Solo Sail Around Kitsap, Update 8

Time for another update...  Only one week left to go!

I spent the last two or three days working on stuff around the house and putting together a collection of procedures and cheat sheets that will be centrally located, easily readable, water proof, and simple to use.  I'll post them here When I finish them.

Been going over the lists, and checking them twice, and boning up on local rules and restrictions on crabbing and fishing in the areas that I'll be sailing in.  Looks like crabbing season is over on the Tuesday, Sept 5th which is good because I don't have to buy anything else for crab season, but it sucks because I won't have crab to eat. Maybe next year! Scratch crab stuff from the list!

I'm going to try to passively fishing for salmon. It seems that I'll be sailing during good salmon run times, so I'll be dragging, or trolling, a fishing line in an attempt to catch something worth eating and telling about. I don't want to jinx myself, but the fish reports this year are very good for all salmon and it looks like they are actually almost twice as big as last year's fish, that is both in size and number! The salmon researchers are wondering if El Nino, conservation efforts, or both are working together to help the salmon. It would be nice if just one keeper jumped into the boat... and cleaned itself for supper.

Back down to Tacoma today. Yep... West Marine bound, again, to "up size" the 6 inch anchor cleat for an 8 incher. The smaller one looked all "Mickey Mouse", puny, anemic, and just darn wimpy when I "dry fit" it to the deck.  I'm real glad I didn't drill any holes yet!  It would have sucked to have put holes for the smaller cleat in the teak and deck only to find that the new cleat has wider spaced holes! Man, I would have pissed myself!

I also figured out a couple of places where I can anchor the boat, beach the dinghy, and take The Chief for a "nature call" during the long Hood Canal push. That's a big relief for me, and no doubt The Chief.

Looking at the weather forecast made me really happy. The weather has been cloudy and cool for the past three days, but will be changing as a large weather high pressure system builds and sits off the coast for the foreseeable two weeks. Which means blue skies and warm weather for the majority of the first leg of the trip.

That's all for now. Hope to post again tonight or tomorrow.

Have a nice day, and I hope you all are planning a wicked nice holiday weekend!

Campy Out!

Solo Sail Around Kitsap, Update 5.

Spend this last weekend working on the tedious projects that I really hate to do like sanding teak blocks, filling in nail holes on the dinghy seat, fabricating a jack line.  Spent time buying flashlights, some non perishable food, deep cycle battery, battery charger, and other things that have been on my list of stuff to get.

This weekend I worked on:

Finishing the inflatable boat seat box. Figured out how to fasten it to the wood floor of the dinghy, what to paint it with, and how to attach the hinge.

Buying more stuff to finish outfitting the boat.

Painted registration number on boat. Place annual sticker on boat.

Today I hope to complete:

Install outlet

Install battery charger

Charge Batteries

Paint aft bulkhead

No varnishing today... rain predicted... bummer

Bolt on Zodiac Bench after installing piano hinge and latch to top, and painting box.

Bolt on Anchor Cleat after varnishing it.

Install Jack Line

Stow safety lighting

Install cock pit item holders.

Plan meals (shopping list) for trip.

I think that should keep me busy for the day today.  Got to go to the gym first to work some of these muscle and joint kinks out.  Will update you all later on today as to my progress.


Campy Out!

Solo Sail Around Kitsap, Update 4

OK Sports Fans... Another update on the Solo Sail Around Kitsap project (S.S.A.K.)

18 Days left till underway!

Anyone with a better acronym or name for this project please feel free to chime in!

Yesterday I worked on:

1. Making the dinghy rowing seat. Looks pretty good so far. Nice and strong and just the right height. Filled in the screw holes and stowed the boat.

2. Wired in the compass, but shorted out the circuit and blew a fuse. After moving fuses around, I still had no light on the compass but every thing else on the circuit worked. Maybe the light is too weak and has to be seen at night.

3. Figured out a Jack line for the boat. I love Harbor Freight!

4. Oh... need more fuses. New item on the list!

5. Filling in screw holes in the aft bulkhead.

Today, I worked on:

1. The forward anchor cleat, which requires a teak sandwich above and below deck in order to strengthen the cleat. Made the sandwich... got to round the edges, bolt together, varnish, and install on the boat. (Don't want to rip the cleat out of the deck on a dark and windy night at anchor... No sir!)

2. Purchased permanent battery charger and 2nd marine battery. Installation may have to wait until Monday, need to install another house outlet on the boat.

3. Finishing the Dinghy seat/box - bought molding, paint, need cushion for top. I've also got to find latches to secure the lid and to secure the box to the wood floor of the dinghy.

4. Purchased chart 18840 for chart table! Need craft epoxy to finish the Chart Table.

5. Installed spare tire holder and tire on trailer, freed up brake line connectors.

6. Fabricated "Jack Line" from 3000 pound webbing, and 500 pound shackles from Harbor Freight... cost: $18.00. ($70.00 at West Marine!)

Tomorrow's a planned light day.

Field day shop in AM...
Les Miserable at the 5th Ave in the Afternoon.
Chill out at home with the little lady.

Campy Out!

Sail Around Kitsap Update 2

OK Sports Fans... Another update on the Solo Sail Around Kitsap Project (S.S.A.K.P.)

I know, I really got to come up with a better acronym... any witty suggestions???

