Up to date news on Lizzy Belle's adventure cruising through the Caribbean.
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TwentyEightFeet
Lizzy Belle braves her bow to the wind...
January 16th-30th, 2013
LB in front of Wind Surf, Antigua
Michele, Al, Easy Listening and Lizzy Belle rafted up in Les Saintes
Sailing through the Caribbean isn't always a walk on the beach ( usually that comes later). After checking the weather Lizzy Belle and I headed out on 6 hour sail from Deshaies, Guadeloupe to the much talked about islands of Les Saintes. After battling gusty winds rolling off Guadeloupe's Volcano, La Grande Soufrière we rounded the capital, Basse Terre and headed for Les Saintes. Following a check of the charts I figured we only had about 7 miles to go until we were safely anchored with a cold beer in my hand. We rounded the point marked by the lighthouse and were met with a wall of wind and white capped swells. I yelled to LB, "this wasn't in the forecast!" I quickly doused the Jib and started the engine recognizing it was way too much wind for Lizzy Belle and I solo. I took LB off autopilot and we went at it. Every wave was a slap in the face with the high winds and water spraying over Lizzy Belles bow and back into the cockpit. The only thing we could do was keep on pushing through, with a smile of course. I honestly clipped a second tether onto my harness to brace myself as we were getting beaten and thrashed as I have never seen before. I gently coaxed Lizzy Belle aloud the entire time; I reminded her she was the underdog, how strong she is and how important it is that she pulls us through the next breath of wind. She answered me back by pushing through the highest waves and raising her bow with strength and pride to meet the next. I know she loved every minute of it. I've never been such a proud Captain and believe we could take on the world if need be...but for now I think we will just stick with the Caribbean.
As I made my approach I may have heard the happiest sound of my life. Easy Listening was calling Lizzy Belle on the VHF welcoming us to Les Saintes and inviting us to join them by rafting up for the evening. They introduced me to the town and I immediately feel in love with the quaint, quiet village. We drank, we ate and we shared stories of our travels. Nothing better than good company after such an arduous journey. Al said as we pulled up to Easy Listening, "You got some balls man for being out there"...Lizzy Belle just smiled.
Hanging out in Les Saintes for a few days. Drying out and exploring this unique french island. Then south to Dominica...
I sailed into the mouth of Falmouth Harbour searching the horizon for my friends on Easy Listening. We had planned this rendezvous for well over four months . Doug and Robin would be joining Al and Michelle in Antigua directly after the Toronto Boat Show. We would all connect in Falmouth Harbour. After sailing singlehanded for a little more than three weeks I was excited to see a few familiar faces. The anchorage was packed and I wasn't entirely sure if they had even set sail before I had arrived. Alas! As I pulled into the channel there they were, hands waving in the air anxiously welcoming us. Later Doug and I would have a heart to heart on how he shed a tear upon first site of Lizzy Belle entering Safe Harbour. LB carries Doug and Robin's Mizzen Mast (actually acting as her Main Mast ) from their sailboat Dancing Frances. Little did Doug and I know at the time that making that purchase in March 2010 would lead to an everlasting friendship. Lizzy Belle "The Connector" spreading her magic once again.
The weeks to follow were filled with laughs, storytelling and excellent food. We mostly hung out in the cockpit of Easy Listening with Lizzy Belle anchored directly behind her. In the evenings we would venture into English Harbour. Al acted as our guide, leading us to the best restaurants, sharing the most challenging hikes and dancing to the best live music I have seen and heard in a long time. In the end, I think we could have been anywhere and as happy... as long as we were there, wherever, together! Luckily in this case we had the luxury of being on the water.
Doug and Robin: Thank- you for always being there for Lizzy Belle and I... from the very beginning! Michelle, it's always a pleasure and I will be seeing you soon as we all head South to the Grenadines. Al, thanks for picking on Doug with me. Good times for sure. I love you all!
"When friends come to love a sea life, they are not fit to live on land."
Live Music, Shirley Heights, Antigua
Captain Doug and I, Shirley Heights overlooking English and Falmouth Harbour, Antigua
January 16th-30th, 2013
Michele and Robin, Shirley Heights, Antigua
Overlooking English and Falmouth Harbour, Antigua
"If a man speaks at sea where no woman can hear...is he still wrong"
Al Mosher
I shared this passage with LB's "Mermaids" the day before they left. Francis Herreshoff, Sensible Cruising Designs on Companions and Crew.
"Your companion on a cruise has far, far greater effect on success of the venture than any cabin arrangement. Beware of those guests who board you with portmanteaus and satchels filled with shaving gear, sunburn lotion, and sport clothes...But there are girls ( God Bless Them ) who can take it, are real companions and helpmates; who can stand a trick at the tiller or galley. That's the kind that is right up our alley." Page 63
When I read this passage it reminded me of all the stories Al, Michele, Doug and Robin shared with me in the cockpit of Easy Listening...
Francis Herreshoff, Sensible Cruising Designs on Companions and Crew...
"Don't forget the elder men ( women as well in this case) , for they were educated in those halcyon days when art had beauty, music had melody, and poetry had rhyme. You will not tire of their conversation like the younger ones whose every word is a boast. These old boys also may be able to teach you some tricks of piloting and seamanship which are not printed in books, if you will only listen to them. But best of all they can entertain you with the true drama of life which has been seen through wise old eyes, so that your future you may count your time with them the most enjoyable and profitable of any in your life." Page 63
Sunbathing, English Harbour
Lizzy Belle and her Mermaids, Falmouth Harbour
When Lizzy Belle and I sail into harbour we generally get a lot of attention. It has always been because of her size, her hull material, her beauty and of course her huge heart. Until this week, we have never been whistled at...
Lizzy Belle had new crew uniforms this week. Bikini tops and Jean Shorts. My friends - Glenna and Danielle - from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia joined LB and I for ten days to explore the Island of Antigua. We sailed from the South side to the North and back again ducking in every inlet and safe harbour we could find. We snorkelled wrecks, bombarded high end hotels, patrolled the beaches and went on long hikes through the hills of Antigua. I called them Lizzy Belle's "Mermaids" and they quickly picked up on her needs and how to properly harness the wind that allows her to cruise through the blue water beneath her keel. As the week went on systems began to take place and jobs were defined without actually speaking. We mostly BBQ'd our meals, read books, swam and the girls even began bathing with the Caribbean's best kept secret - Joy, dish washing soap. On this day I was proud!
We are back in Falmouth Harbour today. As I look back on the past few weeks a lot has happened. Wilson Fitt and I made contact. I connected with Doug and Robin, Michele and Al, made new friends with multiple friends of friends from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia and well beyond. Lizzy Belle connected with the "Mermaids" and allowed them see what life is really like in the Caribbean. I'm beginning to see Lizzy Belle in an entire new light. The adventure has not necessarily been about sailing - it has been about bringing together people who share the same passion. People that embrace the vibrations and thrill of adventure that Lizzy Belle radiates.
