Thursday, August 20, 2015

Leg 14, Mission Bay heading North...

Leg 14 was a push north with a small crew in 5 segments:

1) San Diego to Mission Bay (Marilyn joined us)
2) Mission Bay to Dana Point
3) Dana Point to Catalina Island
4) Catalina Island to Santa Cruz Island
5) Santa Cruz Island to Santa Barbara


Bluewater's Leg 14 route north from San Diego to Santa Barbara
via Mission Bay, Dana Point, Catalina Island and Santa Cruz Island
Crew = Mark, Liz, Amanda (and Marilyn for the initial trip from San Diego to Mission Bay)


Sunday August 16, 2015


After hanging with Marilyn and Michael in San Diego for a colorful and enjoyable 5 days, we were ready to head North toward home in San Francisco Bay.  Marilyn joined us as we headed out fishing and to check out anchoring opportunities in Mission Bay (SeaWorld area). Michael drove separately and picked up Marilyn in their rental car.

We started out motoring in extremely calm conditions into a thick marine layer (down to a half mile visibility at one point). Here is a video of our initial conditions in the fog. Thankfully, the fog burned off, we got some wind (8-14 knots), saw a few dolphins, caught a mackerel.  We initially sailed south toward the Coronado Islands for some trolling (we had been warned to remain in US waters as we didn't have all our documents for fishing in Mexico).  As we didn't find the tuna we were hoping for, we turned north in a nice steady breeze, making good time past San Diego before in.  Despite it being somewhat crowded, conditions in the harbor were warm and calm and we had fun anchoring in Mariner's Basin with 50-100 other boats.  It seemed like a particularly sociable spot--a couple of dingy's from the nearby boats came by to say hello, and Liz gave at least one tour of Bluewater.  Mark and Amanda dove the anchor, and Liz prepped and swam to the beach.  Most of the boats left before dark (it being Sunday night). Marilyn relaxed and dinghy'd to shore where Michael picked her up.

Marilyn rousing the port cabin occupants
Shelter Island Marina, San Diego

Amanda just waking up


Liz is sleepy too


Amanda getting some quality time with Aunt Marilyn

Breakfast Burritos - Thanks Mike!

Amanda with crazy eyeballs rolling

Amanda and Marilyn before departure from Shelter Island Marina, San Diego

Goodbye Michael, see you at Mission Bay!
Mark/Liz/Amanda/Marilyn departed by boat
Michael departed by car

Amanda and Marilyn in their respective pulpits at departure time
Notice the clear skies

Marilyn lounging on the bow - you can see the marine layer (low fog) coming over the hills

Liz and Marilyn on the bow

Marilyn and Amanda departing San Diego Bay
You can see the marine layer over the Pacific Ocean
We're in a bit of fog now

Amanda eating pasta, Marilyn enjoying the view, Mark skippering, Liz capturing the moment

Marilyn, you're on duty now

Time to raise the mainsail

Marilyn raising the mainsail unassisted (no winch)

Marilyn at the ready with the
winch handle

Marilyn Raising the Mainsail with the winch, Captain Bligh checking her work
 See it here:  Marilyn raising the Mainsail

Amanda photo bombing

Mark and Marilyn on duty

Marilyn at work positioning the jib car with Mark
Amanda is crafting and listening to an audio book

Marilyn trimming the jib sheet

Amanda and Marilyn lounging on the bow

Amanda and Liz (sneaking a tortilla)

Our lone mackerel

Amanda reeling in the lone mackerel on the port swimstep

We have arrived and anchored! We are in Mariner's Basin, Mission Bay



Bluewater's route from Shelter Island Marina, San Diego to Mariner's Basin, Mission Bay


Shelter Island Marina, San Diego to Mariner's Basin, Mission Bay
Crew:  Mark, Liz, Amanda, Marilyn
Departure Time:  approx 10 am Sunday August 16, 2015
Distance:  approx 24 nm
Arrival Time:  approx 2:40 pm Sunday August 16, 2015
Time enroute:  approx 4 hours 40 minutes


Here we are in Mission Bay!
Thanks for joining us Marilyn!!!
Love, Liz and Mark and Amanda

Marilyn, Amanda, Mark, Liz

Liz prepping to swim to the beach

Amanda prepping to dive the anchor (with Mark)

Marilyn photographed lots of palm trees


Various Palm visuals

More palm trees

Palm nuts

Mark, Liz (with the selfie-stick), Amanda, Michael, Marilyn on the beach in Mission Bay
Bluewater is anchored in the distance (on the left) in Mission Bay
This is our last group shot before saying goodbye to Marilyn and Michael
Nice to see you... THANKS for making the journey - it was fun!!!

