Ocean Planet prepare for Around Alone

by Bruce Schwab on 9 Feb 2002 In the midst of prepping Ocean Planet for our depature for San Diego, the PV race, Panama, Anitigua, Charleston, Newport, and the start of the 2002 Around Alone....

My head is spinning trying to coordinate all the projects on the boat: New sails, modifying existing sails, finishing the electronics, miles of rigging, installing new carbon
footrails, misc. running lights, re-painting non-skid, refining the autopilot, installing solar panels, custom canvas work, organizing spares, tools, shipping gear here and
there .... AAAAGGGGGHHHH!!!!! I hope we don't forget to bring food.

But nothing inspires progress on a boat so as much as a deadline.

Or a PARTY! Don't forget our Ocean Planet Bon Voyage gathering this SUNDAY, February 10th, at the Encinal Yacht Club in Alameda. Not Saturday! (If you read the
announcement in Latitude 38, somehow I messed up the day and date there).

RSVP if you can to my pal Louise Felsher: lfelsher@attbi.com, that way we and the EYC can drum up enough food and drink. Last night we were up to 89....

So many talented people are helping out on the boat, it is like a 'who's who' list of of the top marine people that I know.
(listed in alphabetical order)

Doyle Sailmakers: I'm driving the whole loft crazy with my crazy new ideas....
Forespar Composites: Dennis at Forespar created our new unstayed carbon bowsprit, it is way cool...
Joakim Jonsson: Maker of our custom carbon footrails and other parts.
Liem Dao/LTD Marine: Liem watches our electrical work, in case I mess up.
Margaret Fago/Hogin Sails: Very complicated custom canvas work.
Nelson's Marine: Our haulout, great bottom and touch-up spray painting, etc.
Nexus Instruments: You should check out our rotating mast wind instrument data correction system!
Schooner Creek Boat Works: Our builder, Steve Rander and his ace helper Willie Waddell drove here from Portland and installed our new Forespar bowsprit IN THREE
DAYS!
Svendsens Marine: Stepping our mast, carbon parts, rigging, electrical, and much more. Having worked there for almost 20years it is really fun to be there all the time...

A number of individuals have been donating a lot of time to get us out of town (hmmmm, I wonder why?) Here are just a few of many:

Anna Stockel: Another helper with electrical wiring, Anna was first to finish boat for boat in the 2000 singlehanded transpac in her Santa Cruz 50.
Betty Schmidt: Thank goodness Betty has stepped in to take of our bill paying and Foundation paperwork! I was wondering how I would do this from the middle of the
Ocean.
Greg Nelson: Greg has sort of become our first mate, doing a wide variety of things. He won the singlehanded transpac overall in 2000, and will going with us all the way to
Antigua (or further). Good thing for us his tech industry job ended...
Patrick Kohlman: A great friend, Patrick has been a ton of stuff, including making our custom shipping boxes, etc.
Stephen Hodges: Stephen has been driving here from Sacramento every weekend and working like crazy. He must BE crazy.

There are lots more, if I forgot you come to the party and I'll buy you a beer....