We're finally off on our cruise. We just arrived today aboard our Malo 41 (43 feet overall) "Gratitude" with four aboard. The NOAA forecast did call for a gale down around 42* lat, but the Saildocs GRIB files predicted a max of 30 knots. Well, we had a lotta hours of 40 knots and gusts into the low 50's. We had lots of sea room and the boat kept us safe. We're tied up at the St. Francis Yacht Club in S.F. next to a Victoria boat named "Iridium" that arrived a few hours ahead of us. Their weather router did not predict what we got. (go prepared for the worst and enjoy it when better!). The Iridium folks are from Victoria, B.C., hardcore sailors.

We ran with it under double reefed main followed by triple reefed when seas and winds built. Everything survived well except for a mainsail tear just above the third reef point and a snapped preventer line. The electronic autopilot performed amazingly well so we did not have to hand steer. Surfing at up to 12 knots was a bit more exciting than what I would have preferred. Glad we had our friend Paul with us who was a veteran of a Cat 1 hurricane aboard his Bristol Channel Cutter in the 80's.

As people say, many northwest sailors have their worst weather on world cruises sailing down the coast.

Another sailboat, Gypsy Soul, about 70 miles ahead of us, was abandoned as the couple aboard (with dog) were rescued by Coast Guard helicopter. Glad things held together for us. That boat had hatch damage, was taking on water and they were badly dehydrated. Two people on a 58 foot boat. That's a lot to manage.

The deck mounted and rail mounted solar panels survived fine. The iMac stayed bolted in place. The only real damage was when I flew across the cabin an rearranged the door and frame over the main cabin hanging locker.

The Scotch, rum and bourbon have all been tasty. Now it's time for a shower and a good meal ashore if I can stand upright on land.

All the rest of our adventure to Mexico will be hohum by comparison. When I have some time, I'll post some photos of how we solved some of the problems getting the boat ready... steering wheel locking for self steering, solar panel mounts, charging, etc.