Arrived safe and sound in Curacao today. All 3 flights were uneventful. It was a little bit interesting sorting out how to get to the boat from the airport, it all worked out.
I met the Captain, Todd, his son, Alex, and crewmember Melissa. All first impressions are great.
Have had a shower and am now chilling on the aft deck typing away. Gotta love unsecured wireless networks.
More to follow once I get a lay of the land, err, boat. :-)
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
Decision Made!
Curacao here I come!
I was able to Skype with Captain Todd and Crewmember Melissa (www.schooneradventures.com). And between the lengthy emails I had previously exchanged with Todd and just getting to lay eyes on them to know they're real people pretty much sealed the deal.
Then it was a mad dash to get my plane ticket, as there was only 1 seat left at the $567 price point. Naturally I didn't have my credit card and was on an unsecure internet connection anyway, so my darling mother stepped up to the plate and took care of it for me. (I'm paying her back.)
On March 17, I'll take a bus from La Paz to Cabo San Lucas airport, then fly through LA, Miami and arrive in Curacao on March 18th.
Adventure Adventure!!!
I was able to Skype with Captain Todd and Crewmember Melissa (www.schooneradventures.com). And between the lengthy emails I had previously exchanged with Todd and just getting to lay eyes on them to know they're real people pretty much sealed the deal.
Then it was a mad dash to get my plane ticket, as there was only 1 seat left at the $567 price point. Naturally I didn't have my credit card and was on an unsecure internet connection anyway, so my darling mother stepped up to the plate and took care of it for me. (I'm paying her back.)
On March 17, I'll take a bus from La Paz to Cabo San Lucas airport, then fly through LA, Miami and arrive in Curacao on March 18th.
Adventure Adventure!!!
Shakedown Cruise
A few days ago we set out for the Sea of Cortez islands north of La Paz. The first day there was no wind, so we motored up. We anchored in a gorgeous little cove near our friends SV Anon. All of a sudden westerly winds whipped up outta no where and got us all rockin and rollin. I felt my first touch of seasickness which sucked, but I didn't get sick.
In the morning we were up and adam early and got underway, anxious to sail. The batons we made helps the TOTALLY blown out main tremendously, but I'm 100% that we *should not* set out across the Pacific without getting a new main. We sailed along happily for a few hours, though we were beating into the wind. Then, all of a sudden, BANG! What was that? A fishing net that was lashed to the backstay seemed to pop up from the deck. We looked at all the stays and nothing had snapped, but still it seemed loose. Then, we saw it, the chainplate failed - and came up a bit of the way through the deck!! Yikes. This can be the making of a lost mast in the wrong circumstances. We quickly doused the sails and headed back to an anchorage. (Unfortunately I was lounging in the cockpit when this happened and I think I jumped up a bit too quickly as I had to toss a few cookies into the drink. My shipmates were impressed that I got sick, wiped my mouth and immediately started tailing a line. I can only assume that my somewhat embarrassing seasickness is from being away from the ocean for so long. In any case, I'm a get sick - get going kinda person, versus the get sick and stay sick kind.) Anyway, we motored back to an anchorage and had a quiet night.
In the morning we had a lovely breakfast (my Namibian special) and paddled to the island for a little hike. Gorgeous desert island with cacti and red rock everywhere. And on the other side, blue blue water. We swam and snorkeled some, and had a great time. We motored on back to La Paz. I read the last rigging survey that was done on the boat and it is troubling indeed.
Back in La Paz, Ben set to work on repairing the chainplate. We've consulted a few different folks in the area for opinions, but he'll be doing the work himself. I trust that it'll be done well, but what concerns me more are all the other things the survey raised flags on. Truth be told, you don't ever really get to leave port knowing nothing will go wrong on board, I get that. But it still worries me.
Our mainsail is blown out as well. We desperately need a new one, and they've known that for a while. But they thought they could just roll into Puerto Vallarta and pick one up. I have contacted a sailmaker there and found out a new main is going to take 4-6 weeks (which is what I'd expect, actually). When I reported that to the boys, they were put off. Ben said, eh, why wait. Just ship to the Marquesas instead (i.e. cross the Pacific with what we have). It's a downwind run and the main isn't that important. While this is true, I wouldn't do it, and I don't like the idea one bit. I've become very very fond of the owner, Don. He's surrogate favorite grandpa material for sure. But eesh, the boat....
Sooooo, where do things stand now? I went onto findacrew.net and registered as available crew. I was contacted by Todd, the captain/owner of SV One World (www.schooneradventures.com). They are sailing around the world over the course of about 3 years. They've just begun essentially, and are in Venezuela now. I could meet them in Curacao (near Aruba) next week. I have to pay my own way there (~$600), but after that all expenses are covered.
