Welcome

Welcome to Team Cipango. This is the place for public postings about the boat 'Cipango" and her crew. The boat, an "Andrews '56" is a lightweight "racer/cruiser" designed by Alan Andrews and built by Dencho Marine in the early 90's.

The boat is actively campaigned in San Francisco, competing in most "big boat" buoy and ocean racing events. Cipango competed in the 2005 TransPac and the 2006 Pacific Cup.

We will use this site (teamcipango.com) to post information for family and friends of the Bartons and their crew. When possible, we will provide information about the races we are participating in - including offshore postings from the boat via radio and sat phone, and links to the regatta web sites and the near real-time satellite trackers that are being used.

Big events for 2007 are the 800 nautical mile Newport Beach to Cabo San Lucas Race in March and the 2200+ nautical mile Transpac LA to Honolulu race in July.

More to come...

Home at Last

Cipango is now resting at her slip in Marina Bay. Robin and I enjoyed a quick trip up from Monterey overnight on Thursday.

(we decided to skip the 30+ knot winds and big seas of Tues and Weds - a great decision!)

Due to the limping batteries, we hand steered much of the way. Thankfully, there wasn't too much sustained fog to cause us to miss the chartplotter or radar too terribly much.

The Bartons and crew wish to thank Jody, Scott and Dave who were an intrumental help in getting the boat back home.

Cipango in Monterey

Just in case anyone is still reading this...

We brought Cipango into Monterey Harbor on Thursday morning.
Somewhere around Pt. Sur, I discovered that the batteries had stopped
charging. The alternator wasn't putting out current and the
batteries were nearly dead.

We hand steered for a while, but switched back to Otto. The batteries
had just enough juice to keep the instruments and Otto happy, and we
came into Monterey for an absolutely stellar morning.

After some diagnosis in Monterey, it appears that a loose ground wire
and/or the flooding of the engine control panel created the problem.
Accordng to Robin, it appears that the batteries are now charging.

Current plan is to depart Monterey on Tuesday.

Cheers,

Barry

Checking in...

1215 on 3/21

Pushed through big swell and wind waves NW of Arguello. Launched coffee off the stove (in view of the Vandenberg launch pads) earlier today.

Still good size swell out here as we head towards Pt. Bouchon/SLO, but much less wind and some sunshine, so way more tolerable (it is the first day of spring, right?).

Engine alarm went off near Arguello... We pulled the steps and cleared the strainer of some kelp leaves - that might have been it. This could be much more serviceable if the intake plumbing could be improved/simplified.

Also, the panel was soaked (and leaking into the boat) so that might have been the cause, too... Oil and Eng temp seem inline again, though, and we're doing 7.5 over ground.

1220 position:

34 58.293N 120 47.559W
HDG 330
WIND 12-15 from 300

Hoping to be in Monterey for breakfast and Scott will leave us.

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And now the Central Coast

Picked up anchor at Cojo around 0530. Got the anchor put away, secured the spin pole and headed out towards Conception. This am's unplanned event was to replace the nut that came off the alternator bracket (I think) that apparently worked itself off. Couldn't find the original in the motor oil sludge of the engine compartment (and we had pumped it whilst still in MX), but were able to find another that fit.

(if there's a spare fasteners kit, I don't know where it is, but would like to!)

Rounded Pt. Conception shortly before 0630 and are enroute to Pt. Arguello, and then the best part of the trip - the central California Coast.

20 knots of wind from the North (that's a surprise, I know ;-) with moderate seas.
Position at 0640:

34 28.500N 120 30.550W

Cheers,

Barry

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A Good Day...

Up the east side of Catalina, along the backside of Santa Cruz, then between Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa islands... Dramatic lighting due to the overcast conditions...Frequent whales - all the way across the Santa Barbara channel through the shipping lanes to Cojo Anchorage, east of Pt. Conception. Currently anchored after transferring two barrels (60 gal)to the tank.

Gusting 18 in the anchorage, so we plan to spend a few hours here before rounding Conception...

Cheers,

Barry

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Bumpy and Lumpy

Cipango gets this wacky rhythm going where she rides a few big swells up, then down, up, then down - building a little speed each time and then on about the third wave - bammm! (different from the Emeril "bam!")

So, that's been the story for the last 4 hours or so... On our way across Vizcaino Bay towards shore. Engine seems to be running hot, so we've throttled back and hope to get into flat(ter) water and check/add coolant.

3/17 23:19
29 04.140N 115 23.75W

W 18 knots from 293 deg
bsp 5.3
hdg 328

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Next time I'm not calling in sick, I'm calling in gone!!

