Footloose Fred Blog October 3, 2017

I’m the Captain, get used to it. I have ﬁnally begun my journey and have learned I have a lot to learn. For those of you who bet I would never make it, pay up. For the rest of you, thanks. As you already know this adventure has not happened easily but will definitely be worth it in the long run.

Selecting crew does not seem to be my Forte and is probably a lot like selecting wives, I just never got the hang of it. There seems to be a body of men out there who pretend to know everything, but not the testicular fortitude to take on the task themselves (go get some guys).

Enough of that, now the real start. I am currently at anchor in Coronado, Ca. for 3 days (photos attached). I had planned on going straight to an anchorage that I could stay at for 30 days but I couldn’t pass the police inspection as my electric toilet motor gave out and will have to be ﬁxed in order to pass. I have called West Marine and they want $381 for a new motor, so I am going to replace the electric head with a manual toilet for $82.00. Steve Palmer (an old friend) will meet me at The Coronado Yacht Club around 4pm with toilet in hand and we will have Adult Beverages and I will row away with new toilet riding along. I knew moving around during my working days would pay oﬀ, just didn’t realize in what ways.

It looks as if this Blog (suggested by The Rookie) might have some purpose and beneﬁt not only old geezers like me but anyone who wants to try it alone. When I say alone, I don’t mean single handed sailing around the world, but getting somewhere with help, then sending them on their way and enjoying each new place alone.

Once I got settled in here and below deck relaxing, I hear a distress horn from the sailboat next to me and I went up to see what was happening. The old geezer next to needed a jump as his battery was dead. I told him that couldn’t happen as I didn’t have a 20ft. jumper cable. I mentioned Vessel Assist and he said he called and they wanted $500. Next suggestion, get in his kayak and row to shore buy a new battery. He said he didn’t know how to operate it. You should be getting the picture by now, this old geezer shouldn’t be on the water. But let me finish I next suggested that since he was on a Sailboat he should sail home. He then reminded me that his battery was dead and he couldn’t raise his anchor, I said he would have to do it manually. He said he wasn’t strong enough.

This one event gives birth to the “Geezer Sailor Capability List”.

Rules:

If you can’t get from ship to shore, don’t go
If you can’t operate the raising of your anchor manually, don’t go
If you can’t afford vessel assist (in an emergency), don’t go

I will add to this list as I incur situations that qualify. Obviously, if any one thing that applies to you or someone you know, you shouldn’t go. Each new item I come across, I will add to the list and each time I will also list the preceding items.

What a great place to start, on Glorietta Bay near the Hotel Del Coronado and Golf

Course (things could be worse).