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| Shenanigans, indeed. |
In August of 2009, Jon and Danielle bought a 1973 35' Cal Pilothouse in Marina Del Rey, CA. The boat was originally called Burning Spirit, but the kids found the name Shenanigans to be far more fitting.
Relocating to Channel Islands harbor in Ventura county, the couple have since then worked almost around the clock to equip the yacht with vital blue-water cruising gear, as well as the other obligatory repairs inherent to all old fiberglass money pits floating on the water. A rebuilt Perkins 4-108 diesel engine, massive fuel tanks, new plumbing, safety gear, an emergency beacon, spare sails, CNG to propane oven conversion, extensive woodwork, new radio systems (including the SSB radio with Pactor III upgrade modem--a real gem for our communication with the outside world!)...the list never ends and it is a safe bet that it never will. As is the joy of boat ownership.
Meantime, however, the vessel has thouroughly lived up to her name while exploring the nearby island group: frolicking with the glorious native wildlife, spelunking the hundreds of sea caves, fishing, diving, and hiking the numerous trails in their vast front yard.
The couple have a current plan to sail across the Pacific to Hawaii. The entire ~2,400 mile trip should take 23 days, give or take. May 1st, 2011 they depart for Hilo on the big island. After traveling northwest along the island group, enjoying the sights, they will eventually leave from Kauai on July 1st to return home to SoCal in early August. They hope to gain valuable open ocean sailing experience, so that a future trip that may span thousands of miles further will hopefully sound slightly less insane.
Why undertake such a trip? Because why the hell not? That's why.
