As I write this, the Crew of Southern Cross is embarking on the next step of what has become a journey that began in 2004 with our purchase of Southern Cross. These years have taken us through many personal and professional challenges, times of doubt and periods of great sorrow and great happiness. Now we are blessed with the time and resources to pursue the next Great Adventure of our lives. Time and tides will now take us to destinations and experiences that formally existed only in our hopes and imaginations.

Bringing a 32 year-old sailboat to this point has been an experience that, while long and sometimes tedious, has blessed us with the help and friendship of a number of wonderful people that have brought us to this new beginning. We wouldn't have missed this for the world.

For the last seven years, Mark Doyle, at Doyle Boatworks in Rockport has been our friend and long-suffering advisor as we have slowly worked our way through the long process of bringing Southern Cross from a sadly neglected marina queen to a safe, fast, functional and comfortable cruising yacht. Mark accepted our challenge to serve as project manager during the re-fit, mentored us as we struggled to become "boat people", looked after her when we were far away and storms threatened, and generally helped us keep the dream alive.

Although the list of improvements (and advice) Mark brought to the project is too long to list here, some of his recent major work included installing new electronics; a Radar and Antenna Mast, a new suit of sails from Quantum; installing a new high-tech sail track, new lazy jacks, an improved reefing system, and adding new self-tailing winches to the boom. He also added new and larger self-tailing jib sheet winches and more effective winch handles, upgraded our main electrical panel and wiring, and added new interior lighting fixtures. We could never have reached this point in the refit without Mark's willingness to help and guide us every step of the way. In the process, Mark and Victoria have become dear friends...... Je ne sais pas comment vous remercier.

In January, we sent SC to the boatyard for a haul-out that we thought would be limited to a fresh bottom job and minor engine work. We found that the bottom had grown many more blisters since our last haul-out and that we needed a complete peel of the hull below the waterline and the minor engine work grew to become work that was just short of an overhaul.

While we were in mode, we also replaced the prop shaft, the cutlass bearing and installed a new dripless shaft seal and new engine gauges. Of course we had to remove the rudder in order to replace the shaft and found that the bronze gudgeon was broken. Bristol Bronze is a wonderfully helpful foundry in Rhode Island that cast a new one and miraculously have it delivered to us in time to meet our splash-day schedule.

Tessa Gates from Port Aransas has been a dear friend that has brought our brightwork back from a faded and flaking Cetol mess the color of old brown wingtip shoes to a bright and shining work of varnish art. Now it will be our turn to maintain her work. Thanks Tessa, good on ya, mate!

Renee and Craig Kuhn at Marine Canvas and Upholstery in Port Aransas went to work converting our old two-part bimini into a great looking dodger with an infill panel to link the dodger and aft bimini for complete shade and protection. While we were at it, we also had them replace the original 30+ year old interior cushions and upholstery.

John and Larie Nelson owned Key Allegro Marina for most of the time we had a slip there. They both were encouraging of our dream and understanding of our inexperience. They made our time there a wonderful experience. Rockport isn't the same without them. Stay warm in the frozen north and come see us for a warm sail!

And, of course, the great leadership at PSC has been very supportive of this journey. They have given us the freedom to wander for extended periods and to return to the office to participate in the growth of this wonderful company of professionals. Thanks Guys!

The day of departure will soon arrive and the memory of our Rockport friends will warm us during the quiet night watches.