Happy to report that we raised and connected the radar and ran the data line down the mast this morning. Now we need to run the data line back to the cockpit and connect it to the chart plotter. This will allow us to look at nautical charts, GPS and radar together on one screen. Yeah!

We’ve spent a lot of money in the last week.  We ordered a new set of cushions for the cockpit, a new forward sail (jib) and some additions to the canvas around the cockpit area to provide more shelter from sun and wind.  We are almost done installing the radar, I hope I can report that it’s all done soon.  Ralph has been up the mast several times this week – here is a panoramic photo.

I have been busy cleaning out the boat cupboards and being the assistant to the captain.  Amy and Jacob are going to be home this week for Spring Break and we are looking forward to some family time. 

At the suggestion of a friend, I took some photos around the galley (aka “kitchen” for you landlubbers) and bar area (no known natuical word for that) of Toga.  One of the things I really like about being aboard is that the use of space is so efficient.  And with limited space, you can only afford to have things with you that you really use and need.  The boat was built with an entire cabinet dedicated to liquor storage, so that says something about most boat owner’s priorities, I suppose.  Also included in the photos are the dry locker, where we keep our canned and dry food items; the refrigerator, which opens from the top; silverware and dish storage; spice drawer and our coffee maker, which is a simple french press. 

Another way to think of “boat living” is staying alive while on the boat.  This week we tried out our harness type inflatable life jackets and tethers, which attach either to the binnacle (we learned that work already, class!) or to Jack lines, which are straps attached to the boat deck.  When conditions are bad or one of us is in the cockpit or on deck alone while the other is sleeping, we will be tethered to the boat.  Falling overboard is always a bad idea – falling overboard while your mate is asleep is a disaster.  So we’re not going to do that.

We’ve made some good progress on our preparation tasks lately.  The new chart plotter is installed and working (you will see it here surrounded by the new binnacle guard) and we are almost ready to install the new radar equipment on the mast.  Today we accomplished the important task of road testing one of our folding bicycles, which works great!  Thanks to my awesome brother in law Tim, we now have 2 bikes to use while we are in port.