See you soon friends...singlehanded again -heading South!
Fortress in English Harbour, Antigua
I can only imagine...
...the feeling Wilson Fitt had as a friend of his in Halifax, Nova Scotia passed him an URL address pointing him towards twentyeightfeet.com. Most likely he was reminded of the excitement of seemingly endless childhood days sailing Lizzy Belle throughout Halifax Harbour, discovering surrounding waterways and eventually...venturing much further. All great memories no doubt. In fact, I would guess that each time Wilson hoisted her sails Lizzy Belle took him in a new direction, a direction he shares with us in his story below. Thank you Wilson for getting in touch with us and sharing your story. You are welcome anytime to join us on our journey throughout the Caribbean and I will be happy to call you "The Captain of Lizzy Belle" once again. It is amazing how one feisty little lady has impacted and altered the course of so many lives.
On January 18th, 2013 I received the following email...
The story is as follows...
"My father caught boat fever in the 1960s, a disease that culminated in him signing a contract for the building of an H-28 by Marriotts Cove Yacht Builders, Nova Scotia in late 1966. This was an old fashioned boatyard at the end of its run, just as fibreglass was taking over the world. The boat was named Lizzy Belle after my grandmother (Elizabeth Isobelle). It cost around $16,000 at the time, about two years' salary for my father. My mother was shocked when she found out.
I was had just turned 14 when Lizzy Belle was launched in July 1967 and was completely enthralled with sailing. My father and I spent every available weekend sailing in Halifax Harbour and, in the spring of 1968, as he gained confidence, weekend cruising down to St. Margaret’s Bay and Mahone Bay.
A few days short of a year after the launching while out sailing with a friend (on the friend's boat), my father suffered a massive heart attack, dying on the spot. My mother made an effort to sell the Lizzy Belle, but she says that people just wanted to take advantage of her, and the best offer was only half of what the boat had cost to build a year before. My father's life insurance was just sufficient to pay the bank loan so she dug her heels in.
I ended up being the keeper and later the owner of the Lizzy Belle; the only kid in high school with his own sailboat. By trial and error (with lots of the latter) I learned sailing, maintenance and navigation through my teenage years.
In 1974, my brand new wife and I headed for the Bahamas via the Intercoastal Waterway with $1,800 in our pockets. This seems foolhardy in the extreme now, but we always had lots to eat and plenty of wine in the locker and suffered no major mishaps. Equipment was very basic: a Taylor primus for cooking, Tiny Tot solid fuel stove for heat, a steering compass, a radio direction finder, a depth sounder that soon gave up the ghost and a taffrail log. The engine was a single cylinder hand cranked Volvo Penta diesel and we towed a plywood pram all the way down and back.
Ten months and many adventures later we arrived home in Halifax with no money and no place to live. I got a job, installed a Fawcett oil stove in the boat for heat and we lived aboard most of the following winter at Armdale Yacht Club, finally moving ashore a couple of months before our son was born.
In following years we spent summers sailing Lizzy Belle around Halifax and to the Bras d’Or Lakes, finally selling the boat in the early 1980s when the financial pressures of a growing family became too much to maintain house, family and boat. Eventually, as these things happen, we eventually managed to get ahead of the game and in the early 1990s I started to assemble materials to build a new boat, a 38’ John Atkin design. We launched the new boat in 1999, named Christina Grant after my mother, Lizzy Belle’s daughter, and christened by her (my mother that is) on her 80th birthday. We left that fall for the Caribbean via the east coast of the USA then offshore from Beaufort North Carolina to the Virgin Islands and returned the next year by way of Bermuda. Since then the CG has been sailed quite hard including trips to Maine, the Bras d’Or, St Pierre, Newfoundland, and Bermuda again. I sailed her singlehanded to Scotland in 2009, 14 days out of St John’s Nfld , and we saw some of the Hebrides and the west coast of Ireland. My eldest son and I sailed home this April, 21 days from Kinsale Ireland to Halifax. This summer he raced her to St Pierre double handed with a friend and delivered her back to St Peters so we could spend a couple of weeks in the Bras d’Or Lakes.
I rarely go aboard the CG without a passing thought about my father and the Lizzy Belle without whom I am sure my life and that of my wife and family would have been much tamer. Yours too perhaps.
I’ve been invited to join my friend Michael Higgins to sail in the Antigua Classic Yacht regatta this April aboard his boat Samara T which he built. Perhaps you will be there with Lizzy Belle. She would certainly be eligible."
Best wishes
Wilson
January 20th, 2013
You can't turn back the clock but you can wind it up again...
Lizzy Belle, Under Full Sail, Circa 1968
Building of Lizzy Belle, Marriotts Cove Yacht Builders, 1967
Launch of Lizzy Belle, Chester NS, July 1967
Mermaid, Great White or The Real Life Moby Dick? You decide...
As I understand it, when you forget to check out of the last country you have visited in the Caribbean, the next one you enter sends you back so you learn your lesson. That is exactly what was on my mind 7 hours into my 9 hour journey from Guadeloupe to Antigua as I was "That Guy". I was standing up on deck, a cold open can of tuna fish in my hand ( eating it with my fingers after I dropped my only plastic fork in the water a few minutes earlier ) pondering exactly what I was going to explain to Customs and Immigration Antigua to get out of having to make a 18 hour sail back in both directions again. That is when I saw it!
Pretty much exactly TWENTY EIGHT FEET off of Lizzy Belle's bow I saw a huge nostril spray of water shoot straight up into the air. I jammed LB in neutral, grabbed the camera, unclipped my harness ( sorry mom, unsafe I know ) and crawled/sprinted up to the bow of the boat. There she was, bobbing up and down, and hanging out right in front of us. A giant sea creature... and I had no idea what it was. No worries, it didn't have tenticles like that octopus in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. Although, I feel as though Lizzy Belle and I would have won that battle with our flare gun, my riggers knife and some fighting spirit. Anyway, we almost touched her back with the bow of LB that is how close we came. She certainly wasn't scared of us. After a few minutes of me asking, "Will you be our friend" and curiously saying, "what are you anyway, a MERMAID?" she dove back into the deep leaving a current of water flushing up at us on the surface.
So the investigation continued... We sent the pics to my main man Mark McLean at Fisheries and Oceans Canada and his team of experts identiied our sea creature as a Sperm Whale. His advice was simple, watch out for the white ones as they are dangerous. I say, bring it on Moby Dick! Lizzy Belle may be the underdog around here but we've got enough heart to take on ten sperm whales and the octopus from Pirates of the Caribbean. Then we would write the sequel to Moby Dick on top of that. Okay, maybe not but Lizzy Belle does have a heart that cannot be reckoned with.
