After a few months of being in the midst of repairs, and also ugly winter weather, we got Wilparina out on the Columbia last Saturday. My buddy, Yoga Jim, came along to help out. It took us a couple of hours of hard work to shake out the new rigging. We removed the genoa from the roller furler, and raised the yankee instead. Then rigged up the staysail, and the main with new Jiffy reefing lines. Once we got out on the water, brought her up in the wind, she heeled slightly in the 10 to 15 knot breeze, and sailed like a dream.

We still have a few more repairs and parts of order. We'll complete the installation of the external LED lighting soon. Our mechanic and Boat Guru, Adam Stansbeary, owner of Kodiak Marine, is helping to lead the way, helping with trouble-shooting electrical connections. He was up the mast last week.

We are scheduled to depart for Astoria and then the San Juan's the week of 18 May.