Day 25--FINALLY!

We finally made it off shore!!!

Spent the morning trying to get Zephyr set up for sailing--yes that's right sailing.  We had become a floating home with all the things we had brought aboard, not a cruising sailboat.  Lots had to be stowed.  

Once completed, we took off for the pump out dock.  First things first.  Priorities.  Pulled into the dock just fine--pretty much a first.  Hooked up the pump and voila, we were back in business--at least in the head.

Now out to sail.  As we headed out, there was a BIG boat blocking most of the entry point to the harbor.  As we tried to pass, he suddenly pulled a 180 degree turn and headed back in.  Turned out to be the Corp of Engineers dredging ship.  He was still at it when we returned home.  Headed out into a washing machine of a sea.  No wave definition.  They came at us from all sides.  We were below surrounding waves most of the time we were out there.  We sit about 11 feet above the water line so it was interesting.  Not what we were used to.  The wind was only running at 2-4 knots once we got out there.  The boat pretty much sat--at least as far as making forward progress.  Not a lot of fun.  We unfurled the genoa to get more sail out.  Strangely, it wouldn't stay up at the top of the mast.  The block that hold the halyard(line that holds the sail at the top of the mast) just wouldn't grab the line.  Age may be catching up with it.  I'll be investigating it tomorrow.  May have to order a replacement.

With the wind so little and the seas so upset, we headed back after only about two hours.  While it was great finally getting out, it was like sailing in your washing machine.  

Tracy forgot her sea sickness pills.  She paid for it shortly after getting out past the breakwater. She won't make that mistake again.

Once we got back, we had some cleaning up to do inside the boat.  While we had tried to stow the loose stuff in the boat,  we had failed and there was a good bit of things that has gone flying as we took on the disturbed seas.  We took stock of what had happened and took notes as to what to do and what not to do next time.

Tomorrow--read more manuals and do laundry.  Lots of fishermen here.  Halibut season if finishing up.  We want to stay out of their way.