Almost 2009!

Wow! It's been awhile since we have posted to our blogspot. It is December 27, 2008. Only a few days until 2009. We have been planning on 2009 as our sail away date for nearly 10 years and now it is almost here.

Here is a quick catchup since our last post in 2005. Worrall Wind has been continually receiving a readiness make over. Russ has redone all of the electrical and plumbing. We have installed a bow thruster, folding prop, and dripless packing gland. Our shower no longer drains into bilge and then out, but directly out through a pump. As a result we always have a dry bilge and there are now no foul odors coming from bilge or hoses. Yippee!

We have installed new window coverings and a single sideband radio. We are currently studying to get our technician level ham license. On the fantail , we are raising the mizzen boom 33 inches and installing a new furling sail. We did this so that we can install a semi-permanent bimini shade cover in the back that can stay up while we are sailing and that we can walk under. Previously our boom was too low for a sailing shade cover. As we head south we are going to need to get out of the sun.

This winter, our final preparation plans include redoing the the standing rigging and adding some saftey lines on the fan tail, the sailing shades, purchase of water maker, generator, hydrovane, wind generator, solar panels, and installation of a new chest freezer/refrigerator sytsemt under one of the seats. Money, money, money.

We are curretly planning on signing up with some other sailing friends to become a part of the Baja-ha-ha class of 2009. The short list is getting shorter, but so is the time! Will keep everyone posted as the time draws near. We are planning our bon voyage party for August 2009. More later.