There are no other options for me here in La Paz. I could wait around for about a week with the boys and sail to Puerto Vallarta and try to find a boat there. Right now I'm leaning heavily toward One World. I'm hoping to Skype with the captain sometime today. I put it up on Facebook for a vote and so far it's a landslide: go to Curacao. The plan would be fly to Curacao, then do the leg with them to Panama - it's a short 4 day passage. As it happens, they are shorthanded for the trip and could use the help. It'd be a great try-out for me and them. If things didn't work out, I could much more easily find a boat in Panama (which was the original location suggested to me by Robb.....). Now if only Todd would sign on!!
More to come.
In the morning we were up and adam early and got underway, anxious to sail. The batons we made helps the TOTALLY blown out main tremendously, but I'm 100% that we *should not* set out across the Pacific without getting a new main. We sailed along happily for a few hours, though we were beating into the wind. Then, all of a sudden, BANG! What was that? A fishing net that was lashed to the backstay seemed to pop up from the deck. We looked at all the stays and nothing had snapped, but still it seemed loose. Then, we saw it, the chainplate failed - and came up a bit of the way through the deck!! Yikes. This can be the making of a lost mast in the wrong circumstances. We quickly doused the sails and headed back to an anchorage. (Unfortunately I was lounging in the cockpit when this happened and I think I jumped up a bit too quickly as I had to toss a few cookies into the drink. My shipmates were impressed that I got sick, wiped my mouth and immediately started tailing a line. I can only assume that my somewhat embarrassing seasickness is from being away from the ocean for so long. In any case, I'm a get sick - get going kinda person, versus the get sick and stay sick kind.) Anyway, we motored back to an anchorage and had a quiet night.
In the morning we had a lovely breakfast (my Namibian special) and paddled to the island for a little hike. Gorgeous desert island with cacti and red rock everywhere. And on the other side, blue blue water. We swam and snorkeled some, and had a great time. We motored on back to La Paz. I read the last rigging survey that was done on the boat and it is troubling indeed.
Back in La Paz, Ben set to work on repairing the chainplate. We've consulted a few different folks in the area for opinions, but he'll be doing the work himself. I trust that it'll be done well, but what concerns me more are all the other things the survey raised flags on. Truth be told, you don't ever really get to leave port knowing nothing will go wrong on board, I get that. But it still worries me.
Our mainsail is blown out as well. We desperately need a new one, and they've known that for a while. But they thought they could just roll into Puerto Vallarta and pick one up. I have contacted a sailmaker there and found out a new main is going to take 4-6 weeks (which is what I'd expect, actually). When I reported that to the boys, they were put off. Ben said, eh, why wait. Just ship to the Marquesas instead (i.e. cross the Pacific with what we have). It's a downwind run and the main isn't that important. While this is true, I wouldn't do it, and I don't like the idea one bit. I've become very very fond of the owner, Don. He's surrogate favorite grandpa material for sure. But eesh, the boat....
Sooooo, where do things stand now? I went onto findacrew.net and registered as available crew. I was contacted by Todd, the captain/owner of SV One World (www.schooneradventures.com). They are sailing around the world over the course of about 3 years. They've just begun essentially, and are in Venezuela now. I could meet them in Curacao (near Aruba) next week. I have to pay my own way there (~$600), but after that all expenses are covered.
There are no other options for me here in La Paz. I could wait around for about a week with the boys and sail to Puerto Vallarta and try to find a boat there. Right now I'm leaning heavily toward One World. I'm hoping to Skype with the captain sometime today. I put it up on Facebook for a vote and so far it's a landslide: go to Curacao. The plan would be fly to Curacao, then do the leg with them to Panama - it's a short 4 day passage. As it happens, they are shorthanded for the trip and could use the help. It'd be a great try-out for me and them. If things didn't work out, I could much more easily find a boat in Panama (which was the original location suggested to me by Robb.....). Now if only Todd would sign on!!
More to come.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Pictures!
Pictures being uploaded as I type...
Link is on the left, or: http://picasaweb.google.com/heyjenjackson
Link is on the left, or: http://picasaweb.google.com/heyjenjackson
All is Well
I’ve begun to feel right at home on the (Spirit of) Nyami Nyami. I’m a Nyami Nyamian now! The speed and ease at which this has all taken place is really unbelievable…
Monday: Arrive in Cabo San Lucas, met by a long-time friend Santiago who graciously drives me to La Paz and gets us settled.
