Here you will find tales of voyages past and present on our trusty Pacific Seacraft Dana 24, "Sockdolager," and our Bigfoot29 powerboat, "Raven," from Port Townsend, Washington, USA. In 2009 we sailed north from Puget Sound up the west coast of Vancouver Island to the Queen Charlotte Islands (now called Haida Gwaii.) In 2010 we went back to the west coast of Vancouver Island. In July 2011 we left the Northwest, sailed to Mexico, and in March 2012 we crossed the Pacific to French Polynesia, then on to the Cooks, Niue and Tonga. We spent several months in New Zealand, and in May 2013 loaded Sockdolager (and ourselves) on a container ship for San Francisco. In June and July 2013 we sailed north along the California, Oregon and Washington coasts, and in August we arrived home. In October 2016, Sockdolager found new owners, and we began cruising on Raven, a unique wooden 29' powerboat. In 2018 we cruised up to Glacier Bay, Alaska, and back. But in 2024 we had the chance to buy Sockdolager back (we missed her), so we sold Raven. We hope you enjoy reading about our adventures as much as we enjoy having them. (And there will be more.)



Thursday, April 19, 2012

Landfall--The Marquesas

Pacific Crossing, Day 38: We made it. Arrived early this afternoon, safe and sound riding the crest of a 45-knot squall and actually lovin' it. 2867 miles, 37 days 3 hours and whatever minutes. More later, after we get some sleep.
Posted by at

19 comments:

  1. AnonymousApril 19, 2012 at 7:04 PM

    Congrats Shellbackers! Well done!!!!!

    s/v Carrolle E

    ReplyDelete
  2. chadApril 19, 2012 at 9:00 PM

    Outstanding! Hurray for the crew and the ship!
    S/V Bambolina
    SF Bay

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousApril 19, 2012 at 9:20 PM

    So happy for you- well done! Thanks for sharing your journey with us. -alex

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousApril 19, 2012 at 10:03 PM

    Yahoo, Sockdolager! Average speed 3.2 kts -- well done. We want to you know that we were with you the entire voyage! We very much enjoyed your daily posts and position reports. "Cooking = Chasing Food" was exceptionally good. Congradulations.
    Jay & Peggy Bowden
    Little Lara
    Dana #306

    ReplyDelete
  5. JasonApril 19, 2012 at 10:34 PM

    Congratulations on your crossing! That's a hell of an achievement. Been following you the whole way.

    Jason
    s/v hello world

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lucy EdwardsApril 20, 2012 at 3:10 AM

    Congratulations! I've followed you step by step, what an amazing voyage! Blessing shower on you for sharing this with us!

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousApril 20, 2012 at 4:26 AM

    YAY! GO Sockdolager! You guys rock! I hope your dreams are sweet as they can be!!

    -s/v Pandion

    cuurently, Nuku Hiva

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousApril 20, 2012 at 5:19 AM

    Good job you two and ecpecially Sockdolager. Can't wait for more updates and pictures. Again, congratulations!!! Marc Des Moines, Iowa

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousApril 20, 2012 at 7:26 AM

    Wow! You made it! But, really, Bay of Virgins? Did you plan that? Another week in the NW with rain, wind; I've been following you guys. Getting ready to head for Alaska in another week. Woman and cat aboard this trip; what could happen? Cheers to you both, Tom on the Lituya.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Mid-Life Cruising!April 20, 2012 at 8:16 AM

    37 days ... wow! So glad ya'll have arrived safe and sound ... get some rest!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Kyra and RickApril 20, 2012 at 8:25 AM

    Yay!! So glad you've arrived - enjoy your well deserved rest. Can't wait to read about your first impressions... cheers, the Nyon crew

    ReplyDelete
  12. ilikefringeApril 20, 2012 at 10:25 AM

    You're our heros for persevering thru the unending ITCZ! Thanks for all the lovely technical and weather details in your blogging. It helped us imagine how things were for our people on the decidedly low-tech Zulu (now in Hiva Oa). Best of luck to you and enjoy your well deserved rest and tropical adventures.
    Anne Hopkins
    Seattle, WA

    ReplyDelete
  13. KarenApril 20, 2012 at 11:08 AM

    Hooray! I humbly bestow upon you a Big HOOAH!!!! And also Bravo Zulu, as those Squids like to say. :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousApril 20, 2012 at 11:25 AM

    Yoo-hoo!!! Felicitations from the Paris Fan Club. Loved following along. Excellent work. Was with you the whole way.

    Doug
    - President of the PFC (currently monitoring your posts from Bangalore, India)

    ReplyDelete
  15. PT SailsApril 20, 2012 at 11:30 AM

    WooHoo! We're celebrating with/for you! Congratulations from ALL your sailmakers!

    ReplyDelete
  16. AnonymousApril 20, 2012 at 3:24 PM

    As Billy on "Yellow Star" here in La Paz used to say frequently on the Morning Net, "YAHOO LOUEY"!! You made it! Congratulations!!

    Sorry we never met you while you were also here. We have read your blog every day and sent prayers for yours and "Clover's" safe arrivals, figuring that his even lower-tech approach than yours means he is most likely still somewhere behind you.

    Rest well, then enjoy, enjoy, enjoy! We are grateful for your wondrous first-hand, real-time accounts as we consider our own decision - east or west from Mexico next year. Keith & Kay aboard S/V Chamisa, Westsail 42

    ReplyDelete
  17. AnonymousApril 20, 2012 at 10:31 PM

    Congratulations you guys! A major salute to both - Sockdolager and crew! Thanks for the blogging efforts as we were with you the whole way. Until our paths cross again, sail safely and stay well.

    The crew of the Silver Fog...

    ReplyDelete
  18. Bill ConnorApril 21, 2012 at 6:30 AM

    And a big Wahoo! from the Boulder Boat Builders of the Rockies: Catherine Connor (whom you worked w/ at IBM Jim), Bill, and Spencer. We've followed you everyday for the passage and done our best to will the weather gods from afar (didn't work to well, did it?). Definitely one for the books!

    ReplyDelete
  19. AnonymousApril 25, 2012 at 1:42 PM

    Way to go, you guys! David is seriously thinking of coming out to meet you there ;-)! Glad you had just enough wind!

    Tracy Lorraine

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)