We made our way to Florida last week of March so that we could be present as changes to the boat were finalized and to ensure that we could leave, as planned, on Sunday April 2 nd . Thanks to Tena and David, our on-site boat management team in Jacksonville , the boat was in perfect shape when we arrived. Tena has been the lead project manager for all of the boat changes and that's saying a lot. Given the scope of the changes, she's had to manage more than fifteen different ‘worker teams' at any given time and keep them all on schedule! She's coordinated the installation of TV and weather electronics, the building of office cabinets and storage shelves, the painting of the boat, the installation of new upholstery, the overhaul of key aspects of the engine and on and on. Tena and her husband David have been invaluable to us in our efforts to make this journey. They both are very familiar with Californians and can fix anything (you'll see David in one of the pictures, giving us a lesson on the changes he made to the anchor windlass). Tena and David know everything about boats from anchors to engines to carpet!!! They've helped us enormously in our understanding of the boat and in gaining a full appreciation for its strengths and weaknesses. Jean and I both agree that we'd be lost without them!!!! (Watch for a picture of Tena spraying Jean with water as she worked today on cleaning the boat for its launch)!!
