Leg 9, Oxnard to Santa Cruz Island

Here is an overview map of Bluewater's Legs 9 and 10 (Total one week, 170 nautical miles)
Leg 9 =  Oxnard to Santa Cruz Island (1st to Hungryman's Gulch, then to Lady's Anchorage, then to Forney's Cove)
Leg 10 = Santa Cruz Island (Forney's Cove) to Catalina Island (Two Harbors to Emerald Bay) to Redondo Beach
Crew for both Legs = Captain Lawrence, Andrew, Liz, Kathryn, Steve, Emory

Friday July 24, 2015

Liz flew from San Francisco to LAX. Kathryn/Steve/Emory flew from Houston to LAX. We rented a car and drove a total of 90 miles northwest along Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway), stopped for dinner at "Gladstones for Fish" in Pacific Palisades, drove thru Malibu and ended up at Peninsula Yacht Marina in Oxnard, CA where the Houstonians met Bluewater and cozied up in their bunks for the night.

Steve and Emory at Gladstones

Kathryn and Emory walking on the beach from Gladstones

Emory/Kathryn/Steve on Bluewater

Saturday July 25, 2015

Airport shenanigans in San Jose delayed Lawrence so Liz/Kathryn/Steve/Emory picked up supplies and checked out a Ventura dive shop before picking up Lawrence and Andrew from LAX around noon. We all marveled at the 4 hours it took us in LA traffic to go the same 90 miles we drove the previous day in about 1-1/2 hours.  Nothing could dash our spirits though, so we bought more supplies, returned the rental car, enjoyed Music in the Park near the marina, and had a pizza night at the local hopping Pizza Parlor, Toppers. Lawrence and Andrew stayed up late repairing/retrofitting the autopilot.

Music in the park, Oxnard, CA:  Liz, Emory, Lawrence, Kathryn, Steve, Andrew

Return from Toppers pizza:  Andrew, Lawrence, Steve, Emory

Sunset in Oxnard, Peninsula Yacht Marina

Sunday July 26, 2015

On foot, Liz/Kathryn/Steve/Emory/Andrew picked up a few last minute supplies including fishing licenses while Lawrence enjoyed some time alone on Bluewater.

Lawrence dinghy'd over to retrieve Kathryn & Steve from
Channel Islands Sport Fishing Center across the marina

All hands on deck for the skipper's
pre-departure briefing

After some pancakes and eggs, we departed in a small craft advisory into 20 knot winds and 4-6 foot waves, surprisingly with a HUGE crowd of other boaters.

Departure:  Andrew, Steve, Lawrence

The day had plenty of excitement. See a glimpse from inside the cabin here: Departure Conditions  Lots of wind gave us plenty of fun for our 4 hour crossing from Oxnard to Hungryman's Gulch on Santa Cruz Island.

Lawrence and Andrew

Captain Lawrence putting the crew to work

Steve and Kathryn on vacation

Skipper Lawrence

Emory at the helm

All of us:  Emory, Lawrence, Liz, Steve, Kathryn, Andrew

Kathryn and Lawrence

Kathryn and Lawrence in cruisin mode

Steve at the helm with his A game

Andrew and Emory reading underway

Steve and Emory catching some zzzzzzz's

Kathryn taking in the sights:  Anacapa Island in view

Captain Lawrence in full control with Steve and Emory on assist

The wind was still gusting over 20 knots in Anacapa Channel with waves breaking over the bow but the wind disappeared around the corner of Santa Cruz Island and we completed our crazy 4 hour journey by anchoring in Hungryman's Gulch.

Lawrence on the bow
Approaching Santa Cruz Island

This is Hungryman's Gulch anchorage. We set one bow anchor
and one stern anchor and later reset with two bow anchors

Bluewater's route from Peninsula Yacht Marina in Oxnard, CA to Hungryman's Gulch, Santa Cruz Island

Oxnard to Hungryman's Gulch, Santa Cruz Island
Crew:  Lawrence/Andrew/Liz/Kathryn/Steve/Emory
Departure Time:  11:43am, Sunday 7/26/2015
Distance:  Approx 20nm
Time enroute:  About 4 hours

Destination made, we enjoyed snorkeling on a sandy bottom with lots of bat rays. Emory speared various fish.

One or two of us snorkeling in Hungryman's Gulch, Santa Cruz Island

Something is super funny!

