"We're Watching You...

.... with great interest" a good friend recently said in a Bon Voyage phone call. "We are ALL wondering how the two of you are going to survive living together in such a small space?" Great question!

Well, we thought about that too and have relied on the experience of others to help us minimize the damage. A number of the Loopers have discussed this at length in their blogs and at meetings. Listed below are the Top Six that have surfaced that seem worth mentioning.

Certainly living in a much smaller living space 24 hours a day can be challenging. The first suggestion was to have designated separate "getaway" spaces for a while once the boat is docked and all is secure. We all need a little down time to call their own. Fortunately our boat allows that to happen as long as it isn't the dinghy. Hopefully this will provide ample space separation when needed.

Another idea was to go for a walk after mooring each day. One woman told Debi that she was really mad at her captain one day and after they docked the boat, she went for a walk. She walked and walked and walk some more until the anger was gone. Then she was mad at herself because she had a really long walk back to the boat.

Another lady posted in her blog her "wish list" for the boat that they were about to buy. She wanted certain things in the galley and she wanted a walk around deck to be able to safely set the fenders. The last item on the list stated that she needed at least one door to slam. We have several slam-ables if ever needed. Hope not!

After dinner with friends on New Years Eve we were presented with a few going away gifts. The one that applies here is a "Dammit Doll". It appears to be constructed to withstand excessive forces and is meant to be used against any handy inanimate object. I will say again and emphasize the word "inanimate". Thank you.



Dammit Doll





Dammit Doll In Action


Number five is one that most loopers who have them rave about them. These are the EarTec Headphones. These are supposed to give clear, wireless, two-way communication between the captain operating the boat and the person handling the lines and setting the fenders. Docking is a critical time during any voyage and effective communication is key to its success. A few test runs suggest that they work pretty well but they have not been used "under fire" yet. We'll report back at a later date.

Of course number six is the old standby: alcohol. We know that this can be a slippery slope here but ice is inherently that way. If you combine number six with most of the others, it may bring about a faster resolution...... or not.

Nautical Term for the Day: [from seatalk.info]

Make Fast:

1. To secure a line to a cleat with a hitch.

2. To secure a vessel to a dock.

From Great Loop Jargon:

3. Refers to the rate at which the first cocktail is to be made after a particularly hard day at sea.