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…The B&G NAC-3 Autopilot Computer…

Today was day three of our rebuild / installation work and we spent all day on the NAC-3 autopilot computer installation. This required making all the connections in the sail locker while crouched in a seated position leaning back at about a 45 degree angle. The sail locker is under the cockpit seats and to get into this space you first have to empty the locker. Then once all the stuff is out and scattered around the cockpit, you climb over that stuff and drop down into the locker which is about 7 feet long, 4 feet wide and maybe 4.5 feet deep. The floor slopes downward because you are against the hull. Each time I go inside, I realize I forgot some necessary tool. Not to worry, that is where Radeen jumps in. She is a great assistant grabbing tools and providing uplifting moral support. We are doing all this install work together, as a team, and that way we both know exactly how it is built. Today we were excited when we made the final Tee connection for the GPS drop and the rudder reference and the compass9.

Setting up the tees and preparing for backbone in the sail locker

Our next task is to set up the entire NMEA 2000 backbone which will start at the top of the mast, come down the mast to the mast base below the floor outside the head where it will connect to the wind anemometer and the radar. Then it will run under the head floor and down the port side to the nav desk where it will pick up the AIS transceiver and the Triton2 display. From there, it will run under the floor to the quarterberth floor and pick up the DST 800, the depth, speed, temperature sensor. Then off into the engine room and around the corner into the sail locker connecting to the four Tees at the NAC-3. Next, it will go under the cockpit floor and turn up into the helm guard tubing and run up to the NavPod at the helm. There it will tee into the Zeus2 Chartplotter and radar screen, the Autopilot Controller and one more Triton2 display head. The backbone will then terminate in the navPod. The other resister that terminates the backbone will be in the mast head built into the wind anemometer. This backbone run should be the easiest part because we pulled chase ropes when we pulled out all the old wires. That was a smart move. So, onward we push as we build the backbone and learn about the system.

Here are some photos….

The computer and all the connections

Notice the drawing is backwards with the screws on the top….errror. My wiring is correct and the part is correct, I need to alert B&G.

I wired the NAC-3 upside down as it was easier to make the connections.

There it is, all connected. the power, drive ram, ground wire and NMEA 2000

The diagram on the NAC-3 door

Working in the sail locker on my back with NAC-3 on my knee

Once wired, we mounted it to the wall where the old ACP-1 was located

This is a NMEA 2000 Maretron Wire bundle, pairs are shielded

We had to cut one end of the GPS feed and install our own NMEA 2000 end

4 wires with one screen, Red/Black & White/Blue + Screen

The end fitting installed

The end was needed to make our GPS connection to the network.

We have never built a NMEA 2000 network before, but now we can see WHY it was developed. Using a backbone design and using Tees to connect devices to the network, the network topology is really simple. You can tee in up to 50 devices on one NMEA 2000 backbone. We will have 13 devices total, so we are nowhere near capacity of this network. We are learning a lot and it is exciting to be setting up and installing all this new gear. Again, thanks goes to Colin Mack of Mack Sails. We bought everything from him and we would do it again in a heartbeat.  He is so great to deal with and he is very helpful.  Take a look at some of their work here www,MackSails.com Thank you, Colin!

…The new Digital Rudder Reference…

Our second day of installing our new B&G Triton2 network is going well. Today, during the rain, we worked down below as working in the sail locker was not an option since it would rain into there and we did not want to deal with that. So we worked below decks and installed the digital rudder reference which uses a push rod to read the rotation and angle of the rudder. This information is sent to the autopilot computer, which then uses that information to help steer the boat.

The Compass 9 aft the qtr berth in the stern

Along with that, we installed the new nine-axis autopilot compass 9. In the words of B&G: With NMEA 2000® output, the Precision-9 Compass provides heading, Rate Of Turn (ROT), roll and pitch information to connected equipment including autopilot, instruments, radar, multifunction displays, and other navigational systems. So, with these two new digital tools, the new NAC-3 autopilot computer will really be smart. What we have seen with our old pilot is that a B&G autopilot computer learns the sea state and wave patterns and then, after a few minutes, the pilot will anticipate the waves and make the needed helm adjustments to keep on track. These pilots are so smart and we love sailing with ours. We actually sail 99% of the time under autopilot because it can do a much better job than we can for hours on end, day after day after day!

