Quick - before it's gone! Part Two: Anniversaries and Anchorages

Once we knew that we were sea-worthy and stocked up, the Captain and I were ready - I mean ready - to get under sail and truly, finally become "cruisers".  And, as we neared our second wedding anniversary, I was becoming nearly panicked that we would still be hooked on to a mooring ball in Boot Key Harbor, so we really wanted to kick it into gear.  I mean, seriously?  How could we possibly follow last year's Pirate Ship Cruise in New Zealand for our first anniversary with sitting on a mooring ball which we had been on for almost three months?!?!  (please go back and reread this part in the most sarcastic, princessy voice possible)

She now knows staying on deck helps with the sea-sickness!

On March 19, the day before our anniversary, Rob and Captain Jim (see last post) finished tuning the rigging in the morning, all ship "stuffs" were stowed and ready for rocking, and the cats had been told to prepare themselves - a phrase that went over their heads until the motor was started...  Once the motor was started, the yelling at us began.  Thankfully, though, this is now short-lived as they are learning where they need to be when we are under way to remain comfortable.

Quick - before it's gone! Part One: Race Day

I feel as though I need to get this all out there, down on "paper" before it leaves my head and I can't get all of the details correct anymore.  It's midnight, though, and I'm not sure I can get through all of it... BUT, there is some more vodka and mango juice, so - just sit right back and read along!

We fell a little behind in the beginning - but it sure was beautiful! 

RACE DAY: Previously on norealplan, I told you, Dear Readers, that we were thinking about entering into the Sombrero Shamrock Regatta, a 14.5 mile race that we were on the fence about entering.  As soon as I closed the computer, the Captain and I headed to the bar/restaurant where the Skipper's meeting for the race was held with every intention of having a few drinks and finding a boat which was already racing that would let us crew for them...  What we did was have a few drinks and invite someone on-board to captain our boat through the race, allowing us to crew for him and make sure everything was in good working order; or, as Rob loved to say, have our "shake down cruise" and see what our boat is made of.

Next step: Breaking Loose!

Here we are, 16 days after we thought we would be leaving for the Bahamas, still sitting on the same mooring ball we attached ourselves to New Year's Eve.  In my last post, I lamented about not being able to comfortably swim in the waters that surround our boat and about my desire to begin our sailing adventure.  And, ALAS, the day has finally come!

Pirates ARRRrrr Around!

So close... yet so surreal

I think we're ready... I'm pretty sure the boat is ready.  Now, we just need the wind to be ready (though the longer we stay, the more we find to get done before we leave - so who knows whether or not we are actually ready?!)  This has to be one of the most surreal and chillingly realistic points of my life so far.  All I can imagine coming close to this feeling is being a week away from your first child's due date: you know you've gotten as ready as you're going to be, you see that there is SO much more to be done, you know it's about to happen, and you feel this huge emptiness of having NO idea what is about to be "reality" though you know it will change everything.