Final Report

FINAL REPORT
POSITION: GRAND MARINA, ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA
SPD: 0, WINDS: CALM, SEAS: ALSO CALM
THE LAST REPORT PUT US AT 210NM AWAY FROM OUR DESTINATION, AND WE CLOSED IN
FAIRLY QUICKLY FROM THERE. AT OUR RADIO CHECK THE FOLLOWING EVENING WE WERE
ONLY 70NM AWAY AND ON FULL ALERT FOR SHIPS AND FISHING VESSELS...THE RADAR
TURNED UP A FAIR AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC. THE WINDS STARTED PICKING UP AND GOT INTO
THE 30 KNOT RANGE. NEVER GOT THE REPORT OUT THAT NIGHT OR THE NEXT MORNING.
LAND WAS APPROACHING AND PARANOIA BEGAN SETTING IN...FOR ME ANYWAY...BUT THE
CREW WERE STEADY. IT WAS CLEAR WE WERE GOING TO BE IN A POTENTIALLY BUSY AREA
IN THE DARK WITH NOT THE BEST VISIBILITY. AFTER WE PASSED OVER THE CONTINENTAL
SHELF WHERE THE WATER GOES FROM THOUSANDS OF METERS TO HUNDREDS, THE WATERS
SMOOTHED OUT, ALONG WITH THE WIND GREATLY REDUCING. PHEWWWW!!! WE BEGAN TO SEE
NAVIGATION LIGHTS AND THE OUTLINES OF LAND ON THE RADAR. ""LAND HO!!!"" A
DELICIOUS SITE AND GREAT FEELING MAKING LAND FALL...VERY SPECIAL. COMING UNDER
THE GATE UNDER A HEAVY MARINE LAYER ON A FLOOD TIDE WAS PRETTY GOOD, BUT
COULDN'T SEE THE TOP TOWERS OF THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE.
ALL SAILS WERE DOWN AT THIS POINT...NO WIND SO WE MOTORED ALL THE WAY TO THE
ALAMEDA ESTUARY. I NOTICED SIGNS OF A SLIGHT BREEZE AS WE STARTED UP THE
ESTUARY, SO WE PUT UP THE SPINNAKER FOR THE FINAL APPROACH, BUT THE WIND
FINALLY DIED AND WE HAD TO DOWSE IT BEFORE ARRIVING TO OUR SLIP AND THE GREAT
RECEPTION BY FRIENDS AND FAMILY AT THE DOCK. DOCKING WAS BUTT UGLY. NO ONE
THREW THE STERN LINE SO THAT L'EAU LIFE'S ARSE END WAS LEFT HANGING OUT. ONE
MORE OPPORTUNITY AT A GOOD OLE FLOGGING. IT WAS A VERY WARM RECEPTION...A
BEAUTIFUL THING. PAULA WAS DRESSED UP IN A HULA COSTUME AND EVERYONE WORE LEIS.
MY LEIGH ACTUALLY WAS MADE UP WITH 3 CAN OPENERS AND SOME FLOWERS...NICE!!!
HOMEMADE PEACH COBBLER, FRUIT SALAD AND OTHER GOODIES WERE ALL LAID OUT ON A
TABLE BEFORE US. AFTER THAT WE CLEANED UP THE BOAT A BIT, THE CREW PACKED UP
AND WE ALL WENT HOME. [I DID STUFF ALL THEM FRIGGIN' LEFT OVER CANS OF BEANS IN
WHAT I THOUGHT WAS STEVE'S BAG, BUT AS WE WALKED TO OUR RIDES HOME I NOTICED
THAT THE BAG I STUFFED THEM INTO WAS LANCE'S...SWEET! MY CREW BY THE WAY, ARE
THE BEST, AND I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT HOW TO SAIL THIS BOAT TO HER MAXIMUM
POTENTIAL THROUGH THEM. WELL DONE GUYS AND THANKS.
SO THAT'S IT, THE FINAL VOYAGE FOR ME ABOARD L'EAU LIFE. SHE'S DOCKED AT THE
SALES DOCK OF PACIFIC YACHT IMPORTS [IN CASE ANYONE'S INTERESTED], THE BROKER
WHO INITIALLY SOLD ME THE BOAT BACK IN 1997. IT'S BEEN A GREAT JOURNEY LEAVING
ME WITH LOT'S OF GREAT MEMORIES, AND OF COURSE SOME TERRIFYING MOMENTS AS WELL.
L'EAU LIFE HAS KEPT US SAFE AND SOUND FOR MANY THOUSANDS OF MILES AND I WILL
MISS HER DEARLY. IT IS TIME SHE FINDS A NEW OWNER TO LOOK AFTER, WHO WILL
HOPEFULLY TREAT HER EQUALLY AS WELL. IT'S BEEN A FUN RIDE,

