Sailing Cambio

Category: Locations

  • Voices Beneath the Waves

    Voices Beneath the Waves

    Project Overview: Voices Beneath the Waves

    Amplifying the Voices of Humpback Whales

    In February 2024, aboard my 41-foot bluewater sailboat Cambio, I will embark on a mission to celebrate and protect one of nature’s most majestic creatures: humpback whales. Through photography, videography, and the haunting songs of these ocean giants, Voices Beneath the Waves aims to inspire a deeper connection with the natural world and raise awareness about marine conservation.

    This multimedia project will blend adventure, art, and technology to tell the story of humpback whales in a way that captivates hearts and minds. With your support, Voices Beneath the Waves will deliver breathtaking visuals and soundscapes, sparking a global conversation about preserving our oceans.

    About the Project

    The Journey

    The project begins with a 500-mile sail through the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean. We’ll explore the migration paths and breeding grounds of humpback whales near the Turks and Caicos, the Dominican Republic, and the Bahamas, capturing their beauty and essence through multiple mediums.

    What We’re Creating

    1. Stunning Photography:
      • Billboard-sized prints for exhibitions, NGO campaigns, and installations.
      • Dramatic shots of humpback whales, the ocean, and the journey itself.
    2. Documentary Shorts:
      • Immersive video clips that highlight the life of humpback whales and the threats they face.
    3. Soundscapes:
      • Recordings of humpback whale songs, blended with music to create emotional and inspiring audio experiences.

    Project Plan

    Phases and Timing

    1. Preparation (Now–February 2024):
      • Finalizing team members and equipment.
      • Securing permits and partnerships.
      • Pre-production, including research and logistics planning.
    2. Fieldwork and Data Collection (February–March 2024):
      • Filming, photography, and sound recording on-site near Samana, Turks and Caicos, and the Bahamas.
      • Collecting visual and audio assets while working with local experts and communities.
    3. Production and Collaboration (April–December 2024):
      • Editing and producing documentary shorts, soundscapes, and photography collections.
      • Collaborating with NGOs and stakeholders to finalize deliverables.
    4. Exhibitions and Outreach (2025):
      • Showcasing the results through exhibitions, screenings, and digital campaigns.
      • Partnering with organizations to maximize global reach and impact.

    Budget Overview

    Total Budget: $190,000

    • Travel and Operations: $40,000
      • Sailing 500 miles to the project site.
      • Crew expenses and transportation costs.
    • Equipment and Supplies: $30,000
      • Cameras, drones, underwater recording gear.
      • Backup systems for data storage.
    • Production Costs: $50,000
      • Editing, post-production, and music blending for soundscapes.
    • Community Engagement and Workshops: $20,000
      • Hosting events with local experts and communities.
    • Marketing and Distribution: $25,000
      • Exhibitions, social media campaigns, and PR materials.
    • Miscellaneous and Contingency: $25,000
      • Unforeseen costs, additional permits, and safety measures.

    Get Involved

    Your support can amplify the voices of humpback whales and inspire global conservation. Here’s how you can help:

    • Share: Spread the word about this project on social media and with your networks.
    • Donate: Contribute through our Kickstarter campaign (launching soon).
    • Collaborate: Partner with us to expand the reach and impact of this initiative.

    Glowing Introduction

    The ocean’s song is eternal, yet so many of its voices go unheard. In Voices Beneath the Waves, we aim to change that. This isn’t just a project—it’s a call to reconnect with the natural world through wonder and exploration.

    From my years of sailing adventures to my passion for storytelling and conservation, this project represents the culmination of everything I hold dear. Together, we can amplify the voices of humpback whales and create a legacy that resonates far beyond the shorelines.

    Join me aboard Cambio as we turn the tides for our oceans and their most hauntingly beautiful inhabitants.

