For four hundred forty-four years the port city of Saint Augustine has both welcomed and warred with people who sought her bounty and her fortress.  Her quaint cobbled streets are lined with evidence of Spanish influence and the Castillo de San Marcos a rough-hewn symbol of her resilience to sieges throughout time.  

To think, of the many soldiers who sailed across the Atlantic and into her port determined to claim her for their king, yet most never to return home. To think, here where we sit in the darkness listening to the gentle water slapping against the hull of Aurora, many also sat planning and preparing for battles, proud to kill for their king and country.  Realizing now as then, warring was not and is not the answer.  

Not all have sought to claim her.  Thousands like us have anchored in this beautiful place, walked her peaceful lanes, and listen to her intriguing stories of how this beautiful first settlement has survived through history to become who she is today.  We’re just glad to have this opportunity be in her port in 2012, seeing those same stars shining on her harbor waters as when Ponce first claimed her for his king.  She’s a beautiful first lady.

Our Friday night anchorage in Rockhouse Creek off the Ponce de Leon Inlet proved to be excellent holding and we awoke rested to another calm windless morning.  With Daytona Beach only an hour and half away we decided to get a later start, giving us time for a workout and relaxed breakfast. 

Finally motoring North, our first day on the ICW, we caught sign of the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse off starboard.  By 11:30 we were in sight of Daytona Beach’s Memorial Bridge and Halifax Harbor.  We were told the anchorage just south of the bridge was tricky, and seeing no one anchored there we sought the assistance of the bridge operator.  Following her precise directions we found plenty of depth and good holding.  We have found that many places where we anchor there are no dinghy docks, but the Halifax Yacht Club graciously gave permission to tie up to their convenient floating dinghy dock and we were off, trying out our boat legs on solid ground.  First we turned south and found West Marine for a couple of boat items we wanted.  Needing provisions, and the closest grocery store 3 plus miles away, we turned north along Beach Road and the Historic Beach Street Riverfront Marketplace, where we thankfully found a farmer’s market with many fruits and vegetables.  A few more blocks away was a CVS providing pricey provisions to get us by till our next port.  Last, we again headed south, past the Daytona Cubs Jackie Robinson Baseball Stadium to the boat and to Fritz awaiting his long walk.  What a patient dog!

Our doggie duty completed we returned once again to our anchorage and found another boat, “Breathless” a 39ft. Beneteau, not far from Aurora.  The Itensons from Canada were headed home after spending their 8^th winter in the Bahamas.  Avoiding cold winters and hot summers, sounds like a plan to us.  

Returning once more to the shore, we sampled some pizza from the Historic Riverfront, and finished the evening enjoying the fireworks from the ballpark illuminate the harbor.

Up and out early again this morning, the bridge tender kindly opened for both ourselves and Breathless around 7:00a.m.   Leading the way, they eventually turned off about 3 hours later at Palm Coast, leaving our next four hours as uneventful as the beginning, but it sure had been reasurring to follow Breathless knowing they had made this trek up and back the ICW numerous times.

As we motored along a Beneteau 43 passed us; it was one of the newer models with two wheels.  As Dennis told a dealer at the Miami boat show he really didn’t like the new 40 plus boats with the two wheels because you can’t easily see the chart plotter that is in the center console.  Well as we followed this Beneteau we could see the captain kept awkwardly trying to look at his chart plotter as he steered the boat…case closed.

 St. Augustine Municipal Marina was a frenzy of activity when we pulled to the fuel dock at the stern of the tall ship, “Bounty.”   People were lining the docks to take tours of the beautiful lady, and bobbing boats of all sizes were surrounding her for photos.  After fueling, filling with water, and a few pictures of our own, we backed away happy to go looking for our mooring ball.  Picking it up on the first try, YES!  I do think we’re getting the hang of it, but having very little wind certainly doesn’t hurt our efforts either.

Since 3:00p.m.--quick walking tour of the St. Augustine historic district, dinner, more pictures of the “Bounty,” Fritz another long walk, laundry, watching the sunset, showers, writing, and publishing the blog, and ready for bed.  Where does the time go?   

  

After motor/sailing through the big pond for eight hours yesterday we were delighted to see Port Canaveral finally on the horizon at 4:00p.m.  We didn’t know what to expect, but were not disappointed by the lack of welcoming signs, realizing this is an extremely restricted area we were just glad to be able to traverse it without incident.  Along the port were indications of the high security with several large warning signs and the Coast Guard’s boat equipped with unmanned machine guns. 

