North to Alaska 2008 Series

1 May 2008

We are now just 30 days away from our departure…and while we’ve accomplished a lot – the list is looking more manageable!  The biggest rock in our box was the fuel system.  If you remember our fuel issue on the trip back from Kauai last summer, we discovered we had some (lots, actually) water in the fuel…it shut the engine down…not a good day…we made a miraculous entry into our slip being towed by our dinghy, but it has been haunting me ever since.  Fortunately, we found what we think is a good solution.  The FilterBoss fuel system essentially replaces our current system with super-duper Racor filters and a pump system that detects vacuum leaks and bad fuel before it would cause a problem and shut the engine or (God forbid) the generator down.  Let me paint a visual image for you…there we are, 1000 miles offshore with 1500 miles more to go…we run the generator twice each day to keep the radar, auto-pilot, lighting, radios, refrigeration, heating (yes, we’re moving further north and it’s getting COLD), we are approaching the Horse Latitudes and need to power our way through this because there is no wind…and the engine and generator won’t run because of WHATEVER…it’s one of my worst nightmares! Now maybe I’m sounding a little paranoid here…well if you don’t hear from us for several days in a row we may be out there without any power.  A little fog and the solar panels won’t work.  We approach shore (after eating cold food for 10 days) and here we are approaching the rocky coast of Alaska under sail.  OK, this is not a pretty picture. 

The really good news is that Roger is the FilterBoss meister.  He determined where and how to safely install this thing – nothing fits in the engine room of a sailboat – not a person, not a large object that needs to also be supported off of a bulkhead that isn’t big enough.  Roger moved lights, over-flow containers, found sources of power for the idiot lights; he worked wonders to make this work replacing all the fuel lines and connectors in the process.  Yes, it was difficult, but at the end of the day (or 2 weeks in this case) it all worked!   

Once this was complete, we changed the impellers on the engine and the generator.  Most of you probably don’t know what an impeller is (and you’re the lucky ones).  It’s part of the raw water cooling system – that means it brings salt water into the system to cool the engine.  These were obviously designed by a MAN – they are incredibly difficult to get to, need special tools, and whatever idiot designed them into a sailboat…well, we don’t even want to go there.  Needless to say, Roger has great difficulty getting his shoulders into the area to pull these suckers out.  Yes, that left me.  I have the bruises and broken nails to prove my involvement.   

The sails are all repaired, the lifelines replaced (they got destroyed in one of the winter storms out here when our shade tree cove was still up).  The canvas was repaired (same storm), and worn running rigging has been replaced where needed.  We also had the hull, cabin top, and stainless all detailed so s/v Cutthroat is looking GREAT!  Back up to our high standards. 

Crew Update -  The good news is that nobody else has fallen out.  In fact, we added my youngest nephew, Paul to the active able crew list.  Paul is 15, and the son of my brother, Chuck.  Here is a picture of the whole gang – Rog and I are in the middle.   Bob Bergman is at the top left.  Bob spent several years as Captain of his own boat up and down the East Coast and cruising the Caribbean.   He is an avid racer in San Diego and also is the Service Manager for Suncoast Yachts, the San Diego Island Packet Dealer.  He passed up an opportunity to do the Newport – Bermuda Race this year to make the Alaska trip on Cutthroat.  Pat Moneymaker is our Iron Man having just completed the San Diego Triathlon and another one of those grueling races in St Pete, FL.  He also happens to be a retired Navy Admiral, former Commander of the Blue Angels, CEO of K-Force Govt. Solutions, and all around nice guy.  He’s at the top right and one of those who needs to get back to work sometime this summer.   His wife, Carol is doing all the embroidery work on our passage gift package – t-shirt, hats, polartec shirts, etc. Chuck Wagenseil also passed up the Bermuda Race to help out his older sister – ME.  He’s at the bottom left and comes with an excellent cruising and racing background.  We did much of our early racing and cruising together in New England and Canada.  Young Paul is at the bottom right.  He’s 15 going on 30.  Paul will stay aboard to do the Inside Passage with us unless he can figure out a way to jump ship sooner – or Roger gets tired of him and sends him home.  While Paul is no stranger to boating and the water, this is his first big passage.  It will be quite an experience for him!   

If you see any of us on milk cartons or one of the “Dangerous Catch” episodes as the catch no doubt…oh well, please call my Mother! 

One more thought – the crew eats a lot, especially with the Iron Man and the 15 year-old.  So, I am looking for any of you to contribute one of your favorite recipes – things that can be prepared in one pot or ahead of time would be ideal.  Think comfort food.  If you have a favorite “at sea,” or just a favorite of yours that you feel would be good for this group, and want to contribute – PLEASE EMAIL IT TO ME.  Anyone who contributes a recipe will receive a coveted Cutthroat coin to commemorate your support of our journey.  We will even vote on the success of the various meals.  The winner gets something really special like a hat or a t-shirt!  WOW!  And…YOU will be featured in the www.sailcutthroat.com  blog.  Really, I would love to get some of your great recipes that have carried you through cold winters and rough times.  We can cook just about anything aboard and we will appreciate your thinking of us.  Get those to us soon – I’m starting the provisioning sequence in two weeks week.  Appreciate your help!  We’ll send out one more update before our departure.  Looking forward to hearing from you on the high seas! 

Mahalo, 

Elise and Roger