Back in the Drink

As much as living in a parking lot for the last two months has kept me from getting soft and has increased my general perspective on how wonderful my life overall is, yesterday was a great day.

The moment that Brightside’s keel touched it’s reflection on getting lowered was as beautiful as looking up at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and remarkably similar.

I spent the next hour and half rigging up the jib and making all preparations to get underway. Bleeding air out of seawater intake, burping the dripless shaft seal, etc. I was not able to bend and hoist the main since the halyard needs to be replaced and I was without the tools needed to do so. So I headed out with the plan of motor-sailing under the jib alone.

Lighthouse on Rose Island with Pell Bridge backdrop

About to pass under the Pell Bridge

Jib filling nicely. I could not wipe that smile off my face all day

The camera can do no justice. The colors everywhere were spectacular

• 14:29 –> started the deisel
• 14:29-15:27 –> Rigging jib, bleeding lines, etc.
• 15:40 –> Underway
• 15:48 –> passed G3
• 16:03 –> passed R12
• 16:10 –> Passed under Pell Bridge
• 16:25 –> Passed G17

I’m not positive what explosive anchorage means exactly, but I was not about to drop the hook. And I did not exactly drive right over it either.

• 16:59 –> Passed G21
• 17:12 –> Passed R24
• 17:20 –> Entered harbor at N.E.B.
• 17:30 –> Engine stopped
• 17:36 –> Brightside is moored

No one was present on the docks to help out in line handling, so I had to bring her in solo. I was a bit scared, since I haven’t driven a boat this size in about 15 years and pulling into a dock solo was never easy for me.

All went well. I pulled right in to my slip with no complications and stopped short of ramming anything. The slip right next to mine was still vacant, so next time might be a tighter squeeze, but all in all, everything went smoothly today and I loved EVERY second of it. I just wish Grete and the kids could have been here with me in more than spirit.

Relaxing at the end of the day with a “glass” of wine