Pettit Trinidad 75 Bottom Paint

While we were working on our electronics installations, the Hinckley Yard Employee painted the bottom with our supplied Pettit Trinidad 75. This is the BEST PAINT money can buy! It is expensive because it has 75% cuprous oxide which means it is HEAVY and it is EXPENSIVE, copper is pricey. We bought this via our Port Supply account and it still was $260.00 per gallon, we needed two gallon$$$.

The inboard position of Crew Triton2

The next task was placing the new Triton2 crew position cockpit display. Back in 1994 when this Island Packet 35 was shipped to Rock Hall MM for the 1993 Annapolis Boat Show, the dealer installed the Wind, Speed and Depth instruments in the front starboard side of the cockpit. This is an easy place to install instruments because the factory designed an open area here with a cabinet and a door giving easy access to this cavity. The problem is that every crew member that sits on starboard will eventually lean back against these three instruments making them impossible to see, plus it is hard on the instrument glazing.
The better place to install these is over the companionway but that makes for a difficult wiring run.

We decided to place one Triton2 in the same position but keep it as far inboard as possible. This will allow for the crew to lean back into this corner and NOT be on the face of the instrument. It will also allow for easy wire runs. We wanted one in this position because the Triton2 screens have 15+ screens of information and the crew will be scrolling through various screens.  This keeps the instrument in easy reach, unlike over the companionway, so we placed it here.

Using our dremel to cut the cockpit fiberglass

Using our onboard dremel tool and cordless drill, we first taped the template positioning the instrument into the lines of the cockpit. At first we wanted to install it plumb and vertical, but when we set it up like that, it looked odd. So we aligned the instrument to fit better into the lines of the cockpit. It worked.

We also made sure it was not too high like our last instruments which caused a problem when you would brace your palm onto the corner of the cockpit. Over all, we took out time laying this out, then the drilling and cutting was a breeze. It was far easier to cut into this fiberglass that it was to cut the 3/4″ plywood at the nav desk. So, our Triton2 crew position instrument is installed. Looking good.

Here are a few more photos of the process. Thanks for following along.

Island Spirit with her new Pettit Trinidad 75 Bottom Paint

We made sure this instrument was NOT too high This allows us to brace ourselves against this corner.

After drilling 1/2″ corner holes, we cut out the square

These front tiny bezels of the Triton2 are very hard to separate

The bezel provides cover for the corner screws that install the Triton2

There it is, the finished install, looking good. Pay no attention to the blue tape, we will fiberglass the holes

The corner position allows for bracing against this area

The finished install. Now we need to fiberglass the old holes and gelcoat that area

Right NOW, we are ahead of schedule as we had this all planned for next week, the week of Nov 7. Here it is Nov 2 and it is the end of Day 2 installation and we are moving along. Tomorrow, if it is not raining, we will install the NAC-3 autopilot computer in the sail locker and connect the Type 1 Drive Ram, the 12 Volt Power and ground, the Rudder Reference, Compass9 and the GPS. Fun Fun Fun…..

…There it is, our NEW B&G Triton2 Display…

Today, after 3 days of uninstalling all our original B and G gear, we cut in and installed our first Triton2 display head at the navigation desk. What a challenging install with only 1/4″ overlap of the instrument to the cutout, so there was no room for any mistakes. Using a Dremel tool, we cut it in and we are happy with the first install.

Radeen checks out the pool at Turtle Reef Club

First allow me to describe our days. We are staying in a timeshare condo which is about 12 miles away on Hutchinson Island near Jensen Beach, FL. We drive into the Hinckley Stuart Boat yard in the morning any time between 7 to 9 am and begin the day. The boat, on the “hard” is totally torn apart with the v-berth full of boxes, bags and radar parts. The galley counter top is covered with all the removed gear and all the old wiring. The quarter berth is torn apart so we can have access to the stern for running wires and pulling chase lines for new wires. The sofas are stacked up with tools and gear as we try to work around all this stuff while not blocking access to any locker or cabinet where we need to work. This is why we never stay aboard while commissioning the boat. The boat is a wreck and it is really a challenge to work there, much less live there.

