ONE WEEK TO GO !!!

The target date is set! We've looked at the forecasts for wind and tide, and August 22nd looks perfect for a morning departure - an ebb tide out the gate and then what should be a nice sail down the coast. As the locals know, catching the tide through the gate can mean a difference of hours to the sail plan. We're excited to get going, but there's still plenty to do!

We've been downsizing our lives for the last few years and can say it's not a simple thing to do! The last of our land-based belongings are in storage, we're left with a few tweaks to the boat setup and stowing what we need to take with us. As we'll be coastal cruising for the next few months we don't have to prepare for an extended crossing, but we do have to fit the spares and gear we have aboard; it's quite different to how we did things while living aboard at the slip.

So, what's left? We've refurbished the alternator and have to install it and a new regulator, that'll be happening later this week. We'll also be installing the monitor wind vane and stowing "Mr. Toad", the water generator. We've extra lines, spare main anchor & storm anchor, various parts, tools, the Snuba system, and boxes of various necessities to fit in our limited space (it's called boat Tetris for a reason). We've a first aid course booked, and Andy will be working with our diver to have one last bottom clean and getting set up to do that ourselves going forward. We'll be updating navigation software, topping up water, diesel and propane, doing the usual pre-departure maintenance as well as a more in-depth systems check, and selling the car (hello, bikes). We've also ordered a new staysail which we'll pick up in Santa Barbara on our way south.

Honestly, it's not a huge first voyage; we'll be heading to Pillar Point (Half Moon Bay) where we'll stop and catch our breath for a few days. It'll be 6-8 hours which will do just nicely! And once we're under way we'll start working on the promised videos (we've been touched by the number of people who've asked for these and want to follow along). We can't promise they'll happen often, but they will happen!