All and all, good times. Thanks for your help Mark! Lizzy Belle and I had the opportunity to admire her charming beauty and are thankful for it.
Ohhhhh and as for Customs and Immigration Antigua. Lizzy Belle and I sweet talked them through the "2010 until now mission" of saving LB in the dockyard back in Bridgewater, NS and her adventure through to the Caribbean. The entire customs office huddled around my iPad as I shared a slideshow of photographs of our journey over the last three years. LB must have won them over and as quickly as we arrived they stamped our passport and we were sipping cold beer half an hour later.
Right now I'm working on Tyler Hill Camp stuff, fixing the transmission cables and looking forward to meeting up with Doug, Robin, Al, Michele and of course...waiting on two of my favourite deckhands from NS who arrive on the 21st.
Talk soon,
Lizzy Belle, our new friend Moby Dick and Captain Ron
January 15th, 2013
Moby Dick, 10 miles Southwest of Antigua
The best story I have is when I was given the menu at the pizzeria at the north end of town. As I was handed the menu I scanned it for anything that I could relate to. Of course, PIRATE PIZZA! How could I go wrong? Perfect I thought! I then ordered a beer and with a huge smile on my face, THE PIRATE PIZZA PLEASE! And man did they deliver; they put that bad boy in front of me and I was so excited. A beautiful brick oven baked 22 inch pizza all to myself. I thought, "This will feed me for days". I dug right in, with a knife and fork of course ( yeah right ). All of a sudden I could taste the combination of salty fish, olives and oddly enough... mango. I pulled the cheese off to investigate further and that is exactly what it was. Tuna Fish, Olives, Mango and Cheese Pizza. Is this really the type of Pizza the Pirates of the 17th century yearned for? Is this what Columbus's Cook was brewing up in the galley when he discovered the new world. Even my favourite pirate Blackbeard would have sprinkled some gunpowder on it to add a little spice. I can't imagine. I would have expected something like Wild Boar Salami, with a very manly Montreal Steak Spice, throw some Beef Jerky in for desert and I would have been the happiest Caribbean "Pirate Wannabe" living in the 21st Century.
Regardless, I smiled every time the waitress came by and asked which I assume was, "How is your meal"? I answered Qui, Qui with my thumbs up. I can't complain, I got up the next morning and ate the leftovers after leaving them sit out on deck all night. Probably not sanitary, whoops.
Moral of the story: Listen to your parents and learn a second language and you will get better pizza in Guadeloupe!
January 12th-14th, 2013
Pirate Pizza!
I may not have realized when as I was scraping by in Grade 7 French Class at Mahone Bay, Junior High School how important it may have been on my life. Like everything else at that age the advice given to me from my parents and teachers came second to friendships and looking like "the cool guy" - which at that time was made up of shooting spit balls at the ceiling and skipping school to go skateboarding. Once again, I should have paid more attention to those who were looking out for me. Lesson learned 15 years later...
On my unexpected visit to Deshaies, Guadeloupe is where I found myself reflecting on French Class in Junior High School. This town was like no other I have visited yet on our journey through the Caribbean. It had all the attributes of a traditional caribbean town, except everyone spoke french and not one person spoke fluent english. It was actually a great challenge and experience getting through every conversation waving my arms in the air, pointing at Lizzy Belle and always grinning with a huge smile on my face to give off the vibe that I was a good dude who belonged here in Gualeoupe.
Deshaives, Guadeloupe after sunset
January 13th, 2013
A Few Thoughts on Sailing Singlehanded - Part 1
I have always had the urge to sail somewhere on my own; to sail without having someone to bounce ideas off of and problem solve; to sail without the safety of asking for help or feeling as though, “at least we are in this together”. I have always had the urge to realize that I am 100% responsible for all decisions ... and consequently, 100% responsible for any possible outcome.
Rarely are we truly alone. And by being alone I don’t mean reading a book in another room, or going for a walk by yourself. Usually, we still relish the comfort of connecting with someone else, mostly people who we trust and love, people that make us feel okay in uncomfortable situations.
Ask yourself...Have you ever actually been truly alone? How would you feel if you were absolutely on your own.
Here are the hardest things I have found about being by myself on the water:
1. Lack of help when needed the most. I’m always harnessed into Lizzy Belle when I’m alone. The tasks of crawling back and forth from the cockpit to the bow to fix sails, un-snag my jib sheet, etc. becomes exhausting and most of the time quite frustrating. It would be nice to take turns and ask for help if needed. Everything also takes more time and extra planning. I have to think through each move that has to be made before I even start. After executing I then reevaluate and try and improve my technique.
2. Eating - There is no time to sit down and make a meal when you are singlehanded. Every meal has to be prepared beforehand and kept in a cooler by my feet within reach. The only time I leave the cockpit is if something more important needs to be tended too. I never go below unless there is a problem. I often think, "I could really go for that peppered steak right now"!
3. Fatigue - The longest singlehanded sail I have had has been 16 hours straight ( which isn't much ) and I was cold, wet and exhausted by the end of it. I feel as though fatigue reduced my motivation to do anything extra to busy my mind - like shooting photographs or looking at the stars. I remember my head actually falling into my chest with my eyes closed at one point and then of course the next giant wave sprayed up over the bow of Lizzy Belle and woke me back up..
5.Docking - It’s quite the task to dock Lizzy Belle when you are alone. She doesn’t back down very well and then having to manage three docking lines so they don’t end up wrapped around LB’s propellor takes time and practice...not to mention the anxiety that surrounds running into someone else’s boat!
Although these reflections make things sound tough when sailing Lizzy Belle singlehandedly for long periods of time the positives very much outweigh the negatives. My next article will articulate the highlights of sailing singlehanded.
HEARING VOICES: “While crossing the Pacific. I heard distant voices inside the boat. It sounded like a group of people having a conversation in a foreign language, as over a radio broadcast. I have never had this experience with short voyages, so it is not simply because of water on the hull. Fatigue must play a role”. Andrew Evans, Thoughts, Tips, Techniques & Tactics for Singlehanded Sailing.
“Single handed sailing is the only sport where one needs to be physically, mentally and emotionally ready, just to finish”.
Andrew Evans on Foolish Muse.
Author of Thoughts, Tips, Techniques & Tactics for Singlehanded Sailing.
