S/V Morning Star

[Dan Dow]

"

Well, 6 months ago, we announced that we were going to attempt the Pacific Cup, if we were declared cured of cancer. This week on Monday as well as Thursday for all intents and purposes, I was declared "Cured" of cancer and do not have to visit my doctor but annually for a checkup. 

The preparations for the Pacific Cup, a race from San Francisco Yacht Club to Kaneohe Bay Yacht Club, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii,; have not gone quite as well as the medical side. With 11 days till start time, we have had a disappointing inspection, abandoned crew (due to there jobs ending in October and the need to save, prepare and plan for that), as well as a shortage of funding and time in combination for us personally. 

At this point we are in need of a haul out, re rigging of the Mizzen Mast, an emergency steering system, a storm Jib, another manual bilge pump for the inside of the boat, and another IPIRB for the interior of the boat and a Satphone, or modem and software for our SSB; as well as finding new crew and getting some practice in; oh yeah and we also have to finish re-installing the freshly rebuilt transmission (thanks to the crab pot incident).

For those of you who know me, you know there is a plan "B"! Plan "B" is to sail down the coast visiting friends and family, and hanging out in the Chanel Islands until the end of hurricane season, then on to Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and eventually Costa Rica and maybe the Canal.

So stay tuned the party is just beginning!

"