08/09/2012, Puget Sound
August 7 - 9, 2012: Wow, what a nice day in the neighborhood! The sea and wind conditions were uncommonly flat and benign. You would think we were cruising around Puget Sound. It was actually warm enough to go without coats and we had partly sunny skies with high cloud ceiling so we had a view of the coastline. We were both floored that the weather report was accurate and that we had a favorable one knot current too. With those kinds of conditions we skipped Gray's Harbor and continued north to Neah Bay arriving Wednesday night about 9:30 pm.
The view of Tatoosh Island was striking and made the rounding of Cape Flattery that much more appealing and a rewarding end to a long trip. We both sighed a big relief ... me, I could have cried I was so happy to be home.
It took us 35.5 hours to travel 243 nautical miles and our average speed was 6.85 knots. Not bad considering we worried about this last leg of the journey. We had visions of bashing into head winds and large swells. The key to our successful northbound travel was having no schedule to meet and only travelling with winds less than 10 knots. Yeah, we had to motorsail the entire way but it sure beats getting our butts kicked.
So far we have travelled 1,212 nm up the west coast from San Diego. We will add another couple hundred more by the time we reach Seattle after fooling around in the San Juan Islands for a month or so. Personally, I am tired of moving and want to hunker in for awhile.
Bob & I are both glad to have this portion of our journey behind us. As to the future, well that is yet to be determined. Thank you all for sharing in our sailing adventure and your words of encouragement. More blogs will follow but for now I am closing the book on this portion of our journeys.
Neah Bay 48° 22.520N 124° 36.477W
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Comments [9]
Congrads on a successful trip. Seems like ages ago that you started northbound but your technique worked well. A model to follow.
Hope you can now relax and enjoy the PNW.
All the very best to you both!!
Chuck & Linda
Jacaranda
Stockhom, SE
Hopefully we'll see you at Shilshole or somewhere sometime. Maybe in the pool?
08/06/2012, Newport OR
August 4 - 6, 2012: So much for a restful night's sleep, the rocking from the swell kept both of us semi-awake most of the evening. I was happy just to start moving again. The weather report promised calm winds and seas ... not! But at least the wind was coming out of the south (forecasted 10 kts, it really was 20 kts) and we booked on north. We decided conditions were okay enough to keep on going and skip trying to cross bars and settle at a dock for each night. By continuing thru the night cut off 3 days of daily transit; a little pain and being tired brought us a 225 mile passage to Newport, OR.
Our biggest scare was our close encounter to a humpback whale that surfaced right in front of our bow, dove and then re-surfaced off our port side only 50 ft away. We only saw the swirl of water in front of us and knew we just missed hitting a whale ... then we worried about where it was around the boat. Well his sonar must have been working and we dodged a bullet.
Monday we have been resting up and sharing our Mexican travels with several vessels traveling south. It's been nice to pass the knowledge forward especially with all the help we had gotten two years ago and our own firsthand experience.
Tomorrow we move north to Gray's Harbor ... then wait out the weather once again.
Newport, OR 44° 37.439N 124° 03.159W
August 3, 2012: Looks like our weather window is upon us so we decided on a short trip to Trinity Bay a mere 24 miles north of Eureka. We definitely had some residual wind and swell due to the high winds of the previous week. This area is very picturesque but filled with mooring buoys for the small sport fishing boats. We finally found a spot a bit out of the protection of Trinity Head but it worked out okay knowing we were just there overnight.
Trinity Bay 41° 03.092N 124° 08.444W
July 28 - Aug 2, 2012: After a great family visit and some couch time watching the Olympics we traveled back to Eureka on Hwy 101 with a side trip thru the "Avenue of the Giants". It was a nice road trip thru scenic vineyards and the redwoods. Once back we made use of the rental car and stocked up groceries from Costco and grocery store plus topped off the propane tank. Sorry, but there is not much else to report.
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07/28/2012, Eureka, CA
July 27, 2012: We decided to spend at least a week here and took the opportunity to rent a car and drive back down to San Francisco to visit family. The other lure was to watch the beginning of the Olympics and for me some couch potato time. I am tired and I need a break. Heaven forbid, if Bob was willing to admit he needs a break but he sure jumped on the idea of a road trip. He didn't blink at the cost of the only vehicle left to rent ... an SUV. The rental car companies love to charge a high rate for these cars. Oh well, its only money Bob stated. I think he has been on the water too long.
