Trying to Make This Blog User Friendly

It was great to hear from so many of you that you have subscribed to Skipperette's Log. Some of you are having trouble so I am trying to make it more user friendly. I am sure I will continue to tweak it as I learn more about Blogger and Flickr.

Right now I am having trouble myself: I can't figure out how to post photos in the Flickr area and I don't know where to find the place where you can make comments. So I can understand your frustration, too!

You can always just go to http://sv-trillium.blogspot.com to read the latest. If you register with one of the feed links on the right or at the bottom of the page, you will receive any updates by email. Hopefully I will get this all worked out before we head offshore and out of email range. Do continue to let me know what challenges you are having so I can address them in the next few days.

NOTE: I have also learned that sometimes an older post disappears. When I click on HOME at the end of the post, the others show again. You can move between current, older and newer ones. I hope this helps and I welcome any tips you may have, too.

Going from Land to Sea: A Cozy Space

Here is a quick tour of our new digs. It is cozy and no room for "stuff." In a wonderful way, living aboard is a simplified lifestyle. At the same time it has its challenges: not enough room for some tasks, need to move at least three things to get to what you want, tests your memory to recall where you stowed everything, etc.

We have three cabins and two heads (bathrooms) with showers. Here is our cabin. We each have a closet (hanging locker) that is about 12" wide and 4.5' high. I now know the meaning of "packing lightly!" Actually, you end up wearing the same few clothes again and again. We even have a washing machine onboard!

The main saloon - say "salon" - don't know why they spell in like a watering hole except that probably a lot of drinking takes place here. I will have to see how that works for me! There is a liquor/wine cabinent in the center of that table you see here. Convenient, huh?

The galley is very "compact" but efficient. That is if you like moving four things to get to what you want. And, of course, everyone drops "things" on the tiny counter space that I have at the bottom of the companion way!



If you come to visit, you can have your choice of two cabins: the forward V-berth or the port double bunk cabin. It is cozy, but ... It is a sailboat. after all. And not the Ritz!

Then there is the "heart" of it all: the Navigation Station! This is the most important area as it has all of the electronic andcommunication equipment. We have added a few new "toys" to make our offshore adventures safer. There is a lot to learn to get the maximum benefit from them. Some of it is going to be en route training as we just need to use it to get more proficient.



Going From Land to Sea: Our New Digs

So many of you have been asking about our new sailboat and how you can follow our journey. Well here you go! This is the blogsite for S/V Trillium. It is called Skipperette's Log: The Travels & Tales of S/Trillium. You can access it by signing in. You can also recieve notice of the latest posts.

Since we will not always have access to email and email over satellite communication is very expensive, we will ask you not to send us jokes, photos, and files that take a lot of space. We will reply when we reach a "hot spot" and can access the Internet. Our children and siblings will know how to reach us in an emergency.

We are participating in the Caribbean 1500 Rally in November. This event is a fleet of boats going from Hampton, VA to Tortola, BVI. The trip is 8-12 days in length depending on wind and weather. Those are the two real controlling factors for a sailboat. For those of you worrying about us, we have two very experienced crew members going along.

We have been harried trying to get life on land in order before the Rally. Dennis is swamped with work and Sherry is getting their act together! If you know Sherry, you can imagine the lists, charts and details ...

• Provisioning (food for 4 for 10-12 days to be prepared at a 15 degree angle)
• Safety preparation: registering with US Coast Guard, abandon ship bag, first aid kit for offshore, electronics (SSB Radio, VHF radio, EPIRB emergency locator, man over board equipment, etc.)
• Home and financial arrangements while offshore (house sitter, automatic bill pay, etc.)

Lots to do. We are busy, busy, busy preparing. Every once in a while, the fear factor hits - especially when well-meaning friends question our sanity. It is both scary and exciting. Hundreds of people make the same trek and to places far beyond. We look at it as a life experience from which we will grow and extend our skills and travels in the future.

But the bottom line is: it is stress-free and relaxing (at anchor!) The quiet times in the mornings and evenings with beautiful sunrises and sunsets can't be beat. Of course, there are times of high tension when things are challenging us: weather, darkness, equipment, etc. But it is all part of our learning curve.

We are not leaving forever! Just for a few weeks, then back for the holidays and work. Our goal is to be in the islands several times over the winter, returning for work as needed. Then we will bring the boat back to the East Coast in May for life as usual. Maybe you will join us for a leg sometime?