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.)



Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Lovely weather in between the squalls

Pacific Crossing, Day 29: Spectacular towering squalls have made sailing today a bit of a cat-and-mouse game. It's been a day of many sail changes and frustratingly light air between the squalls, but there've been perks, too:

1. We got a couple of those classic, tropical rain-baths;
2. We didn't need towels to dry out;
3. The wind around some of the squalls allowed us to make better time even if it made seas sloppy;
4. We actually outsailed a big wall of rain that looked sure to engulf us;
5. The miles to go are shrinking!

In spite of the things we've found tiring or tiresome, this crossing is one of those things we'll look back on with enormous satisfaction. But it will still be great to drop anchor and sleep a full night.

Sent via Ham radio

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1 comment:

  1. AnonymousApril 10, 2012 at 9:52 PM

    Hi Karen & Jim - I just stumbled onto your blog a few weeks ago and have found myself wanting to check in on you here from time to time... My husband and I signed up for sailing classes in June and one day hope to own a Dana.
    I was inspired to write when I just read that you hove to?! I understood that was impossible in a Dana? When you get to the Marquesas and have decent internet, I'd love to hear how you do it... Thanks for sharing your adventures & I'll cross my fingers for the wind gods to pay you a pleasant visit. Best, Kristina.

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