Shakedown cruise on the Fourth of July

We let Stardust rest at our slip for several days to let her settle into the water after being in a cradle for 18+ years.  There were many chores and tasks to ready her for sailing, so we were kept pretty busy between launch on June 29 and first SAIL on July 4.

David varnished the swim ladder steps this winter and they look great

I made new pulls (thanks for lending me your hot knife, Dave!)

Some new lines, some original

We hauled David up to the spreaders to fix a little hidedral angle.

And just after 3 p.m. we hoisted the sails for the first time!

Happy to have Bob and Jodi along for the first sail!

We sailed into West Bay before the wind died down.

It was 93*F at the dock and much nicer out on the water.

A very happy captain :)

Not a common sight in this neck of the woods!

Heading back to our slip at the end of the day.

Big news....we bought a boat!

It's a very long story, but we bought a new-to-us boat.  She's a 1992 Pacific Seacraft Dana 24 (#193) and we'll be able to sail away for many days at a time.  In a later post, we'll tell the story of how we connected, and show some photos from her winter/spring transformation in the boat barn.  For now, here are the highlights from this past week.

Stardust splashed on a gray, drizzly Tuesday afternoon (July 29) at the Northport Bay Boat Yard.  She hadn't been in the water for 16+ years!  Drew, the mechanic, is performing the pre-launch engine check.

Our friends, Glen and Kelly, joined us to motor the short jaunt to Northport Marina that evening.

Snugged up at slip 57 in Northport.  

David and his brother, Bob, motored to our slip in Suttons Bay on Wednesday.  The fog lifted and the sun beamed down on them.

I love the patina on all of the bronze.

Wind and water..my religion.

Over the winter, David sanded and varnished the weatherboards, swim ladder steps, and the tiller.  They gleam!

Pacific Seacraft name and logo.

Super zoom of the logo on a porthole.

New pulls on all of the shackles, cars, gates, swivels, etc.  David polished ALL the stainless!

Stardust is very happy to be back in the water.  Can't wait to get her sails up and get out on the bay.

Haven't created a post in four years.  I hope it looks okay!