THE SKIPPER [RETIRED!!!]

Arrival! Aug. 4, 2010

Well, I sent out an email last night with Adrien's estimated arrival time this
morning and forgot to hit the distribution list. I can't believe I did that but
things happen.
Anyway, Adrien, Steve, & Lance docked L'eau Life at about 9:30 am this morning
at Grand Marina in Alameda. There were about 10 people at the dock to greet
them. They all looked pretty good for being at sea for 20 days. We visited for a
while, had some fresh fruit salad, home made peach cobbler, and some pastries
along with champagne, orange juice and/or coffee. It was a wonderful welcome
home event. The guys cleaned up the boat a bit and Adrien and I went home with 6
bags of trash (the dumpsters were all full at the marina) and 2 bags of dirty
laundry. (I'm almost afraid to see what's in the bottom of those bags.) L'eau
Life and crew are home safe and sound and Adrien will definitely be doing a
final entry into his log in a day or two. (He has to re-learn how to use a
computer keyboard that's not moving around.)
Thanks for keeping up with their adventure.
The Admiral

GG Bridge - We have arrived!

Day 19 - Almost there

Tuesday evening California time

Well Adrien finally relented and started changing the clocks to California time. It's about time. The reason this is interesting now is because we are actually figuring out what time we will ARRIVE! Yes, we are within striking distance of the Golden Gate and should sailing into the bay sometime tomorrow morning.

In a few hours we expect to see our first landmark, a buoy that marks the southern end of the Cordell Bank. From there we pass to the north of the Farallon Islands, and on to the Bonita Channel which follows along the Marin shore until we get to the Golden Gate.

It's all very exciting, and we are all ready to get there. It is cold and gray and dark and the waves are rough, etc.

We heard a rumor a few days back about there being a lot of whales in the Gulf of the Farallons recently because there are lots of krill, their favorite food. Hopefully we will not encounter any of these guys as we pass through tonight. Too bad we aren't coming through during the daytime when they might be more willing to pose for pictures.

Enough for now. Next report will hopefully be from inside the bay.

