July 6 at Oak Bluffs

Today was truly a day of leisure. We went to Edgartown and had fun window shopping. After a late breakfast, we rode out to Tradewinds Airfield which is an airport Jim used to fly gliders 'in the day'. The airport is still rated as operational but it did not appear to be used. It did bring back some fond memories.






We had a nice walk on the beach on our way back to Oak Bluffs for lunch at Nancy's which overlooks the marina.





We had to show a picture of the way we had to get on and off the boat. What a sight it was for everyone to see us climbing into the boat. On our first day, Vanessa almost fell into the water but luckily she only lost her shoe.





Tomorrow we are heading for Woods Hole.

Block Island to Cuttyhunk on July 3rd and the 4th

We started meandering along our summer journey heading towards Block Island. We departed Pier 65 on July 1st at 11:00. The sailing was nice and we arrived mid afternoon. The place was much more crowded than expected and the dingy dock had a traffic jam.

There were several Island Packets and we anchored by s/v Simple Life, an IP37, and owners Michele and Joe Boulay who joined us for drinks aboard Wind Runner.

We had lunch at the Oars Head and enjoyed the sun 'boat and people watching'.

The sunsets are always beautiful but we captured a particularly nice one.

We headed out to Cuttyhunk on Sunday morning. We had a chance to visit with Sandy and Jean Brown, our neighbors from Salmon River Airport. It always amazes us that ice cream tastes so much better when you get it from a marina. Well, the ice cream at Cuttyhunk did not disappoint us - it was absolutely delicious. When we headed out to the boat, we saw Simple Life anchored near Wind Runner. We joined Michele and Joe for cocktails along with shrimp and oysters from the Raw Bar Boat. The fireworks at Cuttyhunk were a pleasant surprise and absolutely fantastic.

We head for Oak Bluffs on Monday.

May 29, First Run To Block Island

Our plans for this sailing season is 'local gunkholing' meandering from island to island and enjoying the sights. We set sail for Block Island at 11:30. Block Island is one of our favorite places and the sunsets are breathtaking. We had a nice sail and long week-end before the summer crowds arrive.

We had the best sunset and views of the boat.

It is so much fun just being on the boat!

May 15, 2010

It is a beautiful morning to make the annual trip down the Connecticut River to our summer port at Pier 65 in Westerly, Rhode Island. We departed at 0700 from Yankee Boat Yard with our friend Phil who also joined us last year.

Our trip was non eventful until we got to Long Island Sound, set sail and could not shut the engine down. We lost power to the engine panel. We kept the engine running at idle and sailed to Rhode Island. We had a clear day with winds 5 - 10 knots and seas 1 - 2 feet. We arrived at Pier 65 at 15:30 and once back at the dock, we investigated what was causing the problem. The problem seemed to be with the parallel system and the house batteries which was fixed by cleaning up a couple of connections.

In the process of fixing the engine panel, we noticed some loose engine mounts. And after tightening them, we now have a much smoother running engine and happier cutless.

The problem was fixed without too much effort.

We had to sit back and enjoy a reward after everything was done -- and, we were quite pleased with the result. For now, all is well.

We are now officially ready to start the 2010 Sailing Season!

May 14th - Getting Ready To Launch

Tomorrow is the day we start stocking the boat in preparation for launch on Sunday, May 16th. Getting the boat ready was the usual adventure which was made even more exciting because of the high water levels that flooded the roads at the boat yard.

2009 Winter Decommissioning

2009 sailing season is over. Where oh where did the summer go?

On October 12th, we took Wind Runner along with Englishman Phil and Francine from our home dock at Westerly, RI to the Yankee boat yard in Portland, CT. It turned out to be an eight hour boat ride as the winds were right out of the west starting out at 10 to 15 in the AM and 15 to 25 in the PM. It was however a sunny fall day and the ride up the Connecticut River is always nice especially with all the fall colors.

Decommissioning at the dock takes us about a week to complete especially with all of the various water systems - engine, generator, sails and rigging plus taking most of the 'stuff' off the boat. We just can't believe all the stuff we have!

It is always exciting to see just how well the bottom faired during the season.



Wind Runner sits in the Pawcatuck River which is famous for its alga and true to form the green bottom was pure black. Good news was we had no barnacles!

Once out of the water, it is pressure washed and hauled across the road and up the hill to its winter resting place.



Once covered, its wait, wait, and wait some more until spring when we are on the water again. Back to the airport and land loving activities for now.

