We're almost ready to take off on the first leg of the trip. It's very late in the season for this trip, so it's critical to find the right weather window. Currently, the wind is bad - blowing from the South, and the swells are from the W at anywhere from 8-12 ft. Bad combination when you're trying to go south.
I had planned to bring the boat back to Seattle from Port Townsend yesterday (10/2/2007) and provision with food/supplies and get final work done (vinyl name/hailing port installed), but the wind blowing up the Sound (20-30 kts from the South) forced me to take the ferry instead. So today I ran all around spending more money on an AIS receiver, refreshing the flare inventory (old flares have expired), getting jacklines, and purchasing a new liferaft.
Because issues with crew were so unsettled, I ended up hiring a delivery skipper to go along with me. Paying $350 + expenses means guaranteed crew, and it'll be far cheaper than trucking the boat. Plus, I really want the experience. Current plan is to take the ferry to the peninsula tomorrow, load all the new equipment onto the boat, and then meet the delivery skipper for a boat inspection. Then... dammit, start this trip. I'll probably single-hand the boat to Neah Bay, where I'll wait until the skipper says "Okay - we have a weather window! I'm on my way to Neah Bay!" With only two of us likely on board, we'll make stops along the way for rest. Tentatively Newport, Oregon, and Eureka, California. Man, this has taken so long. Can't wait to get going.