-steve

Monday Night Report

DAY 18 MON 0802 17:30PST
HEY, 210NM TO GO. CELL PHONES WILL GO ON THIS TIME TOMORROW...AMAZING. L'EAU
LIFE APPEARS TO BE QUITE ANXIOUS TO GET IN. WE'VE REDUCED SAIL A COUPLE OF
TIMES BUT SHE STILL WANTS TO GO 7 + KNOTS. ANYMORE REDUCTION IN SAIL MAKES US
ROCK FROM SIDE TO SIDE TOO MUCH. SO ,WE ARE STILL DISCUSSING ETA. WE HAVE
NUMBERS WE ARE CRUNCHING THAT WE ARE NOT READY TO DIVULGE AT THIS STAGE.
SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT A NIGHTTIME ARRIVAL IS NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION AT THIS
POINT. WE'LL SEE!!!
STEVE'S BED HAS BEEN DRY FOR THE ENTIRE PASSAGE...TILL TODAY. A LITTLE BIT OF
SHEET IS WET, BUT MOST OF THE BED...THE SIDE HE'S SLEEPING ON IS DRY. CAN'T
IDENTIFY SOURCE OF ENTRY...BIG SURPRISE THERE. IN FACT I'VE YET TO FIND A
SOURCE OF ANY OF THE LEAKS WE'VE HAD. JUST WALK AROUND THE DECK AND SPURT
SILICONE GOOP ALL OVER AND PRAY, IS THE USUAL PROCEDURE.
I KILLED SOMEONE LAST NIGHT. GRANTED IT WAS IN A DARK DREAM, BUT IT WAS VERY
REAL. SLEEP DEPREVATION AT IT'S VERY BEST!!! THIS GUY DRESSED IN A SUIT WITH A
NEON SECURITY VEST ON CAME AT ME WITH A SPEAR. THIS WAS IN A SQUARE IN SOME
EUROPEAN CITY, AND THERE WERE MANY OF THESE SIMILARLY DRESSED AND ARMED WITH
SPEARS MEN ABOUT, SUCCESSFULLY DOWNING THEIR VICTIMS. I SIMPLY SNATCHED THE
SPEAR FROM HIM, QUICKLY TURNED IT AROUND AND FLICKED IT AT HIM. I WAS AIMING
FOR HIS EYE BUT MISSED...HIT HIM IN THE BACK OF THE THROAT...THROUGH HIS
MOUTH. HE LOOKED A LITTLE SURPRISED BUT ACTED AS IT WAS ONLY A FLESH WOUND,
EVEN THOUGH IT WAS STICKING OUT THE BACK OF HIS HEAD. HE REMOVED ANOTHER SPEAR
FROM AN INVISIBLE QUIVER, WHICH I AGAIN SNATCHED. I STUFFED IT BETWEEN RIBS 3
AND 4 ON HIS RIGHT SIDE AND PUNCTURED HIS LUNG...DOWN HE WENT. SOMEONE STARTED
CALLING AT ME...IT'S YOUR WATCH...IT'S YOUR WATCH...OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
NOW THIS IS A TAD ON THE DARK SIDE I ADMIT, BUT THERE YA GO. I'M SURE SOME OF
YOU SLEEP DEPRIVED INSOMNIACS CAN RELATE...I HOPE!!!
OK, THAT'S TONIGHT'S ENTERTAINMENT!!! DO DO DO DO...DO DO DO DO...
THE MURDEROUS SKIPPER!!!

Day18

Monday afternoon
248 nm from San Francisco, who cares how far we are from Oahu (well OK, it's 1892 nm).

More San Francisco style weather. Cold water, gray sky, seas from the north. Yesterday had a lot of cross seas where the wind and the waves come from different directions making for a bumpy ride. But today is nice. The sun was out for a while, the seas have calmed a bit and the wind is driving us along at a good speed.

The end is in sight. We will probably arrive on Wednesday morning sometime. I think we are all ready to be there. Adrien has started tying decorative knots all over the place, and Lance has been caught talking to the radar. Not sure what sort of craziness I have been doing, but I bet Adrien or Lance will tell you.

My bunk has been dry the whole trip, until today. I came out of the shower and noticed the sheet was wet along the edge, and on closer inspection there is water under the mattress. Oh well. I'm trying to dry it out now, but there is no clear place that the water is coming from. Only 2 nights to go. I will survive.

