Newport News for two more weeks. Then back to Seattle and Port Townsend for
a month of schools and upgrades (200 ton and oceans with radar endorsement).
A couple of weeks working on the new boat etc. My good friends up in the
Pac NW area have been more than supportive in many ways. In fact a lot of
good friends up and down the coast fit that category. Then back to sea for
the last go round before I switch from diesels back to sails. Had a couple
of good offers in the long term charter skipper business and the delivery
business. The real key though is the upgrades I mentioned, especially going
from near coastal to oceans. Lot of difference, especially where insurance
companies concerned between the two. I think I can squeeze those jobs in
between going hither and yon and writing about it (my basic plan). For now
though I'm going to remain true, get the new boat done and it's turning into
a real gem!

Don't know if you read it elsewhere but if things go completely right I'm
trucking the boat to the Great Lakes, down the St. Lawrence, round the
corner and will be right by your bailiwick early next Summer. Then down
the coast to the islands and on, eventually, to Bequia back west and
eventually NW to Corpus and truck to San Diego. All part of an article I'm
doing for one of the magazines. Then lay over the summer in S. Cal with
some other friends awaiting the end of the storm season and on down to the
S.Pacific without the usual ho hum stops in Mexico again. That place is like
California without trees and after awhile it's just bribes and booze. If
things don't go well time wise then I'll just head South, hang a while at my
slip in California and go into the next, the Pacific part a bit early then
return back and do the East Coast trip a bit later. Either way it works for
me. The Pacific part? I'm thinking Juan Fernandez Islands off Chile and
just about have my good sailing buddy Kai talked into to doing that part
especially since it goes right by Easter Island. THEN back up to Hawaii
where he has his boat and re-create the voyage of the schooner Pau! At Samoa
where we stopped the last time I can go in acouple of directions, doesn't
matter. Lots of good things to write about just in this one paragraph.
I'm getting more into the idea of doing interesting alternatives to the
usual, everyone's done it a thousand times trips I guess. Too much panicky
deck fluff and overweight bar bunnies for me. You know . . .sail down wind,
truck up wind? Mights well watch reality TV. I guess I shouldn't be too
hard. Some can, some won't.

Don't know if you saw it or not but check the May issue of Lats and Att's
for an article called View From The Bridge. That's my first one. Next
article will be to the editor around theend of the month and we'll see if
lightning strikes twice. Actually, they asked for more!

Little surprise here and there my good buddy and someone many of you know,
the original skipper and creator of the Pau voyage has steered me in
theright direction with invaluable advice and editing. In a former life he
was a professional writer as it happens. And I might's well toot Ole Thom's
praises as well as this next article was caused by something he started
teaching me some years ago. Yep! I paid attention. It's called Emergency
Navigation for Yacht Crews as a working title. Not for the GPS and
Martooni set that's for sure. Just wind, waves, stars and fingers. Lucky I
have a few left!

'nuff of this . . . . Here's a question for you to pose.

What's a Seattle Head?

Cheers

Michael







"Bart Senior" wrote in message
et...
Good Michael. How are you doing?

Where are you now?

Michael wrote
I made a point of not reading the answers of the others but using this
as
a
good method to segue back into .asa.

Day Tank is one used for water or fuel. You have to fill it with the
amount
you want to use, per your rationing requirements. When it runs out you
are
done for that day.

How'd I do?

Michael

"Bart Senior" wrote
[3 pts]

What is a day tank?

How is it used?

Why would you want one?