We're rafting up in Lake Boca
This is a similar trip to what we have done every year since we joined the club.
In 2015, we joined the raftup aboard 'Joint Decision' our Catalina 250 just a couple of months before purchased Eximius.
Getting the boat out, even if it's only for a two hour motor up the ICW from the dock to the anchorage in Lake Boca. As they say 'You get there quicker on a Power Boat but you're already there on a sailboat'.
Plan is to prep the dinghy for the Saturday evening Dink Drift and dine inside the closed raft up circle. It needs cleaning and putting on the foredeck of Eximius. We purchased a couple of Yoga Mats to cushion the deck which was only refinished a couple of months ago. We'll do that on Wednesday.
Thursday we'll load up the boat, put the food on board, fill the fuel tank and put a spare can of diesel on the deck. Our Fuel tank holds 23 Gallons of Diesel and we typically use 3/4 gallons an hour at 5+ knots. So we carry plenty, but we're hoping to be able to actually go sailing on either Sunday or Monday.
Over the past few months, we have stowed several dinners for the boat in our Freezer at home. It's easy to just defrost the prepared meals, Chili, Stew, Shepherds Pie, etc. etc. This makes meal prep on board really easy but it does not fill my desire to cook aboard the boat, so we'll take eggs, ham, tomatoes for a nearly English breakfast. We've been very happy with high protein Oats for breakfasts too, so we'll take enough for at least 3 breakfasts too.
We'll take some wine, rum and non-alcoholic drinks, lots of cheese chunks, grapes and crackers to share with anyone that comes aboard at the raft up.
Friday morning we'll complete the loading and leave the dock sometime around 10am, arriving at Lake Boca sometime after noon. Some of our buddies are already planning to be on the lake by Friday evening, so we'll probably have a few cocktails or Sundowners before turning it Friday night.
Saturday is the big day. Most of the boats will arrive before Noon, some by 2pm when the plan is to close the raft up into a circle. We have had as many as 72 boats rafted in the past, but it's typically abour 20 boats. I have a feeling that we'll blow past that this weekend. Folks are eager to get their boats out and enjoy the opportunity to join with other sailing nuts.
After the raft up closes, around 5pm, the club holds it's annual Change of Command Ceremony where the outgoing Commodore passes his flag to the current Vice Commodore who passes her flag to the incoming Rear Commodore. There's bound to be a great article and lots of photos on the club's website at https://www.hisc.org
Sunday morning the raft up breaks up around 10am, we may stay on station at anchor or we might head down the ICW to Hillsboro Inlet and get a chance to raise the sails - I really hope we do get the chance.
Of course, we have the option to stay at anchor on Sunday and take the boat out to the Ocean on Monday then back to the dock.
I'm talking up a storm here, but hope that it will be a great weekend and that we can get the boat sailing on the Ocean. Keep your fingers crossed.
See you out there!
Paul
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