October 15, Visiting Family and Boat Work
wingssail images-fredrick roswold
 Saquoia, Josh, and Ashley
wingssail images-judy jensen
 Sewing a big sail
It’s been a busy couple of months since we got back from our cruise this year. Time flys.
People ask, “What have you been up to? Are you OK? We haven’t seen a blog entry!”
OK, but posting a blog takes some work and we’ve had priorities, like flying to Seattle to visit family, and like a big project list of boat work which needs to get done before we start racing.
So the blog post was put aside.
But I didn’t want to put it off forever, so here goes.
First of all, even though the blog has been quiet, we’re fine. We’re back at the dock in La Cruz (though not in our regular spot, that’s another story). We’re going to the gym, we’re playing pool volleyball, and Mexican Train dominoes.
I spent a week in Washington State and got some quality time with my family, that was terrific, even met a new great grand daughter, Saquoia.
And the boat work plugs along. Some new deck paint, big dingy fix, sewed on a sail, lots of small projects, and more to do.
I think the best way to tell you about it is to show you the photos.
Click here to see the newest family photos.
Click here to see some of the work we’ve been doing.
Fred & Judy, SV Wings, La Cruz Huancaxtle
Labels: boat work, Family, Mexico, Washington
November 12, 2016-Family Visit
wingssail images
 Six of us at La Cruz Inn
Since we left Seattle to go cruising 20 years ago our family visits consisted of Judy and I flying or driving to the homes of family members at various locations around the USA.
Over the years we have had wonderful visits and we have always enjoyed tremendously the times we’ve been able to spend with family back home (Click here for photos. Be sure to click “Next Page at the bottom to see all of them) but we have always wanted them to come to see us at one of our stops around the world.
Up until now that has not been possible (except for Granddaughter Candace who came to Thailand to sail with us in 2007, and that was really great
here and here).
This year however sister Jan and brother Tom and their spouses Howard and Kim flew into Puerto Vallarta for 10 days and we had a fantastic mini family reunion.
We even went sailing.
wingssail images-fredrick roswold
 Howard Steers
For all these years, as we’ve lived our adventures, we’ve wanted to share them with our loved ones. I can’t say how many times I have said to Judy, “I wish Jan could be here to see this.” Or, “If only Tom could be here now.” Of course that includes Howard and Kim. So when Jan asked me if they could come in November we were thrilled and said, “Of course”. A day later she informed me that Tom and Kim were coming too.
Now we had the making of a great party.
Just to be clear, they didn’t stay on the boat with us. Too small and too intimate. Jan and Howard stayed in La Cruz Inn and Tom and Kim stayed on their timeshare points at Marival and Bel Air in Neuvo.
Of course we got together every day for fun and games which included pool times, visits to attractions around the Banderas Bay area, and lots of really excellent meals out in addition to the great sailing trip. Most of all we had a lot of quality time with our family and we loved it.
wingssail images-fredrick roswold
 Jewelry shopping at San Sebastian
We are all showing our age a little I guess, and maybe we should be slowing down, but during this visit we went full speed, at least as much as the Mexican heat would allow, and somehow we came away a little younger and a little rejuvenated.
We hope we can do this every year.
Click here for more family images.
Click here for more Botanical Garden images.
Click here for lots of family photos (be sure and click "Next" at the bottom, there are lots more)
Fred & Judy, SV Wings, La Cruz Huancaxtle
Labels: Banderas Bay, Family, Mexico
September 5, 2014-One lap of North America
wingssail images-fredrick roswold
 Somewhere East of Bakersfield
Somewhere East of Bakersfield in the Mojave Desert lies China Lake Naval Air Station and there we slid our Chrysler to a stop in front of a red stucco apartment where our granddaughter Candace answered the door and offered us an orange flavored craft beer. More importantly she gave us each a big hug and as we sat down to chat we were delighted to find that in the previous four years she has turned from a sharp navy boot to a confident and composed 29-year old woman.
 Family in Twin Peaks
This has been the story of our 7500 mile loop in America; at each stop we have found that our family and friends have grown up, matured, and changed from the wonderful people we remembered into delightful people even more wonderful than we could have ever imagined. And our timing was good, for family events and tourism too. We got to Seattle just in time for the birth of our newest granddaughter, Helena Anne, we made it to Oregon for Jenny and Gabe’s wedding, we were in San Diego in time to be with the Waldrups as they celebrated the life of Aunt Levis. We even hit Sturgis South Dakota for the great motorcycle rally.