San Francisco
July 26, 2012: Our next hurdle is Cape Mendocino. Two years ago going southbound the Cape was a non-issue. Today I wasn't quite as confident. So far it was a good stomach morning so that helps along with sneaking back to bed for a couple hours after we leave the anchorage. "LeRoy" starts driving and Bob is on watch.
I took over and Bob went below to rest. He must have been tired since he slept thru rounding the Cape. Not sure why he didn't get bucked out of bed since it was quite rough. I finally relieved "LeRoy" and started hand steering as it was easier to navigate thru the waves and swell. The unruly seas only lasted for a short period and then it was back to manageable conditions.
We arrived in Eureka late afternoon riding the flood tide into the bay; a little early for high water slack but close enough. It was nice to be tied up in flat calm water. Eureka is known for being foggy and today was no exception; but at least it was a high ceiling and we had good visibility.
Eureka 40° 48.434N 124° 09.822W
July 25, 2012: Cruiser bedtime last night was 8:30 pm for me. I was thrashed and we had to get up early again today. At least the sea state was better and I made it thru the day queasy but under control. It was only a 50 mile day (geez!) as we made our way to Shelter Cove. We have been making good time with a SW to SE winds and no adverse current. The fishermen were out in force as dodged around them trying to figure out the path and logic to fishing.
Shelter Cove 47° 01.380N 124° 03.647W
July 24, 2012: Our window wasn't great but we could drag our feet forever and get stuck here even longer. It wasn't a good stomach morning for me and I paid for it all day long. I really hate being sea sick. It totally destroys the journey and I start hoping for the destination. I managed to pull myself together as we got closer to our anchor site just to be very nervous about the kelp, surf and rocks. The folks walking the beach sure were entertained (or thought we were nuts) as we slowly pulled into the sheltered cove for the evening. It was a very long 12 hour day!
Little River 39° 16.350N 123° 473W
July 21 - 23, 2012: Our whole focus here in Bodega Bay has been watching the weather. We have about 4 weather sites we check on a consistent basis as we try to analyze each step of our passage. Other than weather watching we have not accomplished much else but laundry. Hey unless you are a commercial or sports fisherman there is nothing else to do here. We did buy a fresh 8 lb king salmon and boy was it good.
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Ellen
sv Kasasa
I can't remember. Are you just taking it easy but going south again? We may do the coast again winter of 2013. Going to enjoy Hawaii for now! Write when you can.
07/20/2012, Bodega Bay
July 20, 2012: We were bushed after travelling 235 miles in three days. Neither one of us had any problem going to bed early and sleeping in the next day. The morning was spent looking at all the weather sites and there was no question we will be enjoying Bodega Bay thru Monday at the earliest. There is a small craft advisory for several days in a row with wind gusts up to 35 knots and seas close to 12 feet.
When we finally got motivated to move off the boat, we entertained ourselves by watching all the small sport fishing boats come into the dock. I cannot believe the poor seamanship we witnessed. However, I was impressed with the way each driver could back the boat trailers into the water. I never got the hang of it but then again Bob never let me drive the pickup attached with the 24' Bayliner we used to own. Actually I was happy not having to try.
Being stuck due to weather is not all bad - we get to stop moving, catch up on chores and search the internet for car options. We have been touring parking lots and looking at the various models. I am sure people think we are casing the place to highjack a car. Once we get back to Seattle, a car will be our first purchase. Last time we bought a vehicle was in 1997.
Stay tuned for more adventures from sunny and windy Bodega Bay. Two years ago when we were here, the fog was so thick you couldn't see the end of the marina.
July 19, 2012: No barnacles got to attach to our keel as we moved on early in the morning. The sky was cloudy and overcast while the seas were flat. We knew we had one more day of good weather before the winds picked up. You are probably thinking that having some wind would be great for a sailboat, well not really for the direction we are going.
We passed by the entrance to San Francisco bay and did see the Golden Gate Bridge thru the patchy fog as the marine layer was lifting to reveal sunny skies. Can't complain about the way this day was shaping up while we watched humpback whales traveling on either side of us. The sport and commercial fishermen were out in force. It was like 5 o'clock traffic on I-5 ... we counted at least 40 of the vessels we could see.
