The contrast couldn't be greater: four wonderful days heading south in the Chesapeake; six days in the ICW ranging from tedious to borderline catastrophic.
The Chessie included one day in which we averaged an unprecedented 7 knots under sail (partially furled genny alone, to boot!). Saw a few dolphins, pelicans and even a U.S. Navy submarine (yes, it was on the surface!)
The ICW included: three groundings -- two that required a tow; one overheating engine which required days of work on the heat exchanger and necessitated a stay in an uncharted boat yard (literally, I can't find it on my Garmin charts) and a "water ingress" situation that could have been a disaster (loose raw water hose).
The only good thing was the helpfulness of the folks in North Carolina at (uncharted) Forest River Shipyard -- Axson (father and son) and John for their mechanical advice and hospitality and Zach for lending a hand during maneuvers to and from the dock. If you draw more than about 3 feet, it's a heart stopping entry through a razor-thin channel, but it turned out to be worth the stress.
Tonight we head offshore. Weather router Chris Parker tells us to expect to motor across the Gulf Stream in light air, so I sure hope that engine keeps humming along!
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Monday, October 19, 2015
Shoving Off
"It's time to move on; time to get going
What lies ahead I have no way of knowing
But under my feet, baby, grass is growing
It's time to move on; it's time to get going."
-- Tom Petty
What an irony. In the lead up to the beginning of a life away from the hustle of modern existance, Noi and I have had unquestionably among the most stressful few days we've ever experienced.
Getting a boat ready for going offshore involves a thousand small tasks that must all be done correctly. It is sort of like going into outer space -- food, fuel, spare parts, tools, charts, etc., must go with you. In case of trouble, you might be able to call Mission Control, but the crew aboard will have to deal with the problems at hand and make any necessary fixes.
What I don't suppose I anticipated is that all of these logistics (and just plain hard work) would have to be accomplished in the midst of a cavalcade of well-wishers stopping by to wish us well. All very welcome in a social sense (and thanks to everyone who stopped by!), but very difficult if you're trying to get anything accomplished.
Is everything ready? Hardly. But the big things are crossed off the list and the boat seems packed and seaworthy.
Tomorrow is finally the day we shove off. It was to be Sunday. Then Monday. Now it looks like mid-morning on Tuesday, the 20th. Heading down the Chesapeake to the ICW, then to Moorhead/Beaufort, N.C., where we will wait for weather to go offshore.
Honestly, my feelings are less emotional than I thought. I am exhausted and just ready to get underway. I think Noi feels the same way.
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