PREPARING FOR 3 DAY CRUISE

FRIDAY SAIL
Friday afternoon we went sailing with Monica. We tacked out and picked up a crab trap and didn't let it go until we anchored. That slowed us down a bit. Savannah, Mary, Katherine and I swam. Monica refrained.

3 DAY CRUISE
Next weekend we plan to take a 3 day voyage. The boat is easily ready for the trip, and will be made a bit more comfortable with just a few little improvements. We recently:

Rewired the Windlass - it works! That will make raising the 35lb anchor and 20 feet of chain a lot easier. Doing it by hand was a chore.

Katherine sewed and installed the bimini top. It is still a little loose and needs a few grommits and stiches, but it is in place and working.

That just leaves:

1. Install Solar Panels

2. Sew Mattress Cover

3. Remove Broken Wind Meter bits and change out masthead lamps with LED lamps (lighting people note the terminology).

4. Replace Steaming Light

5. Change Interior Lamps for LED's

6. Clean Water Tank

7. Check Fresh Water Pump

8. Figure out how to operate Natural Gas Oven

9. Fix Aft Potty

10. Clean Bottom Again and install new prop.

None of these things are essential, but sewing the girls matress covers will make it more comfortable for them, and fixing the fresh water pump and cleaning the tank will mean not having to carry lots of bottled water. The solar panels are not essential for the three day trip, but will be essential for a longer voyage.

I have my fingers crossed that the new sail will arrive before we leave. The current mainsail is WAY too small for the boat, and makes her tough to tack. But she still scoots along quickly enough. Wind Mistress is very fast and will be a real flyer when her bottom is cleaned and her new mainsail arrives.