Lots of laughter!

Snorkeling is underway in blue water!  Kathryn, Steve, Emory
Anacapa Island is visible to the left

Bat ray swimming past us

Bat ray on a sandy bottom

Another bat ray swimming below us

Kathryn snorkeling

Liz freaked out by the bat rays swimming below

Kathryn Snorkeling in Hungryman's Gulch

Then we had steak/couscous/zucchini for dinner and went to bed early at 10:15pm.

Kathryn and Lawrence post snorkeling

Lawrence grillin in Hungryman's Gulch

Evening view from Hungryman's Gulch

Another evening view from Hungryman's Gulch

To allow our Captain a bit of sleep in a new crazy anchorage, Steve stood watch from 2:30am until 4:00am when Liz took a turn (monitoring the weather and ensuring our anchors did their job). Steve and I saw millions of stars, the milky way, shooting stars, airplanes, satellites, ships crossing. The wind shifted around but it was relatively calm. By 5:15am it was getting lighter and the birds started chirping. There was a killer sunrise at 6:08am.

Sunrise from Hungryman's Gulch

Monday July 27, 2015

In the morning, we departed Hungryman's Gulch in light winds and calm seas which picked up in the afternoon. It was warm under heavy cloud cover, winds around 5 knots, very little swell, and a small wind chop. We put out the boatlines and enjoyed successful fishing. Andrew caught the first fish on a rod, a baby albacore tuna before Fry's Anchorage. We also caught mackerel. We cruised the coastline past Cavern Point and Potato Harbor and enjoyed close-up views near Coche Point cave. Here is a video link of some Interesting Caves  We even checked out Hole-in-the-wall (a previous favorite anchoring spot). There were lots of beautiful caves enroute to Lady's anchorage, another gorgeous spot.

Putting out the boatlines

Kathryn taking it all in

Where are we and where are we going?

Skipper Lawrence relaxing while
Steve and Kathryn enjoy the motorsail

Captain Lawrence cruising the coastline

Santa Cruz Island coastline

Andrew and Kathryn on the bow

Private thoughts on a deserted coastline

Steve capturing the sights

Steve capturing a blowhole

My blowhole

Andrew and our first fish!

Fishing fishing and more fishing!

Kathryn's Mackerel

Preparing the stern anchor: Captain Lawrence directing,
Steve with the anchor, Kathryn with the rode, Emory with the chain

Bluewater's route cruising the coastline from Hungryman's Gulch to Lady's Anchorage, Santa Cruz Island

Hungryman's Gulch to Lady's Anchorage, Santa Cruz Island
Crew:  Lawrence/Andrew/Liz/Kathryn/Steve/Emory
Departure Time:  8:55am, Monday 7/27/2015
Distance:  Approx 20nm
Time enroute:  Several hours of leisurely sight-seeing

Lawrence cleaning fish

Some of us snorkeling in Lady's Anchorage

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Liz/Kathryn followed by Andrew/Emory enjoyed great hiking that was completely sketchy and treacherous. The views of Bluewater from the ridge top were superior. Lawrence took Steve to a cave outside the harbor (forevermore to be called "Steve's Cave"). There was some dinghy trouble, as the motor did not cooperate subsequently. Tasty fresh fish dinner with rice and Emory's killer sweet potatoes was enjoyed by all. To bed early by 9:30pm.

This is Lady's Anchorage:  Thanks for the dinghy ride to shore, Lawrence!

Beautiful shells amidst shell casings from thousands of Pelagic Crabs

Many beautiful shells

Here is Kathryn, starting up.
Spectacular hike, though there is no trail.
There is actually a little river and waterfall though.

No, I do not see a trail, do you?

Yes, I'll follow you but I still do not see a trail.

Our first glimpse of Bluewater since we left the beach. OK, yes this is worth it.
I just hope we can find our way back down. It's pretty sketchy. Treacherous, really.

OK great, you summited!
What? You want to go higher?
What lives in that cave?

Yes, the views are getting better but there is no trail.

There, we summited again!
There are endless summiting opportunities.

You want to go higher?

There seem to be no end to the summits around here.
If only we had more time...I see a few more ridges.

Yes, you have summited again!

Bluewater is hidden in a cove to the left.
I hope we can find our rock cairns to find our
way back. That was a great idea, by the way, to
leave trail markers when you're trailblazing.

