Have we mentioned here that we’ve had this dream goal of taking a sabbatical year and sailing the South Pacific Ocean? Rocket Science was designed with that trip in mind and we’ve been planning it for Griffin’s 7th grade year. It all made perfect sense until a few months ago when the time to leave was rapidly approaching. This wild hair of an idea seemed like it was in the distant future for so long and now it feels unreal that we’re starting to look for a departure window. Our house is rented starting in a few weeks, 7th grade schooling is planned, insurance is updated, and Rocket Science’s designer Paul and his son Leo (both epic sailors) are planning on coming with us on the first leg from Seattle to the Marquesas. What else could we possibly need? Here’s what that might look like if we left now:
The last 3 years of work on the boat have been pointing us this direction but there’s been a few more things to do before such a long adventure. We’ve been hauled out and installing the new ballast intake and filling system, painting the bottom, inspecting and maintaining the rig, doing a bunch of routine maintenance, and updating systems. Greg has been working full time on it all this last week and got through a big hurdle with the instruments and navigation system yesterday.
A big part of this haul out was updating how the ballast tanks fill and I’m so grateful for all the help and input we’ve had with it. We used a carbon tube big enough to house the pumps and for the sumps which are installed behind the aft ballast tank bulkhead with an easy route to the relocated tank fill tubes. All thats left is to do is to attach the hoses and we’ll be ballast enabled, can’t wait to try it out. More details on that and other stuff in the projects page.
If you scroll all the way to here, maybe you’re interested enough to come to the Bieker Boat Rendezvous? RSVP here.
See you there!