Ready to Go--And Then Not

Peter spent a few more hours in the shed sorting through stuff that had been stored various places on the boat, bringing some items back on board, throwing some away and laying out an assortment of things for the people at the boat yard to take or disgard. I cleaned the bimini, the pilot house and the water collection conduits. Shalako coiled up the water hose and the shore power cable and stowed them. Shalako and I took showers while Peter finished up.

Peter stowing tools in the engine room

Shalako in the clean and uncluttered pilot house

At 1 p.m., everything seemed good to go, and we decided to eat out at the nextdoor restaurant, Capsize, before departure. Peter and Shalako enjoyed fish and chips while I savored a caprese salad.

Peter and Shalako at lunch

Peter, Sherri and Shalako excited about departing (Mantra is between Peter's and Sherri's heads)

Back on the boat, Peter decided to check the windlass (the device that lowers and raises the anchor and chain at the bow) only to find--oh, no!--that it was not working properly. So we could not leave. He puzzled on the possible causes and then went to the yard, where, with input from staff, he was able to determine that a single part needs to be replaced, which was ordered and will be delivered tomorrow. Meanwhile, he plans to take apart the motor of the windlass in the morning to clean and inspect it.

At 4:00 p.m., we cast off not for departure, alas, but to take on diesel and gasoline and pump out the holding tank at the fuel dock. After that, we spent a couple hours cruising around on the Tred Avon and Choptank Rivers to make sure the engine, instruments and sails are ready to go, which they are.

Shalako and Peter enjoying being underway (if not on our way)

Our new plan is to depart tomorrow to head up the Chesapeake and then down Delaware Bay for the first leg of our journey to Marblehead, Massachusetts. Our fingers are crossed!