The Auld Mug

We saw the Auld Mug at the Strictly Sail Pacific boat show.  I wasn't able to get this great of a photo of it myself though as it was guarded by armed guys in suits with bullet proof vests!  Serious stuff.  The original trophy has had two additions made to the bottom to have room for engraving.  There is (of course) more info on wikipedia. Quite a storied history.  I am glad it is back in American hands!

Strictly Sail Pacific II

Today is the day!  Have to do some work this morning then at noon we head to the boat show!  The Pac Cup had a boat on display, Bequia, as an example of good boat prep.  I am not sure if this is the same boat they had on display last year.  Whatever boat it was last year I believe had won the best prepared trophy in 2008.  They had a lot of great ideas for stowing odds and ends.  Of course we took lots of mental notes but it we saw so much it is hard to recall just what all those great ideas were.  This year I am taking the camera! 

Last night at Wednesday night beer cans I got my framed Commodore burgee from last year, which is one of my two gifts from the club for serving as Commodore.  I was supposed to receive it at the Commodore's Ball in January but trying to get it framed was quite a challenge for Kim.  The same place, around the corner from Kim's house no less, had been doing the framing for years and years but they closed.  Actually they were still open when she tried to take it to them but they were not taking any new business.  She was able to get detailed records with photos and measurements and they recommended another shop.  Thus started a series of being told either "we don't do fabric, try xxx" or "we don't do brass plaques, try xxx."  She finally found someone who said, "we don't do brass plaques but you can get xxx around the corner to do the plaque and we will put it together." SUCCESS at last.  And they were less expensive than the prior place.  She was tempted to go ahead and get the brass plaque done for this year's Commodore so it would save next year's Rear Commodore some trouble.  But that involves first getting cloisonné burgees from Di's Impressions so I don't think she actually did that... YET.  AH, gotta love this yachting stuff...

Strictly Sail Pacific

I am really getting excited about the boat show! I'd planned to go on the weekend and not take time off work for it (I will be using all my vacation for the Pac Cup) but once it was announced that the auld mug will be there on Thursday afternoon (and ONLY Thursday afternoon), Matt and I decided to take the afternoon off and head up there. Matt is taking Lee Chesneau's two day weather class (again) on Saturday and Sunday and I am taking an all day "getting ready to cruise the world" type class on Saturday. I hope to be able to go to some other seminars on Sunday, and get my shopping done! If I can get a picture of the America's Cup I will post it!

Home projects weekend

85 more days until the Pac Cup! The to do list isn't getting any shorter but we spent the past weekend on home projects instead of boat projects anyway! After four and a half years in our condo we finally are painting the kitchen cabinets. Even just primed it really brightens up our small kitchen. Since my husband works for a painting contractor we were able to get some expert help and advice. I think they are going to turn out really nice.

This week is the boat show here in Northern California. I have my wish list of things for the Pac Cup. I am going to check out a PLB--not completely sold on that, Landfall Navigation does not seem to think they are worthwhile offshore. I need a lightweight waterproof jacket so I have something besides my heavy offshore Musto Jacket to wear in the squalls. I need new sunglasses to replace the Maui Jim's I lost in February (UGH!) and a couple of little things. I am also going to a 10 hour cruising seminar on Saturday as I am determined to find a cruising boat and head out with my husband for some serious cruising. That probably won't happen for a few years but it is not too early to start thinking about it!

Canned Meat

Just ordered a selection of canned meat products from The Red Barn Market to try it out for the Pac Cup. My boat partner makes "Mexican Stackups" (which I call "frito tacos") and that is the first thing I am going to try with the canned ground beef! Here is hoping for the best!

New Crew... Pac Cup Eats

I just found out one of my coworkers used to be an avid sailor and is anxious to get back in to sailing. She'd love to do the Pac Cup but our boat is full for this year. I will get her out for Wednesday night Beer Can races and for the next OYRA race (since half of our Pac Cup crew is unavailable that day).

I am starting to get a little anxious about the meal planning. We don't have a terribly large reefer so I will need to rely on non-perishables. I can't even figure out how to do that for two people at home so two weeks of it for seven people is proving challenging. I have two books on the topic and I need to get serious on my planning. I personally could live on Peanut Butter and I know a few of the others could as well but we have one crew who'd rather not and another that will not eat anything mayo based like tuna or chicken salad--which would sure be easy to store and make... so we shall see. I think expect everyone to eat the same thing / spend meal time together is unrealistic anyway and will probably only happen at dinner...

Things Have Changed!

Well.... we no longer have Pineapple Girl, our C-320, though I am still "Pineapple Girl"! We are partners on a J-42 called Tiki J and we will be leaving San Francisco bound for Hawaii in 9o days! We will be participating in the Pac Cup race. This will be my first long ocean voyage but everyone else (all six other crew) have done at least one long passage before.

We are hoping we can make the trip in 12-14 days, weather permitting. But this is definitely an "it's the journey, not the destination" adventure!

We have a lot to do still to get the boat ready, though most of the big things have been done.

I hope to make the time to keep you updated on our remaining preparations!