Blog

Here are the latest blog posts.  For older posts click here for the previous blog site.  Eventually we will bring all the old posts over once we automate the process.

paradise lost, 26 and 27 sept 2013

Posted by on Sep 29, 2013 in Blog | Comments Off on paradise lost, 26 and 27 sept 2013

paradise lost, 26 and 27 sept 2013

so yesterday we finally left our perfect island and headed back to jolly harbor as our visas where expiring today and we had paperwork to pick up. we left a bit behind schedule but had an amazing sail over. i wanted to make sure we got in before customs closed so we could leave first thing in the am. alas this was not to be we arrived at 315pm but by the time aimee got over to check out at 330 the customs person was gone for the day, the new meaning for island time. i was a bit bummed but in the end we ended up meeting some old and...

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final americas cup! 25 sept 2013

Posted by on Sep 29, 2013 in Blog | Comments Off on final americas cup! 25 sept 2013

final americas cup! 25 sept 2013

well we where enjoying a “final” “relaxing” day at our favorite island in preparation for the americas cup final, alas this was not exactly what was to be! we did another beach day and relaxed in the foot deep water on perfect sand. i had a few beers while aimee worked on her water yoga routine. we had so much fun we had to send aimee on a supply run to bring back the paddle board and some more beers. we finally swam back to palapa for the cup event. as we where drying off i noticed our friends from the other night...

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Americas Cup in Paridise! 24 sept 2013

Posted by on Sep 25, 2013 in Blog | 1 comment

Americas Cup in Paridise! 24 sept 2013

so this this was an amazing race, almost makes me wish we where back in san fran but then we would not have had the pre race swim to our private beach for a couple beers. will see if the “americans” can pull off another race. it does seem like they are making their boat faster every race! i cant believe they where able to come from behind and pass the kiwi’s. we have another day here to clean the bottom of the boat and then head to jolly harbor tomorrow to pick up our new stern graphic and check out of Antigua to work our...

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another hard day at the office, 22 sept 2013

Posted by on Sep 23, 2013 in Blog | 1 comment

another hard day at the office, 22 sept 2013

so today we rewrote the board (again). had a “team meeting” as aimee likes to do every am and plotted our plan forward. our oct charter got taken off the list so we have until 1 nov to get the boat ready for the two boat shows. the primary goal today was the bottom. we spent about 2.5 hours in the water. me on the hooka and aimee with a snorkel. she got the first 3 feet from the waterline and i got the keel and rudder. it was very slow going. we had the bottom done in Antigua while we where gone but they only got the tops...

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out of dodge! 20 sept 2013

Posted by on Sep 21, 2013 in Blog | 2 comments

out of dodge! 20 sept 2013

this am we definatly had had enough of “civilization” fortunately we had found a local cab to take me pick up the rum so while i filled up our gerry jugs with local rum aimee hit the groceries. we got off the dock before noon with a beutiful (slow) sail around the north side of antigua. antigua is got a lot of reef and so when i cross checked my chart plotter against the cruising guide i discovered a discrepancy which caused me to pull out the actuall paper chart! yes, we do have a few of these on palapa. interestingly enough...

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back to “civilization”, 19 sept 2013

Posted by on Sep 21, 2013 in Blog | Comments Off on back to “civilization”, 19 sept 2013

back to “civilization”, 19 sept 2013

so alas yesterday we decided we needed to make another trip back to civilization to try to get everything sorted before we where leaving Antigua. aimee had organized to have some one come by and put a new hailing port graphic on the stern. more importantly we wanted to fill up with some local “bushy’s” rum! we also still needed to pick up our stcw certs and sme canvas. bad news we discovered there was a disconnect on the new graphic and they expected us to remove it. i was able to get it off with this new tool and aimee...

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finally back in paradise! 10 to 18 sept 2013

Posted by on Sep 18, 2013 in Blog | 4 comments

finally back in paradise! 10 to 18 sept 2013

well we finally managed to get out of civilizatoin having given up on getting the stcw cert and hearing back from oliver on the steps and mirrors he did for us. we made a brief stop in jolly harbor to get some more parts at budget and then provisioned at the massive grocerie store and the next day we headed out to green island to complete our charter ‘”refit”. the weather was perfect for the 20nm motor around the island, with not even a white cap in sight. we got into green island an hour before sunset. it was so amazing i...

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stcw or fire fighting 101, 3 to 9 sept 2013

Posted by on Sep 18, 2013 in Blog | 1 comment

stcw or fire fighting 101, 3 to 9 sept 2013

so this course was more relaxing than the yachtmaster but not that relaxing. we had one day of classroom and then we where off into the fire fighting fun. of course things did not go supper smoothly. we had a lot of rain making lighting the fire difficult. then on the final run as we where ready to enter the building to put out the fire the pump failed so we had no water pressure. we entered anyway but did not put the fire out. aimee did a great job leading her team to put out the fire with the hose working. in the end it was pretty...

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genset repair, 3 sept 2013

Posted by on Sep 18, 2013 in Blog | Comments Off on genset repair, 3 sept 2013

genset repair, 3 sept 2013

this morning we started or stcw (a qual you need to work as professional crew on a ship) but before we got to that i had to finish the geneset fix. fortunately last night after happy hour while aimee was working on her day job i rebuilt the water pump. i must say i am getting pretty good at this, minimal injuries and i was able to pull the shaft and replace both seals. the reinstallation seemed to go smoothly but alas i did not get it in far enough to engage, then i sprayed oil on myself when i cranked it with the pump out, then i forgot to...

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yachtmaster hell week, 27 aug to 2 sept 2013

Posted by on Sep 15, 2013 in Blog | 3 comments

yachtmaster hell week, 27 aug to 2 sept 2013

or summer vacation part 3… well back in antigua there was no rest for the weary, i was hoping to get some uninterrupted study time but alas boat projects to get palapa “charter ready” seemed to take up all my time. the day before my course was due to start the genset died and when i opened it up i found salt all over the place from a leaking raw water pump. so much for my “study day” i went through and hosed down all the salt replaced a fuse and the genset still refused to start. finally after multiple high pressure...

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