Hello all.

I have been without internet access for some months now, however that has recently changed. I noticed quite a few unauthorized posts on the blog and as a result I have disabled comments for non-authorized users. What this means for you is that you have to create/authorize your user to post comments.

I have also been working on a short story of the trip and will be posting it within the next couple of weeks. I hope you are all doing well.

JD

Hi everyone. First I would like to apologize for the misunderstandings over the last few weeks, and also I want to tell you that we have arrived in New Jersey safe and sound.

We were very busy prior to leaving South Carolina and therefore were unable to post any updates, or a float plan. Additionally we were not in cell range until we put into Hattaras and by then the craziness had already ensued.

Well here we go again. I want to welcome all of you back for the voyage, round two. For those of you who were around for the first attempt back in February you will remember that we had a few issues with the boat, and were in desperate need of some additional gear and crew.

On Tuesday the heater and fuel pump came in. We installed the fuel pump, did the final fuel system work, cleaned and prepped the decks, cleaned and did the majority of the organization below decks. Late in the afternoon we got off the dock and headed toward the fuel dock. We took on 104 gallons of fuel to go with the 15 gallons we already had aboard. After talking with two of the local captains we decided we needed to wait for a high tide during daylight to run the cut to the Atlantic. Hence, we decided to wait until the Wednesday morning tide.

After a good nights rest we started the day with our usual coffee and oatmeal. I did some blogging and then set about to solve the heater problem. I found a solution that is not perfect but will work for us at West Marine. I then started cleaning the lazarettes in preparation of finishing up the fuel system work. Aaron took a shower and did the laundry, then got to work on the remaining portlight storm covers.

By the end of the day all the storm covers were in place and looking good. I had discovered that our fuel lift pump had been previously repaired with tar instead of a rubber diaphram. I rush ordered a new pump, it should be in this morning. We also accomplished a fair amount of cleaning and various small projects.

After yesterdays blogging session, we headed up to the marina showers. Feeling clean and refreshed we got to work. Aaron went up the mast where he spent most of the day. He installed a new forward running light, a new anchor light, troubleshot the spreader lights, taped the cotter pins, and lubed the main sail and spinnaker tracks. He also fixed the main halyard guide and installed a spinnaker shive and halyard line.

Meanwhile I tuned the mast rigging and tightened all the turnbuckle locks. I also handed Aaron the necessary parts and tools as well as controlled the winches and windlass to move him up and down the mast.
During this entire process the remnants of the previous days storm were still blowing themselves out. Consequently we did all of this work in 20 knots of winds with gusts up to 30 knots. Aaron was a real trooper and by the time he got off the mast he looked like he had been in a bar fight with a platoon of marines.

We woke in the morning to discover that the weather report was unfortunately accurate. The wind was blowing and the boat was moving around pretty good. Shortly thereafter it began to rain. The report suggested that it would be blowing gale force winds with 14-17' seas by early afternoon. Thus, we decided to postpone launch. This was not necessarily unfortunate as it gave us an opportunity to discover a few minor leaks. By 'a few minor leaks' I mean there were several garden hose style leaks at every hatch, portlight, vent and any other minor opening on the hull.

Fours hours from thursday the alarm went off and we rolled from our bunks with bleary eyes. By the time my feet hit the deck the first mate was already driving on his hunt for plexiglass. We had decided the night prior that without the plexiglass to make the stormcovers for our port lights that we would not be able to cast off on saturday. We had hit the limit on our budget some days ago and began to squeeze. By this point the budget has been run dry.

We were figuring the plexiglass could run as much as $1000. Aaron called me from the plexiglass store to inform me they did not have enough 1/2" plexi to complete our task. I immediately began to consider compromising the safety of the vessel in an effort to make our voyage. I asked Aaron if they had enough 1/2" plexi to complete the two forward storm covers. Aaron said he would check and call me back.