Author: Scott and Kathy Erwin, Sail the World

Great 1st week on the go. We had plenty of time for decompressing, and enjoying no cell or internet service. The many island coves we anchored in gave us tranquility and hours of thought and planning. After our 1st quiet night in Cojo, we sailed and motorsailed in an average of 4 knots of wind, about 8 hours a day. The Channel Islands are rugged and mesmerizing (Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara and Catalina). The scenery, sealife, and our new life on the boat are all amazing! 10 days later we are in Newport Harbor enjoying quite the opposite experience: hundreds of fancy boats, mansions on the water, shops, restaurants and friends. It is busy boating around here, some not ever leaving the bay and many not knowing how to anchor. Life is all good! (Scott keeps saying he wishes we could have half of the wind down south we had up above Conception). We had our challenges too, rollie anchorages, organizing the new way of life and keeping the water out (leaky hatches). Heading to San Diego next week.

Did it!! We actually left! Sailed south 10 hours. Scott loves his remote control autopilot and I love the peace/quiet. We set anchor in 23 feet of water for our first night on our big adventure! Cojo, quiet, beautiful, little sandy, and deserted anchorage just north of Santa Barbara. We napped, paddled, walked, ate, drank and FULLY enjoyed the first day of actual retirement.

Hi Fabulous Followers!
We have had some few, frustrating delays with some battery/electrical issues this week. As I always like to say, “life will throw you only what you can handle”. So there it is. We will launch very soon, fingers crossed, hopefully in a few days. Scott is READY, I am READY, land life is finally ready, paperwork is ready, family and friends are ready, weather looks great, its all up to God and Sea Bella. In 2014, when our son Derek (18 yrs old at the time) left home for the Army, he was so ready, eager and excited. We could only embrace it and join him in his excitement as he “launched”.  
We have felt this same support and encouragement from friends and family these last few months. This support has been the most helpful and emotionally loving thing . Leaving is not hard for either Scott or I, since we are damn excited. We are so delighted for this support from EVERYONE! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Launch Date: just a week or 2 away!!

We are heading south to Southern California, a few fun stops in the Channel Islands, San Diego, and Ensenada. With the refit complete (including all new sails, rigging, dinghy…) We are joining the Baja Ha Ha in November with our great friends and crew Andrew Esler and Jane Weeks. We are hoping to spend 2022 in the Sea of Cortez and the Mexican Coast. We plan to head to the South Pacific in early 2023.
Love our Brewer!!!

Launch Date: just a week or 2 away!!

We are heading south to Southern California, a few fun stops in the Channel Islands, San Diego, and Ensenada. With the refit complete (including all new sails, rigging, dinghy…) We are joining the Baja Ha Ha in November with our great friends and crew Andrew Esler and Jane Weeks. We are hoping to spend 2022 in the Sea of Cortez and the Mexican Coast. We plan to head to the South Pacific in early 2023.
Love our Brewer!!!

Time is ticking, only 45 days till we launch Sea Bella and head south from Morro Bay, Ca to Baja, Mx. The last few months have been all about preparations, crossing off the “to-do’s” and researching the final touches.

Scott replaced the rear manual head with an automatic push button toilet. I am happy about the ease of the button. He is also looking into understanding the new Victron battery monitors and using the phone app to give us feedback on utilization of power. All I know is that I had no Keurig coffee this morning, LOL. This crap is complicated!

He outfitted our new 10′ AB skiff with a Tohatsu 20hp outboard, rugged beach wheels, and dyneema davit mounting lines. I talked with cruisers in MX, they urged me to protect the rib. I got up early, quickly measured the rib and then purchased grey sunbrella material for dinghy chaps. I look forward to making them in Ensenada, while Sea Bella’s hauled out, getting her bottom painted.

I was happy with how my cockpit cushions came out, 4″ open cell foam with comfy batting. It took a few months of preparation, but I enjoyed the process. Thanks for reading the blog, let us know what your ideas are and stay tuned for the official Launch!!

Thank you all for the warm congratulations notes on my retirement. Kathleen Erwin will be done as well, in June after the school year concludes.
Thank you also to Deborah Dritz Swanson at Studio 101 West for designing and printing our new Sea Bella boat cards.
After years of planning, our first destination will be Southern California in July. Friends will join us here for exploring Channel Islands and Catalina. We will be in Ensenada in September/October and the Sea of Cortez later in the fall. We will be updating our adventure on FB as well, so search Sea Bella. With modern apps and satellites, anyone will be able to track us on our journey(s) using our MMSI#.