Off to our starboard was what looked like the top of a buried submarine, painted with the numbers 636 on its side.  Our research revealed it to be the USS Nathanael Green, named for a Major General who served with President Washington in the continental army and American Revolutionary War.  She was commissioned in 1964, converted and then tested at Cape Canaveral in 1972 to launch Poseidon missiles.  She ran aground in 1986 in the Irish Seas, was decommissioned in 1986, recycled shortly thereafter with top, known as the sail, dedicated in 2003 as a monument and welcome at the entrance of the port.  

Slipping away from our Cape Marina dockage at sunrise this morning we joined the crowd of fishermen and headed eastward in Port Canaveral channel.  About ten minutes into our trek Dennis says, “What’s that coming in the Port toward us?”  Outlined on the horizon sliding silently but stealthily along, flanked by two Navy pilot boats was the sail of a submarine.  As she got closer we could see ship’s crew standing atop her deck each sporting a different colored life jacket.  We abided by the navy gunboat blocking the channel as the crew was manning a 50 millimeter.  As the black torpedo turn into its port we continued our journey out the channel to the ocean.  It was definitely an exciting way to begin the day.

Once in open water, and careful to avoid the restricted area we sailed past the Launch area of the Cape.  Waters near the coast from Port Canaveral northward to Georgia is Northern Right Whale habitat.  Because they can grow to be forty or fifty feet long and weigh as much as seventy tons we definitely want to avoid an encounter with one of the big guys.  Tonight we are spending at Rock House Creek anchorage, a quiet hangout for the locals from Ponce De Leon Inlet, and New Smyrna.  Daytona Beach, only a couple of hours north on the ICW, is our destination for tomorrow where we hope to go ashore for a few provisions and get the Fritz off for a long walk.  We’re all looking forward to some time ashore.       

 

           

A modest breeze and tranquil seas gave us leave yesterday to alter course upon sighting more turtle activity.  The slight disruption in their endeavor didn’t deter them from taking up where they left off as soon as we we had passed.  For the sake of the ten grandchildren henceforth called “turtle hugging.”  

Fort Pierce was our port last night, and other than strong currents and tide swinging us 360 degrees, our ride at anchor insignificant. 

Yesterday also marked the sixteenth day of our voyage and three hundred seventy-five miles later, finally farther north than when we left our home port. Florida’s one gigantic state, over five hundred miles of Eastern seaboard, about the same as Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina combined.  Each evening we painstakingly study paper charts and waterway guides to decide our exact destination for the next day.  According to the charts we are in fact in the North Atlantic Ocean as we make our way northward, now about half way to the Georgia border.  One interesting note, even though we see numerous fishing boats every day, rarely do we see sailboats.  We’re just wondering, do they know something we don’t?  From the charts we also gleaned the mileage on the ICW from Ft. Pierce to Cape Canaveral is twenty-five miles further than going outside.  So here we are today right back in the big pond headed for the illustrious Cape. 

 

We’re thinking of writing “The Diary of a Wimpy Sailor” after our 1^st night in the Rivera Beach Marina turned into two when seas for today were again predicted to be rough and winds higher than we wanted to attempt.  But it was very refreshing to have a day to do laundry, clean the boat inside and out, have a shower in one larger than 2ft by 2ft, fill up and pump out, walk the Pooh (Fritz) and most of all, talk through more efficient docking strategies for the windy days in our cruising future. It was also a day for relaxing.  Dennis played some games on the computer while I did some sewing on our Sailrite Sewing Machine.  Yes, even sewing’s very soothing after the wild ride yesterday.  If you need a good machine for boat canvas/projects I highly recommend this one.    

Two nights tied to the dock rather than anchoring means two nights of worry-free uninterrupted sleep, two mornings of sleeping a little later, and two rejuvenating days for two wimpy sailors.            

Being able to leave Lake Sylvia this morning took major tugging on the hook which had held us securely for 3 days and nights of high winds.  Knowing the winds would be 15 to 20 knots we still chose to go out into the Atlantic rather than suffer through the snail’s pace in the ICW waiting for the opening and closing bridges. 

                                                                                                       

Our decision timewise meant a savings of at least 3 hours, experiencewise it was priceless.  For about the first hour it was smooth sailing as they say then we began to notice a few small swells which soon grew larger and larger, not dangerously large, just uncomfortably larger than we would have liked.  Both Captain and First Mate practiced how to ride waves rather than crashing into them.

