I was sitting in a Starbucks in Annapolis last October in a stopover on my voyage to Bahamas on my sailboat Cambio.
The place was half locals and about half US Navy midshipmen.
It made me think about what these upright and serious midshipmen are about. They had focused on the myriad of entry requirements, and sacrificed a lot of the normal high school hijinks other kids enjoyed. One doesn’t arrive at the Academy straight up and seriously dedicated without having a runway to build up to USNA success.
But that is not all. They have signed on to be a responsible part of the most powerful navy in the world, not something to be taken lightly. And some 20 odd years of very serious services. And to be there to possibly give their lives.
These kids give me chills down my back when I think about how much “stuff” they have walking around in those uniforms.
I wish each of them well and thank them for the stuff they bring.
I wasn’t around to appreciate this when my brother and father went to Canada’s Royal Military College many years ago but now, many years later this next generation of American sailors reminds me to appreciate the memories of all those who give their best.
Category: Social Media
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Annapolis Stopover
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Sunset Photoshoots on Cambio
We’re back doing fun sunset photoshoots on Cambio this season. This is Celina’s first photoshoot and she slayed it. Photoshoots are ongoing this summer until we point the boat south in late August and head for the Caribbean.
I plan to offer Caribbean photoshoots on Cambio and various beaches so if you are wanting to spend March break or some other time on a 41′ sailboat in the tropics, contact me at philcheevers@hotmail.com for rates and dates. We’ll be in the Bahamas in December.
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An Opportunity to Join Our Crew on the Big Trip from Lake Ontario to the Caribbean
Experience the Ultimate Sailing Adventure with Cambio – Join Our Crew Today!
Looking for a thrilling sailing experience that won’t break the bank? Look no further than Cambio, a remarkable 41′ sailboat seeking crew members for an incredible journey. We invite you to come aboard and embark on an unforgettable adventure, where the cost to crew is solely personal expenses. The boat is setting sail, and you have the opportunity to join us!
Why Choose Cambio?
- Explore the Eastern US Seaboard: Departing from Lake Ontario, New York on September 1st, we’ll navigate the Eastern US Seaboard, allowing you to witness stunning coastlines and breathtaking sunsets along the way. Our journey will lead us to Annapolis, Maryland, where you’ll have the chance to experience the charm of this historic sailing town.
- Uncover the Wonders of the Bahamas: In December 2023, we’ll set our course for the mesmerizing Bahamas. Immerse yourself in the crystal-clear waters, relax on pristine beaches, and discover hidden coves and vibrant coral reefs. This is your opportunity to indulge in a stunning vacation while building precious miles of sailing experience.
- Embrace the Magic of the Caribbean: From the British Virgin Islands to the US Virgin Islands, the Spanish Virgin Islands, and the captivating Lesser Antilles, our voyage will take you through the most picturesque destinations in the Caribbean. Perfect for students on a gap year, this experience will provide a change of pace and offer the adventure of a lifetime.
Who Is This Opportunity Perfect For?
If you’re a student with sailing experience seeking a meaningful gap year experience, Cambio is the perfect fit for you. Join our crew and gain valuable sailing skills while exploring breathtaking locations. Additionally, if you’re looking to build miles and enhance your sailing resume, this journey offers an excellent opportunity for mile building and hands-on experience.
Flexible Options: Join All or Part of the Journey
We understand the importance of flexibility. Whether you can commit to the entire voyage or only a portion of it, we welcome you aboard Cambio. This journey offers the perfect escape and change of pace from your routine, allowing you to unwind and embrace new challenges.
How to Join
To secure your spot on this extraordinary adventure, please email your interest to philcheevers@hotmail.com. Our crew coordinator will provide you with further details and assist you throughout the application process. Don’t miss out on this chance to embark on a stunning vacation, gain invaluable experience, and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Join Cambio’s crew and sail into a world of endless possibilities. We invite you to come aboard and embark on an unforgettable adventure, where the cost to crew is solely personal expenses. The boat is setting sail, and you have the opportunity to join us!…
Note: Please be aware that travel and itinerary details are subject to change due to weather conditions and unforeseen circumstances. Contact philcheevers@hotmail.com for the latest updates. P.S. if this sounds to effusive, please blame ChatGPT.
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Model Shoots Coming UP!!
I am inspired to write tonight but don’t seem to have inspiring things to write. lets see if that changes
I bent on the main today. I was about to slip it into the boom track and then realized that I had forgotten it was a loose footed main. Doh!
Since the double knee replacement 9 weeks ago, my knees have improved, but they are still a worry. I worry that I’ll jump down into the cockpit and it will hurt a lot. In reality it only hurts somewhat but I know it is gonna hurt and the it has me walking like a tenderfoot all around the deck. I think it will be another 8 weeks or so before I’m anything more than the fat boy at the wheel. Except..
This week I’m starting to promote some glamour photography on the boat. By June the temperatures will be wonderful and I’ll take glamourous models and fit athletes for a sunset sail and photograph them on the boat. I did it last year and the models were thrilled with the pictures and the pics turned out stunning. Stay tuned for some of the pics to be posted here. Or look back at last year’s images in this log.
That is all for tonight. I guess I found something cool to talk about anyway!! Have a great night !!
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A Cut Above
In 3 weeks the doctors will cut open my knees, shave them down, and install new knees on both legs. This has already made me more philosophical than usual but has changed the way I look at my plans somewhat. They cut in mid February and I’m laid up for some time, getting better every day. But there’s no “official fix day”. It is a gradual improvement thing that makes planning a bit tricky.
