After Illusion’s first storm experience a few weeks ago, I have been paying extra attention to the weather and the various cloud formations in the sky. I am constantly pointing out cumulous cloud formations to Brian (perhaps to the point of annoyance), including the occasional cumulonimbus, whose name I love to say. Part of this [...]
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We finally left Palmetto Bay Marina, but what we hoped would be the beginning of our southward sail turned into a sea trial when the engine overheated, the GPS stopped receiving, and we discovered that our rigging was, well, a bit off. Remember that we hadn’t sailed her since last March! Both Brian and I [...] I was a bit nervous as I strapped myself into the Bosun’s chair last Friday. It wasn’t that I was afraid of heights – I loved roller coasters and climbing (mostly trees) as a kid – but getting hauled up a tall pole on a swaying boat was entirely new to me. One of us [...] “Ditching” the boat, or abandoning ship, is not something I want to contemplate before taking off on a sailing trip (in fact it absolutely terrifies me), but stocking the ditch bag is a necessary precaution, and I think I am off to a pretty good start so far. I wish I could say that I [...] While Brian and I wait on one last part to arrive (the spring for the wind generator), we are working hard to knock out as many things on the to-do list as possible. One item that had been on my list since early last year was the sewing and construction of an awning to keep [...] I activated Illusion’s SPOT device, a personal locator beacon, a few days ago and set up our subscription. SPOT is a satellite tracking device, which we will activate when we are under sail for safety purposes. Brian and I debated for months whether or not to go with a SPOT or an epirb, but seeing [...] When Brian and I drove through the boatyard gates on Friday morning, I had no expectations. We had plans of putting Illusion back in the water, but six weeks of labor on an old boat had taught me that nothing goes as planned; the hard projects took the allotted time, but projects that seemed easy [...] Still at it, but Illusion is just about ready to go back into the water, which means my work “duties” are almost done. Woo hoo! Well sort of. I can’t say I’ll miss the projects, but it’s been a mostly enjoyable experience. I’ve met some really nice people, learned about all sorts of tools and [...] Another week closer to departure. That is what I keep telling myself even as the projects seem to increase on a weekly basis. This week we discovered that, although the keel bolts are in passable shape, the mast step is not. The mast step is a giant piece of steel that the mast stands on. [...] It’s been a long week full of scrubbing, chiseling, grinding, cleaning, and cold weather. Sea Tow towed the engine-less Illusion to Rockville, SC, on Tuesday, and by Wednesday she was out of the water and up on stilts. Rockville Marine is a boatyard in Rockville, a small community at the end of Wadmalaw Island, about [...] |
   
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