SHORT PERSONAL STORY:
I know i’m not in same category as Andrew Evans when it comes to sailing singlehanded or writing for that matter but I do have one story where I was convinced I heard a young girl faintly calling for help. It was around 3am and I hadn’t gotten much sleep before I left port. I was sure I heard someone calling for help from behind me while sitting in Lizzy Belle's cockpit. I grabbed the Maglight and frantically lit up the waters all around her. I looked for anything out of the ordinary that would make a reflection. After a few minutes of searching and then reasoning with myself I sat back down and made the decision that it had to be nothing. Impossible, I decided. It stayed with me afterwards until the sun was rising in the east and I became more comfortable with my surroundings.
Chilling out, drying out and drinking coffee after a long 16 hour sail.
Full moon, Puerto Rico, 2011
When you think you have your plan figured out everything can change within moments. The plan was to sail from Nevis and point Lizzy Belle as close to Antigua as possible. Antigua is directly upwind from Nevis. I woke up at 1am and Lizzy Belle was underway 15 minutes later. As the sun was rising in the east 6 hours later we were about 5 miles off of Monserrat and still 25 miles from Antigua. I decided to see if the winds and swell would allow us to comfortably motor-sail upwind to home base. Well, after five minutes of getting beat around from all angles the plan changed dramatically. Go downwind was the answer! This worked out really well. The sails went back up and I headed west around the sleeping giant. Soufrie Hills Volcano, Monserrat first erupted in 1995 and then more seriously in 1997. The people were evacuated and Soufie destroyed the capital, Plymouth. With the sails up Lizzy Belle and engine off we quietly coasted to the Southwest of the volcano carefully staying 3 miles off the island as we didn’t want to get covered in ash. Messy stuff to get off your boat I hear from the old-timers at the bar. With the binoculars I could see historic looking windmill towers and buildings buried in volcanic ash. There were huge boulders scattered down the side of the hill that looked like a mud slide into the ocean. I could see the ashes floating in the wind and at one point - directly downwind - I could taste and smell what I thought was sulphur in the air. I studied the island as we cruised by and started to feel relieved of having to change my sail plan.
The decision to abort Antigua and head around the Southwest side of Monserrat ended up being quite important to me and an experience i'll remember. I’m not sure I have ever been 3 miles away from an active volcano or ever will again. Especially, from the ocean being propelled by sails. Pretty cool stuff!
From Monserrat the task was still heavy. We had a 35 mile sail to Guadaloupe and as always, had to get there before dark to properly anchor and enter the harbor of Deshairs safely.
Monserrat, Soufrie Hill's Volcano January 11th, 2013
January 4th - 11th, 2012
Nevis and Saint Christopher
Clouds seem to always cover the peaks of these picturesque dormant volcanic islands. Christopher Columbus named Nevis, “Nuestran Senora del las Nieves” which translates into “Our Lady of the Snows”. That is no surprise to me as I look up at the volcano and it reminds me of my snowboarding days spent hanging out on top of Whistler Mountain, BC. The clouds look the exact same as those blizzard looking fogged in tips of the Rocky Mountains.
I had way more time to explore Nevis than I did St Kitts. Nevis completely gives off vibrations one might extract from a Bob Marley song. Laid back and very caribbean. The Nevisian people were extremely nice and willing to help me in every way possible. They would approach me on the beach and ask, “Ya came off that liddle boat rite dere”? In a very hard to understand caribbean accent. They then pointed to Lizzy Belle, would stare at her for a while, look at me, look back at Lizzy Belle, smile and walk away shaking their heads. Lizzy Belle takes it all as compliments.
One day my new neighbours ( and new friends living on the sailboat beside LB ) and I headed out on a walking adventure around the island. With no plans we headed straight for - where we thought - the locals lived. The farther we walked, the more we discovered. The coolest part was that everywhere we went there were all types of edible fruits growing on all the trees around us. We ate freshly picked mangos as we walked and embraced the smiles of the local people hanging out on their porches.
As Lizzy Belle and I get deeper into the caribbean one thing is for sure. The people are not surrounded - or influenced - by huge Mc Donald’s arches or colorful Coca Cola signs. Images that effect North Americans everyday. When Nevisian's want to eat out they go to the local restaurants - which I found out in one case was the lady up the road with a piece of paper hanging on her porch that had the word MENU written at the top. Her living room was also the dinning area. Fresh juices are sold on the street in reused plastic water bottles. The hair dresser just has “hairdresser” written on the side of her house. And people's needs seem to be simply met by their friendly neighbour. A very beautiful culture to observe and be a part of.
Thank you Nevisian’s, I will be back. Headed to Antigua
Saint Christopher from Lizzy Belle
By far, my favourite house on the Island of Nevis. I would definitely live here.
Pregnant Goat
This poor little goat was stuck in a sewer drain that was about 6 feet high lining the edges of a highway in Nevis. We heard a goat voice that was desperately crying for help and explored further. Eventually after my friends and I pleaded with some locals a gentleman and I got down in the sewer drain and lifted her and her baby to be to safety. Then she made goat noises at us and returned to desperately looking for her pack. They were all reunited in the end. Good job goat!
December 27th 2012 - January 4th 2013
A family that sails together, stays together!
I would guess it would be hard to imagine sharing a space only twenty eight feet long and nine feet wide with three people. A space where you have to sleep together, cook together, use the bathroom together and overall be patient with each other. Now add rolling swells, rain, wind and always having to squeeze by each other to get a little bit of personal space. I figure that if we can do all of that, sail over 170 miles in ten days and still look each other in the eye in the end; than that would be the definition of family. I don't have to lie though, of course we had our moments of being irritable, sure there were a few small disagreements and restlessness within the cabin. I even made my old man promise to give me a free "I'm sorry card" in return for a "okay, you were right card". At the end of the day we were always smiling. And at the end of the day, I'm sure he really was right. We won't let him know that though.
Lizzy Belle made big moves. Our first crossing to St Martin from the British Virgin Islands was over 80 miles and took about 14 hours overnight. The moon was out and we were travelling directly up wind. The passage is called the Anegada Passage and is always talked about among Captains. The swells push in from the North and the trade winds prevail from the East. This presents confused seas and unpredictable pyramid looking waves. It's hard on the boat and very hard on the crew. We pushed through at around 5 knots. The only moment I was worried was when I had to jump in the water in the middle of the night to check the propellor. It was fine, my parents were howling at how fast I pulled myself back out though. Scary stuff, funny for them.
Once we dried out in St Martin we cruised over to St Bart's where we found a peaceful, deserted cove. This where we spent the night. By far a highlight of the trip. We drank, ate peppered steaks on the BBQ and I went for a hike around the surrounding hills.
The next morning we cleared customs and headed on a 40 mile sail down to St Kitt's. Lizzy Belle was truly performing averaging around 7 knots getting us over the passage in a little more than three hours. We then motored up the coastline surrounded by peaceful volcanoes and deserted sugar cane plantations. We all agreed that this was the type of culture we were looking for. This is the beginning of a unique caribbean experience.
