Lists. lists. and more lists.

As the time nears for us to go to Australia to pick up the boat, we have compiled a dozen lists, and lists to remind us to look at other lists. One friend suggested that we are in a process of "risk management", because we are trying to think of everything we will need to safely cross the Pacific Ocean. Almost everything we need to depend on will need at least one backup. Of course we like the idea of duplicate hulls, steering, engines, fuel tanks, alternators, rudders, beds and heads; but with only one water tank (135 gal.), we need to consider what happens if 1. the water pump doesn't work, 2. the electrical system doesn't work, or 3. the main water tank becomes contaminated. We have ordered a Spectra 3000 series water maker which will provide about 12 gal/hr. of fresh water from sea water, but it depends on battery power. We have 3 banks of batteries giving us 900 amp-hrs of power, and two 120 watt solar panels to charge the batteries, but we will be using about 500 amps of power daily. Since we can only use about half of the rated battery power before recharging, this means we will have to run at least one engine about 1 - 2 hours daily. With 95 gallons of fuel, this should not be a problem.

We are really lucky to have volunteers to help us cross the Big Blue. Our son Vaughn and his cousin Jeff have volunteered for the first big leg from Sydney to Aukland, New Zealand. This is the real first test of ours and the boat's sailing abilities across the Tasman Sea (1200 miles). We plan on leaving Sydney around December 10, 2007, so we can get to Aukland before December 23, which is when Jenny (Vaughn's wife) and two children plan on arriving in Aukland (by air). We will have additional visitors from the USA while we stay for three months in New Zealand: Toni and Jerry Smith (RV buddies from El Dorado Hills, Pat and Ted Stuart, Tom Hanson and Merrie Bailey, and Bill and Jill Case (friends from Oregon). And maybe others. We want to stay in New Zealand until the hurricane season ends before heading up to Tahiti. Ted Stuart and Tom Hanson will stay on as crew for the next big leg to Tahiti in April.