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One Perfect Day

The sun rose as we walked the valley path, firing the surrounding desert hills crimson and gold. The sun had yet to dry the night’s dewfall and the succulent undergrowth was darkened with the moisture that was critical to its survival. Standing on the shore of our island we looked east into the risen sun,…

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December 29, 2016

Ahhhh, Baja!

Our guests wanted to have time to visit Loreto before they fly out tomorrow, so we came into Puerto Escondido a day early. We are now sitting in the shade of a mango tree, enjoying an infusion of its fruit blended with the local cactus juice.

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November 24, 2016

As the Sun sets in Baja

The first of many sunset images from Baja. This one from about 15 miles south of La Ventana as we near the conclusion of our 2000 mile repositioning cruise from Port Townsend to La Paz.

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November 11, 2016

Cabo, Here We Come

Approaching Cabo San Lucas at dawn, 4 1/2 days out of San Diego. La Paz tomorrow morning. Wind about 10 from the NE, seas under 2′, and the sea water temp is 83 degrees!!!!

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November 11, 2016

Underway towards La Paz

After about 50 frenetic hours in San Diego we are back underway toward La Paz, Baja California Sur. We should arrive there sometime Saturday, in plenty of time for our first regular trip of the Baja season which sails on November 17th.

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November 7, 2016

Stormy Weather

After an interesting 12 hours of being slapped about by steep, confused seas, we have lost enough time that we will be forced to hole up somewhere as the next storm moves up the coast. We are about 15 miles north of Westport, WA, and our speed has risen to 6.5 knots, which is much…

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October 28, 2016

MV Westward Heading South

After waiting for weather to settle, Westward will be leaving Port Townsend tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon at the top ot the tide, and beginning our repositioning to La Paz, Baja California. You can follow our progress: We hope to arrive in San Diego on Wednesday, November 2nd, re-fuel, get our outbound customs clearance and head back…

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October 25, 2016

Westward’s Big Boatyard Adventures Part VI

We departed Port Townsend with a crew of three, at 21:45 the night of December 28th. By 10:00 the morning of the 29th we were abeam Tatoosh Island and had turned south for San Diego. Steaming through moderate seas and winds, we were twelve miles west of Fort Bragg, California at 10:00 New Year’s morning, and…

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September 29, 2016

Westward Wins at Victoria Classic Boat Festival

Note: We left Westward heading south down the Pacific Coast, bound for Mexico, on December 28th, 2015. I am interrupting her voyage to catch-up on recent events. We will be back aboard somewhere off Washington with the next post. It has been an interesting couple of weeks. Westward attended the Victoria Classic Boat Festival in…

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September 21, 2016

Westward’s Big Boatyard Adventures Part V

As of mid-November, 2015 the planking was finished, the seams were being corked and puttied and the interior decking was installed, sanded and finished. By late-November we finally began building bulkheads and finishing the plumbing rough-in. Our engineer Randy Good is, among other things, a very accomplished furniture builder, and had accepted responsibility to build…

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August 26, 2016

MV Westward Featured in Juneau’s Capital City Weekly

A piece of Southeast history By Mary Catharine Martin | Capital City Weekly Once upon a 90-year distant time, the M/V Westward carried cruise ships passengers hunting humpback whales, mountain goats and brown bears through Alaska’s waters. Almost 100 years later, the 86’ vessel is captained by owner Bill Bailey, and it no longer has harpoon…

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August 25, 2016

Westward’s Big Boatyard Adventures Part IV

Like any major project this one continued to grow and morph until the final accounting of what was done has only a superficial similarity to what was originally planned. The sole reliable element is that it will take longer and cost more than anyone, regardless of their experience and background, has predicted. Some of these…

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August 19, 2016