American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 351 Beneteau's Heart of the Ocean - 45 Feet
It was a large, modern sailing ship with extremely beautiful lines.

Its hull is nearly twice as long as the Wanderer, reaching 45 feet (nearly 14 meters), and its wide hull gives it a majestic and stable presence.

The towering single mast resembles a silver sword piercing the azure sky, its complex rigging system gleaming with a cold metallic sheen in the morning light.

The spacious teak deck, meticulously maintained, displays a warm golden luster, creating a perfect color contrast with the pure white hull and deep blue sea.

The massive folding swimming platform at the stern is now laid flat on the water, like a private waterfront terrace, with several elegant steps extending into the water.

On the side of the ship, its name is written in elegant blue lettering – “Polaris”.

This was Mike Montgomery's favorite car; he drove it across the Atlantic and also took young Raven to learn stargazing off the coast of Florida.

This ship carries the proudest memories of an old captain.

"Good morning, Captain Lin." Mike looked at Lin Yu'an as he approached and, for the first time, added the word "captain" before his title, though his tone still carried a hint of testing.

"Welcome to your new ride—it's yours for at least the next 72 hours."

Lin Yu'an's gaze was completely captivated by the ship. If the Wanderer was a go-kart used to hone one's skills...

The "Polaris" in front of you is a luxury sports car that perfectly combines performance and comfort, ready to embark on a round-the-world trip at any time.

"It's beautiful." Lin Yu'an exclaimed sincerely, feeling the owner's dedication to the ship from its perfect paint finish and every gleaming stainless steel bolt.

“She’s not just beautiful,” Mike said, his voice filled with fatherly pride.

"It's also very strong and reliable. I personally supervised its construction in France, and all the components were selected to be of the highest grade. Let's go and experience it."

Lin Yu'an took out his live streaming equipment, knowing that what followed would be the part that all viewers were most looking forward to.

The live stream started, and the fans who had been waiting instantly flooded in.

"Good morning, everyone." Lin Yu'an pointed the camera at the magnificent sailboat behind him. "As you can see, starting today, our learning location has been upgraded."

The barrage exploded instantly.

Holy crap!!! They've upgraded from slingshots to cannons! What class of ship is this?!

[45 feet! My God, that's practically a mobile flat-top at sea! It's way bigger than yesterday's training vessel!]

[That look! That presence! This is the perfect match for our Captain Lin! Absolutely stunning!]

Raven was already waiting on the ship. She was dressed particularly smartly today, wearing a professional long-sleeved sun protection shirt and a pair of close-fitting shorts that perfectly accentuated her fit figure.

"Alright, stop standing there like an idiot, like a country bumpkin visiting the city for the first time."

She waved at the camera, her face beaming, "Welcome to the North Star. Today, I'll be your guide and give you a complete tour!"

She took a portable stabilizer and, like a professional real estate presenter, guided the live stream camera, beginning this amazing journey to the seaside mansion.

“This is the cockpit,” she said, pointing to the wide, open area at the stern.

"See these two steering wheels? We call them dual steering wheels. This design allows the captain to always stand on the higher side when the hull is tilting at a large angle, gaining the best view and control."

She pointed to the multi-functional display screen between the steering wheels, "This one in the middle is Reison's top-of-the-line navigation system, which integrates GPS charts, radar, autopilot, sonar, and all the ship's navigation data. Lin, from now on, this will be your workstation, and all your decisions will originate from here."

She walked down a few steps leading to the cabin with her camera, and a spacious and bright space far exceeding everyone's expectations was revealed before her.

Thanks to the huge portholes on both sides of the hull and the skylight at the top, the entire cabin is filled with bright natural light.

She introduced the U-shaped wraparound beige leather sofa that could comfortably seat seven or eight people and an exquisite wooden dining table that could be raised and lowered.

"Then this is the salon, which is our living room and dining room."

"Next to it is an L-shaped kitchen with a double-door refrigerator that can store enough food for a week; a three-burner gas stove with universal joints that can keep it level even when the ship is rocking."

"And there's an oven, a microwave, an ice maker. Under the scorching sun at sea, nothing is better than a glass of rum filled with ice."

Poverty has limited my imagination! This kitchen is bigger than my house! And it even has a universal joint stove?!

[A refrigerator, an oven, and an ice maker? This isn't a sailing trip; it's like moving a five-star hotel to the sea!]

“There are three bedrooms on the ship, two of which are in the guest rooms at the stern. And then, here…” Raven opened a door at the bow of the ship.

"The captain's cabin, which is also the master bedroom, has a comfortable island-style double bed with passageways on both sides, so you don't have to climb around like you would in a small boat."

"A separate wardrobe, its own air conditioning vent, and most importantly, a separate bathroom with a hot water shower."

This completely private and luxurious space once again ignited the online discussion.

I declare, I want to live on this ship! Who agrees, who disagrees?

[Raven is such a pro at live streaming! It got me so excited! I'm typing "I want to watch" in the chat!]