We spent the night anchored outside of a marina named Port Zante Marina. The boat was rocking all night and none of us got any sleep. We cleared customs the next morning and booked a slip in the marina. The price was very reasonable at 14 dollars a night. I think I could actually live here with a price like that.
We said goodbye the next morning as my parents jumped on a plane and headed North again. It's snowing at home in NS and I'm not sure that they were too enthusiastic to leave. The dogs are calling them home though and I'm sure the grandchildren will be happy with the presents Grammie is brining home for them. All and all great vacation, great experiences and of course memories that will last a lifetime. Lindsay Welsford, you were missed greatly. Talk to you soon!
Much love and thank you, Captain Dave
Heading South to Nevis, Monserrat and Guadeloupe
I insisted that I was the Captain of the boat. My old man insisted he was the Captain Of Life. I guess he wins this round...this time anyway :)
You never know who you are going to meet at the beach...
I was walking the beach and a woman and her daughter approached me asking why I was climbing to the top of my mast earlier that day. After meeting the rest of the family, Mike, Traci, Danielle and Mikaela all became very close friends quite quickly. We enjoyed talking over the film “Captain Ron” which we all agreed was a family classic. They even got into the spirit the day we went sailing to Buck Island exchanging my large collection of bandanas and rubbing white Zinc on our noses. At the end of the day I became their very own Captain Ron and sailing as a team will never be forgotten. Shout out to my friends in Orange County, California. Thanks for being my friend!
December 25th 2012
Tyler Hill Camps Siegel Famly join us
from the Oasis of the Seas
10:45am, New York Time, Lindbergh Bay: We headed South out of Lindbergh Bay towards the open ocean with Skipper Maddie on the tiller, Joey acting as First Engineer and Dylan running the ropes and organizing the deckhands. Andy grabbed the Jib Halyard, raised the sails and instantly harnessed the wind. As we picked up speed Joey killed the engine and we plotted our course towards Whistling Cay taking charge of the winds sweeping off the mountains behind us.
12:30pm, Whistling Cay: Maddie, Joey and Dylan all spit in the lens of their goggles and wiped them clean with their bare fingers. Like professionals on TV they held their masks in one hand and plunged into the depths of the Caribbean Sea off the stern of Lizzy Belle. Snorkelling around in 20 feet of water over a magnificient coral reef we dove, we explored and we discovered the creatures in the depths below. The colours were unbelievable. Andy, it being his birthday and realizing he had become one year older on the day decided to challenge fate and stare one of the largest Baracuda Lizzy Belle has ever come across straight in the eyes. Obviously, that fish backed down and we were happily sailing within the hour.
1:30pm, Preserverance Cove - We dropped the hook 500 yards from
our completely deserted beach. Maddie and Dylan took turns driving the dingy to and from the beach delivering our cooler, drinks and the BBQ. Andy jumped on the
BBQ and grilled up some skewers of all types. The girls swam, laughed and ran the beach as we moved slowly into late afternoon.
4:30pm - Beachcomber Hotel: We made it safely back to the Beachcomber Hotel with plenty of time to get everyone back to the Oasisi of the Seas and happily on their way to St Marteen. It was Andy's birthday, a great day of sailing and a moment that will most definitely be remembered. Thanks again Siegel family for joining Lizzy Belle and I on our adventure and continuing to have a positive impact on our lives.
December 18th 2012
"It's amazing to think that we have known each other for ten years".
Andy Siegel
See you soon,
Dave Welsford
Captain/Division Leader
Tyler Hill Camp
Siegel Family Portrait, Lindbergh Bay
Joey, Maddie and Dylan snorkelling for the first time. March, 2012 - Oasis of the Seas vs Lizzy Belle
"It's amazing to think that we have known each other for ten years".
Andy Siegel
December 27th 2012
One thing about owning a sail boat...
Those who know me well might say that I’m always working on being more patient. One of the best ways to practice patience, is has been owning a sailboat. Lizzy Belle has by far been one of the most rewarding investments of my lifetime so far. And every time I fix one thing, there are four more chores to add to the list. After installing a brand new engine and getting ready to head out on my next journey I was quick to realize that reverse on the transmission was actually forward and of course the opposite. It was a task to remove the old propellor and try and figure out the measurements to order a new one. One thing was certain, It needed to be a right handed prop vs a left.
We ordered the brand new propellor from our home community. The boys at the Lunenburg Foundry reshaped her for me and my parents eagerly arrived the day after Christmas prop in hand. It took only 45 minutes to install the new propellor and is working seamlessly with our new engine. Lizzy Belle has become a rocket ship.
Now Heading 90 miles East to St Maarten.
7 Short Stories on Ol'Beltzie...
February 11th- 20th, 2013
It was around 8:30pm when Beltzie and I decided to learn how to play dominos. Beltzie read the instructions and off we went slapping dominos down on the table below decks. We played a few games before I went up to relieve myself off the stern. I looked around and yelled, "Beltzie" I think we are adrift. Beltz, in shock, popped his head out of the companionway and we agreed that we had broken free of the rented mooring ball . This wouldn't have been serious except for the fact that we were only 15 feet from a rocky shoreline and about to drift into a damaged cradle ( part of an old wharf ). Without panic, we hauled in the remains of the mooring ball and started the engine. Beltz, on the tiller drove Lizzy Belle to safety and we headed half a mile offshore. I got on the radio asking for help and within a few minutes a local gentlemen came out and greeted us. He wasn't the owner of the original mooring but he happily offered us his private mooring for the night. We thanked him profusely as he helped us get settled onto our new float.
The next morning we put a few dollars in a plastic bag, tied it to the mooring and waved goodbye to our new friend as he sipped coffee on his patio. With a smile on his face he saluted our departure. As we sailed Beltzie and I reflected on our near demise acknowledging it's similarity to a house on fire. If LB hit the rocks, it would have been the end of not only our adventure but our current home. Perhaps it was simply a reminder from Lizzy Belle to her handlers that vigilance on the water is constant and crucial for survival.
Chris Beltz ...and his neverending smile
Saint-Pierre before the volcanic eruption. Circa 1900, Martinique
Dominica greeted us with a glimpse of a giant Volcano, Mount Pelee, overlooking the town of St Pierre.
Ol'Beltzie and I researched the history of the local geography. Here is the scoop...
An eruption; including mud, lava, boiling gases and rocks, came crashing down on the town of St Pierre a little after 8 am on May 8th, 1902. The town glowed red and the mountain burst open again with more force than an atomic bomb. An estimated 30,000 people were burned to death leaving only two survivors. A cobbler named Leon and a murderer named Cyparis. Cyparis later joined the circus in the United States showing off his body full of burns from the lava surrounding his jail cell. There were twelve ships in the bay at the time of the disaster and all but one sunk. Many of the ruins still remain. We toured the streets over the next few days, experiencing the Mountain of Flowers and envisioning the devastation that plagued the area just 100 years before.
