Happy Thanksgiving!

As most of you already know we have decided to make the 5000 mile run to Turkey. We plan on departing the first week in January. The voyage should take about 6 months and include the Andaman Islands, Kochi India, Maldive Islands, Oman, Yeman, up the Red Sea to Djibouti, Eritrea, Sudan, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebonen, Cyprus, Syria, and finally Turkey. We are preparing Freebird for the challanges ahead and have been very busy. The list goes like this:
Upgrade electronic navigation system. overhaul watermaker, replace corroded steering parts, check auto pilots, replace faulty wind instruments, replace mainsail, restitch head sail, service engines, inspect and tune rigging, new upholstery in main cabin, new motor mounts on engines, set up VHF and HF radios to interface with GPS for emergency calling, varnish steering wheel, install new 650 amp hour battery bank, install 2 new starting batteries, obtain spare filters and belts for engines, clean props and bottom of hulls, overhaul alternators, overhaul engine raw water pumps, patch leaky dinghy, provision for 6 months of wilderness existence, obtain Indian visas, obtain charts and pilot guides, ..........You get the idea. No wonder we haven't updated the blog for awhile. It should get more interesting when we shove off.... In the meantime look at Freebird's new mainsail with her new logo (photo). Thanks for checking in & send us an update on YOU!
Ciao for now, judy & Dave
PS... This is our last chance for mail in Thailand if sent in the next week.... until Turkey next June....