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The Alcyone Family Update |
This page is for those of you who have been wondering what happened to us the last few years, since our webpage died. Our most recent ocean trip 2005- 2006, was great. We headed down the coast to California to participate in the classic yacht race that Grandpa McNish has put on for 30 years. On our way home we visited Mexico, French Polynesia, Hawaii and Alaska. I will try to get the newsletters posted on line for those who would like to see them. When we got back from that trip Alyce requested a bedroom. After sixteen years of living aboard the boat she wanted and I quote, "to try living ashore before I leave for college". We spent most of 2007 designing and building an addition to a 350 square foot ADU that we had bought before we left for the last trip. During the design phase we also had a big Alcyone maintenance period. Alcyone's 50th birthday occured while we were off sailing and when we got back we figured that it was time to pull her lower masts. It was quite the project. Both the masts were in great shape, but since we hadthem out.....They got stripped, brought back upwith five coats of paint, the hardware got regalvanized and some rigging got repalced while the rest had a good going over. We have been building our house for the last six month. We hired a local contractor-Jake, who knew how to build a house and would work with us. He provided the expertice, Sugar and I the labor. We enjoyed the experience and as of February 2008 have moved in and are now slowly finishing and adding furniture. Alyce has her own bedroom now, with a door she can shut and a closet. Everyone is enjoying frequent hot baths and showers. |
Alyce is seventeen, a junior in high school and an excellent student. She is on the swim team and sailing team. She recently got her drivers licence and is enjoying being a more independent person. Last summer was her first spent in town instead of sailing. She got her first-aid/life-guard and sailing instructors certificates and worked as a junior sailing instructor of the WBF. This summer she said that she would sail some with us, but has hopes of going on some of her own adventures. |
Darby is thirteen now. It seems that she has done nothing but grow since we got home. She is now taller than her mother, and though her sister is still denying it, she has passed her also. Darby is up for whatever is happening. She played volleyball, swims and now that she is old enough she is joining the sailing team . She enjoys school and is doing well. She plays the clarinet also. |
For those of you who don't know Kobo, he is our five-year-old mini-labradoodle. He was raised on the boat and became a "shell-back" on our recent trip. It is fair to say that KOBO's motto is that wherever his family is he is. He is the perfect boat dog, though he probably much prefers life on land. |