A Great Day for Sailing!

5 Aug 2026

With the repair of the cooling hoses fixed and improvements to the way the jib furling line is run forward, it was time to go out and give it all a try. Winds were from the south and predicted to be 8-10 knts. The direction is great because the York River runs east-west. Long runs up and down the river are easy, not requiring a lot of tacking.

So off Major and I went. The engine ran fine and maintained a cool temperature all the way out into the channel. Up went the sails and we were underway!

Ahead of us was Solace, the beautiful 41 foot Beneteau of the Sail Beyond Cancer organization. We had fun chasing her around for a while. Then, with the ideal wind, we turned east and headed down the York. The winds picked up even more, sustaining 10-14 knts with a few gusts that reached 21! Now THAT was some sailing! We hit a top speed of over 7 knts. It was all delightful.

We sailed all the way out of the York and into the mouth of Mobjack Bay. I was tempted to turn north and head towards Deltaville. I am planing a Deltaville trip soon and figured I’d get a little taste of what that route would be like. Alas, with the winds from the south, that would mean running down wind. I wasn’t set up for that and wasn’t in the mood for a lot of jibing. I’ll save that for when i have to do it on a planned trip, not on a pleasant little day sail.

So we came about and headed back up the river. The winds shifted a bit, requiring a few tacks but hey, that’s all part of the fun! We were joined by a pod of about eight dolphins for a short stretch. Major was napping and never saw them.

Furling in the jib went smoothly, thank goodness, as did the main. Started the engine up and headed back into the channel and the marina. As poorly as I docked the last time, I did well this time. (Maybe the last time it was due to the concern over the engine and jib.) Anyway, I slid the boat stern-to into to the slip for an A grade!

When the engine cooled down, I checked the coolant. 100% full! At least that problem is solved. New engine mounts and a new exhaust heat riser are on the way. Once those repairs are made, I will have much higher confidence in the engine to take any trip and run the engine for long periods of time.

Captain Bob

Engine Report Card is In

5 Aug 2026

The headsail furling issue is resolved, at least for now. The one bent tine on the fuler has been straightened and I have adjusted the way the line enters the drum. This has improved things. I tweak or two may be necessary but it should not give me any more trouble.

Ellis of Riverside Motor Works came to go over the engine. The pressure test fond a leak in a small hose on the engine. That was replaced and the leak issue seems to be solved. Unfortunately, other issues were found that need to be addressed. New motor mounts are needed and the heat riser and mixing elbow need to be replaced. This is part of the exhaust cooling system. It is not uncommon for it to need to be replaced, expecially after 25 years. I have located new motor mounts and the heat riser. Once received, that work will begin. I can do the installation but the engine will have to be realigned to the prop shaft. That will have to be done by a professional.

I took the boat out yesterday for a short sail. The furler worked fine and the engine remained cool so I am confident that these issues are resolved.

I had planned a 3-4 day trip next week. It is probaby best that long trips be postponed until the new motor mounts and heat riser are installed. That said, if the winds are favorable so that I would be under sail most of the way, I may do the first leg of that trip. Gloucester Point to Deltaville and back the next day. We’ll see.

Captain Bob

La Diosa Mar is out of Commission!

2 Aug 2026

At least for the next 4-6 days, La Diosa Mar is confined to the slip. The cooling issue needs to be resolved before sailing can resume. Running the engine for 10-15 minutes drops the coolant by a quart. Not good.

Nothing can happen until Ellis of Riverside Motor Works comes over to assess the situation. As I have come to find out, the boating community has it’s own unique sense of timing. They are all good and well meaning people but when they say they’ll be there on Wednesday, that means -0, +5 days. It’s pretty hard to make plans with that kind of unpredictability.

The first order of business is to do a pressure test. That will determine if there is a leak in the heat exchanger, which I am pretty certain is the case. Then we’ll determine what to do about it. Hopefully, the leak can be repaired, but worst case is a new heat exchanger.

I have a 3-4 day trip planned for Aug 10-13 so I hope this will all be resolved before then! Meanwhile, I am catching up on small chores and projects. I have some sails on Solace for Sail Beyond Cancer coming up so that is at least that.

Captain Bob

“Houston, we have a problem…”

29 Jul 2026

Things started out as expected. Launching from the slip was uneventful. As I cleared the docks and made the turn into the channel, it started. The engine temperature began climbing—far too quickly for how little time it had been running.. As I assessed the situation, I felt I was too far into the channel to make the turn back to even the fuel dock under power. I had no choice but to put up the main sail ASAP and shut the motor down and head out into the York River.

At that point, it was clear that the intended mission was not possible. The plan was to sail well down the York and into Mobjack Bay as a precursor to a 3-day trip I have planned for August 10-13. That plan was now scrubbed. Now, it was a matter of just getting all the way back to the marina. (Drama! Cue the Apollo 13 soundtrack!)

