Happy Anniversary Revi!

What a difference a year makes! As we left Hopetown last Thursday and made it into Black Sound, in Green Turtle Cay, we realized that Revi's first year anniversary was upon us - quite a milestone. We bought her on May 27, 2010 in Penatang after a grueling 6 hour test run. Two greenhorns with exactly 14 days of experience in trawler chartering, we had more enthusiasm than actual boating competence. Well, at least speaking for myself anyway. Scott was born to do this really.

If poor Revi could talk. The things she's been through: testing her limits as we were discovering ours at the same time. She was on the hard for 2 years (i.e. dry storage out of the water) and hadn't left the safe confines of Georgian Bay in many years.

I wonder how felt as we began our first travels by locking up and down 74 locks in 21 days along the Trent-Severn Waterway, Oswego and Erie canals. Oh the bumps and bruises she suffered on that leg of the journey as we desperately tried to sort out bumpers and lines. The days were indeed long as we pushed to New York City before summer holidays were over and before hurricaines Earl and Fiona could find us.

She was a real trooper and showed how "salty" she was on the NYC to Norfolk leg - a merciless, sometimes terrifying journey with two boys, no cook, no GPS, and lots of chocolate.

Revi likely never felt snow or ice along her hull. She certainly didn't expect to feel it in Virginia or North Carolina, but her strong heaters kept her crew safe and warm (at least when they were sensible enough to be inside the boat). What a sigh of relief she must have expelled when we finally reached Florida end of January. How she must have delighted at the dolphins who frolicked in her wake.

And in March, when she finally crossed the cerulean blue waters of the Atlantic to The Bahamas, she was free to breathe lighter still, with crystal clear waters beneath her and ample space to roam.

Revi's been a busy girl, entertaining family and friends. She's tolerated her juniour crew in good humour. As the miles have gone by, she runs better and better. She seems to thrive on the journey. She's kept us safe while we've built up our competence and confidence. That's a good girl!