My buddy Steve

My buddy Steve is taking off tonight and I wanted to post a picture of us.

I still don’t know what my plans are but I feel things are starting to take shape.

My visa is up today. I was at the immigration office at 7:30 and the officer wasn’t happy with me waiting so long to inform him of my needed boat repairs. I had to go to the other side of Tahiti to get a letter from a ship yard stating that my repairs are critical to my safety, and the truth is I really do need to fix my radar and get the parts for my new sat phone. He wrote me a letter stating that I need 30 more days, I’ll get the extension. I’m planning to sail over to the yard (35mi) to make my repairs next week. It’s not so expensive for me to stay there, it’s about $275 a month and I can haul out if I wish. I’ll only stay in the yard a few weeks. I’m feeling better with the extra time.

I couldn’t sleep last night, my bigger boat concept may fly and I seem to have a few options, hummmmmm? I really don’t know my path at this point. The new boat is calling me hard! It needs work but there is nothing I can’t handle.

I got a few Instant messages from people concerned that I’d be giving up my trip and I certainly don’t see it that way. I’ve written many times, “It’s my journey that’s important to me, not the trip”. Conquering the sea and circumnavigating the globe falls short of me following my path (Chi) in life. I know I’ll circumnavigate, it’s my destiny, but how I get there is more important. I meet so many people obsessed with circumnavigating that miss so much. They blaze through countries missing everything to their ego, “such a waste”!

Getting into the “Big Boat” would answer a lot of questions for me. I could turn people on to sailing face to face (chartering) not just on the web, and I could donate my time to people who could really use a boost in their life, not to mention the fact I’d be stepping into an awesome boat. It’s like the joke when the wife says to the husband “It’s me or the boat” and he replies “I’m sorry honey but a boat like this only comes around once in a lifetime”. I could easily turn this into a quarter-million dollar charter boat (4 cabins) with a bit of sweat and mussel. The other thing is if I can sell Namaste I could immediately finish my next DVD and start on the next one. I’ll make an educational “This old boat” kind of thing as I restore her, she really is beautiful!

Trust me the words “Sell Namaste” do not fall off my lips easily. She is not only my home, she is my best friend!

If anyone would be interested in buying a 28’ Westsail let me know. I don’t know if this whole thing will fly but I want to put out the feelers. You know if you think about it Tahiti is the perfect spot to start cruising from. The longest passage is just behind you.  

I may change my mind about this whole thing as soon as I send this email but I like posting my thoughts fresh.                                                                                                                               

I’m not saying much about the boat because I don’t want anyone to scoop it on me.

Peace, Love and new ideas!

Cheers everyone!

Alex