Winter in Newport

By Sailor Keddy -
I've decided to spend the winter in Newport. We're just not ready to make the trip yet. I've only had her out sailing twice and I need to get more time with her before I spend my limited resources on a 1,500 mile trip to Florida. Not to mention, when I got to Florida I'd be broke and back in a state with limited employment opportunities. I got the engine started a few days ago, after a new fuel tank, filters, lines, a rebuilt water pump, cleaning the heat exchanger, changing the oil, etc, but the gearbox is stuck in forward. According to people in the know I've talked to the discs are warped and it needs to be rebuilt. The bowsprit and bobstay still need to be replaced as well. Again, she's not ready and I'm not either. I'm going to spend the winter here, save money and get Soveraine exactly the way I want her.

I had considered taking the boat to New York; I found a slip for $300 per month right across from lower Manhattan in Jersey City. However, my neighbors would be the Westin and Mariott hotels instead of Newport Shipyard and Casey's Marina. Not conducive to getting boat work done. I'd have to drive a distance to a West Marine and any reputable boat yard. Newport is also cheaper at about $168 per month for dock space, including showers, a hot tub and sauna use!

I'm kind of looking forward to it actually. I haven't spent more than 4 or 5 months in the same place since I left Boston two and a half years ago and I'm pretty tired of constantly moving. I'll get a lot of work on Soveraine done as well as a lot of reading and writing.

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