Three Men In A Tub

September 19-21, 2014

Shakedown Cruise To Catalina Island

After sending in my registration for the Baha Ha Ha, I listed my need for another crew member or two for the trip south.   My boat is made so that it can assist me with single handing for long distance, but Jason and I wanted to have one other person along to help us with keeping watch, especially at night.

I had a total of six others who wished to join the Spirit of Adventure and from those, I chose Doug.   Doug is a captain & pilot in the commercial airline industry and flies full time for a living.

Jason and I met Doug early in September and went out for a short day sail with him.   Even though his experience was mostly limited to harbor sailing, we instantly liked his personality and I liked the way he took the tiller of my boat and sailed the boat for almost the full time that we were out.   After him seeing the boat and meeting us, I asked him if he was still interested and he said, "I'm all in!"   From the very beginning Doug was so enthusiastic.

We quickly planned a time to go to Catalina for a few days to see if we could all get along together on a 34' boat.   We each planned a meal to make, planned our sleeping arrangements and I decided that our destination would be Little Harbor on the back side of Catalina Island.   I wanted us to practice anchoring and using the dinghy to land in the small surf that usually occurs in Little Harbor.   I also wanted to leave at 4 AM so that Doug and Jason would get a chance to stand watches and experience night sailing.                                                                                                                                                                                            

Entering Cat (Catalina) Harbor

 As we entered Little Harbor, Jason watched the depth gauge and called out the depths as we entered a very rough anchorage with breaking waves in the cove.   We soon decided to go to Cat Harbor and spend our time there.    It was a great choice as I had not been in Cat Harbor for many years.

Doug.   "I am all in for the Cabo trip."

  For a short 10 minute Youtube video, go to this link... http://youtu.be/epi2Ip1PXNI 

Oh yes, you will see that my lil boat has been updated with an offshore life raft in a canister (right behind the mast on deck) and a "dodger" which is green and covers the companion way has windows and keeps the ocean spray from hitting us as we all sit in the cockpit.    Both of those things turned out better than I could have predicted.     Thanks for watching and thank you Jason and Doug for going with me to Cabo.   You are the best crew I could have ever expected.