I put up the jib and headed out to well open water so I would have the time and distance to figure out what I was dealing with. Once clear of every possible hazard and traffic, either hoveto or on autopilot, I could investigate my situation. First check was the engine inlet seacock. Had I left it closed when inspecting the strainer? Nope. Next I had to check the engine coolant level. That is a procedure. I have to remove the companionway stairs and take off the engine cover box. In that state, I cannot get back into the cockpit so I would have a real problem if an emergency arose.

I took off the coolant cap and found… NOTHING. Well that was the issue. I filled it up (about a quart), closed everything up and took the helm again.

I did not want to risk a long motor back. I had no idea if I could make it all the way to the slip under power so I decided to sail as far into the channel as possible before furling and starting the engine. I sailed as close to the outer marker as I felt comfortable. The plan was to furl the jib and sail in the channel on the main, very slowly.

Ah, but my Apollo 13 adventure included another wrinkle. The jib furling line jammed in the roller furler. A problem I thought I'd fixed had returned at exactly the wrong moment. That meant that I would have to sail into the channel on the jib, not the main. And when the time came, I would have to lower it onto the foredeck while under way.

I furled in the main and headed down the channel. Luckily, traffic coming out of the marina was light and could easily pass me. I must have looked odd sailing into the channel like that. Not a typical thing to do with a boat this size.

When I was close enough to the marina, I started the engine, put it in forward idle under autopilot, and dropped the jib onto the deck. I kept the RPM low and watched the temperature gauge like a hawk. Thankfully, the engine behaved perfectly the rest of the way. A few minutes later, La Diosa Mar was safely back in her slip. Only then did my pulse return to something resembling normal.

The roller-furler problem turned out to be straightforward. One of the tines guiding the furling line had bent, and the lead angle into the drum needed adjustment. Both have now been corrected.

The coolant loss is still under investigation. My leading suspect is the original 25-year-old heat exchanger. If it has developed an internal leak, coolant could be finding its way into the raw-water side and disappearing out the exhaust. Time—and a mechanic—will tell.

Captain Bob

Another Sunset Cruise

25 Jul 2026

A family asked to take a sunset sail to celebrate a birthday. Again, the forecast was for light winds and clouds but we were treated to spectacular conditions. Sailing was easy and comfortable. Plenty of opportunity to enjoy the scenery from the foredeck and the sunset was very beautiful. Of course, Major was a big hit on the boat. This sunset sailing can become a very enjoyable habit!

Captain Bob

A Captain for Sail Beyond Cancer

21 Jul 2026

I am delighted that I have now gone through all of the requirements, qualifications, and training to be a captain for the Sail Beyond Cancer organization. This is a marvelous charity that provides 3-hour sails to “honorees” and up to five of their guests. The SBC has a beautiful Beneteau 41 “Solace” that is solely dedicated to providing these cruises. Anyone that has been afflicted with cancer may take advantage of this opportunity. These sails provide a peaceful respite from the dail challenges of dealing with cancer. It is completely free of charge. SBC is made up of many volunteers. Crews are the captains, first mates, and ambassadors. Then there are the cleaning crews, maintenance personnel, and schedulers. I am delighted to now be a qualified captain and look forward to giving those dealing with cancer a time to enjoy the serenity of sailing. For more information, go to SailBeyondCancer.org

Captain Bob

New Refrigerator System Installed

20 Jul 2026

The original 25 year old refrigerator system (compressor and cooling plate) was just not doing the job and eventually quit alltogether. Time for a new one. An Isotherm system was ordered. It wasn’t just a straightforward purchase for this Italian product but it eventually arrived. Happily, it took just a little more than half a day to install it. The key is that the evaporator plate now runs almost the entire length of the fridge compartment. This makes for a cooler and more uniform temperature. The milk is cold now!!!

Captain Bob

Website Launched

19 Jul 2026

The site was created to capture the experience of La Diosa Mar. The Captain’s Log will server to chronical the cruises, maintenance projects, improvements, destinations, and future charter activities as they occur.

Captain Bob

First Sunset Sail on the York River

5 Jul 2026

A couple asked if I would take them out for a three hour sunset sail. This would be a first for me, returning to the slip that late. Well, gotta do it some time! I was concerned that the winds were predicted to be very light and the sky cloudy. Thankfully, neither was the case. Light winds but good enought to sail about. The clouds broke before we left the dock. It was a very pleasant evening with very comfortable temperatures. The couple spent quite a bit of time on the foredeck and thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. Bringing the boat back late was not an issue. I am sure there will be more sunset sails in the future!

Captain Bob