FUBAR Odyssey: Presented by San Diego Yacht Club and Mexico Tourism Board

NORTHERN EXPOSURE

BOAT NAME: Northern Exposure BOAT TYPE: Mark II Motor Yacht SKIPPERS: Dan Thelander EXPERIENCE: 3 Years BUILT: 1987 PURCHASED: 2005
FAVORITE DESTINATION: The San Juan Islands in Washington and the Gulf Islands of British Columbia. We purchased Northern Exposure in Seattle, and one month later, set out to move the boat to Sidney B.C. On the way, we visited Friday Harbor, Roche Harbor, and on later trips, various places in B.C. All beautiful islands, quaint little towns, and quite a change from Tempe, Arizona.
FAVORITE BOATING EXPERIENCE: One afternoon, we were sitting on our boat at Roche Harbor. All of a sudden, loudspeakers over the marina started playing the National Anthem. A group of marina employees performed a little ceremony to lower the colors, both for the U.S. flag and Canada. It was unexpected and quite a sight. It seemed as if we were at a remote outpost of the U.S. and the beauty of the harbor and the ceremony were awesome.
ABOUT THE CREW: Our boat is owned in a partnership, and our 3 partners will be on the trip. All of us are checked out to skipper the boat. In addition to me, a cotton farmer in the Phoenix area, we have my First Mate, Karen, a retired high school dance teacher; Casey Seis, stucco consultant and entreperneur from Albequerque, New Mexico; and Bill Armstrong, a retired paving contractor from Roswell, New Mexico.
WHAT'S IN A NAME: "NORTHERN EXPOSURE" Our boat was named Northern Exposure when we bought it. Because it was such an adventure for us to begin learning boating in the Pacific Northeast, we left the name which always reminds us where our boating experiences started. The previous owner got the idea from the televsion show with that name in the early 90's.
REASON FOR PURCHASING THIS BOAT: We wanted a solid, well built boat for cruising. We also wanted a large cockpit for entertaining and fishing, and we liked a pilot house for easy access to the rest of the boat while underway. Northern Exposure fit our needs well.
PREVIOUS BOATS OWNED: 22' Four Winds ski boat. It was quite a jump or us to go to a 54' ocean going vessel!
INTEREST IN THE FUBAR ODYSSEY: Experiencing boating in Mexico with other boaters that are somewhat new to the challenges there.
BOATING STORY: When we brought the boat down from B.C. in July, 2006, we had to settle for a captain that was no stranger to a bar seat or the refreshments at such an establishment. Soon after we started out, it became apparent that when not drinking, he was very cranky and gruff. When we encountered rough water in Northern California, we pulled in to Eureka and put him on a plane to San Diego. What a relief that was! We found another captain, and contiued our journey 5 days later. The next captain joked that he was a nice guy, but didn't know anything about boating. We had a great trip from there to San Diego.