FIRST RAFTUP OF THE YEAR.

Friday night 3 boats met at Ft Mcrae for the evening. We did not make it. Because of other commitments, we did manage to get into the sound and anchor on the south side. Then had a late dinner of fresh steamed shrimp and French bread and a glass of wine. We got underway about 10 AM Saturday, to sail west to Pirates Cove for the evening. Perfect sail with the wind in the high teen out of the southeast. Made it down there in about 3-1/2 hours.

One of the our members got a 37 foot Island Packet. New to them, just a few years old and has every conceivable electronic on it. The new owner is still trying to figure out how to turn it all on. We did get his SSB checked out.

Friday I did get our new life raft mounted. We gave the mounting a test Sunday. The great sail Saturday demanded its pay Sunday. We motored back 20 miles dead into the wind. Lots of spray coming over the rail and at times 30 knots of wind over the deck. It is good to have an enclosure to keep one dry and warm. The wind was to be out of the SSE. So much for forecasts. Right out of the east. The mounting did not fall off and the new mounting holes in the deck did not leak. Life is good.