Do We Know Where We’re Going?

As we continue to formulate our plans for sailing south, we have begun to compile a list of places we hope to visit.  Our plan is, basically, to leave the Narragansett and head south/west.  While our route will change as we progress, we have some preliminary ideas:

Late August: move onboard full time in Bristol Harbor, RI.  We will want a few weeks to settle in and adjust to having Atalanta as our only home and to test out new equipment. All remaining possessions will be tucked away on the boat or safely in storage.

September (Mid): head into Long Island Sound and spend time near New Rochelle visiting family for a week or so.

September (late): leave Long Island Sound entering the East River.  Passing Manhattan’s east side, we will round the Battery, passing the Statue of Liberty.  Once clear of the Verrazano Bridge, we will sail south to Cape May, NJ.  Leaving Cape May via the canal, we enter Delaware Bay, the C & D Canal, and Chesapeake Bay.

October: explore the Chesapeake, both on the Annapolis side and the Delmarva Peninsula.  We hope good winds warm temperatures for this part of the voyage.

October (late): enter the Intercoastal Waterway (ICW) at Hampton Roads, VA.  We will spend a number of days heading south, making time only during the daylight hours until we reach Morehead City, NC. By leaving the ICW and going into the Atlantic, we will avoid rounding Cape Hatteras.  Once on the outside, we will sail south to Charleston, SC.

November:  is our time for Charleston. This will provide us with a chance to visit family in Mount Pleasant. City Marina is a great location for accessing all that is Charleston so it will be our home for the better part of a month.  We do not want to be south of Charleston before the end of the November since hurricane season continues until November 15^th. We may even find ourselves lingering into the early part of December.  Time will tell.

December:  will find us launching off for the blue waters and sunny skies of the Caribbean. Palm trees and no snow! Our point of departure will most likely be Charleston but our next destination is undetermined. We want to visit Puerto Rico and a friend of Richard’s who lives there.  Then it’s on to the BVI’s. 

Be sure to comment and suggest places that we should visit (or that you would like to come to visit us).  

Continuing to Make Progress

Finally, March has arrived. The light at the end of the tunnel is visible.  With a visit to Bristol Marine last week, the progress toward readying Atalanta is evident.  The Fisher Panda Gen-set is installed and running.  This was a major project requiring a new footing for the unit, redesigning the electrical system, redoing the fuel connections, and designing an exhaust system that would work.  In addition, the Spectra 300 Watermaker is installed and ready for action.  This will be a major addition to Atalanta once she is in the warm clear waters of the Caribbean next winter.  We are in the process of installing a new fresh water toilet in the aft head which will make it all more pleasant.  The progress on the sole (floor) of the boat has been good with 5 large pieces currently being refinished in the basement.  Next we are changing out interior dome lights with LED to conserve on electrical draw and adding a second compressor to enhance our refrigeration.  Lots of projects and thanks to the help of Bristol Marine, they seem to be falling in place.

Some have asked about the name Atalanta.  I have listed a few URL's that provide a great overview of the Myth and character of Atalanta. Hope you enjoy them.

1. www.theoi.com/Heroine/Atalanta.html
2. www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Heroes/Atalanta.html
3. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atalanta

Finally, one giant step toward leaving for our Caribbean adventure occured last week.  Kay announced her retirement from the Waitsfield School.  After more than 25 years of service to the Waitsfield community, Kay announced her plan to retire.  I know she will be missed by her colleagues and students as she has become such a part of their lives, given them so much of her talent and love, and dedicated herself in a way that exemplifies what a teacher can be.  Hats off to Kay for a job well done!

Stay tuned for more as we get closer and closer to launching Atalanta in April.  Below are photos from our recent car trip to Charleston, SC (where we plan to land in November and December 2013).

Major Projects Underway

While this post will again be about preparations for the trip, I assure you that it will become infinitely more interesting once we begin our trip.  There are three major projects underway.  First is the install of a 6.5 KW generator.  We chose the Fisher-Panda 6500 as it will fit in the confined space we have or such a unit.  It has a Kobota engine and is only 28"x 23" x 21".  It is being installed by Bristol Marine just forward of the main engine.  Because it is a new instillation, Bristol has to build the exhaust system,  install a new thru-hull fitting for cooling water, and tap into the fuel system.  The second major project is the instillation of a water maker.  We are going with the Spectra Catalina 300.  This will provide us with ample fresh drinking water.  Again, Bristol Marine is going to install the unit prior to launching in April.  The last "big" project is the refinishing of the cabin's teak and holly sole (floor).  I have been picked away at it all winter and have about 60% completed.  The pictures below show the first two steps in the process.  First all old varnish is removed with the assistance of a heat gun.  Next it is sanded with 80 grit, then 120, 220 and finally 330.  The first two coats of Epifane Varnish are cut to 50% with Interlux 330 thinner.  The third through 8th coat is cut to 10% thinner.  The 9th and 10th coats are applied with Epifane's flat finish varnish.  The end result is "like new."  Stay posted for more news as we ready Atalanta for the water.

