Crew member wanted needed

It's been a long time since I sailed with anyone else on board, I've done the last 1,300 miles alone and forgot that it is really much easier to sail with another set of hands around.

A friend from near New Iberia called me a few weeks ago and wanted to come learn to sail, rather than go to one of those nice (expensive) sailing schools he called me. On Tuesday morning Jake showed up with a cooler full of great food, real coonass food, the kind of food that Florida can't offer, he also supplied a sheet of 3/4" fir plywood. First thing on the list, we cut out my new rudder. Waltzing Matilda has needed a new rudder since I bought her but I cut corners and didn't replace the rudder during the restoration, while crossing the Gulf of Mexico I realized that it was past time to replace the rudder.

With the new rudder on board we headed out early and set sail for Egmont Key. We got becalmed at one point in the afternoon and just tacked back and forth to the East and West until the wind came back, then with the current at our stern and on a nice beam reach we hit 5.5 knots and landed at Egmont Key about an hour before sunset. Jake had never seen such clear water and spent some time stooped over with his camera filming hermit crabs in the surf. Mattie wasn't "allowed" on the island since it is a wildlife refuge but she ran on the beach and swam in the surf.

The next morning we hoisted sail and got underway the old fashioned way, without firing the motor, Jake was at the helm most of the day as we came under the skyway and back into Tampa Bay. Around 15:00 the winds died and the whole bay got smooth as glass so we fired the motor and puttered the last 6 miles into the Vinoy Basin.

We had a great time sailing, Jake took to it like one of those round pegs and holes and discovered the peace in sailing, he was asking what kind of boat he should buy when he got back home (I recommended a MacGregor 23'). Jake left early on Friday morning and kicked some money toward voyage expenses, I spent the money on the fiberglass supplies for the rudder.

I've been working more now that my reputation is getting known, been doing lots of carpentry in tiny spaces, yesterday I built a frame for new fuel tanks in the belly of a 46' trawler, it was dirty, smelly, greasy and hot, but the owner liked my work despite my dog crapping on the his poop deck I've got more work to do on that boat.

Waltzing Matilda has new sails, new rudder and is about to get re-rigged and have a new mast, new tabernacle, all new standing rigging and as much new running rigging as I can afford. She will be a very stout little sail boat, capable of ocean crossing. After the new rigging the next to things acquire, decent solar panels and good batteries. I will be moving my anchorage next week from downtown St Petersburg to Gulf Port.More photos