Finally within sight of our last waypoint, sails down and swells subsiding, the wind picked up to 25+ knots, whipping the water into frothy whitecaps.  We were drenched and cold when we motored into Lake Worth channel, but our learning curve wasn’t yet completed.  The slip we were assigned was facing east, (winds were still 15-20 knots from the west) in a sixty foot wide waterway with our length forty-one feet plus the dinghy hanging off the back.  Making one forward attempt, backing up then sliding sideways down the channel we were finally able to crash into the slip, with 3 people yelling directions, pulling lines, and holding the bow off the concrete dock.  Not pretty!  First Mate says to Captain, “Whose idea was this anyway?”  What a day! 

To those who were on the Key West trip last October, it still wasn’t as rough as MarcoJ

We’ve added three short video clips 013, 009, 011 of our ride today on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/user/shirlagrace?feature=guide

Thunderstorms and high winds have kept us here in Lake Sylvia, a five acre lake in Ft. Lauderdale for the last two days.  Yesterday we ventured out in the intermittent showers sporting our bright yellow fowlies (our not so chic rain gear) we explored a small bit of the city.  Each time we motored out of lake we passed under a 7 foot bridge, and depending on the tides, most times had to duck in order to pass under it safely.  Many mega yachts, a hundred feet or more, line the side canals and main channel of the ICW, some from as far away as South Africa and England.  Besides the mega yachts, they also sport a mega West Marine store.  It actually is the largest in the world, and within walking distance of the dinghy docks.  The first mate was glad to get the captain out of there with minimal damage, only a dinghy pump.  

Although not a sleepless night, last night was definitely a restless one with howling twenty-five knot winds and pelting rain.  Aurora is very stable, but with a hundred feet of anchor rode out she does swing some, so we were up often to check our position and the other 14 in the anchorage.  Then about 5:00a.m., in the middle of a downpour “Drag Queen” sounded her alarm, but Captain determined that even though we had swung 180 degrees our delta was still holding.  Don’t know why, but things always seem so much worse in the dark than in the daylight.  Even though it was not sunny, and winds were predicted to be 30 to 40 knots, we rejoiced to see the morning.

When the storms finally passed today some young adults were demonstrating the latest water toy, a water-propelled ride here on the lake.  Cost?  Only $100,000 for the young adult that has everything.  The inventor is said to have taken the idea from the James Bond’s jet pack.  Not sure if you want one? You can try it out for a mere $200.  

Late this afternoon several cruise ships sounded their festive departure into the Atlantic as they moved through the Port Everglades about half mile away.  Glad they will not be an issue early tomorrow morning as we head through the Port and north to Lake Worth, Palm Beach.  As winds are predicted to be 15-20 and 3-4ft seas, we might have to reef, but should be able to sail to our port and spend our first night in a marina slip.  Yes! 

Below you will find a link to You Tube  where we have posted two short sailing videos.

http://www.youtube.com/user/shirlagrace

Some of you have had trouble posting comments to the blog, so until we can help you figure out how to easily do so we have created a new email address

shirlaanddennis@yahoo.com

where you can make comments.  Each day we have service we will check it and respond back.  So far there have been over 600 views of the blog.  We really appreciate those of you who are taking time to follow us on our trip. 

We left Miami early this morning and what a hoot to sail downtown by all the skyscrapers.  As we made it to Government cut something did not feel right.  A big cruise ship was at the dock and a guy on a maintenance boat next to the cruise ship was waiving us back.  A minute later we got the “blue light special” by the harbor patrol – no boats allowed in Government Cut when there are cruise ships docked.   Turning around we retraced our path and went out Fisherman’s Channel instead, oh well.

No wind, so we motored all the way to Ft Lauderdale (Port Everglades Entrance). We got out in the mighty blue and were clipping along.  When we checked the GPS it read 12.2 knots!!.  The speed in water was around 6.5.  I guess what they say about the Gulf Stream is true!  Coming back may be a different story.

It seems there is always something in the ocean to catch nature-lovers attention, and today it was a free-floating bell-shaped medusa, or Portuguese Man-of-War.  At first we thought it was a plastic bottle bobbing along on the surface, but as we got closer and could see the balloon-like creature, translucent with iridescent blue and pink coloring, realized it was not one of man’s creations.  There were several, and we were glad to be able to observe them from a distance rather than close to their stinging tentacles which can cause severe burns and blisters even after death.  We continue to be awed by these ocean treasures.   

