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April 29th, 2017

4/29/2017

Though not a long trip, well under an hour, it was eventful right to the end. We left the dock at 10:15 AM with the wind at ten knots and building. Last night some fellow boaters threw us an impromptu party so this morning we were both dragging a bit. We took few learning passes at the pump out dock before we got it right and pumped out. Then out of the marina into Fidalgo bay. We ran on the engine to see how it would do on a long run and because of the LARGE tanker waiting to dock at the gas refinery. 40 minutes later we rounded Saddlebag Island on the North side and were pleased to see no one else there.
We didn't go very far into the shallow bay due to a -2 foot tide coming in several hours. The first time dropping the anchor went very well, with 15 under us and 60 feet of chain I backed down to set the anchor, then let out 30 more feet. All this time the wind continued to build with gusts to 18. By 1pm we were seeing 24-28.
I had expected the wind to round a bit west which would of given us better protection, but of course it didn't. A 45ish foot yacht came in before the blow started and stayed for awhile. But after dragging several times they called it quits. Our new 55lb Vulcan anchor never budged, what a relief!
What was Sarah doing the whole time the captain was watching to see if we would be swept away by wind and waves? Well, first she made amazing cheese biscuits and fresh coffee to settle the crew, and during the worst of the blow made beef stew from scratch for dinner.
I know, boat life is tough....
The wind and rain should ease off late tonight. Tomorrow will be much calmer with winds light from the west and mostly sunshine. I cant wait to complain about being too hot.

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Explore, Dream, Discover

4/27/2017

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The last several weeks have been a bit of a blur. Testing systems, installing equipment, repairing this and that, much time and energy has gone into making our boat operational, safe, and self sufficient. We have had her off the dock, testing the sails, seeing how she feels in the wind and how to maneuver such a big boat smoothly and without theatrics. I’m also learning to trust the boat, understand the tides and currents, and rely on Sarah as crew.
After a busy day walking store to store we are provisioned and ready to go. A few small last minutes things tomorrow and then Saturday morning we leave the dock and marina, without any plan to return. We wont go far, the tides need to settle a bit for us to traverse the islands, but we do have our sights set on a small and protected spot not far from here. There we will anchor (another first), to spend two or three days. Then, with a quick stop for more provisions we are off west across the islands to Blind Bay. From there, who knows. Our boat is well built, strong and safe, warm and comfortable. If you were in our shoes, where would you go? How far would you go?

I’d like to leave you with the email Sarah has sent to her friends and family. Her view, her excitement, her desire to explore the unknown is infectious and lovely.

Hi Friends - I wanted to take a moment to fill you in on progress and plans.

Over the last 2 weeks we have been finishing the prep and provisioning of the boat in Anacortes. Jonathan did some serious testing of the mechanical systems, engine, hydronic heater, cooling system etc. We took Odyssey out for a sail test just to get the feel of all her sails, and rigging, and we launched Penelope the zodiac and I had my first lessons starting and driving a small marine engine (we even went on a rescue mission to capture a run away dingy from another sail boat!) Everything has checked out great and so away we go!

Saturday the tides and winds are in our favor, so we will depart the marina in Anacortes and head to our first stop, saddle island a short distance from here. This will be our final shake-down before headding deeper into the San Juan Islands and ultimately up into Canada this summer. It's good to know how everything on a new boat works before you head off, so we are happy to practice and test and learn about our beautiful new home.

I'll be online in e-mail and facebook when we have internet but most of the time that will only be in a marina when we go in to restock, right now we guess that will be about weekly but truly we have no plans and no schedule.
We will sail where the wind takes us, and enjoy whatever we find there.

Thank you all for your love and support and help as we launch ourselves into this new grand adventure - See you on the water.

