New Header

I'm posting a new header with the photo that Greg Snead took when we were leaving Sausalito.

Since having the boat home we have cleaned out the aft lazarette and under the forward bunk. We have also taken all the controls and hoses off the propane tanks and ordered replacements. This is an area where we will take no chances with repairing the old equipment. Soon we will be able to cook aboard!

We are finding all sorts of parts and equipment in the lockers. And gradually familiarizing ourselves with the systems. And making a long, long list of projects.

At the Sailing Club.

Finally here at 1:30.

Tinsley's Island

Passing the yacht club's Delta hangout. I guess we won't make it home by noon.

Santa Clara Shoal

Approaching light 33a. Left an hour ago.

Super moon

We are doing the "La Paz Waltz" this evening as we enjoy the super moon. 

Anchor Down

We are anchored for the night in False River near Frank's Tract. We are going to BBQ some chicken and squash for dinner then hit the hay so we can get an early start tomorrow. 

We feel good about the boat. We sailed the whole way.

Antioch Bridge

It's been hours and hours of this; meandering along at 4 knots. We are almost to the Antioch Bridge.

Carquinez Bridge

The Brothers

Just passed the Brothers.

Finally underway

 

 Captain Greg Snead happened to come by while we were leaving the marina so he offered to take a photo of us underway. What a nice guy. Thanks Greg.

 

 

We left the fuel dock about 9:30 and just passed through Racoon Strait. You can see the Richmond Bridge up ahead.

Aground!

We haven't even left the dock and we are already aground. With the summer solstice come extremely high tides and extremely low tides. Last evening the gangplank went uphill to the docks. In the wee hours of the morning the tide went out and we settled onto the bottom. I don't know if you can see it in this photo, but that's our dirty waterline above the water.   

We made the best of it though. We filled our water tanks, washed the boat, and had breakfast. Which we had to cook in the microwave because the stove isn't working. We think both tanks are empty, but the safety switch doesn't seem to be working either. Well just have to sort it out later.

Settling In

We arrived at the boat about 3:00 and loaded all our stuff aboard. It took 3 more hours of playing "Tetrus" to get it stowed away. Malcolm also fixed the running lights, some cabin lights, and safety wired the anchor shackle. We also walked to West Marine for a few things. Now we are finally relaxing and thinking about cooking dinner. 

Mobile Blogging

I downloaded the Blogger app on my IPhone today. This is a test.

Here is Katie as a wee lass in our powerboat at Lake Tahoe.

Paperwork

Although it's not nearly as bad as buying and selling the houses, we have been doing lots of paperwork this week to make the boat ours. Just today we wired the final payment to the broker and we should actually take possession of her on Friday. We plan to drive over with enough gear and food for four days, get settled in Friday night, and leave Saturday morning for home. We have made the trip in as little as 11 hours and as long as four days with bad weather and/or mechanical problems.We will anchor early Saturday evening and finish the trip on Sunday morning.

We have a slip arranged at the Sailing Club, but it's not really long enough for this boat. However because there are no slips directly behind the slip and we have a bow thruster, we think it will work out okay. Of course, 8' of the boat will be sticking out the back of the slip, but we are on the list for an end tie.

Buying Exile

So we gave an offer on the Alden 44 Exile that is for sale in Sausalito. After going back and forth a couple of times, we settled on a figure and arranged for an engine and generator inspection, general survey and haulout, and trial sail. Yesterday we arrived at the broker's dock at 9:15 and made the short drive around the corner to KKMI where she was hauled out.

We were able to lift the boat high enough to lower the centerboard to see how that works. We also had some zincs installed. We were relieved to see no huge problems; just the usual for a boat this age that hasn't been hauled out in two years.

By 12:30 she was back in the water and we and Greg Snead the "captain", Rick Whiting the surveyor, and Joe Biondo the broker headed towards the Bay. Considering that the boat hadn't been sailed in over a year and none of us had ever sailed on an Alden 44, it went pretty good. I'm not sure I like that in-the-mast furling. It didn't work very smoothly, but that could have deferred maintenance and dirt in all the hardware. And the sails are so old and stretched out looking I'm not even showing them. But it looks like we are buying this boat.