Happy New Year!!!!!















Well, here we go, the first try @ a blogspot!
We hope that by writing a bit every month, you will all know where we are and what we are up to and that we are ok. Also it will give you the opportunity to react or just email us direct.Lets see what will happen, her
e the first installment, which is about all that happened since we sold the catamaran in Trinidad and came back from our trip to Holland and Portugal.
Its been a great year, lots of hard work, not quite enough play,(but we hope to change that around very soon),visiting old friends and making new ones.

We had not planned to stay in San Diego for a whole year, but thats what happened and we have enjoyed it here.
Whilst visiting with friends in Pensacola, we had already found some boats we were intersted in online, all trimarans.One of then happened to be in Holland of all places, so we did go and see it, made a nice trip all the way to the north of Holland. Boat turned out to be too expensive, but was nice to see and give us some ideas as to what we looking for.

Flew back to the States, Los Angeles, in November and ended up staying with Tristan and Nance and Zach, our very good friends here. They were great and let us stay way too long and ended up being our storage room for the year! Couldnt have done it without them!We had seen a couple boats on the way from LA to San Diego, too small and went up to Ventura with Tristan to look at the boat we did buy. She is a 42ft Norman Cross trimaran, needed a lots of work and love and we have given her both this last year, so now she looks a lot better then a year ago!
Jeff sailed her down to San Diego where we rafted up in the Yachtclub next to another old friend of Jeff, Roy, who has a Jim Brown 42ft trimaran, which he build at the same time as Jeff build his old boat here in LA about 30 years ago. Had found a yard to haul out and spend 3 months there, yes, way too long, but it all needed doing. She started to look much better on the outside, had a new engine installed and we made a start on some of the interior.

We managed to get a mooring in the bay, which is more then difficult here, were very lucky to find this one. Its not a very nice place, right in the entry channel to the bay, so all warships and big fishingboats go in and out all the time, the mooring area is know as "Rock and Roll" and it really is, I dont think I would want to be here in a monohull and have to do any work!! Its pretty bad at times, but we are used to it now and able to do all the work thats neccesary.The mast was put on and again she is starting to look good.
Then it was time for some play and we went of to see another friend of jeff, this time up north. Spend time with Steve and visited Death Valley and Grand Canyon, how incredible!!

Back to work, took the boat back to the yard , this time only on the dock to rebuild the aft cabin, where we now have a wonderful bunk with head room and plenty of space and light!We also had the sails delivered while we were there, so now we could go and do some trial sails, only a couple so far, seem to be too busy working still.
The summer seemed to be over before we noticed, plans had been to go south before the hurricane season, but the 3 months boatyard had made that impossible. So, after the hurricane season it would be, now we are in januari 2008 and we still havent gone! What is wrong with us?? Wanting to do too much before we leave, now though its cold and raining here so more urgent to go south and get warm!

We had 2 visits from the old owner of the boat; one while we were in the yard and one a couple weeks ago,with both their sons and some friends, had a great timer and they are just so happy to see the boat shaping up.Xmas was spend up at Steves, sitting in front of a fire place with a glass of wine was a great way to spend those days!
Few more jobs to do in the next weeks , but it shouldnt be too long now, we will see some of Mexico, Costa Rica, then the Panama canal and up to Cuba, anyway, that is the plan so far, we will keep you all up to date what really happens.
We do hope that you will all mail us and stay in touch, it is so nice to come ashore somewhere and find all emails waiting for us, we love to hear all your stories, even if they seem routine to you, for us its nice to hear how everybody is doing.

We will start using a new email address once we leave here, yahoo will be checked for a while, but we want to go over to gmail.
The new address is;
svstravaig@gmail.com
When travelling and internet is too expensive, the
svstravaig@pocketmail.com will also be used, dont forget, you cant send attachments there!
Once again, a very happy 2008 for everyone and we hope to hear from you or see you sometime soon,
Jose and Jeff

Comments

Unknown said…
Wow....all the other comments are in another language so I hope mine is printed in English. We are so thrilled to see the progress of Stravaig. We are traveling with you vacariously as you make your way out of the San Diego Harbor. Fair winds and following seas...may your knots never untie.
Love, Russ, Franci Andrew and Evan Nelson (former owners). A little part of each of us will be cruising along with you two!
Anonymous said…
Hi Jeff and José,

We haven´t had any reply to our last email so we hope you are sailing now.
We keep an eye on your blog and try to send emails now and then.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Lots of love and kisses from Jan and Philippe and a dog called Tjesse

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