2025-09-28 Back in the water and headed south.

Sunday, Kris added some bracing to the stern step access hole repair, and Dean did some scrubbing.  The boat was filthy after sitting on the hard for so long.  It did not help that we were next to some large trees, who daily shed many leaves on deck.   Dean had a hard job, because where leaves had sat and gotten wet, they left a brown tannin stain he had to get out.

Giving the boat a good scrub

Sunday afternoon Kris did a couple loads of laundry of work clothes and such, and bedding that is large and a pain to wash in our little washer on board

Monday morning, they lifted the boat, and repositioned the blocks under the keel so we could paint those spots.  We hung in the slings all day Monday.  Kris did more laundry and cleaned the inside of the boat, and waxed part of the cockpit.  Dean sanded and painted several times during the day on the spots that needed it.

Tuesday morning by 10:00 we were headed for the water. 

Going back in the water

No leaks which is always good – and hurrah the engines started up and ran well – although the throttle for the starboard engine was off a bit.

Kris hates watching the boat move, so she wandered over and talked to some fisherman unloading the catch of Channel Catfish

Quite a load of Channel Catfish, caught in a fish trap

We got some diesel and headed out and motored the 33 miles into light and building south winds to Harness creek, near Annapolis, MD.   Good to be on the water, even if it was a motor trip, and the last 2 hours was a bit of pounding into seas. 

Wednesday Kris checked the sail drives and engine oil, and topped it off, as she knew it would need, as it does after oil changes.   She also checked for oil leaks and found the rear seal was still leaking.  We will have to do that job again.   Rather disappointing.   Still cheaper than hiring it done, and the leak is not bad so we can live with it for a while.  

Wednesday was also shopping day.  Even through we could order stuff from the local store while hauled, which we did, it was not the same as picking out your own food.   First we had to do some Amazon return, so we walked the 3.5 miles to the UPS store to do returns, then back to the Ace Hardware, then to McDonald's for lunch, and then groceries and then back to the boat.  Total trip was 6 miles, and we were tired and dragging a bit by the time we got back.

Our load of groceries

Thursday was cloudy with some rain with stronger south winds, so we just stayed put waiting on weather.  We had very bad internet and cell service at Worton Creek, so we did a bunch of computer catch up stuff.  Talked to the sailmaker about the jib, and made plans for later to work on that when it wasn’t rainy.  Also talked to our insurance broker.  Our insurance company decided not to insure anyone going to the Bahamas or Caribbean anymore, and gave us a whole 15 days notice.  So busy looking for alternatives.

We got the starboard throttle fixed, so now the starboard runs great.

Friday was very light winds, so we motored the 41 miles down to Solomons, MD.  Had a wonderful homemade pizza dinner and relaxed in the evening.

Saturday was rain, and rain and east to SE winds, so once again we stayed put.  Finally, a day of doing pretty much nothing.

We are trying to head south quickly, as we have a friend in New Bern, NC area we would like to help with some boat project, plus the weather is cooling, so south we go.