I've set the date of departure as September 7th, more specifically, on the falling tide and with a following wind. My second task was to work a three mandatory portage dates in the schedule in order to meet obligatory personal engagements. Here's what I've worked out:

We Aug 17 - Refit Continues
Su Sept 4 - Refit Ends
Su Sept 4 - Supply Load Out (Non Perishables)
Mo Sept 5 - Stow Gear, Review Saftey Gear, Inventory Check
Tu Sept 6 - Supply Load out (Perishables)
Tu Sept 6 - Fast Cruise
We Sept 7 - Depart Port Orchard Marina
Th Sept 8 - Kingston Municipal Pier, Kingston, WA
Fr Sept 9 - Pleasant Harbor, Brinnon, WA
Sa Sept 10 - Hood Canal Marina, Union, WA
Su Sept 11 - Visit Allyn Warf, Allyn, WA
Su Sept 11 - Hood Canal Marina, Union, WA
Mo Sept 12 - Ludlow Marina, Port Ludlow, WA
Tu Sept 13 - Poulsbo Marina, Poulsbo, WA
We Sept 14 - Return to Port Orchard Marina
Th Sept 15 - Event Prep
Fr Sept 16 - Major Event
Sa Sept 17 - Recover
Su Sept 18 - Restock Boat
Mo Sept 19 - Depart Port Orchard Marina
Tu Sept 20 - Docton Docks, Mauri Island, WA
We Sept 21 - Longbranch Warf, Longbranch, WA
Th Sept 22 - Visit Port of Allyn, Allyn, WA
Th Sept 22 - Fair Harbor Marina, Grapeview, WA
Fr Sept 23 - Swan Town Marina, Olympia, WA
Sa Sept 24 - Gig Harbor Municipal Pier, Gig Harbor, WA
Su Sept 25 - Return to Port Orchard Marina
Su Sept 25 - SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS!!!!

Now that's out of the way, I can focus on the left yet to do list and get the list projected out from to departure date. Just think... only 17 days of refit left!

Tomorrow, I'll update the project list for everyone to follow along.

Good night for now!

Campy Out!

Solo Circumnavigation of Kitsap Peninsula, 2011

After a few weeks of thinking and rethinking, I think it's time to set a date and actually start planning my solo sail around Kitsap Peninsula, in a 38 year old, 22 foot Catalina sailboat called "Windsocket". Since I'll be leaving from the Port Orchard/Bremerton area located on the Puget Sound's Sinclair Inlet, the trip will be somewhere just over 400 miles of sailing. I think I'll start just after Labor Day and take three lazy weeks to complete the trip and really soak in the beauty of the Puget Sound.

So looking at a calendar, it appears my begin date will be September 5, 2011. Since I've been working on the boat most of the summer I think it's pretty well prepared at this moment to get underway. Since I have three weeks to get underway as a couple of things I need to add, or modify in order to make it a safe and comfortable cruise for me and Chief my service dog.

Some of you reading this just reread the phrase "service dog". Yes I have a service dog. His name is "Chief" and is a two-year-old Australian Shepherd mix that's just about as smart as I am. I travel with Chief wherever I go. For those who don't know me I'm a 49-year-old guy with Parkinson's disease. I've had Parkinson's for about 14 to 15 years, and 18 months ago I had brain surgery to install a deep brain stimulator in my left brain! After some initial programming setbacks, I feel much better, stronger, and although a bit heavier (up 25 pounds), I feel pretty darn good most days. Back to Chief, he used to help me get around, but now he pretty much reminds me to take my medicine, rest went I'm tired, and finds things went I can't remember where I put them. Chief is pretty cool!



I'm not going to worry too much about the Parkinson's thing. I've had it for so long now that I don't think about it most days, with the exception of taking my medicine 4 times a day. I don't intend to let Parkinson's disease rule my life anymore. I used to sail quite a bit, and after nearly one year off, I'm ready to hit the water again and see if I've still got the mental and physical strength to reclaim myself from Parkinson's. As long as I can move safely, I don't want to miss any opportunities... In other words, I don't want to have any regrets or doubts later on.

So now back to the list of things I've got to do to the boat before going away:

Install a hardwired battery charger
Replace number two battery battery
Install cockpit gear holders
Install anchor cleat forward
Install dinghy cleats (also acts as aft anchor points)
Install a safety "jack" line aft to forward
Test the anchor system
Test inflatable dinghy towing and motor transfer.
Buy new (2nd) crab pot
Buy new logbook
Buy Salmon fishing gear (Will be dragging a line for the duration)
stocked boat with food, supplies, and clothing.
Reschedule dental appointment
Reschedule doctors appointment
Clear calendar for three weeks

It probably seems like a long list, but should take only a week to finish. I figure this day and age of reality shows, websites and blogs, it would only be fitting for me to chronicle this event as electronically as possible, so look for pictures, movies, blog updates, and Picasso picture posts during the trip as I find Wi-Fi availability.

So that's my update for today! I'm looking forward to taking pictures of what the boat looks like, upgrades, stowage, sleeping and cooking arrangements, and bathroom issues.

Stay tuned kiddeeees!  This is gonna get fun!

Campy Out!

April is Parkinson's Awareness Month

Here's a great video I found on YouTube.  It is Michael J. Fox interviewing different people who have Parkinson's.  It's only 8 minutes long, but it is very well done as is most of Michael's work. 

Thanks for being there for me and my family!





Roger "Wicked Beat" Campanelli
rogercampy@gmail.com
Port Orchard, Washington

Team Fox Fund Raiser for Parkinson's Disease

Please visit Team Fox Foundation and search for Campanelli under "Members." 

Any donation you can make is very much appreciated. 
Thanks to those who have already donated. 
Thanks to those who have donated their time and talents in making this possible. 

I am deeply touched and remain hopeful that a cure for Parkinson's will be found in my lifetime.

This video will be shown at the fundraiser.
(First 25 seconds no sound) 

This is a pre-screening if you can. 

Please forward it to anyone you may know. 
Time is getting short now (at the one week mark) and need a full court press.



Thanks to all my family, friends, and any new acquaintances I have yet to make.

Peace to you all!  And thanks again for your support!