Michael with enthusiasm!
Here we are anchored overnight in Mission Bay after saying goodbye to Marilyn & Michael.
Amanda is preparing the lone mackerel we caught earlier for dinner.

Sunset in Mariner's Basin, Mission Bay



Monday August 17, 2015

The fun continued...

We (Mark, Liz, Amanda) departed from Mission Bay at 7:30am heading west under overcast skies with winds 11-17 knots, a little lumpy with wind chop from the south. Planned destination was Dana Point. With a relatively short-handed crew (only 3 of us!) and some of the fastest sailing speeds we saw on the entire trip, we all did our fair share.

We caught 1 mackerel and were itching for more but only got the one. We trolled (feathers, plugs, and repallas) past a ton of fishing boats (most with fishing gear deep in the water) and actually saw several sets of two fins very close to the boat which we think were marlin.  Liz was the champion at marlin spotting; we all helped spotting whales and dolphins.  Here is a video (squint and use your imagination) showing 3 different fin sightings that we think were possible marlin sightings. They were easier to see in person (and on a big screen computer). We also saw some huge whales, backs and flukes! And here we are in cruise mode.  We had a great, fast (over 10 knots at times) downwind run with 12-20 knots of wind but the wind was only blowing 6+ miles offshore so we had to motor the last hour into port through the glassy afternoon calm.

We anchored in the west basin at Dana Point, safe and sound. Dana Point is cool.

Amanda at the helm for departure from Mission Bay

Liz pulling the bow anchor

Mark at the helm
 and Amanda at the throttles

Another day with a lone mackerel but it fed 3 of us sufficiently

Liz is on watch, my crewmembers are resting

Amanda found a great spot to recline


Mark, Liz and Amanda

I'm pretty sure this is "The Spirit of Dana Point" docked near the Ocean Institute
West Basin, Dana Point

Time to anchor

Amanda assisting Mark

Amanda and Mark getting out the bridle for the anchor line


Liz snorkeling, Amanda paddling on a surfboard

Wildlife:  a baby heron
In the distance, you can see a dock: Watch The Plunge
Dana Point was a very nice anchorage with lots of watersport activities
Bluewater's route from Mission Bay to Dana Point

Mission Bay to Dana Point
Crew:  Mark, Liz, Amanda
Departure Time:  approx 7:30 am Monday August 17, 2015
Arrival Time:  approx 5:30 pm Monday August 17, 2015
Distance: approx 58 nm
Time enroute:  approx 10 hours

Tuesday August 18, 2015


Ah, the fresh smell of gasoline in the morning....

We departed our comfortable Dana Point anchorage this morning (Tue Aug 18) at approx 8:15am.

Morning view from our West Basin anchorage in Dana Point, looking east 


We then departed the fuel dock at approx 8:45am. A busy young man (who looked about 15 years old) fueled our spare fuel tanks. We commented on the lineup we waited in and the lineup waiting behind us and he was marveling that the huge Catalina Express pulled up ahead of us on his 5th day on the job and he was working alone! Fantastic efficient kid. Funny that I spent hours (seemingly) yesterday searching for the business hours of the Dana Point fuel dock. Turns out they open at 8am midweek but I didn't figure it out until 7:30am.

Our planned destination is Two Harbors, Catalina Island.  Winds were light so we motor-sailed. We saw numerous whales (spouting and backs).

Amanda sewed a hat (thanks for the supplies Marilyn!!!!) She used her new favorite hat as a mold/pattern.

The beginning: making a hat

Adding on

Adding more material

Forming the dome

Amanda's hat progress underway


Mark heard a unique request on channel 16 from a fishing vessel to a container ship near Santa Barbara Island (well outside the crowded shipping channel). The request was for the container ship to alter course because the fishing vessel had a "large" marlin on!!! Good luck to them!

