For those interested in details and information this is the spot. I'll
start with some typical questions. If you have others let me
know. Please forgive me the sailing terminology. It is an entire second
language!
What kind of boat do you
have? It's a 44 foot CSY
(Caribbean Sailing Yacht) walk-through cutter rig built in 1980. We bought it in 2007 and
have been working on her ever since. Jade is powered by a mainsail, large genoa
and a staysail or the 65 hp diesel engine. Down below there are two berths, two
heads, a walk-in shower, a galley, a salon and a walk-in engine room. The mast
is 64 feet tall and she draws 5 feet. Our top speed under sail is around 7-8
knots, under power it's 5-6 knots. Traveling this way is slow! A nice change
from our normal life.
How do you cook? The galley has a propane oven, with a three burner cook
top plus a small microwave. An upright refrigerator / freezer is built in. We
have a pretty good amount of storage for dry goods and dishes. The storage for
pots and pans is quite small and is under the oven. We use a percolator for
coffee and frequently use a pressure cooker on the stove top. There is also a
propane grill on the back deck. The grill gets used a lot. I have several
cookbooks on board and we usually have internet access to look up recipes. My
cooking style is mostly gluten free, low inflammatory, Mediterranean. I'm
experimenting with baking in the pressure cooker. So far, it's going well -
apple crisp and cornbread were both yummy. For this trip I loaded the freezer
with meat and bought mostly fresh vegetables and fruits. We have some frozen
and canned foods too and will need to replenish along the way.
Do you stop every night? Usually, yes we do - is the best answer. However,
when we are on a trip that will take several days, the boat keeps moving around
the clock. For example, sailing to Marathon from the Manatee River will take approximately
40 hours. We leave in the evening and spend the entire time moving the boat
without stopping. We take turns staying up at night, usually taking 2 hour
shifts. We rest whenever possible during these passages to avoid getting fatigued. We fix nice meals as the weather allows, listen to music, read, check on
the boat systems hourly, always keep an eye out for other boats to avoid a
collision, continually watch our course and stay aware of the weather. Once we
get to our destination we stay put at night, anchored in a protected
cove. We usually stay several nights in one place. This is the real purpose of
the trip - checking out the sights, socializing with other cruisers, exploring
and enjoying the area. Staying at a dock costs at least $200.00 a night, but
anchoring is generally free. Being on a boat at anchor is one of the most
pleasant experiences you can have in life. I absolutely love it, and it is one of my
favorite things about this lifestyle. The peacefulness and proximity to nature
seems more natural to me than life in the city.
This seems like enough for
today! If people want, I can keep sharing this style of blogs
along with Facebook photos as we travel.
Thanks to all. Love and Peace,
Fran Lima
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