Leg 3 is about to begin...
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This is a flashback to September 2013
View from Oracle Team USA Catamaran with Bluewater in distance! |
[FLASHBACK] Bluewater
had a front row sail during LEG 3 of the America's Cup in San Francisco Bay in 2013. Tom Slingsby was the strategist for the America's Cup-winning Team Oracle USA in 2013. I am still thrilled that we spotted an image of Bluewater when poking around on the internet (back in 2013)! We viewed the official race photos from a camera onboard the High Performance wing-sail foiling USA racing Catamaran. What a win!!!
But seriously, Lawrence and Mark spent 3 nights in Morro Bay awaiting a weather window AND the arrival of a 3rd crewmember for the upcoming Leg 3...
Monday August 24, 2026
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| Back on Monday 8/24, the arrival crew in Morro Bay: Kevin and Katey Mulholland!!! |
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| Bluewater on the Morro Bay Yacht Club dock that 1st night; dinghys on the inside dock |
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| The fog rolled in fairly thick that 1st night in Morro Bay |
Tuesday August 25, 2026
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| Lawrence on Bluewater and a fantastic sunset |
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| Mark on Bluewater with a great view of Morro Rock behind him |
Wednesday August 26, 2026
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| Lawrence doing chores...Bluewater is LOVED 🩷 |
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| Lawrence, Dana McClish, Mark |
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| Sailors in a bar telling sea stories... |
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| Another beautiful sunset behind Morro Rock |
Thursday August 27, 2026
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| Photo shoot on the dock |
So Mark texted a photo and said "Just the usual morning on Bluewater, waking up to a photo shoot on the dock of tween girls in western wear."
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| Lawrence doing laundry |
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| Marina laundry facilities |
GLORIA VILCHEZ arrived in the early afternoon!!! She had flown to San Francisco (recently) and her good friends Bruce and Alicia Santos agreed to drive her from the SF Bay Area to Morro Bay (approx 232 miles one-way, about a 4hr drive one-way). Nice friends to have! They also brought my (Liz's) sponge, a surfboard that Lawrence/Bruce retrieved from Katie Barrish in our (Liz/Mark's) Belmont house earlier this month and has now been donated to Bluewater.
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Alicia and Bruce Santos (back on
the 4th of July 2026 on Bluewater in SF Bay) |
And Mark enjoyed another meal with Kevin & Katey Mulholland while Alicia fed the Bluewater crowd. Sometimes a professional chef is just what the conditions desire...THANKS Alicia and Bruce! 🍳🍲💗👍
Around 4pm a trip to the fuel dock was successful! 👍
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| Mark and Bruce on Bluewater |
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| Large crowd on Bluewater: Boat neighbors on the left, Gloria, Alicia, Bruce and Mark |
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| Bruce - return from fuel dock was successful |
5:58pm Mark texted: "We plan to leave in about 1 hour (before 7pm). Destination is Cojo Anchorage, distance 84 nautical miles. ETA is 5-11 AM. 3 on board: Lawrence, Gloria, and Mark. Forecast waves are 6’, forecast winds 12-22 knots from the NW both at Point Arguello"
6pm Liz asked: Are the waves a concern?
6:30pm Mark replied: "Should be fine as they are moderate size, not too short period, and going the same direction we are!"
Thursday August 27, 2026 - DEPARTURE
Morro Bay
Bluewater Coastal Run - Leg 3Departure Time: 7:11pm local time
Departure from: Morro Bay Yacht Club, Morro Bay, CA
3 souls aboard
Lawrence Kerver
Gloria Vilchez
Mark Barrish
Destination: South around Point Conception to Cojo Anchorage
Distance to Destination: approx 85nm
Estimated Duration: approx 10-16 hours
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| Departure from Morro Bay at 7:11pm |
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| Looking back at Morro Rock at 7:50pm |
7:20pm Liz asked: "Who’s on watch? What kind of intervals thru the night? Lemme know when you make a plan. Fair winds!"
7:47pm Mark texted: "Lawrence will take the first watch 7-10 PM. Three hour watches, so I get 10-1 AM and 4-7. Woohoo—I get sunrise!!!"
