Saturday 21 Mar, CY day 7: Trying not to get bored while isolating onboard.
Morning was again reading the news. Lots of stories from yachts struggling to know where to go or how to get into their intended destination country. It seems many of the Caribbean countries are not allowing new arrivals. Again, we feel blessed that we made it to such a wonderful place like Cayman. Just 3 cases of CV reported here so still under control. Fingers crossed.
Oana is stuck into book reading today. I’m glad she has taken some time off from video editing. I think she finished two books today! For me, the morning is internet work. Cancelled the Iridium-Go contract as we don’t know when we need it again. Some banking and other bits. Last 3 months have been our lowest spend ever. Being at sea away from shops and Amazon is just the best austerity!
In the afternoon I take the big step to get out our new Sailrite sewing machine. We haven’t touched it since stowing the newly arrived machine back in the USA, in November. For once, I actually read the instructions, which are very thorough. Setting it up brings back memories from when I used to sew on my Mum’s old black Singer machine as a child. The Sailrite is a very heavy and robust machine especially designed for heavy canvas and sail work. After about 3 hours I manage to set it up and make my first few stitches! Now ready to get serious in the coming days. Lots of projects to do. Ultimately, we want to get the new solar panels onto the bimini, but will leave that one till last, once I get some basic skills.
First project will therefore be to make fender blankets ready for the Panama Canal crossing. That will be sewing simple hems and loops to hang them from. As for material, we had scrounged some heat-shrink plastic off-cuts from the many boats getting plastic covered for the winter in USA. Not the best material but good enough for one Panama crossing.
Today was a really relaxed day when we didn’t even lower the dinghy in the water. We are going to have to get used to days like this – like many other people around the world. What weird times these are. Almost surreal. Let’s hope when all this is over that it has pulled humanity closer together in a positive way.
