San Blas Islads

Two days - two nights …. The sail from Cartagena to the San Blas Islands was uneventful  …. well as far as I am told …  for  me  - I slept most of the time - especially the first day - getting the old sea legs back …. and trying to focus on the tasks that last spring was second nature.  I am sure it will come back to me …. But with all of this great help I am being spoiled.

The weather for the most part did cooperate - why does it seem that in the dark hours; it is when the wind kicks up and causes a little havoc … on this sail … we had a little rain, wind and some pretty awesome star stuff happening.   We shared the night watches - down to just three hours per partners instead of the usual four hour shifts.  Everyone was happy with that arrangement. 

We had a wonderful morning wake up call - at least a dozen dolphins played at our bow - teasing all of us as they ran along the sides - almost like a  game of hide and seek - down they would go and right back up on the bow - “look and find me” … “let’s see who can go faster “ - of course they were the winners!!  Nature at its best!

Playing with the dolphins - they were just showing off !!

Sighting the islands in the distance, Dale can always see them - we headed to what the charts call “BBQ Island”  - motor sailing around and thru this very large reef  (possibly 10 miles long) was a little tricky - with Dale at the helm, Ed near the captain’s station, the kids on the look out for the “shallows”  I could sit back and enjoy the view of this tropical paradise. 

We found our “spot” dropped anchor and couldn’t even begin to register what we were taking in…. little tiny islands - mostly palm /coconut trees - one manicured to a tee - the others filled with “jungle like” shrubbery - white sand beaches ….. and maybe 6 boats in the little bay … all protected by the reef - we could see and hear white crashing waves break over the reef.  What a sailor’s paradise! What we were seeing - was just like the photo on the “Windows Screensaver” - very surreal - extremely breathtaking!

We were welcomed to the San Blas Islands …  the Kuna Indians waving a greeting and sharing their gorgeous smiles with us.  Inviting us to enjoy their islands, take a walk ..in the place they call home.

Our big boys making friends with the little  local guys

Hand carved canoes filled with fishermen - selling their lobster catch for $3 dollars a piece - first night we just had a lobster teaser for happy hour! Speaking of happy hour .... we always enjoy a good time!

Ed and Rose getting ready to share the lobster teaser!

I think I am gonna like hanging out in these islands!

Leaving Cartegena

Arriving to Cartegena was uneventful - which is always a good thing.  Ed and I made it to the marina - Dale dinghyed over to greet us after our Alaska friends, Fred and Jack meet us with open arms and a great welcome to the next leg of our adventure.  Thank goodness for all the "old pro" sailors who offer advice and recommendations along our way.

The kids, Rose, Kurtis, Tanya and Garret are ready to get "someplace" where they can actually swim in the blue water that we promised .... so after 4 FULL grocery carts of provisioning - enough for 14 days - we are set to sail to the San Blas Islands - in Panama. Our hope is for a blissful 12 days in these islands - enjoying the hospitality of the Kuna Indians. 

The boat looks great - Dale and his crew have done a great job preparing - so after unpacking and settling in - I am ready to get going....so we are off in an hour or so... I can't wait to share what we see in the next
two weeks.... we will be without any internet connection - so the next posts will be long!!  :)

Happy Thanksgiving to all - Dale and are so thankful for all of the support that our family and friends offer .... praying for a safe passage - just a one nighter!

Marina Santa Marta

Nov. 10, 2011

Today Companion sits in the beautiful marina in Santa Marta Columbia. This IGY Marina is only a year and a half old and sits in the middle of the Santa Marta Bay (it is said to be the best marins in Columbia). Santa Marta is busy with activities as the main plaza is getting decorated for Christmas which must be big from all the decorations going up. Rose, Tanya, Garret and Kurtis are off to the National Park to see some monkeys and find some coral to snorkel by.

The trip from Curacao was mainly fine. We left at 7 am on Saturday and arrived at 5:30 on Tuesday.  About 145 nautical miles. We left and set a course at 286 degrees and for 2 days that was our course. We flew the spinnaker for about 5 hours the first day, and 10 hours the second. In the morning we often had to turn on an engine because the winds died. Kurtis caught a 7 lb tuna with the new pole and lures from Keith (Kim's Father). We had delicous tuna steaks with mash potatoes. Rose is doing a great job cooking.

We had planned on leaving on Friday, but I wasn't happy with the electricity retention of the batteries, so Friday early I took them out and took them to Marine Stores to be tested and as I suspected one of the batteries was bad. So what to do? Replace, but no exact replacement battery on island - Well how about 3 new deep cycle cheaper batteries - not at any of the 3 stores - But Island Marine had a 198 amp AGM Deka Battery which was the closest to my two 210 amp AGM High Life Batteries. So the old saying - "Batteries should all be the same age, make, and size" but I didn't have that as an option so we will charge the batteries for a day and see where we are. We were and so far have been much better!! On the first day at about 3 PM as the wind picked up, we lost steering, so out comes the emergency tiller (1st time for that) and it works well as Kurtis dives under the sink to investigate the problem. The cable had fortunately not broken only had fallen off the pulley. So after greasy dirt hands and some pulling on cables we realign the cable on the pulleys and shorten the length to prevent that from occurring again. Final failure was the refriguration system, and after further investigation determined that the electronic unit on the compressor was fried, so call Kim to order a new unit from Sea Frost. It has been great having 2 engineers on board, as both Garret and Kurtis are a wealth of knowledge and experience.

