Susan and I met Jim Funk, our canvas worker at his Mystic loft last Friday. He had just completed sewing our new dodger and it looks great! Jim has a very complete understanding of sailboats and is a craftsman of the highest caliber. We then all traveled over to Gypsy in Noank to check out our bimini setup and review how our solar panels will attach prior to Jim starting that project. Once we decided how we’ll alter the bimini we removed it and the dodger (to have handles welded on). Jim’s going to set the bimini frame up in his loft so we can build the solar panel supports there. Jeff Morgan (our rigger) arrived at Gypsy just as Jim was leaving. Jeff installed the new lifelines he had just made and they look and function great!
After Jeff and Susan left I wandered the docks looking at boats. New England has to be one of the best places on the planet for that with more classically beautiful boats than just about anywhere. While I was wandering around I met Steve who was also gawking at boats. Turns out that Steve has a beautiful Cape Dory one dock down and invited me aboard. He has a heater aboard which was greatly appreciated as the sun was going down that the air was turning quite cold. Steve it planning on sailing to Bermuda this spring which will be the first major crossing for him. We’re leaving for Bermuda at the end of October so it was fun to compare notes and the excitement is infectious.
The big news came then next day on Valentine’s Day; Susan got an offer on her house in New York State. After a couple of counter offers over the phone they’ve come to an agreement. Fingers crossed, that’s a big hurtle for her to get over in getting her life set to go cruising. 257 days...
