Bluewater Coastal Cruising: DEPARTURE TIME! Leg 1 from San Francisco Bay to Santa Cruz Harbor

Monday October 4, 2021

Bluewater is on the move! Gloria and Liz saw Lawrence off as he motored away from Coyote Point Marina (CPM) dock 2601 single-handing north toward Point Richmond. After turning in all marina keycards/fobs and car entry stickers, our CPM account was closed and a new chapter begins...

Ready for departure from CPM Dock 2601
(Liz, Gloria and Captain Lawrence)

Departure Time!
10:34am Monday 10/4/2021

Adiós!

Motoring out the channel

The adventure begins!

To make repairs to inoperative Steaming/Deck lights, Lawrence headed initially to Point Richmond and coordinated with skilled riggers/electricians for successful repair to Bluewater's Navigation lights.

Pre-departure troubleshooting revealed a perplexing
failure (sliced wires). Difficult to diagnose: possibly
squeezed/jostled/broken. Regardless, repair required!

Removed light from fixture
(approx 20-25 feet up the mast)

Difficult to access/photograph but
Lawrence recently acquired a climbing
harness system from marina neighbor
Bill (THANKS BILL!) and sent
me photos from the mast

Light unit removed from mast

Tuesday October 5, 2021

After successful light repairs yesterday, Bluewater headed toward Sausalito in the morning only to discover it's FLEET WEEK in San Francisco!!! No slips available, anchoring limited to 72 hours and a storm is brewing...

In further testing of all systems, found VHF radio intermittent. After coordination with Alameda based experts, headed BACK to Point Richmond around noon where friendly docks and skilled individuals will accommodate departure schedule.

Wednesday October 6, 2021

Expert Liam worked 10am to 5pm diagnosing a difficult intermittent VHF radio failure. He also assessed/advised/opined and re-did other systems (New lithium power system, solar system, etc) and installed Lawrence's new PA (Public Address) system as well. He ran through every system including discharging/recharging batteries. All electronics are ready to go!

Watching the weather for optimum departure timing out the gate. Things to consider: crew availabilty, US Coast Pilot review, weather including waves, wind, high/low tides, ebbing/flooding characteristics surrounding the Golden Gate Bridge, shipping channel traffic, communication tools, other electronics (radar, ATS, map database, etc) etc. etc. etc.

Standing by for future adventure communication!

Thursday October 7, 2021

Crew preparing final departure plans from San Francisco Bay. Lawrence & Gloria are ready as soon as the weather window is optimal. Liz now has plans to deliver crew Mark Barrish and Michael Sevy to Brickyard Cove Marina to join Lawrence & Gloria on Bluewater tomorrow (Friday).

Bluewater at Brickyard Cove Marina (Richmond, CA)

Gloria: Red sky at night....sailor's delight!

Friday October 8, 2021

Another preparation Day: Lawrence worked his way through his list of pre-departure items including bilge pump alarms, securing dinghy with heavy duty straps, etc. etc. etc. Liz picked up crew and dropped them off on Bluewater in Point Richmond.

Blue Angels viewed from Brickyard Cove Marina!

Blue Angels were entertaining all above San Francisco Bay. Here is Lawrence/Gloria's view from Bluewater docked at Brickyard Cove Marina (Point Richmond):

Blue Angels sky show

Blue Angels viewed from drive across Golden Gate Bridge!

On our way driving north over the Golden Gate Bridge enroute to Point Richmond, Liz/Mark/Michael were treated with a Blue Angels show over the bridge.

Yes I'm hunched over!
I'm trying to get a view of the
Blue Angels flying over the
Golden Gate Bridge
and beyond!
So so cool no matter how many
times you've seen them!!

Great action! Nice shot Michael!

Mark captured this gem of two Blue Angels flying over the GGBridge
(Look to the right of the light pole for the 2nd one)

Assistant/driver Liz

Preparing dinghy for the long journey

New heavy duty straps work well to secure dinghy

Tomorrow's crew: Mark, Michael, Gloria, Lawrence

Gloria and a spectacular view of San Francisco from Sandpiper Spit (aka Richmond Riviera), Point Richmond

Brickyard Cove Marina welcoming dock decor: cool photo by Michael Sevy

All in all a highly productive day! Next steps, prepare mentally and physically for the long day(s) ahead. Eat, prep food for the morrow, review charts, navigation instruments/electronics, etc. etc. etc. And though nearly impossible, try to get as much sleep as able knowing you have to get up early and be sharp!!

Skipper Lawrence prepping his electronic charts for tomorrow

Bluewater's Instruments

Michael and Mark - red lights are easier on the eyes in preparation for night navigation

There's the moon: Photo by Michael Sevy

Navigation charts

Captain Lawrence, Ready!

