s/v Field Trip

Say hello to the biggest carrot we've ever seen.   Produce Delivery - March 31, 2020 “Your produce arrived today, you can come pick it up at the resort anytime.” The text came at 10 o’clock, and I could barely contain my excitement.  Opening the sparcely stocked fridge lately had brought on a sort of panic and depression in me.  Wilted bok choy, one quarter of a pumpkin, and half an onion sat glumly alone on the shelf.  Whenever it came time to cook dinner, I felt like I’d been thrust onto the set of Iron Chef, “Create a main course with these two shriveled tomatoes, three potatoes, and a can of corn.”  (Things were certainly not this dire for us quite yet, but I felt the need to use as few of our canned provisions as possible in order to save them for when we ‘really needed them’ and I could feel the food rationing nazi slowly creeping into my psyche.  When preparing each meal, I found myself praying thanksgiving and miraculous multiplication over ...

Tossing shells with Dad After saying goodbye to our friends on SV Moana Roa, we headed out the Maupiti pass and on to Maupihaa to meet up with our friends on Remi De, Dafne, Elena, Rockstar, and Outsider.   On the way, I would turn one year older – a birthday at sea.   Before we left Bora Bora, Mark had surprised me with a day at one of the fancy resort spas for some birthday pampering.   Not a bad place to be for a birthday! In the first evening of our sail, we noticed whales breeching off the port stern.  It was amazing and unsettling at the same time.  Would they come too close to us and breech at an inopportune time?  Visions of a whale slung over our deck quickened my heart rate and sent me turning the autopilot a few clicks more to starboard, just to be on the safe side.  I watched, relieved, as the spouts of spray confirmed that the whale was going further and further away from us. Good winds allowed us to sail ...

I just got back from a quick three day trip to Washington DC.  I had to fly back to get a power of attorney notarized at the Argentine Embassy so we can export our boat.  Don't ask.  Complicated procedures on the export side in Argentina.  In summary, since my boat is owned by an LLC, I was required to get an Argentine notary on US soil allowing me as an individual to sign export paperwork and export the boat on behalf of the LLC.  ARG! Boxes of stuff I ordered at Neil's house :-) Neil and Shawn were nice enough to let me stay at their place in Fredericksburg, VA.  We did a TON of shopping for miscellaneous items I can't get down here - maple syrup, good peanut butter, boat items, medications, etc, etc.  I also picked up six boxes of Annie's mac and cheese for one of our expat friends whose kids were craving this delicacy. :) In addition, we spent a full day at the Annapolis boat show Thursday.  It was great.  Lots of Antares owners we...

As I alluded to in the Tools posting, there are a lot of items one must consider when provisioning a new boat.  It isn't as simple as buying the boat, loading up your clothes, buying food, and setting sail.   Lots of items must be analyzed, reviewed, debated and ultimately purchased. This is the current analysis that I and other boat owners like Neil Sullivan are currently undertaking.  There are so many items that it can become overwhelming if you don't take this in chunks and get very organized. Fortunately we have a great community of new and current Antares owners that have helped provide input.  In addition I have found Beth Leonard's book The Voyager's Handbook excellent. To provide you with some perspective on the lists, see my summary on the right.  This is still work in process, but you will have some idea on all the items that must be sourced, purchased and stowed on a new boat. At this point, we plan on purchase most of these items in Argen...

So, first we started with the boat options list along with a detailed list of the gear and gadgets we wanted to add. Quickly, one list led to another, and I have now a notebook of lists... Here are some of the lists I'm working on now, but there are lists in my head that are keeping me up at night. (now requiring a bedside notebook, too!) 1. Homeschooling: curriculum, supplies, questions, and to do's 2. Kid Gear/Toys 3. Galley Provisioning 4. Immunization Information for South America I also find myself asking questions like, "how long will this tube of toothpaste last us?" or, "will I REALLY wear makeup?" Suddenly every mundane part of my daily routine is questioned and analyzed to account for efficiency and space... Mark and I also worked on lists of things to do before we go, and we each took responsibility for a few of them we can work on right now. The lists are getting longer and more numerous, causing me to think hard about a binder with tabs ...