Partly cloudy.

N 10 - 20 Kts.

I mentioned to Tom just the other day that my skin seemed to be a lot thinner than back in my Terrace days. Either I'm finally getting over the honeymoon period of inheriting Trouper II, or I'm getting old, or a combination of the two, but I just am not digging the cold anymore.

So when I arrived on board and found the deck covered in ice, I retreated below to the warmth of my 'Little Buddy', hunting heater. I proceeded to brew a stiff cup of java before gearing up and heading out to rig for sail. A couple buckets of salt water took care of the icing problem.

I hanked on the jenny but sailed out of the bay under main alone. There was a fairly fresh Northerly blowing and soloing under full sail would be taxing. I know that makes me sound like a fucking wimp when you look at the lads racing round' the world in the Vendee Globe but I don't have electric winches, ok? Anyhow, even under a wimp-ass main sail, I made good time through Baynes Channel with the flood tide. Hey, at least I hadn't reefed the main!

After clearing Baynes, I engaged my patented 'Not-O-Helm' and scurried forward to swap the jenny for the jib. The moderate North wind had set up some decent chop on Haro Strait so I was railed over and taking spray during the port tack East toward San Juan Island. That's when my chart plotter decided to 'go to sleep'. As I went below to wake it up, T2 exercised her independence with a graceful 360 degree turn. Soon after; I lowered the jib, ran back to Baynes, reached through on port tack and dropped sail.

New Year's resolution: A LOT more cruising. Whether solo or with the family, I intend to spend a significant amount of time getting reacquainted with the gulf islands in the coming year.

Warming up waiting for the coffee.

T2's redneck component. My 'Little Buddy, Hunting Heater'.

To ward off the cold. I'm wearing long Johns, and here is my down sweater, gortex jacket, pfd, ball cap and insulated ear muffs.

Some bastard had the audacity to pass me under full sail. No doubt, he had a full crew. In this photo she leads me through Baynes Channel.

You see the strangest things at sea.

Land lubbers fuck off.

Trimmed and heading for Mosquito Pass, Washington.