Sailin' South

In the fall of 1979, Vickie and Dave Case set out from San Francisco in a 29’sailboat built from a semi-kit. They harbor hopped down the coast to Manzanillo, Mexico before bravely heading the 2700 miles over open ocean to the Marquesas. Using a compass, sextant, and sumlog they covered the distance in twenty-two days. Then it was off to Tahiti, and the Society Islands, Rarotonga, Pago Pago, before heading back by way of Honolulu and home to San Francisco. This was voyaging in the tradition of Joshua Slocom; no GPS, long-range radios, refrigerators or air conditioners. The journey was as God intended; a fair breeze, a star to guide, and a bit of luck to tide us. Very primitive by today’s standards, mechanical problems and weather were nevertheless a constant challenge. It was the people met along the way that made it all more than worthwhile.