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It must be a full moon.  Autumn in San Francisco … Halloween in Dana Point.  We have much to talk about, but first I would like to announce we have changed our travel plan, diverting to Hawaii instead of continuing to Mexico.  More on that later.  Let’s catch up first…

San Francisco
As we began preparations to move Eliana to Dana Point, we decided to put on our tourist hats.  The weather couldn’t have been nicer and we knew life was about to get more hectic so we took a break.  Here are a few photos of our time in San Francisco.

Cheese counter at the ferry terminal.  Good thing I don’t walk by here on my way home from work every day!

The iconic Trans America building.

Cell Block C, Alcatraz

Chinatown.  Did you know Chow Mien was invented here, not China?

We had to buy something.  Debbie purchased this beautiful pillow case.

SF to Dana Point with Roger & Rich
Tim Juan is President of the Ta Shing factory in Taiwan where Eliana was built.  Some months ago he called, offering the services of two engineers to come aboard for a thorough vessel inspection and to help us crew during a live passage.  I jumped at the chance and thought this would be the perfect opportunity since San Francisco is a reasonable connection from Taiwan, then likewise the return would be from Los Angeles.

Roger and Rich came with a gift of Pineapple Moon Cakes.  Tim sent them along knowing I love them.  These are traditional during the Chinese Moon Festival but you can get them any time.  With only two days to get ready for departure, Debbie prepared a delicious meal of pork chops, rice and veggies.  For desert we celebrated their arrival by toasting a sip of 1986 d’Yquem which went perfectly together with the Pineapple Moon Cakes that were incidentally formed in the shape of the Taiwan Island.  Strangely enough, we toasted to a full moon with moon cakes!

It was interesting to see Eliana through their eyes.  They already knew every square inch having spent months building her layer by layer.  This was, however, their first opportunity to enjoy the finished product as a functioning home.  Roger remarked that his biggest surprise were the various sounds.  He knows the systems and what they do.  He just couldn’t get over the subtle clicking, whirring and gurgling sounds that soon become familiar. 

The trip to Dana Point was flawless.  It took slightly more than 50 hours nonstop, an easy trip but still comforting to see our old familiar spot there.  Garrett Severen, our project manager greeted us at the dock.

Roger, Rich, Debbie and I

Our little celebration.  Sorry we forgot to take a picture of the moon cake before we ate it!  The wrapper will have to do.

Full Moon rising over San Francisco Bay

Rich checking bolt tightness on an exhaust flange.

Roger took copious notes in his book.  I was amazed.  It was page after page.  Every detail was meticulously recorded.

Important Guests
As expected, our activity level in Dana Point shot way up.  We had the honor of receiving Tim Juan and Jessica from the Ta Shing factory to visit Eliana.  They were traveling on their way home from the Ft. Lauderdale boat show.  Dan Streech, President of Nordhavn, was also back in town so was able to join us.  Jeff Leischman stopped by for a long visit.  It was a unique and memorable experience to have all these remarkable folks together at once.

As luck would have it, we also had the opportunity to meet Kristin and Reinhard, a wonderful couple from Munich (currently living in Mallorca).  They are building a Nordhavn 76, so we were fortunate to spend time with them, too.  Kristin brought her parents, Matthias and Renate who were a lot of fun.  Together we talked boats, boating and boat design endlessly.  It was fun to put lines on paper again and dream of  better ways to do things.

While we had the folks from Ta Shing, Nordhavn, Kristin and Reinhard there, we decided to take Eliana for a sea trial.  Nothing like a boat ride to get everyone smiling and having a good time!

Tim Juan, Jessica and I

Visiting with Dan Streech while under way.

Arriving.  Dan, Matthias, Reinhard and me on the bridge.  Renate and Kristin on the foredeck.  Garrett on the dock.

Kristin and Garrett having fun.

Halloween
You may recall a post I did on July 4, 2010.  We were in Dana Point then too, and I decided nobody celebrates Independence Day better than Dana Pointianites.  Well, I now believe the same is true for Halloween.  We laughed and laughed at the costumes going by.  Here are a couple pictures…

Must be something in the water at Dana Point.  They definitely know how to have a good time.

Definitely a full moon thing.  I think this guy gets the blue ribbon.

Hawaii
Here’s the scoop on Hawaii.  We were visiting with friends a few days ago and they were telling all the things they loved about Hawaii.  I knew it got Debbie thinking but she didn’t say anything until the next morning; “So what do you think about Hawaii?”  I knew right then any argument was hopeless.  We were definitely going.  Before the day was over we had arranged berthing at Ko Olina Marina and started to prepare for the 2,300 mile trip.

Getting ready for something like this isn’t to be taken lightly.  There is a lot to do.  But for quite a few reasons we need to get moving if we’re going to do it.  Our departure is set for Wednesday, November 16 and we’ll make one stop in Ensenada, MX to top off the fuel tanks, then we’ll be on our way.  Should be about 11 days across, which is the longest non stop passage to date for Eliana and for us.

We have an excellent crew of five selected.  Peter and Paige St Phillip, good friends and an experienced cruising couple will make the trip as will Linda Waldroop, Debbie’s sister.

I plan to provide one or two journal updates along the way.  In the next one, I will write about a few of the things we did to get ready.  In the meantime, you can follow us by clicking the “Track Eliana” link below.  Since we will be leaving the AIS range used by Marine Traffic, I will upload our positions manually.  

More to come!  As always, please post comments or questions on our website by clicking the link below where it says “You can access the blog entry here.”  I will do my best to answer questions.  And please invite others you think may be interested in following along, too.

Rick Heiniger
N7617 Eliana
Lying: San Diego
Mileage: 8,695 Nautical Miles
Track Eliana

It must be a full moon.  Autumn in San Francisco … Halloween in Dana Point.  We have much to talk about, but first I would like to announce we have changed our travel plan, diverting to Hawaii instead of continuing to Mexico.  More on …