An Homage to Always



"Let us be grateful to those who make us happy;
they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."
Marcel Proust.

   Monday, January 2, 2011, was the two happiest days in our current boating life. Always, our fourteen-ton Mason 43 cutter-rigged sloop was sold in Long Beach, California, to a man who, after first bringing her up to Anacortes where we are, plans to take her to the South Seas. What a lucky lass is she. 
   On that same day, we purchased another fourteen tonner, this time a PNW-friendly 44 Ocean Alexander sun-deck, cockpit motor yacht we're naming L’Esprit. More about her in our next entry.
    For now, we’d like to pay homage to our girl who, over the last ten years, transported our guest crews and us to and back home safely from each of California’s sometimes-feral Channel Islands (Santas Barbara, Miguel, Clemente, Catalina, Rosa, Nicolas, Cruz, and Anacapa); Malibu's Paradise Cove; King, Ventura, and Cabrillo Harbors; Santa Barbara city; Long Beach's Island White; Laguna and Newport Beaches; Tanner and Cortes Bank and Dana Point. 

   Below, we've included some pictures encapsulating our Always adventure, including many pictures of friends who have served as crew. We regret, that in our move up here some pictures we thought we had have not at this time been found. If you have any, please forward them to us, and we'll post them here. 

   Indeed, we thank all of you who have braved the California waters to crew aboard Always. In so many ways, YOU added significantly to our adventure, and our memories with you will be lasting. 

Left: Thomas Gieskes and Dave Hackett helming on a guy-trip to San Miguel Island. Mid: Dave and Thomas. Right: Nicolas Rodasta back in Avalon near end of Tanner Bank voyage.

Left: Thomas Gieskes, Frank Conner and Dave Hackett on Cuyler Beach, San Miguel. Mid: Michael Springs and Nicolas Rodasta in Avalon after the rough Tanner Bank passage. Rt: Michael Springs, Nicolas Rodasta, and Dave heading toward Avalon in the early morning after Tanner Bank Passage in which seas and 30 kt. winds broke the steering.

Left: Frank Conner, Nicolas Rodasta, Dave, and Michael Springs heading toward Avalon. Mid: Charlotte Backman helming back to Long Beach from Newport Beach. Rt: Volare captain Hank Salerno passes appetizers to Chandra Fechtelkotter at Santa Barbara Island.  

Left: Fauso Silva (sorry, can't find pictures of Norma, Katie Martinka, and Ross Mueller) pointing out boats when we found ourselves on the wrong side of the TransPac (LA to Hawaii) starting line. Mid: Here's Pendragon passing us on the starboard right after the TransPac starting gun fired. Rt: Heading home from somewhere.

Left: David's favorite perch. Mid. and Rt.: Dolphins swimming with us, our favorite good-luck sign. 

Left: Kati and Dave Hackett. Mid: View from the companionway ladder. Rt: Kati and Dave Hackett, Linda Watkins, and Ken Thompson coming over for brunch in Newport harbor.  

Left: Phyllis Ann Marshall helming after brunch at Long Beach Yacht Club. Mid: A new high. Thirteen in the cockpit for cocktails at Santa Barbara Island That's Hank Salerno in the yellow fleece and Gail Salerno with her back to the camera, second from left. Rt: Several Inside Edgers won the auction for a sail on Always. Kathy Blank is on the left, Susan in the middle, and Jim Morris is on the right.

Left: Sailing and lunch with Louella Nelson, Stacee Nelson, and Thilo Wisniewski. Mid: Frank Conner and Michael Springs, Rt. Thomas Gieskes.

Left: Frank Conner. Mid: Hiking Santa Barbara Island. Gail and Hank Salerno, on left. David in the back. The people with the Grand Banks on the right. Rt. View from atop Snata Barbara Island's landing spot.

Left: Elephant Seal at San Miguel Island. Mid: Seagul chicks on Santa Barbara Island. Rt: Thomas Gieskes, Dave Hackett, Frank Conner, the ranger, and Hank Salerno atop San Miguel Island.

Left: Again Dave Hackett, Frank Salerno, Frank Conner, and Thomas Gieskes halfway up San Miguel Island by Juan Cabrillo's commemorative plaue. Mid: Thomas and Dopminique Gieskes and David in the back, Gail and Hank Salerno (Beneteau 42, Volare)in the front, atop Santa Barbara Island. Rt. An accidental crew member at Santa Barbara Island.

Left and middle: Usually in March, migrating warblers will stop on Always during a crossing between Long Beach and Catalina's Isthmus. They are very sociable and feel completely comfortable taking over the boat, even going below to investigate. They're quite smitten by our chiny winches in which they can see themselves. They also like swing on coiled ropes. Rt: Always's rails awash.

Left: Always with her winter house up in Cherry Cove, Catalina Island. We'd spend a week in this cove between Christmas and New Years, and Always would become a convection oven keeping us toasty and warm. Ken Thompson and Linda Watkins. Davy facing the sunrise at Yellowbanks, Santa Cruz Island.  

Left: Davy helming us home from the Channel Islands. Mid: Sunset on the Pacific Ocean. Rt. Chandra Fechtelkotter home from a trip to Paradise Cove, Malibu, California.

Left: Dave checking the strings (actually this is on Priscilla, our Newport 41, Priscilla). Mid: Always's cockpit looking pretty. Rt. Always's interior, looking forward.

Farewell, Always!
We loved your spirit, your zest for life, and your generosity.
Fair winds and following seas!