The shakedown before the circumnavigation
30 November 2014 | Isthmus Cove, Catalina Island
Tom
Yea, that title was really cool to write. One day I hope it is in reference to a more grand circumnavigation, but for now, this is the shakedown sail and anchoring in preparation for the coming week’s circumnavigation of Santa Catalina Island.
In the last 18 months, Catalina (Two Harbors/Isthmus Cove in particular) has become like a second home and spiritual pilgrimage all together – Catalinamandu, as Michelle calls it. But, though I’ve been from Avalon to Emerald Bay, all along the north side, I’ve never rounded either east nor west end to sail along the south shore of the island. But that all changes in the next few days. Inspired some by my friends and former dock mates Tom and Brida, who just started a planned global circumnav, and also by Catalinamandu Michelle, who said “We should sail all the way around Catalina,” I’ve been making upgrades to systems and equipment. All the changes have been needed, but without something as serious as rounding the West End to open ocean 25 miles out to sea, they had dragged out. Windrunner came with an under-sized claw anchor, so only mooring balls had been used to date. I’d been upgrading my electronics with more efficient lightbulbs, fridge/freezer, batteries, etc., but needed more. I got the genoa stitched with new webbing added, and serviced the roller furling while the sail was in the loft. Some of the running rigging was old and not as reliable as needed, and the deck lights needed changing to brighter and more energy efficient LEDs.
So, I’ve been doing the work, and sailed Windrunner out to Isthmus for Thanksgiving and to try out the new sail, anchor, rigging and electric. So far so good, though I have found a few little things I need to tweak Monday and Tuesday before picking Michelle up at the airport Wednesday and sailing the first leg of our cirmunmav.
Now we just need the weather to cooperate (I want all the rain we can get here, just in the days before and after our trip, if the gods please).