THE LOGBOOK
The Captain’s Journal
The plans, the practical work, and the progress toward sailing.
Before the Boat: How Tortuga Got Her Name
From Tucson to the redwoods, and the family joke that gave Tortuga her name.
Seeing What She Could Become
Five years searching, a boat in Mexico, and the dream that kept us going.
The Refit Begins: Our Ugly Duckling
An honest look at the project we took on—and six photographs of where we started.
What We Found When We Opened Her Up
Finding termites was only the beginning. As Fabian and I worked forward through Tortuga, we realized roughly two-thirds of her interior needed rebuilding. This is the story of what we found, the family who kept faith in me, and the decision to take her apart so we could give her another life.
Before the First New Board
Finding wood and cement was only the beginning. Fabian, the mill, and a growing crew helped us find a way forward through Tortuga’s rebuild.
One Boat to Save Another
The search for a replacement engine led from San Blas to San Diego, where one donor boat offered Tortuga another chance.
Building for the Next Twenty Years
The lift limited how much we could finish, so we used the time to plan the systems and comforts that would make Tortuga our home.
The Mexico Beyond the Marina
Sunset turtle releases in San Blas, family travels, zoos and Día de los Muertos celebrations beyond the boat work.
Meet Raven, Chief Technical Engineer
Captain Raul welcomes Raven, the OpenAI Codex crew persona, to Valhalla de Tortuga with lifetime credential VDT-AI-2026-000006. Build it. Fix it. Prove it.
Meet the Digital Crew Helping Bring Valhalla Back to Sea
A look back at the digital crew, now Navigator 000001 and Jolene 000002, and how AI assistants support Valhalla’s story and refit.
Rethinking the rig
A single-mast sloop plan, with the measurements still doing the talking.
Planning life aboard
Designing the electrical system around the way the boat will be used.
Built by hand
Making the interior work begins with measurements and access.
THE REFIT IN PHOTOGRAPHS
From the boatyard.
ON FILM