Where did the name Vita come from?

Our friend Rob Byers, from our yacht club asked us a few days ago, "where did the name Vita come from?". Him and a hundred other people in the last few months. So I thought I would explain myself for the masses, or the few people who casually read the blog, anyway. I am afraid that it is not as exciting a story as some, so I apologize right away, but here goes.

We had to change her name, because we were leaving the country, and it was recommended countless times to registered the boat, and her old name was already taken in the registry.

Criteria for a boat name!

1. The name must be short.
2. The name must be easy to say on the radio, both verbally and phonetically.
3. The name should be somewhat distinctive, but not so much as people couldn't pronounce it.
4. It can't already be registered in Canada; and
5. Most importantly, it must mean something to us.

It really took years to come up with the name, believe it or not. I had chosen the name long before we owned the boat. Then after we got the boat I juggled a few different names around in my head, but always came back to Vita.

"Vita", is Italian, it means, "life". That's all. There is nothing exciting, no famous reference, nothing, just "life". If for no other reason than without it, nothing else is possible, happiness, freedom, love, adventure, sadness, joy, misery, or contentment, nothing.

How'd we do?

1. Four letters is short.
2. Vita; victor, India, tango, alpha; pretty easy to say.
3. Vita, pronounced "veeta", has only been misspoken by one person so far.
4. It wasn't in the registry.
5. As above, "life" is very important to us. So why not call the boat "life"? It fits the criteria, but does not sound so good on the radio, say it three times fast, and spell it phonetically. Plus, after my tour in northern Italy back in 2000, I gained an appreciation for European culture that needed to be expressed.

So there you are. Where did the name "Vita" come from. Told you it wasn't all that exciting. But to us she is the vessel from which we have been given the ability to "live life", instead of just watching it.

Now back to your regular blogging....................

The old Hateras boat-building facility was very quiet. A couple of fisherman dropped in to make sure we weren't planning to leave before morning, so that they could put a net across the opening. They offered us a couple of free fish, but dinner was already cooked, it was late, and I didn't really feel like cleaning them at the point.

The morning dawned very early, as we were still in get south mode. We did our checks, made coffee and started the engine, just as a pod of dolphins decided to enter into the little bay for a visit. So Serena took some video and had a little chat with them, while I pulled the anchor. We see dolphins everyday now, and they seem so friendly, I am surprised Serena hasn't tried to take one as a pet. Anyway, the show must go on, so we headed out of the bay so slow that the slugs on the shore where beating us to the mark. The tide had taken away all the water, and as it turned out, there was just enough to float Vita out into the channel, and I mean "just enough". Most boats wouldn't be able to get in there at high tide let alone low tide. We love shallow draft.

The day was uneventful, other than waiting for bridges, and fighting a current the whole way. So, at 14:00 when we realized we weren't going to make Wrightsville Beach before dark, we pulled into a great little anchorage near Surf City. We spent the afternoon doing some chores and relaxing in the cockpit. I checked the batteries after attempting to equalize them with the solar panels. Bad news, our house batteries are toast. When we cooked them dry back in July, they did not survive as we had hoped. One of them has a completely dead cell, and the other two, while still good, are on borrowed time. So much for November's budget.

Yep, its pink. And you probably can't afford it anyway.

Ever wonder where the pelicans go in winter.

The galley slave has triumphed yet again. Banana nut bread with fresh pecans picked in Bath, NC. Yum...

This little island had a bunch of goats on it, but it wasn't goat island. In fact I can't remember, but I think it had a bird name. Guess the goats came later.

They are so pretty, its too bad they hurt.

Ahhhh, another beautiful sunset. After awhile you start to take them for granted.

Everyone I know has taken a picture of this stupid giraffe on their trip south, so what the hell, here it is again.

And this young princess is quite the piece of work.

We drove by this inlet from the ocean. It is not one that you can take a boat out of. Bet you can't guess why. Doesn't look so hospitable, does it?

So batteries toast, and the water pump leaking. Yep forgot that, but I tore it apart and it seems okay. Put it back together and the leaking stopped. I think I will order a rebuild kit, just in case. But, our dash south was running into some road blocks. Oh yeah, then there is the gale and freezing temperatures that are coming tonight. Some days it just feels like someone is trying to tell us something. 

We stopped in Southport, NC. We took advantage of a free dock at the Provision Co restaurant, the first night, and then moved to the town dock for today, also free. We got some chores done on the boat, walked around town, and had lunch at a local greasy spoon, but was it good. We wanted to be stationary for the storm blowing through tonight, if we could. Tomorrow we will move further down the way. Our friend Fred told us about a great place to collect clams, so we are going to give that a shot for a couple of days, and then we have to hit a marina where we get our new batteries. After than we have no idea. In fact this is the most days in a row we have planned since we left. Normally we figure out what the plan for tomorrow is, tonight, and sometimes even that changes.

But that's cruising.