Whew. What a trip it has been! Pulled out of Cabo and got smacked with 20 knots of wind with 8 foot waves. Just getting beaten up. We turned a bit more south so as not to bash and things settled down. The past couple of days have been sunny, warm and windy. We are making a bunch of south and need more west in our wind but really, we'll take it.
Brian and I have been lucky in that we haven't experience seasickness yet. Mike, Amie and Ally are finally kicking it.
We are about 500 miles off shore and waiting for the wind to switch so we can run with it into Hawaii. that won't happen for another week or so. Boggles my mind to think of being out here so long.
The waves are amazing. \We get sneak waves that will douse everything once in awhile. Like getting mugged. The swell is coming from the north and are about 8 feet high. Then you get the wind waves which are 4 feet and coming from another direction. Then you have another swell coming from Asia. China. Made in China. Makes for a very bouncy ride.Cooking is not only hard but dangerous. Boat is constantly awash in water. Amazing.
All is well though. Looks like 13 more days or so if the wind holds.
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I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living or get busy dying.
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
And we're off!
Leaving San Jose del Cabo. 2605 miles to go.
Brian brought his go pro and maybe we can get some cool movies and such.
https://share.delorme.com/Appa is the tracking website. You can text us also.
Provisions!
Amie getting it all together
And the end result. Table dropped and lee cloth in place.
Liferaft under the bed. We have lots of food and hopefully we catch some fish also.
I reckon about 20 days. Maybe more hopefully less.
Kinda nervous but I have a great crew and in the end Appa is a sailboat so we can go anywhere. I hope all the electric stuff and engine work flawlessly but let's face it.
"Best thing to do is get her out on the ocean. If anything is going to happen, it's going to happen out there!"
Saturday, May 24, 2014
In Cabo
Well here we are at San Jose del Cabo. Brian, Aime, Ally, and Michael are here and the boat is getting ready for our trip to Hawaii. There is a tropical storm brewing couple hundred miles south of us that is looking like it will develop into a hurricane in the next couple days. It waaaay south so we probably don't have to worry about it. 
I'll try to keep the blog updated underway. Fish caught, weather, etc.
We are planning on a May 28th departure. Right around there. Monday I'll check out of the country and the we have 24 hours to leave. Maybe it is 48. Something like that.
This is the address to track us
I am carrying it around with me right now to see how it works. The unit updates my position every 10 minutes so that is why the current track is jumping everywhere. Doesn't take 10 minutes to drive most places. It appears like I am teleporting.
Pull up the website and see if it works for you. It'll be on the whole time we are under way. 20 days or so. You can also send us messages. For free! I can respond also. For free!
Couple of photos....
Leaving Muertos.
Monday, May 19, 2014
Some photos
Sammy at Caleta Partida.
Max caught two bonitos on the way here this morning. Jen has the pictures.
Where we were yesterday. Below are a couple of photos from the beach that is north of Appa on this chat snapshot.
Below is a shot of Steve Job's new yacht Venus.
That photo of Ben makes me laugh. He is still figuring out how to be photographed.
Loved this anchorage. My favorite I think. Hard to choose though.
Sam loves to skinny dip. Loves it.
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Still sitting in this beautiful bay
Listened to Sand Dollar 2 days ago on the South Bound Cruisers Net on the SSB. They were over 800 miles away and we talked with them like they were on the VHF radio. SSB is pretty old school but it works and it is always amazing to me just how it works. Takes some power though to throw our voices that far. Our antenna is our backstay and word around the campfire is don't touch the backstay while transmitting. Could get a minor burn. So they say.
Heard that there is a chance for a tropical storm down near Acapulco. It is hurricane season now so anything is possible. We are keeping our eyes on it.
Leaving the islands Monday. I'll miss this. Sitting in 15 feet of water and clearly able to see the chain of our anchor and the anchor itself. If it was on it's side I could read the label on it. Can't do that in Seattle area. Oh well. All good things blah blah. It is getting really hot out. Over 100 yesterday. We swam for couple hours total yesterday. Hard to do schoolwork in that kinda of heat.
More later...
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Heard that there is a chance for a tropical storm down near Acapulco. It is hurricane season now so anything is possible. We are keeping our eyes on it.