“Alright, alright,” Mike’s voice came from the cockpit, interrupting the sightseeing tour.

“Raven, stop trying to sell me your boat like a yacht salesman. Our captain has important business to attend to.”

He slammed a huge Bahamas nautical chart and a stack of blank navigation plans onto the salon's dining table.

“Alright, Captain,” he pulled Lin Yu’an back to reality from his excitement about the new ship, “The tour is over, let’s get to work.”

"This is the first leg of our journey over the next 72 hours, from Fort Lauderdale to Bimini Island in the Bahamas."

"Now, I need your flight plan briefing, and then we can supplement your briefing."

"You need to tell me the exact route, the latitude and longitude of each turning point, the estimated sailing time, how to cross the Gulf Stream, and what the alternative routes are."

"And how much food, fresh water, and fuel we need to prepare. You have two hours. In two hours, give your first mate and me a formal voyage briefing."

This sudden, professional question silenced the live stream, and everyone felt the serious pressure.

Mike and Raven both thought they would see Lin Yu'an frantically searching for information and burying herself in calculations.

However, Lin Yu'an showed no tension whatsoever, not even a hint of surprise.

He simply glanced calmly at the nautical chart on the table, then slowly took an iPad Pro out of his backpack.

He unlocked the screen, opened a professional flight planning software, and then connected the iPad to a large monitor on the salon wall via a data cable.

“It won’t take two hours, Captain,” Lin Yu’an said calmly and confidently. “I can begin now.”

Mike and Raven were stunned, their expressions freezing instantly.

[Holy crap?! What's going on?!]

[Holy crap! Lin Shen was prepared all along!]

[It won't take two hours, I can start right now! Damn it, he got away with it again!]

Ignoring their shock, Lin Yu'an launched into a textbook-perfect flight briefing for the camera and the two instructors in front of him.

"Good morning, everyone. Our first lesson as captain is now beginning."

He held a stylus in his hand and pointed to the electronic nautical chart on the large screen, which was extremely detailed and covered the entire Bahamas.

"After receiving Captain Mike's call last night, I have made preliminary plans for this 15-day voyage, so I will explain the overall voyage, not just the three-day voyage."

"Our overall goal is to depart from Fort Lauderdale, head south to Providenshire Island in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and then return."

"The total voyage is over 1000 nautical miles. Considering the uncertainties of weather and resupply, I divided the entire voyage into four main segments."

He zoomed in on the first area of ​​the nautical chart.

"First leg: Fort Lauderdale to Nassau. This is our warm-up leg, with a total distance of about 180 nautical miles and an estimated sailing time of 30 to 36 hours, including one night voyage. The primary challenge is crossing the Gulf Stream."

“According to calculations, by taking this optimized route, we can save at least an hour and a half when crossing the Gulf Stream, and avoid the strongest headwinds in the center of the Gulf Stream.” When he finished speaking, Mike and Raven were stunned. On just the first leg of the voyage, this novice captain was already considering maneuvers as complex as “going against the current”!
Lin Yu'an did not pause and continued to point to the second leg of the journey.

"Second leg: Nassau to Georgetown. This is the highlight of the Exuma Islands exploration, covering approximately 135 nautical miles."

"The challenge here is no longer navigating open waters, but rather precise 'reading the water' and navigation among numerous islands and shoals."

"The color of the seawater here changes very quickly, from deep blue to turquoise to milky white, corresponding to different water depths. I rely strictly on nautical charts and visual inspection to confirm the course."

"The third leg: Georgetown to Providenshire Island, is the longest leg, more than 300 nautical miles long, and requires at least two days and two nights of continuous sailing."

"We will completely leave the land and enter a true 'blue water' navigation mode."

"The biggest variable in this leg of the journey is the tropical disturbance I discovered in the weather model, which may form around the tenth day."

"I designed three backup safe havens for this purpose, located in..."

He elaborated on the advantages, disadvantages, and access methods of each alternative port.

"Fourth leg: Return. This will depend on the weather window after we arrive at our destination. I will update the weather data daily and choose the most favorable time to begin the return journey."

After explaining the flight route, he switched to the official document page.

"Regarding the navigation notice, the Navy's exercise area is here, and our course perfectly avoids it."

"Regarding customs, I have submitted the U.S. electronic exit application and pre-completed the entry documents for the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands, and printed three paper copies."

Raven opened her mouth, but the words she had originally intended to casually remind Lin Yu'an were abruptly cut off.

Looking at the man in front of her, she felt for the first time the utter powerlessness of being completely crushed in her own area of ​​expertise.

Finally, Lin Yu'an switched to the Excel spreadsheet containing the impressive list of supplies that had amazed everyone.

"Regarding food and water," he pointed to the precise figures on the screen, "considering a 15-day voyage for three people, plus an additional 5 days of emergency supplies, the total is calculated at 20 days."

"Drinking water: Based on the highest standard of 3 liters per person per day, the total demand is 3 people x 20 days x 3 liters = 180 liters. The North Star's freshwater tank capacity is 570 liters, which is more than enough."

