After leaving SF 2 days ago, we continued our search for breeze, to no real avail. We motored for around 28 hours south, only seeing around 5 or 6 knots max. It was only as we headed into the anchorage at Port San Luis that it piped up, w/ gusts over 30 kn!! Made for an interesting approach to drop our anchor, whereupon the wind dropped completely, and we were left with a gorgeous evening, including a gourmet feast of barbque albacore fillets, cut from the "catch of the day". Tasty business!
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| Carving up sashimi |
Also sharing the anchorage were a pair of humpback whales, who came in for a visit in the evening, as well as seals, sea lions, dolphins, pelicans, storm petrels, and more. Amazing animal life in one small bay.
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| Waves always look smaller in the photos...This one was a good one! |
We set sail early today for Santa Barbara. The winds were forecast to be in 20-35, and we decided against San Miguel Island (in Channel Islands), saving that till the wind calms down a bit, as it is very exposed. As soon as we left Port San Luis, the wind piped up. We hoisted the main with a single reef, the staysail, and a 1/2 furled genoa. Wind quickly built, and soon we were flying along with double reef and a staysail, a magic combination for Bravo. Eventually we were seeing gusts to the low 40's, and we tucked in a third reef. Seas built to perhaps 14', combined swell and wind waves. Bravo handled it all beautifully, a rock solid ride, really never out of control. This downwind ocean voyaging is clearly her pedigree, and it was wonderful to see today. Hopefully lots more to come!
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| Hey, I thought southern California is supposed to be warm... |
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| When the sun finally came out, and the wind died in the Santa Barbara channel, it was time for Cindi to take a snooze... |
We're now heading into Santa Barbara for the night, motoring again as the wind has gone light for the evening.
Hey Adam and Cindi: that sounds like real sailing! how lovely to be able to catch your dinner and watch the bigger denizens of the sea visit Bravo. Nice to hear that the boat is hitting her stride.....enjoy Santa Barbara, the Riviera of the West...one of my favorite towns. Make sure you go see San Isrido ranch....Jackie and Jack were there a long time ago.
ReplyDeleteREALLY sorry that I missed THAT sail! 73/88 Mike
ReplyDeleteCheck out the Isthmus (Two Harbors) at Catalina Island. The leeward side is usually a good place to pull in and get out of the wind. Lots of hiking trails and not a lot of people but a lot more than at the Santa Barbara Channel Islands. Sounds like the adventure is in full swing.
ReplyDeleteJim