We can't see Bluewater from here.
But this is our final summit.

Liz lounging in Lady's Anchorage after hiking

Steve lounging in Lady's Anchorage

Emory roasting killer sweet potatoes

Andrew cooking Mackerel, Albacore, and a speared white fish

Another gourmet dinner!

Tuesday July 28, 2015

Departed Lady's Anchorage just before 9am. Checked out Steve's Cave from Bluewater. Motored in very light winds along the coast toward painted cave (purportedly the largest sea cave in the world). It was dead calm. We took turns (1st Andrew/Kathryn/Emory, 2nd Andrew/Liz/Steve) touring interesting caves in the dinghy. Saw a stinky sea lion haven. We slowly cruised along painted caves area. Caught lots of fish underway. Cleaned lots of fish and sharpened the filet knife frequently. Arrived and anchored at Forney's Cove with 2 bow anchors just before 2pm.

Kathryn is tailing the anchor rode for Andrew
Andrew is pulling up the bow anchor
prepping for departure from Lady's

This is "Steve's Cave"

Emory is on stern anchor duty

Steve and his namesake Cave

Kathryn and "Steve's Cave"

Caves with interesting features

Let's get fishing!

Fish ahoy!

The Duncans:  Steve, Emory, Kathryn

Liz with interesting scenery

Scenic cruise

Spectacular Santa Cruz Island features

Andrew enjoying the views from the bow

Pelagic crab alert. Let's catch some!

Lots of Pelagic crabs swimming in the water

Pelagic crabs

Captain Lawrence and another cave

Emory on lookout

Dinghy excursion:  Kathryn, Andrew, Emory

Kathryn, Andrew, Emory are exploring a cave

Now the 2nd excursion party (Liz, Steve, Andrew) is returning to the same cave

Here is the sea lion den we saw inside the cave

There is Bluewater waiting for us as we exit the cave

As long as we're exploring, here is anther cool cave

Dinghy excursion #2 returning to Bluewater

A nice fish Andrew!

We could fish all day!

More fish to clean!

Liz cleaning fish

Steve skinning his fillet

Steve cleaning fish

The Captain has our destination, Forney's Cove, in sight!

We are about to set 2 bow anchors

Forney's Cove

Bluewater's route from Lady's Anchorage to Forney's Cove, Santa Cruz Island

Lady's Anchorage to Forney's Cove, Santa Cruz Island
Crew:  Lawrence/Andrew/Liz/Kathryn/Steve/Emory
Departure Time:  8:56am, Tuesday 7/28/2015
Distance:  Approx 20nm
Time enroute:  About 5 hours

There was 1 fishing boat in the area that departed and returned. Lawrence dinghy'd Andrew to shore where he hiked the ridge while the rest of us snorkeled. Then Andrew swam back to the boat. Lawrence and Emory continued snorkeling for over an hour near bird/seal rock. Lawrence took amazing underwater video of huge schools of fish. Have a look here:  Millions of Anchovies  Then we enjoyed sun showers, hot tea, deck swabbing and Sushi tuna rolls for dinner. To bed by 10pm.

Lawrence & Andrew

Santa Cruz Island from a different perspective

Steve, Lawrence, Kathryn:  Lounging

Liz, Kathryn, Lawrence, Steve, Emory (Andrew is off hiking the ridge of Santa Cruz Island)
The buckets in the foreground are bloody from fish guts - we dumped them overboard AFTER we finished snorkeling

Steve, Emory, Kathryn ready for snorkeling

Steve is OK

The Duncans:  Kathryn, Emory, Steve in Forney's Cove
plus Bluewater and Santa Cruz Island in the distance

Highly successful Emory out to spear more fish with a Hawaiian sling

Bluewater in blue water
Forney's Cove, Santa Cruz Island

Kathryn watching Lawrence and Emory snorkeling from the warmth of her parka and hat with a cup of hot tea

Emory and Lawrence returning from an hour-long snorkeling adventure to bird/sea-lion rock

Sushi chefs Emory and Andrew

Sushi made to order!

Stay tuned for more blog updates as the same crew (Lawrence, Andrew, Liz, Kathryn, Steve, Emory) continues to Catalina Island in Leg 10 of Bluewater's Southern California adventures....