  • Chasing The Big Departure

    Chasing The Big Departure

    I have been stuck in this Fort Pierce Florida marina for over 3 months. There is always a reason I can’t leave and it is always because the mechanics here are either very slow, or don’t do the work right or, to be fair, in the first month, waiting on parts ordered. I’ve run into some really solid great folks here as well an down the road I’ll talk about Scott, who has done wonderful things to my boat. he’s a great human being and the sultan of pay it forward who has given me a lesson in pay it forward that I’ll carry for a long time. among these guys, there are also drug dealers, thieves, prostitutes living for free on derelict boats up on stands that will never see the water again. It is a mix, and I’m happy to have fallen into the “right crowd”.

    I am frustrated that i’m about 140 nautical miles from my dock in Grand Bahama Island and only have 3 things to clear before i go.

    1. A sea trial. The last time they said it was all set to go, June 7, I got 3 miles and the same three bolts broke and schmecked up my transmission. I got hauled back and they fixed it in a way. They then told me it was all fixed and I photographed everything and asked some questions. It turns out, for example that they had not tightened the same transmission bolts. If those bolts break in the Atlantic, I’m pretty well screwed again, The next time I recall a problem, the owner brought a mechanic over and fine tuned the whole thing. And forgot to put oil in the transmission. But now, we are at the point where a sea trial is the last thing. Except:

    2. Another mechanic was on the boat doing a check on the vibrations i wanted checked. One of the things he said was “do you see where the prop shaft is going through the hull, how the bearing (shaft seal) is bending because it is cocked because the prop shaft is too long. ” Jason said that the vibration is too long and putting pressure on the v drive. He inspected the vdrive area and said that he was going to go right over to Tim and tell Tim what he found. He advised us not to do the sea trial that day. That is ad verbatim and I have little idea what it means, but I want to know before I sign off on it.

    3. Weather window There has been great weather to go from here to Bahamas for the last 3-4 weeks. great weather means to me 10 knot winds or less, and 1-2 foot waves. Now that I believe I’m getting close to -leaving, i still need nice weather and today, 8/12/2024 they are tracking hurricane Ernesto which is supposed to go up the East side of the Bahamas and so it is safe for me, probably. But the gulf stream will still stir up and make it a difficult crossing.
    So I wait.

    I’ve been working on the boat somewhat, but I do admit that I’m cloistered in and haven’t been feeling very energized. I’m studying boat parts and when I get to Bahamas I plan to do some studying, writing and photography. I got the urge to play with chatGPT today and that’s the topic of the next post on this web site. Sorry I haven’t been posting, I”m doing my best to get sailing again..

  • Sunset Photoshoots on Cambio

    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.

  • Planning the Atlantic Crossing in 2024

    Planning the Atlantic Crossing in 2024

    We are about 50 days away from leaving Lake Ontario and heading south to the Caribbean and I started to do some long term planning using Predictwind, a web application that tells us which way the wind blows around the world.

    I wanted to get a feel for what the wind in the Atlantic is doing this time of year, because this time next year we will be crossing the Atlantic. We’d start the crossing in about May before hurricane season The course will be from the British Virgin Islands area and head for the Azores, and then to Casablanca, in Northern Africa.

    Cruisers like to go mostly downwind and Predictwind tells us which way the wind is blowing now, and where it is likely to be blowing in in the near future. But as an example, we could head east today and in 5 days find out that the wind has changed and is now blowing to the west, directly in front of us, and all our weather planning would have to change and we might have to divert hundreds of miles.

    If a boat can average 6 knots per hour, and we are sailing 24 hours per day, we could average 144 miles per day in ideal conditions. We have to know where the wind is blowing now, and where it will be blowing in the near future and adjust our course like magicians or we could add days to the trip.

    Today’s weathermap isn’t very encouraging. The Azores High, which circles clockwise around the centre of the Atlantic Ocean has moved very far north. If we followed the black line downwind and the High didn’t change, then the trip becomes almost 4,000 nautical miles, or about 40 days of passagemaking. That takes us too far north and will take too long, I think. It should be about 12 days from the Caribbean to the Azores and another 7 days from the Azores to North Africa.