 Gabe & Jenny's Wedding
So, so far, the trip it has been a success; we’ve spent quality time with my brother and sister, son and daughter, and all of their families. We’ve been together with most of Judy’s family, and we’ve reconnected with many of our friends, particularly ones we missed last time we were in the US. The car is running well, and we completed all of our shopping and bought everything on the boat list. Even the weather has been great. From Oregon south we’ve barely had a cloud in the sky, but it’s been hot; in San Diego it was over 100, and in Indio, California we had temperatures over 112. Never mind that, in the low humidity of the southwest desert, it didn’t seem too bad.
Now we’re back in Mexico. We drove through the Sonora Desert and it was stunning. We visited Mazatlan and boy has it changed; the marina area has been totally built up and then been run down. Now there is a tacky air about the marina which might cause us to reconsider whether we will bring the boat there. We’ll see.
We stopped in small towns like Tecuala, and in old cities like Cuidad Obregon, Morelia, which was historic and gorgeous, and Oaxaca. We had great meals in outdoor restaurants on centuries-old plazas. We dropped into the Valley of Mexico and struggled through Mexico City traffic for hours. We had been in Mexico City before and could have by-passed it but we wanted to experience the size of hemisphere’s largest city by driving through it and we did. Whew! Big!
Yesterday was the toughest drive. After the hours of Mexico City we finally broke free of the gridlock and climbed from the city’s 7500 ft altitude up into higher Sierra Nevada on a four lane freeway with sweeping curves and traffic moving faster than we were comfortable with, but you have to go with the flow, right? Then down the other side into Puebla with more curves and even higher speeds. The driving was tense and definitely tended to focus the mind. But too, it was exciting.
 Oaxaca
Because of the traffic jams in the Valley of Mexico we were behind schedule and to get to Cordoba where we had reserved a room we had to drive into the night. In the last set of mountains we had fog, rain, road construction everywhere, poorly marked lanes, and darkness. It was exhausting, but we arrived safely in Codoba. Today we had another exciting day in the mountains with more stunning scenery and arrived in Oaxaca this afternoon.
 Sturgis
Tomorrow we hope to be back at Marina Chiapas and back onboard Wings.
We have been driving long days and stopping rarely so there are few photos of the trip, but we have some of the people we stopped to see.
Click here to see photos from our lap of North America
Click here to see Gabe & Jenny's Wedding
Click here for photos from Sturgis.
Fred & Judy, Oaxaca, Mexico
Labels: Family, friends, Mexico, USA
May 25, 2010-Family Photos(& Friends)
May 23, 2010-Washington State
April 10, 2010-Back in the USA
 Pensacola Beach
It was time for a trip back home, as they say, so in late March we closed up the boat and headed to the USA.
After a short layover in Hong Kong we launched off on the midnight flight from Beijing to LA, took the Amtrack to San Diego, picked up Judy’s sister Margie (and her car) and headed to points east with the cruise control set on 85. I love driving in America.
And we crossed the whole dang continent already.
Oh we’ve had a good trip so far: the desert was great, awesome, and incomparable; the French Quarter of New Orleans was neat, as were the other stops, and seeing family members at various cities along the way has been fun too.
 Racing the Train
Then there were the adventures:
Like trying to learn the GPS Navigation computer Jan and Howard lent us. (How do we get this damn thing to shut up and why does it keep telling us to do a u-turn?)
Like running out of gas in a dodgy part of Houston and barely coasting into a gas station on fumes and we wouldn’t have made it at all except for the quickly punched-in destination of “Nearest Gas Station” which directed us right to it (thanks Judy for your quick action on the GPS). I had to push the car the last 50ft which was quite a chore until Margie reminded Judy to take her foot off the brake; then it got easier.
Like when Margie lost her cell phone and we decided to call her number so we could see if we could hear it ring, and then all of us spent 10 minutes going through luggage trying to find her address book with the phone number, which she didn’t know, only for her to tell us when we finally got the number and dialled it, “Well it isn’t turned on anyhow.” (Now you tell us.)
Like in the Galveston Ferry line when we ignored the honking behind us for the longest time while I was taking pictures out the car window until we realized that it was us they were honking at. All the cars in front of us had boarded the ferry and the folks behind us were a bit peeved at us for not moving. The red-neck guy directing traffic called us “Fruit Pickers” due to our California plates but then he said, “OK Bud.” and waved us onto the ferry.
But we made it and now we are in Pensacola, Florida soaking up sunshine and southern culture. We’ve had fried catfish, been to a stock car race, and met more relatives than I can count, and they all live in about a 3 mile radius.
There's lots more to come on this trip and on Monday we’re heading to Iowa to see some more family members.
Stay tuned.
Click here to see us in Beijing.
Click here for some shots along the way from San Diego to Texas.
Click here to see our Houston relatives Sherry and JB.
Click here for a glimpse at New Orleans by night.
Click here for scenes in the deep south.
