Where is Jennifer’s Car and When are we leaving?

Lee’s Landing, Lake Union, Seattle, WA, 14-Aug-2019 – A fast status as we’re finishing up getting ready to leave.

There is a heavy and unrelenting feeling of pressure to get everything done, but as I sit to write this fast and hurried post, I realize that there are five days to go and there is no need to feel this pressure. Everything on critical path is easily accomplished. Yes, the list is unending, but that it is because it is a boat, just like a house, there is always more to do.

Jennifer and I have been reflecting on the real tragedy that could have happened if the car had been stolen a week earlier. In it, then, were a sail bag with our 90% Genoa and parts of the windvane self-steering unit. The only thing of value that was in the car was a spare VHF radio – brand new and in the box.

The police came by yesterday – when did police start introducing themselves by their first name? I do like it very much and have always tried to get on a first name basis, but it surprised me. The police in Port Townsend do the same, but PT has a Mayberry feel about it.

The feeling is that the car will show up when it runs out of gas. Jennifer can’t remember how much gas is in the tank. The registration is expired on the car, so that may help it get picked sooner rather than later. The officer, after speaking with Jennifer and our marina mate, Bill, is considering moving into our marina. It is always nice to have a cop as a neighbor.

The shakedown was mostly light air. Our friend John Riley joined us. I’ve written about John before. He is recovering from a stroke and is trying hard to learn his new limits and how he will get back onto a boat. His attitude and bravery in this sets a very high bar that I doubt many of us could achieve.

We used the windvane for the first time. Thousands and thousands of people use self-steering windvanes, but it was our first time. It is a very magical experience. In complete silence, with nothing apparently happening, the boat stays on course.

Today and tomorrow, I’ll be lubricating it and finishing the final set up.

Here are the critical path items:

• Windvane – Service, finish final installation
• New water bladder – one of the connections is leaking, repair
• Provision
• Repair hinge on Port Anchor Locker – We could leave as is.
• Jennifer to finish sewing webbing for harnesses, Portland Pudgy straps for rudder and lee boards, dog ear for second reef in main (sailmaker installed in first and third, as opposed to second and third as requested).
• Spend more money – We still have more to buy, including a personal AIS beacon; thousands of dollars of stuff will arrive today and tomorrow including:
  • Set up exposure cover on Portland Pudgy
  • Install Nav software on second waterproof tablet that arrives tomorrow
  • Install bilge pump start counter, so that we can tell if the bilge pump has been running – it shouldn’t.

And so it goes.

On our shakedown, John Riley took us to a little tiny anchorage with a beautiful view of Seattle. The Puget Sound is a great place to sail.

We’ll return in fall 2020, if everything goes as planned.

We’ll be posting at CaroBabbo.com and instructions for contacting us once we lose cellular service are at: https://carobabbo.com/#iridiumtexts

We’ll be hosting a potluck breakfast this Sunday, rather cooking as we normally do. If you’re around please stop by.