Troubadour leaves the slip! We had been planning to leave for the day to go sailing, but as usual plans need to be flexible. The engine was reluctant to start this morning, so we decided we wouldn't risk being out after a day of sailing without enough juice to start the engine. Instead, we motored out to the fuel dock and got some diesel, then headed down the channel out to the ocean. It was a good checkout for the drivetrain, GPS, and radar. (See our voyage pictures in the "Shake downs!" Photo Album link in the Photo Gallery.)

Since the last blog entry, Linda has finished the stackpack. Chris went back up the mast to attach 2 blocks (pulleys for landlubbers) that run lines from the stackpack up to the mast. They are called "lazyjacks", and the idea is that instead of needing 3 people to fold the mainsail and put the cover on like when we were racing, one person can lower the sail and the lazyjacks keep it from blowing all over the place, allowing it to drop into the stackpack. We then zip up the bag and we're done. We'll let you know how it works. We also have a front piece that will wrap around the mast to protect the lines and winches that zips onto the stackpack. Linda is now planning lots of little projects for the rest of the Sunbrella, like a cover for our electronics box at the helm and some winch covers for the cockpit.

We are both identified as "Transportation Workers" now. Somewhere, someone decided that everyone holding a merchant mariner credential must need to have access to commercial ports, and since the new Transportation Worker ID card is required to access the commercial ports, we must need them, or be fined if we don't have them. We got to head down to Port Canaveral and pay for the privilege, although we got a $15 discount since we already paid the Coast Guard for our merchant marine credentials. Anyway, should we ever need access to the secure area of a commercial port, we're all set. The cards sort of look like a Navy common access card (CAC) with the little chip in it, but it's a different chip (And it doesn't have the cool Navy logo on the front).

The weather continues to be great, warm and sunny every day. The boat list is starting to dwindle as we knock off projects. We're looking forward to visits from family next week, and will be heading out again soon (after we get a new starting battery)!