According to the weather forecast winds were to pick up later in the afternoon and true to the prediction it did. Thankfully we were just outside the breakwater into Bodega Bay and made our way to the fuel dock down the long narrow channel. There was room at the fuel dock behind two small sport fishing boats ... but just barely. Our bow overhung the transom of the boat ahead of us. I found it amazing that the 3 guys from that boat just stood there and watched us come in without lending a hand. At that moment of course the wind had piped up to about 15 - 20 knots and blowing our bow away from the dock. Bob couldn't get the stern tied off quick enough to then run to the bow before it got away. Fortunately the marina staff attendant was paying attention and helped us in. The other guys were clueless or lazy - not sure which.
Bodega Bay 38° 19.804N 123° 03.470W
July 17 - 18, 2012: Well I told a fib in my last missive ... we skipped San Simeon, Monterey and Santa Cruz and booked north to Half Moon Bay aka Pillar Point. It was an absolutely magnificent day on the water for the entire 26 hours. We had cloudy skies that gave way to sunshine; which by the way I happen to appreciate right now. The water was flat calm with very little swell and we had a favorable current as we moved along off shore about 3 nautical miles. I am so thankful we kept on going since conditions were so good. We made the 172 nm trip averaging 6.6 knots which is very good after the prop adjustment we made in Mexico to help out the engine.
The weather was going to hold so we spent only one night anchored in the well protected bay. The homes and area surrounding the marina is quite nice and probably pretty expensive for their water view. The only drawback was the stupid fog horn that bellowed all night and all day long. It gave me a headache; good thing I was too tired to care much.
Half Moon Bay 37°29.889N 122° 29.196W
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Have enjoyed your frank and honest blogs.
Look forward to hearing more over a glass of wine on Big Brivet (you DO drink wine, don't you?)
07/16/2012, Port San Luis
July 16, 2012: We were up and out of the anchorage by 6:45 am and rounded Point Conception by 7:05 am. The waters were an easy swell with a light wind out of the southwest. Can't complain about this rounding; it was a non-issue. The rest of the day was just as easy with overcast skies but a high enough ceiling to view the coastline.
We made excellent time with the help of slight eddy current and gentle seas. Tonight we are comfortably at anchor in Port San Luis. Next stop San Simeon ...
Port San Luis 35° 10.488N 120° 44.233W
July 15, 2012: It was an easy passage to Coho Anchorage in the day but a rolly night. Don't let anyone fool you when they say they loved to be rocked to sleep in a boat. That's a big old lie. Talk about a sleepless night! We shared the anchorage with another sailboat and two small sport fishing boats along with the large commercial vessel called "Clean Ocean". This whole area has natural oil seeps along the Santa Barbara channel.
The sea lions barked their hellos to us as they floated around in social groups fanning their flippers in the air. We have seen one or two individuals floating around this way but I was surprised the number of sea lions in each group. There must have been "kids" in the group because they barked all night.
Coho Anchorage 34° 26.816N 120° 26.376W
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We see you are almost home! We are in Kechikan where it is cold and rainy...saw the bears and some sun but overall enjoying Alaska. Will be in Rupert in a week. Fair winds and before you know it you'll be flying down Juan de Fuca
Hasta Luego
07/15/2012, Santa Barbara
July 13 - 14, 2012: We had an uneventful 25 mile trip to Santa Barbara that included no seasickness. Going out to sea after a bad passage is like having to get back on the horse that has thrown you. So far so good, one day down with hopes of surviving the rest of the trip.
After spending the afternoon looking at weather and swell conditions we decided two nights in Santa Barbara would definitely insure us a good anchorage at Coho and a calm rounding of Point Conception. Geez two days in this lovely city ... I had to suffer and go out to dinner while enjoying the sights of the harbor.
Saturday I spent the time cooking up some more breakfast meals and stocking our basket of grab food we eat while on passage. It sure helps mentally and physically to know we will eat well but I don't have go below and cook. Just open the oven and pop in the premade dish to warm up. Bob spent a couple of hours walking along the waterfront taking in all the "eye candy". Believe me there were plenty to see since it was a weekend.
We are now back in the states just about a month and encountered problems with one of credit cards. It got denied when trying to pay for our dinner out in Ventura. A quick phone call to the bank indicated a vendor's system got compromised that we had used and the bank shut down all further activity on our card. That's fine except for the part that the bank failed to notify us. This particular card is used for automatic payments and now we have to change the card number on file ... small problem here, the new cards are being shipped to our box in Ballard, WA. We had notified our banks we are on travel status and will be using our cards traveling up the coast. Thankfully we have other cards to use while moving north.
Santa Barbara 34° 24.401N 119° 41.334W
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