Much love and gratitude - Sarah & Jonathan
________________________

"Twenty years form now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the things you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. -Mark Twain"

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Off The Dock

4/17/2017

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When there are so many things to write about, sometimes you don't write at all. That is where i find myself. Great stories, amazing events, deadly boring technicalities. I want to write about them all. But when the story is great enough, a story like yesterday, you just have to take a deep breath and write.
For the new captain of a boat, the very first time off the dock can be nothing short of gut wrenching. Forget anything you may know, or think you know, about cars or trucks. Pulling away from the dock in anything over 10,000 pounds can cause anyone sober to hesitate a moment. Your car is about 4000 pounds. Odyssey is 26,000 and beautiful and no I don’t want to scratch her let alone sink her or dam-it-where-did-that-yacht-come-from? Try to imagine that, while driving your car, the wind, even a light wind, can push you off the road. Not only that, but the road moves under you, one direction in the morning and then another that afternoon. This alone can confuse the best of us. But now for the best part….your car has no brakes. None. The only way you can stop is to put the car in reverse, gun the engine and hope you guessed the distance correctly. And if it all goes wrong you can’t pull over, turn off the engine and step out for a breather. Until you and the car are safe and secure you stick together no mater how bad it gets. Well, unless the car sinks, and then you have to jump off and swim. That’s another story.
So when I tell you we left the dock yesterday to practice driving our new boat I hope you can appreciate the significance of the event and why I have written about it.
We didn’t sink, I only hit two other boats (very gently) and Sarah and I got a fair amount of practice moving, stopping and docking our new home. In fact, there is a special dock out all by itself for boaters to pump out their holding tank. Confident there was some mystic reward for emptying sewage tanks from a boat, we pulled up like experts, tied to the dock, and while wearing life vests added our little humor to the grand scheme of the universe. I’ll spare you the details.
We made it back to our slip, without damage, Sarah now a pro at snagging a cleat for the spring line. There were just two things my happy mind could think of at that moment, the bathroom and then a cocktail in hand while we watched the sunset. Not a bad day to write about.

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At Last

4/13/2017

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Have you ever moved?
Of course you have. Some enjoy the process, most hate it.
Now imagine moving everything you own in a small SUV.
Ok, imagine moving everything two of you own. How many pairs of socks are you keeping?

It's been 24 hours and lots of stowing, removing, repacking, discussions. Somehow things find a home. In a boat you have long term stowage and handy ‘now’ spaces for quickly needed things. It’s simple till that next bag is opened, forgotten things that need a place to live. Time to move it all again.

I’m not complaining. To have all you own in a space 35 feet by 11 is beyond what many can fathom. This limitation actually frees you from the clutter everyone else lives with.

We are here now, on Odyssey, everything in such a little space.
An amazing sunset, wonderful food and great company. Tomorrow brings what it may.

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The Devil And The Details

4/1/2017

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My last post was pretty optimistic about leaving in 24 hours if we had to.
Maybe we could?
There are so many things popping up I’m glad we have more time. Getting the title from the Feds has been a long process. No hiccups or problems, just a dismal backlog putting them months behind. The good news there is it looks like we’ll get it late next week. I had to send the radio to California to have it’s MMSI reset. Again, fingers crossed, next week. FCC station license? Same. West Marine rewards points? You guessed it, next week. One thing floating out there that won’t hold us up but is definitely a big deal is our Nexus applications. Still waiting for them to be reviewed. Once that is done we have to schedule interviews in Blain, WA. Nexus is a joint ‘trusted traveler’ program between Canada and the US. Don’t roll your eyes, we know a border agent who used words like “YES”, “ABSOLUTELY” and “DO IT NOW”. Border agents like Nexus pass holders.
I’m still trying to decipher what food can be taken back and forth between the two countries. A simple list would be nice, but it seems things change more often then you would think. I did find out the United States is currently allowing the importation of Shamrock leaves without roots or soil. Good to know. Both countries make liberal allowances for candy, a fact I can respect them for.
There has been countless other details that are slowly getting checked off while others are added to the list, like how to deal with mail. When you plan a one way trip the details get pretty important. If you’re not renting a storage unit or keeping a car, everything has to be considered. You just don’t throw things in a big pile and say “I’ll worry about it later”.
As difficult as this sounds, at some point the big scary stuff gets checked off and what’s left is just detail. We are there right now and it’s a good feeling. I’m sure some things will be forgotten, but whatever doesn’t get done will be taken care of from Washington. Whatever doesn’t show up in time our friends will forward to us.
An expedition like this takes on a life of it’s own. Everything we’ve done to get to this point has developed a momentum that we couldn’t stop it if we tried. But of course, why would we? There are, after all, winds to sail, candy to nibble and Shamrocks to be collected.

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