Great Tiki Crew-- working to the very end!

Just two weekends left before the start. My crew is always willing to work on the boat and make sure we are ready to go when the gun goes off on July 8th at 11:30am off St Francis Yacht Club. We got a lot done today. When you are 1500 miles in the middle of the pacific you can't say "I think we forgot the....." Everything we need for 12 days has to be on the boat. From water to carbon hacksaw blades in case the rig comes down and you have to cut it free of the boat so it doesn't pound a gaping hole in the hull! Thanks Tiki Crew!

Test Sail out the SF Gate on 6/21/14

Had a good test sail out the SF gate with fresh 8 foot waves, wind 22-27 knots. Tested SSB thanks Michael D. Moradzadeh! It was pretty lumpy and the hint of seasickness did waft about the crew. Nobody was hungry until we got back in the Bay. The Pac Cup Warlord, Dennis Ronk relished the conditions and hopes we have this at the start on July 8th.

Food provisioning in process- 200 plus meals

Coconut Curry Ginger Chicken with Jasmine Rice and Asian Veggies one of the dishes Kelly is preparing for 6 crew over 11 days. Cooked, frozen and then loaded on the boat the morning of July 8th. Yes one luck skipper to have such a supportive first mate!

Inspection Completed. Thanks inspector Gordie Nash.

 Tiki Blue passes inspection with a few minor tasks left prior to July 8th start date. Gordie Nash was our inspector and also will be racing on Encore in a different division and starting on the same day. Tiki Blue RYC team is Encore and Green Buffalo and I'm very pleased to be part of this C-Dock team. Yes we are all on the same dock at RYC.. Pictures--emergency water stowage, second anchor chain and line stored low under floor boards of Tiki Blue. Weight distribution is very important

Emergency Rudder Deployment-Tiki Blue

Emergency rudder deployment is critical training should you lose your rudder. The sequence of deployment is very critical especially in heavy seas when it will be very challenging. Training completed as well as man overboard drills!