What's In Your Ditch Bag?

Tick Tock....the final countdown...we're hoping to be on the move in a month so time to check the safety gear which includes A LOT of stuff & one that will really matter most in an emergency is "The Ditch Bag". All boaters who travel any distance have one. It's something you never really give much thought about BUT....you will if you need it! So basically, a "Ditch Bag" includes survival stuff in case the boat sinks. Every year I check our PLB (Personal Location Beacon), make sure it still works.

We don't have an EPIRP so it's pretty important . The rest of the stuff I just kinda peek at. This year, since it's been 4 years since I originally packed that bag...I decided to really look at it....perhaps, my ideas for the ditch bag may have changed after actually living on the boat/Sea.

Ditch Bag Must Haves..includes fishing tackle

So, it turns out I changed almost nothing about the ditch bag contents. The good news about sailing in much traveled waters that aren't more than 100 miles away from the USA...(I.e. Bahamas, Caribbean), we don't need much . I think "crossing an ocean" ditch bag would include a different list of items....like a real life raft...we only have our dinghy, a water disterally system, an EPIRP...etc. The only thing I added was 2 hats with wide brims, we decided to get 2 more PLB's, I changed all the batteries, & the last items I added were a pencil & pad of paper.

It seems like in all the shipwreck movies, the survivors have a journal.

So our boat projects continue. I can't wait to show you the woodwork Scott has done, new anchoring set up, new lights! And lots of new bronze.....

Stay tuned..

Michelle, Scott & Jib

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We're Gonna Need A Bigger Boat !

After 5 long months Malaika's crew is finally returns home! Scott & Jib returned to the boat about 7 weeks ago & I came home last week. My boxes started arriving this week.....I was waiting for Scott to say something as they started arriving ( remember we live on 38 ft), but he didn't. I was armed & ready for my defense.. " hey, I gave up a house!" But, I never had to bring out the ammo. I guess after the past few years, he knows....there are certain things I just have to have with me. It's not much....5 boxes. That's all I need now. My must haves....could you pack your must haves into 5 boxes? It's not as easy as it sounds. However, it's amazing how once you do it, you realize how little you need to make you happy & moving back onto Malaika is a great reminder of that. Anyway, it's great to be home although it is Soooo hot & humid in Florida right now. The humidity is stifling. I can't wait for it to cool down!!!

Jib & Momma

 

Me & Jib tied up in the lock waiting for it to open...

The lock opening up for us...

In an effort to escape the heat, on the weekends we can take a dinghy ride to a little island near our Marina. We have to go through a lock system to do it & it's only available to the public on the weekends so....we jumped at the chance. We live near a beach but Florida is not a dog friendly place. Dogs are pretty much not allowed anywhere.. especially the beach. Even at the dog beach, dogs have to be on leash. It's ridiculous. So, we found our own little place....& it was great!

Jib got a little beach time..

 

Happy Jib

 

So, while its been an adjustment moving back on the boat....it always is...I'm glad to be home. We have, as usual, a ton of boat projects to do before we head out so we'll probably be in this Marina (Cape Canaveral) for another month.

And so it begins...boat projects. Scott up the mast fixing the radar

I must say Scott has done MANY boat projects since he got home...I will highlight all those in the next blog. I just wanted to do a quick blog to get this party started again! It's been a long time since I've done a blog...I doubt I have any readers left! But here we go!

It was a pretty rough summer, full of ups & downs, but here we are....starting our our 5th season on Malaika. I can hardly believe it. So stay tuned!!! The adventures begin!

 

Beautiful Arizona

Love & miss you!

Michelle, Scott & Jib

 

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