New Years Eve

We left Channel Islands Harbor at 1pm on the 30th with every intention of heading to San Diego. There was a mild rain when we left, but it did not seem mild when we got out to sea and had to contend with beating (yes, beating) to weather going on what should be 99% of the time a down wind, down current run. Combine that action with two sailors who are exhausted from all the “last minute” stuff we’ve been doing for the last month and a dog who hasn’t done a sail in over a year, and by 10pm Captain Craig put Catalina on the table for the crew… Yes, by all means, let’s stop and finally, relax! That is exactly what we are doing… Well, maybe not Dover. He has faced a tough-love demon the past 32 hours. Dover is used to going out on walks/beach runs with us 4 times a day. Even at Channel Islands where there is no beach access for doggies, we managed to “chuck-it” ball on the grassy bits above our guest slip at least twice a day. Bottom line, Dover has got to learn to go #1 and #2 on the boat, solo and with impunity. He absolutely refuses to defile his boat, which was cool in the marina community, and is not in the cruising environment. Long, painful (for everyone) story short… He pissed on the deck after 32 hours of whining and holding out for a trip to shore. Huge praise from us, but he still has not gone #2. We are hoping for the am on January 1st, 2010 so that we can treat him to a shore run on the kayak. I’m upping the anti in our favor with cheese snacks. It works for me! Dover poop news will follow!!
Engine ran great. Radar was right on. The only problem we encountered via boat systems was, well, US. We need to give ourselves the time to catch-up to what we’ve accomplished with this boat in the last two years and get on to the business of reaping what we have sewn! First lesson being learned right now… Happy New Year to you and yours. The souls of South Trail wish you peace, health, happiness and new adventures in 2010.