We will do a little boat camping over the winter months and focus on the upcoming season.



We plan on going to the Miami Boat Show in February to look for new toys.

More Video's - Just to Enjoy

Well, it has been almost a month since we got home from our Maine sailing trip and have had a chance to go through our pictures and videos. Some are really fun to watch and we wanted to make it easy - so, we put them all in one spot.

Watch Hill Merry Go Round (we were just learning to use the video, so, there is a bit of background conversation - just for extra enjoyment!)



A nice sail after our video shoot


A beautiful sail - close your eyes and listen to the quiet. Oh, the sound of us cutting through the waves may be a bit load - what a blast!



Another sailing video



More video's will be added as we sort through all the pictures. Stay tuned!

July 16th Home Stretch

Old saying goes - "Red at night, sailors delight; Red in the morning, sailors take warning." The picture shown was this morning and modern weather reports predicted some unpleasant weather coming our way. We motor sailed more than 10 hours today leaving Pocasset Harbor at 5:15 this morning and arriving in Westerly at 4:00 PM. The going was a little rough at times and we continue to admire how great the Island Packet 420 is on the water. How great it is to return on Jim's birthday -- it is now time to light the candles and celebrate!

July 15th Scituate, MA to Pocasset Harbor, MA

Started out motoring to the Cape Cod Canal turned out to be a good sailing day with an average speed of about 8 - 9 knots -- we were smoking and got to the mouth of the canal 2 hours early. So we motored through the canal at 4 1/2 knots. Came out on other side to 3-5 foot seas and 25 knot winds. Pulled into to Pocasset at 5:00 pm. Still very windy - blowing at 20 knots. Our IP flag might not be weathering the storm. Its all tangled and we need to figure out how to get it down before it gets torn up! Seems to be fraid around the edges. We spent the evening on the boat and had a nice dinner, wine and rested to get ready for a very early start tomorrow.

July 14th - Isle of Shoals to Scituate, MA

Departed at 06:00 for Scituate. Calm winds and clear skies. (Motoring Again!) About 1 hour of actual sailing. We pulled into Scituate about 1:30pm, had some ice cream, watched some videos, heading for Cape Code Canal tomorrow. We want to get to the Cape Code Canal on the ebb tide which isn't until 16:00 (4:00 pm)

July 13th - Scratch Biddeford, ME Arrived at Isle of Shoals

Instead of Biddeford we decided to head for a little Island off the coast of Kittery, ME and Portsmouth, NH. It was a 10 hour ride motoring into the wind. Trip was broken up by sighting of numerous whales! In the picture below you can see a water spot of one of the whales. (no telephoto lens) The Isle of Shoals harbor is not well protected from the prevailing Northwest winds. Very popular in the summer with limited number of moorings. A friend from another IP sailing vessel saved a mooring for our late arrive by putting his dingy on it for us. Considering the 60 degree water, the swim back to his boat is a good definition of a friend. (Well, he didn't swim but we initially thought he did.)

July 11th - Back To Boothbay

Motor sailed back to Boothbay from Camden, Maine and had about 3 hours close haul sailing. Mooring at Tug Boat Inn Marina, great showers. Spent all day at Boothbay - July 12th. Had dinner with Norm and Mary Pierce (IP-dealer in Boothbay) Saw the new IP- Estero. Plan is to leave at 05:01am tomorrow for Biddeford, ME for a Lobster salad sandwich. (Don't forget to check out the new pictures scrolling to the right, new ones are added almost daily.)

Portland, ME to Boothbay, ME to Camden, ME

Very calm conditions, motored ALL the way....Lots of Lobster pots! Left Boothbay first thing in the morning EARLY am for Camden, ME. As we pulled out of Boothbay a seal popped his head out of the water, looked at us as if to say, "Good Morning, have a great day." The goal in Camden, ME was to drive our car. See picture.....the new family car purchased from Owls Head Transportation Museum......a 1931 Ford Model A, rumble seat roadster........all we need now is the attire and a nice Sunday afternoon. Plan is to head South at 6:01 am tomorrow. Destination....Boothbay......and heading home. (not in the car, picking up later by trailer)

Kittery Landing Marina then on to Portland, ME

Approaching Kittery planned to go to the Kittery Landing Marina. Warned about very aggressive tides but really had no clue! Because of the tides there are only two times a day to arrive and/or depart for a vessel like Windrunner. While at the dock we understood why when we finally relaxed and were able to see the rushing river! If it wasn't for Captain Tom insisting on guiding you in for docking, things could get ugly fast. (Boating can be fun......)

