Learning by Doing With Others

After our BVI self-training, we traveled to Bellingham, WA in late July 2021 to join two other couples on a 10-day offshore sailing course with John Neal of Mahina Expeditions. The seven of us became fast friends and we cruised in the San Juan Islands of Puget Sound and on into the Pacific Ocean.

As we left the marina, our first accomplishment was gently running aground in the soft mud of the fairway. First new skill: patiently wait for tide to rise, swing the boom out to amidships, and add weight thus heeling the boat over to ease her free. Turns out this a good skill to have.

We absorbed even more practical knowledge and experience: Using a Lifesling to retrieve a mock crew overboard, going aloft, and inspecting the rig.

Standing watch, training on basic engine mechanics, knot tying, marine weather, navigation skills, and lots sailing!

A highlight was sailing out into the Pacific Ocean and navigating commercial traffic in the Straits of Juan de Fuca and encountering majestic humpback whales.

We experienced the fun side of cruising life too - getting much needed exercise aboard with hiking, swimming in the brisk water, and meeting up other sailors. We even went aboard a boat that had a piano that doubled as a salon table. Now that's living!

After our expedition, we rented a VW Westfalia camper and traveled along the spectacular Oregon Coast to visit friends in Yachts and Portland before flying back to Fort Lauderdale to prepare for receiving Pinecone.

While we were busy training and traveling, Pinecone was taking shape in the Hansheng Boatyard in Xiamen, Fujian Province, China. Every few weeks, we were receiving new photos showing her progress. She was ready by late summer and arrived by freighter at Port Everglades, Florida in October, 2021.