A ship crossing

Amanda and Mark relaxing on the bow

Catalina Island is in full view!

Approaching Catalina Island

We kept on fishing but came up empty-handed this Leg!



Though we were hopeful, we got skunked (no fish) but we had a whale of a time fishing. We saw tons of whales and dolphins and dragged our boat lines through some extremely active fish boils (jumping fish/birds/dolphins). Great time.  Here is a 2 minute view of our dolphin encounters.

Bird Rock is the white rock visible on the left and a helicopter is overhead.
The entrance to Isthmus Cove is around to the right and in from Bird Rock.


We moored safely on mooring ball K3, Two Harbors, Isthmus Cove, Catalina Island.



Bluewater's route from Dana Point to Isthmus Cove, Two Harbors, Catalina Island


Dana Point to Isthmus Cove, Two Harbors, Catalina Island
Crew:  Mark, Liz, Amanda
Departure Time:  approx 8:45 am Tuesday August 18, 2015
Arrival Time:  approx 4:37 pm Tuesday August 18, 2015
Distance:  approx 67 nm
Time enroute:  about 8 hours

Having arrived at Catalina, we took the dinghy to shore and proceeded to show Amanda some of our favorite places from long ago.

Two Harbors Catalina Island

A great swing in Two Harbors (between Isthmus Cove and Cat Harbor)

Liz and Mark overlooking Cat Harbor where we met in 1988 on Tony Velleca's boat

Mark, Liz, Amanda near Cat Harbor

A bluff overlooking pin rock near Cat Harbor
Amanda is eating candy

Amanda and Cat Harbor

Amanda is one happy kid!

Liz on the left, Mark and Amanda on the right
Cat Harbor, Catalina Island

Cat Harbor

This Bison appears to be behind a fence

However, the fence is not continuous (out walked the Bison as we watched from a safe distance)
9 days later, Steve Duncan sent us this article "Bison attacks man taking photos on Catalina Island"

We wanted a photo of the bison but luckily we stayed far enough away

Bluewater is on the left in Isthmus Cove
Catalina Island

View of Isthmus Cove from Two Harbors Catalina Island

Mark and Amanda in Doug's Bar with an old photo (circa 1950) of a crowded Isthmus Cove (before mooring balls)
It's actually called, "Doug's Harbor Reef Restaurant & Bar" but we know it as just Doug's Bar
Here we are fueling up at 9pm
Lawrence perfectly described this (relatively) nearby self serve gas station that (I think) was open 24 hours a day


Wednesday August 19, 2015


Liz/Mark spent our morning managing our cell phone data plan and registering Amanda for the upcoming schoolyear. Amanda spent the morning completing her hat design. In anticipation of an upcoming Leg without cell service, Liz/Mark busied ourselves by emailing Lawrence Kerver and Paul Barrish with details of our crazy future overnight sailing plans. It was a Wednesday and we anticipated that no one would hear from us until Saturday or Sunday at the latest.

Then we departed from Isthmus Cove, Catalina Island (Two Harbors) around 10:45am and sailed a very short distance to Emerald Bay, Catalina Island.

Amanda always has a plan
for her crafts

She envisioned and carried out her plan to piecemeal
the hat with specific panels

Meanwhile.....

...Mark whipped up a French Toast breakfast. MMmmmm.....

...and Amanda finished her hat....

...and it is a masterpiece!


Here is Amanda modeling her new hand made hat!


Mark departing from Isthmus Cove, Catalina Island

We departed from Isthmus Cove around 10:45am on Wednesday August 19, 2015

Looking back....Goodbye Isthmus Cove!

Bluewater's short route from Isthmus Cove, Two Harbors Northwest to Emerald Bay


Isthmus Cove to Emerald Bay, Catalina Island
Crew:  Mark, Liz, Amanda
Departure Time:  approx 10:45 am Wednesday August 19, 2015
Arrival Time:  approx 11:15 am Wednesday August 19, 2015
Distance:  less than 3 nm
Time enroute:  about 30 minutes


Wednesday August 19, 2015

Our afternoon in Emerald Bay was as good as it gets. The Harbor Patrol was super nice and as soon as we picked our favorite among the open mooring balls, we were greeted by some kids on a nearby sailboat. Siblings Nathan and Katie plus Amanda spent hours together swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, jumping off the boat, etc.