    There are many professionals who use worldwide data and predict where the wind and weather will change over a short period of time. Savvy sailors receive updates and guidance every day from these weather services. This allows them to adjust their direction to the safest and most efficient course. But in the end, each skipper must take all the information they have at the time to make safe and efficient decisions.

  • An Opportunity to Join Our Crew on the Big Trip from Lake Ontario to the Caribbean

    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?

    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.

  • Cambio’s Tentative Trip South Fall 2023

    Cambio’s Tentative Trip South Fall 2023

    I’ve posted on the Fall/Winter plans before, and I’ll probably do it again as we learn more and more about the routing from Lake Ontario to Puerto Rico. 

    Why Lake Ontario?  Because that’s where we are now.  

    Why Puerto Rico?  Because it is a convenient are to do some R&R after a trip of more than 2150 nautical miles.  

    R&R isn’t crucial because we are taking our time to get there.   Critical dates include

    September 1      Leave Oswego in the Erie Canal

    October 12         Annapolis Boat Show

    October 16         Leave for the south.  Use the ICW sparingly and when out in the Atlantic, avoid Hattaras near Pamlico Sound and Frying Pan Shoals near Wilmington.

    November 1       Arrive at St. Augustine.

    November 5       Arrive at Bahamas.   Play in the sand for a while.   

    December 1       It is still 1000 nm to Puerto Rico.  (See the “Thorny Path”   At 100nm per day that’s 10 days non stop.   There will be stops along the way; Crooked Island, Mayaguana, Turks & Caicos, Puerto Rico.  That last leg is a long stretch, probably upwind, but my insurance company doesn’t want me to go to Dominican Republic.  I’m going to have to negotiate with them. 

    And if we get there for January 1, a month later, it means we had a great time. 

    Until sometime In May we’ll visit the lesser Antilles, which include all the Virgin Islands, Monserrat, St. Martin, the Islands in between.  Plans to be devised. 

    Now pay attention.  This will probably change as we get closer to planning.  

  • It was really dark

    It was really dark

    It was really dark.

    Our darkness happened at night, sailing down the middle of the lake, with clouds obscuring the lights of the towns along both shores, and nobody else on the lake.   

    Even the spreader lights did the deck no justice but they did highlight the foam close to the boat that lit up on the top of the 3 meter waves we were surfing down.

    It was really dark

    Ahead of us, and far away a single red light and two white lights appeared off our starboard bow.   It started a conversation with my crew, Matt.   We decided it was a later about 5 miles away.  After discussion, Matt figured out that if we could see the red light, it must be going across our bow and we should watch it carefully.   Besides the waves and the compass, this was the most interesting thing to watch. 

    We were on a course of about 63 degrees.  We had left Port Dalhousie about 9 hours ago.  Lakers tend to go down the middle of the lake in ‘laker lanes’  unless they are turning left or right to visit an industrial dock or turn into the Welland Canal. 

    Almost nothing in this paragraph makes sense.  As the lights got closer we started to believe that we were on a collision course.  I turned off the autopilot and steered to starboard.  After a couple of minutes of hand steering, the compass told me I had strayed from 63 degrees and was now on 315 degrees.  I used the autopilot to steer back to 63 degrees.  It was not certain that we were on a collision course, but we were keenly aware of the 3 lights which were all we could see on a laker that was otherwise painted black.   I hand steered again.   I watched the lights.   I checked the compass.  We were far off course again.  I repeated this a few times. It was difficult to hand steer in jet black!

    Suddenly we could hear the rumble of the laker.   It was about 200 meters from us, and definitely on a collision course.   I turned to starboard with caring what the course was.   The laker had its own bow wave and it was white.  We looked up at the laker’s gunwales as we passed the hull, 50 to 100 meters away.   The laker’s wake bounced us about as it passed.   My adrenaline was at a high.  But we had avoided the collision.  

    There were two boats in the lake and we found each other.

    Lessons learned.

