52 Times the boat has left the slip, or gotten underway from a visited port.

39 Times we have spent time aboard without leaving the dock.

53 nights slept overnight either at our slip, on the hook, or in a visited port.

74 Hours, 3 minutes underway as measured by our GPS, “Moving Hours”. (We turn the GPS off at anchor so it does not count swinging as “Moving Hours”).

580 statute miles so far this season.

Our paper logbook is over 50% used up as seen above. We’ll have to conserve paper for the next few months.

Today’s Agenda

10:00 Egg bacon cheese on English

11:00 Swim

12:00 Bloody Mary

1:00pm move to Cedar Beach

3:00pm “together time” down below.

4:00m swim

5:00pm gourmet burger

7:30pm secured at S-Dock.

Tough ol’ Life

Nick came down to S-Dock and helped me finish the new windlass installation. Then he came out with us we tried it out in a couple of places. Shelly and Ray jumped in to cool off. The seawater was over 80F.

The new windlass went in well.

New rode: 150′ half inch nylon + 20′ of hi test 1/4″ chain. Big improvement over the rope only windlass that came with the boat.

All old holes are plugged with dowels and exterior caulk.

I will need to move the bow cleat for better clearance at some point.

Big T-boomers upon us; west to east moving storms. We are safe at slip, on board, loving it to be honest.

After work cruise. 50th time the boat has left the slip this season!

Within minutes of the sunset tonight, the moon rose in the east! Full Moon tomorrow.

Old, failed, windlass is removed.

New shiny stainless one is acquired, and installation being planned.

Below is a pic of the old windlass.

Below is a pic of the new Lewmar 700 FishPro replacement. 5-year warrantee! Soon to be installed at the bow of Shellerina.

We are with Kim and Russ in spirit!!!

Looks great you guys!

on the hook, Fox Island.

and last night.

That’s Jupiter to the left. Of the moon…

Shelly, Mary, Sarah, Nick, Linda, Palm Trees, Stephen!

Sarah and Stephen Klein, seen here on the Cross Sound Ferry, and their mother Linda should be arriving soon. Can’t wait to see them!!! As this IS a boat picture, it qualifies as a legitimate blog post here! <grin>

As seen below, they brought Lobsters for supper!

It was a bumpy ride back to S-Dock, but a great meal was prepared once we got here!

Harry, Shelly, and Marc joined us for the Watch Hill Nature Walk.

It was great to “chin wag” with Markus and Ed about their boats which literally came out of the same mold as our Shellerina!

All three of our boats where made in Nashville Georgia, ours in 1993, “No Blues” in 1994, and “Tropic Lightning” in 1995.

No Blues, Markus & Lisa

Tropic Lightning, Ed & Eileen

all met at Watch Hill, Fire Island National Seashore NY.

They are from Massapequa NY.

Looking north from the beach to the marina at Watch Hill, Fire Island National Seashore.

Watch Hill is known for its bugs. But we have not been bothered by a single one so far this trip!

This was taken back at the dock last night. Perfect light from a setting sun! It was a great weekend exploring.

We moved from Fox Island to the other side of Captree, then we went to Sore Thumb. It was a busy harbor with lots of pleasure craft. But then all of a sudden this trawler came in, dropped their anchor and hauled up their “cage” they were shucking for hours. So they seemed to have a good catch. We thought they were Scallopers. But they said they were in the bait business. Their harvest was “Surf Clams”. From Sore Thumb we went out Fire Island Inlet, just to say we did. It was great to be out on the open ocean again! Love the swells. It was the perfect day for it. Can1 and Nun2 are shown here. Fire Island’s water tower is in the background. Shelly’s selfie of the day!

The wind shifted 180 degrees overnight, so our bow is now facing NNE. The anchor evidently made the adjustment without a problem.

I love waking up early on the hook!

It is the most beautiful time of the day on the ocean.

There is another boat, similar to ours, anchored on the other side of the Lindenhurst Cut. I’d like to meet the owners, as there are not many people like us who appreciate staying out on the hook with no shore power, no A/C, no luxuries of being at the dock with facilities close at hand.

The wind is steady at around 10mph, and as you can see in the picture above, we are not in a protected cove or anything. So we feel the effects, even though 10 mph is relatively mild.

The temp is a pleasant 62F; the recent heat wave has broken.

The 12volt fan and inverter/refrigerator were running all night, yet the house battery, new this season, is still showing a solid 12 volts. Nice to see that.

9:00am Update

Shelly is awake; I made her some tea. Wind has picked up a bit, but we are OK here. She is now cooking some eggs.

We are finalizing plans with Nick and Mary for the MarineMax BBQ tonight.

We have deployed some of the Maine anti-bug technology here, and it’s working!

We are anchored off of Fox Island in Great South Bay, and we think we will stay the night! Fridge has been cut over to battery. Closest to nature when on the hook, and there is more to see at night AND in the morning.

We usually start each season with flags from the previous season. Then we order new ones for arrival by July 4.

What an entertaining night at S-Dock with fireworks all around us.

Former dockmates, Tina and Steve Romano joined us along with our son Nick for a cruise on Great South Bay that included a stop at Seagull Restaurant at Bergen Point for lunch. We later anchored and swam in one of the coves off Jones Beach Island.

Fred showed up this evening, July 1, for the first time this season. This is year 3 that we’ve been conversing with this bird (or it’s parents).

Greenhead flies also made their first appearance today over Great South Bay. Catnip spray is an excellent repellant, fortunately we were ready! Several swims in GSB today to beat the heat.

Seawater was a hair above 80F today (Great South Bay). Shelly and jumped in both off Nicoll Point/Heckschler State Park, as well as at Cherry Grove.