Old Albin27FC solo cruise from Charleston SC to New Orleans

[smacksman]

I bought Free State on an Ebay auction, sight unseen from my desk in London UK and flew out in March 2015 and spent a few weeks sorting her out and making her sea worthy.
Her HIN# indicates she was the fifth Albin27 built in 1983.
I originally planned to head north to my cousins in Canada but the Chesapeake was still frozen, let alone futher north, so made towards New Orleans instead.
70 plus year old bones need the warmth!
In 40 days I sailed her about 1800 miles with the only problem being the disintigration of a new raw water impeller, fitted in Charleston before I left, leaving me bouncing around in the Gulf while I fitted another new one.
Another irritant was the brand new Lowrance GPS Map refusing to fire up in Naples forcing me to revert to dead reckoning and paper charts on our way to Charlotte. Lowrance close their 'Help Desk'at weekends.
Standard sort of problems on a cruise.

Completed the last of ten videos of my trip last year - I had a fantastic time. Thank you America for your hospitality.
Links to youtube clips if it may interest you. Warning - they are very amaturish with a cheap camera :-

Part 1 - https://youtu.be/GthaDtl7eMc
Then in the description of each video is a link to the other 10 clips

Roger

[Nancy]

Wonderful videos, Roger! Thanks for posting.

[BobHaze]

I just sat and watched all 10 clips, and really enjoyed them! I'm glad you had such a nice trip and I almost hope Free State doesn't sell, so you can continue your American adventure. Jolly good!

[DesertAlbin736]

Amazing and inspiring! And I thought we had done something by trailering our 1971 Albin 25 over the road from Arizona to NY for a bit of the Erie Canal, driving to New England for a couple day trips on Long Island Sound then driving down to Maryland for two weeks cruising the Chesapeake Bay finally driving back to Phoenix during the very time you were working your way down the ICW to New Orleans. Our total miles on the water over the past two years including East Coast in 2015 and San Juans in Washington State and Gulf Islands in British Columbia in 2014 was about 700 NM altogether. We're pikers compared to your exploits! I tip my hat to you!

[smacksman]

I don't know about that, DesertAlbin, I think you have probable seen more of your oun country than most of the population!!
Travelling the world, I always find it difficult to get comparisons right, so I use the wonderful asset of Google Earth to get my proportions right. As you spin the world at the same altitude, you reduce the distortions of the Mercator Projection typical of paper maps.
So below is little old UK with her 60+ million residents on top of the US with 200+ million.



The USA is BIG!

[Tree]

I agree Roger the USA is Big not unlike Australia but I will add its cramped over here!

[DesertAlbin736]

Actually, our US population is over 300 million, maybe even closer to 320. But you know what, as you found in your travels we Yanks have a great affection for the British, the Canadians, and Kiwis. After all, we are all cousins so to speak & share the same language and culture, current US political craziness not withstanding. Arizona and the Southwest have some things in common with Australia, i.e. vast expanses of desert. It took us a week of driving 350 to 400 miles on average per day to get from Arizona to New England.

[Paul Nelson]

so, as of today, Friday, Feb 26, 2016.. are you still in New Orleans? .. We live here .. maybe get in touch with you? .
Paul Nelson.

[smacksman]

Hi Paul,
Free State is laid up ashore at Seabrook Harbor on the Navigation Canal.
Since June '15 I have been back home in the UK. But as the Albin hasn't sold I will be back in New Orleans in early April '16 to continue my adventure and try to sell her at the same time. I would love to meet you when I return and swap notes.
I hope you weathered the terrible storms/tornados earlier this week ok. I was watching their path very closely.
Roger Walker

[wlasci]

If you do come back to NOLA you would be welcome to tie up at my house. I have 30 Amp power, water and showers, and I would be happy to show you around the neighborhood. I have followed your U Tube posts since you started your trip. My wife and I have made several trips as far east as St. Marks FL as well as up to the beginning of the Tennessee River. We have put 3000 miles on our boat since we purchased it in Florida. Our 4D61 engine has 3000 hours with no major maintenance problems. I believe you picked a really great boat for your trip.

Thanks for the great videos.

Bill Yauger
AC27 " Lokahi"

[smacksman]

Thank you Bill for your offer. Another example of great American hospitality that I found in all my travels in your lovely country. I don't think I will be headed to the North Shore again but you never know.
I was very impressed by the Slidell Heritage Park - a great credit to your city.

[Mad Dog]

Thanks for posting the videos. I watched them last night. They are a great guide on frugal cruising!

Brendan

[smacksman]

Haha! Frugal is exactly the word - my pension is very limited!
My approach was to accept that a 30+ year old boat has some rough edges and may leak a bit here and there so long as I concentrated on making her seaworthy and reliable as a goal.

[Mark Deeser]

My wife and l really enjoyed your travel videos, they were inspiring. Thanks, Mark.

[smacksman]

I'm glad you enjoyed them Mark. I now regret I didn't explore the St. John River, but it could easily have been a week just doing that. Oh well, one can't do everything.
Fair winds, Roger