Welcoming Olympic Flame in Sidney BC

Welcoming Olympic Flame in Sidney BC
Originally uploaded by Livia

It was a once in a lifetime perhaps opportunity to see the Olympic Flame on its longest journey in a single country to open the Winter Olympics in Vancouver BC.

Climbing

IMG_3393
Originally uploaded by Livia

We had a lovely day of climbing outdoors the weekend before the marathon. Pictures are in this set.

The Great Locker Insulation Project

RFOIL insulation project
Originally uploaded by S/V Estrellita

We are insulating all of our lockers with RFOIL (foil-bubble wrap-bubble wrap-foil).

Bleach wash down, followed by methyl hydrate clean up, RFOIL cut in sections and held down with double sided contractor strength carpet tape, insulation tape sealing pieces and sides.

Wish us luck in beating the condensation this winter.

Baby on Board

IMG_3295
Originally uploaded by Livia

Our first wee crew joined us this summer. She was handy with a winch. Oh, and her parents came too ;)

How do you know if you have caught a fish?

While we were off the West Coast of Vancouver Island and I was on watch, I felt like the boat had slowed down a touch. The wind was the same and I spent about 30 minutes trying to tweak the sails to regain the lost quarter or half knot. Carol came up and I complained to him that we had slowed down and he looked backwards at our trailing line and hook and yelled "FISH!"

I feel ready for some kind of zen master sailing award now (snort).

- Livia

Mighty Salmon Hunters

Salmon
Originally uploaded by S/V Estrellita

Already scaled - West Coast of Vancouver Island

Ditch bag

Ditch bag
Originally uploaded by S/V Estrellita

Our first organized ditch bag. Kept in a duffel bag, some inside a dry bag in the duffel. The vinegar container is empty and for extra flotation.

In Haro Strait 3

PPF - 30 Jul 09079
Originally uploaded by S/V Estrellita

In Haro Strait 2

PPF - 30 Jul 09093
Originally uploaded by S/V Estrellita

In Haro Strait

PPF - 30 Jul 09106
Originally uploaded by S/V Estrellita

Yak Flight

Mirrors for formation
Originally uploaded by ontogeny

Lest this blog become only a list of boat projects I thought I would post a photo of something else we did. This is Carol and I flying in formation in two Chinese Yaks. OK, I'm not flying...

Wauquiez Rendezvous 2009

Wauquiez Rendezvous 2009
Originally uploaded by S/V Estrellita

Our spinnaker on a friend's Wauquiez Hood 38.

Full Enclosure

We recently had a full enclosure added to our existing dodger. I don't have a great picture of the full enclosure but here are the preliminary photos.

Our original dodger:


Dodger removed and bimini bars added to stern rails:


Dodger back on and bimini canvas added:


Dodger, bimini and connector panel - the plastic on the back is the fitting of the full enclosure:


Here is the full enclosure as they were adding the snaps on the deck. The extra sunbrella is still covering the strataglas at this point:


We'll post a finished photo later.

Aft cabin

Scoping out the inverter install
Originally uploaded by S/V Estrellita

This is our spacious aft cabin, recently cleared out and scrubbed to a shine. We have our first two sets of out of town visitors* coming this summer. Yay!

Carol is scoping out the installation of our new inverter...FYI ;)

*OK, my parents have stayed over several times so I guess these are our first fly-in, non-family guests.

Welcome to Canuckistan

Good bye Colorado Springs, CO - soon to be "Victoria".





The new hailing port will be centered in the remaining white space below Estrellita and to the right of the Hydrovane

Single handing

I single handed from Friday Harbor, WA across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Port Townsend, WA and then to Edmonds, WA. I left Carol at the customs dock in Friday Harbor after we sailed there the night before and cleared customs and anchored out in the harbor:


Here is the fog bank I hit in the first few hours:


I should have gone back to Friday Harbor and waited it out but I thought I would go "through it". Of course, there is no "through it". There is more fog. So with radar, my fog horn, and Navsim electronic charting software I navigated into MacKay Harbor. Here is the bank of the harbor from where I dropped anchor in fog:


And out of fog:


The fog lifted and I crossed the Strait anticlimactically. No wind and a sunny motor to Port Townsend where I dropped anchor for the second time that day by myself. I spent a nice night there and then motored in no wind to Kingston where I did a touch-and-go pick up of my father at Kingston and he helped me dock in Edmonds, WA.

Overall single handing was pivotal. I feel more in control of the boat and a lot more confident in my own skills. Although the fog was an unnecessary risk not to be repeated, it showed me how much I've learned about radar and navigation generally. I have a sense of where and in what conditions I can anchor by myself and at least "un-dock" the boat by myself which I did several times.

- Livia

Edmonds-Kingston Ferry

The white speck on the bow is my Dad waving, originally uploaded by ontogeny.

During my trip in the Puget Sound I sailed South of the Edmonds-Kingston ferry while my Dad was on it. The white speck on the bow is him.

Electric car

Kingston Marina has an electric car, originally uploaded by ontogeny.

The marina at Kingston, WA has an electric car! You can take it around town and get groceries. My folks were meeting me with a car and I was almost bummed I didn't get to take this for a spin.

Mount Baker from Strait of Juan de Fuca

Mount Baker from Strait of Juan de Fuca
Originally uploaded by S/V Estrellita

Livia's first solo "motoring" - Day 1 was across the Strait of Juan de Fuca (Friday Harbor to Port Townsend).

Bed Head

Rebedding head port, originally uploaded by S/V Estrellita.

The port in the head was leaking. This weekend Carol pulled out the plexiglass and after a long cleaning process, rebed it with Sikki 295 UV.