done a little celebrating & work, and made a mold for the brim. Before one starts a canvas project you should make a mold out of plastic so you know what you’re getting into and what the project will turn out like. Once finished its easy to cut up the plastic in order to get your pattern for the Sunbrella.
When I designed the dodger I had a zipper attached in the front so I could later build a “brim”, like the brim of a baseball cap. The brim will allow us to keep the front panel of the dodger open so we can keep airflow in the aft cabin during the rain. We bought some tan Sunbrella for the project a while back and Carla’s becoming a ninja with the sewing machine.
Well tomorrow I’m 47, I can’t believe it. In three years I’ll be half of 100 
Well I must say I’m happy to be where I am and doing what I’m doing. I tell myself the same thing every day “ I am such a lucky man”.
Carla’s visa is up on the 2nd of next month and has to leave the country and return. I’m thinking of possibly sailing down to Zapzurro Colombia or returning to Linton where Carla could catch a bus to Costa Rica and back. I really want to go to Zapzurro but there is no wind this time of year and it would be a motor-boat ride. Motor boat rides are fine but would end up costing about $300 in diesel. So we may be returning to Linton for a few weeks???? There is a time lapse shot I want to get there of the anchorage to show how various hull designs act in a squall (wind 
change/increase).
In this photo I’m trying to convey the correct way to drink a rum & coke. Bottle of rum + can of coke + paradise = Happy Birthday 
Peace & Love from The San Blas!
Sail far & live Slowly
alex
Published in Alex Dorsey
Funny thing yesterday. Carla and I explored other anchorages for the day on other islands and came right back to this spot. We are far away from other boats, bugs, and this is where I want to be for my bday. We tried anchoring in the eastern Lemmon anchorage with all the other boats but the ground is fowl with seagrass and I can’t get a good bite. I can’t figure why everyone likes to be there with the bad ground especially with the squalls blowing as hard as they are?
We did manage to find a few jungle squash and Carla is making a nice squash soop on this rainy day.
Peace
May good spirits be with you Alex, Happy Birthday!
I remember of your birthday whenever I open the padlock on Namaste, remember? It’s in the code…
Btw, never mind 47, always remember that Voytek has 10 more on his back and is happy ;-)
Cheers Mate,
Voytek
Thanks Voytek,
Voytec is Namaste’s new captain. I sleep better at night knowing she is in your hands :)
I’m eating healthier, drinking little, quit smoking 5 years back and going to fight the years with good healthy living, love, and sailing !!!!
Alex,
I just got a very disturbing message on Facebook regarding my friend. Captain Tomek Lewandowki on s/v Luka (a 56′ Mikado ketch) has apparently set off into his last voyage yesterday. He has settled in Panama after circumnavigating Luka solo and non-stop in high latitudes westwards. He has been operating charters between Portobelo and Cartagena for last 12 months or so. The message is shocking and unexpected. He comes from a town very close to my hometown in Poland.
I was wondering if you have come across his boat and him. Maybe you know more…
Thanks Alex.
V,
I have seen the boat. I heard someone today died of a heart attack (backpacker boat) in puertobello. I don’t have any details tho. Hope it’s not your M8.
Hi Alex,
Happy birthday mate:)
Your looking younger every day:)
Have been flat out getting Nialyn ready to head north at the end of next week.
When i was in Nepal a few months ago i learnt a lot about Kama.
It does exist!!!!!! I was to haul out last week and the ship lift marina asked me if i would put off my lift until this week as there was a big problem with a charter boat that need to get back in the water,it was no big deal for me and i agreed to put my lift back a week.
To my surprise the customer I let in ahead of me has paid for my lift, clean and time on the hard stand as a way of saying thanks , I couldn’t believe it as it was some serious bucks.
Anyway back to painting.
Have a great birthday mate………
Ross
V,
I have seen the boat. I heard someone today died of a heart attack (backpacker boat) in puertobello. I don’t have any details tho. Hope it’s not your M8.
Ross,
It is real for sure I see it every day. Pay it forward. Its good to hear from you brother I hope you and Voytec hook up and do some sailing together .
Peace!
You know what I hope Alex… that we all do some sailing together ;-)
Voytek,
I got the sad news on the net this morning. Tom on SV luca died yesterday coming into portobello of a heart attack after his steering went out. Tom was 52.
Sorry M8
Tomek on Luka was a friend. We were shocked to find out he died yesterday at the age of 52. Suspected it was heart attack. Horrible time for the family, especially Beata, his wife. They bought another boat to restore it for backpacking business, got a second dog, had so many plans. Tom was quite a personality. We were skyping about meeting them in Warsaw soon. Life is unpredictable.
