Touchdown: Tilikum kisses the water once again.

The Tilikum has been re-launched and is resting happily back at her new temporary berth at the Bridgewater Marina. Today was the marina's haul-out day where everyone rents a big crane to pick up and store their boats on the hard for the winter. There was a puzzled look on many of the boat owners faces when the crane picked our boat up and sent it in the opposite direction as all the others.

It's funny how much better you feel once your boat is back in the water. We both feel like we're that much closer to heading south. We still have a few more projects above the waterline to do before we leave, but all in all, we're coming along. The last things that need to be finished up this week are jobs like install our new radar, finish up our solar panel mount, and install our new house batteries. Then all that's left is provisioning and pack up all our worldly possessions and take off!

We've reached a new milestone! We are now less than 10 days away from our estimated departure, November 1st!  Finally we can start looking at forecasts and trying to find a weather window to head towards Cape Cod! So, based on the weather forecasts for 10 days from now, which will most likely change a few times between now and then, it looks like maybe we will be leaving on Monday or Tuesday. The plan is to cruise down the coast of Nova Scotia and if the window lines up right, head straight across the Gulf of Maine to the Cape Cod Canal. Sandwich Marina to be specific. There, we're going to spend a night to regroup from our first leg over some food other than beeferoni and hopefully cold beer! A hot shower wouldn't be to shabby either. The next morning we'll go with the tide. Whenever its flowing south, we'll shoot through and on into the Long Island Sound. From there we'll set a course for Fisher's Island where we will moor up for the next week while Sam take's care of getting his insulin and supplies, and I take care of any last minute tune ups to Tilikum.

Weather routing software that we use to plan, route and look for good weather windows. Right now it's looking like 30 knot westerly winds on Saturday which would mean that our departure would be delayed a few days.

We had a very special person come to the marina the other day to visit. When I bought this boat from Joan Curren this past winter, it was known as the Seaquester. Joan had already sailed the boat to many places like Newfoundland, Sable Island, Maine, Cape Breton, and PEI. She owned AND SAILED the Seaquster from the time she was built in 1982 to the time she sold it to me in January of this year. Mrs. Curren is likely one of the few people that know this boat as well as Sam and I, and it was great to hear some tales of what the Seaquester has been through.

It turns out that Tilikum doesn't like being tied up. The boat had a tendency to break free and cruise through the mooring field, dodging around the other boats (with the occasional bump or two) along the way. Joan went on to say, "The other people at the Yacht Club told me that I needed a leash for my boat because she like's to wander so much!" Sam and I took this to mean, like any proud boat owner would of course, that Tilly wants to break loose and explore her surroundings!

It was great to stand and chat with Joan and her son Hugh, especially seeing the excitement in her eyes as we told her about the adventures to come for us and Tilikum. Sam and I would also like thank you, Joan for you generous donation to our safety gear, and for keeping your boat in great shape! Thank you!

Stay tuned! The next post will explain the different route options we have for our journey to warmer waters!

All for now!

Cheers

Capt. Will