Sailing into 2012. Or something like that.

Not much from the home front lately. Dad and I got Cassie's board in, months after we had ordered it and took a day to drill the new hole for the pivot pin and installed the new board. The hole got a little crooked, and we didn't have time to grind out where the shackle fit in. I'm wishing we had taken the time, because when we got it back into the water we found out the board would stick when fully retracted. It had worked fine on land, but the extra buoyancy in the water kept the weight from overcoming the friction. Also, because the pivot hole is larger on one side, the board will flop in the case, only in one direction though, which is annoying more than anything. So far this year I've cut new handrails from Trex composite lumber. The old ones were greyed, and the one had cracked in a couple places. I also pulled the hatch runners. When I did, the screws that had been holding them snapped off because they weren't stainless and had rusted in. The old sealant also flaked off in my fingers, so I think that is where my leak has been coming from. I'm cutting new hatch runners from the trex as well. I have a bookshelf on the drawing board for the space behind my galley table, but don't know if I will have it finished this year. I'm hesitant to spend any more on the boat until I get a new car. I am also debating a number of other non-critical improvements that will make life aboard more pleasant. Turn-buttons on hatches, a flat surface under the sink to store things, a way to convert the port settee into a double bed, the list goes on..
I'm doing my best to get everything together so I can finally sail to Cape Vincent this year. If I don't I will be very upset with myself.
On the bright side, a number of friends have offered to join me sailing this summer, so I shouldn't have to do it alone.
More as it develops.