Escaping a disaster...
Madina - Mountain of Flowers ( Martinique )
38 Nautical Miles to Martinique
I asked Beltzie what his favourite moment of the trip was? He responded quickly, "Crossing from Dominica to Martinique". "There is something about being on the open ocean, tethered to the hull and dawning a CSA fully certified PFD that seriously heightened the adventure". I agreed, and we relived the moment when one huge wave rose over the bow of Lizzy Belle, hovered over us for a fraction of a second with a wicked grin and then crashed heavily over her decks... completely filling Lizzy Belle's cockpit! It was awesome and LB rose once again to Nature's challenge.
I found myself thinking about it later... Although Beltzie may not be a strong swimmer, and he may not have much sailing experience; if there was one crew member I could rely on in a sticky situation at sea, I would completely trust Chris Beltz in doing so. I would head offshore any day with him on board Lizzy Belle and I know I could rely on him to get her back safely to port.
A Pirates Church
Pickled Eggs and Rice Surprise
Ripped Sails - No problem
The Green Flash...
Living on a Lizzy Belle essentially means you sleep when the sun goes down and you wake with the sun. The bells of Martinique's Pirate Church clearly have their own schedule! The Pirate Church sits magestically on the coast line of Saint-Pierre. It seems the pirates of the Caribbean donated their "booty" to keep the church up and running. Who knew pirates went to church!
Ol'Beltzie had the urge to discover the inside the building, so it didn't take long before he was coaxing me up the stairs into the bell tower. "Just pretend you are working for National Geographic!" he told me. I couldn't help but laugh as I climbed the seemingly vertical staircase. The minute I reached the top Beltzie was galloping back down. I looked up and felt the thrill and slightly controlled panic of a safari shoot! BATS! Everywhere! Of course Ol'Beltzie had intruded on their belfry hideaway, no wonder he belted passed me on the stairs!
We ventured back up the bell tower armed with cameras determined to capture the true horror of the scene . We disturbed the bats peace once again and captured some dramatic action shots that would make Hitchcock proud!
The real reward was studying the casting of the huge bells and we were thankful the ghosts of the Pirate bell-ringers were unaware of our presence (or so it seemed!)
We managed to safely work our way down and congratulated ourselves on the final step for not getting caught by the french police, priests, or the ghosts of church-going pirates!
Beltz's one recollection of our Pirate Church adventure during a celebratory beer: "Dave, I think when I looked up and first saw the bats, my jaw dropped in panic...and something landed in my mouth". I couldn't help but laugh...
Good times for sure!
I must admit we were pretty happy with ourselves when we discovered that we could easily make pickled eggs by simply buying a jar of dill pickles, eating them and using the leftover juice to pickle our eggs. Herreshoff would be proud!
However the truly interesting story came when we bought a bag of rice... It was getting dark. Ol'Beltzie was preparing dinner over LB's stove using a head lamp to light the way. It was perfect, corned beef, carrots from a can and or course... white rice. Beltzie lifted the cover off the pot and it appeared some of the rice had turned black. I watched as Beltz, now deemed head chef, dug out the black specs and set them aside on the deck for disposal on clean up after dinner. We happened to glance down on the deck at the same time as things started moving . I looked up at Beltz and he looked at me (blinding me of course because he was still wearing the headlamp!) - and with a shock in his voice said, "there appears to be more than rice in this bag!"... Most of us would have tossed the rice overboard but Beltzie (still head chef:) ended that same phrase with, "well ...whatever... they've been boiled...so at least they are sterile!". I looked at him with a smirk on my face and without hesitation Beltzie portioned out our supper and we ate...everything! We think Herreshoff would be ever prouder with this display of bravery (and hunger)!
The great thing about Ol'Beltzie is that he can always turn a negative situation into a positive one. We were crossing Martinique's largest harbour, Fort De France when I had to douse the sail when with little warning a squall hit . I returned to the cockpit to tell Beltzie the bad news. .. we had a rip in our Jib sail. Not too large, maybe six inches but I wasn't able to justify putting the sail back up and having it tear apart. So we started the engine and motored the next five miles or so.
On our way into the next harbour I mentioned the sail situation again - I wasn't upset but kinda bummed there was one more fairly major thing to deal with on Lizzy Belle - Beltzie says with that tremendous smile of persuasion, "Hey, now we have something to do this afternoon"! I nodded, smiled... and agreed. That is how we spent our afternoon , researching the process, collecting the right tools and then repairing LB's sail. She was up and running the next day and thankful to be back in action. With every sail full we crossed the harbour and anchored directly under the giant walls of Fort De France, a 400 year old fortress.
Good on ya Beltzie, thanks for your help, your enthusiasm and positive outlook on life.
Every evening Beltzie and I sat in Lizzy Belle's cockpit and watched the sunset. Among other things, we joked a lot about whether the "green flash" phenomenon was real or fake. I explained that when the sun goes down in the Caribbean right before it hits the horizon line one may see - if they are lucky - a green flash. Beltzie joined us for ten days and we didn't see any flashes whatsoever. What we did see were countless beautiful rainbows resulting from the squalls that passed by randomly throughout the day. This prize of a photograph below was taken off of Saint-Pierre around 4:30pm and we couldn't have been luckier to have a sailboat under full sail passing beneath this spectacular demonstration of nature's artistry...the sailers seemingly arriving at "the end of the rainbow". Most definitely not something one sees everyday and perhaps something we will never see again.
Ol'Beltzie, you will be missed and always welcomed back. Thank you for your support, your company, courage and friendship! Lizzy Belle loves you. Talk to you soon brother!
Large set of stairs leading to the bell towers of the "Pirates Church"
All together there were three very large brass bells and more bats than I could count.
Pickled Eggs, Saint-Pierre
Rip in the Jib, Martinique
Using sail tape, Beltzie took charge of repairing LB's sails
A once in a lifetime photograph, Saint-Pierre
"There was a time when sailboats were made of wood, and sailors made of iron."
February 1st - 5th, 2013
Eduardo and I hanging out at his street side Art Gallery, Les Saintes
I was told about Les Saintes two years ago in the Mug and Anchor pub (Mahone Bay, NS) by friends who described it as the highlight of their trip through the Caribbean. They recalled dreamily, "If only I could have spent more time there". Upon arrival I could see instantly why this set of volcanic islands has become so attractive to yachters. Absolutely, unspoiled tropical beauty... Looking up into the hills you can see the ruins of old fortresses built to protect the town. The snorkelling is excellent and easy, and there are hiking trails set up for all skill levels. The town is small and quaint. The local people gather together every morning to drink coffee and nibble on sandwiches made with hot and steamy fresh french baguettes. Transportation is a mix between bicycles, small cars, scooters and I even saw a gentleman with a electric powered longboard! As interesting as this place was for me there is one experience I believe that will always stand out when I reflect back on my travels throughout the Caribbean. The afternoon I spent hanging out and sharing stories with an artist named Eduardo Klehk .