Looking forward to getting back,

-steve

Position Report 03-AUG-2010 0018Z
38 deg 50.079N
127 deg 32.981W
course 100T speed 6 knots
Wind 18 knots from NW
Seas about 2 feet from the NW sea temp 56.1F
Air 68F 68% humidity 1022mb pressure

Sunday Report

DAY 17 SUN 0801 21:15 HAWAII TIME
350NM TO GO. POSITION: 39-21N, 129-43W, CSE: 107T, SPEED 6.5 KNOTS
OK, THIS IS A SHORTY TONIGHT. THE SEAS HAVE PICKED UP, I'M ON WATCH AND TYPING
THIS REPORT IN THE COCKPIT.[SEPARATE MONITOR, KEYBOARD AND MOUSE UP HERE] THE
MOUSE KEEPS FLYING BY THOUGH. THE SEAS HAVE GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY AND WE ARE BEAM
TO THEM AND THEREFORE ROCKING QUITE A BIT. WE'VE HAD TO REDUCE SAIL TWICE
TODAY AS THE WINDS HAVE PICKED UP AS WE MOVE AWAY FROM THE HIGH. WE WERE SEEING
THE OCCASIONAL 9 KNOTS OF SPEED EARLIER SO WE'VE SLOWED DOWN FOR THE NIGHT.

I MAY HAVE GOTTEN A LITTLE DEHYDRATED SINCE I HAVE A MILD HEADACHE. AM NOW
JUICED UP ON GATORADE POWDER MIX AND AM GOING TO BED AS SOON AS I GO OFF WATCH.
CHEF STEVE DID DINNER TONIGHT AND IT WAS GREAT...CHICKEN IN RICE AND...YOU
GUESSED IT...BEANS...GARBONZOS TONIGHT. HE ALSO MADE BROWNIES FOR
DESSERT...YUM.
THERE WERE NO FLOGGINGS TODAY...DAMN!!! NO SHIPS EITHER???
ETA IS WEDNESDAY MORNING AT THIS POINT.
ADRIEN

Anyone interested in driving up to Alameda to greet L'eau Life and crew, here
are the directions to the marina from the south bay. It won't be long now.
Paula

Directions to Grand Marina, Alameda
880 N to 23rd Ave. (Oakland)
Get in the left lane and make a U-turn onto overpass.
Continue in left lane, which leads to the bridge.
Go over the bridge.
Turn right at Clement (2nd light after crossing bridge)
Go all the way to the end and turn right on Grand.
Turn left on Fortman into the boatyard and head right to the Harbor Master's
Office. L'eau Life's new home is on the dock adjacent to the office.

