In Los Angeles

Hello everyone,

First of all We must apologize It has not been easy finding internet connection,

Where to begin ... so much is happening,

One must start at the Bon Voyage party ... the love and blessings we felt from all of you. Friends and family are so clearly important to our existence. The time we spend with you individually is not enough and especially lately and in preparation for our trip. This does not mean we do not think of all of you with great appreciation and love.

We have made some amazing friends and life long ones too.  Doug Pease  (the fellow whom sold us the boat) has turned out to be a soul brother and has held so many aspects of preparing the boat and ourselves, He is not only a sailor but like his forefathers (the Quakers) He feels like a bit of home. Dougs  genuine and sincere desire to see us succeed, his support has made this voyage possible.

 Jay Becker has been about the best neighbor one can possibly ask for, in the true sense of real neighbors, lending the truck unconditionally  until your done with it, kind of stuff. tools, dropped off on deck, the day before you need them, and the amazing check lists, that keep us on track. After finding us the Liferaft we needed, he drove to San Diego to pick it up. and delivered it to our cockpit. Rest assured he says he may now sleep at night knowing we have it. and this list goes on.


Our lifestyle adjustments have been okay. We are feeling squished at times and lots of work is being done to the boat so everyday we have the tools and stuff all over and hope by midnight its all put away only to start all over the next day. One day we won't bring them out....

the cookstove is installed (almost)
engine has been serviced (water pump leak still being worked on)
Most provisions are aboard and stowed (fresh fruit to be bought in San Diego)
2 new Anchors bought and mounted (almost)
Liferaft stowed
First aid supplies done.
Flares checked and updated
lifejackets fit (need checking and spare co2)
masquitos screens installed
Spare part for engine bought and stowed
SSB ham radio installed and tuned ( need to get licence)
Epirb Bought (needs registration)
Boat Registration is done ( needs delivery to San Diego)
Small dinghy cleaned and stowed on deck
Large dinghy---still working on it --in progress
Heads (toilets) taken apart and cleaned including sanitary hoses
Navigation charts for all of mexico( found, purchased 3 different places)
Electronic charts installed on the Raymarine chart plotter
Fuel to be  polished tomorrow
Mercury 8 hp dinghy motor being serviced
and so on and so on ....... Our To Do list is very long.

We won't be leaving to San Diego until Monday, First to Catalina Island, our other neighbor Bob offered us a mooring there. Spend the night and leave for Diego in the afternoon for our first overnight sail down. Our official send off date with the Baja Ha Ha gang is on the 26th. Skippers meeting on the 25th.

Oh by the way we took Gypsy Wind out for Sail in the Santa Monica bay on Sunday, 15 knot winds, she sailed like a dream. 7 knots with the 3 sails up. That fore sail fully unfurled is a mind boggling 800 sq.ft.  its clear we need to batten down everything thats loose below decks. It looked like (in Kiyas words) an explosion took place,  this is nuts!!!

We hope to post some photos soon  and if all goes well we will have e-net in San diego at the dock.

                                                                        GypsyWind and her crew.