Wing and Wing News

The time has come to call it done. The repairs to Home Free will not be completed before my contract expires, and we could not come to an agreement on an extension. Therefore, my delivery of Home Free will conclude here in Marina Del Rey, about three days shy of San Francisco.

In all, the passage was a valuable learning experience. The politics which are coming into play regarding the problems and mechanical failures are not the most enjoyable aspect, but important points to consider in the future. Ultimately, we are safe and sound, the boat will be repaired, and will get to the bay by another crew.

Despite the fact that vessels are investments that require continued capital investment, it seems that the delivery skipper is walking a fine line between liability and asset. On one hand, I was expected to perform all repairs an ensure the continued safe operation of the vessel. On the other, it would seem I was expected to make the passage without inflicting any wear or tear at all.

An experience I am very happy to have behind me, I look forward to my next sailing adventure, whether it be a delivery, a charter or just a daysail, the sport continues to provide me with the opportunities to bond with the sea and share my passion with others.

Keep checking in here at Wing and Wing, our future is full of adventure! And, as always, feel free to comment, we like to hear from those we may inspire.

Fair winds, following seas, and true happiness to you all.

Q

The verdict is in, and it does not look good for a timely delivery. The shaft on Home Free was bent, which may have been caused by, or actually caused, the cutlass bearing failure. End result: it will take at least three days to have a new shaft fabricated. It will be Monday at the earliest before we return to the water.

This may be it for my journey. I was contracted through Friday the thirteenth, and unless a new arrangement is negotiated by then, my Northbound passage ends here in the Windward Yacht Boat Yard. A sad end to such a dynamic adventure, although I can be proud of completing more than half of my intended distance, getting the boat back into the States, and persevering under repeated breakdowns and gear issues.

As soon as the negotiations are resolved, I will post my fate, so stay tuned.

Things have not been simple on this trip. Before I flew to Cabo San Lucas, I told people who wished me good times that I wanted to have a boring trip!

The propeller on Home Free is not damaged or fouled, unfortunately. The problem, as we know so far, is a broken cutlass bearing, which supports the drive shaft between the hull and the propeller. To repair this component, the boat must be hauled, which is why we are currently on the hard.

If I managed to prevent damage to the shaft, the bearing should be replaced, and Home Free floating once again, by mid-afternoon. If not, well, I will think about that when the diagnosis comes from the boat yard. No need to manifest anything negative.

So, Bruce, Robert and I have a morning to kill in Marina Del Rey while we wait. Stay tuned for the verdict!

After the prop fouled last night, we sailed in very light, variable winds, covering barely one nautical mile an hour. Fortunately, we were outside the shipping lanes. And lucky for us, this did not happen off the wild coast of Baja! Around 6am an Easterly wind began to blow 5-10 knots, and we were able to make some westward progress. At dawn, I decided to hoist the asymmetrical spinnaker and reach across the Santa Barbara channel towards Marina Del Rey. I contacted a commercial diver to clear the propeller, and provided we can get to the anchorage, we should be underway again by nightfall.

Ironically, the winds are extremely light, which makes for EXCELLENT motoring weather, and HORRIBLE sailing weather. I find myself using tricks I usually reserve for our local Sierra Nevada lake just to keep the boat moving. About ten miles out, the wind has died, the spinnaker flaps and sways like a plastic bag on the wind.

Distance log
Daily 98.1
Total 873.8
Average 98.1/day
Average while underway 124.8/day

So long, San Diego!

After a 12 hour layover full of activity, we are underway again bound for Santa Barbara. We cleared U.S. Customs with a few problems involving dock space and paperwork, but in the end we were allowed to stay! We found ourselves too tired for the homecoming celebration, and after attending to the boat we got a good nights rest.

This morning I sent Robert off to West Marine to get some replacement parts: a check valve to replace the one that broke and drained our fresh water supply on day five, and a deck plate to replace the one that disappeared off its keeper chain on day three. While he was gone, Bruce and I refueled the boat and checked the weather.

The passage to Santa Barbara looks to be beautiful. The winds are mild, the sea behaving itself. There is a significant wind blowing between Point Conception (the most notorious cape in this stretch of the trip, where the Humboldt current manifests strongly) and San Francisco which is supposed to retreat as we approach. If the current forecast holds, we will have an unabated cruise up the coast in perfect conditions. If the wind does not retreat, we will wait it out in Santa Barbara. I am relieved to be back in California, where my options for safe harbor and fuel are more frequent and dependable.

Robert is fitting into the boat well, and his addition means shorter watches and longer rest periods (3 on/6 off vs 4 on/4 off), which also makes the remainder of the adventure that much more comfortable.

With the fresh water problem solved, I was finally able to shower this afternoon while underway – ahhhh. Sometimes such simplicities as a hot shower and clean clothes can make such a difference in attitude. It is these things that make cruising such an attractive lifestyle to me.

Total distance as of 16:00 = 809 NM

Update: at 22:00 we had a propeller failure! The same light wind that made motoring so easy now become a hindrance as we limp along under sail. More info tomorrow.

Hasta, Mexico!

On glassy calm seas we skirt pods of whales and try to mix in with the freighter traffic as we approach San Diego. I expect we will clear customs around 10 pm, and then it is on to a slip for the night. Our new crew, Robert, will be meeting us when we arrive, and after getting the boat washed down, and filling the water tanks, we plan to head to a local yacht club or brewpub for some homecoming celebration!

If this weather pattern continues (cross your fingers everyone), I think I could still make San Francisco with a day to spare, and have an absolutely beautiful tour of the California coast while I am at it.

I apologize again for the lack of photos, but until I return to the land of wifi they will have to wait. I am still snapping them as they present themselves tho.

Distance log:

Daily 128.1
Total 689.1
Average 99/day