S/V INTREPID II - Cape Dory Intrepid 40

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Intrepid II is a Cape Dory Intrepid 40 sailboat, hull #2, designed by Chuck Paine and discovered by the Captain in Blue Hill Maine in 2006. The crew are Kelly (Captain) and Carol (Admiral and Blogger). In 2009 INTREPID II embarked on her West Coast journey from Victoria to San Francisco, the Baja Sur Peninsula and into the Sea of Cortez. In 2010/2011, we sailed from Guaymas, south to Bahia Banderas and back. In 2011/2012 we left Guaymas, headed south to La Paz, spent three weeks at anchor on our northward journey and rested on the hard in San Carlos. Her 4th, 5th and 6th seasons were Boat Projects related. Season 7 - an incredible amount of boat work - but no cruising. Season 8 - Tropical Storm Sergio toppled Intrepid II in San Carlos dry storage. A disappointing season of serious and costly repairs. Season 9 - continuing those repairs and still hopeful for cruising.

December 14, 2016

Wishing you a Joyful & Merry Christmas!

Image result for free christmas graphics
(With thanks to the artist who created this lovely free clipart)

To all our cruising friends who are actually 'still cruising' or in the midst of preparing for another cruising season; to all those who sadly have to pick up the pieces from this past hurricane season; to all those who support the cruising community - Merry Christmas and thanks for your support and friendship.

To our friends who have had to put their cruising adventures on hold, as we have, for varied reasons and challenges - may the coming year be the one in which your hurdles are overcome and your plans take hold once again.

To our family and non-sailing friends, who continue to encourage and support us in all we do and still hope to accomplish - thank you and may your own dreams soon become reality.

The INTREPID II Crew
Kelly, Carol & Rosie 

September 17, 2016

Hurricane Newton Impact September 6

Hurricane Newton!

There are no words to truly convey how we felt almost two weeks ago when it became clear that Hurricane/Tropical Storm Newton would indeed cross the Sea of Cortez and make a second landfall very close to San Carlos and Guaymas.  At this time of year - hurricane season, with INTREPID II on the hard, we regularly review the NOAA National Hurricane Center link, which is extremely informative. This NOAA chart shows year to date tracks of hurricanes; number 14, Newton headed north!
Courtesy of NOAA National Hurricane Center - 2016 Hurricanes to date
The data is of course a forecast and at first the advisories indicated the impact of Newton would lose power by the time its intended path veered across from the Baja California Sur peninsula towards the Sonoran coastline.  However, late Tuesday, September 6th, we knew that there would be considerable impact on the area; we were foremost concerned for those living in the area; we were obviously concerned for our sailboat.

This photo shows INTREPID II on her way from the works yard to dry storage last year; ready to weather the Sonoran elements.
Heading to dry storage at San Carlos marina seca
Marina San Carlos' marina seca provides a secure and for the most part, sound arrangement for storing boats 'on the hard'.   Mother Nature of course has a force which can overcome any and all precautions.  We gleaned our information from various newsletter links, a San Carlos forum and bits and pieces as local papers were able to report.  For several hours there was mostly speculation, then photos began to appear, citing 'damage at marina seca'....which dry storage area?

Marina San Carlos dry storage did indeed experience strong winds and even more rain; at least one row of boats suffered the 'domino effect' and tilted over one after the other.  We sent off an anxious email to the staff asking if they could provide any assurance, knowing they were in the midst of dealing with the impact for themselves and the storage yard.  In spite of the deluge of requests, staff did indeed send us replies...cautiously stating that INTREPID II was not on the list of damaged boats. A second email stated that boat owners with damaged boats would receive and email and photos in order to contact insurance brokers.

"As you probably know hurricane Newton hit San Carlos Tuesday night, we sustained damage to some of the docks at the Marina from the high winds during the night.  Some boats in the marina have scratches from rubbing against the docks but no major damage or structural issues are visible.

At Marina Seca some boats fell over on their side we are currently picking the boats up and setting them back on their keels. We sent an email with pictures to the owners of the boats affected by the hurricane, if you didn't receive an email is because your boat has no damage.

Thank you for your understanding!"


In the meantime, forum members rallied to provide second-hand information from whatever sources they had and provided photos where available.  To date we have not been advised otherwise that our boat is remaining upright and undamaged but we are hopeful.  The wind and rain certainly may have damaged items onboard and we hope we will receive more detailed information soon.

Fingers crossed!  Wishing all those cruisers who did receive bad news will have a successful and smooth experience putting their boats back together.  And thankfully, there were few injuries that we are aware of and communities have rallied to support clean-up and restoration throughout the area.

June 19, 2016

Almost Summer Solstice

Wistfully glancing at all the posts from our cruising friends who are actually out there on the water across the globe.....safe travels and fair winds!

The INTREPID II Crew continues to stay occupied and hopefully productive these past months, although very little of our efforts are boat related.  We've attended Bluewater Cruising meetings when we can, met up with folks who have returned to the Island and registered for a refresher weather course in mid July.  The other link to boating is when the Captain announces yet again that a necessary tool or reference book which he could make use of on a travel trailer project is "on the boat".

Our current focus is to ensure our 28 foot travel trailer is functioning well with all the requisite systems tested and behaving as they should.  At the moment there are some challenges.  Our goal is to 'head east" during the coming summer to visit family and friends.  Fingers crossed.

Wishing everyone a fabulous summer on land or at sea.

March 23, 2016

Happy Spring! Happy Easter!



For those of you who stop  by to check if one or both or all three of us have finally headed South to rejoin our languishing INTREPID II....sadly, no!  Best laid plans and all that have not unfurled as hoped and the crew is still land-bound and looking out at mostly grey and often drizzly skies.

Image result for free happy easter imagesThere is an abundance of green, spring flowers have been blooming for weeks and we continue to tackle projects, only of the house variety, rather than marine related.  It could be an interesting spring yard cleaning season as Carol experienced a major allergy attack just going out to photograph her favorite native fawn lilies that bloomed last week.  The flower bed tidying is on hold.  Kelly is immersed in a weight lifting regime which included him researching and building his own 'contraption' on which to rest his weights as well as very diligently following the weight training exercises.

Rosie searches for the elusive patches of sunlight which actually do appear from time to time and has even poked her nose outside on the deck for a few moments checking on nature's progress.  Not warm enough yet for her to ask that we set out the cushions on her favorite lounge chair.

So as we read that Semana Santa is in full swing in San Carlos we wish everyone a Happy Easter and safe travels if you are en route or homeward bound.