Genius at work again....

So, we now have a wind generator installed on the mizzen mast!  Between it & the solar panels, we should be totally self-sufficient for power.

Waiting for the off - now going to be July 1st

Seems like our antifouling is coming off - what was supposed to last 2 years has lasted 2 months.  We're calling that an epic fail.  So......while the boatyard and the paint company decide who's going to pay for hauling us out again and repainting with different & better antifouling, we're cooling our heels.

Went to watch the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and the Mississippi Braves AA baseball over Memorial Day weekend.   It was great - a lovely brand new stadium and fireworks afterwards over the bay.  The Braves won, and the next weekend one of their star players, Andrelton Simmons, was called up to the big leagues.

Of course, you know who came with us...

Two Weeks from Leaving

The past month has seen us getting final projects identified & finished before we leave shore power & our old life behind.  Mr Skipper Man loves it - Mrs Skipper Man has found it a bit traumatic!

New navigation electronics fullly installed and operational - it's great, we wouldn't want to be without it now. Mr Man also installed a starter battery volt meter & oil pressure gauge.  

Problem getting VHF radio to read our GPS position - still working on that.

Motored Star into bay to set up wind indicator & auto pilot - success!

Attached whisker pole and rigged up Big Red for hoisting onboard.  Tried it at the dock and at anchor - result!

Installed Caframo fans in bedroom, galley and computer station, with 2 spare for wherever we want them in future.  Drove 75 miles to Destin Home Depot to deplete their stock of these great little 12-volt fans, at a great price.

Marked the anchor chain at foot intervals - 50, 70, 90, 100, 120 & 140.  Essential.  Had to rework anchor chain locker as it all bunches up on re-entry.  Still not perfect, must keep trying.

Had a weekend of 23" of rain - a record in Pensacola, since 1954 anyway.  It was wet, wet, wet & we had no leaks.  Result!

Started doing some baking - my new fave phrase is "just add water"!

Pensacola Beach has free concerts on Tuesday nights - Bands on the Beach - so we've gone a few times.  The groups were pretty good, as a rule.

Sad to hear the Car Talk guys are retiring this fall - love those guys - we've listened for years.

Had a couple of anchoring adventures - all's well, in spite of people anchoring too close & then dragging & snagging our chain & having to cut their anchor rode to get free.  Don't get too close!  We stayed at Redfish Point, where it's lovely and we had some wet, windy rides in the dinghy to walk on the beach.  The dolphins put on quite a show & chattered & amused all the boats.  A boat nearby had a miniature schnauzer on board, and it started barking whenever the dolphins put in an appearance.  It was fun!

Survived a big, bad thunderstorm while at anchor, with 30 knot winds.  It lasted about 2 hours & was scary while it lasted.  We survived, Star is brilliant, & maybe when it happens again, yours truly won't panic and will trust Mr Skipper Man and Star to take good care of us.  Still......did not like.

Sailed back from our last trip out in 18 knot winds, and we used the genoa and mizzen sails for a perfect balance.  Star flew along at over 7 knots.  She's a star for sure!

This ship has been in the shipyard for months getting a refit- and it finally got launched & is on its way to the Bering Sea in Alaska.  Our buddy, Bill Troendle, is in the small boat taking photos - he's quite the photographer & does fab work.

At last, we've figured out pantry storage!

Next project & hopefully last biggie for now - a wind generator!