Sail Cutthroat

26 April 2007
Lat N21.47
Lon W149.42

Just about every one has flown in airplanes and driven cars and some have even driven motor homes. Well 6 hours to fly to New York from LA is not so bad in fact driving 6 days to do the same thing would be considered an easy trip. Well the distance that we are going from Puerto Vallarta to Hawaii is about the same, 3000 miles. Our projected time for the trip is 19days, arriving hopefully in the afternoon of the 29th at the Hawaii Yacht Club. Why the big difference? Well boats don’t go that fast! But you say a cruise ship can do it in 5 days. Yes they do and you also get a candy on you pillow at night. The one thing that they lack is fulfilling all sailors dream of sailing off to distance ports of call. So let’s now put you into our environment and see if this will answer the question ‘What’s it like out there?

You have been just invited to go on a cruise to New York from LA with some really good friends in there new “Land Yacht”. This is a 50′ vehicle not unlike a motor home. It has sleeping quarters, a kitchen, living room and bathrooms. In addition it has a sun porch. Now the first thing you notice about this vehicle is that it is not level. It has a built in 15 degree tilt to one side. Ok, you can live with this. This vehicle is powered by some kind of mysterious force (MF from now on). You can’t see it, touch it or even taste it, but this MF is what will move you across the United States. So off you go. Out the driveway and following some red and green things you enter a new world where the surface looks flat but has no signage as to which way to New York. And then after closer inspection the surface is not flat but looks like a drunk highway engineer put speed bumps (or humps in some neighborhoods) everywhere. But these bumps are not in any order. They are at all different angles to your path and guess what; they range from 1 to 12 feet in height. Well you can imagine that you ride is going to be somewhat of an up and down all over the place experience. But you have to remember that the MF will be what determines what speed you go and in what direction. Oh, just in case the MF fails to perform you do have a small power source which can propel you at the neck breaking speed of 8 MPH. Ok now you have a small picture of your environment. Just remember this “land Yacht” will be moving forward at 7 MPH, you are on a 15 degree tilt and you will be hitting these speed bumps at various angles causing the vehicle to go up and down and also side to side. I forgot one thing, you do have a GPS onboard so you will not get lost and you can find you way even without signs.

The first area we are going to talk about is sleeping environment and arrangements. You go to your stateroom and you notice that the way the vehicle is listing, one side of you bed is lower and you could possibly fall out when the vehicle is moving over the speed bumps. You not sure how you can get by but you find a “lee cloth” so you can block the low side and keep yourself in bed. Next you notice that there is a lot of noise as the vehicle moves over the speed bump surface. Lastly you find out this is going to be a nonstop trip and you will have to drive this vehicle from the sun porch. This will be twice a day allowing you time off in between to rest, if you can. The sun porch is open to the elements (rain, wind and cold). You think well that will not be so bad I can watch the beautiful scenery go by. Did I forget to tell you that there is no scenery; it is the same thing every day. Flat, void of any features, and this will be the same every day. OK, how are we doing now?

Next we will talk about eating. You have all the latest cooking devices. Gas cook top, gas oven, microwave and even a “George Forman” grill. Great, now let’s get to cooking. The first thing you notice in the kitchen (remember 15 degrees) is nothing is level. But you notice that all the counters have a raised edge which should help keep things on the counter. You also find that the stove is not fixed in place, it is gimbaled. Great at least the food will stay on the stove. Well that’s not so bad and after a few tries you get very good at holding on with one hand and doing everything else with the other. Now when you serve the food you have the same problem. Well this problem was solved by our friend Mike Ritter. You put all the meals in dog bowls. The food stays in place and to date on our adventure we have not spilled one thing on the floor or ourselves. We hope you have the same kind of luck. O by the way there has been one problem, when Roger is done he puts his bowl on the floor and noses it toward the galley for more.

Now let’s get into problems. In the words of that famous sailor Captain Ron, “If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen out there”. If you haven’t seen “Captain Ron” then buy or rent it. It is a real hoot. What if something breaks? What do you do? Call AAA? I don’t think so as they don’t make “land yacht” calls. Someone says just pull over to the side of the road and we will take a look. There is no side of the road, there is no rest area, no Motel 6 or a Mac Donald’s, there is no road just you, the speed bumps and your vehicle moving at the record speed of 7 MPH. What you do is, some how, with what you have with you, you fix it or at least get it under control so you can continue on with your trip. Remember this adventure is a non-stop affair.

Now let’s get to some personal things. You noticed that there is a shower. The only problem is that it is 2 feet square and like everything else is moving in all directions. Well you jump in grab a grab bar to steady yourself and begin. Then you drop the soap and it takes you 2 minutes to chase down the slippery little thing all the while making sure you don’t get into a position that you will need help to get out of.

Well by now I hope that you have a little better understanding what it is like on “Cutthroat”. Which do you like better, the short version at the beginning of this entry or the long version? There are other things I could discuss but I will wait until next time. I know I’m speaking for everyone onboard that the trip has been fun. We have had some problems but we have taken care of them and we are all looking forward to our time in Hawaii. When you see us in the future we can fill in all the other things that happen. So for now, Aloha. “Don’t dream your life, Live your dream”. Roger and Elise are.

Ed Washington
Crewmember, s/v Cutthroat