This is our galley counter top with all the old gear

Since the boat is on the “hard” which means in a parking lot and the deck is 8 feet above the parking lot, we park our car under the boat and then carry all tools, boxes, clothing and gear up an 8 foot ladder leaned against the stern to climb into the cockpit. Then we haul the gear down into the boat. As for the cockpit, oh, yeah, that too is a wreck because the entire sail locker has been emptied to the cockpit so that we can pull wires and install the new NAC-3 autopilot computer and pilot sensors.

Radeen keeps us focused and on task and with a positive attitude!

Radeen really handles this chaos far better than I do, (Hayden) because I cannot stand when things are out of order. It simply stresses me out, I like every thing lined up and in perfect order, so to be working daily in this chaotic setting is a real challenge. Thank goodness Radeen helps keep our perspective focused on the job and the fun. Yes, perspective…we are very lucky and very fortunate to be setting up our boat for the third time. We are refitting her  with the latest digital navigation gear with the plans and the dreams of sailing south beyond the Bahamas this year and into the Caribbean Sea. That is the goal and THAT is why we are doing refit number three.

Thank you for following along, we are happy to share the dream and the adventure…

That is the new B and G gear in boxes loaded on the nav desk.

Here we go, let’s cut in a Triton2 display head

The owner’s manual on how to use this gear

Our beach at the condo, Turtle Reef Club

Radeen walking around the pool, it is 80 degrees, warm and windy on Nov 1.

Look how easy NMEA 2000 connections are to use. These tees connect individual devices to the backbone.

The tee on the left is a 12 volt power feed. The other tees will go to the nav desk Triton2 and the AIS radio.

This is the new NAC-3 Autopilot Computer It will learn wave patterns and steer to wind angles and steer to navigation points. It is guided by GPS, a Rudder Reference and a Digital 9 axis Compass. B&G makes the BEST autopilots!

What a FUN lunch! We finally met Carol and Dick, owners of IP44 GUSTO. They have lived aboard for 20 years and sail to the Bahamas every year.

Here we go, let’s cut this display into the panel at the nav desk.

I taped plastic over all electronics inside and outside to protect them from sawdust.

Drill the corners with a 1/2″ bit.

Cut out the opening with a Dremel and also use it to sand the edges.

Remove the very, very thin bezel to access the mounting screws.

Snap on the screw covering bezel and there you go.

Installation complete!

This is our salon. The table and sofas are covered with tools and boxes.

This is our V-berth, our bed. It is filled with radar and the wind sensor and other stuff.

The boat looking in from the steps, ugh. Note the dehumidifier over the sink. It works great!

Ahhhhh, the reward on the drive home. Always keep a spoon in your car 🙂

Tomorrow we hope to install the next Triton2 into the forward bulkhead for the crew’s view. Then we’ll move into the sail locker and install the NAC-3 autopilot and the then into the quarter-berth to install the compass and the rudder reference. We are ahead of schedule, as we thought this would not start until NEXT week, so we are feeling good. The boat will be launched Friday or Saturday, then we move aboard and the mast work begins….for now, Day One of installation was a total success!

…All electronics removed and for sale…

We bought our boat in 2001 and first commissioned her with our dear friend, Rob, one of the best there is in the business. Rob spent 10 weeks full time installing all our gear, which is same gear that has run us tens of thousands of miles over last the 15 years. It has been fantastic. So, with our new goal of sailing beyond the Bahamas and into the Caribbean, we thought it was time to upgrade our electronics and radar to new digital NMEA 2000 gear. We are doing all of this with the oversight of Colin Mack, owner of Mack Sails. I am very impressed with the way he runs his business. Colin has been so helpful! We decided to buy all our new items, including new head sails, from Mack Sails. I did not know that they can do it all; electronics, rigging, sails, watermakers, chain plates, etc. I am really impressed.Thank you, Colin, for all your guidance.

