On the Hard and Back; Looking Ahead

On the hard

We are back on the dock at Ft. Pierce City Marina after being on the hard for two weeks at Riverside Marina and Boatyard.  While we were out of the water we worked hard to repair damage to the keel that we incurred after hitting the old mooring block in Marsh Harbor back in January, we raised the water line with new coats of anti-fouling, we had a new bow roller welded onto the bowsprit to handle the new Rocna 33 anchor, and we made modifications to the chain locker.

Ground Tackle

While we wait for a weather window here on the dock, we are making our final provisions, awaiting delivery of our new sails, and making some modifications to make the cockpit and interior a little more seaworthy.  This largely entails securing things that could go flying.  Things need to be lashed down or stowed.  Some other things need to be examined or tightened. And a lot of other things that we probably not aware of need to be done.

The 800+ mi. passage to Bermuda should take about 7 days and that will be our longest passage to date.  More significant than the duration is the fact that we will be leaving our home continent and our familiar culture with no plans to ever return.  It is reassuring to know that during this, the best time to sail to Bermuda, there are dozens of boats making the crossing at the same time as us.

After a brief stop in Bermuda we will depart for the Azores and that leg of the transatlantic voyage is approximately 1500 mi long and will take about 3 weeks.  After that our plans are sketchier, whether we go to the mainland of Portugal or straight to Gibraltar is undetermined (another 600 mi).  At this point we think we will winter in Spain but even that is not certain.  It is just too far away in distance and time to pin it down.

Sophie

Ahead of us is a vast ocean, the unpredictable weather that will cradle us or batter us, encounters with marine life that will amaze and delight us, places we have never seen, and people we have never met.  While at times the experience may be frightening or uncomfortable, it will nevertheless be rich and memorable, and I am certain we will feel alive like never before.  Next month when I turn 50, Maggie and I will be somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.  While there is always uncertainty in life and perhaps more so for us, one thing that I am sure of is that there is no better gift for which I could ask.

Branko