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.)



Saturday, March 17, 2012

Mood Indigo

Pacific Crossing, Day 5: Another lumpy night, and today the wind went light as forecast. We're sailing wing-and-wing like a butterfly, going about 3.5 knots, happy to be moving along. Pulses of large, long-period swells come and go, all the way from the big storms in the North Pacific. Sockdolager is sailing like a champ! Dinner tonight will be cheesy egg, pepper and salsa burritos.

I'm finding the light at sea to be mesmerizing. The sea's mood is illumined, defined and shaped by light, color and wind. All 3 affect the inner sea of grey matter, which is, after all, mostly seawater itself. For several days, the sea was ultramarine, post-card blue, and playful. A wavelet boarded our leeward side, and I thought HA! Missed me! But when my foot felt wet and I looked down, my shoe was filling with seawater draining out of a cockpit scupper. Ho, ho! The next day, a small dollop of seawater hit my head, soaking the back of it, just as I was ducking below for a nap. Tee-Hee! (Sigh.)

Yesterday the sea was dull pewter highlighted with indigo and silver under an equally somber sky. A bit of spray tapped my shoulder as I made coffee in the galley--wow. Today the sea is a lighter version of yesterday's color palette, with golden light softening the somber. It all reminds me that we scratch a straight wake at the sea's forbearance. (Yes, I've been reading Conrad again.) The sea's moods encourage reflection, and that's a good thing.

Here's a shout-out to Captain Keith Kelsey, world's best First Mate at age 14, and now Harbor Pilot extraordinaire and Great Dad. He's fighting the battle of his young life, against cancer. If you read this, know that you sail with us in spirit, Brave One.

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