Inclement weather forced us to stay longer then anticipated. Left on the morning tide of July 8th to rendezvous with the rest of the fleet. Gray day -started out with head winds that shifted to beam winds with increasing winds and seas, coupled with the rain, made for a very dramatic day! Landed at a cheap dock with no water, no electric which required making 180 degree turn in a 50 foot slip with a 45 foot boat. Thank God for bow thrusters! (Some of the crew headed for drinks, as soon as the lines were tied.)

July 6th - "On the Sea (road) Again - Marblehead, MA to Kittery, ME

Wind gust yesterday 20-30 kts. We heeled consistently at 20 degrees, and our average speed was between 7-9 knots. Calmer day a few days ago for the spinaker. Today to Kittery, ME started out 06:01am very calm - no wind. Beautiful sunrise.

Happy 4th!!!!!

Well, we did not head out to Marblehead. Stayed at Scituate Harbor, MA. Walked out to the lighthouse and back. It was the best day, weather wise, so far!!! Heading out tomorrow to Marblehead, maybe.

July 2nd Red Hook Harbor, MA to Scituate, MA

Left Red Hook Harbor to catch the favorable tide through Cape Code Canal. Arrived a little early which gave us a 1 kt negative tide until 3/4's through the canal. We picked up the favorable 1 1/2knot tide. Once in the Cape Cod Canal it was a rolley polley ride, with seas two to four feet and occasional rain showers all the way to Scituate, MA.

Stayed all day July 3rd in Scituate, MA saw the town, saw some fireworks. Basically relaxed. Possibly going to Marblehead, MA tomorrow.

29th Dutch Harbor to Cuttyhunk 30th to Red Brook Harbor/Kingman Yacht Center

Late departure out of Dutch Harbor because of fog, fog, fog. Started out sailing on two hour tack which turned into 4 hours direct motoring to get to Cuttyhunk Island before sun down. To late for ice cream! Some of the crew decided to abandon ship and go hiking. See pictures.

Woke up to thunder and lightening which after much discussion turned into a immediate departure to beat the storms to Red Brook Harbor, Cape Code. Going to Red Brook to wait out the tide for transit of the Cape Code Canal. Decided to do laundry and found out the dryers were broken. So tomorrow we go to town to dry close before an 11 am departure.

Great sail for about 1 hour - becalmed for one hour motored for two.

Had a great meal at the Kingman Yacht Center restaurant. (no pictures...)

A Picture Perfect Day

Today was a fantastic day centered around the long planned helicopter photo shoot. Eight Island Packets headed out to Point Judith departing from Watch Hill promptly at 7:30. We arrived around 11:30 and greeted Cats Paw with a cannon blast. We arrived in time for everyone to have a leisurely lunch before rendezvousing for the photo shoot. We headed out around 12:15 and Mark arrived with the photographer around 1PM. Everything went picture perfect and we have over 500 photo's to memorialize the day. This is a video of our quiet ride to Dutch Harbor on Jamestown Island to have dinner with the gang. We spent the night at Dutch Harbor on a mooring provided by Catspaw and Thiller the cat.

Sunday at Watch Hill

What a day a dingy makes! We spent our day testing the power of the dingy. Alaine tested her driving skills and it was fun to have wet bottoms -- thank goodness our clothes were quick to dry. Today was a day to find the Verizon store in Westerly and to our 'surprise' it was closed - go figure. So, we went to pick up a few additional provisions and motored back to Watch Hill. We walked around Watch Hill and went to the lighthouse and then spent some time admiring the merry go-around.





Alaine showed her bartending skills and made coffee martini's for us - what a wonderful dessert. I think we are hooked. The whole gang got together on the IP40 Surprise and outlined the plan for tomorrow's photo shoot at Point Judith. We depart on Monday at 7:30 AM and head for that destination. Not quite sure what the specific plans are after the photo shoot and hope we will head off to Newport for a wonderful dinner there on Monday night.

Starting Our Maine Voyage

We started our day with breakfast at the Marlborough Family Bakery and a great conversation with Georgette Goodale (owner of Marlborough Bakery). We met Alaine (Jim's daughter) at Pier 65 who is joining us for the 3 weeks. The boat is stocked, the tanks are full and we motored from Pier 65 to Watch Hill to rendezvous with 6 IP's from the south. The plan for tomorrow is to simply relax, walk into town and do absolutely nothing. We will all venture out on Monday to head to Port Judith where we will meet with other IP's for a helicopter aerial photo opt.