"But I still recommend resupplying in Nassau or Georgetown along the way, just in case."

"Regarding food: I divided it into three phases for consumption to ensure nutritional balance and the freshness of the ingredients. The detailed list is as follows..."

The screen displayed his meticulously planned menu, detailed down to each meal.

"In addition, I personally suggest adding an extra entertainment-oriented dining option."

"Extra food?" Raven finally found a chance to interject and asked curiously.

"Yes." Lin Yu'an gave a mysterious smile.

"Considering that we will be spending several nights at sea, I plan to purchase some special equipment to boost team morale."

"This matter needs to be done in conjunction with the overall procurement of supplies, and we might need the help of a local guide. I wonder if that would be possible?"

As he spoke, his gaze shifted to Raven, who immediately understood his meaning, her blue eyes lighting up instantly. She had been longing for a chance to be alone with this intriguing monster.

"Oh? Of course, why not!" She readily agreed immediately.

“Your list is perfect, but some things, like the freshest local seafood and Florida Sun Oranges, require local experts to find the best sources.”

"We can purchase all the supplies for these 15 days at once!"

Captain Mike, who was standing nearby, instinctively thought to say, "With such a large purchase, I should go too. I can drive faster, and my pickup truck can carry more."

After all, he was a little uneasy about letting his daughter go out alone with a man he had only known for two days for an afternoon.

But before he could finish speaking, he was met with a "kind" look from Raven.

His eyes clearly said, "Dad, you'd better not say anything."

Mike swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue. Looking at his daughter's siding with outsiders, he felt both annoyed and amused, and in the end, he could only helplessly give in.

He cleared his throat, pretending he had no intention of going at all, and instead took the initiative to assign tasks: "Ahem, alright then. The task of supplying materials is yours."

"This old man is responsible for conducting a comprehensive pre-departure inspection of the Polaris, including the engines, rigging, and all safety equipment, to ensure it can perform perfectly on long-haul voyages."

“No problem!” Raven beamed with joy when she saw how cooperative her father was.

Captain Mike looked at his daughter's undisguised joy and could only sigh inwardly, feeling worried about what he considered to be a little cabbage that hadn't even sprouted yet.

He waved his hand and said in a tone that was both permissive and warning, "Go on, there's a lot of stuff. Don't stay out too late, and come back early to prepare for port."

"Yes, Captain!" Raven gave a playful sailor's salute, then turned and proudly tossed her chin at Lin Yu'an, pulling him by the hand to lead him off the ship.

"Come with me, Captain. I'll show you my land vehicle. But today it might have to make do with hauling cargo."

Holy crap! Time for two!

[A date! This is definitely a date! Shopping is just an excuse!]

[Old Man Mike: I've given so much to this family.]

During the procurement, Lin Yu'an briefly ended the live stream, leaving behind a screen full of question marks.

The two walked out of the dock and into the college's parking lot. Raven pressed her car key, and the daytime running lights of a car not far away flashed twice.

It wasn't the sports car Lin Yu'an had imagined, but a navy blue Ford F-150 Raptor pickup truck.

The massive body and exaggerated off-road tires exude American muscle and pragmatism.

This car is like a beast that can charge onto the beach and conquer the wilderness at any time, perfectly matching Raven's wild and free-spirited personality.

[American-style V8, top-notch sound!]

[Although it's excellent, it needs oil!]

Drinking oil is fine, the price is only 9.8 yuan!

Wait, are you guys starting a chain reaction here? We suggest considering BYD's new energy vehicles!

"Get in." Raven casually opened the car door and jumped into the tall driver's seat as easily as if she were climbing into a truck.

As Lin Yu'an sat in the spacious passenger seat, she was immediately enveloped by the scent of sunscreen mixed with perfume—Raven's signature fragrance.

She noticed a hint of surprise in Lin Yu'an's eyes and explained with a smile, "What, did you think I would drive a sissy sports car?"

Raven skillfully started the car, and the V8 engine let out a beastly growl.

“In Florida, a truck that can tow boats, fishing gear, and surfboards around is far more popular than a metal box that can only be shown off on Las Oras Avenue.”

Instead of driving away, she took out another pair of spare Ray-Ban sunglasses from the storage compartment next to her and handed them to Lin Yu'an.

“Wear it,” she said, “otherwise the Florida sun will blind you, and…it looks cooler this way.”

Lin Yu'an put it on as instructed. Two equally young and confident faces were reflected in the rearview mirror, and they actually looked somewhat... well-matched.

Accompanied by powerful rock music, Raven floored the accelerator, and the huge blue raptor shot off like an arrow, merging into the rolling traffic on the seaside boulevard.

“Alright, Captain,” Raven asked as she drove, “what’s our shopping plan? Your list looks like it could fill the whole truck bed.”

Lin Yu'an glanced at the navigation, a smile playing on his lips. "Let's go to Las Oras Avenue first, to fulfill a promise."

"A promise?" Raven asked, somewhat curious.

(End of this chapter)