A Wonderful Adventure

The following is my Dad's/Kevin's perspective of our pre-cruising San Francisco days as well as his visit to Starship with my Mom in May.

Note: My Dad (Kevin GERARD Allen) signed his name Auto G because there was no need for our autopilot (Auto P) with Kevin on board. Auto G handled all sea conditions enthusiastically and without complaint!

….

Over the past few years I have had the good luck of spending several weeks aboard Starship. While it was a pleasure to spend time with the kids the conditions were usually cold, dark, cramped, foggy and not very windy. Mark Twain was absolutely correct about summer in San Francisco. When it was windy, several of the first voyages of Starship did not go as well as hoped.

Cold and foggy northern California days

When we went out into the ocean beyond the Golden Gate bridge we faced terrible difficulties and had to quickly turn back. The first voyage the kids took with Herb and Michelle (Chris' parents) was even worse. Over the subsequent many months Anne Marie and Chris told me many times that they were too busy to go kiting because they were doing boat projects. These ranged from electrical to plumbing to sewing to electronics to water tanks and beyond. I suggested that the kids just start the journey and sort out the projects en route.

New anchor locker separation

New windows 

Starship's usual chaos during the boat project mayhem

Why isn't this bilge pump working ?!?!?

The early difficulties have clearly resulted in the co-captains taking safety very seriously. They have all the equipment (including 3 anchors and 3 GPS's), all the necessary skills (they did very well in several courses) and the right attitude to deal well with routine and unforeseen circumstances. When one of our anchors began to slip during the night I found out that three anchors were indeed helpful. After sorting out the problem they even debriefed later to ensure the same problem would not occur again.

The kids have a wonderful set up on Starship and we were very happy to share it with them.

Then and Now

         Just before shoving off in Half Moon Bay                                Mexico

 

We enjoyed sailing, snorkeling, skurfing, clam gathering, wildlife watching and the occasional game of euchre and had a relaxing yet adventure filled vacation. We look forward to being regular participants in their wonderful adventure and to hearing about the parts that we cannot participate in.

Thanks

Auto G

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Location:

Loreto Area

Latitude:

26.014791

Longitude:

-111.339097

The Allen's Visit to Starship in the Sea of Cortez

A special guest blog entry from Annette regarding her and Kevin's recent trip:

My wish to give our daughter a birthday gift ("barefoot sandals") outweighed my fear of sailing.

Chris and Anne-Marie choose a life I know nothing about except from what I see on TV. This is a perspective, which I know is wrong but is very difficult for me to battle. My Mom (who never went on a canoe trip) had the same problem when our family of 4 took off each summer into the Canadian wilderness canoeing.

Now I am here in the Sea of Cortez and all of my sense can experience life on water, earth and in the sea.

When we arrived in Loreto, I was struck by the athletic and healthy looking two bodies, which took our aged and tired bodies with so much warmth into their arms.

Starship had on board all of the supplies to make the most delicious meals, even champagne (given by their cruising friends from the sail vessel Grace, who knew we would arrive).

Chris and Anne-Marie supplemented all with fresh fish and clams, which made some of the most delicious meals I have ever tasted.

So much thought, work and love can be seen and experienced in every corner of Starship, from the small stuff like custom made tooth brush holders to all the electronics to make a sailing voyage safe - Not to forget Anne-Marie's well organized computer inventory list. Do not eat one nut without checking it off the list! ☺

The Sea of Cortez greeted us with whale sightings, schools of sea lions migrating, manta rays fighting and dolphins with babies following us on the bow. How can you have dry eyes when you look at these friends of the sea in their eyes? Last month I saw the 3D movie "Deep Sea" in the I-Max theater, which is a spectacular movie. Only after snorkeling with the many colourful and different fish, sea stars and ocean plants did I realize that the movie left me with a false sense of what is really under the surface of the ocean. I was left with a silent admiration of the sea and a feeling of guilt for not knowing more.

There are a millions things which our sailing kids shared with us like, 360 degree view of the stars in heaven, glowing zoo-plankton and fish at night, and inviting a whole school class of a remote village onto the boat and giving them skurfing rides to celebrate the end of their school year.

We even got a few graduates up on the board!

Note the free range goats crossing the beach!

For the last year, Chris and Anne-Marie have worked like maniacs to afford something that is given too little value in modern times - "the value of time and how to use it meaningful for oneself." Like my little 3D I-Max experience, you need to be here to fully understand and know what it's all about.

Chris and Anne-Marie you make me proud! I'm glad that my "sailing fear" slowly reduces - Thanks Chris and Anne-Marie!

Thanks my kids for allowing me to continue to be part of your life on a path totally unknown to me. I love you and may the force be with you and that Poseidon be good to you.

P.S. Chris and Anne-Marie, I wonder where your kids will travel…... maybe to the moon? :)

View Larger Map

Location:

Loreto Area

Latitude:

26.014791

Longitude:

-111.339097