Dinner tonight was catered by Georgette and consisted of grilled chicken, bow tie pasta and wheat bread topped off by wine.

It is so much fun to see old friends and meet new friends and we are looking forward to great adventures over the next few weeks.

THE START OF OUR 2009 SAILING SEASON

The remainder of 2008 was spent cruising the local waters of Fishers Island sound, Long Island sound and Block Island sound. The winter was spent doing all of the typical things sailors do during the winter - getting the small repairs scheduled and planning for the next adventure.

After what seems like a never ending winter, we are looking forward to the 2009 season in which another voyage to the coast of Maine is being planned.

SOLAR POWER FOR WIND RUNNER

The final connections of phase one were made today. Wind Runner now
has two 130 watt solar panels, and a maximum power point controller,
installed and operating well. Once the switch was thrown, over
fourteen amps of free power was coming from the Sun. Some went to the
refrigerator. Some went to lights. A little was left for the
batteries.

Soon phase two will be complete. A third 130 watt panel is being
added. Wind Runner will likely be able to avoid starting an engine
when out on the hook.

NEW WATER SYSTEM

The water problems are solved! Spring-like water is now available on Wind Runner.

The parts of the new system:

NEW SELECTOR VALVE

Manually operated without tools. Selects whether the pump picks up water from the water tank or from another source. Allows antifreeze or a light bleach or cleaning solution to be easily flushed through the water system plumbing, without needing to have that fluid put into the water tank.

NEW PRIMARY INLET FILTER

Captures most of the contaminant in the water or other fluid being moved by the pump. This filter may fill often in the next many weeks. Over time it will fill less often, as long as a carbon filter is always used to remove chlorine from the water placed in the water tank. This filter is installed opposite from normal, regarding direction of flow. This orientation significantly increases the contaminant holding capacity.

NEW SECONDARY INLET FILTER

Captures additional contaminant in the water or other fluid being moved by the pump, if any passes through the primary filter. This filter is installed in the orientation the manufacturer recommends. It has limited contaminant holding capacity in this orientation, but it may filter contaminant more effectively.

NEW VARIABLE SPEED PUMP 4.0 GPM AT 50 PSIG.

This is the pump that was installed in the middle of the ocean. Moves water or other fluid without the need for an accumulator tank. With it water flow will start immediately after a water fixture is turned on, but then flow will decay for a short period. Full flow will resume quickly when the pump controller senses water use. This pump is a smallish pump for the number of water fixtures on the boat, but it should serve nicely with only two normally on board. The variable speed pump in spares provides 5.7 gpm at 60 psig. This pump may get installed, but the installed pump will be used for a while to allow the system to get squeaky clean over the next many voyages. Then the larger pump will have the greatest chance of lasting forever, having to deal with only normal contaminant loads.

NEW DRINKING WATER ELEMENT

Removes fine solid particles and other nasties, if there are any. Keeping this element serviced should mean the water on Wind Runner will nearly duplicate bottled drinking water.

With this new water system the tank should clean up well, just by using water on the boat. Then the water system should operate clean and trouble free with very little maintenance. Changing the drinking water element, and cleaning the primary inlet filter, should be the only maintenance necessary. The secondary inlet filter may need minor attention. No tools are necessary to service the new water system, other than to fix a leak if one happens to appear.

OVER THE TOP

Wind Runner is a very nice boat kept very nice! But there are some things that are over the top. Here you can see Jim has taken the boat home, an hour inland, to wash and wax and shine it up:


(Actually, the satellite transponder was removed for shipment back to iboattrack. Iboattrack doesn't need no stinking UPS tracking number.)

DATA AND WATCH KEEPING

Before untieing the first line to start the ocean voyage to Bermuda, a data sheet and a watch schedule were created.  The data sheet was created to make sure everyone learned as much as they could, as soon as possible about Wind Runner and the sea around her.  The sheet allowed us to keep good track of the boat, the ever changing sea, our progress, and our resources, just in case.  The sheet helped us keep the boat shipshape and helped us form the habit of checking, once, twice, three times, and more.  The sheet was a supplement to the ship's log.

 

The watch schedule was created to make sure all crew knew what was expected, when.  We wish we could share these documents but we can't figure out how to get them loaded on this blog.

