Fall, 2006 cruise - our first on Sun Cat

September was a blur of activity. How do you start a trip south? DO a sailboat race to Nova Scotia! So, labor day weekend son Steve and I raced with a friend, Paul Morin on his Sabre 38. We didn't finish well primarily because we put too much faith in the weather forecast, but had a good time anyway. I then flew to Charleston for the survey and sea trials on Sun Cat and also worked to finish preparations for renting the house. The third week of September we took Trader out of the water and winterized her and assembled the gear we would eventually take to Sun Cat.

On September 27 we left Portland in a (full) mini-van, arriving at Sun Cat, which was at Isle of Palms, near Charleston the next day. The next 5 days were full of developing some understanding of what we had bought, equipping and provisioning the boat and preparing to head further south.

Sun Cat is a 1987 (0r 1988) Symbol 41 trawler. She is at least 41 feet long, 14.5 feet wide and draws about 4 feet of water. She is powered by two Caterpillar diesels which deliver 210 horsepower each. We cruise at about 7.5 knots and top speed is 10-12 knots. For her age, she is in really good shape. The former owners appear to have taken good care of her and there was much new equipment and furniture, all of which was good quality.

After nearly a week at Isle of Palms, we started south, stopping at Lady's Isle marina near Beaufort, SC (we hear it is unfortunatly now a condo project) and then going into Shelter Cove Marina in Hilton Head where the boat would spend a month. Son Bill and Stephanie met us there and stayed with us a week until we left to go for a previously planned 2 week trip to Hawaii.

Shelter Cove Marina

Brunswick Landing 

Frederica River anchorage

The square at St Augustine

St Augustine

Isle of Hope Marina


rina

When we returned, Son Stephen met us and spent a week or so with us. Among other things we replaced the entire exhaust system and the anchor windlass. We also got in a little beach time and other recreation while he was with us.

We left Hilton Head in early November, stopping at Isle of Hope, Walburg Creek, the Frederica River, Cumberland Island, St Mary's Jacksonville Beach, St Augustine, Daytona and Vero Beach before leaving the boat at Ft Pierce to go back to Maine for Christmas on December 18. While we were away, Sun Cat got a fresh coat of bottom paint, new through hull fittings and new alternators.