garcia

We have just spent a fantastic four days off Cape Santa Maria resort at the top of Long Island. You may recall that we were here a year ago when it became our first proper stop after tearing our way across the Atlantic and through the Caribbean to meet the Miami Boat Show deadline only to have it cancelled at the last minute.

It wasnt until we stopped that we realized how tired we were and so decided that this was the place to recharge our batteries and, when we felt like it, have a go at some of those jobs we had had to set aside due to the relentless pace. It was the right decision in the right location and I think thats why it drew us back.

We are not so tired this time but we did feel the need to hole up on our own and just be. Cruising is a funny thing for the perception of many friends is that we are floating around all day, purposeless ………. Dont you get bored? what do you do with yourselves? etc etc. Well the reality is that we are always busy and I think that’s one of cruisings attractions for us as we have a lot of energy and hate doing nothing. Being two handed any passage keeps us occupied but we are also busy when we stop and chill.

What have we been doing? well we have certainly been relaxed by the change of not moving but there has been a lot on. I have had to spend a concentrated day and half writing a column and getting on top of a lot of business. Thanks to a compressor I spent about three hours under the boat scrubbing the bottom which was thick with growth. I changed the prop anode and polished the prop. I cleaned all the other anodes and did a general check of all working parts below the waterline and am pleased to report all is well. It was most amusing to find a lovely family of plucky little fish that have taken residence in the centerboard housing who were most upset by my intrusion.

I have gone through the engine bay with a fine toothcomb, knocked off a load of rope work that was on the list, serviced a winch, moved our fore cabin fan to a more efficient spot and started an inventory of stores to make sure that we don’t miss anything off the UK shopping list. The boat has been given a spring clean which included dismantling the sink drains and a lot more besides.

Outside that we have relaxed in the cockpit, read, watched a couple of films and I have made the most of being in a lovely spot with a couple of hours surfing across the reef at the entrance to the bay, a few spearfishing trips and an hour a day of training on the paddleboard. We go to bed tired, sleep well and wake up refreshed which is just what the doctor ordered.

The picture shows the props new a shiny anode and my progress forward cleaning the bottom. One of the reasons for waiting until here is that there are no sharks.