    • We were on Starboard. It makes no sense to claim rights.  He had gross tonnage rights.  And we would never have claimed the right of way.  That would be reckless in this case, and stupid. There are other reasons this decision was correct, like my inability to hold a course, but it’s all moot.
    • I wonder if there is a ‘firefly’ effect where we are drawn to lights in the pitch dark as a part of nature.  I don’t know, but if the situation comes up again, I’ll be aware.
    • Our watchkeeping was correct.  We picked it up miles away and watched it constantly until the near miss.  
    • Our teamwork was great.  We discussed options and perspectives constantly until the near miss.
    • My hand steering was inadequate.  Period.

    When we looked at the track the next day, It’s clear where the meeting happened.  The laker must have been off the usual navigation channels, perhaps on her way to Cobourg industries.  

  • 31 years of learning from Storms

    31 years of learning from Storms

    Matt and I were sitting safely in his living room, sipping whisky and burning stogies and talking about last season on Cambio and next season’s plans.  

    Matt is a teacher here in Niagara and only has July and August off full time and weekends, but there’s plenty of sailing to be done and he’s good at it.

    Matt was on board during the July 20 storm https://sailingcambio.com/2022/07/20/the-storm/ and the two of us worked as well as anyone I’ve ever worked with in harrowing storm situations.  I like the phrase, “The wind hit us about 30nm down the lake and we couldn’t go upwind due to breakages, so we sailed a broken boat 100nm down Lake Ontario to a safe harbour.

    The metrics for this storm were a sustained wind of 43 knots, boat speed of 14.2 knots, and following waves of up to 8 meters, or in the range of 24 feet.   The wind and speed are right off the instruments, but It is hard to estimate wave height. I just turn around when I’m at a top of one crest and picture 4 six foot men standing on their shoulders from trough to crest.  That’s about 24 feet.

    I’ve already written about the first storm I had a bad experience with.  It was in 1991 and involved a 24’ Shark sailboat, 60 knot gusts and 24’ waves.   Sharks don’t usually have instruments so I don’t know how fast we were going before, well, disaster happened.  But it was fast.   The short story is that I broached, was washed off my sailboat 8 miles offshore and had to swim into shore.  The whole story is here in the log: https://sailingcambio.com/1991/09/21/washed-off-my-sailboat/

    I recall one ‘interesting’ crossing from Oakville to St. Catharines with Judy Kingsley.  We had just stopped and got a bucket of KFC chicken and the sunset was fabulous as we left the dock under spinnaker.  The sun went down, so did the spinnaker, and we followed a compass course to St. Catharines.   There was great chatter and lots of talk among Judy and I on the Shark that was fairly newly mine.    The waves built in the dark from the west and we were battered on the starboard quarter until we turned west to surf.  We just accepted that we’d have a couple of hours of uncomfortable surfing motion in big waves and then have to turn right to get into the harbour.  The wind shifted North and that helped us when we turned towards the harbour but we were still surfing down waves. I don’t recall how big, but big.

    The harbour pours out quite a bit of volume and when the wind hits it head on from the north huge standing waves park themselves at the entrance to the mouth of the harbour.    We surfed a lake wave and plowed right into a harbor current wave.  I held on to the tiller.  There were 9 standing waves to hit with short fetches between them.    And suddenly we were though and speeding up the channel under main  and jib.  As we went by the yacht club where a party in full festivity, someone yelled, “Look at that, someone’s coming in under sail!”  then I heard “They must know what they are doing!”  That’s when I got nervous.   Then I heard a familiar voice yell the name of my boat “Humbly!” but Judy and I were policing lines and getting ready to dowse the jib and head into a very small space between two boats along the wall.  We got there, didn’t hit one boat very hard, and breathed a sigh of relief when someone on land grabbed the forestay and we flogged the main and got it down.   It was all a mad flurry of activity. 

