The difference between a fantasy and a dream is that dreams are something you can make happen....

And so with a sigh of relief and great anticipation of the adventure ahead, I cast off from Annapolis on a grey day in Fall, head out of Back Creek and turn south down the Chesapeake for Norfolk.

Over the last 6 weeks I've been over every inch of the boat and the rig from top to bottom and stem to stern. I've removed, polished, replaced and re-installed every nut, bolt, block, screw, shackle, tang and tunbuckle. With all new wire rigging, sta-lok terminals and chainplates, I don't have to worry about the rig if things get hairy out there.

Thanks goes to the Brian Duff and team at Southbound rigging who made sure I didn't cut corners and in the end made the right decisions. Hi also to Frannie, the best looking rigger on the East Coast!