Getting Up To Date Bermuda Style

The cruise to Bermuda went off largely without incident. The sail down from NJ took about 6 days, and my wife Sonia visited by plane for a quiet and restful vacation. We celebrated our 10th anniversary with special dinners, a few "tell tale" adventures, and even a few presents. The only negative was that we were not able to catch up with all the folks we'd met during our 1994 Bermuda cruise. Some had moved, some had passed away, etc. We made up for this with new friends in Somerset and elsewhere.

After Sonia flew back to the US I diddled a bit, and as July approached and my taste for $50 hamburgers diminished, I cast off for NJ one more time. Had to pump all the way back, as there was an annoying leak at the through-hull for the speedo transducer. Also the Volvo diesel was a bit cantankerous since, despite what seemed like a thorough prep of the fuel system, unwelcome crud from the fuel tank found its way into the fuel lines clogging quite a few Racor elements. This of course is the price of having the boat in storage for years. However we made it back on time and easily enough. We finished out 2008 on the Barnegat, glad to be at rest once again.

Offshore Bound

In the Spring of 2008 we once again were getting into the final re-dos and preparations for another Bermuda visit. This one held significance for many reasons, as it was the first cruise for the boat in years. In addition summer of 2008 would mark my wife Sonia's and my 10th wedding anniversary, and we wanted to spend it in a place with romantic potential. Third, it seemed like a great getaway for my wife from her workaday world, with strong potential for fun and relaxation. Oh, and of course it would add evidence to the fact that I am one of the world's most accomplished sailors. Well OK, the jury may disregard the last thought.

The list from the preceding season's work was still long but getting shorter each day. Once we felt ready to go, we staged a little party at the boatyard for the boat herself. She was dressed and spic-and-spanned and frankly, she looked hot. All agreed.

Spring 2008 Workout

By early March 2008, a plan was shaping up to take Kerry Deare back to Bermuda for the 3rd time. The first was in 1987 and was quite an adventure for a first offshore solo voyage. The boat did well and made good time for a small yacht, but the return was an anti-climactic event that I eventually would come to expect with cruises like this. There really is no anticipation on the return leg, and one basically wants to just "get this thing over." The second trip from Fort Pierce FL to Bermuda included a rigging failure that certainly added some excitement (http://home.comcast.net/~kerrydeare). However the trip ended well, accompanied by the "chore" of returning to NJ. The planned third trip had several purposes and several agendas. It turned out that the boat was able to live up to expectations, and then some.