READY to Go!

Annie is ready to go!

We still have a couple of things to do tomorrow, but barring any major unforeseen issues, we will launch on Friday at approximately 11:00 AM. (Go ahead... I know... bad luck to launch on a Friday... sorry, I'm not superstitious and it's past time to go).

Relocated the dinghy to midship so as to allow a free forward deck and staysail usage. Better.

A small list of last things to do tomorrow and we'll be on our way.

As a side note: finally got out to Saint George's Island with my friend Peter Ryan... pretty neat.

Fair seas and God bless!

If you look close...across the river... ANNIE!

A zoom in shot... still small.

Hey Peter!

Provisioned!

Annie is provisioned!

After a trip to Sam's and Walmart, Annie has enough provisions for the passage...actually, I may have bought too much. (Never go grocery shopping when you're hungry)!

I was going to list all the provisions individually, but that would take too long and provisioning a boat for passage is different for everyone... we all like different stuff.

Ironically, all the heavy foods, plus water, diesel jugs, extra boat parts, and tools, ended up on the starboard side of the boat and she is actually listing to starboard a couple of degrees. I don't like that but there's not too much I can do about it without a major cargo unpack and repack.

One thing is for certain... we won't starve for a while. (No pics of it, but the reefer is packed with flatbreads, veggies, and 3 dozen eggs).

Fair seas and God bless!

Tons of Can Goods.

Citrus stuffed Everywhere...

Green Bananas all over!

Donut Shop Coffee... Got to have Coffee!

Vidalia Onions... Don't leave Home without 'em!

Arrrrrhhh... No Scurvy on this Ship!

Cups of Noodles... a Staple of Life!

Snack Hammock!

Ready and Waiting... and Wet!

Everything, for the most part, is ready. All the boat projects that HAD to be finished are complete. All major systems on Annie have been checked, checked, and rechecked. All safety measures, from GPS tracking to jacklines, tethers, and offshore life jackets, to emergency flares, PLB's (Personal Locator Beacons), and many other redundant systems...are in place. Annie is ready.

One of the safety systems aboard Annie is a Delorme InReach tracking system which uses satellite GPS location with both send and receive. The system has an SOS feature which is most important, but it also allows interested parties to track Annie during her passage. Position updates are sent via satellite every 10 minutes. If you are interested in tracking our passage, simply use this link, https://share.delorme.com/dreamboatannie.

We are ready and waiting... and wet!

It appears that the weather will not be cooperating with us during the last few days before launch.

All is well though. Boats are made to get wet and barring any tropical developments, Annie will launch on time.

I want to thank some people who have helped me with work on Annie.

Steve Lawson, thanks for your help with the companionway hatch as well as many other jobs.

Mike Hossier. thanks for your help building a new tiller as well as many other jobs.

Paul Adams, thanks for your help in painting Annie as well as other jobs.

Hurricane Dave, thanks for all the parts and tool help.

Shiloh Spivey, best and prettiest marina/boatyard manager I know.

Joseph Love, for helping me get two extremely heavy AGM batteries up a ten foot ladder.

Dockside Marina, for bending a few rules and hence, allowing me to finish on time.

Fair Seas and God bless!

Autopilot... Ready!

A year ago, I made the mistake of crossing the gulf without an autopilot. I found out the hard way that a tiller tied with ropes just doesn't work. No matter how straight you tie the tiller, currents, waves, and winds alter your course and before you know it, you're way off course.

A sailor friend of mine, Mike on s/v Solana, told me about a way to connect a small tiller autopilot to my Monitor windvane and though the tiller autopilot may be undersized for your particular boat, because it is rigged to the windvane, the windvane rudder would handle all the muscle work. I checked out Monitor's website and a video or two and decided to give it a shot.

Though I haven't tested it yet, the tiller autopilot to windvane system is installed and from what I can tell in the slip, appears to be working. The pics are pretty self-explanatory, but if you have any questions, leave a message at the beep.

Fair seas and God bless!

Countdown to Launch...

There are only 15 days left before I leave for Marsh Harbor/Saint Lucia.

There are many jobs that still have to be completed but most of them are smaller jobs. From storage to cotter pins to wiring shackles... it's all coming together. As I go about finishing up these jobs, I am also sprucing the boat up a bit.

Here's a few pics...

Fair seas and God bless!

Cargo Netting will afford more storage.

Still have to secure the bottom...

Even above the V-Berth...

Now hot pots & pans will stay on the stove top when underway.

No gimble but L-Brackets secure the stove and Aluminum Flat Bar secures the hot pans.

A couple of pieces of Hemp Rope as trim adds to that Nautical look.

Companionway Doors - Quicker and easier than slats.