Several of you have emailed wishing me well on my return to the boat and the sea.  Some have said that I must be busy with last minute preparations.

        I don’t do ‘last minute.’ 

        ‘Last minute’ results in mistakes.

        Before a passage I am usually ready at least two days before I plan to depart.  And by ‘ready’ I mean completely, except for those few tasks that must remain until the last morning, such as removing the bedding from the v-berth.  During those last few days, I sit peacefully, reading, listening to music, and looking around the boat to be certain I haven’t forgotten anything.  Sometimes I find I have.

        Before flights to or from the boat, I’m also ready well in advance.  I fly from Chicago on Thursday, but, except for washing the shirt I plan to wear and repacking a few items, such as the iPod I’m listening to and the computer I’m writing this on, my razor and toothbrush, I’m ready now.

        At the moment I’m listening to a beautiful new-to-me rendention of Bach’s ART OF THE FUGUE by the late Russian pianist, Tatiana Nikolayeva, downloaded yesterday from iTunes.

        Although life is short, I’ve always had enough time.

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        The photograph is another orphan, taken while at anchor at Paradise Cove in the Bay of Islands in 2006.