Lost!!!

Wow, I’ve been getting a lot of mixed input. About half of the people are saying “Go for it, if you can travel and help people along the way it would be really special”, and some are saying “Finish what you have started; you’ll be a looser if you don’t”.

First of all my travels would not be coming to an end by any means, nor would I be putting a hitch in the project. Second of all, so much depends on me getting into the new boat it seems very unlikely no matter how much I want it. I would have to sell Namaste and I don’t know if the interested parties would step up to the plate in time. If I were in the states I would try to swap paper with the bank but I’m so far away. Namaste would be a much easier sell for them.

A strange thing happened to me today. I was in the internet café and recognized a guy but didn’t know from where. We got to talking and we realized we met in Cartagena Colombia. The strange thing is he is a fiberglass guy and was working in the yard in Cartagena building nesting dinghies. I told him about the possibility of bringing a boat with bad decks to Cartagena for repair. “Excellent idea, and good cheap labor” He gave me the info for a guy/crew who could take care of the decks on the big boat “no problem even if they needed a new core”. He did advise me not to use Colombian epoxy “go name brand”, I thought it was a strange coincidence.

I’ve been thinking long and hard about why I’m so attracted to the idea of getting into this project boat. The answer is yes I want a bigger boat, yes I want to charter, and yes I want to get into some humanitarian work. But I also think I’m not feeling challenged. The world is mine and it’s not going anywhere. My friends here think I’m bored. The other thing is I don’t always want to be alone and Namaste is quite small for two. Most of all I don’t want to feel rushed now. Everyone is in a rush to get somewhere for Cyclone season. I just want to sit down, set up, and finish my video!!!! If I had the new boat I would build an edit suite in one of the cabins.

I got a bit depressed yesterday when I was putting together a spec-sheet on Namaste, it didn’t feel right and I really realized how much work I’ve done on her since 2003. I’ll post it at the end of this log. Half of me says “just up anchor and split”!

My other plan is to spend some time working in New Zealand. I spoke to a few people at production Companies in NZ today and I may be able to find a sponsor for my work permit, “That’s kind of cool”!

I guess I just need to ride out the next weeks and see what happens. I’m 75% sure I’ll sail to the Cooks the second week of August. I’d really like to go to Florida to inspect the boat but I just can’t afford it.

Why oh why do I feel so stuck. The world is set before me what am I thinking?

Peace, Love, and ……Ahhhhhhhh??????, hummmmmmmm????

Namaste

Description:

“Namaste” is a full keeled pocket cruiser capable of sailing any ocean. She went through a major refit in 2003 and received a new rudder and bowsprit. The mast was removed and rewired along with much of the boat. All of the thru-hulls are new and were replaced in 2003.  She is ready to cruise any ocean and is a joy at sea.

Length (ft only): 28’3”

Manufacturer: West Sail

Year: 1976

Model: 28

Type: Cruiser

Fuel Type: Diesel

Number of engines 1

Engine: Volvo MD11-C

Hull Material: Fiberglass

Boat Name: Namaste

LOA: 28.3

LWL: 23’6”

Beam: 9’7”

Draft: 4’4”

Ballast: 4,200 lbs lead

Displacement: 13,500 Lbs

Fuel Capacity & material: 42 gal diesel/Stainless

H20 Capacity & material: 80 gal/Stainless

Holding Tank Capacity & material: 10 gal

# of Opening Ports: 7

# of Cabins: 1

# of Heads 1

Shower: 1

Galley

Refrigeration: Tropikool new 2006, Loading: Top

Stove Mfr: Origo 2 burner Alcohol

Water system: Pressure galley/head,  foot pump in galley, Sink: Stainless

Water Filter system: 5 micron

H20 Maker: Pur 1.5 gallon/hr new 2005

Electronics:

Raymarine ST 4000 Autopilot new 2003

Raymarine ST60 Tridata and wind, new 2003

Raymarine SL 72 Radar new 2003

Garmen GPS map 176 new 2003

Uniden VHF new 2007

Sea 225 SSB radio new 2007

Xantrex 1000wt Prowatt inverter new 2004

Xantrex link 1000 battery computer

Air-X wind generator new 2004

3, 50wt solar panels new 2005

New BZ solar charge controller new 2007

All new electric control panels new 2003

Sony CD player new 2005

110v system: new panel 2003

number of batteries: 4 x Trojan T-105’s (2006)

Battery Chg Mfr: Yes UKN

Shore Power Cord:

Sails & Rigging

Main (1) material: dacron new 2003

Staysail(1) material: dacron / good

Jib Size: Dacron/good

Also Yankee, Drifter, and storm trysail with separate track on mast.

Roller furling Mfr: CDI new 2003

Standard Winches 2 in cockpit, 1 on cabin for reefing, 3 on mast.

Deck & Hull

Hull color: White

Deck color : White

Deck Material: Fiberglass

Hull Config: Full keel

Canvas: Bimini/Dodger

Bow & stern pulpits: 1 + 1 Lifelines: double

Boarding gates: 1 # of cockpit lockers: 1

Anchor Mfr: Plow and 2 danforth 300’ chain, new ABI windlass 2007

Mast Steps new and custom in 2007

Custom stern pulpit 2003

Deck netting 2007

Diesel heater

2hp Yamaha and 8’ Achilles dinghy

Rudder new 2003

Custom mast steps 2007

Peace, Love, and Namaste!!!

Alex