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| Lawrence is on 1st watch, 3 hours on duty, 7-10pm |
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| 7:51pm Incredible sunset! |
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| The moon over the Pacific Ocean at 8:01pm 🙄 |
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| Moon in Gig Harbor at 9:47pm |
And just like Mark told me, it WAS a partial lunar eclipse!! AND a Blood Moon! |
| Partial Lunar Eclipse |
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| Blood Moon |
10:37pm Mark texted: "It is a beautiful night with a partial eclipse of the moon and dolphins surrounding the boat. Magical."
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| Dolphins are swimming along! |
10:51pm: "The picture shows nothing, but when I crouch down in the bow pulpit seat I see 1, 2, or as many as 7 dolphins criss-crossing in front of the boat, zooming and jumping so I am breathing in their breath"
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| Dolphins! |
10:55pm Amanda texted: "That sounds so awesome! How does it feel breathing in dolphins breath? Does it smell like fish?"
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| Moon at 10:58pm |
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| 11:11pm Anchovy on the trampoline |
11:01pm Mark texted: "Maybe a little like fish, but somehow more like seaweed. I doubt they are vegetarians, so maybe I am just a little high on dolphin breath"
11:18pm Mark; "Well my dolphin friends did NOT like being called seaweed eaters. Before they left they tossed an anchovy onto the front trampoline just to prove the point. I miss them and hope they forgive me enough to visit again later"
Liz: "Get fishing with that anchovy!"
Amanda: "They left u a gift!!! U should eat it to show ur thanks"
Mark: "Fishing with it or eating it are both great suggestions, but I already tossed it back as an offering to the sea gods"
Friday August 28, 2026
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| Sometime around 4am-ish |
Bluewater is making progress toward Cojo Anchorage!
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| 6:45am approaching Cojo Anchorage |
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| 7am Looking back (northish) toward Point Deception; A bit of a swell |
Friday August 28, 2026
Arrived! Cojo Anchorage
Bluewater & Crew checked in Safe & Sound at Cojo Anchorage!
Departure: 7:11pm Thursday August 27 from Morro Bay
Arrival: 7:40am Cojo Anchorage Friday August 28
Distance: approx 84nm
Duration of Leg 3: 12.5hrs
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| Gloria and Lawrence |
Anchoring takes longer than tying up to a dock but they’re all tucked into a safe spot in Cojo Anchorage in the Santa Barbara Channel.
Mark said:
"We are securely anchored in the beautiful, calm, and warm Cojo Anchorage! All are well and the crew managed to get some good sleep despite sometimes boisterous and extremely entertaining sailing conditions!"
And
"FYI anchor was fully set at 7:40 in 15 feet of water. Currently seeing 11 knots of offshore breeze and a knee-to-waist high surf swell!"
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| 11:55am Cojo Anchorage |
11:55am Mark texted: "FYI I had a snack, a nice nap and a cup of coffee while chatting with Gloria. Lo is sleeping. Anchor is rock solid and the boat is riding great but the offshore wind was strong enough by the time I woke up that I thought it best to defer my planned surf session."
"All is great here. Boat is quiet as Gloria and Lo are both catching up on sleep. I have been looking at weather for our next leg (Santa Barbara?) and scoping out flights home (Southwest is looking promising) but consulting with Lo on both fronts will be needed."
MEAL TIME  |
| 4pm Gloria made a chicken salad with plantain chips - YUM!! |
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| 4:10pm Bluewater tucked into Cojo Anchorage |
4:20pm From Mark:
"Wind is offshore and finally looks to be dropping from 20+~ish. Hoping for an afternoon/evening paddle once the salad digests"
The crew enjoyed an evening surf session one at a time
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| 5:15pm Mark |
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| 5:20pm Mark and Gloria |
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| 6:10pm Lawrence |
6:25pm Mark texted:
"And Lo grabs the wave of the day! That Bagger! Gloria is next up on Liz’s board."
CORRECTION: Liz's surfboard has been donated to Bluewater so it shall henceforth be known as "Bluewater's board"
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| Gloria's turn |
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| 6:30pm Sun is setting |
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| Gloria and Lawrence |
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| 7:40pm Lawrence & Gloria and a Glorious sunset |
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