The Adventure

Spring & Summer 2004

08/16/06

Our reality of working and living on a 40 foot boat...
 

     Our first night away from the harbor and the boat yard and the hectic schedule of fixing things on the boat was in Inati Bay, just 2 hours sailing time across the water from Bellingham, WA.  New Dawn at anchor w/ Clair de Lune (Ed & Judy Clair) and Nereid (Ray & Judy Emerson). These are three of the four boats that have come together as a Valiant owners group.  The other Valiant is the Cat's Paw owned by John Riggs.

     I am getting ahead of myself now.  When Laura and I first arrived in Bellingham in March of 2004, we thought we would be sailing in a matter of weeks.  New Dawn was far from ready.   We often joked to each other that New Dawn needed to be broken out of prison, because of the barbed wire security fence that surrounds the boatyard.

Our master plan for her escape consisted of disguising her with fresh bottom paint.  The bottom paint is ablative, so we applied red bottom paint to all of the high wear areas of the hull and latter covered it with blue (much better color coordination!). When we start to see red, it is time to paint again. 

     Here you can see the fresh bottom paint and our mast, ready to be stepped.  Laura did a great job waxing the mast and bringing out its luster.  During the shipping process the mast was completely stripped and all of the rod rigging lashed to a pallet.  There always seems to be more to do than we originally anticipate, but with consistent effort we make progress.

     We spent another month at dock doing various projects until sailing over to Port Townsend to inspect and work on our rigging and measure New Dawn for a set of sails.  Her original sails were close to fifteen years old or more with a lot of miles on them.

     The first step was to evaluate all of our old sails.  This picture is of our drifter, used for light winds and we decided, with the help of professionals, it will be good for another journey.  Four of our eight sails are being replaced which include our three primary sails.  We had the opportunity to create our own logo for the new main sail.  Laura drew up a number of designs and we hung our favorites up around the boat.  The following is a picture of the final product.  We have loved the advice, help and friendship we have received at Port Townsend Sails.  Hasse and Co. we love you!

     It is expensive to stay in Port Townsend during the summer months so we have anchored down at Port Hadlock in the south end of the bay.  This is a picture of the town on our first night.

Spring 2004

New Dawn, arrived at the Sea View North boat yard in Bellingham, WA in December of 2003. We arrived in March 2004 and began the repairs.

The lights are curing the new fiberglass on her keel.

Ross is painting a "warning" red stripe on all the major wear areas so we know that is we see red, it is time to repaint.

The bottom paint in high in copper content and ablative.

When it was time to step our mast, three other Valiant owners came over to help.

We love that Valiant owners tend to love their boats and help you with yours

She is in the water and with a new home port, ours.

Ross' first time up the mast. He is getting ready to install our new radar dome.

Ross up the mast with Anne below.

A picture of Neried, a sistership to New Dawn. Neried is owned by Ross' parents. They were also refitting their Valiant 40 in Washington.

Ed and Ray, Ross' dad and a fellow Valiant owner, are rowing the anchor and chain out into the water.

Dinner aboard New Dawn. A potluck with 3 Valiants.

Ross rowing to shore in Inuiti Bay. Our first over- night with our boat.

The three Valiants rafted together in Inuiti Bay. April 2004

A view of the roof of a bridge in Tacoma, Wa.

My best friend Kate. We toured Tacoma. I was just glad to be living in the same state so we could visit.

April visit on my neice and nephew with Ross' sister inthe background

A sail aboard the grandparents boat.

Tayl.or, Ross and Gage. Visiting onthe foredeck

I just think this one is fun.

The tulip festival in Skagit County.

Ross among the tulips

Ther were carts giving tours of the fields drawn by mules.

My parents visited in May 2004. My father at the helm.

My mother and I. I was thankful that the day was so warm and calm for a sail in Bellingham Bay.

Like father, like daughter, we both love to be at the wheel.

May/June 2004. We arrived in Port Townsend, Wa to get our sailed checked by Hasse and Company. Thay make the best sails!

Our anchorage spot for the month, Port Hadlock. A very peaceful town and body of water.

the sunsets filled the skies

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New Dawn, arrived at the Sea View North boat yard in Bellingham, WA in December of 2003. We arrived in March 2004 and began the repairs.

The lights are curing the new fiberglass on her keel.

 

 

Summer 2004

We designed a logo for our boat. We sewed it onto the new Main sail.

We took a break in July to visit home in Alaska. Laura's family is reading out on the floating dock at Lost Lake.

Laura is on a hike with Jill and friends in the mountains surrounding Anchorage, AK

The start of our annual Mother/daughters hike or ski. We went on the Ressurection trail this year.

Back in Port Townsend. The Rhododendron festival parade. One of our friends works at the PT brewery. (great beer)

Our oasis from the choas of the boat yard. The apartment is on the second floor of a house, surrounded by a beautiful garden.

This is the reason for the oasis. Our boat is cluttered with stuff while the old engine is being replaced with a new one.

View of the new engine, sort of.

Our galley. We ate out a lot this month.

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We designed a logo for our boat. We sewed it onto the new Main sail.