We had planned to depart on our adventure last year, joining the Baja Haha Rally. That didn’t happen. We were disappointed. Ironically, a month after it was decided we would not depart as planned, a local newspaper came out with a wonderful story describing our proposed adventure. And we went to the Baja Haha party in San Diego anyway. After all, we’d paid for it. It didn’t bother me to be seen as the family that wasn’t going on the trip. I was learning important life lessons: patience and gratitude topping the list. I looked for the good. We now had more time to transition from our three bedroom house and into our 42-foot boat. We had more time and resources to improve our future home afloat, equipping her with better tools and technology. We had more time to learn new skills of safety and first-aid procedures, of marine weather forecasting, of how we can share our experience with school kids and use our voyage to hopefully make a positive difference in the world, and of how to make this experience a more positive one for our family. And best of all, we’ve been able to establish new life-long friendships, and continue to do so. In retrospect, as the song exclaims, . . . “we get what we need.”
Tag Archives: Kandu
On The Hard in Ventura
Kandu’s outsides are getting cleaned up: her 42-foot white and forrest green hull waxed, two coats of red copper bottom paint applied to her 6-foot draft, her reconditioned 3-blade Classic Max Prop installed and painted with zinc, 4 sacrificial zincs replaced, 17 seacocks lubed (replaced as needed), a new speed/depth/temp meter installed, and her 54-foot mast overhauled: 5 new halyards, 8 new sheaves, a new spinnaker crane at the masthead, 2 new jumper stays, corrosion and chafing abatement, a new 4G broadband radar, a new hailing speaker, a new antenna, a new wind speed and direction meter, a new LED tri-color masthead light, 2 new powerful LED spreader lights, a new LED steaming light, a lightning dissipater, and more. Next week, Kandu goes back in the water. The electronics installation will hopefully be completed soon and batteries added so we can close up all the interior walls and cubby spaces lifted open and exposed to run the cabling. The family can start moving on board.
Our stay at the Ventura Marina and Yacht Yard has been pleasant. Prior to owning the yard, the owner, Sam, studied whales for several decades, getting his Ph.D in the study. He now owns and operates the boat yard, the adjacent restaurant/piano bar, and fuel dock. With one of his two colorful Macaw parrot on his shoulder and a cigar between his fingers, it’s not uncommon to hear him offer maintenance solutions for the boat on his way to dealing with a fuel dock issue. Then spot him seating guests in his elegant seaside dining room/piano bar.
Ship’s Flag
Kandu: The Genesis of Her Flag
Background: A ship’s flag seemed a great way to celebrate our future home afloat, an emblem by which to identify her and possibly her crew. The flag would therefore have to depict meaningful symbolism, telling her story and our journey with her.
Shape: Traditionally boat flags come in one of two shapes: triangular or swallow tail. Triangular is more common, especially among yacht clubs, so we chose to go with it.
“K”: The letter “K” seemed an obvious point from which to begin, representing the boat’s name, Kandu.
Color: Maritime tradition offers a series of signal flags that represent, among other information, the alphabet. Letter “K” is a square comprised of two equally sized, vertically positioned rectangles: yellow to the left, blue to the right. Incorporating the two-color split, we replaced yellow and blue with Kandu’s hull colors: white with forest green trim.
Circle: The circle represents the globe and our intention to sail around it, during which our sailing vessel, Kandu, will be the center of our world.
Stars: The stars depict the driving force of our journey—Kandu’s crew, the family: Trent, Bryce, Leslie, and Eric. The fifth star represents Uncle Bill, and is in outline because, although he will not be aboard the entire trip, after years of preparing Kandu for our voyage, enhancing nearly every inch of her, his influence and spirit will always be felt.
Cruising World Hall of Famers
For more than a score of years I’ve been reading articles and, more recently, books from some of the best known and prolific writers on the subject of blue water cruising. Two weeks ago, Leslie and I attended four days of seminars at the Pacific Strictly Sailing event in Oakland, California. Many of the seminars were conducted by several of these English language icons: Jimmy Cornell, John and Amanda Neal, Liza Copland, and Kathy Parsons to name a few. I was such a groupie, such in awe of these people. When I told Jimmy Cornell that were this a rock n roll convention, he’d be Paul McCartney (his daughter, Doina Cornell, an author in her own rite, seemed unamused by the comparison). Leslie and I spent a whole day with John and Amanda Neal as they discussed in precise detail the many facets surrounding successful voyaging in their “Offshore Cruising” seminar, certificate and all. The following day we listened the whole day intently listening as Jimmy Cornell instructed us on he in’s and out’s of “Long Distance Cruising.” We met many wonderful people, gathers some great information, and bought a few pieces of hardware including a 65# Mantus Anchor. I even had the chance to stand beside the America’s Cup Trophy. The four-day experience was uplifting and invigorating. We’re so excited about our adventure. Check out the photos:
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