Aboard Astraea

Invest in experiences

At the helm

May 23, 2012
by Nate

Our first sail Aboard Astraea

Sunday we took Astraea out for her first sail in San Diego Bay. We invited Eric and Jaime along to help with the sails because I didn’t want Natalie to exert herself too much. We motored out of Pier 32 and headed west towards Crown Cove. There was an open house at the Crown Cove Aquatic Center, run by Southwestern College. We anchored outside the cove and made some tasty tacos for lunch. We wanted to stay onboard for a while to make sure the anchor was set.

Astraea lying at anchor

Astraea lying at anchor

After lunch, we motored ashore in the dinghy and walked around the booths set up on shore. I found out about the event from Jimmy, one of the office guys at Pier 32, because they had a tent there. They had sailboat rides, kayaking, and paddle boarding available to try. We rode the dinghy back to Astraea, snapped some pictures and set sail. First, we sailed with only the jib, then added the main and finally the mizzen. We reached up the bay towards the Coronado Bay Bridge. I broke out a bottle of sparkling wine that Eric and Jaime gave us when we first brought the boat to San Diego, and we toasted to our first sail with Astraea.

A first dinghy ride to distant shores

A first dinghy ride to distant shores

It was great to finally get to sail our new home and I can’t wait to do it again!

Jaime and Eric like sailing big boats too

Jaime and Eric like sailing big boats too

Koku loves the feeling of the wind on his fur!

Koku loves the feeling of the wind on his fur!

At the helm

At the helm

With the wind in our sails

With the wind in our sails

Koku is happy to sail on the big boat

Koku is so happy to sail on the big boat

Koku resumes his watch

May 22, 2012
by Nate

A cat

A stray cat was wandering around the docks last Thursday when I was home from work getting the engine fixed.

First I spotted it up on Wind Watcher.

The cat perched up on Chuck and Jan's boat

The cat perched up on Chuck and Jan's boat, Wind Watcher

Then Chuck said he saw the cat on the dock by Astraea. I went outside to check it out and the cat jumped up on to my boat and was face to face with Koku! Koku usually likes to chase fuzzy things but after his meeting with Mr. Skunk he’s got a new attitude about little black and white fuzzy things.

Then the cat came over to visit Koku

Then the cat came over to visit Koku

I picked the cat up (in a paper bag) and walked it up the dock and let it go on to the rocks. Then I left and it followed me back down the dock. I chased it back up, but the cat just wanted to be on the dock so I just gave up relocating the cat. If you’re in San Diego and want a nice pet kitty, let me know. He’s got little white socks on and is cute, but I don’t need another pet.

And now that the cat is gone, Koku is back to his normal routine Aboard Astraea.

Koku resumes his watch

Koku resumes his watch