In the Port Everglades Entrance (also where cruise ships are docked) we found our way past freighters going out and mega yachts in every direction on the way to Lake Sylvia.  This is a nice, well protected anchorage off the Intercoastal.  We met a couple anchored behind us who journeyed all the way from England in a 32’ wooded spared sloop.  And, then broke their mast and have been here for a month waiting for repairs.  They now have it fixed and are headed to the Bahamas.  Oh, we did plan to stay at a marina today but when we called one they wanted $5/ft.  We respectfully declined.

Major storms are forecast the next day and a half so we plan to stay put again for at least another day.  One storm came through tonight, but all is well.  We have good access to a grocery store, etc but we have to tie up to a bar that charges a $10 dingy fee.  The good news the fee is good towards food or drinkJ

Yesterday we left the safety of Boot Key Harbor, made our way into the immense Atlantic, and headed north via Hawk’s Channel.  Winds were S/SE at 15-18mph and the seas were 2-4 feet.  This was the least amount of wind we had seen for five days.  At 10:30 we were able to turn off the motor and sail for five hours, never out of sight of the Middle Keys.  On the way we had a chance encounter with two Loggerhead turtles who had returned to their ancestral home to mate.  These huge reptiles have shells 3 ft in diameter.  Needless to say, there was quite a bit of splashing when they realized they had an audience, quickly diving to the bottom and out of sight.  Hopefully sometime between now and fall some of our little loggerheads will hatch and find their way back into the Atlantic. 

Rodriguez Key, a place where many wait for a weather window to cross to the Bahamas, was our anchorage for the night.  It was well protected from the Southeast winds that gave us such a good sail during the day and we had a pleasant evening there. 

This morning we again were able to sail with  5-10 knot SE winds, 1-2ft seas, under sunny skies.  Upon leaving Rodriguez our path up Hawk’s Channel took us through John Pennington Coral Reef State Park which is 70 square nautical miles of Atlantic water, one of the best destinations for reef diving in the keys.  Key Largo is in this Park, and one of the last of the Upper Keys we skirted.  After following the low green tree skyline of the Keys it was quite obvious when we left its simple natural beauty and came within sight of the massive Miami skyline, we weren’t in the Keys anymore. 

About that time Dennis noticed thunder clouds building in the west, and upon checking radar concluded we were right in the path of slow-moving thunderstorms.  Weighing our options to turn back southbound motoring out of the way, keep on motoring north, which would put us in too early at Biscayne Bay (tide too low), or drop anchor and ride out the storm.  We chose the last option, lowering the anchor about 2 miles from the shore, closing up the hatches and waiting.  I’m glad to say we waited and waited and waited, with nothing more than a couple of distant lightening strikes and a few sprinkles.  Finally underway again after forty-five minutes towards Biscayne Bay’s No Name Harbor and glad to have our first avoidance of a storm in open water under our belt.  Day nine of our journey finished with a quiet evening and beautiful sunset on the orange-tinted water.  

Once in November we stayed for just a night, but it was not enough to discover why Boot Key Harbor often has a waiting list for its three hundred mooring balls.  As this beautiful harbor held us safe for four days, winds gusting to thirty knots and singing in the rigging, we got a glimpse of another kind of life here. 

Some are here for pleasure, some out of necessity, but we found a welcoming, accommodating atmosphere for all boaters, no matter what the situation.  It began when we entered the large, open warehouse style building housing the harbor check-in desk, large library, tables for Wi-Fi, mailboxes, and large screen TVs with theater seats. Upon checking in the friendly marina staff gave us keys for both the laundry and sixteen large restrooms with showers, tags for the dinghy and bikes, and explained that water is .05 per gallon, a real bargain for the Keys.  There’s even free pump out for boats and mutt mitts for the doggie do. 

What impressed us the most though was the boating community which extended hand of friendship and camaraderie to any and all vessels who graced its protected waters.  In the mornings we listened to “Cruiser’s Net” on VHF channel 68, where each boater could share where they’re from, and where bound, seek help for problems, get advice and referrals for repairs, even buy, sell or trade items.  Every time we made our way to the marina there were friendly boaters everywhere making acquaintances and connections or just sitting under the shade tree enjoying the cool breezes sharing boating stories.  To complete the evening we might hear bagpipes singing, taps sounding, conch shell blowing, or even a sunset salute cannon accompanying the sun as it slowly slipped away and night in the harbor began.    

