MERRY CHRISTMAS CREW

"HERE'S TO THOSE WHO WISH US WELL..."

JACQUELINE RILEY 1920-2011

We'll miss Jackie greatly but her legacy and spirit will live on. She graced the deck of Serenity Now on numerous occasions and made several passages to Catalina with us. Jackie enjoyed every minute and we were so blessed to be able to share our time together. She passed peacefully surrounded by family. Strike eight bells, Jac's watch is over but the lady will never be forgotten.

SOME MORNINGS YOU'LL NEVER FORGET

OVER 6,500 VIEWS ON YOU TUBE

AND THE ADMIRAL'S BIRTHDAY GOES ON AND ON...

PUT ANOTHER CANDLE ON YOUR BIRTHDAY CAKE

The Admiral was joined by her mom, sister, Navy Joe, cuz, La Quinta Bob, Desert Dee, Indy and the capt as we celebrated her birthday.

When the rain stopped we enjoyed a beautiful Catalina sunset.

THE 2011 HaHa

Click on the link below to see their progress. 2012 here we come! 363 days and counting...

http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0bXrg4hjMrvlV0fQ0hKIqWSXmL5IZyi6a

THE 2011 NESPORADO EXCURSION

THE NESPORADOS ARE BACK!

PREPARATIONS ARE UNDERWAY

...for the annual Nesporado Catalina get-to-gether. Jackpot is flying in from Maui, El Jeffe is joining us from TO and Sailor Jerry from Simi. And lobster season just opened! Here's one of my favorite Nesporado trip pics...

"The smaller ones taste much better" said Sailor Jerry.

IT'S NOT THE SAME WITHOUT YOU

Another solo trip to the island found the capt in Willow Cove for four mellow nights. There are two locals that stay there and they swing on one hook. I duck behind them and anchor bow-stern so there is no swing. Everybody fits and everyone is happy.

This guy is getting ready for the season opener soon.

NINE ELEVEN

Our godchild Fly'n Bryan and his significant other, Lady Liz, joined the capt for a great day sail. Perfect weather, a calm sea and a very mellow 10-12 knot breeze filled out our flag as we sailed on this tenth anniversary of that tragic day.  

Pacific Voyagers Stop In Dana Point

The CALIFORNIA OUTRIGGER

This is a picture of our California Outrigger in it's glory days. That's Paul at the tiller, Tom and the Admiral. This picture was taken in Newport Bay where we kept the boat.

Anchored in the Sea of Cortez.

TOM CALLED TO SAY HELLO

and the next thing you know, we were enjoying an afternoon in consistent 15 knot winds off the coast of San Clemente. We didn't have a camera so this pic from circa 1967 will have to suffice.

This was our California Outrigger built without nails; everything was glued, screwed or fiberglassed. 

ESCORTING THE VOYAGER FLEET OUT OF DANA POINT

Ninja and the Admiral saying goodbye

The canoes rafted at Baby Beach for the evening

We anchored and waited for their "island time" departure

Sailing east in the main harbor channel

Serenity Now to the right of the fleet

We flew our gennaker down the coast and they popped a spinnaker

We wished them calm seas and fair weather as they sailed to San Diego

We couldn't have planned a more exciting two days meeting our new friends from Fiji. Who knows, maybe someday we'll bump into them in their home port. Let's go sailing!

MEETING THE PACIFIC VOYAGERS,"BULA BULA"

Captain and crew of the Fijian canoe UTO NI YALO

First approaching the canoe off Dana Point

The Admiral making the introductions

Iva and the Admiral

They steer with this huge paddle

The canoes are 72 feet long and 21 feet wide

Average speed is 7 knots

We'll meet them again in January in San Diego

We dinghyed out of the harbor to greet a group of Pacific Islanders who were spending the night in Dana Point. They are on a voyage to strengthen their ties with the ocean and honor their ancestors who sailed before them. Before you knew it, we were on board meeting the crew, marveling at the ocean-going canoe and sailing into the harbor with them. It was quite an unexpected and unbelievable experience.   

KALIYAH TOOTING HER CONCH

ANOTHER DAY

Wow, what a difference from yesterday. Today the sea was almost mellow as we enjoyed bright sunshine and saw several whales offshore. After dinner on the hook at Danalina, the sunset was a perfect dessert.

DAY ONE OF THE ADMIRAL'S FUN

Sunny skies, 24-28 knot winds and some very choppy seas made for a challenging yet exciting afternoon sail. We dropped a hook in Danalina for dinner and were treated with this sunset off Dana Point on our way back to the slip. 

TAKE YOUR VITAMINS

Seldom, while at Catalina, do I take my "daily" vitamins. On a recent solo trip to Willow Cove there was plenty of time to think about such mundane things. Call it my Andy Rooney moment.

Derived from the Latin word for life, vita, vitamins are consumed to make us healthier and our lives better. But when I'm on Serenity Now I never take them. And it's not a conscious effort. Can it be that the ocean is my vitamin? Is the sea a powerful medicine, better than any pill or capsule? Is my life healthier and better when I'm in or on the water? My answer to these questions is a simple yes. 

Now go find your vitamins!

BROTHERLY LOVE

Brother Sailor Jerry came into town for lunch on the hook in Danalina and an afternoon sail in a 8-10 knot breeze. We sailed to the San Clemente Pier and then back. It was a great way to spend the day. FYI, we first sailed together on Sailor Jerry's Sea Snark back in the early 60's.

AND THE BEAT GOES ON

Another fantastic day of sights and sounds in the marina.

A sunset dinner with Sandy's homemade enchiladas. 

Racers gliding to the finish line.

Day is done.

EVERY DAY IS DIFFERENT

Wednesday was a breezy 20+ knot day so the main was reefed as we hit 7.7 knots of speed. The next day we dropped the hook in Danalina and kayaked, paddled and enjoyed the sound of children playing at Baby Beach.

Headed back with a reefed main.

The Admiral enjoying Danalina.

TWO DAYS OF FUN

We have been on the go for the past two days, walking and sailing. Monday we anchored at Danalina and today we traveled to Newport Harbor and dropped the hook off Lido Isle. From there we dinghyed to the Balboa Fun Zone and walked the Balboa Pier. After an ice cream cone and a couple of rides it was back to Dana Point. Oh, we saw a whale off of Laguna Beach on the way home. 

Walking the beach trail in San Clemente

Serenity Now surrounded by sabots in Newport Harbor

Yes, we rode the Balboa ferris wheel

View from the top of the ferris wheel

And the carousel