Punch List for the Trip

As Kay and I prepare for the journey, we are planning and preparing.  Below is a partial list of what we  need to do to prep ourselves and Atalanta for two years of sailing.  Hope you find it mildly interesting.
To dos:

• Refinish cabin sole (floor) - 50% completed as of today: Richard and Kay
• Refinish cockpit table - Epifane Gloss: Richard and Kay
• Purchase and have Watermaker installed (to provide fresh water) - Bristol Marine
• Complete instal of 6.5 KW generator - Bristol Marine
• Replace damaged hatch lenses - Hatchmasters, Norwalk, CT
• Install wash down pump: Richard and Kay
• Complete switch over of interior lights to LED: Richard and Kay
• Paint cabin coach top: Richard and Kay
• Replace leather wheel cover - in process: Richard and Kay
• Acquire needed national flags countries that will be visited: Richard and Kay
• Upgrade refrigeration - Ocean Options, Newport, RI
• Rebuild head (toilet) pumps: Richard 
• Install SAT phone or SSB (single side band) radio for communication - Custom Navigation, Newport, RI
• Acquire sea anchor or drogue: Richard and Kay
• Replace screens for 18 port lights/holes - Larry Steeneck, E> Fairfield, VT
• Finish repairs on main diesel (oil leaks) - Hanson Marin
• Sail repairs: VT Sailing Partners, Winooski, VT
• Finish re-bunging teak deck: Richard 
• Paint bottom (2 coats): Richard 

We are well on our way with many of these projects and have some completed.  It sounds like allot but some of it is just the normal maintenance that we go through each year.  It is my belief that you do for yourself that which you can and you only pay others for those things that you do not have the ability or expertise to do.  Unfortunately, I am expert at rebuilding heads.  Only by doing as much as you can are you prepared to do what is needed when offshore.  Its hard to call on anyone when your offshore.  The key to safety with such an endeavor is redundancy, prior prep, and building your skill set to deal with the issues that mother nature will surely throw at you.  Its a process that can take a lifetime.

New Year's Update: Still on the hard

Kay and I made a trip to RI to check in on Atalanta this weekend and to pick up our 4 person offshore life raft from Life Raft Survival Equipment in Tiverton.  It is now inspected and certified for the next three years.  Hopefully, it will sit on the deck of Atalanta and never need to be deployed.  It's one of those items you want to be of high quality and never use.  Thanks to Scott.

Upon entering Atalanta for the first time since she had been covered (November) the interior is pretty much torn apart as the new generator is being installed.  We are looking forward to having it up and running for the new season.  It will provide us with the juice to be able to run the existing AC and heat as well as to make water and charge batteries without taxing the Perkins diesel.  Thanks to Bristol Marine for their work with this job.

We are continuing to refinish the teak and holly sole.  Fortunately, 90% of the sole (floor) comes up and can be worked on in the basement at home.  We are using Epithane high gloss for the first 8 coats and a matte finish for the final two.  Thanks to the high quality of the Little Harbor, we are able to sand out all the imperfections as the sole is not a laminate but instead a solid teak and holly.  Once finished, the interior is going to look great.

Thats it for now.  Stay posted as we continue winter preparations.

A few pics from last summer aboard

Intro Posting

Kay and Richard are retired educators planning an extended cruise aboard their Little Harbor 44 CC.  The goal is to set out for points south starting in September 2013.  This blog will eventually cronicle that trip but first there is a great deal of preparation which we are currently involved with.  We have sold our house and are renting from fellow sailors that are away for two years.  By renting, we have the opportunity to thin out all that will be stored while we are away.  Our winter planning includes upgrades to Atalanta, development of possible itineraries, identifying safety needs, addressing communication requirements, research regarding customs and visitation requirements and much more.  This blog will explore our preparations and ultimately our journey.  We hope to spend time with family along the East Coast prior to launching into the Caribbean.  Eventually we hope to reach South and Central America.

Richard has been sailing most of his 61 years while Kay has been going to sea for the past 6.  Kay prefers the rank of "vice captain" and so she is.  Her knowledge and skills are amazing given her relative short time on the water.  Together we are a great team, well prepared for the adventure of sailing south together.

Atalanta is a strong and capable blue water boat that has seen her share of East Coast ports.  She is 44 feet, 34,000 lbs, sloop rigged and carries a scant 3 sails.  Once Ted Hood's Robin Too, she has sailed primarily along the coast.  Recent upgrades include a gen-set, watermaker (to be installed), new windlass, life raft, EPIRB, engine repairs, upgrades to navigation software, and more.  She currently (winter 2012-3) sits on the hard in Bristol, RI awaiting warmer waters.  

This blog will initally focus on our thought and preparations for the trip and eventually the trip itself. We hope you will use it to follow and communicate with us as it all unfolds.  Best always, Richard  and Kay