Any problem that happens while you are tied to the dock, are a gift. One rainy afternoon in Southeast Alaska, I was moving Empiricus out of her slip. I had an appointment in the morning to haul her out for maintenance and wanted to stage her near the lift the night before. My father came […]
Read more "Sailing, Alaska And Life. Part 2. By Captain Osborn"Captain Jesse Osborn on Alaska Sailing and Life. Part 1. Following a lengthy discussion with my son recently, regarding the ever-increasing world of a teenage young man, he asked me this question. “Why do you love sailing so much Dad?” The following series is an expansion upon the answer I gave him that day. Sailing […]
Read more "Sailing, Alaska and life. Part 1 by Capt. Osborn"Heres a photo of Dan and Will while on approach to Kodiak. Much was learned as the crew came together and plans were hatched for many things from gear stowage to shift assignments and rigging enhancements. We sailed a strict schedule in rotation. 2 hours on, 2 hours off and 2 hours standby. Right about […]
Read more "Crew cohesive"The final welds were made only a few hours before our departure. We left the dock out of sheer principle to leave on time! Instantly feeling better, we spent the first night at the “Notch” and awoke refreshed. Then we tuned the running rigging and did some practice reefing before setting out for the Gulf […]
Read more "The shakedown run to Kodiak. Leg 1 of the Circumnavigation"The fresh waster system was plumbed in Pex to prevent freeze breakage. Dipping hose in boiling water makes fitting to a hose barb simple! The septic holding tank was converted to the main bilge. This 4″ deck plate will serve as emergency access, should we ever need to use an emergency de-watering pump. The hatch […]
Read more "The final project push!"Jay won a day sail on Empiricus at a raffle for the Alaska Cancer Care Alliance. She loved the bowsprit! Jay brought both her kids and her neighbor on the trip. Everyone got to helm a little. The weater was not sunny but it was still nice and fairly warm Capt. Osborn explains the basics […]
Read more "Empiricus fights cancer!"The mainsail flies quite well! After some tuning along the perils, those winkle went away. Making your own sails is hard work. But also rewarding and fun! Making near hull speed in 15 knots with everything up! Capt. Dale Plate at the helm for the first shakedown cruise. It was nice to sail with a […]
Read more "Sea trials begin!"A final trip up the rigging of Dawn Treader completes the barter and work trade between Captains. The water tank is done! The water tank hatches are clean and ready! Finally the hatches bolt on place. All the running blocks were soaked in linseed oil. Custom Stainless steel anchors were welded and bolted in place, […]
Read more "3 days until launch. Much is complete. Much yet to do."Dan Duame. Crew member for the 2013 NW Passage voyage, is a man of many Talents. While the EMPIRICUS refit is underway, Dan goes to work on the sailing dinghy. Some of the “stitch and glue” panels that came in the kit. The final product ill be a 12 foot sailing craft will carry […]
Read more "Northwest Passage crew member builds a sailing dinghy for EMPIRICUS"A view of the boot dodger frame. Cover in progress! Old school… The electric windlass will be replace with a block and tackle snatch system. the anchor line and chain will be stowed aft and retrieved 9 fathoms at a time horizontally along the deck. Captain Osborn learned to weld stainless steel and completed the […]
Read more "Major projects near completion."Sailing, yachts, adventure and sailing around the world!
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EMPIRICUS EMBARKS 