Chapter 8

Getting to Know You

Sea Change has a date with dry land and it is soon coming. No surprise, so I’ve been spending as much time with her as I can. One, because sailing is fun! Two, getting to know her systems and how she sails. In between those things, the little moments are so golden. When the afternoon sun passes through the cabin or the steam from a morning tea hits just right.

Time flies by and although I’ll miss her when she’s away, it’s for the good as she goes through the necessary changes to extend her life.

It’s been quite the enjoyable journey thus far. The Florida winter has been kind with pleasant days and nice breezes. Nights on the boat followed by daysails are such a treat. And once again, I am ever thankful for the ability to take this path.

I am also thankful for the love and support of those around me. Not just friends and family, which always remain in my heart, but also the little sailing community close to me. My friendly sailing neighbors, always with a smile and a cheer of support. These are good things, of which I am thankful.

I told myself a month or so ago to get back to having the camera out a bit more. There is always such beauty around at all times. Sometimes, you may have to zoom out, and others in. But somewhere, there is something happening that is natural, peaceful and beautiful. The lens reminds me to take note of such moments, capture them, appreciate them, even though they may be fleeting. But here’s the thing, there’s always another moment just around the corner that can be appreciated.

I’ve been keeping Sea Change within the river and intracoastal. Solo sails, tacks, jibes, auto-pilot, heaving-to, reefing sails, motor sailing. The ever so important basics. Learning how she handles and also taking note of the things I’d like to adjust. I’m glad I’ve been able to do this, so I can create a better vision of how the refit will go.

The next steps are haul-out, de-rig (taking down the mast and standing rigging) and transport to North Carolina. I’ve hired a company for the de-rig and another for transport (by land) to NC. After the refit, the plan is to sail Sea Change back down to Florida. This can be done a number of ways:

1. Strictly off shore (fastest)

2. Intracoastal only, staying more inland and meandering down (slowest)

3. A combination of both. Heading off shore and ducking back to the intracoastal if weather gets heavy or a break is needed

Nothing in stone yet, but I was initially given the estimated time of work completion to be this summer. Now, in the summer, the winds and currents typically run south to north, so choosing a good window for departure is important as well as the patience for that window. But, since nothing is in stone, I could sail her north for the summer and back down in the following fall after hurricane season. I will weigh both options as weather isn’t the only factor at play. Work and time fit into it as well, and at present, my work does require me to be in certain places at certain times (something I’m working on adjusting in order to gain some more geographical freedom).

So for now, it’s more prep. In order to make the work being done easier for the crew I’ll have to relocate or remove some items from Sea Change and place them back on when she’s done. Two weeks to haul out.