Updated Sailing Plan

It has been four years since I last sailed on the ocean. In that time, I’ve done major work to the boat; structural, rigging, electronics, and varnish. The life raft needed to be re-certified. I dropped that off in March, 2021. Rather than taking three weeks as promised, it arrived mid-May.

While adjusting the engine’s valves in March, 2021, I discovered a broken stud on the engine exhaust manifold. I could not reach it while it was in the boat. So, I had to disassemble the engine and drop the head off at a machine shop. This led to an overhaul of the top-half of the engine. The engine is running again the last week of June.

In March, 2022, I will make some check sails on the Chesapeake before departing. These are short outings for just the afternoon, or as long as three days. The purpose of the check sail is to ensure all the systems on the boat are operating as expected. I will stress the rigging and sailing gear to make sure it is all up to the task of sailing offshore.

The plan has been updated. I will sail to Bermuda first. Although out of my way, sailing to Bermuda seemed to make a lot of sense. It is roughly a five to six day trip. It would serve as a good sea trial for all the work I’ve done to the boat. This would also give me time to get my sea legs back. I would spend a few days there; inspecting the boat; snorkeling; relaxing. 

From Bermuda, I will sail 2100 miles across the Atlantic ocean to to the Azores. There are nine major islands in the Azores Archipelago. I will arrive at the capital; Ponta Delgada, on the island of Sao Miguel. One island Santa Maria, is further south. I will skip that island this time. My plan is to island hop working my way north.

After visiting the northern most islands, I will be back to the open ocean, sailing north towards Ireland. Then, on to Scotland.