Today marks one week since we moved aboard Imagine. She’s a comfortable home with plenty of space for two people living aboard. Our nomadic lifestyle over the last year was a good introduction for this. Life on a boat is as much about what you don’t need as what you do need.
So far, we’ve spent four days at sea, anchoring twice and slinging the tender out to tool about town and get food and the all important Portuguese wine. We’ve sailed her at all points of wind, and are very comfortable with her underway. We even sailed without her autopilot for long stretches, getting used to the hydraulic steering system (which is still weird for me). She’s a good performer into the wind, making 6.5 knots in a 8 knot (true) wind. Downwind, she’s fair, making 5 knots in a 8 knot wind.
We’re still green when it comes to maneuvering into her berth. We need practice with our hired skipper, but I’m certain we’ll get it down before we leave at the end of the month.
There are still a number of items we need to get done before we’re ready to depart the marina and live life “on the hook,” (traveling about and being at anchor as opposed to being moored in a single spot). A solar installation and a better internet solution are the two biggies, but for now, life is pretty good in the marina.