Saturday October 9, 2021

Departure Day!!!! After overnighting on Bluewater, Leg 1 crew woke up early to assess departure conditions.

Captain Lawrence

Gloria

Mark

Michael

Departure from Brickyard Cove Marina

Point Richmond (North Bay)

As predicted, the previous days small craft advisory winds layed down and all was calm in the wee hours of the morning. The crew was up early and departure decision was a go.

Departure Date: Saturday October 9, 2021

Time: approx 2am

4 Souls aboard:

Lawrence Kerver
Gloria Vilchez
Mark Barrish
Michael Sevy

Departure from: Brickyard Cove Marina, Richmond CA (North Bay)

Destination: Santa Cruz Harbor

Sail Plan: Departing early to take advantage of weather window of light winds after midnight and favorable tides and swell. Likely to head around Angel Island through Raccoon Strait and out the gate (under the Golden Gate Bridge) and off the coast before heading south to Santa Cruz.

Lawrence at 1:36am
Photo credit to Michael Sevy

Cruising Log; 1:50am

Lawrence 1:59am

Bluewater ready for departure at 1:59am Brickyard Cove Marina

Gloria ready for departure

From what I'm told, Michael Sevy gets HUGE credit for his sharp lookout on departure - he spotted a submerged concrete unmarked unlit obstruction that was on the chart but nearly invisible. Hats off to good crew!!!!

Views of Golden Gate Bridge from onboard Bluewater!

After confidently navigating departure from Brickyard Cove Marina, the views of the Golden Gate Bridge from 2-3:30am were spectacular!!!

2:39am - Approaching Angel Island with Golden Gate Bridge in the distance
Photo credit to Michael

3:15am - Photo credit to Michael Sevy

3:19am - Lawrence and the GG Bridge
Photo credit to Mark

3:20am - Photo credit to Michael Sevy

3:23am - View from Bluewater crossing under the Golden Gate Bridge
Photo credit to Mark

3:24am - View of the underside of the Golden Gate Bridge
Photo credit to Mark

3:24am View from Bluewater
West side of Golden Gate Bridge
Looking southeast toward San Francisco
Photo credit to Michael

3:25am Nice clouds! Looking back toward San Francisco as Bluewater departs the Bay
and heads off into the inky blackness of the Pacific Ocean at night
Photo credit to Michael

Liz's view of Bluewater from Golden Gate Bridge Visitor Lookout!

Meanwhile, Liz drove to the Golden Gate Bridge at 3am to spot Bluewater departing. I highly recommend middle of the night adventures!!! It was super calm, warm, pleasant and void of all people!!! I didn't see a single human and was THE ONLY car parked in the south bridge visitor lookout. Amazing! LOVED IT!!!

3:12am - Liz stopped to admire the views enroute

3:23am - Liz watched Bluewater cross under the
Golden Gate Bridge

3:23am - Bluewater is there on the East side of the Golden Gate Bridge
(reference duplicate labeled photo above)!!!

3:25am - Liz continued to watch Bluewater as they
motoredoff into the inky blackness of the night

3:25am - Bluewater is there on the West side of the Golden Gate Bridge!!!
(reference duplicate labeled photo above)!!!

3:45am - Liz's view of San Francisco

3:45am - Liz's view of San Francisco (and the Bay Bridge) from the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center

Sunrise!

This texted from Mark (sometime before dawn):

"2:05am actual departure

Winds have been light at 1-3 knots, direction variable. Glassy seas at 1-2 feet at mixed timing. Almost 60 degrees F and clear to shore with light haze off shore. Super nice."

Another text from Mark:

"We are making great time-now off half moon bay. Lo and Mark on the first watch get to see sunrise. Mike and Gloria resting so they are ready to cook breakfast." Here are the early morning photos they sent:

6:34am View of the sunrise off the coast

6:41am - Sunrising

7:04am - Bluewater's Mainsail

7:08am - Gorgeous sunrise

7:15am Gloria and Lawrence up at sunrise

7:21am - Lawrence in his foul weather
gear for warmth and style!

Coffee!!!

Whale Watching!

Whale sightings were numerous. Winds and seas remained calm. Here is a relaxing video from Mark (1 minute 14 seconds long) at 9:13am:

Whales spouting!

9:14am Whale sighting by Michael Sevy

9:14am - Whale nearby!
Photo credit to Michael Sevy

Mark whale watching
Photo by Gloria

Gloria whale watching

11:49am abeam Davenport

Approx 2:30pm - Arrived!

Arrival reported via email from Mark:

"Bluewater has arrived with all hands in beautiful Santa Cruz. Winds were mellow the entire passage and just built up to 17 knots as we pulled into one of my favorite marinas on the planet. Fun, fun, fun."