Oh (cold) Snap
I had Initially planned to move onto Frog and Puffin before the end of the month. However, as with all things sailing, mother nature has the final say.
Tuesday I visited the marina to clear any ice and prevent the drain scuppers from being clogged. The air tempeture was 20F and there was a stiff wind. All to be expected. However, I didn't expect an ice sheet to have formed across the water in much of the marina.
I appraoched the boat with care and much thought. I knew from experiance that transiting between the dock and the boat is the most dangerous aspect of this lifestyle. It is easy to slip, fall between the dock and the boat. In sub freezing conditions this instantly becomes a matter of life and death.
The non-skid deck was clear of ice and water in the necessary places, so I stepped aboard without any drama. From my vantage I plotted a course across the hull and into the cockpit. I visually confirmed the path was clear and I had a firm hand-hold every step of the way.
The thin vineer of ice was invisible and so with my next step I fell into the cockpit. In one sense I gained some confidence. I had positioned myself so that I would end up in the cockpit, no mater what. A small victory but mostly a stern warning. Nature is not to be trifled with when the safety margins are vanishingly small. Especially alone.
In this photo you can see the entry / swim platform. The handholds are not reachable from the dock, and the steps are nearly two feet tall. Easily the worst part is the rounded top of the hull, it can be sketchy AF when the deck is iced.
Mother nature isn't finished this season. In a few days we can expect conditions to deteriorate even further.
My intent was to clear some ice, fire up the heater, and work on the electrical system. Instead I cleared the scuppers and the deck and returned to my car.
On the way home I decided to postpone moving aboard for a full month. The NTSB has documented that a factor in most private aircraft accidents is 'getthereitis' - ignorning safety for the sake of a timeline.
I will wait.
Edited to remove a typo.