Ready to buy The Boat!

I can't believe two years have passed since I last updated Ready to Set Sail! These past two years have been full. Our youngest, Aleck, graduated high school and went off to college in NY August 2013, we lost my dad in January 3rd of this year and I had major surgery a few weeks after, we sold our house in June 2013 only to have it fall through a week before the closing, we sold the house...again... May of 2014 - this time for real, we then moved twice, the second move from Boston to North Carolina.

Moored in Gloucester, MA August 2013

We did enjoy a three month sailing season August - October, 2013, including a week sailing between Boston and Newburyport with stops in Gloucester and Rockport along the way. We, unfortunately, have not yet sailed in 2014, but all is not lost...
 

Moored in Rockport, MA August 2013

Despite the lack of time on the water, we have made great advancements towards our goal of sailing into the wild blue yonder. First accomplishment was our move down south, where we could purchase the boat and sail locally almost year round while outfitting the boat for cruising. This move was originally planned for 2015, but our daughter, Becca, was accepted into East Carolina University in Greenville, NC and was making the move from Florida to ECU in August and we thought, why not go now? So, we did!

Landing in North Carolina on August 9th, Ramon has been able to secure full-time remote work while I continue to search for remote employment opportunities. Securing full-time work that we can do from any port is essential and we are well on our way to checking that to do off of our list.

Now the excitement begins! Shopping for The Boat!! We have begun the search with a focus primarily in Oriental, NC. Working with Mike at Deaton Yacht Sales has been great. We are planning on attending the Annapolis Boat Show next weekend and will schedule time with some brokers to view their previously owned inventory. Will keep you posted.

No more chowda...

We motored off our mooring at Rowe's Wharf under cloud cover sky and little wind on our way to Spectacle Island for Summer Shack's Chowder Cookoff. By the time we reached Spectacle, the sun was out and we were happy to strip off our jackets and welcome the warmer air. A fellow member of the Boston Harbor Sailing Club grabbed our bowline and helped tie us off at the dock.


Hunger headed us straight to the snack shack for a sampling of chowda, but there was none to be had. It must have been good because they started serving at noon and by 1:40 it was gone. We grabbed a couple of turkey sandwiches and enjoyed our lunch with a clear view of Boston Harbor. After lunch, we headed up to the top of the North Drumlin - the highest point in Boston Harbor, 155 ft above sea level. Check out the view.

The wind began to pick up around 3:00 so we quickly headed for the boat and motored out in hopes of a full afternoon and evening of sailing. No sooner did we turn the corner of Spectacle when a sudden fog covered Long Island just to the right of us. We could see the fog was coming in fast and headed into the harbor not bothering to raise the sails. By the time we came around the front of Spectacle the harbor could no longer be seen. It was a dense fog with maybe 40 feet visibility. We switched on the running lights, grabbed the fog horn and listened and watch intently for vessels as we tracked our path to the channel on the gps.

Once past Castle Island, the fog suddenly cleared and the harbor was fully visible once again. We were bummed that we missed the opportunity to sail for the evening, but of course did not know the fog would pass so quickly and thought better to be safe than sorry.

Newport International Boat Show 2012

3rd year in a row that we had fantastic weather as we wandered and sailed through the Newport International Boat Show! Rob Lawnsby of Narragansett Sailing shared a wealth of knowledge, from preventers and broaching to prop wash and hovering, during our three hour Advanced Sailing course in Newport Harbor on a Hunter 41. Ramon and I shared our first auto pilot experience - push of a button and the boat steers itself - who knew!

Go Small, Go Simple, Go Now by Lin Pardey

Go Small, Go Simple, Go Now by Lin Pardey

Sunrise over breakwaters in Plymouth Harbor

Sunrise over breakwaters of Plymouth Harbor Friday, August 17th. We returned to our first overnight mooring yesterday at the Plymouth Yacht Club - this time in the light of day! It was a painfully slow 1 to 2 knot motor through the channel as we were fighting the tide but we made it in. We had dinner in town and strolled the now familiar waterfront.

Today's weather was perfect and after breakfast in town we spent the day reading in a shady spot of beautiful Brewster Gardens. Tomorrow we sail (or motor depending on the weather) for home. It's been a great trip!

Sunrise at Sandwich Marina

Sunrise at Sandwich Marina. The rains came a few hours later but cleared off by early afternoon and we enjoyed a stroll into town and a cocktail at the bar at The Dan'l Webster Inn. Thunderstorms predicted for tonight so we settled in at the Sandwich Lodge across from the marina for the night. Off to Plymouth in the am. Leaving early before the tide changes in the Cape Cod Canal.

Moored in Provincetown

View from our back door Monday morning moored in Provincetown Harbor. 10 hour trip yesterday from Boston Harbor to P-Town. Started in rain, went through patches of fog and arrived under full sail on a close haul in pure sunshine.