Depart Stuart Yacht Harbor!

It's 0600 and we're up! We're looking forward to shoving off, but it's dark outside. After a mini bagel and coffee, we began our departure procedures which included starting the engines, unhooking the electrical cord and removing the spider web of dock lines that have held SUNSHINE to the dock for the past six months. 

After a quick check of all the navigation lights, we found that the only ones not working are the steaming and deck lights. Both are in the same fixture, about midway up the mast.

At 0700, we were underway. It was already 85 degrees, the sun was shingling brightly and there was only a wisp of air. We past three scullers out for their morning exercise as we traveled down the St. Lucie River. Just past the Sunset Bay Marina, the Roosevelt Bascule Bridge tender opened without delay. We didn't even have to throttle back.

In just under nine hours of motoring and motor-sailing over calm waters, we were tied up in slip A-14 of the Vero Beach City Marina.

After one week, The yacht broker finally returned my call. Not being able to hear him with the motors running, Anna Marie told him I'd call back after we got settled in at Vero Beach. When I called at 1705, no one answered. The office must be closed for the day. I'll try again tomorrow.

I've had a sore throat for several days. It was really bad today. The throat lozenges aren't helping. If I don't get relief soon, I'll need to seek other remedies.

Final Tasks!

Just three things left to do: 

• Wash the deck
• Pump out
• Finish cable replacement project.

If it's not too hot, I'll see if I can get the nav lights to work. It was HOT! I didn't get to the nav lights.

We're Committed!

We assembled the bicycles this morning. This afternoon we picked up the canvas and reinstalled it on SUNSHINE. In the evening, we rented a car so we could drop the truck and bikes off at the Vero Beach City Marina. We returned to SUNSHINE with the rental car which we will return tomorrow.

We have a full list of tasks to perform tomorrow and, assuming Daigle's Marine completes the cable replacement project as scheduled, we will head for Vero Beach on Friday.

Cables!

We arranged for a Yamaha tech to stop by today to measure the shift, throttle and choke cables that need to be replaced. The rigging company is stopping by to do a final inspection.

This Is Cruising!?!

Just about everything is stowed aboard. The interior of the boat is clean. The canvas is in the repair shop for restitching. 

Continuing the Stow & Prep Activities!

Yes sir! We continue to put things away and reinstall items that were removed last spring. Apparently this is no small feat! It's taking us days to accomplish. 

Today's major project involved cleaning the dinghy. It was filthy and the floor boards needed painting. By the end of the day the dinghy was back in shape. We'll put it back together and hang it from the davits tomorrow. 

Saw Capt. Phillips this evening. The movie was fantastic and Tom Hanks was great in the lead role.

Saturday, October 12, 2013 More of the Same!

We continue to make progress in stowing our gear and getting SUNSHINE.ready for sailing. We might actually finish tomorrow.

The new masthead anchor light and tricolor work fine although the rigging company crossed the wires at the masthead. I just reversed them at the panel to correct the situation. The only problem is that the wires are labeled. In the future, someone might take it apart and discover that the anchor light wire is attached to the tricolor breaker and vice versa.

We then discovered that the steaming, navigation, and deck lights aren't working. The problem might be with the plug or perhaps corrosion at the connections. I'll sort that out after we leave this place.

I spoke with an old sailing buddy yesterday. He invited us to dinner this evening. In the last two years, he and his wife sold their boat and bought a condo in Stuart. In the last three and a half months they sold their NJ house, sold their condo in Stuart, and bought a 2200 square foot house in a golf community in Palm City! Wow! That quite a bit of major activity. Neither looks any worse for the wear and tear. In fact, they look great. The stress of real estate transactions must agree with them!