Old White B&G Depth transducer 1.75″ New Triton2 is 2″

Today, Oct 29, 2016, our third day at the boat, we are working on the hard at  the Hinckley Stuart, FL yard. Unknown to us, we needed to replace a B&G thru hull because the new Triton2 sensors need a larger thru hull. Lucky for us, this turned out not be a big deal. Colin advised me on how to easily run a 1.75″ hole saw inside of a 2″ hole saw and simply drill it out. Drilling took all of about 5 minutes! Amazing. So now with that job completed we could focus on removing all our electronics.

B&G Network Speed, Wind, Depth working well

This ripping out was really difficult in nature because all our B and G electronics were in working order. Nothing was broken. I took photos because I plan to eBay this gear as it is in high demand for repairing old installed B&G networks. This network gear was installed in 1994 and it has never failed. We replaced the wind anemometer and the speed sensor but other than that, it simply works great. So why are we replacing it all? We wanted the new digital 4G radar so we can see better at night. This first purchase of 4G Radar and a Zeus2  9″ screen then kicked off the issue of trying to drive 1994 electronics with 2016 electronics. We decided to not do that. So, we committed fully to replacing the entire system. Then, at the Annapolis Boat show, Navico released the Triton2 B&G gear and we chose that over the Triton1 gear. Once we replaced Wind, Speed and Depth, we needed to replace the 2001 Autopilot brain, which then needed a new autopilot compass, which then needed a new rudder reference, which then is best driven with a new GPS. WHAT????? YUP, it just kept adding up until we needed to remove ALL our old analog gear because we went all digital. This lead to also needing a new NMEA 2000 backbone network to plug it all into. So, we are pulling out all our Rob-installed 2001 wire and gear and installing everything new. We are very excited!

Our RL70C Chartplotter and Autopilot Head

So, in one day of work, all the gear is out, Wind, Speed, Depth, Radar, Chartplotter, Data Repeater and the NavPOD. Next up, remove all the wire runs and pull chase lines to guide new NMEA 2000 wire. Next week, we will begin to install the new gear. It is all arrived on Friday and is ready to go! Thank you for following along, we enjoy the sharing aspect of our blog.

Here are some photos, we are back to blogging and sharing…

Look at Radeen’s smile. Even with the boat a wreck, she LOVES THIS LIFE!

The best tool on our boat, a 30″ standard crow bar used to lever out the old thru hull fitting.

We are living with all our stuff in the car, how crazy!

THE GOAL….the Caribbean Sea in Spring 2017

B&G Network Data repeater at the nav desk, removed.

Raymarine RL70C Color Chartplotter, removed.

Our chartplotter also displayed our 48 mile radar.

Drilling an existing 1.75″ hole to become a 2″ hole

Nest the hole saws together and thread them on.

This worked great!

Drilling took about 1 minute, easy!

YUP, that is a 2″ hole in the boat under the floor. It would sink the boat very quickly!

Radeen took this shot as we installed the new thru hull fitting.

Thru hull installed. Next, epoxy paint and then bottom paint.

Our log from last year….2,354 nautical miles.

Our Ship’s log, 32,074 nautical miles

The NavPod taken apart, Radar, Chartplotter and Pilot head

All these wires needed to be pulled out.

The bottom of the helm, excellent work by Rob, now removed 🙁

Rudder Reference under cockpit floor beneath the helm to be removed, new digital one going in.

B&G ACP1 Autopilot Computer. This is the brains of the system, works great, now removed.

This is what has driven our boat for the last 15 years.

Cut it out, remove it?…OUCH, that hurt for sure.

There it is, the helm is stripped.

NavPod is empty. Next, install a slightly larger Navpod and B&G Zeus2.

Vacuum pack bags have made this possible!

It would seem easy to move out of your house, get in your car and drive away, not returning for 6 months or more. This is year #6 that we have lived this cruising lifestyle. Maybe it is the fact that we have been here, done this, and we know exactly what we need to do to “get out!” Don’t get us wrong, this is a very exciting adventurous lifestyle, we still LOVE IT. It is simply a major task shutting down the house and planning to not come back for 6 months! Off we go, let’s get this adventure started up again…..

Sabrina the Sailrite Machine was pressed into service

We made new light weight quilts in tan and blue with seashells

Our absentee ballots arrived with only one day to spare. We had requested them in August!

Packing of the trunk begins….Sabrina on the left and our new B and G 4G digital radar on the right.