Tomorrow, we leave to Cartegana, to pick up Kim and brother Ed. Monday is Carnival day due to some election or something. Then Kim can return to her excellent blogs of ours days on Companion.

Companion and Crew .... beginning ...... phase 2

Another journey begins - I just got word from Dale - that in the morning Companion and her crew will take off.  Anticipation is great - the boat as Dale explains it - is ready to go.  He made a list of tasks before we left last spring  - and of course the list grew when he got there - but they are all done.

Dale sailing into Curacao in May .... and what he will sail out of tomorrow

I am grateful that Rose and Kurtis came last week and took some of the pressure off of Dale - as both of them were energetic, eager and enthusiastic to help him, I only wish the “bugs” weren’t so bad  … ugh ….  those awful “no-see-ums!!”  Kurtis’ ability to solve issues is so keen …. no worries for this first mate that Companion is ready to go… Dale says “She shines” - Rose has her spit polished - a glow of white fiberglass - love a clean house!!!

This afternoon - the other half of Dale’s crew arrived - Tanya and Garrett - they all have provisioned for the next five days and after a good night’s sleep - they will sail off of the Curacao coastline to Santa Maria, Columbia. Three Days - Three Nights.

The Captain - one happy guy!

As far as my feelings …

I am really excited to be heading into the final leg of this extraordinary “goal” - (Dale’s 30+ year dream) - ready for the adventure, new sights and cultures, getting to know the local customs and cuisine, spending time with Dale and of course sharing Companion with family and friends  …  so if you might have an inkling to join us …. go for it!

But at the same time looking forward to bringing Companion “home” - especially after sitting at 134 Lummi on my garden chair this summer - I can imagine her tied to the dock … Dale running up the bridge to say that we better sail out for the sunset or Max coming over for a crab run or sailing up to Bellingham for “happy hour” with Em and Kyle, long weekends with Danylle and Andy sailing to one of the islands… sharing Companion with family and friends - that what “this” is all about.

So hear we go - 2011 …. 

bringing Companion home to the San Juan Islands, the mountains and LaConner, Washington....

praying for a safe journey - always!

Companion welcome's Rose and Kurtis

Rose is quite a chef with Pizza
and red wine, "Life is Good!"

Well, it was wonderful to welcome Rose and Kurtis (friends of Kyle and Emily) on Thursday.  When they arrived at Royal Marine (not that regal) Companion was shining with her new coat of bottom paint, one black coat under a grey-blue final coat.  The propellers were missing as both the propellers and apparatus inside the saildrives were at a local mechanic getting cleaned. Jack, the "saildrive expert" initially was concerned with the amount of propeller movement, but on Friday he came back with the good words of "not to bad". Which in the boating world, means you have about a year before you will need to spend big money. The benefit and detriment of a catamaran  is having 2 engines (if one happens to stop working, there is another, but also twice the expense to bring engine parts toward new).  We have finished lots of preparations: 1. Solar (again 2 working panels) and wind generators are working well with the regulator repaired this summer. 2. A new ionic dispenser at the top of the Mast Head (reduces the chances of lightning strikes) 3. A new Main Halyard to haul up the Main Sail. 4. Bolts and screws tightened. 5. Hulls waxed and top deck cleaned. 6. Half of the lines for the trampoline replaced. 7. Electronics and batteries charged and checked. 8 Water tanks cleaned and diesel fuel checked for clarity and water. 9. Kitchen wares, linens, books, have been returned to there places and mildew was minimal. 10. Propellers and bottom of the hull have two new coats of antifouling.

Kurtis was excited to head up the mast in the Bosun's Chair to replace Main Halyard, attach ionic disperser and checkout lights and make sure screws were tightened.

Tomorrow, we plan on a day of rest at a local beach before we have the boat moved to the water Monday.

Year 2 begins

On Tuesday, 10/18 or in the rest of the world 18/10, I boarded a American flight from Chicago to Miami then an hour lay-over to Curacao. Anticipating that I would have to unload all of my carry-ons: A rod case( containing a long range wi-fi antenna, 1 short hose, plus a fishing rod from Keith), a backpack (containing a solar/wind regulator that looks like 30 wires going in all direction (took 20 min. in Seattle), a large breifcase (containing all of the computer wires, + satelite phone + desulfinator (who knows if it works to help rejuvinate batteries) plus cruising books). I also had taken out the miniMac, keyboard, Ascer laptop, and IPad so I had 3 bins. Oh, it's Chicago, TSA didn't even slow down the belt.

