Views from aloft





While Jason was up the mast helping his dad put on the new sail track, he took some great photos of the Delta area–and one of himself squinting so he looks like CA Gov. Arnold–just better looking.

Strong Track installation






We’ve removed the old sail track on the main mast and replaced it with a Strong Track, which allows the sail to slide up and down as if it’s greased. All that’s left is the mizzen track, which we hope will be simpler as we’ve learned a few things in the process!

Progress is SLOW!


Michael’s been working every night and most weekends on the galley, but it’s been very slow. Not only because he’s had to make space for the generator, build up the flooring under it, set up the plumbing and wiring, then haul in and install the heavy monster, but also because he’s had to make all the cupboards fit around existing furniture and against a curved hull. Anyway, we finally have a photo of the new laminate countertops. Next will be the drawers and doors.

Please ignore the water spots from the lens and look beyond the things that yet need to happen. The counter will have a lovely teak fiddle, tongue-and-groove siding to match the walls. It’s going to be gorgeous, plus very functional.

A Sistership’s New Owner

If you go down several posts to the one of me looking up into the pilothouse, you’ll note how pristine that boat is. As I mentioned in the comments below it–several posts below (I was just learning how to do this)–you’ll notice I mention that it’s a sister ship. She is called Suete Deern and she’s getting a grand overhaul by her new owners. Very exciting to hear from them.

What’s going on

On one of the few non-drizzly days when M. actually got to the boat, he took more sunset photos. They’ll give you something to look at while you’re waiting for updates on boat work. I just wish the boat were ready to live on so we could see these things every night!


It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything because there hasn’t been much progress to report. Michael’s been trapped at work, 59 hours one week, 76 the next, three Saturdays in a row. We hope that’s coming to an end. He plans to bring the kitchen cabinet walls (see earlier post) home this weekend to add the Wilsonart (Formica-type) to the sides. We’re going with a glossy white. I think it will be beautiful behind the mahogony drawers and doors.

The counter top was going to be a Corian product we bought when we still planned to redo the galley in the pilothouse. It goes wonderfully with my new moss green cushion covers (no, it’s not green), but not so well with the lovely fabric on the new lower salon cushions. So, it gets relegated to the counters we will retain in the pilot house–above the refrigerator and at the base of the companionway stairs, above the freezer. We’ll also use it to replace some not very lovely marble in the two heads. In the new galley, we’re going with a rather high end Wilsonart–quite glamorous really–called Deepstar Bronze. I’ll try to get M. to take a photograph (my camera isn’t behaving itself) when he and the camera get home. Or you can check it out at wilsonart.com.

View from aloft in San Carlos

Here we are, anchored off San Carlos, Mexico, July 2004. As you see, we’re still working on rigging issues–or maybe Michael (or Joshua–I don’t remember whether Josh and Andrew hoisted Michael or Michael and Andrew hoisted Josh for this one!) was putting up the fuzz ball in case we ran into one of those chubascos (summer storms) when crossing the Sea. On top of the pilot house, you can see a package containing the new solar panels, which Michael installed later that week. (Wonderful things–work like a charm.)

Original floor plan


Hudson Layout as originally designed. Ours will be remodeled to work better for us. Michael spent months doing the design work on his CAD program before he began executing any of it! Posted by Picasa