I've been so caught up with the Interlux fiasco that I've let a lot of things slide for the past month or so. 

SeaWolf is ready to do some shake down cruises and we're going to start next month by going out weekends.  Since we're so tall (63 feet), we can't get under the Julia Tuttle bridge and head out the Government Cut in Miami (its about 3 miles away).  Supposedly, the contractor who built the bridge claimed dislexia and built the bridge 56 feet high, instead of 65 feet high, as all bridges on the ICW (InterCoastal Waterway) were supposed to be built.  As a result, we have to head north to Fort Lauderdale (23 miles) and go through about 8 bascuse bridges before we can get out for a test run, but it's worth it.  It's an enjoyable sail with several open bays and lots of high end mansions to ooggle.  We plan to head out on Thursday nights, run up to Hollywood, anchor out (about 3/4 of the way to the Lauderdale inlet) and then pop out into the ocean early Friday morning.  We'll spend Friday and Saturday morning running and testing the new rigging and sails and then head back to Miami on Saturday afternoon.  We'll anchor out in Hollywood again and then get to the Palm Bay Club (http://www.palmbaymiami.com/) by mid afternoon, Sunday.  Do take a look at the Palm Bay Club site if you get to Miami.  It's a great Marina with excellent amenities and is very reasonable.  Nice people, too, and that's the most important aspect of any marina.

Bill's ability to handle SeaWolf in tight situations is absolutely fantastic!  You can surely believe me when I tell you that SeaWolf is like trying to  handle an elephant.  While waiting for several of the bridges to open, we had to wait up to a half hour.  Bill was able to keep Sea Wolf virtually stationery against a running tide and 15-20 knots of wind, by just manipulating the two engines.  Amazing!   I'm not nearly so competent as Bill, but he's very patient and willing to make me as competent as he is.  He'd better because I got the highest marks on the Coast Guard test and THAT makes me the Captain... but NEVER when we're in deep doo doo.  Then HE'S the Captain, for sure.

Well, that's it for now, but I'll be sure to let you know what happens on our first shake down as I'm sure things will go wrong and wel (spelled B-I-L-L) will have a number of fire drills to handle.  I just hope that none of them are actually fires!