Sea Trial!

This was a milestone kind of day. Captained Makina out on her first sea trial from the marina, but that it getting ahead of myself over what had been a very busy day.

Both Jason and myself were up pretty late, or early one might say at 2:00 or so. We had mulled over the charts of our intended passage to Kingston and perhaps the excitement of that kept us awake. Anyway finally fell asleep after a chuckle or two to the Daily Show on YouTube.

Awoke around 9:00 and was trying to tip toe around so as to not disturb Jason. It turns out he was out on the deck working on an addition we had been planning to add to the boom. Made us some coffee and had half of it down when Jose and Jr. arrived on the scene. They had everything they needed and set right down to it. There was to be the need of about a dozen tiny clamps so Jason and myself headed up the bluffs to do some shopping.

We stopped at Canadian Tire for more tools of the electrical nature, gardening hoses to help in flushing out the water tank and adding new. We also went to the Grocery Store and took on food supplies and then last the Rigging Shoppe for a lifejacket for me as well as a few part for the boat.

Got back as Jose was just finishing up. He gladly took the clamps and a few minutes later his job was done. He kindly stayed on for a bit in order to explain how to break the engine in properly. There are steps that will be required after 25 hours of running it and again at 50 hours of running. It was then off to the bank with Jose and Jr. to get Jose his final payment and a hundred dollar tip to Jr. as a scholarship to a mechanic's course he is planning to study this winter in the catagory of Apprentice most likely to succeed. Jose seemed surprised and Jr. seemed please so mission accomplished. 😎

Back on the boat there were loads of items that still needed doing. Lori, Jason's partner was expected around 14:00 so we came to agreement, through Jason's common sense over my impetuousness, to depart at 4:00 tomorrow morning.

When Lori arrived we decided to take Makina for a small sea trial. This was it, me at the helm and a knowledgeable crew running the sheets and guarding me from any scrapes while both leaving and returning to dock.

There was very little wind so we tried the engine out a bit and it performed very well. We then at least went through the motions of a sail yet the winds were in doldrums. We took the opportunity of basically being in irons to have some supper up in the cockpit, which really hit the spot.

By the time we headed back to the marina the sun had gone down so it was a little bit of night sailing which felt a little more challenging. Proud to say we made it back to the slip without a bump or grounding. Mission two accomplished. 😎

At the time of writing, Jason and Lori are up at the Dogfish Pub having a drink. It shall probably be early to bed with a very early departure. The passage truly begins!

May the wind be at your back!