Breeze On

I finally finished the cockpit enclosure. It was by far the largest, most difficult sewing project I have ever tackled. It was not fun. Phase two did not start out well. The extension (connects the bimini to the dodger) was the last shade panel finished so it was the first window panel I attempted. I followed the instructions on the Sailrite video. I cut the panel out of O'Sea 30 mil vinyl, used seamstick to bast the zippers on the panel, cut the 2" binding strips to cover the zippers and sewed everything together. Then I walked down to the boat and tried it on. It didn't fit!!! I needed at least an additional inch to reach from the bimini to the dodger. I was dismayed not only because this panel didn't fit but I wondered if any of the panels would fit using the patterns I had made. I gave up for the evening and went to bed. The next day I ripped the zipper off of the top of the panel, sewed a strip of 1" binding onto the panel and attached the zipper to that an

I became seriously interested in a cockpit enclosure for Breeze On during our Delmarva circumnavigation in May. The air temperature was in the low 60's and the water temperature was in the upper 50's. I couldn't get warm even while wearing 7 layers of clothing at times. An enclosure would protect us from the wind and help keep us warm in the cooler weather. Since it is likely to be cool when we start out for the Bahamas, I would like to have an enclosure made before we start out in November. This past Spring I bought a Sailrite machine, when the intention of using it on small canvas projects. George suggested I buy it so that I wouldn't ruin my Huskvarna machine (which didn't like sewing canvas one little bit). Now that I own a Sailrite machine I felt compelled to make that cockpit enclosure myself, even though the project seemed overwhelming. One of the most overwhelming aspects was deciding how to pattern the panels. Our bimini is much larger than our dodger and

Two years ago we anchored on the Wye East River for our first week-long trip on our own. We both had very fond memories of our week on the Wye East River, in spite of the numerous challenges we experienced on that trip. After what seemed like a long, hard day sailing from the Choptank to Shaw Bay, we bickered while dropping the anchor at sunset. When George questioned my driving as I was motoring past crab traps on the way into Granary Creek, I threw up my hands and walked away from the wheel (I don't remember this episode but George does). We ran out of fresh water mid-way through the week. Last, but not least, we dragged anchor in the middle of a very windy night in Boby Owl Cove on the Choptank. It is a wonder that we continued to sail together! Last week we returned for a week on the Wye East River. We laughed about our trip from two years ago and both commented on how far we have come. Both in our abilities handling the boat and also in our teamwork. We don't bicker any