Baja Ha-Ha 2008

Well, here we are, the Captain and Crew of Chat de Mer! From left to right, Michael, Leo (captain), Mike, and Deb (me). We're a compatible group of sailors with a mix of talents and skills that should serve us well on the 8-week sailing trip this fall.

This is the photo that Leo will submit to the organizers of the Baja Ha-Ha, along with a write-up of our group. It will also be published in Latitude 38 in either October or November, along with those of all the other sailboats. Last year 180 boats were registered and around 165 actually made the trip.

On September 10 there will be a get-together at the Encinal Yacht Club (that is, if it is held at the same place as last year) for everyone who is planning to go on the Ha-Ha. It's a nice way to get to know the other boaters, and maybe see friends from last year. Also, captains who have not filled their crew list, as well as people interested in crewing, can connect. It's a fun evening.

We have lots of prep work to do in getting ready to go; boat maintenance, new equipment to install, menus to plan, night watch schedules to figure out, not to mention all the provisioning. Our fishing licenses arrived in today's mail from Mexico's Fish and Game organization. I have to have one, too, even though I'm not planning on doing any fishing, just because I'll be onboard. Oh, and we certainly can't forget the important stuff like making sure Mike's speargun works. He's been testing it today in the front yard, worrying the neighbors.

I think he's planning to spear a shark!

Chat de Mer, and a new Blog of Note

We're going sailing tomorrow. Our friend, Leo, owns a 43-foot catamaran and has invited us out for the day. Here is a photo of Leo's boat, the Chat de Mer, as he is pulling up to his spot at the dock in the Richmond Harbor. The name is french and, translated, means "SeaCat." It's a gorgeous boat, with three cabins, two heads (with showers!), a very nice galley including a small fridge (and freezer!), a t.v. with DVD-player, solar panels, single side-band radio (in addition to the usual VHF), honestly, I don't even know what all he's got on there. Pretty much all the bells and whistles any sea-going captain could ever want.

I've never crewed on a catamaran before so I have a lot to learn. Luckily, Leo seems to be pretty patient and good-natured (unlike that last captain I sailed with) so I'm looking forward to a fun day. Mike will be crew, too, so that should bring him down a notch or two!

The only downside is that I will not be able to make it to a Jazzercise class tomorrow. I've managed to get to class for 10 (yes, TEN) days in a row, and now I'll have to miss a day. I briefly considered attending twice one day to make up for it, but I think I'll just modify my goal to be "25 classes in 26 days" or, since I will miss class the following Saturday too, to attend a PhotoShop laptop crop at Adobe HQ in San Jose with my friend Susan) I'd better make it "25 classes in 27 days."

Still, I think that's pretty great! Going to all the extra classes has been fun. I'm moving out of my comfort zone by going to classes with different instructors, at different times of the day, and even going to regular Jazzercise, instead of only Step classes. All the variations are good; it keeps me from using the same muscles over and over every day. Instead, I'm getting a great, overall workout. And my new shoes are fabulous! No blisters.

My BFF (best friends forever), Judy, has a blog!! I'm very excited. She writes in such an entertaining manner and always includes lots of details (which I'm usually too lazy to do, but am trying to improve). I've been urging her for awhile now to start a blog, and I think so have some of her other friends, and she's finally done it. I especially enjoy the photos she posts. Guess that's why I love blogs so much. It's like email, but illustrated. I've always been priveledged, via our frequent emails to each other, to "hear" Judy's stories (all true) and enjoy her philosophy of life, and the meaning she finds in everyday things; I'm happy to know that now lots more people will also get to enjoy them.

Judy: You Go, Girl!

Oh, and I'm tickled to be able to say I'm the FIRST to subscribe to your blog!!! Can't wait to see what you post next!