Hope Floats

26th June 2010

Watermelon Summer

Hope Floats……. And so does WJ3!  Ya’all be pleased ta know that WJ3 has splashed.  She is now in a pen at Deltaville Marina for a month.  Yesssireee bob, we’ve moved a grand total of 400 metres – most of it by travel lift.

Well, I know you’re curious.  Remember the planned 2 week "working on the boat and it will all be done before madam arrives” thing?  Well it all fell in a heap beginning with the 2 weeks home alone and continues still, even after 6 weeks of working on the hard in Virginia’s impossible summer heat.  We’re now enjoying daily heatwave conditions varying between 99 to 100F’s mixed up with the odd 104F (40C) days for good measure.  Did I mention the humidity?

Hey!  That's my spot!

Work and modifications continued in sauna conditions up in the yard until “we” made a decision that life would be a wee bit better afloat.  You know – mod cons like refrigeration, aircon (so we can sleep at night), a bath house and even a swimming pool a mere 10 steps away.  Sign me up!  The Cap’n continues with his to-do list and has added a few unplanned extras like solar panels in prep for the big crossing next year.  Why not, indeed?  Things are cheaper, easier to access and we have professionals close at hand if it all turns to you-know-what.  The First Mate continues to direct traffic from either the pool or the air conditioned sailor’s lounge. As you would expect!

Prime Position at Deltaville Marina

We are now into week 2 of our 4 week stay at the marina and WJ3‘s engine is in bits – a major service is underway and the cheque book is in need of a little defibrillation!  Our float plan is also in need of a facelift as summer (in the north) is fading quickly.  Watch this space – we may get as far as Reedville this year!  (Reedville is on the other side of the Rappahannock River – about 30nm or an afternoon’s sail away). 

Yes, it's not a blue moon

It’s just that Windjammer seems to really like it here.   And she wants to stay…