Leaving the islands Monday. I'll miss this. Sitting in 15 feet of water and clearly able to see the chain of our anchor and the anchor itself. If it was on it's side I could read the label on it. Can't do that in Seattle area. Oh well. All good things blah blah. It is getting really hot out. Over 100 yesterday. We swam for couple hours total yesterday. Hard to do schoolwork in that kinda of heat.
More later...
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Friday, May 16, 2014
Esenada del Candelero
Left La Paz couple days ago after 5 days in La Paz getting the sails fixed and using the internet to order some stuff for our upcoming trip to Hawaii.
I purchased a PLB which stands for Personal Locator Beacon. It fits on your life vest and if you fall overboard AND remain conscious, you pull out a little antenna and push a button and a signal gets sent into space and alerts the good ol' USA that you are in trouble. My thought is that at night, we might only have one person up and topside. Say that person falls over, harness is not attached to the boat for whatever reason. No one wakes up for the next couple of hours. Boat is driving itself doing 7 knots (5 knots if on Non Sequitur), 21 miles away before someone notices...I shudder everytime I think about it. Imagine being in the ocean with the boat sliding away from you. The whistle isn't waking anyone, your yelling goes unheard. You are dead. Right then you know it. Just have to wait for it. I realize even with the PLB/EPRIB turned on, it will take someone hours to get to you but at least they will have an idea where the hell you are. The crew on Appa will realize that someone is missing and turn around and also call the SAR team to get the coordinates to help with the search.
Typing all that out, it sounds pretty remote that someone can fall overboard especially since the crew is ALWAYS tethered on the boat when topside. One more layer of safety. Also if the boat's main EPIRB goes out, we'll have a spare.
I also bought DeLorme inReach SE. Handheld satellite thingy that transmit our position every 10 minutes. The faithful reader of this blog will get a link and upon clicking on it you can see EXACTLY where we are anywhere in the world. You can also text us, using satellites, and we can respond. It also has a COME GET ME button.
Satellites. I love them. Using them to send this email as we are once again out of reach by normal, terrestrial means.
CK Louis has a great thing about technology and using satellites to communicate. Google it. I laughed anyway.
The plan is for us to spend time in the Isla Espirtu Santo and Isla Partida area. Clear, warm water with that turquoise color that I love so much. Like having your boat with you in a swimming pool.
Went swimming yesterday with tons of fish and just splashed around. Projected to be 100 degrees today. Light wind. Probably stayed anchored today and tomorrow head up to Caleta Partida or maybe El Cardoncito.
We will start heading south to San Jose Del Cabo on the 19th. Just a couple days left.
Kids are ready to get back home and see their friends. Max wants to drive his car that his dad got for him. Jen wants to be there for her dad and mom. Me? I'm good. I got 5000 miles of open ocean sailing ahead of me. If that does scratch my sailing itch, nothing will.
End of August I am going to fly to Chicago and sail with my brother on his new boat. A J105. Angry Sloth. Carly LOVES sloths. We are going to race in the Chicago to St. Joesph race. Overnighter. Great fun and even better party.
Next year the Mackinaw race from Chicago. 333 miles of Lake Michigan sailing.
That's it for now...
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I purchased a PLB which stands for Personal Locator Beacon. It fits on your life vest and if you fall overboard AND remain conscious, you pull out a little antenna and push a button and a signal gets sent into space and alerts the good ol' USA that you are in trouble. My thought is that at night, we might only have one person up and topside. Say that person falls over, harness is not attached to the boat for whatever reason. No one wakes up for the next couple of hours. Boat is driving itself doing 7 knots (5 knots if on Non Sequitur), 21 miles away before someone notices...I shudder everytime I think about it. Imagine being in the ocean with the boat sliding away from you. The whistle isn't waking anyone, your yelling goes unheard. You are dead. Right then you know it. Just have to wait for it. I realize even with the PLB/EPRIB turned on, it will take someone hours to get to you but at least they will have an idea where the hell you are. The crew on Appa will realize that someone is missing and turn around and also call the SAR team to get the coordinates to help with the search.
Typing all that out, it sounds pretty remote that someone can fall overboard especially since the crew is ALWAYS tethered on the boat when topside. One more layer of safety. Also if the boat's main EPIRB goes out, we'll have a spare.