One of our favorite destinations! This should be our first stop this year!

This could be Goldie’s last trip to FL. Long may she run!

We ran 13.5 hours on day one, then we took our time

We are now in Stuart Florida where we will be working on our Refit #3 installing new sails, new Spectra Ventura 200t watermaker, new B7G Triton2 electronics, new 4G B&G Radar and a 9″ Zeus2 screen at the helm. We plan to install this in the first two weeks of November all with the helpful team at Mack Sails. If you need anything, simply check with Mack Sails first, they are a great company to work with. Thank you Colin Mack!

We were so honored to be invited to Dave and Joyce’s wedding! These are fellow Island Packet Yacht owners whom we first met a few years ago at the Annapolis Boat Show. We had such a great time meeting their family and friends in Virginia at this wonderful event. The outdoor venue overlooking the pond and the planned community of Reston was a really beautiful setting.

I want to ask Dave and Joyce to send us their vows because they were so beautiful and so heartfelt. I would love to read them and review them again. Thank you so much for including us in your special day. We really enjoyed sharing in your love and joy!

The Bridal Party listening to the Bride’s father’s reading

Hayden & Radeen celebrating with Joyce, Dave and son Dylan

The new Mother-in-Law and Son-in-Law

Left to right:  Best Man, Bride’s Mom, Happy Groom and his Son

The groom’s sister with her daughter and god daughter.

The happy family celebrating!

Even after the fun was over, we couldn’t stop smiling!

After this lovely wedding, we stopped in for a fun visit with our niece, Erinn, and her husband, Dave, and their toddler, Parker, in their beautiful new home. Our niece, Kelly, and her husband, Bill, and their children, Alex & Baby Claire, were visiting from PA, along with Hayden’s sister, Raymeta. Call it a Bonus Brunch! We feel so fortunate….thank you for having us!

Claire is 4 months old!

Parker is two!

And Alex is three!

…Our beloved Peg…married to Cliff for 11 happy years….

We sailed back from the Bahamas as fast as we could so we could drive home to PA to attend my Step Mother’s Celebration of Life service with my Dad and family. We arrived back in Vero Beach last weekend, secured a Hertz rental car and drove to PA Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday we were at home and Thursday, we attended the beautiful Celebration of Life service at the Lititz United Methodist Church. The music, sharing, message and stories were all so heartwarming. Peg was a special person, kind and caring, and she was a great wife to my Dad. We are glad we were able to attend the service and be there with our family. After the service, my Dad hosted a wonderful luncheon for 75 people.

1. Sail to USA. 2. Drive to PA. 3. Drive to BWI 4. Fly to Orlando. 5 Drive to Vero

After another day at home, we drove to Baltimore, turned in our rental car and flew back to Florida on Jet Blue. The rental car companies have a deal that is called Drive Our of Florida. If you take a car north from Florida, you can rent it for up to 14 days for $8.99 per day with unlimited miles and no drop off fees. So, we drove a car north and we flew back. Our flight back cost $59 each. This was the most cost effective way for us to get from Florida to home, to the service and back to FL.

This process will be repeated next week. We will be storing our boat for the summer in Stuart Florida and will be renting a Drive out of Florida car and driving to PA. For now, we are in Vero, working on packing up the boat, off loading food and clothing, removing the sails and canvas. Once hauled out on May 9th, we will install a full sun shade (more on that later). After the boat is stored, we will happily visit some more friends in Florida and then drive home to PA.

The passive Solar Home we built

We plan a summer at home working on our house and we have a few trips planned as well. It is always sad to be out of the Bahamas, because our time there is always relaxing and peaceful and the water and beaches are so beautiful. We look forward to our return to the boat this fall and then onward to the Caribbean for exciting new adventures.  For now, it is time to close up the boat and store her here in the hot Florida sun from May 9 until Nov 1. It will be a big adjustment not having a boat for the summer on the Chesapeake Bay…..

Here are a few photos…

Our $8.99/day car. Hyundai Sonata, NICE

A visit with Craig at his friend Gary’s place, very fun night!

This year, for the first time, we brought no luggage!  Garbage bags and a book bag worked!