Tuesday: With a friend of Santiago’s, visit the 3 marinas in town getting the lay of the land and leaving my cards on notice boards.
Wednesday: Go on the morning VHF “net” where all the cruisers in the area chit chat about the goings on here. I announce myself and what I’m looking for. Meet Don and Ben on SoNN and spend the afternoon together. Dinner with the boys and their friends from the anchorage.
Thursday: Move aboard.
Friday: Projects on board during the day (organize the library, assist with making batons for our sail), host party aboard for 10 people Friday night. Party goes to the wee hours of the morning – great conversations and warm fuzzies all around.
It’s still too soon to say everything is going to be just perfect. We haven’t sailed together yet. But I have to say it all feels very right. We’re quickly turning into a happy little family, and I’m loving the instant camaraderie they (and now we) seem to have with the other boats. I feel like I fit, that I play a needed role, which is so important to me. I’m going to learn a lot about sailing and systems on board. Man I’m excited to go sailing.
The current plan is to head out to the islands nearby for a day or two, as a shakedown trip to check out our newly repaired autopilot, mainsail and fridge. Then we’ll head to Puerto Vallarta, which is about a 4 day trip. (La Cruz, specifically). How long we’ll be there is dependent on how quickly we get done what we need to on board. I think the main items on the agenda are to get a new main and sort out the particulars of the Puddle Jump which we are a registrant of.
I say this with a grain of salt, as again, I have no idea how this “leg” of my path is going to turn out, but if it continues it helps me to believe with even more certainty that we truly can realize our dreams and create our own realities.
Monday: Arrive in Cabo San Lucas, met by a long-time friend Santiago who graciously drives me to La Paz and gets us settled.
Tuesday: With a friend of Santiago’s, visit the 3 marinas in town getting the lay of the land and leaving my cards on notice boards.
Wednesday: Go on the morning VHF “net” where all the cruisers in the area chit chat about the goings on here. I announce myself and what I’m looking for. Meet Don and Ben on SoNN and spend the afternoon together. Dinner with the boys and their friends from the anchorage.
Thursday: Move aboard.
Friday: Projects on board during the day (organize the library, assist with making batons for our sail), host party aboard for 10 people Friday night. Party goes to the wee hours of the morning – great conversations and warm fuzzies all around.
It’s still too soon to say everything is going to be just perfect. We haven’t sailed together yet. But I have to say it all feels very right. We’re quickly turning into a happy little family, and I’m loving the instant camaraderie they (and now we) seem to have with the other boats. I feel like I fit, that I play a needed role, which is so important to me. I’m going to learn a lot about sailing and systems on board. Man I’m excited to go sailing.
The current plan is to head out to the islands nearby for a day or two, as a shakedown trip to check out our newly repaired autopilot, mainsail and fridge. Then we’ll head to Puerto Vallarta, which is about a 4 day trip. (La Cruz, specifically). How long we’ll be there is dependent on how quickly we get done what we need to on board. I think the main items on the agenda are to get a new main and sort out the particulars of the Puddle Jump which we are a registrant of.
I say this with a grain of salt, as again, I have no idea how this “leg” of my path is going to turn out, but if it continues it helps me to believe with even more certainty that we truly can realize our dreams and create our own realities.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Boat Found!
Just a quick post to say that I've found a boat! The Spirit of Nyami Nyami is owned by an older Zimbabwean fellow called Don. He has a captain on board from the states called Ben. We'll be heading to Puerto Vallarta sometime in the next couple of days.
From there, should I still be in their good graces and they in mine, we will point into the South Pacific. Their ultimate destination is New Zealand.
If we aren't thrilled with each other, there will be many many more boats in PV that are taking off to cross the pond. I've learned that La Paz is more of a stopping point on the way to points south in Mexico, which are more common jumping off points.
I'm very excited, naturally, but also a little bit in disbelief at how quick and easy this has gone so far. I've gotten good recommendations about Don, Ben and the boat from other sailors. Plus, it feels really good to have a short sail ahead to check everything out.
More to come prior to launch.
From there, should I still be in their good graces and they in mine, we will point into the South Pacific. Their ultimate destination is New Zealand.
If we aren't thrilled with each other, there will be many many more boats in PV that are taking off to cross the pond. I've learned that La Paz is more of a stopping point on the way to points south in Mexico, which are more common jumping off points.
I'm very excited, naturally, but also a little bit in disbelief at how quick and easy this has gone so far. I've gotten good recommendations about Don, Ben and the boat from other sailors. Plus, it feels really good to have a short sail ahead to check everything out.
More to come prior to launch.
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