And click here for some family photos.
Fred & Judy, Pensacola, Florida
Flew in from Beijing on the China Airline
I'm back in the USSA
Been away so long I hardly knew the place
Gee, it's good to be back home
You don't know how lucky you are, boy
Back in the USSA, yeah
(Apologies to John, Paul, George & Ringo)Labels: Family, USA
Jan 08, 2008-Back at Yacht Haven-A Full Circle
wingssail image-fredrick roswold Scene from a cruise: Phi Phi LeiWe are back where we started at Yacht Haven after completing our cruise of Phuket area. It was eleven days and eight stops but the whirlwind tour was worth it, we were able to share with our granddaughter Candace a little of the sailing life, and a lot of the local scenery. The first day out, in Phang Nga Bay we stopped at Koh Hong for a night, then the next day we traveled to beautiful Ton Sai Bay at Phi Phi Don Island and stayed there for Christmas. Phi Phi was stunning (see the photos here). After Phi Phi we sailed direct for Kuah Town, Langkawi, Malaysia and arrived there after a 20 hour overnight sail. Three days in Kuah got us some sightseeing, some shopping for duty free liquor, and new passport stamps for Thailand. After Kuah we headed up to Telaga Harbor, which is a delightful place, we certainly want to go back, and spent one night there, departing for Phuket the next day at noon. This time we visited Butang Islands on our way and after another overnight sail we dropped anchor at Patong Bay, Phuket Island, at 13:00, New Year’s Eve, just in time to see the famous Patong Bay New Year’s celebration. It was fantastic. Then three days of wonderful sailing: first a fast, short, reach to Naiharn Bay, then a glorious beat around Cape Promthep to Chalong when good wind and flat water allowed us to put real miles behind us in a short time, and finally a long but ultimately successful 30 mile beat back to Yacht Haven on the last day. On this leg our start was delayed by engine trouble but we made the 30 miles upwind in 5.5 hours and arrived at Yacht Have by our scheduled ETA of 18:00, completing the circle. This cruise with Candace aboard culminates two months of full-on activity. I don’t think we have had a quiet day to ourselves with nothing to do since October 28 when we left Bangkok. It has been fun and rewarding but exhausting. Now we are going to chill out for a few days in Yacht Haven. After that? Who Knows? Click here to go to the January Archive of wingssail-images to see over 40 photos of this cruise.Fred & Judy, SV Wings, Phuket, Thailand Labels: Family, Thailand
Jan 1, 2008-Nai Harn Bay
wingssail image-fredrick roswold New Year's Eve, Patong BayAfter a night of fireworks and festivities at Patong Beach to see out 2007 we sailed to Nai Harn Bay today in a fresh NE wind. It was a fast sail down the coast from Patong under #4 and full main and we beat the Tayanna 55 and a couple of other boats which left Patong at the same time. First we stayed out from the coast and got better breeze. Then we sailed the boat, meaning that in the gusty conditions we constantly played the sheets and kept the sails trimmed and the boat moving well at all times. Finally we used Wings' to its best advantage and let her rip to weather in the heavy gusts when the wind went forw'd. It felt good. After beating up into Nai Harn Bay we anchored and with the wind gusting still we set the anchor carefully before going ashore. Ashore we found some typical tourist entertainment: T-shirts $3.00. Good, bought a few. Dinner $30 for three of us including wine. Good, had a nice meal. Desert at the fancy resort for $60. Bad, pass on that. Back on board we drank some rum and had conversation in the cockpit. Finally, I slipped on the ladder and spilt my rum. Careful Grandpa! Fred & Judy, SV Wings, Nai Harn Bay, Thailand ----------
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Dec 31, 2007- Passing Hin Daeng Rock
wingssail image-fredrick roswold Sailing alone in the nightThe wind filled in as we cleared the Butang Islands just before sunset and we set sail on our return trip bound for Phuket, Thailand. By 10:30 the wind was solid and steady and under #1 genoa we held a good course on port tack right up the rhumb line. Good sailing. We'd spent a few days in Langkawi, got our passports stamped so we could go back to Thailand with a new visa, bought some duty free, saw the sights; mission accomplished. Now just a short overnight sail, 120 miles, and we would be back in Thailand. No moon; a black night. I don't know when we first saw the rock on the chart called Hin Daeng. At first neither of us said anything but around midnight we could no longer ignore it; we could see that our course was trending towards it. It was drawing us like a magnet. It was my watch and I told Judy not to worry, I'd take care of missing it. She went to bed, which I took for either a vote of confidence or resignation. I thought we might be able to clear it to weather and I hardened up. Sheet on the genoa, trim the main, adjust the wind vane, and we went into point mode; as close as Wings could sail to the wind even at the expense of some speed. I wanted to get some room between our course and the rock. I watched on the chart plotter and saw our course