If you would like to support Sampaguita in her voyage, she’s a boat, and always demanding something.
Donations can be made via PayPal or Zelle: wheelersf@hotmail.com
Thank you.
Thanks for checking our position. Due to a technological universe far bigger than Sampaguita and Sailing With Josh, it takes a little effort on your part to locate us.
Presently we are travelling down the west coast of North America indicated by the red triangles.
One day we may figure out how to make this easier for you, but at the time, it is beyond out technical savvy. And the trying has not been any fun at all.
I believe in you.
Sampaguita sits anchored in Humboldt Bay with CoHo Ho-Ho-ers. While she’s not one, they are out in force.
I’m willing to bet it’s her first visit to California.
While she’s a workhorse, her skipper needed a good solid rest. Hopefully that is just about to come.
There is no wrong answer! Give a shout out to your favorite tool and why. It could be years in the defining or a ‘what have you done for me lately’ answer.
A special thanks to Monica, Olivier, and the staff at Latitude 38 and ‘Lectronic Latitude for supporting us in this fun game.
Click Latitude 38 link below to read the full article and participate in the discussion.
https://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/2023/08/18/#resourceful-sailor-favorite-tool
Sampaguita‘s circumnavigation of Vancouver Island in June, 2023 inspired some new Resourceful Sailor pieces. Here’s one about reinstalling a Navico Tillerpilot 1600. I decommissioned this gear when I bought Sampaguita in 2013 for various reasons, but recently brought it out of retirement. Thanks to Monica and ‘Lectronic Latitude, Latitude 38’s online mag, for publishing it on July 17, 2023.
Click the link below to be redirected to the article:
https://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/2023/07/17/#resourceful-sailer-reinstalls-electronic-autopilot
Sampaguita has her mast lowered again this week for a port shroud replacement and thorough inspection. The port shroud had some conflict with a sail ring during my Vancouver Island rounding and neither got out unscathed. I decided it was worthy of refreshing and the sailmaker has the sail in hand.
I reviewed some of my old video in prepping for today’s lowering. It’s important and easier to not cut corners on the prep. When you do it right, the lowering happens so quickly and easily. I still get nervous because if something goes wrong, it could be pretty bad.
Locally, Gus, with the Olympic Crane Service is the go-to for mast stepping. I like Gus, and he is very experienced in his line of work. I’ve stepped a mast with him and Olivier on Breskell. The cost was $225 per hour. So, a round trip would be $450.
This is why I have a small boat. It’s not for the comfort.🤣 It is so I can. So I can have a fighting chance to maintain it properly. So I can raise and lower the mast at the cost of a few hours. So I don’t have to defer maintenance or rationalize it away.
Here’s a link to the ‘Lectronic Latitude article I wrote about lowering a small boat’s mast:
Here’s a video from the previous mast lowering:
Small boats take extra careful consideration for everything. I decided I needed a self-steering mechanism but weight, space, and cost were all major considerations.
After much research, measuring, and envisioning, I decided on a Windpilot Pacific Light. With a bit of luck to boot, the installation and fit seemed to have worked out so far. Everything is in exactly the only place it could go, but it seems to be good enough.
I have tested the vane inshore and offshore with success.
There may be a future Resourceful Sailor article regarding more detail on the reasoning, selection, and installation of the unit. We’ll see. For now I will document and share these photos with the manufacturer to see if there are any suggestions for improvement which might(and can) be undertaken.
All photos Copyright 2023 Joshua Wheeler
Vancouver Island Circumnavigation
June 1st through July 2nd. 953.71 nautical miles. 29 anchorages. 2 marinas. 2 nights offshore.
sailingwithjosh
Sailing With Josh 