This was the title to a song we heard earlier and it seems appropriate for the kind of day we had. We woke up leisurely in turtle bay and after fueling up ourselves and the boat took to the northward path. We motored for a few hours observing copious amounts of sea life including whales, dolphins, pelicans, seals, etc. Right before the Isla de Natividad we set the main sail and motor sailed our way over to Cedros Island. We followed the coast of Cedros from point to point and I must say it was by far one of the most dramatic experiences I have had on this trip (both on the way down and now back up!) It is such a rugged remote island with colonies of Sea Elephants barking at you almost the whole way. The water is as blue as I have ever seen and the peaks ascend dramatically upwards similar to the Hawaiian Islands or maybe even the Galapagos. It is for sure a place I would love to return to to spend days mingling and exploring the beaches and inlets, climbing deeper and deeper into the mountain ranges above.
The only scary part of the day was bath time when three whiter than white men showered themselves off the back of the boat with joy dishsoap and pots of water warmed on the stove as no one would brave the "icy" cold 62 degree water. I don't know who was more upset, barry by the cold water or the elephant seals at the sight of the three men bathing on the back of an otherwise beautiful yacht!! As for me, I hid safely below till the show was over. Anyways, at least 3/4 of our crew arguably smell better...being too modest I of course made do with our Costco sized package of baby wipes! We have left the calm lee of cedros and have now pointed Cipango northward with a refilled tank of gas across the open channel aimed at Isla San Geronimo. It is a bit choppy but not bad with the wind speed hovering around 15 knots. Our current position as I type is 28 32.047N / 115 15.949W. Depending on how much we get set tonight we may have to avoid the Sacramento reef by adjusting our course for Punta San Carlos - known to some as a world class kitesurfing / windsurfing / and surf spot. According to Robin the Sacramento Reef is named after a US Mail ship of that name that left San Francisco and broke up on the reef en route to Panama. I am not sure if it was part of that same voyage but apparently there was a bunch of gold dumped at the reef that has never been discovered...maybe we'll get lucky!! I might send Scott down to take a peek! Apparently depending on wind & waves it can be quite a dramatic site. If my calculations are correct we will be passing it sometime late tonight or early tomorrow morning depending on how you look at it. We just had a fantastic meal of pasta with tomato sauce and mushrooms and sauted onions preceded by a delicious cabbage salad. I just polished off the dishes, Scott is up on watch, Robin is crawling into his bunk and I am about to head aft and jump in mine to leave Barry our chef extrordinaire and technical guru to zap this off to anyone who is actually reading this. As Robin says it best "Goodnight John Boy, goodnight Mary Ellen."

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Bahia De Tortugas!! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

We pulled into Turtle Bay right on time at 0300 - 27 41.122N / 114 53.197W. We were in and out of fog last night and observed some vessel traffic. Robin was as usual his brilliant self. I swear the guy must be 50% salt water!! We navigated between reef and kelp completely uneventfully and into the anchorage where we set the hook in about 17 feet of water. I would estimate that at least 30% of the boats at anchor weren't using anchor lights which given the velvety blackness of the morning made the trip that much more exciting. None the less within 20 minutes we were safely at anchor. Immediately out of the darkness we were approached by a Panga with a man on board passing out his business card and offering us Diesel. It seems as though there is now more than one operation in town and the competition is fierce in the diesel business. That was confirmed when we were awoken at 7 am by the competition with their offer of diesel. Robin shooed them off until we had time for coffee and to get ready to receive diesel. Barry is making coffee and pancakes and taking orders for eggs (somehow they all always end up scrambled but don't tell him I said that!). I have made my best effort to introduce Scott to Nutella, he has so far turned me down. Sad, sad, sad. I personally couldn't go without chocolatey hazelnut spread. Not too much going on aboard Cipango beyond culinary delights, bad smelling crew, and our steady northbound trek. We will however keep you posted if any of that changes!
Scott just reminded us that it is St. Patrick's day (La Faile Phadrig sona dhuit). So have a uisce breatha (whiskey or water of life) for us!! I wish I had more to report...maybe one of the other crew members does. We have now successfully taken on just under 100 gallons of diesel. Robin is busily siphoning into the tank while we finish up with breakfast and dishes down below. From here we take off north on a path that will go on the inside of Cedros Island (maybe some sun and a bath??) and then across in the general direction of Punta San Carlos and then northward to San Diego.
Jody
This is Scott now - Boy we could all use a shower, but the weather so far has not co-operated. The trick for the next 400 miles is to stay dry. Ok, so along the way we have been very fortunate to have Jody a fluent Spanish speaker aboard. Hope all is well with everyone at home. We all so appreciate your support.
Beannaucht slan agat Scott & the Cipango crew.

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Your (Our) Tax Dollars at Work

Sometime at around 7 am - during my watch - I noticed a ship astern. It took well over an hour to close gauge on us, and eventually dispatched a patrol boat our way at about 9 am.

It was a pretty uneventful encounter... They stood off 30 or 40 feet for a few moments - looking the boat over and perhaps using electronics to sniff for stuff. They came alongside - seemingly wanting to board... With a few carefully chosen words, Robin convinced them it was very unlikely that they could do so without holing us. (their boat was a clunky aluminum tender, and we were in 2-4 foot seas.) Scott went down below to grab his camera to take a picture, if/when they did sink us.

The apparent officer in charge asked a few questions - the toughest one was asking Robin to spell his last name. (Robin WAS able to do so - in case you were suspect) A freckled-face boy - not possibly older than 18 years and a day, wrote it down. He seemed downright scared when he needed to ask Robin to repeat his driver's license more loudly.

They pulled up their fenders - giving up on the whole boarding thing.

Of course, we politely thanked them...

Underway at 09:20 from

25 52.917N 113 10.593W
Heading 310 @ 8.5 (towards the coast at Pt. Ascuncion)
Wind about 8 from 330
Partly cloudy

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