Grazyna
Life is unpredictable for sure, really, really sad news!
Someone recently asked if I had seen any hogfish and I hadn’t. Well I shot a fat one for my birthday today. It was a strange kill. He swam towards me and my first shot didn’t penetrate him. He moved about 20 feet away and I got him with my second shot. Basically he offered himself to me. When I was cleaning him I found a large piece of coral in his esophagus. The poor thing couldn’t eat and knew his time was up.
We have enough fish for 4 meals or so. I really believe other creatures have a much better and closer sense of the universe and how things work than most of us do.
It was a nice fish!
Alex, well I did it, I finished my circumnavigation of Vancouver island, wow !!! and in a tiny San Juan 24, learned alot and learned it fast to say the least, the first thing I did when i got back was to purchase a 72 Albin Vega 27, she in beautifully maintained and I got her for a song, I sold S/V Sirocco and used the proceeds to put a down payment on ” S/V True North” the previous owner graciously set me up on a 48 month payment plan, there is so much room on the Vega its uncanny what Swedish craftsmanship can do, it came with a brand new yanmar 18 hp diesel and new sails, I paid 7000.00, I’m pretty close to just sailing away due west until I run out of water and wintering over in Japan, happy birthday, let me know your thoughts on a vega 2y
Capt Arch
S/V True North
More on Tom’s story here: http://www.panama-guide.com/article.php/20120713112855541?query=Lewandowski
Wow, circumnavigating Vancouver Island on San Juan 24! Good job! We never had enough vacation to accomplish that on our 26 footer. Sailed as far as Queen Charlottes. Congrats to fellow Canadian on his new boat. We will start looking soon. Sailing here in Poland is crowded and tame. you cannot go back to your childhood.
Gmsailors,
Now that I see his picture I remember him, we met a few times at hanz’s place. My buddy Voytek who bought Namaste was also friends with him. On a good note it seems he passed doing, and living life to the fullest. 52 is just too damn young though! Had a toast of rum to the passing of a fellow sailor. Many of you might remember my buddy Mark passed last year in the San Blas. Same age and of a heart attack, he also ran backpackers & supplies to the cruisers in the San Blas.
Arch, congratulations amigo, good on ya’. Japan is a bit miserable in the winter, and can have quite heave seas. I was there on a friends boat a few years back and got some amazing video of the sea hitting the breakawall to the marina, I hopes that the wall would hold, COLD as hell too, put a little south in your west :)
Thnks for the advice Alex, The vega will need a bottom job before any blue water happens, I lived in northern Japan for 3 years, northern honshu and hokkaido, I would moor the boat and stray ashore with friends, absolutely love japan, gonna start work on her this week, might be tp ;ate for a Pac crossing but I do have time to head due north via the inside passage… just playing it by ear, you have been an inspiration, Ive never felt more free than at my own helm..
Always check the tide,
Arch
S/V “True North”
GMSAILORS – thks !!! it was a ride, the little boat did well though, had a few scary moments as the transom isnt that far out of the water and more than once with a tailwind I was worried about waves overtaking and the cockpit turning into a bathtub !! my new vega is a dream come true, she”s amazing….
Arch
S/V “True North”
Okay, I know it’s not much but I have the first, just under 10 minutes of the film cut together, and I must say I’m excited!!!
A few days ago I woke up to do some work, turned on the computer and notice a vertical red line down the center of my monitor, I nearly pulled my hair out
So I’ve been researching monitors for a few days and think I found the one I want. It’s the LG M2452D. It’s the lowest cost 1080, 16:9, IPS, LED monitor I could find. If there are any techie geeks that want to add some advice I’m all about it :)
I think it’s a really good monitor for the money. I need to calibrate and have good contrast so I can tweak my video before mastering it.
Arch, man I’m really happy for you, exciting !!!
Peace
Happy Birthday Alex and Carla!
Yes, would love to see how different hulls act with changing wind!!
M_glover
A time lapse shot of an anchorage from above (mountain top) before, during, and after a squall is a shot I’ve wanted for years, I think it will be pretty cool and informative.
When I enter an anchorage I spend a bit of time choosing my spot to anchor. I look to be with similar hull & keel designs as all boats act differently in current & wind conditions. Splendid with her nearly full keel with favor current in light wind conditions where as a fin keel would lean more to the wind. I think the shot will be really cool.
