And now, about THE BOAT

The M/V WESTWARD was designed and built in the wild American northwest, near Seattle, WA, in the early 1900s.  Her lines were modeled after a salmon cannery tender, and she still exhibits the unique grace and elegance of that art-deco period of design, also a time when the notion of wilderness travel as a glamorous adventure was just getting started. She was literally built around her original 1923 Atlas engine, and launched in 1924 as the flagship of the Alaska Coast Hunting and Cruising Co. to pioneer hunting, fishing, and adventure travel in the remote regions of Washington, British Columbia and Alaska.

As a luxury cruising vessel, the M/V WESTWARD served a noteworthy clientele of hunters and fishermen for nearly twenty years. Distinguished guests included Bing Crosby, Walt Disney, George Eastman, A.C. Gilbert, E.F. Hutton and Marjorie Merriweather Post, Paul Mellon, Richard K. Mellon, Hal Roach, Rudolph Schilling, John Wayne, Dean Witter, and numerous other VIP’s of the era.  She was drafted to serve as a patrol boat off the coast of California during the Second World War, and then went on to cruise as a private yacht and charter vessel for twenty years, including a circumnavigation in the 1970s.  She returned to the Pacific Northwest in 1993, joining her "sister" ship the M/V CATALYST in a fleet dedicated to bringing adventure travelers into the wonders of southeast Alaska.  During the early 2000s she was again used for private yachting, until Captain Bill Bailey, still sailing the CATALYST in Alaska, once more re-united the WESTWARD with the CATALYST, and launched his adventure travels in the Sea of Cortez, Baja Mexico, in 2015.

And that's where we come in!  We have had the incredible opportunity to sail and work aboard the CATALYST with Bill in AK, and -- it's almost too amazing to be true!! -- now get to work aboard the WESTWARD in Mexico.  Never thought we'd be counted among the 'snow birds' who leave Vermont in winter, but spending those cold months in balmy latitudes, where you wear flip-flops everyday instead of knee-high snow boots -- well, we just might be hooked!

The WESTWARD has four double state-rooms with two shared heads (bathrooms), accommodating up to eight guests on the lower deck. The salon on the main deck is stunning, with teak paneling and leaded-glass bookcase above the fireplace mantel (true! a working fireplace!)  Full, stainless steel galley (kitchen), and dining area on the beautiful, enclosed aft deck.  Kayaks and skiffs travel up top, on the boat deck, where we also hang our laundry in the fresh breeze.  Yes, there is a little clothes washer tucked into the crew's quarters, below decks in the fo'c'sle -- which is all very tidy with gleaming white paint, varnished trim and fluffy rugs on the floors, and surprisingly roomy with 4 comfy bunks plus a small private captain's room with a desk and two more bunks.  Even our own head and full shower.  And of course the best roommates ever!

Guest relaxing in the gracious salon

Starboard Passageway

Aft Deck Dining

Chef Tracie's Galley

Captain Bill

 

BAJA! Here we come!

In 2012, Randy retired from twenty-five years in ministry in order to pursue his other loves for a time -- woodworking and wooden boats.  With God's amazing grace, he's been blessed in the most extraordinary way, connecting with the Pacific Catalyst adventure cruise business and crewing aboard their gorgeous antique vessel, the M/VCatalyst, in southeast Alaska. This winter (Jan-March) we had the wildest, most incredible adventure and opportunity to work aboard their second ship, the M/V Westward, cruising in the Sea of Cortez, Baja, Mexico.  [see http://www.pacificcatalyst.com/ ]

The following entries were written from the notes I (Carie) scribbled down during the six amazing weeks I was aboard as crew, serving guests on their 10-day trips of discovery and exploration!  Some of the entries are actually smooshed together from the experiences of different weeks, so that I can try to describe all the wonderful spots we visited without repeating, or trying to write all 40 days!!

DAY ONE
[Feb. 2, 2015]

Disorienting, official arrival in Mexico, after 3-mile long maze line through customs (OK, maybe slightly exaggerated…) at La Aeropuerto San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur.  Wow, it was so GOOD to see Randy and chef Tracie waiting for me just outside the door, backlit by the Mexican sunshine  :)  

I've missed him - he's been in Baja for a month already, while I've been keeping the fires going at home (well, figuratively anyway - we switched from wood to propane in our stoves this winter!)

Next, a bumpy 3-hour van ride through the mountainy Sonoran desert of the southern tip of Baja peninsula, finally arriving at the marina in La Paz weary and bleary.  It has been a long travel day.  I was sure happy to see and greet dear old friends aboard the M/V Westward, and enjoy the short walk as we all (Randy, me, Tracie and Captain Bill) traipsed into town at twilight for some two-for-one margaritas and tasty pescado frito at the local joint called Cayuga’s.  At first I ordered ‘pescadero’, trying to negotiate my way through the menu, but Tony, our waiter, was most polite and kindly let me know that I might prefer fried fish to fried fisherman :]    Tracie order the pescado entero, and was presented a crisply fried entire fresh snapper, enjoying every succulent bite including the eyeballs.  Mine was just the fillet, thanks. I think Randy and Bill had rellenos with smoked marlin.  I'm sure we all licked our fingers.

To get you oriented, here is where we are: