8-26-09 BECAUSE SHERRY AND I ARE HOPING TO GO TO THE SOUTH PACIFIC- A 20-30 DAY OPEN OCEAN VOYAGE; WE DECIDED TO TRAVEL FROM SANTA CRUZ TO VENTURA ( A 32 HOUR TRIP) IN ONE SHOT. WE LEFT SANTA CRUZ HARBOR AT 0600 AND MOTORED ACROSS MONTEREY BAY WITH HEAVY OVERCAST SKIES (FOG), AND A 3-4' NW SWELL.
WE HAD A VERY NICE PASSAGE UNTIL POINT ARGUELLO AND POINT CONCEPTION (AGAIN). WE ARRIVED AT POINT CONCEPTION AROUND 2AM ON THE 27TH. 8-12' NW SWELLS AND WIND GUSTING TO OVER 30 KNOTS--PLUS ZERO VISIBILITY- MADE FOR AN INTERESTING TIME. WHAT WAS WIERD WAS THAT AT 4:30AM WE ROUNDED POINT CONCEPTION AND I WAS STARTLED TO SEE A BRIGHT LIGHT OFF OUR STRBOARD SIDE. THE LIGHT SEEMED SO BRIGHT THAT I THOUGHT A SHIP WAS BEARING DOWN ON US. BUT THE LIGHT TURNED OUT TO BE THE PLANET MARS, WHICH IS THE BRIGHTEST IT WILL BE FOR DECADES--THE FOG HAD LIFTED AND EVERYTHING WAS CRYSTAL CLEAR!! IT WAS A BIT UNNERVING TO SUDDENLY SEE ALL THE LIGHTS--SHORE LIGHTS, OIL PLATFORM LIGHTS, PLANETS AND STARS--WHAT AN ADVENTURE!!
WE ARRIVED AT VENTURA HARBOR AT ABOUT 2:30 PM. DURING THIS ROUND TRIP WE HAVE EXPEIENCED ROUGH SEAS, NO WIND TO 30+ KNOTS OF WIND ON THE NOSE, OF COURSE, NO VISIBILITY, WHALES, OTTERS, SEA LIONS, CALM GLASSY SEAS, AND FREEZING COLD. WHAT A GREAT SHAKEDOWN CRUISE AND ADVENTURE!!