Wrapping up sea trials and final thoughts from Captain Ken

The 3 months of sea trials are over and her current status is that we have determined that Aurora’s rig is strong and reliable.  Her main engine and generator are running smoothly, refrigeration is top notch, electrical and communication/navigation systems are wonderful, shower sump pumps (2 out of three) and windlass battery charge systems still requiring TLC.  I believe cleaning the hydraulic-drive brushes has rendered our Simrad autopilot  “Alice” reliable but have scheduled tests when she goes back in the water on May 17th.  El (the most phenomenal rigger, and human being!) is rigging the running back stays for the upcoming ride to Newport at the end of May – so we can fly the Stay Sail should weather require it.  We are getting the keel properly prepared and painted and then tested to ensure the keel is electrically bonded to the other metal components in order to thwart and better control galvanic corrosion.

The dead downwind ride from Antigua to St Martin was an exhilarating 100 mile sleigh ride in 10 hours (with 2 reefs in the main and a few wraps of Genoa also reefed – in 22 to 25 kts of wind).  We had a top speed of 14.7 knots surfing down a wave.   The ride from Saint Martin back to the BVI was slow for a few hours followed by motoring for 12 hours – Ouch.  We had some last minute maintenance items in St. Martin and waiting an extra day to depart cost us the wind.  We cleared in near Foxy’s on Jost Van Dyke and had one final sail over to Nanny Cay the next morning.  The wind was 15 kts  – we were tacking like a race team up the Sir Frances Drake channel with Eilo on the helm and yours truly on the winches after 3 months of practice.  I recommend it.

My Top 10 “What I Learned”:

·         Eilo & Captain Ken can co-exist on a boat for 3 months with zero problems – others maybe not.

·         It is usually best to follow the advice of experts and those who have gone before you.  Of course the converse is also true – Coming up with a really bad plan and then executing it perfectly sucks

·         If it breaks – fix it as soon as possible

·         If an island is flying the French “Tri-Color” you can count on great baguettes and croissants being available

·         It is an excellent practice to keep the water on the outside of the boat – it is most important to practice that practice.  Eilo is an excellent finder of leaks and Kenny is a decent plugger

·         If it isn’t broken it soon will be

·         If one knot works good – 5 will work great except for wind – if 15 is good 20 knots is great. In 20 knots of wind it is fairly easy for a crew of 2 to keep Aurora at 10 knots

·         A dirty dinghy is an unhappy dinghy

·         Listen to your fist mate – she wants to keep you alive ( for good reason):

·         Explore both the shores and inland – meet the people – enjoy their food, drink and customs – Keep smiling