More preparation?

Yes, we are doing even more prep for our trip. We had some modifications to do, improvements, dropped a screwdriver in the water, checked weather, rebuilt the toilet (it really matters you know?) organized all of our gear and leak-fixes. Mounting safety gear like the EPIRB, fixing leaks in the deck, (I know I already said that) going aloft to inspect all the standing rigging, mounting the dinghy, making curtains. A picture is worth a thousand words...a video who knows? 

Yes, that is a pickup truck loaded with so much gear, we can barely haul it. Oh, in the front seat between my legs, was a 45 lb Bruce anchor, why not? Thanks to Jim and Karen for helping us load until 1:30am.

We built Lynette's perch out of some reclaimed teak and honduran mahogany. She needed about 6" more altitude to see over the dodger behind the wheel.

Jim is custom-building some stair blocks out of Honduran Mahogany. And, yes, that is 200' of 5/8" line on that spool. Thanks to Judy for gift.

Jim & Karen are our heros! They helped us get our gear down from Redding, then spent the day helping us unpack. Thanks!

Deck repairs. No that is not Bondo! it's West system epoxy and 407 filler to fix some cracks that we knew about.

This is the EPIRB in case we end up in deep sh*t and have to ditch. It sends a pre-registered signal via satellite of our location and we're in desperate need of help. Thanks Dad, hope we never use it.

Lynette hauled me up with her powerful muscles. I had a nice bosun's chair from Columbia Marine exchange in Portland and a 2nd safety line. Carabiners a'plenty + a backup harness. I had all the lanyards my Dad gave me deployed, we sure don't want Lynette to get hit with something that I drop from 45' feet in the air. (five stories from the water) This is about 1/2 way up the mast. See the video from the top.

Everything looks good to me. Yes it's dirty, a little paint peeling, but we are good to go!

And she even sews. Who could ask for more?