I went to go get my cable yesterday morning and was back at the boat by 8:00 am. The anchor was up by 8:20.
I haven’t load tested the motor since I rebuilt it. As soon as I put a load on it I could see it was expelling more blue smoke (burning oil). I really should have changed the rings. Instead of getting depressed about it I turned it off.
As I sailed out of the La Plyeta anchorage many friends waved goodbye from the deck of their boats “Fair winds, Calm seas”. My smile was long and the taste of adventure dripping from my lips.
The wind quickly piped up to 20 knots. Instead of reefing I decided to really push the rig. The motor I can live without, but the mast? I pushed Namaste harder then I ever have yesterday. If something was going to break, break now I thought. I spent the day sailing in 20-25 knots on a broad reach under full sail. I’ve been at sea in 60 knots of wind but I always reef and I don’t push the rig very hard. The Auto Pilot wasn’t too happy so I hand steered most of the day, what a ride. Namaste bashed through the trade winds at 4.7 – 5.5knots all day. All the work over the past 3 months paid off yesterday, man was that fun!
I arrived at the anchorage at Contadora just as the last glimmer of light touched the pink sky. I used the motor for another 10 minutes to set my anchor.
I just want to say “thank you” to everyone who sent me instant messages wishing me luck and filling my day with kind words.
Someone sent an Instant message saying I was “crazy” for leaving without a strong motor. They did not include a return address. I want to tell you a story. When I was five years old I came home and used the work “F#ck” in a sentence. My mother looked at me and sat me down. Bewildered she didn’t really know what to say. After thinking about it she told me all the bad words she knew. She also told me that she would appreciate it if I didn’t speak like that, and that it was vulgar. She was adamant about two words that I was not allowed to use in her house “I can’t, I never want to hear you say I can’t” she said. I might be a bit “crazy” as you say, but I am sailing across the Pacific!
The wind is supposed to be a bit strong over the next few days. Today I’m planning on cleaning the bottom and the bottom of the dinghy. I also want to rearrange my provisions. I don’t know where anything is and looking for stuff at sea can be a chore. I may take tomorrow to go spear fishing and relax for a day.
Peace, Love, and Insanity!
Alex
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