YouTube post

After living on the water for 2 years I am finally starting to make use of technology and the web to keep folks informed about my travels. I just posted a photo compilation on Youtube. The link is http://www.youtube.com/user/sanctuary62 I hope people like it.

Micheal

The Itinerary to date

So I have been asked to put up an itinerary of where I may be in the coming months so that others could have a chance to meet up with me. So get out you maps and charts and play along.

To date I think I'll be in San Carlos by Nov. 5 2008 I have at least a week of scraping and painting the bottom then in the water and off to Baja. I'll see the islands as much as possible and work my way down the coast to La Paz. I estimate that I'll be in La Paz for 2 weeks gathering soem supplies and the head to the mainland some time in Dec. or when ever it gets cold in the SOC. The next stop would be Mazatlan then harbor hop down to Banderas Bay. After that I'll wait for a weather window to round Cabo Corientes and make my way down the Gold coast. That's as far as a plan as I have to date. Weather dictates everything and I really don't rush.

I have a new sail blog I'm pulling together on Tripsailor http://www.tripsailor.com/redpillsailor
This seems to be a very useful site as it can give my exact or last posted position using Google Earth.

Going to Portland

I'll be visiting my mother in Portland for a week and the beautiful city of Portland Or. I keep thinking that Portland is one of the few places I would live in the US if my country ever pulls it together. I discovered that Amtrak is the best deal for transportation on the coast. $73.00 one way is cheaper than greyhound and way more comfortable.

Me

Photographs

I started to use Picasa to load some photos from my travels. Take a look if you're interested...

http://picasaweb.google.com/redpillsailor

Crew Requirments

44yo capable easy going captain seeking crew and friendship. I am living the life of a sailor. When I started this nearly 25 years ago it was what I wanted to do with my life. Many folks think of it as a hobby. This is not the case. This is my life now. I am an expert mechanic. I completed a total mechanical and electrical re-fit before I left the US in December 2006. I am still working on the cosmetics and there is much to be done on my little floating home.

That being said Sanctuary is very self sufficient and sturdy. I have amassed tools and skills to repair every system on board that doesn't need an oscilloscope. I consider myself to be a pragmatic, prudent, competent, mariner. The never ending wish list is far from complete as far as toys are concerned however you should also understand that more gear requires more maintenance.

Now for the tricky part I am a single middle aged guy. That means that I would like a woman in my life that wants to share this life with me. Sadly I have concluded that a single guy on a small sail boat is like having a creepy alarm attached to one's forehead. As such I have decided to just give up on that. If it happens great. In the mean time it would be nice to have company. That means that if you are a woman you will be treated like crew. I don't do hidden agenda...WYSIWYG!

If you respond to this my only real requests (demand is such un-gracefull word). You must have your own money: $10 bucks a day is fine. However, that won't go too far for touring inland and such. You should have an exit strategy: This means enough cash to get yourself home should things go badly for what ever reason. Be willing to help out on the boat: That can be anything, but keep in mind I'll be doing a lot of painting this year (finally yippy!) that means lots of clean up and disruption to play time. If you have ANY requests or suggestions you need to bring them to me ASAP! I can't fix it if don't know there is a problem. I respect anyone who is willing to show up and your comfort is as important as my own!

The Boat!

Boat stuff!...

So I have received a few inquiries about sanctuary, my home. She is a Rawson 30 and she and I have had a relationship for nearly 15 years. I have been loyal to her and she to me for that time and to date is my longest standing relationship LOL! I have been rebuilding her since 2006. After an extensive up grade at Berkeley Boat Works, I could not stand another winter on San Francisco bay. So I took me and my little home to Mexico on December 3 2006. Sanctuary has not been back since. I on the other hand have been back to the US twice. Mostly to visit friends and buy things that are hard to find or expensive in Mexico. The following is a list of up grades to the equipment on Sanctuary and a brief description of the Rawson 30.

Sanctuary

launched in 1962

Rawson 30
A new Universal XPB 25 diesel engine.
New standing rigging
New working sails
New Raytheon radar
New Raytheon GPS
Viking 4 person Life raft
PW 406-EPIRB w/GPS
Tiller
Propeller
Propeller shaft
Custom exterior chain plates
LPU hull paint
Holding tank
Halyards
Masthead lights
Simrad tiller pilot
Hard dodger
New Lexan port lights
260 watt solar PV panel

The refit is still on going for the interior and much of the cosmetic work still needs completion. All of the above equipment was installed by me and has been maintained by me. I have a full set of tools on board which is too extensive to list. The popular equipment that is NOT aboard are water maker a SSB transmitter and refrigeration.

Sanctuary is very stout roomy and sea worthy. I can deal with any emergency that arises and she can take me any place I turn here to in most weather under 40 knots. She is stiff and comfortable for her water line and has the room of many boats larger than her. She sails very well for her vintage and the only real sacrifice in design is her windward performance is not equal to more modern designs. The high freeboard makes her dry and the full keel and displacement ratio is extremely stable. To date there have been 3 Rawsons that have circumnavigated, I hope to be the fourth. Numerous others that have crossed the pacific.
I have been sailing since I was 14yo and I have the expertise and tools to do remote repairs. The boat and her skipper are extremely self sufficient.

2 years in...

After 2 years of sailing, traveling and just breathing I have found that a blog post is the best way for me to communicate to family, friends and anyone who is interested in what I am doing. You read this stuff at your own risk. If you don't like what I write, it's a big planet, find something you do. At the moment I am building this blog to keep those who care informed. I'll be posting later about me my journeys and perhaps the other mad rambling that scream in my head.

Micheal