Washington to California October 2015

The first leg of our journey took us from Bellingham, WA where we purchased our fine vessel, to Roche Harbor, WA where we performed the renaming ceremony and officially "began" our journey, then down the coast to California.

We were rather rushed to get her out of the Northern latitudes before the onset of winter storms, which often start as early as late October. Since time was of the essence, we took on crew to help with the offshore passage and standing watch. Owen Brown and Jay Spalding were great help and fantastic company through the long hours of sailing offshore. We shared knot tying skills, and practiced trimming the sails.

 Leaving Roche Harbor and headed for the open sea!

She sailed like a dream through day and night, slicing through the ocean like the Dolphins who often accompanied her along the bow. Some mornings we would see dolphins racing from both starboard and port to join us as we streaked along under sail at 7 knots plus. White sides flashing as they leaped from the waves their welcoming presence made me feel completely at home in the wide open ocean 100 miles offshore.

Sailing constantly from 10/13/2015 through 10/18/2015 we made first landfall at Nolo Bay, CA just south of the city of Fort Bragg, CA.

Sirena the 1991 Tayana 55

S/V Sirena (before her name change)...

S/V Sirena interior...

Nav station Port side with door to engine rm to the left.

Master cabin with center line queen berth and storage on both sides.

 Storage in hanging locker and entry to master shower.

 Door to master shower and sink area.

 Separate head in master bedroom.

Master bedroom private head.

Full galley along starboard side with tons of cabinet space and drawers!

Galley looking forward.

Companionway steps and walk in Engine Room.

Captains chairs on Stbd side Salon

Salon table and seating Port side.

 

 Starboard side head amidship

Forward are two cabins - Port Side has bunk beds with oversized bottom bed, hanging locker, drawers with mirror and ensuite head/shower.

 

Starboard side has bunk beds and hanging locker. 

In the cockpit...

Cockpit helm.

Iverson's dodger with full enclosure...very comfy in nasty weather!

Where it all began...

Roche Harbor, WA ... July 1994

 Chris and Shawna married in Roche Harbor, WA

Chris and I are married aboard the yacht Happy Jack, a beautiful custom yacht on her maiden voyage in the Puget Sound. Our marriage was not what you might expect aboard a yacht though. We flew to WA and had virtually no plans, other than a justice of the peace arranged and a marriage license purchased. Once in Roche Harbor we happened upon a gent who needed a lift to another island. Chris, a private pilot, flew him over to the island as a favor. In return, the kind fellow introduced us to the owner of the Happy Jack.

Although the occasion was a joyous one for us, it was a mournful one for her. Turns out that Jack, her husband and an avid sailor which whom she planned to sail with in retirement, had died of complications from a fall taken on board his boat during the final preparations. She took the maiden voyage alone to spread his ashes in his favorite sailing waters. Learning of our desire to be married aboard a boat she gladly offered hers since she said nothing would have made Jack happier than to see two young people starting out together aboard his beloved boat. The wedding went without a hitch with an amateur photographer/ cook from the hotel taking photos and the couple aboard the neighboring sailboat acting as our witnesses.

The lesson we took from that sorrowful lady of the Happy Jack was to live life now, without regrets, without delay, for there are no guarantees for tomorrow. Thus it began...our journey to the sea.

October 2015 found Chris and I back in Roche Harbor, WA. This time aboard our own sailing vessel, Sirena, about to start all over again.