Well after several decades dreaming. A decade and a half paying for the boat. Another 18 months of investing just short of $40 000 in an often frustrating bemusing, confusing, frantic and sometimes painful refitting effort, I now realize that we are completely unprepared for what we have undertaken:-) But the weather window has arrived so we must depart.
I still have a list as long as my arm of jobs to do and I was almost in panic mode trying to remember all the bits I had to buy and then nail them on. However we have all the major projects completed and the rest will get done on route or in FIJI. :-)
Very hard to leave, family, friends, golden retrievers, and the place that has been home for so many years. But if we do not try now we will never do it, and as well as the shame and more importantly, we would have to give back all the presents that we have received.
From our Mantus anchor on the bow to the Caphorn Wind Vane steering on the Stern Beautiful Swimmer is very well equipped. We have three separate and autonomous electronic navigational systems, as well as paper charts and sextant. We have a Life raft, 2 epirbs plus AIS and SSB radio. A water maker and spare sails.
I stopped Luksana bringing the kitchen sink, but she managed to sneak just about everything else aboard:-). We are supplied for 100 days and have the option of topping up on Vancouver Island, about 7-10 days South of here.
We are going down the inside passage for several reasons, mainly weather, still not settled enough to make it down to the imaginary line from the Northern California coast that usually designate the end of the Alaska Low weather systems. 2 days ago it was blowing 50 knots from the South, that lasted over a week. So down to Victoria BC and then as soon as we see another 4 day opening we will do the long stretch.
I will try to find time and a place to upload pics, as we eventually, hopefully make it to warmer and non freezing climes in the Pacific Islands.