Marathon is a quiet town in the middle Keys, small enough to easily explore completely on our bikes.  Riding west from the center of town we came to the old Seven Mile Bridge, and followed it about 2 miles to Pigeon Key.  Amazingly, the clarity of the aquamarine water made it possible to see to the bottom from atop the bridge.   Our backpacks came in handy as we made two trips to Publix about two miles round trip to take on a few provisions.  By the end of the 4 days we knew the location of West Marine, CVS, K-mart, McDonalds, Walgreens, and four great restaurants. 

Even better than getting acquainted with the town was making connections with about twenty new cruisers, many from Punta Gorda Isles.  If you’re one of those following us now, welcome to the blog, and thanks for helping make our stay at Boot Key fantastic. 

Now we can say, once in April this beautiful harbor held us safe for five days and nights and we discovered the truly unique and boater-friendly life in Boot Key Harbor.

Tonight should be our last night in Boot Key in Marathon.  We plan to get up early and head to Rodriguez Key.  That should get us about half way to Biscayne Bay.  I have never seen the wind blow so strong for so many days here in Marathon.  Tomorrow is departure for most of the other sailors here that are cruising as we have all been waiting for the winds to die down some.  Even at that they are predicted to be around 15 from the east south east tomorrow.  Hopefully we will be able to sail all day.

Needless to say, after our adventurous night in Little Shark, we were glad to be on our way early yesterday and on toward middle Keys. Winds continued to be light and on our nose, so sailing was not an option.  Crab pots dotted the Gulf making dodging them a continual necessity.  A new novelty was a silver steak that would pop up and skim 50-100d feet across the water, small flying fish.  Not sure if they were the chaser or the chasee, but amazed that they can actually propel themselves so far.  Our last stretch of open water before arriving in Marathon was the Florida Bay, with boats few and far between, we were glad to finally pass through the 7 Mile Bridge and arrive safely in Boot Key Harbor around 2:00.  Glad also, with storms and high winds predicted for last night, to pick up a mooring ball rather than dealing with an anchor. 

Thunderstorms did pass through late last night and early this morning.  With east winds predicted to be in excess of 20 knots over the next few days, and seas of 6 to 8 feet, we along with 200 other boats will continue to be safely tucked away in Boot Key Harbor City Marina.  Not sure when the winds will be favorable for traveling, but rest assured that it we will remain here until we are certain to have safe passage northward.

On Thursday we departed Marco Island and headed towards Little Shark River.  This would be our longest day so far, covering 55 miles in a little less than 8 hours with a lot of help of our Yan Mar Engine and a little from light winds in our sails.  It was a tiring day and felt good to finally pull into the remote anchorage in the Everglades National Park.  It was also delightful to see 7 boats already at anchor, so good to have company when often times the only neighbors you find there at night are the red eyes staring out from the shoreline.  By the time the sun set there were a total of 13 boats of various types, including several from Punta Gorda Boating clubs. 

After an uneventful day the evening would prove quite different.  It started with a gorgeous sunset and the captain of “Go Lassie” dressed in native kilt playing the bagpipes from atop his catamaran.   “Amazing Grace,” was truly amazing as it echoed across the water.  Cheers rose up as the last notes died out, darkness consumed; lights flickered on as we slipped away into the comfort of our cabins.  

Dennis and I began a game of rummy and were almost to the last hand when we heard a call come over the radio, “Sea Daddler is loose.”  If you are a boater, you know those are dreaded words, especially when it is pitch dark outside in an unfamiliar anchorage with a dozen boats swinging around you.  Everyone suddenly scrambled topside to find things had changed dramatically over the two hours since sunset.  Although a few boats, like ours were still facing north as they had been when we anchored, many were now facing east because of the changing tides.  After hearing that one boat was loose, we began checking our position to see if we too were sliding.  It soon became evident that we were.  Everyone knows the phrase, “Chinese fire drill” and that is exactly what it feels like, panic in the dark.  Eventually we would take up and reset the 44 pound Delta anchor two more times before finally getting it to hold.  Thank goodness for windless (an electric winch), and marriage savers (headsets used to communicate without yelling when setting the anchor.)   That night we also used a new app on our phone called “Drag Queen,” which uses GPS and sounds an alarm if your anchor is sliding.  Although the boat would swing a full 360 degrees during the night, the alarm never sounded, and our panic-driven practice conquered our challenge for the night.

