Popcorn Brain

I knew it!  I knew there was a good reason that we've strayed from the blogging!  We have been avoiding "popcorn brain"!  New evidence suggests that too much internetting (blogging, facebooking, twittering, etc.) actually causes a change in our brain structure!  Yikes!  It is time for another internet fast!  We unplugged about a year ago, a very cleansing experience. 

Back on the boat, this year's nest of finches have almost grown up.  We will be cleaning up the poop this weekend.  We are preparing for our annual 4th of July party.  We will be watching the fireworks show from the boat again.  There are other mindless updates I could give you, but basically, life goes on.

Never. Give. Up.

We have been galavanting around enjoying the sunshine and clean air.  Good food, Good wine, and Good times.  The Captain's 38th birthday has come and gone, and it goes to show ya, that just showing up is half the battle.  Most people don't even muster.  Cheers to his 38 years of mustering!  May he have at least 38 more!

The boom worked perfectly.

"At sea, I learned how little a person needs, not how much."  Robin Lee Graham

San Simeon Cruise Snafoo

Well, we left the dock in primo shape this morning.  The bay was calm.  Galley stocked with everything for a BBQ overnighter . . . Captain and First Mate hyped with Birthday energy.  The Captain is 38 years old today!  Nothing better than a weekend overnighter!  Cell phones stowed.  Pager and laptop left at home.

We got to the harbor mouth and saw some chop, but kept going.  After about an hour slogging it out, I looked over to the quiet Captain and found him pale and turning green.  I had popped a Dramamine about 20 minutes earlier and I offered one to the Captain.  He took it reluctantly.

Later, I said, "Is this the way you want to spend your birthday?"  He thought for a couple minutes and said, "I don't think so.  We're going back." 

All and all, we were out 3 hours.  We stretched our comfort zones.  We broke in the new boom.  We slept off the Dramamine in the bay.  The rest of the Birth Day is going much better.  Even without seeing San Simeon.

Morro Bay to San Simeon

This weekend we are sailing to San Simeon for an overnighter with the Yacht club.  It takes about 40 minutes to drive from Morro Bay to San Simeon which means it will probably take 4 hours to sail it.

I have to look up our provisions list from the Zongo Cup in order to get everything prepared for two days on the ocean blue.  There are lots of left over hard-boiled eggs from Easter so I know those will be on the provisions list this time around!

Galley Provisions:
water
ice
coffee
half & half
hard boiled eggs
sausage
carrot sticks
snap peas
hummus
french bread
olive oil
cheese
chocolate
fruit
beer
wine

camera
hot water maker
propane for BBQ

Finally! A New (Old) Boom

The long sailing hiatus of Training Wheels is finally coming to an end! No more having to be satisfied with motor cruises and BBQs on the bay. We found a replacement boom last week.

Lynn Meissen from the yacht club called the First Mate to inform her of a couple of derelict boats slated for removal in Morro Bay.  The First Mate immediately dropped what she was doing and headed over to the dock to check it out!  What did she find, but an old Coronado 25 in pretty poor shape.  Lucky for Training Wheels, it's boom looked great. Problem solved.

Already got it primed and the first coat of paint on just in time for an overnight sail with 4 other boats this weekend to San Simeon. Can't wait for another adventure. Should have an interesting post when we get back.

Opening Day 2011

Today was Opening Day Ceremonies for the Morro Bay Harbor.  Receiving Line and Three Gun Salute were followed by a race in the bay.

Morro Bay Yacht Club ocean fleet Race

I participated in my first ocean race of the new year today with the Morro Bay Yacht Club (MBYC). The Winter 2 race was under clear skies and 12- 15 knots of wind with 4-7 foot swells.  A great day for sailing.

I crewed on a Dana 24 with Captain Ken. It was nice to be in a race on a boat the size of Training Wheels especially one as well appointed as this one. It had all the electronics which come in handy during a race. The fleet was split into two classes today, basically a slow group and a fast group. We did fairly well finishing first in our class (slow group) and placing second after the handicaps were applied. With the handicaps we finished 5 overall in the fleet.  Not too bad a showing.  

We blew a big lead we had ending the second leg of six legs in the race. We made a poor jibe around the marker getting the jib stuck on the staysail during the jibe and lost about 4 minuntes. It is pretty tough to get the big jib around the staysail quickly.  This is why I changed Training Wheels from a cutter rigged sailboat (has 2 sails in front of mast close together) to a sloop rig (just a main and a jib).  

A good example of a cutter rigged sailboat from the Biscayne Bay Sailing Club website.

As for Training Wheels, the kill switch on the Engine broke so the next post will be outboard engine maintenance tips. 

Coats 3 and 4

More varnishing. Go Packers!

Refinishing Teak

Ok first we have to share last night's sunset with you.

I know.  It is amazing. And this is an iphone picture.  Amazing.  It deserves its own post.

Secondly, we are refinishing our teak.  After 16 months, it is shot to hell.  The lacquer was very warm and inviting on the teak a year ago, but the elements have beaten the warmth out of it.  We sanded down the varnish until the black weathered teak could no longer be seen.  We are applying layers of high gloss varnish now.  How many layers?

Neighbor Wilson says he has 10 layers on his teak.  His 10-layer-job is only 4 months old.  We'll see what it looks like in one year.  Another dock neighbor said his have 4 layers.  His are a year old and they look it.

We have settled on a cordial 5 layers.  And we are just expecting to have to do this every 16 months.  Some online research has suggested that applying a single touch-up coat or even some basic teak oil every other month will make the job last longer. Not sure if that is more or less work but may give it a try.

Full Moons and Low Tides

We are living in mud-flat city.  This is a weird month.  Lots of full moons and low tides.  It stands to reason we won't be getting out of our slip anytime soon.  Maybe we'll take Lil' Wheels out this weekend. 

Today is the Reason We Live in Morro Bay

Today is the reason we live in Morro Bay: 75 degrees, warm offshore breezes. 

Truman helped with the race committee at the Yacht club for the day-sailor race today. We are happy to announce that we are officially yacht club members.  I know I will have yacht club responsibilities at some point, but today was too beautiful and I was very selfish.  I went running on the beach.  Then I cruised down to the local coffee shop to meet a friend a'la photo-tour of the sunny day.

Right before sunset, Truman and I rode over to a new wine bar called STAX.  I would highly recommend it!  The day was so picturesque and I wish that sunset wasn't so early.  We both rode our bicycles all day!