Monday, January 21, 2013

Summer, 2012

Summer 2012 allowed us to get acquainted with Pratique.  We had some great day and weekend sails exploring the new cruising grounds in and around the Narragansett Bay.  Highlights included the Mt. Hope Bay and the Kickamuit River, Newport, and Sachuest Harbor at the mouth of the Sakonnet River.


Anchored in the pretty Kickamuit River
 
The USS Massachusetts at Battleship Cove
 
Of course, we had the opportunity to show Pratique off to friends and family.  Thanks to Steve and Elena, Lloyd and Jean, Greg and Leslie, Jason, Rachel, Jimmy, Susan's parents Perry and Louise, my mom Harriet, and our new Outbound family Josh, Tiff and Jacques, Skip and Maddie,  Phil and Monica for sailing with us this summer!


 Elena and Steve
 
 
Jacques visits us!
The highlight of 2012 was our two week trip exploring Buzzards Bay, the Cape Cod Canal, Plymouth, Wellfleet, Provincetown, Salem and Marblehead, then around the outside of Cape Cod to Nantucket, then Cuttyhunk, Newport, and then back home.  During the first half of the trip, our crew consisted of our son, Jason and daughter, Rachel.  Then Susan, Jason and Rachel swapped out and cousin Hank did the second leg with me. 



Pratique gets her new dodger and Bimini before the trip
Looking aft into the ghost cockpit!
Foredeck crew and Navigator at work

 
Thru the CC Canal




At Marblehead, sharing space with Dorade and Lynx
Lynx
Dorade



 
Minke whale visits Nantucket Harbor!
 
"Guess there really was a reef off Cuttyhunk Island!"

 
Beautiful sunset, Cuttyhunk Harbor

 
Anchored outside Cuttyhunk Harbor

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Outbound 46, Hull #47

So here we go with the launch of Pratique's blog, 8 months after she was delivered.  Hopefully we can capture the highlights!


 Hull #47 was built in 2012 by Outbound Yachts, in Xiamen China. 



 
She was shipped to and commissioned in Norfolk VA in May 2012.  You can watch the container ship Zim Virginia carrying the boat, going through the Gatun Locks on the Panama Canal here:


 
Here are some shots of the boat leaving Little Creek and headed toward her new home in Barrington RI.

 
In Little Creek
 
 
First Sail!!
Josh Hodgson and Skip Pond of Outbound Yachts
Narragansett Bay arrival
Safe in her slip in Barrington, RI



 
On a beautiful  Saturday, June 16, 2012 she was formally christened as s/v Pratique:




Susan takes aim!

 
 
 
All in for a commissioning day sail