We have ignition

Today we sailed out the Golden Gate with an escort of boating friends, after one last morning bon voyage party with goodbyes in Sausalito. 

Thank you to everyone that sailed out (E-Ticket, Isla Mia, Scoots, Huge, Double Play, Popstar, Ada Helen) and pushed Shindig out the Gate, and to Susan who greeted us from the north tower of the bridge.  We did not have time to be bittersweet or emotional, as there was plenty of tacking, and wind to keep us busy for the first hour or so.  Then when we turned Shindig towards Half Moon Bay, the sea breeze quieted, and we were able to relax and reflect on the first day of many, sailing down the California Coast. 

Isla Mia and Huge sailing under the gate

We made it!

We are now resting in the Half Moon Bay Harbor after enjoying a great meal at Barbara's Fish Trap and missing all of our good friends.  Tomorrow we set sail for a longer voyage to Santa Cruz Harbor.

Ready for throttle up

By Rob

This last year has been a whirlwind of activity in preparation for our sail South.
Despite our overuse of technology, Nancy and I use a simple "year at a glance" calendar to visually organize our family schedules.   Here's the one from our home office, messy and colorful.  Notice how the schedule eases up after our departure!  I'm sure we'll need to adapt to a slower pace..... but we are up to the challenge!

Today we drop off our car, enjoy our favorite noodle house, check out of Sausalito Yacht Harbor, and finish stowing and organizing the boat.

Time to put away the piano and stop drilling holes in the boat.


Tomorrow we leave at 11:30!

Bountiful Day

By Nancy

It’s been a whirlwind couple of days.  We’ve been overwhelmed with the goodbyes from our land based friends.  It feels better to say “see you right after the holidays”, as we are planning to fly back in January for visits.  And thank you all for the invitations on where to stay.  We are keeping a car (our only car now) parked in the area, and bags of clothes for the cooler month here in the SF Area.

Yesterday was an awesome day.  I was invited to join the weekly Wednesday sail on historic Bounty, a 1950 full keel sailboat in Sausalito with owner/skipper Dan.  A colorful crew accompanied us, and my role was mostly at the helm the full day, sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge and then flying down the bay with mizzen staysail and spinnaker.  Lunch behind Angel Island, and then zipping along the Bay, before a cockpit party with Prosecco and cheese at the slip.  And I picked up a few more culinary tips from the guys, too.  Thank You Dan! 

Rob and I ambled over to our dance lesson at the studio where we are learning some basic swing and salsa moves. Enough said about that.   Then a fun night with our good friends Eldene, Julie, Dan and Terrie for a group tour of the boat and good bye crab dinner at Salito’s.  

 

Guilty Pleasures

By Nancy

I read in several cruising books that you should move onto your boat 2-3 months before you plan to leave.  My reaction had immediately been, “why would I ever do that?” I’ll stay until the night before (or a week early).  Now we know.  It is hard to move, and get organized, especially with downsizing from a large home to a sailboat one tenth the size.  Despite the challenges, we are essentially live aboard now.

A few “Guilty Pleasures” that we’ve brought aboard with no compromises.

Rob:  Home file server with 5 Terabytes for photo and video projects
Nancy: Full size Yamaha P-155 keyboard with music books

Today we made a stop at a Big Lots store up past Sacramento to pick up a few things.   We were each allotted one small basket to fill up with anything we wanted, no questions asked.  5 bags later, we exited with more snack foods, household must-haves  and stuff, that has been successfully stored away. 

“Food Guilty Pleasures”
Rob: Pop Tarts
Nancy: Nutter Butter Peanut cookies

Next Stop:  COSTCO

 

Corinthian Spirit

It’s 6AM and we are at the members dock at the Corinthian Yacht Club.  Drinking our coffee and on our computers.   We are really going to miss the fun Corinthian Spirit with our friends here.  Rob and I are laughing from the memories of yesterdays antics starting with our Bon Voyage party on the deck in the afternoon, impromptu cockpit party, dinner at the club and late night get together on Shindig.  Everyone's support and excitement about our upcoming journey has touched our hearts.  Thank you!!

There will be some great photos that our friend Henrik has, but here are a few now.

Corinthian Toast to Good Health and Good Times

Captain Rob and First Mate Nancy

View from the Upper Deck

Moved out

We are officially out of the house.  There is still a few loose ends but we are now spending most of our time on the boat and getting her ready for our departure next week.

Today we spent most of the day unpacking on the boat and re-arranging where everything is stowed.
Shindig is gobbling it all up but I can't help but feel that we are bringing too much stuff.

Yesterday we attended the Baja Haha crew party.   I'd say there were about 100 people there.  1/3 were looking for a ride, 1/3 had done the Haha before and were there to reunite with old friends and 1/3 were new to the rally.  We had a great time and met a lot of interesting people.

POD #1

POD #1 is heading to the warehouse.  This contraption that they use to move the pod around is a lot like a travel lift at the boat yard.