-type You will find below the details of a typical day from a marina on a large body of water (Lake Michigan, for example). Departure from Charlevoix to travel to Frankfurt: from 40,000 to 8000 per hour.
5:30: Wake up. This ensures that the weather conditions are conducive for the duration of the trip scheduled for that day. We made the bed and it's time to shower. Luke is going to walk the dog Sammy and I prepare the coffee.
J'essue both outer sides of the boat with a mop not to stumble eventually. Luke is working to drain the "Izone glass" (glass) of "Flybrige" while I do the same on the "sundeck". Then we drive all these plastics and fix. Thus, we have access to all possible openings, should any eventuality.
If necessary, fill tanks water (300 gallons total).
7:00 few minutes before departure
-we remove nonessential moorings;
-I join in the log the date, day, hour and place of departure;
I check if the 2 portholes in the back in our bedroom, are closed to eliminate any smell of fuel;
-we disconnect the power cord that connects us aware of the marina;
Us 're running GPS, autopilot and marine radio.
Initially, we withdrawing the last moorings, Luke moved to the bar and I confirmed the results of its maneuvers and we're on the road. I return all the defenses and hangs all the lines. I make a full turn of the boat to make sure there's nothing that hangs somewhere.
8:00 I start the generator to use the coffeemaker, toaster or microwave. The stove is propane and the refrigerator is operating at all times. I prepare lunch and either you take it on the "flying bridge" or the "sundeck", together or alternately. We love the change ....
Along the way, we consult volumes dealing with our destination, charts, etc.., to keep busy. Luke also has fun with his GPS to map the road ahead, which have been decided by a majority 1-2 days in advance. Also, he calls ahead to reserve the marina docks. I'm a little bit of housekeeping: not too much, just enough.
Here it starts to get interesting .... that's where I'm taking a nap between 30 and 120 minutes !!!!!! It's happened before the 120 minutes. Must believe that I catch up since my last working years. During a day 6-7 hours drive, the captain should have his moments of rest as well. This is where I excel: the autopilot, wow .....
11:30 The dinners of soup, sandwich or salad.
12:30 Just before arriving at the marina, contact Luke it docks to find out what we have been awarded. They also mentioned that Stern will come first and that we will focus on the starboard side. This allows us to move out of the boat directly from our side door, or if the banks are low, use the platform to board or back down, which is also very good. I confirm that my master is very good at performing these maneuvers approach. He surprised himself. The majority of attendants docks congratulate him for his dexterity. Do not forget that we have an engine and a "Bow thruster," which is quite different from a boat equipped with 2 motors that allow the captain to perform miracles or almost. Apparently, everything is in practice. Speaking of practice, I have not had the opportunity to enter the boat in a lock or in a marina. Supposedly, it's coming ..... Story to follow.
I make sure that the defenses are in place on the two sides because there are often changes at the last second.
I therefore make the mooring stern-first to the attendant at the marina and that of the second bow. After, I open the side gate and I landed on the quay. We will then to the rescue of our friend Richard to help him complete his "landing". We return to our boat, we set properly mooring the bow and stern mooring lines and are adding middle of the boat to prevent forward or backward.
It connects the power cable. Luke is going to walk the dog. I then take the readings (engine hours and mileage on the GPS) and also saves time and place of arrival in the logbook. I close all electronics (GPS, autopilot, marine radio and Bow thruster, where applicable). I reset the counter of miles traveled per day, to be ready for tomorrow. So ended our day sailors.
PM We visit the village. We did the grocery shopping and / or miscellaneous purchases. If necessary, we go to a laundromat.
We walk on the docks and talk with other captains, etc.. Often, we'll see people we had met a few days earlier.
5:30 p.m. It's time the "Happy Hour". Each brings his drink and we enjoy life. Recently we stopped sharing appetizers during the cocktail. They were too heavy and we had almost hungry for dinner, at least we thought. But suddenly we starve later .... So they supped and it was still too often. Now it takes just a "flick "....
6:30 p.m. The majority of the time we board our boat soup, since it is most suitable for the "masses".
-During the evening or before the captains check the weather, which is the basis for discussions with the little ones for destinations and itineraries for the next few days.
Meanwhile, Luke make several trips on the docks with Sammy. It seems that this is a very good way to approach the girls. A few times we watched movies (DVDs). A big thank you Regis and Lynda for the loan of films. It's very appreciated.
9:00 p.m. It's time to shower and sleep.