South of the Border, so crazy, we did not stop

YES….WE ARE HOME, WAWA coffee…LOVE LOVE LOVE

Welcome to PA, I-95 madness during two days of driving

AHHHHH….Endless WATER….Free WATER…..HOT WATER OMG, this is paradise after 8 months on a boat!

We love our home

Returning to Orlando, this plane was next to ours. Peg LOVED cardinals, It was a sign of peace.

Back on the boat, we started the varnish service coat, much more to do

Varnish looks so good when it is new, so clear, so bright

Sunshade fabric research, This is the wrong stuff, which we we returned. The right stuff is called COOLAROO, see http://www.GalePacific.com

Dear friends Carey and Julie met us for a lively dinner

Walking the beach in Vero with Carey and Julie

Tropical Vero landscaping

Vero Beach beauty

After moving to Stuart on Thursday, we will finish off-loading the boat into the rental car. Haul out is scheduled for Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday will be spent making and installing the sun shade cover. We will blog about that next. Thank you for riding along, we appreciate you reading our blog.

https://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=f20b561d8e66779d8&hoursPast=0&showAll=yes

…Wing on Wing home..

We had a fantastic sail all the way from Green Turtle to Fort Pierce, Florida with about 3 hours of total engine time! Wing on Wing from GT to Great Sale and then all the way across the Little Bahama banks at night under wing on wing in 20-25 knots. Daybreak we crossed into the ocean turned 30 degrees to port and jibed the jib dropping the pole and adding in the staysail.

Beam Reaching Gulf Stream

Now sailing nearly a beam reach in 20-25 we sailed hull speed across the gulf stream dealing with confused seas and then into the Ft. Pierce inlet. Of course we hit the inlet 3 hours early at the max ebb current, but we ran into the ragging inlet with a full main and staysail and added 2500 rpms of engine. Of course the winds picked up to a solid 30-35 knots on the beam and a full main was really WAY too much sail. Surfing down the quarter waves she would round up to port and with a full hard over helm, LUCKILY, she would dive down wind and down wave and keep pointing into the out flowing 3.5 knot current.

Fort Pierce Inlet 35 kntos!

Running between the rock wall jetties on either side with the waves crashing OVER the jetty really kicked up our adrenaline on our sleep deprived bodies! It was a bit on the edge, but Island Spirit is a ROCK, and she blasted into that inlet like a champ! THIS BOAT IS A BEAST. Afterwards, we both pounded down several RUM SHOTS to calm our nerves, then we dropped the main sail and headed up to Vero Beach. This winter we have had the best sailing, traveling 2,325 nm!

We have a total of 11 hours motoring time (with charging) from Hope Town Lighthouse to Vero Beach FL!

Our Bahamas Trip #5 is a wrap. I have 9,152 photos and I blogged 1,450 of them. I really enjoy photography.

Thank you all for sailing along with us, we really appreciate that.

Departure Point, Green Turtle Club

Out for Breakfast to reflect on year #5 of the Bahamas

Set Sail and sail Wing on Wing for Great Sale Cay

48 NM sailing Wing on Wing

Heading West, leaving the Bahamas

Too Beautiful to not take more photos

Selfie GoPro from the Bow, Wing on Wing

OK, this is getting carried away

Just one more, sailing is sooooo much fiun

Radeen at the helm, she love to travel and loves to sail

Night time we continue sailing Wing on Wing in 20-25 knots

We hit the Gulf Stream and turn to port

Look Full sails and beam reaching for Fort Pierce, A Dream

Check the bow wave, if you know sailing, you know this is great

Two Sleep deprives sailors just holding on and hooked on, DO NOT FALL OFF

Blue water off our stern

OMG, The Fort Pierce inlet in a Rage outflowing 3.5 knots

We power sail into the rage and into the inlet

The inlet waves are 6 to 8 feet and we have a full main and stay sail up

Of course the winds pick up solid 30-35 gusting to 38 knots TRUE

The ebb is meeting the ocean swells and the waves are large This one is over WELL over the jetty, 8 feet

Island Spirit Powered in and got us home….an amazing yacht

Our 5th trip into the Bahamas is a wrap, and we have so many fond memories of the beautiful Country. The people of the Bahamas are so nice, the waters are so clear, and the islands and beaches are a dream. We really cannot imagine a more beautiful place then the Exumas Land and Sea Park. Next year we will return, God Willing, and we will explore the area again. Then our plan to is to go on to the Caribbean, we need to expand our territory.  Thank you so much for sailing along with us, it is wonderful to share this dream.

