Cruising out of lockdown on a 36-foot sailboat.

I stand looking down at the piece of paper in my hand, on which I have scribbled my grocery list. I am in front of the potatoes in my local grocers produce aisle. I do not find potatoes on my list. Do we have potatoes? I don’t recall seeing any in the pantry.

Never enough potatoes, I announce to no one around, as I plop a 5 lb. bag into my cart.

A few months ago my partner Richard and I began discussing what it would look like to embark on an extended sailing trip. We had postponed all our previous travel due to Covid-19 restrictions, consequentially feeling a little landlocked.

But there is always sailing! An exciting, fun, and socially distancing activity.

The Vacation Plan

We live in the Pacific Northwest, near some of the region’s most beautiful waterways. With some vacation time coming up for him, we decided on a 10-day sail around the northern Puget Sound waters, circumnavigating Whidbey Island and ending in the archipelago of the San Juan Islands before completing our circle by returning to Bellingham Bay, where we moor the sailboat.

A few weeks ago, we began preparing for the trip. After a weekend sail, earlier in the month, with my son and his fiancee, we knew the sailboat needed to come out of the water for some clean-up and general up-keep maintenance. Richard spent a week cleaning, scrubbing, painting, and waxing the hull of the sailboat Selkie, getting her ready from bow to stern.

My main job was to ready the inside of the boat. Making sure all our supplies were in order from washed linens on the bed to toiletries, to well-stocked pantry shelves.

This brings me to standing in the grocery store, reviewing my lengthy list, and hoping I did not forget anything. Like potatoes.

Creating A 10-day Menu.……