We're back! BlueSkies is in the water and looking great after a lot of work since we arrived in Florida on November 3rd. We could tell you all about the sanding and varnishing, cleaning, pulling wires, our new table, fitting the new doors, monitoring output from the wind generator, and buffing and waxing but instead will share our new experiences.

Jim's first trip up the mast to change a light bulb.

Our first trip from St. Petersburg to Fort Myers with new electronics was our best overnight sail yet as we had 10-18 knot winds and averaged a speed over ground of 6.1 miles/hour. Fast for us and there's nothing better than being out in the wind with the coastal lights in the distance and the stars shining brightly.

Our first attempt to tie onto a mooring ball. This is a ball floating at the surface anchored to the bottom that you tie onto vs. putting out your anchor. Our assigned mooring ball was occupied so we drove around the mooring field until we could "catch" a buoy in 20 knot winds from the south and 2' waves from the north. There were no leads (a line from the top of the ball floating in the water) so we couldn't use the boat hook to catch one and after about 9 attempts we saw one that did have a lead so we picked up that one and tied on the first try. Unfortunately the combination of the lead and our line being too long, the current, and the waves pushed BlueSkies around and the line was caught between the rudder and the bottom of the boat. Not a good thing but about an hour later we were safely secured to the mooring ball.

Our first visit to an outboard engine mechanic. $200 later we learned we have to completely drain the fuel from the engine when you put it away, you can't use fuel purchased the prior season due to the ethanol content, and you have to clean the carburetor. Next time ...

Our first mobile pump out, very nice! The boat comes to you pumps out the holding tank and drives away.

Our first stop by the water police. No ticket as we were "new boaters" and had never been pulled over before but also no shower or food. We did get a police escort back to the boat which was a better option than a ticket. We now have a 360 degree white light, wearable life jackets, a whistle, and the dinghy registration in the boat

BlueSkies is now back where she began in the Isle of Capri Marina just south of Naples Florida. We're headed to the St. Petersburg Boat show to see what we can buy that we really don't need. Home on Tuesday to spend Christmas with family and friends then back to BlueSkies on 1/1 where we'll watch for the first weather window to head to Key West for the season.
Happy Sailing!