…Radeen, Hayden and Linda…

We spent our time in Abaco with one week at Hope Town, a week anchored out and about a week in Marsh Harbour based around the Marsh Harbor Marina and the WORLD Famous JIB ROOM. One of the main reasons we sail back though Abaco is because of the Jib Room. We simply love it here. This is one of the places were we feel at home along our many thousands of miles of travel. Linda and Tom and son Stephen along with Jason and Desmond and Master Chief Marvin run what I call “The Best Place in the Bahamas with the Best food, Best People, Best Party!” hands down!

The BEST meal in the Bahamas Steak Night at the Jib Room

If you every plan to sail into the Bahamas, then make sure you make this a stop. Plan to spend a week here so you can take in RIB NIGHT on Wednesdays and STEAK NIGHT on Saturdays. That is exactly what we did this year again. In between, we went snorkeling at Fowl Cay and diving where we clean and serviced the bottom of the boat. Time in Abaco is always measured because you are waiting here for a weather window to make the 3 day jump back to Florida or longer to the Carolinas. So while you watch the weather, you enjoy the Jib Room, you shop at Maxwell’s massive grocery store, you service the boat, change oil, fuel filters and defrost the freezer. You get your boat ready and you watch and study the weather. Once the weather window opens, every one makes a run for the Whale Cay Cut, then Green Turtle, then Great Sale Cay and across the Gulf Stream to Florida or north for several days to Carolina. Our weather is looking good for a Whale Cay Cut passage Wednesday or Thursday and then off to Fort Pierce, Florida where we will go to Vero for a few days to decommission the boat.

Island Spirit with the Island Packet Yachts flag Notice our “office” flag Whiteaker Yacht Sales

We will then be moving to the Stuart Hinckley Service Yard where we will haul out the boat on May 9th. This will be a first time event for us. to we leave our boat in a yard in Florida and rent a car and drive home to PA. We hope to be home around May 14th or 15th. A first. Our boat will stay in Stuart, Florida May until Nov 2 when we relaunch and begin year #6. We are excited about year six as we are planning a Caribbean run, it may be western or eastern, but we do plan to go beyond the Bahamas next year.

The Goal is set, Caribbean 2017, East or West?

Yes, we will repeat our normal schedule of winter in Florida, Spring to the Exuams, but then from there, in April 2017, it will be onward to the Caribbean. It is time to expand the bubble. Exciting times ahead, for now, we are enjoying our time here in Abaco….

Jib Room fun for Jean, Radeen and Linda

So glad to meet Huck, the newest Jib Room Family Member

Marvin, the Master Chef and Grill Master

These steaks are very large and perfectly grilled

Hayden with IP 485 Buddy Sheryl Lynn

Michael and Sheryl Lynn of IP485 Sanctuary

Boat Buddies IP 420 Amekaya Hayden, Linda, Radeen and Maris

Team IP 485 Sanctuary Sheryl Lynn, Michael, Audi and Andrew

Jib Room Party time

While in Abaco, I created the Facebook Group Crusiseheimers This is for the fleet that checks in on 8.152 USB on the single side band radio

Hope Town is a dream

Walks around Elbow Cay

My favorite curly tail lizard photo, he posed on a fence

Seeing this will make you cry after being in the Exumas for a month+

Look at this Bahamas grocery store, UNREAL

OUCH, prices are high, this is a PINT

Did I mention the JIB ROOM ribs are the best?….YES THEY ARE

Snorkeling / Diving GrL Radeen

All alone anchored out, calm enough to dive and clean the bottom of the boat

A most beautiful handmade gift from Tanya s/v MINX

Abaco Sunset

Busting out the Dive gear to service the yacht

Diver Radeen

First one in is Radeen

We are working out floating the gear off the dinghy

Climbing back in with the gear left tied to the dinghy worked