Shaking down

After a summer on the hard in Warwick, Aviva was launched the morning of Friday, Aug 23, 2013, and even with a strong wind and current, we got her to her slip unscathed (with a little help from the dockhands and neighbors!).  She proudly displays our home port!

Our first visitors arrived that very evening!  Thank you to Sally and Chuck for fresh salsa, home-grown tomatoes, and chips, and to Eric for making the trip to see us also!

Saturday, Aug 24 -- Sage and Sam arrived mid-morning, and we did some mansioneering in Newport.  Whew, unbelievable!!  But that was someone else's adventure.  Dinner with Sage and Sam, Chuck and Sally, and Jason and Chissel -- thanks to all for adding to the festivity of the start of our "Avivadventure!!"

Sunday, Aug 25 -- we took our first trip out of the marina, a shakedown into East Greenwich Bay, during which we put up our brand new genoa, and reversed the direction of the roller furling to put the sun cover on the outside (ahem).  What a beautiful sail!  Coming into the slip was not quite as smooth as on Friday, and the gel coat now shows signs of more practice needed to reach perfect.  Sam had to return to work on Monday, so we took him to the train station, leaving Sage to put up with us by herself.

Monday, Aug 26 -- We finished stowing EVERYTHING we brought ... wow!  When were you ever completely moved in and ALL boxes unpacked after only 4 days!!!  Around 11:30 a.m., we sailed out of Apponaug Marina for our first overnight trip since bringing Aviva up from Florida in May.  (That was a wonderful trip in itself and requires its own blog entry!!)  We had a lively sail with SSW winds averaging about 15 knots from Warwick to Third Beach, Sakonnet River.  The waves offshore were about 3 feet.  Whee!!!  Our new 55 lb Delta set easily (once we got our electric winch to respond to the finicky remote).  Dinner was spaghetti with pesto, followed by the strawberry shortcake we had been dreaming of all day.  Depending on who you ask, the anchorage was either a little rolly or a little lulling.  

Here is our view this morning.  Yes, it's a lovely, gray, New England day!