A seasoned sailor will tell you boat work is never finished. There is always something to fix or repair because stuff always breaks. They say if you wait until your boat is 100% ready you will never leave the dock. So the question is, will we ever leave the dock and when will we set sail?
Delays Happen
To be perfectly honest, I wonder the same thing too. After moving aboard full-time in December of 2021, we originally planned to cast the lines by February or March of 2022. We had couple of projects to finish and a few safety items to purchase and then off we would go. But then it happened…supply chain issues. Things were back ordered which delayed our departure. We had to wait and wait and wait all the while thinking “when will we set sail”. We set a new date of May 2022.
All Systems Go To Set Sail
With all systems go, our plans were to make an overnight “shake down” sail to Port Aransas Texas. We would check out all our systems and see how Out of Sight handled in the open gulf. Once on anchor at Port A we would test all our “living” systems for a few days. Most important, we needed to test how long our batteries would last at anchor before needing to be recharged. We also had to see how long it would take the generator to recharge the batteries. All important information when you plan on living at anchor. And we set a date as too when we will set sail east.
Plans Are Made To Change
Of course, nothing goes without a hitch when it comes to sailing. While at anchor in Port Aransas we were hit by an Orion Marine Barge. Needless to say our time frame of when we will set sail changed. We had to head back to Galveston to haul out to check for damages. This process delayed us by several weeks and guess what….hurricane season started. We were unable to sail east and secure a hurricane anchorage (which is required by insurance) before the start of the season.
So here we sit at the marina in Galveston doing boat projects. While we had planned on doing our upgrades in a more picturesque setting our time has not been wasted. We have been able to complete our list of system upgrades, add solar panels and lithium batteries, install dinghy davits; therefore, completing our much needed upgrades. So while we wait we will stay busy and keep our fingers crossed hurricanes stay away.
The Countdown Begins To Set Sail
As for when will we set sail, our plan is sometime around December 1, 2022. We will head east toward Tampa Florida and sail the Florida coast with planned stops in The Keys and Dry Tortugas. We will then sail south to the Bahamas to enjoy turquoise blue Caribbean waters before heading back up the east coast to wait our yet another hurricane season.
I’m so excited for y’all to get to “prettier” waters and enjoy some of your hard work!
Thank you. I’m excited, nervous, and so many other things, I’m just ready to get away from this brown water in the marina. 🙂
Good things come to those who wait!
Good time management!