Ron Weed's book, "Kasekuchen in Baja Waters," is featured on the online version of Sunday's Daytona Beach News-Journal

We were absolutely thrilled when our friend Ron Weed sent us this screen print from Sunday's online version of the Daytona Beach News-Journal featuring a mini-review of his book, "Kasekuchen in Baja Waters," which chronicles our journey last year from San Diego, California to La Paz, Mexico aboard our Selene 53.

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Ron Weed has written and published a wonderful book about our participation in the 2007 FUBAR Odyssey from San Diego to La Paz, Mexico

When Bob and I invited our friend Ron Weed to crew aboard our Selene 53, "Kasekuchen," during the 2007 FUBAR Odyssey from San Diego, California to La Paz, the capital of Baja California Sur, Mexico, we had no idea we would become the subjects of a beautifully written and illustrated book. We invited Ron to join us because we knew he was experienced in boat handling and navigation, having lived aboard and cruised the southern California coast and its Channel Islands since the 1970s. Of course we also knew he'd be good company.

Ron took lots of photographs during our cruise – and lots of notes, too. Using his flair for writing and design, and availing himself of the amazing advances in technology and printing that have occurred in the past decade, Ron crafted an absolutely wonderful book – "Kasekuchen in Baja Waters" – chronicling our trip that covered 1,057 sea miles in 18 days.

The book also features photographs of some of the other Selenes that participated in FUBAR, including "Annaruth" (Jake and Susanna Maizel), "Rediscovery II" (Richard and Jane Wenstrom), "Mystic Moon" (Kathy and John Youngblood), and "Voyager" (Les and Rosemary Dobbe).

We've been sending copies of Ron's book to our friends and relatives, but "Kasekuchen in Baja Waters" is more than just a book about our voyage. Reading it will give you a real taste for what it's like to participate in an event such as the 2007 FUBAR Odyssey.

Ron published his book using Blurb, "… a company and a community that believes passionately in the joy of books – reading them, making them, sharing them, and selling them." You can learn more about Blurb at its website – and you can purchase your own copy of "Kasekuchen in Baja Waters" directly from Blurb. There are two versions of the book available. We like them both, but are especially fond of the smaller-sized version because it contains lots more photos.

Welcome to 2008! Have a happy New Year!

To all our cruising friends and to all the Selene owners with whom we have not yet had an opportunity to cruise -- Bob & I wish you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year!

This wonderful photograph was taken during the FUBAR Odyssey 2007 by Ron Weed, one of our crew members on "Kasekuchen," He took the photograph when we were between Ensenada, Mexico and LaPaz, Mexico. "Kasekuchen" was one of seven Selene Trawlers that participated in the rally.

We'd also like to invite you to stop by Selene Florida if you are in Fort Lauderdale.

Some reflections on the FUBAR ODYSSEY 2007 from "Kasekuchen" crew member Ron Weed

The crew on our Selene 53, "Kasekuchen," during the FUBAR ODYSSEY 2007 included our son, Chris, and our friend Ron Weed, a Hollywood producer who'll be working on the live telecast of "The 65th Annual Golden Globes Awards," scheduled to air on NBC on January 13, 2008. This year during "The 65th Annual Golden Globes Awards," Steven Spielberg will received the Cecil B. DeMille Award for his "outstanding contribution to the entertainment field."

When he returned home after the rally, Ron sent out an e-mail to some of his friends, a portion of which we'd like to share with you here:

Just a quick note to let you know that I am now home from the "FUBAR" Fleet Underway to Baja Rally on one of the fifty one boat fleet that made the trip from San Diego to La Paz from Nov 7 thru Nov 19, 2007. I gratefully crewed for my friends, Bob and Cheryl Klein on their 60' Selene Ocean Trawler, "Kasekuchen", German for Cheesecake. We stopped at Ensenada, Turtle Bay, Santa Maria, Magdalena Bay, San Jose Del Cabo, Muertos Bay and La Paz.

Some day passages, some overnight passages up to 33 continuous hours underway. Kasekuchen is well equipped with radars, electronic navigation systems and of course has all or most of the systems that make her a home in every sense on the water. I attached an excerpt from my daily log which kind of expresses my sentiments with a few pictures.

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