The Next Step

May 14, 2012
All of a sudden - we are just two … “quiet” - it was good …. Dale and I love having guests on board - but now down to the seriousness and anticipation of the next step - it was good to be “just two.”

Sitting on the “ball” at Land Sea in Golfito - we could reflect on the past months - 21 in all - and think about where we have been and contemplate the future … and what we had to do for the” next step.”

But first things first - Over nine months ago we decided that sailing north would be an overwhelming and difficult sail - especially for the first mate - so - the decision was made.  Yacht Path - the company that hauls boats all over the world is carrying Companion to Victoria BC for us. 

We stayed in a hotel the last couple of days - so Dale checked on Companion via a kayak.

The preparation for this trip - the first trip that Companion has taken without a human at the helm - was not really difficult - just time consuming.  The good news was that Yacht Path was coming a week early - which means that she will arrive in Victoria a week earlier - good news for the Northwest family! (Didn’t happen, but at the time we wrote this we thought it would; the boat ended up over a month late)

Packed away .....

So for the time consuming part - Everything and I mean everything has been stowed away - nothing on any surface that wasn’t tied down was put in a Rubbermaid tub  … it was kind of like a major spring cleaning - and when we get her back we will re evaluate where things go - especially the “artwork” that had been purchased on our travels!!  All tanks had to be cleaned out - “pickled”.  The dinghy tied onto the table - nothing was not secured. 

The day came that Companion was hauled out - actually is was uneventful - which is a good thing - we were supposed to have been hauled at 6:30 pm - but when we got to the morning meeting - our time was changed to 9:30 am.  Nice for us - but put our friends Fred and Jack as the last ones on - it is like a big puzzle on how all the vessels get squeezed into place on the deck of the freighter.

             Fred and Jack

             SV Denali Rose

Safely secured Dale was satisfied that Companion will travel as best as she can - secured with personalized supports that will hold her safe and sound for her journey … It was nice to share this “stressful” procedure with Jack and Fred - makes life easier when someone else is going thru the same concerns and preparations. And then getting to see them in Victoria and Anacortes this summer as we will both have our boats there … so here is to a smooth sail for Companion … her Captain will be glad to see her in the Pacific Northwest!!