I think that most people that visit my website don’t realize that I live on a sailboat with my son. Our hailing port is Fisherman Bay of Lopez Island because its a community that we both fit into really well.  It hasn’t been this way for long.  In fact, I just learned how to sail last summer.  Within two weeks of dinghy sailing I was hooked and we bought our first weekend cruiser.  An Ericson 27.  As spring rolled around, we were convinced that the best way to living a more simple life is to shuck 90% of our possessions and limit our domestic responsibilities to just 32 feet.  That’s when we found Roda Roka.  She is 1976 Westerly ketch with a nice aft cabin for Jake.  True privacy on a small boat.  It was meticulously maintained and everywhere you looked was highly appointed upgrades and refits.  It was meant for us.  Turn Key vessel.

I have been so busy having fun and taking pictures and living the dream that I haven’t really made time to share hardly any of our experiences and adventures except for the sprinkling of Instagram photos (slappinghalyards.com)

Today, we are upgrading to a world class yacht.  I’m flying down to Seattle in thirty minutes to prepare for the maiden voyage up to Lopez.

I thought that I should share Roda Roka’s maiden voyage from Point Roberts own to Lopez now.  Just to start catching people up to speed… Enjoy.

Point Roberts paints all their hydrants different motifs.  Very fun and clever.

Beach front tiny home I saw on my way to the port.

Cooks of the local restaurant goofing about while I waited for the dual citizen skipper to bring it down from Canada.

The phone call to Customs brings them down for an inspection of paperwork before I’m allowed aboard.

I wait patiently on the dock….

All my charts are on iPad and my phone.

She has a racing pedigree!  Funny.

I always travel with my trusty Aeropress. It  was April anyways.

Brand new sails.  Gotta love them.

The strange boils and upwellings of a current convergence.  It will take you for a ride.  Its not NEAR as straight forward as the current atlas would lead you to believe.

Selfie

It came with this perfect mug.  Hey look a schooner! (wink, wink)

The following day, she showed me how she loves a good blow.  30 knots with a single reef in the mail and couldn’t get the rail wet if I tried.  Super stout little Westerly’s prefer a lively sea.

Derelict reefnet boats on the bar signals her new safe harbor….