Kids!!!! Fun!!!
Nathan, Amanda and Katie

Nathan & Katie's Dad Ray on paddleboard with Katie snorkeling back to their boat
Bluewater is on the right

Amanda and Nathan continued playing on the beach
Amanda Nathan Katie...

...discussing jumping options

They are ready to take the plunge!
Watch them Jumping from Bluewater!

Amanda Nathan Katie - seeking time away from adults

Amanda Nathan Katie - paddle boarding
Emerald Bay, Catalina Island


Nathan enjoying a peanut butter & marshmallow sandwich
on Bluewater

It was fun to have a friend onboard!

Amanda and Nathan playing a fishing game in the starboard cabin

Nathan and Katie's boat was very close to ours (the one with the sun shade)

Before long, Nathan had to leave

Amanda and Nathan...

...high fiving

Nathan's Mother Alison came to get him....

...and they dinghy'd back to their own sailboat 

It was sad when they sailed away but it was a super fun afternoon!
There they go!



Mark grilling - Emerald Bay, Catalina Island


Amanda working on Mom's hair


Hair is done!



While the kids played, Mark caught up on email trying to entice crewmembers (Lawrence, Michael Sevy, Geoff Wiggs) to join him on Bluewater for the remaining Legs back to San Francisco By. In the end, he was successful!

Then we departed from Emerald Bay at 10:30 pm (nighttime) for an overnight crossing between Catalina Island and Santa Cruz Island. It was a slog and we ripped a batten pocket on the jib as we were pulling in the sails but we arrived safely and anchored in Prisoner's Harbor.

After the long overnight crossing (from Catalina Island), Santa Cruz Island is in sight

Cloudy weather

Morning sunshine

Anacapa Island

Mar after the long crossing (no sleep)
Rounding the east end of Santa Cruz Island

Santa Cruz Island and its many interesting features

Mark pulling in a mackerel

Santa Cruz Island - we are still heading toward an anchorage

Liz


Thursday August 20, 2015



But as we were recovering from our 12 hour tedious/lumpy/upwind slog of an overnight crossing from Catalina Island to Santa Cruz Island, a stiff 25+ knot breeze blew in at 10am. Prisoner's Harbor was seeing 20 knots right in the anchorage.

As we were admiring our stable 2nd anchoring attempt, we alternated resting and were prepping to dive the anchor.  In the interim, the wind shifted east and died down to 2 knots and the herding sheep (white caps) just outside the harbor disappeared.  Around 2pm, the wind blew back up and shifted back toward the north and we started to drag our anchor (with 120 feet of scope in 17 foot deep water).

Anticipating more anchoring attempts and potentially another sleepless night, we pulled anchor and headed out by 3pm.  Initially, we were in search of another anchorage with better protection from the northwest wind (we briefly looked at Pelican Bay) but the appeal of a true safe harbor drew us across the Santa Barbara channel in 4-5 foot seas, triple-reefed, main only.  The crossing was only about 4 hours and with 20-25 knots of wind and seas on our beam, and was more comfortable than expected.

Here are videos of the improving conditions across the channel.  Here we are Halfway across Santa Barbara Channel. And a little closer to Santa Barbara, conditions were gorgeous and we saw some dolphins.


Emerald Bay, Catalina Island to Prisoner's Harbor, Santa Cruz Island to Santa Barbara
Crew:  Mark, Liz, Amanda
Departure Time:  approx 10:30 pm Wednesday August 19, 2015
Arrival Time:  approx 11:00 am Thursday August 20, 2015
Distance:  60-70 nm
Time enroute:  approx 12-1/2 hours


Bluewater's route from Catalina Island to Santa Cruz Island to Santa Barbara
including an overnight crossing between the islands

Liz at the helm almost to Santa Barbara


Leg 14 concluded in Santa Barbara.  The Santa Barbara Harbor Master was really nice--they seemed willing to go the extra mile to find space for us.  We were happy to be safe and sound and snug as a bug in a rug, in Santa Barbara Harbor tied up to dock 2B end tie.



Santa Barbara Marina - calm and relaxing


Mark and Amanda having breakfast at the Original Sambo's




No comments:

Post a Comment