The following is what I posted on the Chasch Mer Facebook site as the closing entry from the delivery:
Chasch Mer received an unexpected warm welcome as we entered the Long Beach Shoreline Marina yesterday about 240pm. Clive’s wife Rhonda was at the entrance holding a sign that stated, “Welcome Home Chasch Mer 17 days but who’s counting”.
She met us at the dock with a cooler full of ice and Firestone-Walker beer and I think we drank most of it before the sailing gear came off. When that emergency supply of elixir was almost gone an angel in the mortal form of Eric Conn, for the record one of the best drivers I have ever seen, came floating down the dock in our direction with yet another cooler of beer! No sense insulting the gods so we helped eliminate that beer too.
Something can always be learned going offshore on long passages. I discovered that if I store my face mask in the same foulie jacket pocket as the tootsie pop suckers the face mask magically smells like tootsie pop suckers! Thank you tootsie pop sucker maker guy.
Why the face mask? The answer is that it was part of the other items I wore when it got cold; thermals, thermal socks, insulated boots, pants, shirt, sweatshirt, hoodie sweatshirt, foulies.
We didn’t need any cold weather stuff until we had climbed to our target latitude of 33. Once we got there it seems we were greeted with, “Welcome to California” due to the drop in the air and water temperature. And in retrospect, under her breath I think California said, “Now try to get here”.
We didn’t need any cold weather stuff until we had climbed to our target latitude of 33. Once we got there it seems we were greeted with, “Welcome to California” due to the drop in the air and water temperature. And in retrospect, under her breath I think California said, “Now try to get here”.
In no uncertain terms the first week out of Kaneohe Bay was the most idyllic offshore sailing conditions I have ever experienced. That memory will remain a benchmark. The 2nd half had at times some of the most difficult sailing I have ever experienced. The duration of the conditions really influenced the difficulty at times. Words at this time can only tell part of the story. Fortunately, between the 4 of us we managed to get a lot of pictures and movie clips. I will get some of it on youtube in the next few days. I am positive that we have some unique images that are too good to not share.
In closing, I entered this delivery for the opportunity to go on another adventure. I went in with my eyes wide open and early on realized there was an opportunity for more than blog material. So, I set out with the intention to write a book about Chasch Mer and my experiences with her. At this time I can in no uncertain terms state that I have all the material I need to tell a story. This will probably take me more than a year to make it right.
I am now appealing to any and all SC50 owners & crew present and past to contact me if you have anything of interest that I can include in the SC50 story. I intend to get as many anecdotes, quotes and short stories as possible that I can integrate into the sister-ship’s part of the saga. Please feel free to contact me with anything that will help us all tell our SC50 story.
In closing, sunburned, wind-burned, tired, hungry, bruised and having gone without a shower for more than 2 weeks, we kept the pointy end in front of us and the stick in the air and were cosseted by one of the best constructed and performing sailing vessels on the water.
dammitDavid
PS: Apparently, as a sigh, my Mom uttered the words dammitDavid so many times when I was a wee single-digit that I thought that was my name.
Long Beach Rock Bottom Brewery with Eric and Rhonda.
PS: Home again and back in the groove.
