STRESS RELIEF Preparation of Stress Relief from 1997 to June 2000 Our Current Adventure started right after our last trip to Bermuda in 1997. When we returned, our boat was hauled from the water and blocked up on shore at Joe and Joanne DiCenzo's Pleasure Marina in Warwick, where it underwent, and is still undergoing extensive work. Finally, on December 16, 1999 it was launched, after being out of the water for 1 1/2 years, and that was a milestone in itself.That didn't mean our boat was ready, but at least it was floating again. Our very dear friends, Tom and Jason Ferreira arrived with a bottle of champagne, but no way were they going to christen our boat with that; we drank it instead to celebrate the launching! Every day another project is worked on, and slowly things are being finished. It seems nice to be able to finish projects, instead of tearing things apart, which we have done for quite some time. The outside of Stress Relief is pretty much done, and our new sails arrived just in time for Christmas. The interior still needs quite a lot of work, with the biggest project being the new refrigerator. Both the fuel and water tanks are finally done, but the wooden floors still need to be installed. After that we can continue with another layer of insulation and finally the new vinyl on the inside hull. Our new navigation instruments still need to be wired, and countless smaller projects still need attention. Anyone who has owned a boat probably know by now, that anything you work on takes forever, and not a couple of hours that you estimated. That is the biggest reason why we still are here in RI and not over in Europe! So we waited another year; we are retired and not in a hurry! The main objective is to be able to sail across the Atlantic safely, and until we feel we can do that, we will be working on Stress Relief! The beginning of June has arrived and we are finally getting ready to leave. It sure has been a long uphill struggle to get to this point, but the boat is just about finished. Some minor welding to be done on the arch, then groceries will be loaded, and off we go to Dutch Harbor to wait for the most favorable weather. As you all can imagine, Dan is very excited about leaving the mainland, but I dread it. I have felt safe and secure tied up to the dock, because I knew that the departure date was far off, but as the time has come to say goodbye to our son and daughter-in-law and all our dear friends, I feel stressed! Dan's dream is being fullfilled, and something that I must endure! Hopefully you will hear a much happier tone from me, after we have crossed over to the Azores, as that will be our first stop after we leave Rhode Island! |