 

The data sheet was kept religiously during the voyage to Bermuda.  Each and every hour we checked, and we wrote down important facts and observations.  On the way back, beginning in the heaviest weather we failed to take time to actually write things down every hour.  However we found the habits had been formed, and checks were continuous.

 

The watch schedule was kept religiously except during the heaviest weather.  The schedule worked great.  Three hours on.  Three hours off.  With pairs keeping watch between midnight and 6:00 am.  With four crew and the tandem watches, the time of day that each crew stood watch did not repeat for many days.  During the heaviest weather, the schedule was modified so the boys kept watch three hours on, three hours off.  The girls, importantly, watched out for and over the boys.  This adaptation of the watch for a relatively short period kept anxiety as low as possible.  It did put a bigger burden on the heavy lifters of the crew, but the extra burden remained very reasonable.

LIFE IS SIMPLE

Wake. Sail. Sail. Sail. Sail. AM Shower. Sail. Sail. Sail. Sail. Breakfast. Sail. Sail. Sail. Sail. Lunch. Sail. Sail. Sail. Sail. Happy hour. Sail. Sail. Sail. Sail. PM Shower. Sail. Sail. Sail. Sail. Dinner. Sail. Sail. Sail. Sail. Sleep. Sail. Sail. Sail. Sail. (repeat)

MORE PICTURES

Back to America.

TWO MORE MOVIES

Dancing.
Tired.

LANDED NEWPORT

Check sailing to Bermuda off the Bucket List!

We landed Newport at 01:30 pm. It was interesting trying to honor Custom's dictate, do not get off the boat. Luckily we had West Wind Marina dock hands to tie us up and connect their end of the power cord and water hose. At least we could begin restoring Wind Runner to her clean and cool self.

While waiting for CBP, we popped a bottle of champagne, and cut the brie and white cheddar. Then we opened a bottle of Pinot Grigrio because CBP hadn't arrived yet. When the CBP officer did arrive, she understood the deliberate, slow, answers to her questions, and was tickled by it. All in all checking in was a nonevent. Just a quick look at our boat docs and our people docs.

Ah, to be back in America, on land!

ONE DAY AWAY OR COMING TO AMERICA

The last twenty four hours have been good and interesting. In no particular order:

We saw a turtle as big as a Volkswagon on the surface of the water. His or her head was as big as a five gallon bucket. We saw a Sun Fish on the surface waddling his or her fin. Jim thought it was a shark, but he was quickly corrected.

The IP water system bane, crystals, have driven us crazy! We clean. We use water. The water stops. We clean. We use water. The water stops. Finally, we donated a pump and an accumulator to Davy Jones Locker, hoping this sacrifice to Davy Jones brings us good. We installed a variable speed pump, and we reworked the inlet filter to it, giving us running water for a longer period, also giving us a much easier assembly to clean. Addressing this issue once and for all has been discussed and detailed ad infinitum!With all of the water issues, we have learned it is true showers can be had with a half gallon of water, as long as you don't wash long hair.

It has been hot and too rough to open hatches or ports. We didn't bring enough sheets. Buy stock in Lysol! (Male crew wonders why we have had all the parts to fix all the stuff males usually fix and female crew didn't bring the parts to address the need for extra sheets, but male crew is not raising the issue.)

And the comical end, Customs. We cannot figure out how to get back into America. First, we call a CBP office in Maine, who is supposed to handle all entries back into New England. They name Stonington, Groton, Mystic, New London as places we can land. However, they unnamed those places quickly. We have to enter at Newport or New Bedford! Say what? The New York CPB office, who handles all of Long Island including the east end, has such new employees they have no idea what we should do.

So, we are navigating to Newport, for Customs, for a slip, for long hot showers and footing that does not move beneath us. We are going to find a good restaurant where we don't have to hold onto our plates while we eat. We should arrive Sunday early afternoon. All on board are looking forward to landfall. It has been a bit long on the ocean. But, it has calmed down enough that we can almost brush our teeth without hanging on. We expect calm conditions for the rest of the voyage unless we can't outrun the weather that is coming. Sail trimmers won't let that happen.

06/28/2008
22:48:30 GMT
39° 23.32' N70° 26.48' W

UUUGHHHH!

Last night the seas began building at about 8:00 pm. And the winds freshened. And the seas grew higher. And the winds blew stronger. Before long, we were motorsailing in near gale force winds and ten to twelve foot seas. It was a long and tiresome night, and it lasted most of today. But finally it has calmed down, and we are sailing along nicely.

