The closer to my starting point I get the more I smile! I’m less and less intimidated by the boom furlor. It makes it so easy to raise the main!
When I arrived to Sidney Spit, it was like arriving to the tropics! The white sand, the boats anchored and the wildlife playing! A bit of a taste of what’s coming!
The solar is keeping my batteries topped up and I have no worries! I have everything I need🥰
My boat is upside down, but I’m getting stuff done!
Last solar panel is almost hooked up, I’ve hung through-hull plugs throughout the bilge, filled a tiny hole with epoxy in the cockpit, “sika-flexed” around wires, made a shelf for the AIS and looked over engine. I discovered some bare wires leading into the starter solenoid and engine oil level was mid level so I topped it up! ♥️Feeling productive🛠️
I’m also trying to figure out what to do with all my fenders.. they live here for now🚽
Time for a shower❣️
Coffee, journaling, Müsli and boatcheck! Let’s go to the USA!
I downloaded the app CBP Roam and filled out the forms and submitted! Within a minute I received a phone call from US Customs Border Protections; “you have been denied access, as you did not apply from the USA”. So, I guess I am just going to head over there then…. sailing out of Bedwell Harbour and towards the US border. In the next 2 hours I was met by 5 massive container freighters and oil freighters. Big City Sailing!!! I tried five times to cross Boundary Pass before I decided to turn back to Canada and anchor in Port Browning.
Tomorrow’s forecast calls for rain, so I’ll take advantage of a downday and go over the engine, hook up the last solar panel and look for loose electrical connections.
Today I felt a change! On so many levels! Approaching the southern Gulf Islands and feeling the cool breeze coming around from Juan De Fuca, I felt … At ease. Content. Present. Fulfilled. Free. Incredibly Grateful. Grateful that I’m able to follow my dream. I feel a change in who I am as I’m steering Sarantium south!
Goodnight😘
What can I say… today felt real! The wind pushed me down to Clam Bay, Thetis Island/Penelakut Island! Dodged a few BC ferries, Seaspan and tugs! Perfect winds, perfect current and perfect swell! Full main sail, staysail and Jib up! It just dawned on me…. I’m heading to Mexico😳
I woke up super excited because THE DAY finally arrived after many last minute changes and fixes! I cruised down and out of the channel looking back at Nanaimo and wondering when I would return. Nanaimo was my anchor for 30 adventurous years! This morning I waved goodbye!
I held my breath while Sarantium was lowered into the water and my second attempt to install a through-hole worked!
Now, onto the next projects… Solar needs to be connected and all the new electronics will be buttoned up over the next couple of days.
Back in we go!
Triducer, water intake fitting, lifelines/netting
And the life-raft!
Sooooo, this morning has been filled with disappointment however a shitload of learning for me! I had the boat ready to go into the water but was nervous about the through hole fittings I had installed! I jumped onto the boat while it was being lowered into the water to make sure I had zero leak. Starring at the new fittings and holding my breath…. and the trickling started. So back out we go!
I knew right away what the problem was and should have addressed it yesterday but didn’t!
I’ve now cut more threads off the fitting to be able to snug it tighter against the hull floor and use a full tube of sika flex! It’s dry fitted and now over-the-top-gooped! It will dry overnight and I will again hold my breath to see if it leaks…
Wish me luck!
….cleanup begins!
Fittings removed and holes cleaned out!
Sailaway Sarantium 