carve slightly to windward, away from Hin Daeng. Nice. It seemed now like we would clear it by ¾ of a mile, probably enough but it the black night it still made me nervous. Now I was peering to leeward with the binoculars into the dark night looking for Hin Daeng which I knew had to be out there somewhere. I hoped it was to leeward, not directly in front of us. The chart showed we'd clear it after I'd pointed up the last half hour as hard as we could make Wings go, but charts can be wrong, and on a moonless night it could be anywhere even right on our bow. I saw nothing. I turned on the depth alarm and set it to 60 feet, then changed it to 100. If the alarm went off it would mean we were getting close to Hin Deang. The depth alarm remained silent. When the chart showed us abeam of it I looked again and against the lights of a distant fishing boat I saw a black bump moving on the horizon. Its bearing changed rapidly and I knew it was Hin Daeng. We passed it safely. Now it was astern. Then the wind came up; too much for the #1. We changed to the #4. And the wind shifted: it went from west to north-east. I looked on the chart; we had almost turned a circle around Hin Daeng. What a shift; we were headed back to Langkawi! We tacked and then we were still well below our course on starboard tack. The wind went light. I didn't feel like changing back to the #1. I eased the sheets to keep us moving in the light wind and leftover chop. It could be a long night. We sailed on. But the wind was good to us. During Candace's watch it increased and lifted us back to the rhumb line. I went on deck and again sheeted in. We sailed higher and still made good time through the night. Daylight saw us within sight of Phuket Island. We were back in familiar waters, where we'd sailed during the King's Cup, and Patong Bay lay just ahead. We'd be there by noon. Our trip to Langkawi had been successful and now we were having a good sail back. That's the way we like it. Fred & Judy, SV Wings, Phuket Thailand ----------
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Dec. 27, 2007-Night Passage to Langkawi
wingssail image-fredrick roswold Raising AnchorWe had a fair run last night: five hours or so at 7 knots with just a full main in a nice Nor' Easterly, no jib, Monitor steering. That was nice. This morning the sea was flat, glassy, no breeze to speak of, but we can see the peaks of Langkawi coming up out of the haze and at 09:00 the wind is building a little. Maybe we can get a good sail in today too. We sailed from Phi Phi Island, Thailand, at 17:00 on Wednesday; Boxing Day in Australia. We expect to make port in Langkawi, Malaysia on Thursday around noon. It will be a short stay in Malaysia, just a few days to see the sights, pick up some duty free, and get new visas for Thailand; then back to Phuket. All is well on SV Wings, we'll write more later. Fred & Judy, SV Wings, on passage ----------
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Labels: Family, sailing
Dec 20, 2007-Candace Visits Thailand
wingssail image-judy jensen Elephant RideOur Granddaughter Candace flew to Thailand for a bit of touring and sailing. First stop: Ayutthaya. The elephant ride was manditory. Next we'll go for a cruise in the Andaman Sea including Phuket and Langkawi. We'll update you with stories from that trip as soon as we can. Meanwhile, click here to see a few other images from her visit. Fred & Judy, SV Wings, Bangkok Labels: Bangkok, Family
July 29, 1996-Leaving
 Only a few people were present on that still morning when we pulled out of Seattle to go see the world. Michael and JoAnne Grey, our neighbors at Shilshole Marina, who own Destiny; and Bill Baum was waiting out the marina entrance in his photo boat to get a shot for the local sailing mag. And my son Kenneth was there. That one surprised me. Ken hadn't said much to me about our leaving. He was sort of casual about the whole thing, so I didn't know he cared much, or even gave it a thought. But there he was that morning, arriving unannounced. He still didn't say much, just gave me a short hug and went back to his car. I guess he must have stayed there and watched us motor out, because JoAnne told me later she saw him still sitting in the car...with tears in his eyes. So that was the hardest part of going sailing, it turned out; leaving our family. Our friends were happy for us, and we were excited to be facing a new adventure, but the kids, who never had much of a dad when they needed him, now were going to have less of one. It's been hard for me too, being apart from my kids and grandchildren, not being a part of their lives. But I justified it by saying that we didn't see them that much when we were there, and I wasn't going to sit around the rest of my life waiting for them to make some time for grandpa. Still, it's been difficult. Still is. So I regret this, in a way. Its funny, the only things I really regret in my life have been the disappointments I brought to my family. Fred Roswold, SV WINGS Labels: Family, Pacific Coast, USA
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Mount Rainier
Seattle Waterfront
Ferry Boat
La Conner
Cottage Lake Gardens
Tom & Kim
Tom & Kim's house in North Bend.jpg)