We have been making great time! Except for a spot where we were unsure of which way to go, in which configuration, for comfort, instead of progress, we were beating our to-Bermuda average of 6.7 knots. Amazing. But we were riding up huge mountains of waves that would slow us, and then we would slide, sometimes crash, down the other side. If you can believe the GPS Trip feature we saw 21.4 knots Maximum. Jim Juliet Whiskey keeps repeating, "I just can't believe this boat!"

We are booking for Block Island sometime Sunday to beat the next round of weather. Hopefully we will be snug in the anchorage before dark under Q Flag for showers, food, and sleep before heading out at first light Monday in home waters to find Customs.

06/27/2008
23:31:15 GMT
37° 13.42' N
68° 41.75' W

ONE DAY OUT

Wind Runner departed Bermuda for America at 10:00 am yesterday after taking on 80 gallons of diesel at the last moment. We thought we would have good winds from the beginning to take us first north then northwest, where we would miss adverse currents. We stayed on the favored tack. The opposite tack had us heading nearly back to Bermuda. Expecting the winds to change any minute, we pushed on farther north and east than we wanted.

So now we deal with a bit of adverse current motorsailing, and wait for the higher winds that have been forecast. In any event, it looks like we will enter Block Island Sound between Block Island and Montauk Sunday late or Monday early.

On the trip over we were lucky to have no issues to deal with while in the middle of the ocean. In the beginning of the trip back we have had two. The boom vang bottom attachment bolt let go. The vang is a Garhauer vang, attached with a top half inch bolt and a bottom one. The bottom bolt eased out and then fell to the deck, along with two hard plastic spacers. The vang hit the deck and began tracing an arc back and forth across the cabin top. Amazingly the vang did no damage, and the bolt and spacers were laying within an arm's length of where they reside. The spacers could not be properly fitted while bouncing up and down and around. They were arranged differently as a temporary measure. The bolt was reset, and the whole assembly was wrapped with nearly a whole roll of rigging tape. This fix may last the whole way back.

The other issue is more mission critical. We lost sixty gallons of water overboard. We searched but have not determined where. It could have been a tap, leaky plumbing, or a leaky toilet. For the balance of the trip we will turn the water pump off between uses, and find and fix the issue when back at the dock. Shame on us for not keeping the water pump off between uses as a practice, as a good seaman would.

We still have plenty of water and will not have to touch the emergency water. We may only get one more shower each while offshore.

06/26/2008
16:27:21 GMT
34° 21.22' N
66° 19.18' W

MORE PICTURES

BERMUDA CANON CAMERA
BERMUDA SONY CAMERA

FIXING THE BROKEN STUFF

There were no breakages on Wind Runner that would mean, NO GO, returning to America. There were on other boats, a boom gooseneck, a furling gear link, autopilots.

There were things to fix if possible and renew on Wind Runner before the voyage back. The light on the tachometer burned out. The oil pressure warning alarm stopped beeping. After finding a failed pressure switch, we had to find a Yanmar store.

We didn't find a Yanmar store, but we found Harrison, a Yanmar agent. It was literally like playing Twister or doing the limbo, walking with him through his 1200 sq ft shop. Halfway to the parts we needed, we called out to Harrison who was way ahead, "we shouldn't be following you, should we." Harrison replied, "probably not." We went back the way we came and waited in no particular spot. There was no customer service counter.

Soon Harrison came back with lights and switches. Two each. One to be installed. One to be put in Wind Runner's spares bin. When we asked how much, he said the switches were $16.00, we could have the lights. We gave him $40.00 and left amazed.

Once back at Wind Runner, the lightbulb was easily changed. The pressure switch was low and aft on the starboard side of the engine. We enlisted the skinnier fingers, hands, and arms of mechanic Toby to change it. Even he had to wrestle with several possible tools and then hold his mouth right to get the bad switch out and the good one in.

Once the stuff we knew was broke was fixed, the engine oil was changed. Then we slowly looked over Wind Runner. We didn't go inch by inch. We did go foot by foot, cleaning while we went. All appeared shipshape.

SAIL WITH WIND RUNNER

Night Sailing
Day Sailing
Day Sailing
Day Sailing
Daily Chores

HERE'S PICTURES

Our first pictures,


are here:
BLOCK TO BERMUDA CANON CAMERA
BLOCK TO BERMUDA SONY CAMERA