Harmony Sails Again - Launching a New Beginning

Well, it is now the back half of November 2014 and Harmony has been hauled onto the hard and has been wrapped in her winter cocoon of canvas.  It is always a bittersweet time of the year when your boat is hauled.  It is somewhat sad when a trip out to the boat to sail is no longer in the immediate offing.  However, it is comforting that one's floating vessel of dreams yet to fulfill is relatively safe from the ravages of winter on the Northeast coast.

Anyway, we have been through this for many years now, and the pragmatist in us realizes that this is a beneficial cycle of renewal.  While this season of renewal is different from that which live-a-boards and cruising sailors generally experience, it is still a valuable period.  It is a time to stoke the winter's fires with copious lists of boat projects, exciting itineraries of voyages to make, and, most of all, wistful recounting of the great moments during the past sailing season.

That being said, we have plenty of items in all three categories.  Future posts will cover many of these items, but today I want to summarize our 2014 sailing season.  Our 2014 sailing season was less about sailing passages, and more about beginning our water-borne relationship with this vessel of our dreams.  With the restoration nearly complete, I pushed forward with a launching to test systems and to get out of the boatyard after 3 years on the hard.


Harmony all ready for her launch sitting in the Benson Brook Marine Park- note our little pickup for scale

Quite frankly, I needed a break!  I wanted to see water over the side rather than the gravel of the Benson Brook Marine Park.  I needed to test the new motor, to get a feel for what was needed to sail the boat properly, and to see if the systems I installed on the boat would work for us.

Harmony float at the dock just after launch
(photo courtesy of Jeffrey P. Gonsalves, AMS)

We launched with a working engine, 1 bilge pump, and interior lighting and exterior navigational lights working.  The bare minimum.  The survey required by our insurance company pronounced Harmony extremely fit for service, although finish work was still needed.  However, the insurance company place a monetary value on Harmony that was more than I projected, and that was extremely satisfying.

Harmony resplendent at the dock
(photo courtesy of Jeffrey P. Gonsalves, AMS)

Harmony proudly showing her Name and hailing port
(photo courtesy of Jeffrey P. Gonsalves, AMS)

Harmony's spacious cockpits with the new instrument pod and classic teak wheel
(photo courtesy of Jeffrey P. Gonsalves, AMS)

At the dock, we bent on the sails, filled the water and fuel tanks, and readied the composting heads.  We also brought on-board Harmony's new cushions expertly made by Judy at Nautilus Cushions.  So, once confident that we were ready for the mooring, we gingerly pulled away from the dock with deft encouragement from Fred and Boston of Barden's Boat Yard. 

You know it is a wonderful thing to have such supportive friends at Barden's Boat Yard!  We've enjoyed the support of many at the yard for sure.  Boston, Fred, Carol, Cheryl, both Doug's, Little and Big Pete, and Paul among others all provided huge help during this project, if not during our 25 year relationship with Barden's.  We are certainly blessed!

Dang, we made it to the mooring without taking out half the harbor, running aground, or wrapping the prop with everyone's mooring lines!  What ensued was a wonderful seven weeks of learning what a wonderful platform Harmony will be for our cruising plans.  All of the equipment and systems that were hooked up worked well.  We even took her out for a sail:  more on that in a future post!  Moreover, we realized a partial payback for all of our work over the past 3 years.

Harmony's Admiral and crew!
(photo courtesy of Nautilus Cushions)

After three years on the hard, this is a nice perspective of Harmony
restored to her floating glory
(photo courtesy of Nautilus Cushions)

 

Harmony's comfortable salon
note the wonderful cushions made by Nautilus Cushions)

Harmony's Admiral reigning supreme over the dinette table
(note the fabulous curtains she made)



Harmony's well shaped stern with her new tender safely
in the Kato Marine davits
(photo courtesy of Nautilus Cushions)

Yes, we still have much to do, but we are on the cusp of realizing our dream of cruising. Over the winter, I will work to complete the remaining projects that will allow us to confidently leave the mooring for an extend cruise.  We will also plan the details of our first cruise to Maine in August of 2015.

Another by-product of our initial use of the restored Harmony, is a change in the direction of this blog.  I had started this blog to document and share the considerations and activities we had during the restoration.  While these experiences most likely appealed to very few people, it did give me a way to record of some of the efforts.

All along my purpose here was to build a foundation for a larger, and, hopefully, more interesting dialog.  Going forward, my posts will focus on a few projects that may hopefully provide interesting reference, but most of my commentary will share our planning efforts, sailing passages, and living aboard experiences.

Harmony comfortably afloat in Marion harbor
(photo courtesy of Nautilus Cushions)

We had a great water-borne season on Harmony in 2014, and we are overflowing with anticipation of passages to come.  Yes, Harmony sails again!

Fair Winds and Following Seas!