9/23/2008 Oxnard

A beautiful, sunny downwind sail in 15-20kts past oil rigs took us to the smaller city of Oxnard in Channel Islands Harbour. Our first moorage was at a scrubby dock and bathrooms. Pam refused to shower in them. We moved to a totally different part of the world just across the channel with the more typical (clean) moorage. Our outlook to the town was completely different and we were reminded of how skewed one’s views can become when one only sees a narrow area. We strolled through West Marine, around the shops then out to an expansive beach called Hollywood Beach. The surf on the beach reminded us that we have dinghy landing skills to learn. No one could have landed a dinghy in that surf. This is a beautiful area with a heavy Spanish influence again. Property prices from Santa Barbara down reflect Vancouver prices making either this expensive or Vancouver very expensive.

9/11/2008 Santa Barbara

The guide books we are using say that once you round Point Conception you can ”throw off your heavy clothes”. Well, we did. And then worried the fog might freeze us! However, the sun came out and has stayed out. We motored then gently sailed into beautiful, well-kept Santa Barbara. Palm trees (that are natural to the area) and a 25 cent bus ride around town made this a delightful visit. The Spanish influence in architecture is very dominant here with beige buildings and arches and the red tile roofs. Beaches, surf and warmth (although not as hot as Vancouver was), we stayed for 6 days as it took that long to realize that the fog may not be a permanent force in our lives.

8/31/2008 Monterey, CA

Monterey (Oh,my,my,my!)
A lovely sail from Halfmoon Bay in SUN, then to Santa Cruz in winds of 25 in SUN gave us a chance to forget the fog as we sat on the beach watching surfers and strollers. The difference was striking from grey, noisy seas to the hot, splash of water on sand. Rafted next to a young 25 yr old who had just bought an older (delapitated) Columbia 34, we felt ourselves mellow as he and his buddy spent the after noon and evening smoking pot. His dream was to sail to Saltspring Island as he had spent two months there last year!

Across Monterey Bay on a brisk reach on beautiful blue water the next day, we squished into our slip right next to the Office of the Harbour Master (this one did not have a gun as did the Santa Cruz fellow). A great walking town with Cannery Row at one end and beaches all along its bay, we’ve settled in SUN and beaches for six days. Sadly, Richard left for New Zealand and we will miss him. His sailing in Britain has been on 58 ft, 65 ft and 79 ft boats but sailing on our small boat with his brother was special for us all.

A bus into Carmel by the Sea was well worth the short ride. This place has become a very upscale with poor Tom having to enter shops like Louis Vitton, Donetallo and the like. The beach was gorgeous and busy with families celebrating Labour Day. Our next stops are now San Simeon and Morro Bay.

8/20/2008 Ft. Bragg/Drakes Bay

Our third bar and third stop, we cleared Fort Bragg at noon. Of course, it was foggy. We left the locals grumbling about no rain for ages as well as no sun. Salmon fishing is closed this season so many fish boats are in port and businesses are shut. The transient moorage dock held many fish boats will never go to sea again. So different from Newport that had 24 hour tuna and crabbing with no apparent regard to restrictions. Their time will come. Forecast .for the next three days of winds was for 15-25 kt NW so, of course, we motored for 16 hr to Bodega Bay as winds were nil! Bodega Bay was in fog (that again) and we timed it to arrive after sunrise. Light south winds are predicted and we will wait. Twenty- five miles from Drakes Bay and then the same into San Francisco (so close but so unwise to rush).

8/23/2008 San Francisco

From Drakes Bay to the Golden Gate Bridge (9 days of sailing or motoring and 10 days of sitting at harbours), fog once again accompanied us as we saw only the bottom of the towers of the Bridge. With one freighter in sight, we realized we had little traffic to contend with in what could be busy traffic lanes. And then an amazing feeling to glide under this bridge in your own boat! We began to see the whole Bridge and realized we were really here.
Sausalito became our new home as we sat in SUNSHINE for many days. Bus trips into San Francisco to see Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf as well as strolls along Sausalito’s shores became the events of the day. A Jazz and Blues festival on the grass, not far from our boat, brought out all the locals one evening. Blankets on the grass and wine on makeshift tables were the way for close to 300 people. The other sailboat we had met in Newport had arrived one day ahead of us having chosen to motor that last day. We meet them for coffee and both recounted a windy sail around Cape Mendocino. They fly home to Vancouver for several weeks so it may be in Mexico when we meet again. Funny how these “strangers” are ones we look forward to connecting with again. Perhaps this is the way it goes.

08/16/2008 Left Newport, OR

Nice Sailing...But fog again as we left Newport in a windless sea. Motoring for four hours, we were delighted to settle into winds of 15-20 kt NW. Whales passed us in the distance and then one surprised us to breach before us five feet from the side of the boat. The camera of course would have caught the famous black dot of this once in a life-time closeness. A wonderful sail under a poled out jib in sun had us thinking "so this is what it's about".
Our tuna fishing line of 300 lb test went out, jerked and produced a spring salmon of 20 lb! No chance this fish would break the line. Our gourmet chef, Cam, prepared a wonderful barbequed salmon later that night. We settled into our night watches with winds of 10-15 kt and a lumpy sea. The next day gave us fog again and winds of 10-15 NW. Our speed was good and we were definitely bundled up in our full floater suits (Our dress attire for every day). We settled into our first night out from Newport.

Our second night out from Newport brought fog and slowly growing winds as we prepared to round Cape Mendocino from 10 miles out. The forecast was for 5-10Kt NW. However, we headed 30 miles out as winds were obviously building. Sail was reduced to the smallest the headsail has ever been (one third) as we faced high and confused seas. The Monitor windvane worked hard as our eyes got bigger and bigger and so did the seas! The true wind was 40 kt. and lasted for about 6 hr. We were safe but how could this have happened? Aren't we novices to be gently lulled into downwind sailing! Or is it because we are novices, it did. Actually, we feel it was unforecast winds and that staying in close among undersea valleys and mountains would have been worse. We stood our watches; however, still felt tired and decided to rest at Fort Bragg, Noyo River, California. Nice sailing through the rest of the night and then eventually found no wind. Would the motor start? Of course not! Bleeding it etc.didn't work so we called the Coast Guard for a tow from two miles out. The tow was so disciplined and smooth that we did not feel we were under tow. Identified the motor problem later as a fuel blockage from junk in the tank (which had been polished!) and its now fixed. Tied up safely now at midnight, we sure had a good sleep.

08/10/2008 Newport, OR

A beginning light sail from Westport, Grays Harbour in our familiar gray was promising a forecast winds of 15kt NW for the day. But not for this day as the wind literally stopped. The trip became a motor for 24 hr in an almost flat sea. We gained ground but did not want this to be the way we would travel in the future. At least we were getting practice with our night watches! The bar at Newport, Yaquina entrance was almost flat and quite easy to cross. SW winds came in as did some light rain for two days and now the promise is for wind of NW 15-20 and more. Our little weather maps show wind and the VHF speaks of it also. So we will leave Monday morning after having had a good look at Newport.
Saturday was the weekly market with some of the freshest produce ever. The bread lady is also the attraction as the line-up for her lasted the whole day. Cam and Richard visited the Aquarium and spoke well of it. Tom and Pam rode the bus loop twice! They missed the first bus and had to do the long route. However, they got to know all the locals (and their problems) who routinely take this bus. Commercial tuna fishing and crabbing is a major group of industries here with steady tuna charters also active. .It is especially nice to meet the other people who are also “heading south”. Four boats are waiting for the change in wind and will leave at various times.
So now to wait for our winds.