DEPARTURE DATE ESTABLISHED

 We are changing the name of the blog slightly.  We no longer will be just living aboard in the pacific northwest, but we will be actively cruising - beginning with a trip down the west coast of our friends to the south and then into Mexico.  So we will be come active cruisers after preparing for so long.  Departure is set for August 14th.  Stay tuned....

COVID, VACCINES, SAILING, AND STARTING A NEW CHAPTER

 Here we are approaching the middle of 2021 after a dumpster fire of a year world-wide.  So many people have been suffering.  Perhaps it is our stage in life and the fact that the work we are involved in (construction) has continued throughout the pandemic crisis.  We learned that we can effectively work from home.  We also learned that there are many selfish people in so called "free" countries who put their selfishness first and well ahead of any sense of the good of others or the good of the planet.  We now have a measure of peoples' character that will guide us in future. 

We are about to be receiving our second doses of the Pfizer vaccines.  Once this is done, we feel confident that we can proceed with the first leg of our adventure of heading south down the coast of the United States.  With that in mind, the opening of the Canada - US border is being discussed by both governments as the pace of immunization intensifies.  The US has done well in the short time the new administration has been in place.  Canada has and continues to do well.  

So with full immunization, documentation of that, and passports in hand, we hope to head south in early to mid August with the assistance of Jamie and Behan Gifford from Totem being our offshore coaches and weather routers.  

 

NEW CANVAS DODGER, BIMINI, AND ENCLOSURE

Master Craft Boat Coverings of Richmond BC have been building us a new dodger, Bimini, and enclosure for our offshore adventure.  Here are the pieces laid out on Master Craft's shop floor.  We changed the colour from the one that originally came with the boat from a tan to a deep gray.  

The order also includes insect screens for those evenings in an anchorage where the bugs are making you miserable.

HAUL OUT AND REFIT II

 WE redid the bottom paint and polished the hull as usual.  We also added a feathering propeller that reduces the drag of the boat under sail.  

Taped and Painted

Fixed Three-Blade Prop Taken Off

New Max-Prop Feathering Prop

The Blades in Feathered Position

Polished Rub Rail Stainless

About to Put the Stainless Rub Rail

Back On

Back In The Straps.  Note The Tarp - Waiting for

The New Canvas

Moving the Boat

Back Into The Water

 

HAUL OUT AND REFIT I

 Late last year we redid both the standing and running rigging.  This year, we hauled out as we usually do after two years in the water, but we completed the refit.  Here are photos of the process thus far:

Travel Lift

Terratima in the Holding Slip

Moving the Boat into Position

Hoist Out

On The Hard

PENDING HAUL OUT

 After 2 years in the water, we haul out on Monday and do some pre-offshore work.  Bottom paint, hull polishing, zincs, and repacking the stuffing box.  We will also check all through hulls, and repaint the length markers on the anchor chain.  More to come with pictures etc.

COVID-19, LOCKDOWNS, AND SAILING PLANS

 

I have to admit to being a bit tired of the very necessary restrictions we have all endured over the last year.  We have been readying the boat for our trip south down the west coast of the US, and on to Mexico.  We may try and join the Baja Haha departing San Diego on November 1, 2021.  They expect it to happen this year (it was cancelled last year for obvious reasons).

Vaccine distribution is well underway in both the US and Canada.  As a result, we think a departure in September is possible and we are planning for that date.  

Meanwhile, we had a quite Christmas and New Years without any fanfare.  

Dinner on Board is Cozy

Meanwhile Outside Ice Flows Down 

River From the Higher Country 

Up River