Arrived 7 PM to meet Inka, my car rental guy. 7:45, No Inka, and my AT&T international phone does not work (what a surprise). So find a cute girl and ask to borrow her phone, call Inka (No car but at least he will pick me up in 30 minutes, that becomes 50 minutes).

At Royal Marine, boat looks good or "SUPER". In the morning, boat still looks good, Louis had outside of boat cleaned, but did not have time to get gas in frig. Later in day, but no Louis later. Inka has bottom paint and solar panels, okay, but no car till maybe friday. To Inka, "I will take 4 gallons of paint (I hope blue) and 1 solar panel, and I will get car elsewhere, where I can use credit card".

So I unwrapped the bins in boat, charged batteries for drill, and unloaded the carry-ons plus two large duffle bags. Thursday and friday I sanded bottom of boat, cleaned 1 water tank, connected solar/wind regulator, and hooked up Desulfinator ?? plus got a grey KIA Picanto to rent. So I just got back from eating at small bar at nearby fishing marina. Ordered chicken, 6 pieces of fried (I reconized about 3 out of the 6 pieces). It was good, with fries and a salad. Conditments, catsup, mayo, and a container with pink liquid with onions (salad dressing RIGHT??). No, Hot sauce. The 2 polar beers helped. I just checked spelling and the text lite up (spelling is in dutch) so if I misspelled some words so be it.

Life is good!!

Summertime 2011

The dog days of summer have finally happened in Anacortes - where we are spending most of our time this summer. Dale and I are now thinking clearer and feeling good …. Oh we are having a summer! Another wonderful life changing event for our family, Emily and Kyle were married July 16  -  a beautiful day that gives me goose bumps just thinking about it - with the majority of our family and friends around us, we felt the love!! 

Emily and Kyle Hermansen

Hotel Bellwether - Bellingham, WA

Sailing off into the "sunset" - picture perfect ..... thanks to "Captain Mike" - Uncle Extraordinaire!!

Backing up, just a bit - when we arrived “home” to Chicago and then the Northwest it was a fun and frantic 7 weeks of finalizing the wedding plans but - mostly it was a time for us to regroup and "debrief." Our thoughts and actions had totally been consumed by Companion for most of the last 6 months and we had to re-adjust. Re-adjust to all sorts of daily living habits - but especially re-adjusting to being around “noise” - which surprised us - the chatter in the airport in Curacao kind of blew us away - not that our nerves were already on edge with the lack of haul-out but I honestly know that we got use to the silence and stillness of the sea.  It is funny - a person does get use to the environment that surrounds you - and that is a good thing!!

Dale and I got quickly into the “swing of things” - especially after he had the news that the boat was safely hauled-out and secure ( a four week wait for that to happen) we both could breath better and move forward with a lighter heart and not worry about “our investment.” - the “swing of things” - included the wedding plans, the wedding weekend, making our checklist for the next leg of the journey, symposium for me in San Francisco, Dale helping Father with the Portland house, enjoying my parents as they are spending more of their time in Anacortes, a quick trip to visit Danylle and Andy in South Pasadena, plus a time with Lois and Jerry in San Diego. It has been great spending time with family and friends … the days are slipping by quickly and we are enjoying all the time that we have with them …. Thanking God especially for Glori and Mike who are sharing their wonderful quiet “cottage” that we are calling home right now … and Laura and Brian who have the “open door” policy for us - I really sleep well in “my bed” on Bainbridge Island. I want to say that “we” are so grateful for the “rest” and “regroup” that we are having this summer … the planning for the next phase has taken on another twist …

As of this week, we have made and finalized some of our journey plans - it keeps changing ... but I am pretty sure we have a good one now!!

Dale and I are heading to the Chicago area for 5 weeks starting in mid-September - he will fly to Curacao on October 18 to ready the boat - we have a crew of 4 from the Bellingham area joining Dale on the first big leg of the journey. Dale’s big brother, Ed and I will meet up with them somewhere - and we won’t know till about a week before we need to get to wherever - and then “sail around” the San Blas Islands for 10 days or so before getting “in line” for the Panama Canal … This should happen at the end of November - we loose some of the crew on the Pacific side of the canal - so they can get home for the holidays  -  slowly we will make our way to Costa Rica … we will sail the Pacific Panama Islands and the coastline north to Costa Rica for the next 5 months - (hoping to have company meet us - we can be anywhere on the Costa Rica coast - whenever you want to show up!)

This brings us to May 2012  - we have contracted with Yacht Path Crossings to “barge” Companion up to Victoria, BC from Costa Rica -  I am relieved - less wear and tear on Companion, "her" captain and this first mate… we will get “her” where we really want “her” and that is in the Pacific Northwest where we can share "her", sail "her" to the many San Juan Islands, evening sunset cruises with the kids or just have "her" tied to our dock at 134 Lummi  - this was the "dream and vision" before we even started -  so there you have it - this is how we are spending our waking hours and my sleepless nights ....  thinking about the next journey of Companion … where we have been and where we are going!!