I’m still leaving for the South on September 1. I plan to have the boat launched about May 1, which is 3.5 months after surgery. I don’t know if I’ll be able to climb the ladder to get to the boat to do the required pre-launch required tasks. This might mean changes in priorities or a change in the May 1 launch date until the boat is ready, perhaps June 1.
The things I’ve identified as pre-launch priorities are:
- Pay Insurance
- Remove boat cover
- Change zincs / get spare zincs
- Replace spreader lights
- Test all mast bulbs
- Put up flag halyards
- Install spreader boots or baggywrinkles
Most of these have alternative methods usually involving bosuns chairs or snorkels, but let’s do it the safest and easiest way possible. I also want to wash the topsides and buff out the scratches that are proof of my docking lessons, but they can be done afterwards, with more difficulty.
In the mean time I’m studying, watching youtube videos on sailboat maintenance and lifestyle (shoutout to James, Plukky, Ryan, Sophie, Kika and Dan and all the others who cheer me up in Canada’s winter’s grasp.).
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Christmas Day and Sailing is on my Mind
We are nine months out from heading south. (“we?” stay tuned for a crew announcement), and 12 months out from Christmas in the Caribbean. I feel I should be dreaming about Margaritas on the beach and warm sand and clear waters. Instead, I’m developing project, budget, and maintenance plans just as if I were working in my previous career.
I wonder when this ‘work’ which I enjoy very much, especially given the goal, will turn to sailing goals that occupy my thoughts. I suspect that budgets and maintenance will always be top of mind while travelling, but I hope that project plans will mainly become whims, ad hocs and what-ifs.
Now the major milestones are looming.
May 1 is the target launch day.
There is an amount of work I want to do or must do in April before launch day, like replacing zincs, adding a couple of parts to the new propellor blades, cleaning and buffing the topsides. The topsides show the marks of my learning how to dock a new boat. April will be a busy month.
May will be busy too. I recall swarms of midges last year that made working with one’s mouth open impossible. But May will be cleaning, organizing the deck and more. We’ll also begin practical training for new and existing crew will resume on the water.
August 1 is another critical date, where we decide to go/no go, but this year we will be better prepared and smarter, I hope. Last year was a great learning experience and the no go decision on August 1, 2022, was the right one.
Having made the decision on August 1, then September 1 is the planned start of the trip south. We’ll go slowly, ahead of the frost to arrive in Bahamas or USVI or somewhere after the December 1 nominal end of hurricane season. I’m still not sure how to avoid any big storms like Fiona or Ian that hit the eastern seaboard in 2022, or how to go South into a usually south wind and Gulf stream current.
My Christmas present from the boat is a Starlink unit. Iridium Go just won’t cut it for the next 18 month’s cruising and the prices of each are similar.
I hope you are having or had a great holiday season, whatever flavour of celebration you subscribe to.
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Winter Is All About Planning And Logistics
We are past fixing up the boat. It is cold and blustery, even under the cover, and the list of things to do in April is growing. It is basically a list of Before Launch & After Launch and both lists are long. Only most of the items are critical.
The featured item in the picture above is the switch that has so far confounded me. It will be April before I get a warm day to spend a good amount of time figuring it out. It should be simple, but it isn’t.
Before launch items include:
Replace spreader lights
Test all mast bulbs
Install spreader boots or baggywrinkles
Change zincs / get spare zincs
Put up flag halyards
Replace sewage drainpipes
Check leak in head sink
Replace plotter
Fix pelican latch on boarding entry
Fix toilet seat
Varnish toerail
Varnish rubrail
Pay Insurance
Remove boat cover
It’s probably a few day’s work, but finding a toilet seat might be a problem. I hope April is a nice, dry, calm month.
On the social media side, there are lots of plans to start posting YouTube video in March but that has to be shot in January and then there’s a learning curve to develop my editing skills, which are sadly lacking. The fact that I shot no video last year, particularly during the storm, means a lot of talking heads video. But the folks I’m shooting are lively and interesting and I’m looking forward to it.
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Cambio’s Web Site & Social Media
I didn’t plan to spend so much time on this website but by now it has done a few great things for me.
- I’ve enjoyed spending the time fixing up the log and publishing it. It reminds me of what a great, and adventurous summer we’ve had.
- I had to organize the entries, including the ones from a previous life where I was traveling without a boat but still with a wit. More great reminders of previous life.
- It has me thinking about what I want the Cambio social media to look like and how the long list of available applications will work together. I didn’t take many images underway and almost no video so last summer’s stories are told in the log.
I plan a lot more video and logs for next year and the focus to depart for the South around about September 1, 2023 will be in everything we do, whether it be training, improving the boat, planning, developing social media, and getting the boat and crew in shape.
And it won’t all appear at once. It will be a migration of serial improvements that will introduce Cambio and crew logically and lovingly.
The web site is baked, and filled with content. And additions need to be made over the next few months.
The Instagram page is at www.instagram.com/sailingcambio.
A Facebook page lives at sailingcambio
YouTube page is at, you guessed it, Sailing Cambio, but it will be a while before I get some reasonable content into it.
I’m still evaluating Twitter and Linkedin. I have personal accounts there but haven’t done much with them.
I have to figure out the workflow for all of this and it will be good January & February work when the days are still dark. We are near Niagara Falls, Ontario and it will be it’s too cold to do anything but drive down and look at Cambio.
And now back to hacking WordPress, or editing some of the images I took of beautiful models on Cambio last summer. One seems like work, the other doesn’t.
-Phil.