I cant believe it has been over a month since I posted an update! Trinda is off to Seattle and I am still working on the varnishing. There sure is a lot of wood on this boat!

Trinda and Marine in front of Shoreline, where we leave the dinghy to go ashore. This was a few days before she left.

Living in the middle of a construction project! The paint stripper we are using is REALLY powerful stuff. We have to make sure it doesn't get on anything it is not supposed to. I think I'm not too far from the half way point.

Australia Day

Today, Jan 26 is Australia Day. The Australian Navy commander here had a Bar-B-Que at his place, Wallaby Downs (funded by the Navy). Lots of beer, wine and soda. They invited the yachts and of course all the Ausies living here plus lots more. They had "snags and dead horse".

Trinda seems over the flu, but may be developing an allergy to either teak saw dust or coral dust. As we arrived at the party she had hives on her arms and more. They cleared up shortly. Within minutes of returning to the boat she was itching again. (And we can't find the benadryl, I know we have some here somewhere! ) It hasn't rained for a few days and the streets are dusty, so its hard to tell which it is. She seems better now, who knows.

Still paint stripping, sanding and varnishing.

Still Here

I noticed the poor blog hasn't been updated in a while.

After the race, we were busy getting ready for the Christmas party for the local kids and the Christmas potluck dinner. they were both a big success. I was back to my normal self for Christmas dinner, at 3 plate fulls. The next day we made turkey soup from the left over turkey carcass. Either that or some other left over must have spoiled as I was really sick for 2 1/2 weeks. Hardly left the little room at the back of the boat!

After finally going to the hospital where they gave me really strong antibiotics and assured me I have no parasites, I seem to be OK again. Trinda was a real trouper through the whole deal.

We started refinishing all the teak wood inside the boat. She kept on stripping and sanding the whole time I was sick. It is going really slow. every cabinet door,etc has little louvers for ventilation. They are too close together to get anything in, but have to have the old varnish stripped off them too. There 30 such doors! one is finished and 6 under way. We have 8 removable floor boards of which 2 or 3 need one final coat. nd the V-birth stateroom is half stripped with the first of 3 coats of polyurethane on it.

We just got tickets for a trip to Seattle and around. Trinda goes Mar 1 and I go Apr 12 both returning about June 12.

OSHA, the Race and the Canoe

It has been a while since I have written. It has been busy and rainy here in Majuro.
We have started re-finishing the inside of the boat. We are using polyurathane instead of varnish. Gloss on the floor and trin and simi-gloss on the walls and doors. It ovcourse started lots of rain just as we were committed and the instructions say less than 75% humidity and less than 80 degrees. Maybe it will just dry slower as we never reach those minimums!


Phil, who just purchased Windswept, a 65' trimaran, made a temporary mast. He plans to sail to Thailand to do a major re-fit and repair. Here the local guys have stepped the temporary mast and are trying to get the sling the crane used off the mast. He did not fall off the pallet! Amazing.

We entered the first Yacht Club race of the season. Before the wind blew it was almost calm as I approached Irish Melody and the local canoe passed between both of us.

The crew for the race. Ali is Maraine's husband. Trinda spends time with here sewing and baking and such. They are relatives of some frinds we made on Aur atoll. I have trouble with the volenteer teachers names., must be some sort of mental block!, Heather, Lee, Ru and 2 more, theN Rob form Yohala came along as experienced crew. This is after the jib (foresail) is ripped and we are motoring back to the buoy with our tails between our leggs.

The next day the WAMM canoe bulding and construction class graduated and this is their class project. Beautiful canoe. They shortly broke the boom doing about 15 knots and flipped the boat end over end (pitch-poled). It didn't hurt them or the canoe any more though. It was a fun day but I sunburned my nose bad and got a back ache from standing around all day.

Majuro Canoe Class

There is a program here in Majuro to help young people to learn some skills. Most classes build a traditional canoe as part of the program. This was graduation week for them. The took three of their canoes out to Enako, an island in Majuro lagoon for kind of a celebration and a chance to "live what they have learned". They cooked a turkey in an 'under ground oven' along with coconuts, pandanas and breadfruit. And of course rice and fried tuna.


They invited the yachts to come out and if we gave them a tour of the yacht they would give us a ride on their canoe. I sailed on one like this. I took pictures underway, but it is too small to see so you get this picture of Linda (Hawkeye) instead of me. Trinda's tatoo is still to be kept out of the salt water (for fear of infection) and she is still suffering symptoms of the flu, so she stayed on the boat. Notice there is not much free-board here. With two kids and a 'kelip rebelly' (fat American) on board, the bow is very close to the water. We got a couple of wind gusts that spead us over 12 knots and the bow wave flew over the ama! Not to mention the part of the wave that washed over "all occupants"!
It is definately quite a ride.

Another of those unresistable sunsets.

Majuro Beer Can Race

We participated in the annual beer can race last night. I took an easy second, but Trinda easily claimed very last.
Its hard to see but that is her beer can sailboat at the bottom at the starting line.
I won a Friday night 'Mexican Night Buffet" for two. I guess I'll have to share my winnings with the big looser!
The local kids made the boats. For $5 we buy a boat, put it in the pool and give a good blow to get it started. The first one to the opposite end of the pool is the winner. It was fun and yet another oppertunity to have a beer with friends.

Things in Majuro

Ever since the French Polynesia Trinda has been threatening to get a tattoo! Well a cruising couple is leaving and Chris decided to get a memory of her life here. Trinda went with her and came back with these!


I tried to get a picture of the faces she made during the process, but they aren't suitable for publication!

The turtle has a beach scene in the middle and the word "Yokwe" across the top. That is the Marshallese word for 'Hello' or 'I love you' or 'good bye' depending on how it is used. I may get a better photo after it heals some.