So I’m bumm’n. A few nights ago Carla and I woke up clutching each other after a really REALLY, loud thunder clap. Splendid was vibrating. It was the next day I noticed the red line in my editing computers monitor. Yesterday I opened up my MacBook and the top of the screen looks like it’s melting. 2 LCD screens in as many days, not to mention my SSB? I’m going aloft to check for signs of a strike, want to make sure all the rigging is in order.
Both my MacBook and THOR (editing computer) were unplugged. I’ve heard the EMP of a near or direct strike can be just as damaging to electronics as the strike itself. Arrrrgggggg!
Man this place is beautiful :)
Peace
I used to work as an IT/IS tech in a nuclear bunker during the 1990s and as such have some experience with EMP & EMR shielding. Without writing a dissertation on the subject, the best advice I can give is to store your computer in a Pelican Case and within a Faraday bag when not in use. The Pelican Case will insulate against metal to metal electric arcing. The Faraday bag will help with ionizing radiation that create inverse currents that ruin logic circuitry.
Ideally a precision made Faraday cage would be used, however it seems impractical for you to spend the time and money on such a device – especially since it would be heavy, bulky and take up a lot of room.
As far as data is concerned, I would use an external hard drive. Ideally you would set up 3 mirrored hard drives in an external enclosure, utilizing a Raid 1 setup. Hard drives are cheap, this should not be a problem. However if this is still too expensive, you can use any cheap external drive (sub $80) and simply back it up daily, then place it in the aforementioned case/bag setup.
Anyway, I can forward you some government manuals on the subject if you’re interested. My e-mail is andy@ocalagraphics.com
Good luck man
Yoda mouse,
Thanks for the info.
My editing computer is not a laptop and won’t fit in a pelican case. My d: however is 2, mirrored 2TB drives, and I do back that up every week or so to another drive which I store safe.
I’ll shoot you an email. Lightning can be a real pain in the ass :(
Cheers M8
@Yoda mouse….What about the theory of putting your electronics in the oven? Couldn’t change my name…so yall get my email addy this post.
Yoda mouse is right. What you really need to do is build a faraday cage to store your electronics in. My idea is to fit out a locker a bit like you’d build an ice box. The key parts of it are 1. an outer skin that’s conductive and continuous (mesh or foil) 2. The lid or door has to be conductive around the whole seal 3. bond a heavy wire to the conductive skin and connect it to your main bonding system (keel/prop shaft/through hulls) 4. a good insulation layer so no secondary arc or contact can reach the equipment inside. Should be thick, impervious.
If you build it into a locker that’ll hold all your electronics in a lightening storm, start by lining it with foil. Copper would be best as you cna solder seams. Aluminum works too, but you’ll have to be creating to ensure any joints remain conductive. Then you need to work out how to make the door seal – remember it’s an electrical (conductive) seal. Spring fingers that are self wiping, maybe brass, you’ll have to keep them clean…Then insulation over the concutive screen could be plastic sheets and fiber glass and resign. Make it overlap the door seal area so there’s no straight air gap between the conductive door seal and the stuff inside. Don’t forget to fit the bonding wire before you glass it all up.
There’ll be no electromagnetic field inside in a lightening strike, limited by how conductive and continuous the skin is, how well it’s bonded and how well the insulation holds up.
The other aspect of lightening protection is to understand that your mast, rig, keel, prop shaft etc. all form a kind of faraday cage too. Make that most effective by ensuring it’s well bonded and keep away from any part of it in a lightening storm. Hanging chains over the side from the shrouds and stays gives the best path to the water (ground!) plus the mast (assuming it’s aluminum) needs to be bonded down to the keel very well (thick wire straight down). Then there’s a good cone of protection with the point at the top of the mast and sides 45 degrees sloping out…so long as you’re not touching the metalwork. This helps minimize the field that the electronics locker needs to deal with, as well as allowing you to wake up frightened instead of being found charred and electrocuted.
Even if you don’t build this, I figured I’d write it up in case other readers were interested.
Cheers!
Chris
So… Happy Belated Birthday’s to you both… I just spent the last hour catching up on all your adventures. It looks like you are in a beautiful place, physically and mentally. I was alwo wandering, since you brought it up… What do you use to collect water.
Panacea is set up with an interesting design. The deck plug is right next to the deck drain, so I open up the plug and put a plug in the drain and all the port side deck water goes into the tank.
On the starboard side, I have a valve under the nav station that diverts the deck water going down the port drain to the tank. I can pick up 200 gallons, which is the capacity of the tank, in about a 15 minute squall.
Not bad. It then goes from the tank to a general filter, then a charcol filter and from there t the galley sink.
Love it.
It was nice catching up. See you soon…
Capt. Paul
s/v Panacea