We've spent the last 2 months getting used to our boat and figuring out what things we'd like to change or upgrade. Our trip has basically taken us from Charleston, SC to Key West and now we're headed back north (to where, we aren't sure yet). The boat is only 9 years old but the previous owners lived aboard so some things have really gotten worn out. While I'm happy to say that most of our gear is in good shape, there are several things we need to upgrade, for example: rip out the old carpet in the salon and replace with something else, replace or repair the galley sink and counters, finish repainting the interior, add solar panels, upgrade most or all lights to LEDs, get a new mainsail cover made, and look into adding a light air sail (screecher). Bill would also like a stainless frame for our cockpit awning, but that may have to wait. We also don't really like our refrigerator because it's huge and we only use about half of it which makes it pretty inefficient (and power hungry, hence the need for more solar panels), but that may also have to stay the way it is. I also have lots and lots of sewing projects to attend to - they seem to get put on the back-burner when there is school and cooking to do.
Boat Handling: Overall I'd say we are very pleased with how our boat has performed. We find ourselves slowing her down at night so that we don't have to worry about a squall coming and overpowering us with only one of us on watch. We are also very happy with having chosen a catamaran instead of a monohull. The main reason (for me) that I like a catamaran better than a monohull is the lack of heeling. Some people like the heeling of a boat when they sail, but for us who get motion sick on just about everything, we prefer to remain as flat as possible. While I haven't been sick yet on this boat (it's not impossible), Our new boat, besides being lighter, faster, more deck space, and obviously more interior space (although you have to be careful not to weigh it down too much). We also can all sit outside at a table to eat or do school or just hang out. We consider this boat to be our kid boat so we have the room as the kids get bigger and also room for friends and family to visit. I think we've definitely made the right move for us.
On Provisioning: lots of learning here. I've never been good at planning for food. When I was on a biking trek in Western Australia with my friend Laura, we had to provision to be in the outback for 2 months or more. I remember going to the store before we left and she had it down to how many cans of tuna, pounds of rice, pasta, nuts, granola, etc. based on the number of days we had before there was a chance to get more; she even had talked to some cattle stations and had them get have some supplies ready for us for when we would pass through, knowing we wouldn't be able to carry enough. That's planning! Of course if your survival is at stake you have no choice but to be organized that way, but I've never been very good at that. Since we have been sailing coastal so far, it's been easy to stop and re-provision when we have needed to, which has been often. We have been fine on the basics: flour, rice, beans, pasta, but we constantly run out of milk (switching to powdered), eggs, yogurt (gotta learn how to make it), peanut butter, and most of all fruit! We consume lots of fruit and can't seem to keep it in supply. So the plan will be to have cans of fruit for when we are out of fresh. Sounds simple, but I thought we could keep enough fresh on hand. We've basically omitted meat. We have a fridge but no freezer so we're limited on what perishables we bring anyway.
So, now we are at a marina trying to do all we can before Bill goes back to work in July. If we finish up school soon (we're almost there), I'll be able to tackle a lot of those sewing and painting projects too. Other than that, we plan to head further north in July (maybe Rhode Island) and keep out of the heat.
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