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Saturday, October 2, 2010

Progress Report & Summary

Dear Readers,
           
All men dream:  but not equally.  Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity:  but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.
                                                              T. E. Lawrence, Seven Pillars of Wisdom

Thank you for following our dream.  The voyage of Catherine and William (Norrie) is EDD "Bound for N.Z.", June, 2011.  Our blog was started June 2010 at the one year countdown after 18 months of refitting "Terrwyn" our Pacific Seacraft Crealock 37, hull #231, 1990.

"They name vessels girls' names as we love them so"... and in honour of our mutual Welsh heritages we renamed our baby - Terrwyn this spring (see earlier blog).

This"voyage over the horizon", "across the ocean", "around the world" has been a lifelong dream of ours (after all it's all about climbing mountains and crossing oceans as old mountaineers go to sea).  Our plan to complete Terrwyn's refit by 2011 is on track with new electrical system and bimini under construction this month.

So far:  all sails, rigging, topsides and upholstery have been replaced.  She has been upgraded to ocean from coastal cruising potential with the addition of a Monitor self-steering vane, H-3 windlass with all chain rode, larger anchors and a Fatty Knees hard dinghy.  The navigation system included redundant GPS's, Nobletec chart plotter, complete paper charts from her home port of April Point Marina, Quadra Island to Gulf Marina, New Zealand.  Pilot Charts for the South Pacific, multiple cruising guides, C Plath sextant, H.O. 49 Reduction Tables, Nautical Almanac and Star Pilot T-89 calculator. Communication equipment includes DSC-VHF, SSB ham radio with antenna tuner and Pactor 3 Modem [in progress].

Two seasons of cruising Northern Georgia Strait and Desolation Sound have provided our sailing, heaving to, anchoring and general seamanship practise grounds.  Study has included all of the Pardey's, Hal Roth, Beth Leonard and the Hiscock's books.  Entertainment ranged from Slocum's voyage, Shackleton, D. Lewis, Dove, God Forsaken Sea,  B. Moitessier, H. Melville, J. Conrad, Bowditch's bigraphy, C. Hasse, B. Toss, P. O'Brian, Robin Cox-Johnson etc. etc.

So there we are, 8 months to go.  We crossed yet another Rubicon last week with the purchase of our Ocean 4 man life raft in cannister.  After decades of anticipation it is done; may we never see the inside of that 29"x16"x12" cannister.

Thank you all for reading and please comment and ask us any questions you may have.

Fair Winds
Co-cap William

3 comments:

  1. Such a lot of preparation! Impressive.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am not a mariner but dream to be (at night). I am an aviator (daytime dreamer)that volunteers his time with SAR PEP Air BC. I did not see "EPIRB" on the list although I know it would already be there. Will you also be carrying a "SPOT"? I would loan you mine for the trip if you want. We could follow your progress on google earth.
    Best wishes,
    Ben

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Ben,
    EPIRB is definitely on the list!... What is a SPOT?
    Cath

    ReplyDelete