It's 2022 and we're sailing more!

A quick catch up from 2018. We sailed the Pearson to the Abacos, had a great time, came back, put the boat up on the hard in Indiantown, decided extended cruising was fun!; COVID hit, contemplated our boat needs, decided another boat than the Pearson was a better path forward- just too much engine (not fun) work to feel good about that boat for a full time cruiser. Sold the Pearson, bought a Beneteau 40CC, also named it Joy. So joyous, raucous fun continues on Joy. 

Bought Joy in Jun, 2021 in Palmetto, FL and moved it out of Florida to dodge sales tax. Put her up at St Mary's Boat Services in GA, just north of Fernandina Beach (FL). Had some work done by good tradesmen at St. Mary's to work the bottom smooth and complete our solar install. 

Returned to Joy in December, 2021; slashed in early Jan and proceeded south. Picked up friend Jeff Gillard in West Palm, cruised Biscayne Bay with him while Kathleen made a quick trip to WI to see her mom. and continued through the Keys, spending about a month in Marathon/Boot Key Harbor. Made a couple of great cruising friends and crossed the Gulf Stream to Bimini with Don and Gwen on Tackless II. Spent 3 months in the Bahamas and hosted Liz for about 10 days in the Exumas in late February/early March. Had homed to host Andy as well, but his visit was postponed because of a family tragic emergency. 

Back to St. Mary's successfully where we have had new big, expensive batteries installed; autopilot repairs done (although not fully tested yet); transmission work done and more bottom smoothing. 

 

Meanwhile we have been back in Phoenix for June/July and got caught up on home/insurance/medical details that had been back-burnered while enjoying the Bahamas. Kathleen has done some beautiful canvas work to improve our cockpit comfort and I have been planning for our next voyage. The next voyage will start sometime in August with north-buond routes to fall foliage and seaside beauty. Not sure how far or how long,but will certainly involve the ICW through GA, SC, NC, VA and MD. May store the boat in VA or MD to stage for a spring/summer cruise to New York/New England.

Prep for 2022 cruise

Pre-launch tasks accomplished

1) Bottom job and hull waxing- Rhonda

a. Beautiful, two coats of black ablative anti-fouling accomplished about Jan 10.

b. Her crew cleaned up the keel, treated, epoxyed and barrier coated preparatory to bottom paint.

2) Electrical clean-up Tom Chockly.

a. Panel improved

b. Inverter installed

c. Switches at panel installed and labeled.

d. Jumper from house battery to start battery installed in battery compartment.

3) Davit repair and improvement- Kato Davits

a. Welded fitting in place of broken fitting and old fitting on the davits- thanks John.

b. Re-installed davits on stern.

c. Ordered stabilizer bar from Kato

4) Solar panel mount and install

a. Purchased 3 x 230 W panels from SanTan Solar last summer, initial attempt and mounting failed.

b. Discussed panel mount design with Tom and he has experience and we hired him to build ours- $350.

c. Installed mount and panels, hooked everything up, have solar!

d. Full sun generates 40+ volts through our charge controller and has our batteries topped up by noon. We’ll live with the system before deciding on further expensive upgrades.

5) Mechanical- A to Zinc<p> a. Changed oil, engine and generator

b. Checked alignment and tightened wires to Alternator

c. Tried to start engine- no luck. He said it looked like a job for Tom

d. Tom diagnosed a dead starter battery. Put it on a charger and everything worked as it should.

Mon., Jan 18, 2022

Splash Day. Cold, we’re all bundled and looking for more clothes. Better day weather-wise than yesterday, but the plan is ICW today as the gales from yesterday have big waves offshore. Rocky got the crew moving in the early morning to make the high tide about 9 am. Dinghy up on the davits, lines organized, deck organized, if not strictly ship-shape. How will it go?

In the water with our friends Birgitta and Bill from Summertime coming to the event. Nice people from Winnipeg who are back on their beautiful Bavaria 40 CC for the first time in 20 months thanks to COVID restrictions. Had cocktails last night and talked boats, sailing and the Bahamas.

Engine started flawlessly, water out the exhaust, no instruments, not a huge problem, but Tom was contacted and willing to meet us in Jax to try to figure it out. Later in the day, Kath did her magic switch flipping and they came on! Tom is on our speed dial, but not needed this time. Down the St. Mary’s River, passed Fernandina Beach about 10:30. On to Jax, everything working well, no need to stop this soon, continued on down the ICW ogling the fancy houses with Kath Zillowing the addresses posted on the docks- $800,000-$10,000,000. Anchored about 4:30 in a lovely anchorage west bank of the ICW north of St. Augustine- good day.

Tues, Jan 18, 2022

Awoke to a mirror-like anchorage at Nocatee Landing, a nature reserve north of St. Augustine. As calm a night as we had on the jack stands in St. Mary’s. Left the anchorage about 9 am to move south a bit before my class at 11. Anchored just north of Mike’s Place, hotspot worked fine and had a full zoom lecture from the boat on the water for Bio 181! Great attendance- Chemistry and water topic.

Discussed navigational options and decided we would do an overnight offshore to try to get closer to Jeff’s arrival in West Palm on the 20th. If we do an overnight and stop tomorrow afternoon, we could make Stuart easily, a second overnight would get us into West Palm/ Peanut Island anchorage.

InReach is sending out our map to the several friends and family. Confirmed Charlie, Ginny, Jeff and Marc have all gotten it working, so we’re known!

Weds., Jan 19, 2022 (Charlie’s Birthday).

Beautiful sunrise, just off Kennedy Space Center (11 miles), sailing course 182. Motor-sailed until about 6 am when we checked our timing into West Palm and realized we had about 6 hours to slow down to come in to Peanut Island in the early am. Trimmed the sails and nosed around for the wind a bit, with initial zephyrs moving us about 3 knots. In about an hour the wind filled in, we were able to sail our course at 4-5 knots! We’re SAILING!

Kath is napping in the cockpit. The autopilot performed flawlessly last night (now moving for 16+ hours, planning on another overnight and arriving in West Palm sometime around 8-9 am on the 20th. Jeff arrives in the evening, so I will try to have the dinghy working to pick him up at the Riviera Beach Municipal Marina.

Gracie doesn’t like the noise in the cabin when the engine is running, she was shaking in bed with Kath during the first watch (7-midnight).