Awoke to a beautiful sunrise and headed out on the sparkling but glassy waters of the ICW, destination Marco Island.  Traveled through the Miserable Mile (normally very shallow, always meandering waters), at high tide just before reaching Ft. Myers, passed under the Sanibel Causeway to arrive in the Gulf of Mexico around noon.  Winds were light, but strengthen to 7-15 knots to make our first sail in the blue waters a delight. 

But of course when cruising there’s always the unexpected.  Like today when Fritz, our 8-year-old Australian terrier, got a little sickL, but quickly recovered when First Mate Shirla administered some preventative measures.  And when opening the fully-loaded freezer realized things were beginning to thaw, Captain, also Engineer Dennis, came to the rescue, able to find the source of the problem and get it cooling again. 

At the end of the day, even with the unexpected, there’s never a bad day on the water when you're cruising.

56 nautical miles today

Day 1: On Our Way

Today, at 10:40 a.m. EST we threw off our bowlines, and sailed away from our safe harbor in Punta Gorda Isles.  Winds were light, skies sunny, and seas calm when we arrived a few minutes later in Charlotte Harbor.  While motor sailing across the harbor we noticed dolphins off both starboard and port, and the brackish brown water from the Myakka and Peace Rivers gave way to a lighter and much clearer aqua as we neared Boca Grande Pass to the Gulf of Mexico.  At the pass we turned south and traveled along the ICW (Intercoastal Waterway) for about 30 minutes to our destination, Useppa Island and sheltered anchorage, arriving about 3:45p.m.  To the west of the anchorage is Cabbage Key, famous for Jimmy Buffet’s song Cheeseburgers in Paradise. Adding to the island ambiance, a floating tiki hut soon appeared.  Definitely worth checking out!

Miles traveled today 23.8

"Cruising has two pleasures. One is to go out in wider waters from a sheltered place. The other is to go into a sheltered place from wider waters." Howard Bloomfield

Dennis spent many hours over the last few months at the kitchen table planning and scouring East Coast charts and guidebooks, while I spent my hours making lists, shopping, searching the house for items too important to forget, and trying to calculate just how much toliet paper we would need for 5 months. Other issues needing resolution were mail, pool and yard upkeep, how to get renewals on car and boat license coming due in June, scripts, plus how to vacate the house. 

There were even times we asked each other, "Do we really need to do this?"  If you have ever been to Punta Gorda, and experienced Charlotte Harbor sailing, it's a hard place to venture far from, or find winds comparable.  So while we will certainly will miss this sheltered, beautiful harbor, and even more our delightful boating family of Mariners, we look forward to getting "cruising adventure" checked off our lengthy retirement "To Do" list.   

Day 6: Boat Safety Always #1

One of the most important aspects of boating is to make sure your vessel is safely equipped, so on Wednesday, April 4, Aurora was thoroughly inspected by Coast Guard Auxiliary Examiner Frederick Counter using a Vessel Safety Checklist (VSC).

A few of the required safety  items:


Registration/Documentation of the boat and dinghy
Personal Flotation Devices (PFD)
Visual Distress Signals (VDS)
Fire Extinguishers
Sound Producing Devices/Bell
Navigation Lights

Additional optional items:

Marine Radio
Anchor and Lines
First Aid Kit
PIW (Person in the Water) (wearable PFD with line attached)
Inland Visual Distress Signals
Life Pod/Raft
Ditch Bag (floating bag in which to put items when having to abandon ship)
Personal Locator Device
Safe boating class
Nautical Charts/Navigational Aids

Thankfully, Aurora sailed through the inspection, meeting both required and recommended items, enabling her crew to face future, (but hopefully never any) emergencies with confidence.  (Pictures to the right) 

Countdown to Departure-Day 7: The Vessel

Aurora:

Hunter 40ft. 8in. sloop

13.9 beam

Draft 5ft. 4in.

110% Genoa sail

In mast Furler for main sail

Ray Marine A70 Ray Marine Chart plotter

Raytheon Radar, depth, knot and wind meters

50 horsepower diesel Yan Mar Engine

Cruising speed 7 knots

51 gal. fuel tank

3 water tanks capacity 147 gal.

44 lb. Danforth primary anchor

Loft RIB West Marine Dinghy w/8 hp motor w/davit

Galley w/propane stove and oven, refrigerator and freezer