Eduardo, Sailor and Artist. Les Saintes
Lizzy Belle Portrait, Les Saintes
Eduardo Klehk, Sailor and Artist. Les Saintes
It caught me off guard when I shook Eduardo's hand as his English was flawless. Everyone else in the community had only spoken French to that point and I had become accustomed to explaining myself with facial gestures and inventive sign language. He reached his hand out immediately and I couldn't help but notice three missing fingers. Without even asking Eduardo said, "Lost my fingers sailing singlehanded off Nova Scotia back in 1983, that was my first sailing mistake...and wasn't the last". I smiled and told him that was where I was from, and we agreed that it does get cold in the winter up there. Eduardo was happy to share his life stories with me and his tones and unique ways of explaining himself kept me engaged for an entire afternoon.
Eduardo crossed the Atlantic Ocean four times alone, each only using a sextant and a compass. He said he would radio cargo ships as he saw them in the distance to confirm his position. He mentioned one boat took on so much water that he spent most of his time below manually pumping it out rather than sitting on deck sailing. Eduardo also shared how he was sailed the Caribbean in the old days, before charter boat companies. His words were, " I don't mean to be old and complaining... there is so much happening these days that just isn't right..." he continued, " Now in the Caribbean, yes there is so much diversity...without any culture, feelings of vanity is everywhere".
I asked Eduardo, if looking back he would change anything about his adventures sailing around the world? He said, "No, I never wanted to be a doctor or engineer. I was always on the side of arts and feelings". That is why Eduardo said he took up painting and began selling his work on each island he sailed to. He has been living aboard boats for 28 years and was currently stuck in Les Saintes with a bad battery. I wanted to help but realized Lizzy Belle can not afford to lose one of her batteries... so instead I decided it was best to support his work as an artist and maybe that would help him on his way. I commissioned Eduardo to paint a portrait of Lizzy Belle that I could take home and give to my nephews. He happily agreed, packed up his gallery and headed off to his boat to begin immediately. When I finally saw him again two days later he was finished and proud to present me with his work. It was exactly what I expected and couldn't have been happier.
I asked Eduardo about his next destination? He explained it was time for him to go home to Argentina and find a simple life in the mountains. He felt as if he was getting old and it was time to find a place to rest in solitude. The last question I asked Eduardo before we went our separate ways was why he enjoyed sailing singlehanded? He answered, "To me, it is simply because I enjoy being self reliant."
Good luck on your travels Eduardo,
Lizzy Belle is off to Dominica...singlehanded...
The process of making a documentary is one of discovery. Like writing a story, you follow a lead and that leads you to something else and then by the time you finish, the story is nothing like you expected. Stay tuned...
February 16th- March 8th, 2013
Kevin and I worked day and night. We sailed, we hiked, we watched, we listened, we recorded and re-recorded. We were making a movie and in doing so realizing how to tell the Lizzy Belle Story...
I first met Kevin Fraser in a classroom at the Nova Scotia Community College in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It was the Fall of 2002 and we were young, ambitious and both saw the world through a different lens! Kevin came from Pictou, Nova Scotia and I remember we shared similar interests. Kevin was always skateboarding to school on the same sidewalk as me and he also had a passion for videography. At the end of that year we ended up roommates in a small basement apartment. From there we spent time living, working and hanging out all over North America. We have learned how to counsel young campers in Pennsylvania, launch off snow covered peaks in the Rocky Mountains while snowboarding, we've driven across the country together and now we can say we sailed Lizzy Belle throughout the Windward Islands of the Southeastern Caribbean...and made a documentary on sailing and the lifestyle of a sailor.
Kevin shooting a timelapse of the sunset behind Lizzy Belle, St Vincent
In the beginning...
A few local boys flexing their muscles with me and entertaining the camera, St Lucia
Kevin met Lizzy Belle in Martinique the day before Beltzie flew back to Washington, DC. One of the first things I realized was the few clothes Kevin packed for the journey. What was really cool was that he sacrificed the space to bring all his camera gear to properly document Lizzy Belle's Adventures. He had multiple DLSR's, sound recorders, mounting systems, tripods and underwater camera housings. He brought it all!
There was one thing Kevin was missing when he arrived. The skateboards he had arranged to be mailed to a local hotel. It took us three days of trying to track them down before customs, the US Postal Service and finally the two of us realized that they were never going to show. We sailed away later that day without any idea of their whereabouts It does bring a smile to my face however when I think of the possibility of two customs and immigration officer's kids skateboarding the hills of Martinique on our longboards. What can you do?? Absolutely nothing, but smile and remind ourselves...this is the Caribbean!
From there, we headed South. Kevin grabbed the tiller and we crossed to St Lucia. In Rodney Bay Kevin spent multiple sunsets and sunrises photographing Lizzy Belle under singlehanded sailing. In doing so I ripped the Jib and subsequent potential for disaster! A call went out over VHF to other cruisers in the bay asking for the use of any sewing machine in the vicinity. Lizzy Belle, as always, was in luck. A couple from South Africa, currently sailing around the world, invited us aboard their yacht and we spent the morning repairing the sails.
Lizzy Belle's Galley was turned into a recording studio each morning and Kevin interviewed me about LB and our Caribbean adventures. We touched on some interesting topics including the challenges of sailing alone to friendships, family, adventure... maintenance, repairs, the bond of sailors, various cultures encountered in every port and so much more. The documentary will no doubt be one not easily forgotten.
Half way through Kevin's trip aboard Lizzy Belle we set sail for St Vincent. A truly remarkable Island and by far one of my personal favourites. St Vincent has a bad reputation among cruisers possibly because of the Marijuana Growers Association which consists of a very large group of farmers protecting their crops with whatever means necessary. We heard stories of everything from police raids invading their farms for personal profit to ongoing fights with the St Lucian's about who owes who what money and why. It was the first Island that when the locals told me not to venture into the country side I took heed and followed their advice.
Because of all the local controversy it allowed Kevin and I to enjoy an island that hadn't been overrun by tourists. There was nobody visiting this island and Kevin and I took full advantage. Lizzy Belle was finally alone and feeling proud because in many cases she was the only foreign boat in the harbour. We shot plenty of footage on the beaches, in the towns and on top of mountains overlooking the beautiful bays. The local people were phenomenal, they gave us directions, showed us where to get a better angle and invited us into their homes.
