Heading out!

Yeah, when you start having 2 enclosed decks and carry enough fuel to cross oceans, it gets to be a greater concern, because what you "feel" departing won't be what you feel arriving, in the middle of the trip you have free surface effect to calculate in as well. When you're in the middle of the ocean in a building storm is not when you want to be going, "this doesn't feel good". There is a great value to feeling the moment and depth of the roll and being able to judge reserve stability by it, but by the time it doesn't feel good it might be too late.

Stability testing and books are not uncommon for trawlers. Jim obviously was on top of stability issues to have contacted a NA in his cruising area rather than just relying on the stability books aboard.

The Yorksafloat blog mentions that Jim and Lara met at West Point. They're being modest. I have full confidence in both Jim and Lara's capabilities and intelligence. We should be hearing interesting reports and great stories.

Judy

Just an opinion after full time sailing the Western Pacific Coast; Alaska to San Carlos Mexico, from 1978 to the late 1980s.

My wife and I sailed out of our home port; South Beach, Newport Oregon. A very good proving ground for both man and boat as well as having good tax benefits.

First year we were going to meet family in San Carlos Mexico for Christmas. We left Newport Or. October 1 1979. Christmas eve found us weathered in, in Mission Bay California. After a pleasant and sometimes rough ride down the West Coast! We found any kind of a schedule on a small boat is nothing you can count on.

Example:

Rough weather off Crescent City Ca. ….. Holed up a few days for Cape Mendocino to lay down… Great weather in San Francisco….. Few days at Angel Island and more at Aquatic Park. That year we made friends in Morro Bay Ca. and lingered a few weeks. Point Conception blowing 55 knots … Santa Barbara rest up and more new friends… but clock ticking. Balboa Island visited with friends with an empty dock 200 meters west of ferry….3 weeks. The trip to Avalon Catalina Island and back to Balboa Island. Time to Christmas growing shorter but enjoying every minute of each day.

Christmas found us in Mission Bay Ca.; a bit short of our original destination of San Carlos Mexico….. But with new friends having a great “POT LUCK” Christmas dinner with the weathered in pals.

After this, we did away with schedules!

If “Mother Nature and Circumstances” agree with your schedule….Great… If not….JUST WAIT! This voyage is meant to be fun.

ENJOY THE SAGA AND DON’T RUSH IT!

Sorry to ramble… but brings back a flood of pleasant memories.

OVER BUILD AND OVER PREPARE!

DOC