After a hiatus of five long years, we are going sailing again. When we returned from our last big trip in 2017, Dan wanted to work five more years, and at last, that time has passed. Only this time the trip will be a bit different. Instead of taking our lovely Anjuli (the “big” boat) south down the coast to Mexico, we will be trailering our “small” boat to Puerto Penasco, BC (that’s Baja California, not British Columbia) and cruising the Sea of Cortez for the winter.
The plan was hatched in the rainy fall of 2018. Summer in the Pacific Northwest is spectacular, but once the rain starts, sailor’s dreams turn to warm tropical water, and that probably had something to do with it. Why not just buy a small, cheap boat, tow it to Mexico and leave it there, kind of like a winter retreat? No bashing back up the coast, no need to buy insurance, no forest of teak to keep varnished and protected from the tropical heat.
We didn’t need to look any farther than our own marina for the boat. A vintage 1973 Cascade 29 whose most recent owner had lost interest was deteriorating at the dock. I had a vision, and could almost see it as a lovely little boat which we would call Bluebird, painted butter yellow… “I bet he’ll sell it cheap” we said. He did, and for a $1,000 it was ours.
She just needed some love – and a few boat units (1 boat unit = $1,000). And a trailer to carry it on. And a pickup truck to tow it with. As with most projects, it took longer and cost more than anticipated. But at last we are ready.
Threat of snow in the pass elevations has pushed up our departure date a few days, and we’re throwing everything in the truck or boat and heading south within a day or two. We will probably look like the Beverly Hillbillies going down the road. The journey south will be an adventure in itself! A week or so from now and we should be wearing shorts…
Adventures of Anjuli 