Day 80 Getting closer--still windy

Made more preparations for getting underway.  Tracy started making sure everything is battened down so it won't shift when we are underway.  She cleaned out some cabinets of unneeded things and they were taken to the storage shed.  We fastened down the Tivo & Direct Tv receivers so they will stay put.  I cleaned off the navigation station so it has room for the computer we use to navigate.  It's loaded with lots of charts and since it is hooked to our GPS and AIS, it gives us lots of information that we need while cruising.

The computer program that we needed to reprogram the new VHF radios came in today.  Unfortunately, it won't hook up to my computer as it needs a "serial port" to function and laptops typically don't come with them.  So I had to return the program and it's cables and just leave the radios alone.  The manufacturer told me today that they should be programed by one of their service centers and that I shouldn't have been allowed to buy the computer program and cables.  With luck, I'll find a service center during our travels and get it done then.

I worked with the GPS again today and set up some "waypoints"(geographic locations stored in its memory) that we can use on our trip North.  Tomorrow, I'll put some into the autopilot.  

Each day, we get closer to being ready to go.  More things stored or put in storage.  We have made lists of things that need to be checked before we go just to make sure nothing gets dislodged while we are out there.  As I have said in an earlier post, Zephyr has become our home, not as a home that moves.  That means that everything in every cabinet has to be checked to make sure it won't move as we sail.  Every door has to be fastened closed down so it won't open.  Many things are now tied or strapped down that hadn't been.  We will be going thru every thing tomorrow just to make sure we are safe and sound and battened down.

So far, Sunday is looking as the day to go.  Still 10- 15 knot winds with gusts to 20 and 6 foot seas but that is fine.  It's the fact that it will still be coming from the North that makes it tough.  I guess that Mother Nature will make the final decision for us.