    The lines were away, the sails tied down or stowed and I looked at Judy’s face.  Then I looked at the carnage on the decks.   The bones from the KFC bucket had been left on a bench and we’d forgotten them in the dark.  It looked like a mad dog had gotten a hold of the bones and they were all over the cockpit.   Judy and I could just laugh somewhat maniacally.  It was an interesting crossing.

    Four more storms come to mind, defined as ‘being followed by 4 men standing in the trough of a wave’, or 24 feet waves and appropriate winds, and all except one in Lake Ontario.  Nothing awful happened in those storms except an exhilaration and great fellowship among the crew and a build up of experience that almost certainly helped me in the two storms where ‘shit happened’.  

    On deck and to be published sometime this spring will be that last storm, in a delivery of Richard Hinterhoeller’s Niagara 31 with two other doughty sailors chasing a storm down Lake Erie.   Stay tuned!  

  • Toronto Boat Show

    Toronto Boat Show

    I went to the Toronto Boat Show with a couple of friends this past weekend.  I couldn’t walk so far or so well so I was focussed on what I wanted to see.   

    • Solar Panel system
    • Ports Book for Ontario
    • Liferafts
    • Limited lookabout

    I’ve gotten a Starlink, a couple of laptops and all rechargeable lighting and other tools.  I’m also preparing to spend more time away from shore power and anchored out away from docks.  This suggests that my 190W solar panel from 2007 needs to be upsized.   I’ve decided to shop for an 800W system which hopefully will fit on the current arch.  I’d take the current solar panel off and replace it with 2 rigid panels.  I’m unable to measure the current arch for fit but I hope I can use it as is.  Otherwise there’ll be some welding/bolting to do.

    This implies a bigger MPPT and may demand more or bigger batteries.   I’m not sure I’m ready to go to lithium yet but my 4 6 volt golf cart batteries may not hold enough charge.  I haven’t done the inventory of usage yet.  Before all this I acquired a 1000 amp inverter to replace the current 300 amp inverter and this tempts me to use bigger 110v power than ever.  I’m not sure that’s a good idea, but there it is.

    The back up system, in case house batteries discharge, Is the 95amp alternator on the motor and starting batteries and windlass batteries to start it.  

    So I’m shopping for a larger, entire solar system.   

    Toronto is on Lake Ontario, far from the ocean.  I should not have been surprised that there were lots of dinghy sales booths but I did not see a single life raft company at a Toronto boat show.  But I was.   I’ll have to google life raft companies and spend the time on my butt reaching out to them. 

    The big win for me was the new edition of the Lake Ontario Ports book.  It came out this month and lists every port on Lake Ontario:  descriptions of each club and marina with information on getting there, phone numbers, repair shops, and town essentials.   I happily bought it and over a beer, checked out the places I’d been in 2022 and brought back memories.  I am planning to cruise the hell out of Lake Ontario this year before heading south and this is the ultimate planning guide for me.

    I remember in the 1990s sailing my 24’ Shark in company with another Shark (Lady Carol’s Aquarius) from Kingston to Niagara on the Lake.  

    These Sharks had a compass and nothing else, but Lake Ontario is fairly easy to navigate.  If you are on the west end, you can take a sighting on the CN Tower in Toronto.  If you are on the East end, follow the shoreline.   There aren’t many rocks and one Shark sailor (Miss you Bo) used to sail up to the shore and ask anyone mowing their lake shore lawn which way to go.  

    Carol had the official chart of Lake Ontario and I had the Ports book.  I’d follow her to the entrance and she would follow me into the harbour. 

    What did I learn during that trip on Sharks from Kingston?  Drunken olives are made by draining a jar of olives and pouring in vodka to replace the olive juice.  Place in bow in the morning and it is ready for consumption when you dock in the evening.   And a few other things.

    As I was walking through the many large retail booths a thought struck me. While I liked looking at the shiny new things, I didn’t really need any of them. Cambio is very well equipped. So I looked harder for something to buy and really didn’t find anything. I need some bib sailing pants but that was it. This realization made me feel rather good for the state of Cambio’s inventory for this spring.

  • A Cut Above

    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.).