Launch Day!

Supposedly, this month (May, 2018) has been the wettest May on record.  After a few aborted launch dates, and checking the Windy app, we confirmed that Seas The Day would launch on Monday with perfect temperatures and winds.  It seemed like a perfect reason to take a day off from work.

Vicky's cousin Mango, and her Husband, Fei, are visiting, so we all piled into the car for a trip up the NJ Turnpike.

 We arrived to find Seas The Day already in the water next to the boatyard.  Unfortunately, we missed the splash. But the tide was perfect for just passing all the gear over onto the deck.  We had to wait a final bit (they had to flush a through-hull to get proper water circulation in the engine) before we could board, but within a few minutes we were on board for Fei's first trip (around yard to the fuel dock).

(Note for the Log - they had to repack the stuffing box again.  We just had it repacked last year.  I'll have to keep an eye on that.)

We had to wait a bit at the fuel dock (for Vicky of course... she decided my car wasn't up to her cleanliness standards and took it to a car wash).  Then we headed out for a quick shakedown cruise.  

We spent a few hours putting Seas The Day through her paces.  Pulling out the mainsail and genoa, tacking, playing with the engine, etc.  Nothing fancy.  I doubt we ever got more than a couple miles away from Keyport #1

I was told that I'm too stern looking while coaching Mango on the helm.

Vicky was told that she really doesn't have to redo all the Velcro on the new life vests, that perhaps a better choice of sailing attire would be something other than a fine sweater.  (After suggesting that, I then waited while she finished making sure all the "hooks" on the Velcro were in the proper place.)

As we got back, Fei and Vicky picked up the stick and I gave a quick lesson on how to secure the pennants using the little blue lines attached to it.

Then (as always) sailing ends at the KYC bar where we had a couple of drinks before John joined us for some Keyport Fishery fare.  We didn't have any tools to use on the lobster, so Fei had to improvise...

So we're reasonably ready for a Friday trip to Liberty Landing.  Stay tuned...