Kevin stayed on Lizzy Belle for eighteen days. We laughed, drank, ate and talked nonstop about the interesting things we came across. Kevin stayed with us until Carriacou where I met my parents the day after he left. Kevin got his sea legs on this Caribbean adventure. He made 4 large crossing taking control of LB each time. He slept in both flat calm conditions and seas that were not so comfortable. He washed, ate and began living the "sailor way" as I had been for months. I actually think he began to enjoy it! Most importantly, although we were focused on the film, we will remember the documentary entirely differently than it will ever be possible to show on the big screen...we will remember it as two great friends on a high seas adventure! Much love Kevin, you will always be a part of the Welsford's lives! Thank You brother!
Lizzy Belle once again becomes a recording studio, St Lucia
Kevin wanted a pic for his mom under the Pitons, we agreed he should be holding a machete, St Lucia
Shooting video from Lizzy Belle's Dinghy, St Lucia
Kevin shot these photo's of Lizzy Belle and I singlehanded, these photographs will be important to me and my family and I can't thank Kevin enough! Phenominal!
In the last 18 days my cameras have been stuffed in a bag and thrown in the ocean, clamped to a mast 25 feet off the deck, covered in sand and splashed with seawater countless times. Despite this punishment they worked hard and delivered to me everything I needed. In case you're wondering, I spent the last few weeks living on Lizzy Belle shooting a short documentary about Dave's life on a traditional 28 foot wooden boat. Working with Dave has spoiled me, I don't think I'm likely to find another documentary subject who has anywhere close to as much enthusiasm and ambition. Also Dave being a creative mind and a photographer made our collaboration strong and productive. He pushed me to shoot and would do absolutely anything to help me get the content I dreamed of. Now I just hope I can cut it into something worthy. Wish me luck.
Aside from shooting the movie, I don't even know where to start in order to begin to explain how much fun I had and how much I learned about sailing, the world and myself. Thank you Dave for inviting me to share this adventure.
Also I wanted to say thank to Ben at Grow Anthology for trying to send us a couple skateboards to help with filming. Dave should be riding a waterproof skateboard! http://www.growanthology.com/
Thoughts from Kevin's Editing Suite...
Screen Grabs from the Documentary
September 13th, 2013
Directed by Kevin Fraser
As of today Kevin has submitted the film to multiple film festivals around the continent. The film has gained multiple sponsors from all over the country and of course any support you can offer will be much appreciated. The film has an Indiegogo account where products are being auctioned off and donations can be made:
Support the Cause:
Final Thoughts:
One of my favorite pastimes while cruising from island to island whether in the middle of the night, while watching the sunrise in the east or set in the west is reflecting back upon how far Lizzy Belle has come and how she has impacted others. After coming across her sitting on the hard cement in Bridgewater, NS almost four years aga until now the one thing that stands out in my mind the most is - how much support and love everyone has offered Lizzy Belle and I. Whether that support has came from sanding and painting her haul, to donations of dockage fees, or having friends and family sit down and go over charts and share their personal sailing experiences with me, the support is what is keeping us going. And now, Kevin has found a way to share what Lizzy Belle means in an entirely new univerasl way. Although Lizzy Belle maybe a sailboat in most peoples eyes, she is far more than that. She shapes relationships, builds bridges and most importantly - brings people together. Thank you Kevin for all you have done for us!
People always ask, "So what do you do again, sail around the Carribbean?" and what I hear most often is, "Well, why would you want to do that?" From there I believe many dream up the ideals that surround a five month vacation - sipping maragitas in a hawaian shirt while dangling my feet in the water. As much as I explain the concepts and challenges that drive the project I understand how difficult it must be to envision such an endeavor.
If you asked me 6 months ago while filming in the Caribbean what Kevin's final project or vision would look like? I couldnt even have guessed myself. I think more importantly if you asked me what the messages behind the film would be, I also couldn't have answered. That is the beauty of documentary filmmaking and creating works with such deep thought towards purpose. Kevin started with an idea, worked through it and now we get to truly understand the real beauty and messages behind the mystique Lizzy Belle.
I beleieve, Kevin Fraser, a long time friend and cinematographer recognized the potential Lizzy Belle and the impact the story could have on an audience - possibly long before even I had. For me, Lizzy Belle is an accumulation of challenges, sweat, blood and tears all amounting to meaningful, impactful experiences. Until now, it must have been really hard to comprehend... even for myself.
Twenty Eight Feet: Sample Clip
I'm always asked "why"... now even I have a clearer understanding. Twenty Eight Feet - Official Documentary.
November 16th, 2013
VIMEO REPORTS SAY OUR TWENTY EIGHT FEET TEASER HAS BEEN VIEWED IN 52 COUNTRIES
In two weeks time I am headed back to Lizzy Belle who has been patiently waiting for my return for over 7 months. Although she is currently dry docked her spirit continues to gain fame. Our Twenty Eight Feet trailer has gone global. Kevin mentioned just yesterday that Vimeo's Analytics ( online video hosting site ) have tracked views in 52 countries. I will say, we have not done it alone! Friends and family posted links on facebook, twiiter and other social media sites and we thank them for their efforts. Fran and Ron Himmelman ( and friends ) from The Mug and Anchor Pub hosted an an event to raise money to help submit the film to more festivals. Michele Stevens Sailloft has been sending out emails to clients and friends. Just recently, WOODEN BOAT MAGAZINE gave the film and Lizzy Belle's website a shout out on facebook and we have been receiving email feedback and congratulations from many latitudes and longitudes!
Enjoy the fim my friends and thank you again for your support!
November 16th, 2013
KEVIN & MEL ATTEND DOC NYC SCREENING OF TWENTY EIGHT FEET: Life on a little wooden boat
Kevin and Mel - Director and Producer of Twenty Eight Feet - spent the last weekend attending DOC NYC in the Big Apple. This documentary film festival is held in Lower Manhattan each year and has become the country's largest documentary festival - hosting over 130 films. Their mission statement includes: Curate: To guide audiences to inspiring work. Kevin mentioned, as he gave me the play by play of how the festival was going down via email, that this festival was, "a serious documentary film festival" and that it is exciting for us to be a part of it. Twenty Eight Feet: Life on a little wooden boat opened for a feature film; TINY: A story about living small which documents a couples journey building a home smaller than a parking space. Well suited for Lizzy Belle's adventure.
From my understanding through correspondence with Kevin is that the film was a success and the audience enjoyed the story. Kevin mentioned he had many compliments after the showing and that he valued his time attending the festival. I am happy that together, they had the chance to see their vision on a larger screen, in a humungous city. Good on ya guys!
I think this little fella is a Giant Ameiva. Please send me a message if I am wrong and I will change it.