LEG 1 (Shakedown Cruise)
Ft. Lauderdale to Key West – COMPLETE!
First leg down! Actual time underway was 25 hours, all of which was spent under sail. Sea conditions were 3-5ft seas with occasional 6 and 7ft sets, winds 20-25 knots out of the east, occasional stronger gusts, small craft advisory over the lower half of the route.
Provisioning complete! Most boat systems were tested functional. Generator worked. Some odd issues with electronics, but could by operator error. (imagine that!)
A number of important tasks were NOT finished before we were FORCED out of Lauderdale. The dock lady made us leave a day earlier than she’d originally told us to leave. >:(
We don’t like her! Since Reliant is officially in the Conch Republic, I’m now free to say “Eileen from stupid Dockfinders, BUZZ OFF!!”
We had to replace one battery in the house bank before departure, and the outboard for the tender has unresolved issues, but is currently at the service shop. A few other miscellaneous technical items on board will need to be addressed on the next leg, but overall the boat did well.
We worked hard and didn’t have a lot of time to play, but the day we spent ashore in Key West was a blast!
Thanks to Lee for all the help(the gulf stream fish thank him for dinner on Wednesday night). Super big thanks to Jim Sr. for the huge help provisioning and prepping for departure, plus the awesome meals!
Reliant is currently double tied on a mooring at Garrison Bight.
Leg Completed!
Any updates, Captain Oates?
You never cease to amaze, Captain Oates! Congratulations. We look forward to your next update.
So happy to hear leg 1 is in the books. Hope it was indeed smooth sailing down to Key West. Looking forward to seeing you back on the dock and getting details about the first of many adventures to come.