The maiden Voyage. Newport to Block Island to Shelter Island to Greenport to Hamburg Cove to Essex CT. about 150 miles with wind between 10 and 25 knots... a little on the nose and a lot on the beam.. Sometimes (when the plan went right) with the current and sometimes against it. Learning the boat, proud of my first mate, first rate soul mate up on deck wrestling the sail down. Seeing how the boat heaves to, feeling BHN reach across the Sound under a Genoa and hull speed and more. Lara at the wheel in 4-5 foot waves cresting as the current pushes against the wind. The calm of the sunsets, the peace of the mornings with yoga on the foredeck and meditation on the aft deck. Scrumptious meals and Champagne for our anniversary.

Draw bridges on the Connecticut River, no current in Plumb Gut, biking in Greenport, a north current in Essex harbor. Our first guests on the boat, 15 in all, family gathered around the binnacle, testing out the bunks. Long sleeps in peaceful coves. The windlass works, the glow plugs work, the fresh water works (but not the hot, yet...) Vitamin C works, DR works, GPS works, alternator works, lots of little things to fix and set up. Like a wonderful dream,,, yet we can taste it and feel it and remember it afterward.