We are on our way!

​So we did it! We left the dock and headed south. It was a bit emotional for both Kelsey and I finally getting underway leaving my dog Osita with my mother and saying goodbye to all our family and friends…
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(To see the video / time lapse - https://youtu.be/9folullSQq0 )

Just after a short way of getting under way it feels like a huge weight has been lifted.
 
We had light winds. We mostly motor sailed the whole way down, dodging fishing nets around the Coronado Islands and keeping way from the shipping containers. We have been doing a lot of work on the boat before leaving and for some reason the radar was not receiving data.  Steve spent most of the day trouble shooting the problem, turns out there was a loose wire behind the control panel, and now its back up and working again.  We pulled into our slip at Baja Naval just as the sun was setting and just in time for the new water fountain light show.

The following day we had the boat hauled out bright and early. If you've never seen a boat get hauled out of the water it is quite a site. Huge machine with massive straps lifts the boat out of the water and over the sidewalk. It is then put onto stilts and blocks of wood to keep it stable.  

We have been working on everything we can while the boat is out of the water.  We cleaned all the through holes, polished the the prop, doing some electrical, and the final touches on the inside of the boat. There is always something to be done, and both Kelsey and I are learning a ton about pluming and electrical. Thanks to the good old fashion youtube lesson I have taught  myself how to whip lines and have been spending the evenings watching the fountain and finishing up out reefing lines. 

The Mexican government is putting a lot of nice touches into the city of Ensenada and we are enjoying getting to know the city and its people. Kelsey and I both struggle with our Spanish but Steve is fluent and it’s fun to watch his interactions with the locals. Everyone is we meet is friendly and always so helpful with directions and where we might find the stores we are looking for.

Every day we take the time to watch the local kids play in the fountain. They are always fully dressed all the way down to their shoes smiling and laughing running threw the fountain without a care in the world. The fountain is a huge deal to the people here and you can see how much happiness it brings everyone.  We can see the show from the bow of our boat since the fountain is right next door to the boat yard we are staying in.

​ The boat is currently on stilts on dry land and we are still living on board! Its a lot like living in a tree house which of course I love. Climbing the 15+ft later everyday to get in and out of the boat is fun. Our bosons chair in the very bow of the boat hangs over the fence and above the boardwalk. Its fun to watch the people walk by and see there surprised faces as they notice you sitting so high above the ground. 

We will continue working on the boat and finishing the last few things. There is a bit of weather that is supposed to dissipate before it gets to our intended route. If the weather stays as it is, and the boat work gets done on time - we should be back in the water and back on our way Saturday July 9th. We will be sailing 2,200 nautical miles to Hawaii. Just a whole lot of blue water between here and there. Oh, and look its still blue... 
There is a race called the Pacific Cup it leaves from LA I believe on the 11th … so thankfully we won’t be alone out there. We will also be able to talk to the cup about weather and any other advice as we may need. 
 
Fair winds and following seas,
 
- Kim  ​