Saturday Report

DAY 16 SAT 0731 TIME OF REPORT...EARLY SUNDAY MORNING...LIKE 3AM PST.
490 NM TO GO...WOOHOO!!!
POSITION 40-00N, 132-35W, CSE: 102DEG T, SPEED: 8KNOTS...WE ARE FLYING TONIGHT.
THE MAIN IS FULL UP THE JIB FULL OUT, WE ARE ON A BEAM REACH AND THE SEAS HAVE
FLATTENED OUT A BIT FROM EARLIER. VERY SMOOTH SAILING. EARLIER TODAY WE HAD
LESS WIND AND WE WERE ON A PORT BROAD REACH...NOT MY OR L'EAU LIFE'S FAVORITE
POINT OF SAIL. IT WAS A CLASSIC CASE OF "WHERE'S THAT DAMN SPINNAKER WHEN YOU
NEED IT???" WELL, WE KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION...IT'S IN THE BAG WITH A
RIP IN IT. BEING THE BUSY BEES THAT WE ARE, I DECIDED TO GET THE SAIL REPAIR
KIT OUT. WE WRESTLED THIS GINORMOUS SPINNAKER THROUGH THE CABIN TO THE SALON
WERE WE EFFECTED THE REPAIRS TO THE SPINNY. THE MOMENT OF TRUTH WAS UPON
US...THE SUSPENSE BUILDING AS THE PREPARATIONS TO SET THE SPINNAKER APPROACHED.
WELL, RAISING WAS DEFINITELY A CLUSTER MATING PROCESS. TOOK US 3 TIMES BEFORE
WE GOT HER UP...BUT LOW AND BEHOLD...SHE STAYED UP. THE REPAIRS HELD AND WE
CRUISED ALONG AT A COMFORTABLE 7 KNOTS. THEN THE WIND CAME AROUND MORE
FAVORABLY TO USE THE JIB. THE DOWSE WAS MUCH BETTER AND WE SUSPECT WE'LL USE
THE SPINNY AGAIN TO COME UNDER THE GOLDEN GATE, WHICH WE BELIEVE WILL BE THIS
WEDNSDAY, AUG 4TH. MORE ON THAT AS WE GET CLOSER.
LANCE LISTENED TO THE GIANTS GAME REPLAY ON KNBR RADIO ON HIS WATCH WHICH
EXPLAINED THE CHEERING IN THE COCKPIT ON HIS WATCH. WOKE ME UP. I LET THE GAME
END BEFORE THE FLOGGINGS BEGAN. [MUSN'T WAKE THE SKIPPER FOR FRIVOLOUS REASONS.
IN LANCE'S DEFENSE...IT WAS THE DODGERS THEY BEAT AND THEREFORE NOT FRIVOLOUS]
GO GIANTS!!! I JUST ENJOY THE FLOGGINGS TOO MUCH TO PASS ONE UP.
WELL, WE STILL HAVE LOTS OF FOOD LEFT...ESPECIALLY CANNED FOOD, WHICH PAULA
WILL BE DELIGHTED WITH. I KNOW I WILL BE STUFFING STEVE'S BAG WITH THEM DREADED
KIDNEY BEANS, BLACK BEANS, AND FRIGGIN' LENTILS. DAMN...LIKE CHEWING ON LITTLE
BITS OF TASTELESS FELT. I THINK HE SNUCK 'EM IN THE COSTCO BASKET WHEN I WASN'T
LOOKIN'. YA KNOW SOME IGNARNT CAVEMAN TRIED THIS KINDA FOOD OUT, AND GOT
POPULARIZED AT THE FART LIGHTING CONTESTS BY THE CAMP FIRE WAY BACK WHEN. WELL,
TURNS OUT EVOLUTION'S KINDA SLOW IN THAT DEPARTMENT!!!
ORANGES..ONE CRATE TO GO...APPLES...A CRATE AND A HALF. HAVEN'T TOUCHED THE
CLEMENTINES [WE DID SING A FEW BARS THOUGH!] SPEAKING OF BARS, STILL GOT QUITE
A FEW TOBLERONES!!! WE'RE COOKING THE LAST OF THE CHICKEN TONIGHT. WE'VE
FINALLY POLISHED OFF THE HAMBURGER MEAT IN THE FORM OF LEFTOVERS. THE FAMILY
SIZE JAR OF TUMS CAME IN HANDY I MIGHT ADD.
OK, I AM ON WATCH TEARING UP THE MILES, THE CREW IS SNORING, SO I'M GONNA GO
SOME WATCHY THINGS. GOODNIGHT!
THE FLOGGER

Paula Fondiller-Fournier
6106 Montgomery Ct., San Jose, CA 95135
home phone: 408-223-7160
cell phone: 408-250-9588
website: www.adrien.com

Day 16 - We're getting closer!

Saturday night
515 nm from San Francisco

The end is in sight. I just got Lance set up to listen to the Giants game on San Francisco AM radio station. It's also getting colder, like being out in a boat at night near San Francisco.

Today started out with perfect spinnaker flying weather, and a rip in the sail from yesterday. But we used some tape and patched it up and after a few attempts to get it out of its bag and flying straight we succeeded. A good day of steady 6-7 knots with occasional bursts of 8-9. Nice.

As my watch ends tonight the wind has dropped from 15 down to about 11, so we have slowed down, but we are still moving forward, getting closer.

-steve

Position report 01-AUG-2010 0800Z
40 deg 05.810N
133 deg 04.101W
Course 107T speed 6.3 knots
Wind 14 knots from the NNW
Seas 3 feet from the North Sea water temp 56.5F (burrr)
Air 65F (feels colder) 68% humidity 1029mb