Cruise of the Confidence 2013-09-24 to 26

Brookings, Oregon to San Francisco, California

Total time: 55.5 hours

Total distance: 285 nautical miles

Engine hours 2591.1

0900: Finally left Brookings. Winds were light and still coming from the south/southeast but we decided to chance it.

1000: another milestone. 40* 00'00" N 

The equator is getting closer! We are in California!

Winds have started to turn. They are still light but at least they are blowing from the north. Swells are about 6 feet but there is very little wind wave. This makes it comfortable for motoring but we would rather be sailing. We knew that this was probably going to be a long day so I climbed into the settee - we had rigged up the lee cloth so we could sleep midship rather than the v- berth. When there is a lot of wave action on the bow, the v-berth is not the most comfortable place to sleep.

1140: passing abeam and a mile to seaward of NW Seal Rock. This is one of several pinnacles

 5 miles offshore of Crescent City.

1505: whale sighting

1539: abeam of the weather buoy. These are located up and down the coast to collect weather information. The skies are starting to look quite active. That is the thing about being out here - you can see the weather systems coming from miles away. We were lucky enough to pass between two large rain squalls. But there is one coming from the west that we may not avoid.

2015: the system has caught up to us but it had pretty well rained itself out by the time we met. We only experienced a few drops but the winds have picked up and it has gotten pretty rough. The swells are now between 8 - 10 feet and the wind wave about 4 feet. This took its toll on the auto pilot - sheared off the pins so now it was back to manual steering. There were a few good waves into the cockpit and a fair amount of surfing. It surprised me that I wasn't scared - just getting tired of keeping myself from sliding around. Yes - my safety line was attached. And I had to change into my one piece survival suit as I was getting cold.

Abeam Trinidad Head 

0220: and it is now Wednesday.We finally passed Cape Mendocino. The winds are northerly but still too light to keep the jib full. Otto has been engaged - he still needs some manual assistance to adjust his course but it at least gives you a bit of a rest from being on the wheel all the time.

0730: BA up. Captain down. Sun coming up. It could be a sunny day. Looks like the high is starting to fill in.

1010: the wind has picked up 10 - 15 knots. Jib is out. Motor is off. Captain has arisen. Soup is on. That left over Mulligatawny soup sure tasted good! 

1315: keeping an average speed of 6 - 6.5 knots. Blue sky. We were rocking. 

Abeam the entrance buoy to Fort Bragg's. Decision was made to carry on to San Francisco and take advantage of this high.

As the day progressed so did the high. We had to keep reducing sail as the winds had now picked up to 20 - 25' gusting to 35+. We reduced sail and I went down below. I was just getting into the berth and one of those waves hit, rolling me to port and then flipping me to starboard. The force caused the extension slats (expand the berth from a single to a double bed) to come out and even though the lee cloth kept me from flying across the cabin, it did not prevent me from pushing against the table. The force caused the screws to come out and the table to fall over onto the other settee. No damage to me except for an extra bruise here or there. The good news - remember I mentioned before that a good use for your socks is to store your bottles of wine in them? Well the centre of our table is also our wine rack. It holds 12 bottles of wine. The upper section holds the scotch. And not a bottle was broken!!! So Otto had to steer the boat for a while  David and I tied down the table to be repaired at a later date. Then I went back to trying to sleep in the V-berth.

0330: BA back at the helm. When the gusts hit we were over 8 knots and during one of them I touched 10.7. Time to reduce even more sail. At this point in time we only have the jib out at maybe 10%. It looked more like a big hanky. After my watch was over I must admit to not feeling so well. I had the dry heaves but did not actually get sick. But I took a couple of Gravol and then proceeded to bed, where I actually   slept for two hours solid. That was the only solid sleep in 55+ hours. When it is rough like that you get relieved off the helm and you do lay down but you do not actually sleep but rather fade in and out of this semi-conscious state.

0737: By early morning the winds eased off a little and there was a beautiful pink sunrise. Hey, wait a minute - David - what is that saying pink sky in morn sailors be warned?  Thank goodness it did not prove to be right this time. Our speed was reduced to a pleasant 5 knots and it even settled down enough for me to make coffee and toasted tomato and cheese sandwiches. 

1035: Rounded Point Reyes and you could see the hills of San Francisco.

1422: Into Bonita Channel between the Potato Patch and Fourfathom Bank. So named because of the schooners from Bodega Bay who frequently lost their deck load of potatoes while crossing the shoal.

1530: The Golden Gate Bridge is ahead of us and we are about to go under it. It is a picture post card day for entering San Francisco Bay! Called Paul. Left a message. Called Susan. Left a message. Called Carolyn. Left a message. Called Mom - finally someone to share this moment with. 

I got it on the GoPro and you should be able to view it on YouTube at Cruise of the Confidence: Entering San Francisco Bay Sept. 26.

Lots of boats in the bay. Bit of a race going on.

1629: tie up to the fuel dock to register at ClipperYacht Marina in Sausalito. We had to be there by 1630 before the office closed.

1700: secured at 427 Gate 3. We are dirty and exhausted but we are smiling. It is warm and sunny and we are in California!

First things first - a shower. We grab our stuff and head up to the facilities. Compared to the last couple of places, it was like walking into a five star hotel. Marble and tile and clean! And the wonderful scent of lime tree blossoms - nature's real aroma therapy! Then we went next door to the Seahorse and had an excellent dinner of pasta. No wine - I think if we would have had even a sip we would have done a face plant in our food.

Then back to the boat where we proceeded to sleep for 12 hours solid. I mean - I don't think either one of us even rolled over once.