In July of 2018, Mike Nurco of Sitka, AK flew with Richard to Puerto Montt to finalize his purchase of Abrazo. Mike then returned to Sitka, where he is a shipwright and captain of the M/V Nepenthe, which he charters for glacier trips and explorations.
He has been working on boats in Sitka since 2003, after shipwrighting in other ports for many years before that. He was working in Bellingham back in 1981 when we launched the newly-built Abrazo into Squalicum Harbor. Mike remembers coming aboard the new boat and being surprised at how bare the interior was, considering that Richard and I moved aboard as soon as the boat was launched. The galley was functional with sink and wood stove, but main cabin and foc'sle berths and lockers would not be installed for some months. Richard and I, back then, rolled our sleeping bags out atop the big main cabin tanks, and put up with sawdust in our oatmeal that first winter. In fact, I think it was a month or so after we moved aboard before Richard completed the companionway ladder for getting in and out of the boat. Until then, it was a good, long leg stretch from a port-side stringer to the edge of the galley counter and up to the bridge deck.
But that's ancient history we will explore in the continuation of the Construction Log.
Back in Sitka in August of 2018, Captain Nurco in his spare time began to assemble plans and materials for sailing Abrazo north from Chile to Alaska. By January of 2019 he was back in Puerto Montt, where he hauled Abrazo out of the water; installed a 1 1/2” thru-hull, portside and a 3/4” thru-hull starboardside for the new Raritan manual head. He reinstalled the watermaker with new seals and membrane; outfitted the boat with 160 watts of solar panels and a life raft; and loaded stores for the voyage.
His two-man crew, Eric and son, Morgan (11 yrs old!), assisted. By the end of February they were off, sailing south around Isla Chiloe, up the coast to Valdivia, then offshore to Juan Fernandez Island.
Sailing with seven other boats to Easter Island, almost 2000 miles, Mike and crew logged the best time, even though Abrazo was the smallest boat by 10 feet! 
Pitcairn Island, Gambier Islands, the Marquesas Islands: maybe one day we'll get to hear some stories from the log of this voyage. Mike's crew flew home from Tahiti. He sailed alone to Hawaii, reaching Hilo in early June. Then on across the North Pacific to Sitka, arriving by mid-July.
Rafted to Nepenthe in her new home waters … Abrazo is well-launched on the next phase of her story.
Meanwhile, this Scribe is determined to continue spinning out the old chapters of the construction of this beautiful boat, along with diversionary tales of Abrazo's early voyages. Stay tuned for the upcoming Construction Log: Planking.
And hold on to your dreams.
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