Big Galleys Unusued

Been talking to boats on the dock, all larger, much larger than WK.  Most are fully paid crew and some are aboard alone.  Many owners don't want to be in this heat and are having boats delivered elsewhere, presumably into cooler climates.  One thing that seems to prevail, especially on delivery status:  galleys are not used.  Most crews are not allowed to use the galley, hence they hit a port every night and go ashore for meals.  Same thing in the morning before leaving.  The captain parked in front of us aboard a 100 footer said that the boat is several years old and has never had a meal prepared aboard.  Now meals are consumed aboard but mostly catered.  Here is a three million dollar boat with a very nice galley that is as fresh as delivery day.  What's with that?  The captain has been aboard for 75 days and has yet to see the owner or take the boat out of the slip. 

We contacted a local rigger and had the lifelines of Why Knot replaced with uncovered stainless steel wire.  Looks really great and she now conforms to ORC specifications for lifelines.  The reason for the change is that WK is now 12 years old and that, friends and fellow scruvs is the lifespan of lifelines.  One would not want to fall overboard because of old lifelines.  Now there is not excuse for unauthorized departures from the boat as sea.

Tomorrow will be the start of our week long shore liberty.  That will be really strange to us since we have not had extended shore liberty for five months.  Then there is the little benefit of endless hot water, stable sleeping quarters and room.   Of course, this comes at a price but hopefully Bear's back will benefit greatly from the surgery on Monday.  Don't know if we can sleep on a stable big bed, but we will try.  That brings us to a place we have not experienced since leaving Why Knot in New Orleans in March:  putting her to rest for our absence.  It has been a long time but we are looking forward to seeing Tampa/ St. Pete since we skipped it on the way to Key West.  Closest we came was a small island at the entrance to the bay.  The other thing we are definitely looking forward to is a visit with the crew of S/V Breezin. 

Hopefully, the tropics will stay calm and we won't have to rush back to make ready for a storm.  The Atlantic is very hot and ripe for a really active hurricane season.  Those things can materialize in a couple of days then threaten any area along the Gulf and Atlantic Coast.  The later into the season, and the more likely storms will track further north along the Atlantic coast.  Maybe Mother Ocean will grant us a reprieve until we can get back aboard.