A last minute project – SOS rudder install
July 6, 2014
We’ve been busy these past few days here at the Richmond Yacht Club, working on list items and meeting other sailors. Last week, Justin arrived ahead of me and started working on the mounting brackets for the Scanmar SOS rudder that we had bought used from a sailing friend he knew online. Although we were originally
A stylin’ official number
June 29, 2014
In the past few months, we’ve been making our way through our own project lists and reconciling them with requirements for Pacific Cup. One of the items that we discovered we were lacking was the correct USCG official number permanently affixed to our boat. So, we called on the skills of my dad and his wife
A boatyard in San Francisco
May 28, 2014
…and finally, Shearwater arrived safe and sound (late in April). There were no issues during her transport, but the weather gods tried us while we worked to get her back into the water. We were subjected to one torrential downpour after another that kept us soaked and freezing cold. We managed, though, helped by the workers
Cruising in the “tropics” – ehhhh
July 7, 2013
So close!
June 10, 2013
With luck, tomorrow will be Shearwater’s return to the good ol’ US of A. She was loaded onto a Sevenstar ship (the M/S Schippersgracht) on May 24th, after a last minute change that required a delivery skipper to move her from Gibraltar to Spain – but everything else seems to have proceeded as expected. We’ll
Safe arrival in Gibraltar!
April 9, 2013
Early yesterday, we arrived in Gibraltar after a lovely day of sailing and beautiful weather (that seemed like it was well earned after our first 24 hours!). Technically, we were in Gibraltar for under 8 hours, but slept for 4 hours and then were tornadoes of activity for the rest of the time, getting the
Day 2 – Flat seas and fast reaching
April 7, 2013
Our trip has been somewhat delineated by the turn to go east (or slightly before) – the big waves/more wind than you want section, and the amazingly flat/wind from the beam or rear quarter section that has had us flying along smoothly. We’re really enjoying the sailing we ‘ve been able to do this second part of the trip. Making hot meals at the stove is easy, we’re not turning green at the thought of wrestling our foulies off for the off-watch, and the air temperature is so much nicer (30+ knots from behind at night kept us really cold the first night).
Day 1 – Lots of discomfort
April 6, 2013
We left Douro River at 7am Friday morning – skies were clear, the northerlies had arrived, and the harbor entrance was open!
From the start of our day, things were uncomfortable – big waves, lots of wind (saw 40 knots twice), and putting in the time to get over the initial sea “blahs” does not make for the most pleasant of conditions.
The big circle – Porto to…Porto!
March 27, 2013
