The Plan for the Off Season

So, we are back “home” in Stuart and settling into our land life for the next 6 months, and Gratitude is at the Spa in Old Port Cove. Actually, I call it the spa, Alec calls it the Doctor and as any good “Father” would, he travels back and forth daily to check on her progress and condition.

Gratitude is having work done by Yacht Tech, James Knight and Associates and the work order to prepare her for the trip across the Atlantic is lengthy. Basically, the short list is:

New Electronics,
New Radars
Service on Main and Wing Engines
Service the Davit (Hydraulic)
Service the Stabilizers (Hydraulic)
Replace Stabilizer Rams, drop the fins and service
Clean and re-paint the bottom
Open and Inspect all Fuel Tanks
Update Audio Visual
Make a few custom changes to Carpentry (dedicate a locker to the litter box)
These to name a few….

Work that we are doing to prepare us for the voyage includes

Getting our Coast Guard Captain (6 pack) license
Getting the crew selected and up to speed (done)
Getting addresses changed and catalogs cancelled
Select a home learning system for Jack
Do research on entry requirements for Pratt and Whitney (cats) to multiple countries
Do research on waters and passages for the planned voyage
Make all Doctor/dentist appointments
Start Planning Specific Destinations for our first summer in Europe…. THE FUN PART

So, for the next few months, the blog will largely be on Hiatus. We will check back from time to time to let you know how we are progressing toward our goal of preparing for the trip across the Atlantic. For now, we are one of 7 Nordhavn boats signed up to cross over in May. All 7 are planning to go to Bermuda, take 5-7 days to do work and play, then go to the Azores – 11-12 days enroute and 10 days of fun there, then 2 other boats are planning to head North with us to the United Kingdom, Ireland first, Scotland 2nd and England 3rd. Before the cold begins we plan to head South to Portugal for the winter. Of course, this is only a rough plan written in sand at high tide but… you get the picture. Thanks as always for reading!

Picture taken by Milt and Judy Baker (Bluewater)