We're back....  It has been a minute since I last posted on the blog.  But, we're now four months out from this summer's race

and activity is ramping up.  Due to COVID and vaccination requirements for the race, we had to make a "last minute" crew change near the end of 2021.  After casting around for crew replacements we found two excellent options and decided to take them both and increase our total crew from 3 to 4.  We've been spending the last few practice sessions getting the new guys familiar with the boat, POB practice, exposure to the emergency steering process, and provisioning discussions.  The boat is currently over at KKMI getting the bottom painted and we needed to get a rig inspection (thanks Ben @ Easom Rigging) for our insurance company.  We replaced the standing rigging 2 years ago in preparation for the 2020 race (that didn't happen), but they wanted an inspection anyway.  We've also been in discussions with the PCYC technical committee regarding our downwind rating and whether we'd get placed in the PHRF or ORR fleets (turns out we're right on the cutoff for going one way or the other).  Based on a desire to race with boats that look "more like us", we petitioned to be in the PHRF fleet, and just recently PCYC approved our request.  This also means starting earlier in the week (probably Tuesday or Wednesday, July 5th or 6th).  Once the boat's back from the yard we've got several practice ocean races in April, May, and June.  The last will be the OYRA Farallones race, where we plan to have the boat in full PacCup mode (dodger, solar panel, etc.).  This will be an excellent "dry run" for the start of PacCup (except we'll turn back after rounding SE Farallon Island). 

That's it for now.  Lots of details to work on over the next four month, which, undoubtedly will go by in a flash.  I'll leave you with a shot of the new crew out practicing.