I also bought DeLorme inReach SE. Handheld satellite thingy that transmit our position every 10 minutes. The faithful reader of this blog will get a link and upon clicking on it you can see EXACTLY where we are anywhere in the world. You can also text us, using satellites, and we can respond. It also has a COME GET ME button.
Satellites. I love them. Using them to send this email as we are once again out of reach by normal, terrestrial means.
CK Louis has a great thing about technology and using satellites to communicate. Google it. I laughed anyway.
The plan is for us to spend time in the Isla Espirtu Santo and Isla Partida area. Clear, warm water with that turquoise color that I love so much. Like having your boat with you in a swimming pool.
Went swimming yesterday with tons of fish and just splashed around. Projected to be 100 degrees today. Light wind. Probably stayed anchored today and tomorrow head up to Caleta Partida or maybe El Cardoncito.
We will start heading south to San Jose Del Cabo on the 19th. Just a couple days left.
Kids are ready to get back home and see their friends. Max wants to drive his car that his dad got for him. Jen wants to be there for her dad and mom. Me? I'm good. I got 5000 miles of open ocean sailing ahead of me. If that does scratch my sailing itch, nothing will.
End of August I am going to fly to Chicago and sail with my brother on his new boat. A J105. Angry Sloth. Carly LOVES sloths. We are going to race in the Chicago to St. Joesph race. Overnighter. Great fun and even better party.
Next year the Mackinaw race from Chicago. 333 miles of Lake Michigan sailing.
That's it for now...
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Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Los Gatos
Sitting at anchor in Los Gatos. About 70 north of La Paz. Heading south tomorrow but not far. Might even go today.
Started the day off with a boat project, then at 1030 went swimming with Sam. Ben and Max doing school work.
Had fresh caught lobster last night and tonight fresh chocolate clams.
Adios
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Started the day off with a boat project, then at 1030 went swimming with Sam. Ben and Max doing school work.
Had fresh caught lobster last night and tonight fresh chocolate clams.
Adios
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Monday, May 5, 2014
In Agua Verde
Sitting in Agua Verde and have been for the past couple of days. Beautiful water and weather. \
Jen is on the beach this morning and I'm getting coffee going right now as I type this.
The local fishermen are buzzing around picking up bait from their bait traps and then heading out. We will be following them out and heading south. First stop is 18 miles south. Los Gatos.
Sea Otter caught a Mahi Mahi yesterday just outside of Agua Verde around the reef and we are going to steam out there and try to get Max some fish to land.
After Los Gatos, I think we are going to head top Timbabiche (Bahia San Carlos). Not sure after that.
The trip is winding down and the kids are excited to get home. Max wants to get back and drive as he is almost 17 and hasn't driven since last August. Ben wants to see his friends and so does Sam. She really wants to play with all the toys she remembers.
Max's electronic equipment is taking a hit now. After being exposed to salt air for almost a year, Max's computer has died, his iPhone died, lost his watch during a vicious gybe, etc.
The hot water heater's safety valve is leaking and that will get fixed in La Paz. Sails need work. Using your boat all the time is hard on her. Appa is holding up well though. Knock on wood.
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Jen is on the beach this morning and I'm getting coffee going right now as I type this.
The local fishermen are buzzing around picking up bait from their bait traps and then heading out. We will be following them out and heading south. First stop is 18 miles south. Los Gatos.
Sea Otter caught a Mahi Mahi yesterday just outside of Agua Verde around the reef and we are going to steam out there and try to get Max some fish to land.
After Los Gatos, I think we are going to head top Timbabiche (Bahia San Carlos). Not sure after that.
The trip is winding down and the kids are excited to get home. Max wants to get back and drive as he is almost 17 and hasn't driven since last August. Ben wants to see his friends and so does Sam. She really wants to play with all the toys she remembers.
Max's electronic equipment is taking a hit now. After being exposed to salt air for almost a year, Max's computer has died, his iPhone died, lost his watch during a vicious gybe, etc.
The hot water heater's safety valve is leaking and that will get fixed in La Paz. Sails need work. Using your boat all the time is hard on her. Appa is holding up well though. Knock on wood.
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