Newsletter, July 2001
Hi everybody,
It's about time to bring you up to date on "The Valerie and Bill World
Cruising Adventure". The bottom line is that either the world is much smaller or
our venturing out into it is going much more slowly than we first planned. Of
course you know the saying about plans.
As most of you know, Bill and
five crew brought the boat to Hawaii (one week after we married) in July, 2000
as participants in the Pacific Cup race. (See www.nav.org.) Valerie helped get
us ready for the race, was on the race committee running flags for our start and
was on the dock in Kaneohe to greet us when we arrived. The winds were light at
the beginning, and it was a REALLY slow race (17 days). Cirrus was third in
Division B - same position she took in 1998.
After the race we
lived for a couple months on the boat in the Makani Kai Marina on Kaneohe Bay,
just across from the Kaneohe YC. We went back to the mainland for the holidays
and in the New Year, after Valerie got our income taxes in order, we moved back
on to the boat in Hawaii. There was a lot of work to be done to repair the
damage done during the race. New spinnaker pole track on the mast, all new
shrouds, move the traveler out of the cockpit and switch to mid-boom sheeting,
restore function to the winches and install the anchor and a couple hundred feet
of chain, etc. Then we started in on new projects like a cabin table that can be
folded up and out of the way around the mast when not in use. Bill could write a
book about that project alone, and there are endless lists of other projects -
in progress, completed or planned. So, we spend an inordinate amount of time
working on boat projects. They take a long time to complete because we are also
living the laid-back island lifestyle. There are lots of other things to do,
too. Valerie grew up here, so she has many old friends with whom she is renewing
contact. We go to the theatre, to dance performances, museums. We swim, sail and
kayak. No hiking yet but that is on the list too.
In March
someone on the Makani Kai board of directors took objection to our (illegal)
living aboard and we had to move. We found a beautiful new marina called Ko
Olina near Barbers Point on the west shore of Oahu about fifteen miles northwest
of Honolulu and had a beautiful, easy sail half-way around the island on April
1st. So far it is working out well. There are about 25 or 30 other boats with
"live aboards" in the marina and we are making some good friends. The facilities
are fantastic, new and clean. There are beautiful beaches and lagoons within a
couple minutes' walk and paved walking paths along the ocean. Unfortunately, we
just received a letter raising the rates and giving a list of new rules so we
may be moving again...we'll see, but for now it's great. They have a web site
(koolina.com). Check it out.
We bought a one-person inflatable kayak and
have a ball paddling around the marina as well as at our cruising anchorages.
It has not taken Valerie long to adjust to the small propane stove and
oven and we are eating well. Often people in the marina have caught Ono or Mahi
Mahi or Marlin and will share with those of us living here. Fresher, more
delicious fish you can't imagine. Combine that with it now being mango season
and we are being hedonists of the first order. 
Of course, we
also do a little day sailing and are always "making plans" to visit the other
islands. Recently we've spent a couple overnights at anchor off Makua Beach
about thirteen miles up the coast toward Kaena Point (which is the western-most
tip of Oahu.) This is a very secluded spot where one is often the only boat at
anchor. The spinner dolphins come in every morning to feed and, incidentally,
perform their wonderful acrobatics. The leatherback and green sea turtles love
the area as well. It is a rare day that we don't see a turtle - which is nice as
they were so close to extinction not that many years ago. The water is so clear
that we can check the anchor in the sandy bottom about 30' below without leaving
the deck. Wonderful swimming, snorkeling, walking on the beach. At night the
stars are spectacular as we are far from city lights. We can see the Southern
Cross from this latitude...something not an option in the more northern climes.
It's a tough life!
At the moment we don't have any long distance
cruising plans. First we want to really explore the Hawaiian Islands - which
could take a long time at the rate we are going.
We are coming
back to the mainland on July 19 and returning to Hawaii on September 6. During
that time we'll spend a couple weeks in Alaska. One week kayaking in Glacier Bay
and then a few days in Juneau and Sitka. We are also looking forward to seeing
our dear friends whom we miss very much.
If you want to join us on a
sail to any of the other islands or just to play with us here, just let us know.
Our cell phones are usually on: (510) 912-8895 or (808) 294-2670. We plan to be
doing a lot of inter-island travel and it is very easy to move our plans around
to accommodate guests. We would love to see any or all of you at any time
('though not all at once!)
Much Aloha, Valerie and Bill